One of the busiest roads in Perth city centre could be closed for almost a year, leaving business owners on the street fearing for their livelihoods.
A busy stretch of Tay Street will be shut early next year for sewage works, expected to last 11 months.
Business owners on the street say they “don’t know how it’s possible to survive” being cut off from their customers and fear those who do make it will be put off by noisy work.
Scottish Water says the repairs, between Canal Street and Marshall Place, are necessary to prevent future sewer flooding and promised to work with affected businesses.
But Cameron Grassick, owner of Robert Cameron Hair, said the business he could lose during the work is giving him sleepless nights.
He said: “It’s mentally draining me.
“I’m worrying all the time about what I am going to do to keep a roof over my kids’ heads.
“We’re already scraping by and making savings to stay afloat.
“It’s sleepless nights.”
Cameron says it is the latest blow after the business suffered through two lockdowns.
“We think there’s light at the end of the tunnel and are still praying for things to settle, now the rug is being pulled from under us,” he said.
“We’ve had to restart our businesses from scratch twice and are now being told we’re going to have to do it a third time.
“They are effectively taking away our lifeblood.
“How many more blows can we take? You’re sitting at night wondering where I will be in six months.
“I have clients that need a stick and must park at the door. What am I going to say to them for 11 months?”
Graeme Pallister, who has run 63 Tay Street restaurant for 16 years, says he is “emotionally exhausted” with worry.
He said: “We’re only human.
“Our businesses were struggling before it and will struggle after it.
“Who’s going to come here with a digger rattling our windows?
“We’re maintaining our businesses on a shoestring and don’t know how it’s possible to survive.”
The work is due to start in January, subject to planning permission, and will see 540 metres of sewers on Tay Street and Shore Road upgraded.
As well as inconveniencing their regulars, both businessmen fear the work and traffic diversion will put off people visiting the city.
Cameron said: “No one has said they are listening to us and that’s all we want.
“We want to be respected.
“We’ve been told we will be getting signage but it won’t be enough.”
Graeme added: “We’ve been completely ignored.
“It seems like the care package is being written on the pack of a fag packet and it’s not helping.
“We’re just in this awful loop.”
Scottish Water promises to support Tay Street businesses during sewer works
A spokesperson for Scottish Water said: “This work is a key element of a wider programme of investment in the city’s water and waste water infrastructure over the years ahead, which will enable us to support Perth’s continuing growth, while also addressing a number of areas where existing customers are currently at significant risk of sewer flooding.
“We recognise the impact on the road network will be disruptive while construction is under way – and particularly so for businesses and residents in the immediate vicinity on Tay Street.
“Scottish Water is responsible for communicating with businesses about the work – and we hope to meet them in the near future to discuss this further, following the original contact which was made last month.
“Our aim is to work with the businesses and other stakeholders to mitigate the impact of the period of construction activity as far as we can.”
The planning application remains open for comments until Friday.
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: “Should the application ultimately be approved, Scottish Water will be required to put in place appropriate signage, and traffic management arrangements for both pedestrians and vehicles during the works.”
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