CARNOUSTIE TRADERS are suffering a loss of earnings following a devastating fire that closed a part of the town’s high street.
They say they are losing passing trade because of the closure, with one business owner estimating a loss of £600 in the past week.
The road has been closed for a week since a fierce blaze engulfed the Perfect Laundry and Carnoustie Country Larder, near the junction with Lochty Street.
The adjacent former Granite City fish shop was also affected by water and smoke damage during Friday night’s blaze.
A structural engineer and contractor were yesterday working on the site to make the building safe.
Newsagent Tahir Niazi said the road closure is having a serious impact on his business.
“Usually we would be much busier but it’s like a ghost town,” he said.
“We rely on passing trade but it’s been very quiet since the road closure and it’s affecting business. I estimate we’ve lost £600 since Friday and we want the road opened as soon as possible.”
Mr Niazi said people usually park up and pop into the shop on their way to work.
However, traffic is now being diverted round the back of the High Street before they get to his shop.
He added: “I know there has been a bad fire but I don’t think they needed to close the whole road. We’ve been given no details about when it’s likely to reopen so everyone’s in the dark.”
Scotch Corner Cafe owner John Skinner said things were extremely quiet because of the road closure.
Speaking yesterday in his deserted cafe, Mr Skinner told The Courier: “The problem is that people coming from Dundee have to divert around the High Street.
“They are not stopping to go to the Co-op or the shops, so we are not getting the passing trade.
“Usually folk will pop in for a coffee after their shopping but it’s been very quiet since the road closed.”
Other places affected by the closure also appeared to be experiencing lower-than-normal footfall yesterday, including the Co-op.
The fire is not being treated as suspicious by police and it is thought the cause could have been electrical.
The Carnoustie High Street grocer and launderette is owned by businessman and councillor Bill Bowles.
Mr Bowles previously told The Courier he hopes to resurrect the business “from the ashes”.
A spokesman for Angus Council said: “Works need to be done to the frontage of the fire-damaged properties to make them safe and allow the road to be reopened.
“A structural engineer and contractor are working on the scheme to make the building safe.”
gstrachan@thecourier.co.uk