Barnstaple traders struggle amid Queen Street car park closure

Local businesses say Queen Street car park closure significantly impacts sales and operations

Traders in Barnstaple fear the temporary closure of a major car park is hitting business.

The shutting of the Queen’s Street car park on May 7, is set to last until the autumn as North Devon Council undertakes improvement works.

Mike Sim, owner of Jack’s Snax on Queen's Walk, said he had suffered a significant decline in sales.

ABOVE: Jack's Snax establishment

He said: “The council initially closed half the car park, causing my sales to plummet by 30 per cent. When the entire car park was shut, my customers couldn't access my shop and many were deterred by the construction site. Since the start of the work, my sales have dropped 65 per cent and my customer numbers have drastically fallen.”

Mr Sim has resorted to starting a GoFundMe campaign with a £20,000 target to sustain his business.

On the funding page, he explained: “I've started this fundraiser hoping to cover unpaid bills since March, including rent, utilities, household council tax and my mortgage. The remaining sales are mostly from delivery orders, which are not profitable due to the 36 per cent commission to delivery partners. I've had to let my staff go, reduce operating hours and I’m struggling to afford essential costs like my car’s MOT.”

ABOVE: The works at the car park

In a Facebook post on June 11, Mr Sim said: “I am approaching £10,000 in lost revenue since work began and Cristina has been forced to find a new job.”

Similarly, Harry's Cafe on Bear Street says it has experienced a downturn.

The café told the Gazette that their turnover for May decreased by two per cent compared to last year, with an average monthly decrease of 16 per cent.

They say that overall, their turnover is down by 18 per cent since the car park closure.

North Devon Council insists the work is essential.

Sarah-Jane Mackenzie-Shapland, head of place, property and regeneration at North Devon Council, told the Gazette: “The Market Quarter regeneration works form part of the Future High Street programme. This programme comprises a set of projects that were awarded funding and together seek to transform the Barnstaple town centre. The works to the car park, will include a new entrance from Alexandra Road into a new combined Queen Street/Bear Street car park together with new drainage, resurfacing, new lighting, improved parking bays (oversized bays/disabled bays and larger spaces for parents with children), improved landscaping etc.”

The council acknowledged the disruption but emphasised that they have consulted with traders and attempted to minimise the impact.

Ms Mackenzie-Shapland added: “We first went out to tender on this project in the early summer of 2023, but unfortunately the tenders came back over budget. We communicated this to Bear Street traders at the time and received a clear message that the works should go ahead and that elements such as the new entrance to Alexandra Road were vital to the ongoing success of this part of the town. As a direct result of the concerns raised by Bear Street traders, when we re-tendered the project, the tender stated that the works had to be phased and advised that the whole car park could not be shut in one go as we needed to minimise disruption to the town – we consider Queen Street/Bear Street to be one whole car park.”

Further addressing the traders' concerns, the council commented: “Regardless of this project, Queen Street and Bear Street car parks require resurfacing and this funding enables a more innovative approach to delivering this work. We appreciate the works are disruptive but they are necessary and we have worked with businesses to ensure signage is in place both to encourage the use of Bear Street car park (whilst Queen Street is closed) and to direct pedestrians into Queens Walk and Bear Street. We have put a video out on social media advising the public that businesses are open and issued a press release. We have also made other suggestions to businesses regarding trails and events to increase footfall, as well as the opportunity to advertise their shops in other parts of the town; we will continue to offer this and promote this part of the town where we can. We understand that traders would have liked delivery in more phases but this has not been practically possible.

“The works to the car park do form part of the Future High Street programme but notwithstanding that, the resurfacing works are necessary and required to sustain a car park in this location into the future. We appreciate that these works are causing some disruption but we have tried to work with the businesses to manage that as best as possible. If businesses have other ideas as to how we can promote them and raise their profile during this period then we continue to invite those ideas and will support those ideas where we can.”