Businesses in Castletown are urging the public to support them at what is a uniquely challenging time.
Town retailers were already suffering because of the disruption associated with the Callow’s Yard development and the impact of the recession. But the regeneration of the square – which involved its closure and began in the summer – has brought the town ‘to its knees’, they said.
Tim Brogan opened Shake Lounge in August. He said business was ‘all right initially, then it went really quiet.’ He added: ‘There is no where to par. There is no [signage] in the square to help local businesses.
‘All local businesses think the same. They think Castletown needs regeneration, but if people do not support what’s here, every where will be gone.’
‘A lot of people live in Castletown – if they are not going to support it, there’s going to be nothing left by the time the regeneration work is finished.’
Nic Crouchman, from sweet shop Memory Lane, said the timing of the work has dealt an extra severe blow.
He said: ‘You would cry if you saw my figures – I’m 52 per cent down in November compared to last year, 35 to 42 per cent down in the summer months. It’s absolutely disastrous. The place is on its knees, there’s nothing to attract people.
‘There is no compensation. The commissioners tell us we will more than benefit from tens of thousands of people being brought in to town after the work is done. I cannot see us making our money back. Digging up the town in the summer was a massive, massive mistake.’
He added the local authority could help more, for example, the Christmas lights switch-on event was cancelled rather than postponed.
Laura Small, manager of Courtyard Cafe in Arbory Street, said: ‘We opened [as Taylor’s] in the summer, and we noticed a massive drop as soon as they started work. We are not taking enough to support the cafe.’
She is concerned about the impact after the scheme is finished. ‘It will cut down parking in the square by half. When they open Costa near the harbour, that will take away people from the square.’
Mr Ronan said it will be worth it, and that there would be a net gain in parking.
He said: ‘Costa will attract people to town and its location makes the most of a key asset - the harbour.
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