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Traders left counting cost of Temple Mill collapse
Traders are counting the cost of a collapse at a historic mill building in Holbeck.
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They say the resulting road closure has left them about 40,000 out of pocket and put their businesses under threat.
Part of Marshall Street was fenced off after masonry from Temple Mill fell into the road.
Richard Stewart, of Air Conditioning Accessories at nearby Manor Court, said since the December incident trade had dropped by around 20 per cent – a loss of about 32,000 over two months.
Wendy Davey, of neighbouring Centre Fillings sandwich shop, said custom had halved, cutting turnover by around 8,000 and forcing her to transfer seven of the 11 staff to other shops.
The pair said they had taken the general downturn into account but felt
their falling figures were because they were marooned by the closure.
A Leeds City Council sign states the route will be closed until July.
Mr Stewart, who employs four people at his Holbeck shop, said: "Am I going to be here in six months?
"Around 14 livelihoods could be thrown away because of a building.
"Our businesses are stagnant because people can't get in and out of the place."
When part of the listed building – modelled on the Egyptian Temple of Edfu – collapsed, scaffolding was set up and the route closed to vehicles and pedestrians.
The footpath reopened after Christmas, but because the street closure turned Manor Road into a dead end, there has been no passing traffic.
Mr Stewart is an air-conditioning wholesaler, but also stocks builders' essentials so construction workers called in for parts.
He said sales of smaller-end building products had disappeared and suppliers were reluctant to deliver because of access problems.
Holbeck is the focus of a multi-million pound regeneration programme, but Mr Stewart said: "This is Holbeck destruction, not redevelopment."
The pair hoped the council would reduce the closure to one lane, with traffic lights.
But a council spokesman said: "Our concern has to be safety of the
highway. The road is closed while specialist structural equipment needed in the building is designed, manufactured and installed."
A spokesman for SJS Property Management, owner of Temple Mill, said the firm was in talks about installing "business as usual" signs.
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: West
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