The Pit Stop affected by gas works

The News, Portsmouth

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.

Transcript

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]

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