Now it’s over, let’s get back to business

by Marie Sansom, The Glebe

"GLEBE Point Rd business owners are pinning their hopes on Christmas trading to claw back some of the money they’ve lost from the roadworks. The $15 million upgrade, which is now largely finished, started in November last year and many businesses have suffered a 50-to-80 per cent drop in trade because of it. Road closures stopped deliveries and made the suburb a no-go area with taxi drivers.
Some shopkeepers suggested Sydney Council pay them a Christmas bonus to compensate.
Beverleigh Greentree, from Mags of Glebe has festooned her shop with tinsel, mirror balls and colour.
“I’ve tried to make the shop bright and happy,” Ms Greentree said.
She hopes the upgrade will be worth it in the long run.
“But we’ve lost a lot of money. Some days I didn’t take anything,” she said. “It’s going to take a lot to get Glebe back on the map because the road has been blocked totally for six months.”
Newsagent Miki Liu hopes things will improve now the roadworks are almost finished.
“Probably business will come back, hopefully things will get back to normal,” Ms Liu said."Maybe it will get better by Christmas.”
British Sweet Shop owner Andy Adams leased a Camperdown storage unit to get his stock during the roadworks.
“You just couldn’t park. Suppliers refused to come here,” Mr Adams said.
His trade plummeted by 50 per cent and he had to cut opening hours, but he’s hopeful Glebe has turned a corner.
“The street fair was good for business and letting people know that Glebe has reopened again. It was just the pain and suffering each of us had to go through.
“It seemed to go on and on. I don’t think they put enough men on the job.”
A Sydney Council spokesman said there was only minor work left: removing overhead power lines, footpath repair, tree planting and parking signs. It was finished ahead of schedule with the official date being April next year. “It will create a strong and clear identity for Glebe Point Rd, reinforcing its role as the local high street ... an environment in which local businesses can flourish,” he said."

Read the full article from The Glebe here.