The Pit Stop affected by gas works
The Pit Stop dog grooming along Eastney Road in Southsea, has noticed a decline in footfall since the gas works have started which are planned for eight weeks.
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00:00 Yeah, I'm Maria Devine.
00:01 Maria, tell me what business was like before the roadworks and what it's like now.
00:07 It started, opened up in April, a couple of weeks beforehand.
00:10 May was quiet, but it was okay, paid its way.
00:14 The next month was brilliant, quite busy, so much passed in trade,
00:18 which I was expecting to get busier and busier up to September, October,
00:22 because of all the traffic that goes in and out of the town to Easton Beach.
00:26 But that's just put a complete stop to all the traffic, all the people coming in and out,
00:30 the buses with dogs.
00:32 So, and I understand it's on for eight weeks.
00:35 Yeah.
00:36 So, obviously that's going to affect the business throughout the summer, really.
00:39 Yeah, it's just hard, yeah.
00:40 Yeah.
00:42 I did try and pick it up as I was getting up, and it just crushed me down.
00:46 And do you see business improving when the roadworks have gone?
00:51 Yeah, I mean, I'm just not sure, because it's the end of the month.
00:54 I mean, it'll be the end of the summer, and basically I'm short now,
00:57 because I've not really took the rent monies with just even working.
01:01 It's just hard.
01:02 It's going to be really hard.
01:03 Then I'll have to pay heating as well.
01:05 So, it's just hard if I wasn't picking myself up for the few months before the winter kicks in.
01:09 I understand that you're working seven days a week.
01:12 Yeah.
01:13 Yeah, and tell me why you've got to do that.
01:15 Because I need to build the business up to let them know I'm here whenever they want to come and go.
01:19 Basically, you get a lot of people go to the beach in the evening,
01:21 half past six, seven o'clock, sometimes come and leave the beach.
01:24 So, that was the business I've lost as well, late afternoon and evening.
01:30 So, yeah, it's loads.
01:33 So, tell me what your concerns are about the future of the business.
01:37 My concerns are that I'm not going to take enough to be able to pay the rent,
01:40 to even give a wage, to do anything, and basically have to close down
01:44 and then be in a height of debt to try to get myself into this position to open a business.
01:48 I was on the perfect road, but now with the roadworks
01:51 and everything happening towards the end of the summer, I don't know where I am.
01:55 So, tell me how you'd like to see this situation resolved.
02:01 Just to have to have the rent, something that I don't have to close down.
02:05 [BLANK_AUDIO]