Hull businesses suffer customer footfall due to roadworks

Businesses located on a busy road in Hull have reported a significant drop in customer traffic due to lengthy natural gas pipeline and road construction causing severe traffic disruptions. These businesses are facing economic hardship as a result of the reduced footfall, impacting their daily operations.

Repair work on Chanterlands Avenue began on January 29th and was initially scheduled for completion on February 21st. The complexity of the project exceeded initial expectations, leading to an extended timeline and a sustained impact on local businesses, causing ongoing challenges.

Jayne Armitage, who runs Tilly's Boutique, described the work as "horrendous" and said that there was "no money in the till" due to a lack of customer traffic. Wendy Normington, who runs Chants Cafe Bar 45, said that her business had only been open for four months and the ongoing work was putting them under additional strain, emphasizing the need for as many customers as possible to survive.

Katherine Alexander, manager of Sophistikate Lingerie Boutique, told the BBC: "I'm an appointment-based shop, and it's caused a lot of my customers to be late or cancel. It's causing a lot of stress and anxiety." She added that she was very concerned about the impact this was having on sales, potentially impacting the boutique's overall revenue. Chris Keith, Operations Manager for Northern Gas Networks, said: "Our teams are working extremely hard, including at the weekend, to complete these repairs and reopen the road as quickly as possible. We are very sorry for any inconvenience this is causing."

Northern Gas Networks has apologized for the inconvenience caused and said its teams are "working hard to complete these repairs and reopen the road as quickly as possible." The company added that temporary three-way traffic lights are in place on Chanterlands Avenue during the work, and signposted diversions are in place for motorists, keeping access open as much as possible. Northern Gas Networks stated that businesses that have suffered losses as a result of the work can submit a claim via its website.