A £4.4m mega-project has outraged residents who have said it is killing local businesses in the small village of Castleton in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
As part of the scheme, a bicycle lane has been installed on Manchester Road as part of a scheme to improve the local area.
However, locals have said that the impact of the construction work undertaken to build the bicycle lane has had a dramatic impact on sales. Speaking to the BBC, New Bridge Chip Shop owner Mark Foster said he has seen a 50 percent drop in trade.
He said that while customers used to pull up, order food and then get back in the car today they can’t because there’s “nowhere to park”.
Meanwhile, the Mini Market vape shop’s Rahand Mahmud said “half of the business” had gone. Mr Mahmud explained: “If they can’t park outside, they can’t stop here, if it keeps going like this, all of us will have to close down.”
The bicycle lane is part of Rochdale Council’s wider £4.4m regeneration of the area with plans to bring brownfield sites into use for members of the public. As part of the changes, the council will also develop new homes and places for businesses to boost Rochdale’s economy.
In a statement, Councillor Danny Meredith said: “These plans will transform a major gateway into the borough, which is an important arrival point for thousands of our residents and visitors each day.
“As well as improving this important and vibrant neighbourhood, these changes will also better connect it to the newly regenerated Rochdale town centre, which is just a short walk away.
“This project will play a major role in our wider plans to make the best use of our brownfield land, particularly around major transport hubs, to create high-quality public spaces, much-needed housing and business space.”
Express.co.uk has approached Rochdale Council for comment.
