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Footpath blocked, but no help for businesses

Footpath blocked, but no help for businesses

Queensbridge St businesses are bracing themselves for three years with restricted pedestrian access.

The City of Melbourne has closed the footpath to through traffic and is completely blocked at one end.

The footpath, running opposite to Crown Casino, is closed as construction continues on the Prima Pearl apartment towers on the corner of Queensbridge and Power streets.

It is completely blocked at the Power St end, while the Queensbridge Square end has signs erected saying it is closed, and only open to local traffic.

Businesses along this strip include Mobi Structure furniture, Carrick Institute and Evolve Real Estate. Evolve Real Estate principal, Gary Cakir, said he hadn’t received any information about the permanent blockage and certainly hadn’t had any solutions offered from the council for the disruption to his business.

“After the footpath had been blocked for a couple of weeks I got curious as to how long it will be. I had to find out from some of the construction workers that it’ll be permanently blocked during business hours until 2015,” Mr Cakir said.

He said he’d realised business was being affected when promotional brochures were not being taken from a basket on the footpath.

“We usually fill up the pamphlets and property guides every day or two. Once the footpath was closed, it was more like once every two weeks,” Mr Cakir said.

“Obviously I’m not against the construction of new towers, it’s great for our business long-term but surely, when it affects other businesses, the council has a responsibility to help in some way. It doesn’t mean we want compensation, but maybe an advertising sign at the footpath-closed signs, letting people know businesses are still operating down here.”

There has also been a permanent rail put in front of Evolve, which Mr Cakir said was blocking advertising signage he had erected for passing traffic, and diminishing the façade of the shopfront.

“If we had of been notified, we wouldn’t have had those signs put it there. I’m just thankful our business doesn’t solely rely on foot traffic. If we were a retail shop for example, I’d suspect we’d have to close the doors.”

A City of Melbourne spokesperson admitted the council had a responsibility to surrounding stakeholders during the construction of Prima Pearl.

“It is the council’s role to assess the construction management plan and manage the construction process balancing the reasonable needs of all stakeholders,” the spokesperson said.

“It is generally not necessary to close a footpath for long periods as part of a major development. However this site presents a number of challenges such as being located at the intersection of two major roads and the proximity and number of overhead power cables that are unable to be easily relocated.”

The council spokesperson also pointed out that: “Pedestrian access remains available to all businesses in the area.”

“The arrangement has minimised any potential disruption of vehicle traffic along Queensbridge St and into Power St.”

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