AN ATTEMPT to give independent businesses in Alexandria an immediate rent abatement to help them cope with the impact of roadworks in the town centre has been voted down.
The reprieve was sought by Community Party councillor Jim Bollan at a West Dunbartonshire Council meeting last week.
Cllr Bollan said he wanted to give local businesses on and around Main Street, who are closest to the Smollett Fountain improvement works, a helping hand to survive.
Earlier this month, the Reporter told how many of the family shops in Alexandria were reporting a dramatic fall in footfall and turnover since the renovations began in May.
But in the council meeting, Labour councillors opposed the immediate 100 per cent abatement asked for by Cllr Bollan - and instead decided to send officers to the town to investigate further.
Addressing the council, Cllr Bollan said: “When I talk about small family businesses, I mean small locally owned family businesses, not the regional organisations like Greggs, banks etc.
“These are small businesses that are suffering because of the Masterplan work. Like barbers, card shop, butchers, fish shop, cafes and newsagents, all locally owned.
“I spoke to one of the shopkeepers, who from nine o’clock in the morning to two in the afternoon, the total income for the shop was £13.”
Cllr Bollan said the rent from independent retailers in the area totalled £6,105 a week.
Had the abatement been agreed at Wednesday's meeting, it would cost the council £146,520 if continued to the completion of the work - which is due to last for 24 weeks.
And if the authority had backdated the abatement to when the works began, on May 9, the cost would rise to £183,150, with all funds coming from council reserves.
The authority's depute leader, Labour councillor Michelle McGinty, put forward an amendment to Cllr Bollan's motion which stated: "Given the urgency of the situation, this council instructs officers to meet with businesses over the next week and to come to a quickly arranged cost-of-living group to put forward any proposals that will give them the appropriate support that they need.
“This will have to include measures such as rent relief and ensuring that the shops are shown to be open for business and any other measures that would help to increase the footfall of these shops.”
Expressing his dismay at the funds not being released straight away, Cllr Bollan said: “I’m disappointed.
“Earlier on in today’s meeting, I heard from the Labour Party saying they were wanting to help local people get through the crisis - and now the first thing that comes up from an opposition councillor and they aren’t prepared to support it.
“It’s quite interesting, that. I’d be interested to know, if it was a Labour Party councillor who had put this down, would it have been approved? Of course it would.”
The Labour amendment passed by 11 votes to nine with the SNP supporting Cllr Bollan’s original plan.
Stevie Hobson, the owner of the Hobson’s Choice repair and alterations shop, says he has been contacted by a council officer about his turnover.
He said: “They have been in touch, but they were asking for 2021 numbers, which I didn’t think was fair, as between December and April we were shut because of lockdown.
“So I went back and we agreed to take the 2019 and 2020 numbers. They need to be in for Wednesday so we will see what happens.”
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