Alexandria businesses impacted by six months of work to regenerate the Vale are set for more support from West Dunbartonshire Council.
However, calls for a universal rent abatement for small, family-owned firms during the course of the disruption were rejected by the leading Labour group – who instead say they will focus on more targeted help.
Community Party councillor Jim Bollan submitted a motion calling on rent to be suspended for family businesses for the 26-week duration of works, as he highlighted the case of one business owner who made just £13 in half a day.
It was estimated that the scheme would cost £146,520 which would be met from council reserves.
Although Councillor Bollan disputed these figures, saying that he believed they included multinational chain stores in the Vale which wouldn’t be eligible.
Councillor Bollan’s motion came after we had previously reported warnings from business chiefs that some shops may not survive due to the disruption caused by regeneration works.
As part of a £12m masterplan to transform the Vale, the iconic Smollett Fountain is currently undergoing restoration, the Main Street is being reprofiled and the eyesore Mitchell Way shopping precinct is being demolished.
However, the works are coming at a cost for traders, who have reported seeing more and more people going elsewhere as a result of the traffic chaos.
Sian Wilkie of the Alexandria Traders’ Association said: “There is a real risk that there won’t be a town centre after this refurbishment.
“Shops are going to shut. We aren’t all going to survive this.”
And supporting small, independent traders was at the heart of Councillor Bollan’s motion. He said: “Our independent traders are suffering because of the masterplan works.
“I spoke to one trader last week who was open between 9am and 2pm and made just £13.
“Our businesses were already struggling coming out of the pandemic, but this has been a hammer blow.
“Between now and the end of the works we need to give them rent relief to ensure they can continue to operate.”
Councillor Bollan gained the backing of the SNP group, with Leven councillor Ian Dickson commenting: “It’s vital that we support these local businesses who are at risk of closure.
“Not only are they locally-owned and employ local people, but they also keep Alexandria unique.
“If they close down then they’ll be gone for good.
“It would be a mistake to regenerate the town only for the businesses to have closed due to a lack of support.”
However, the leading Labour group submitted an amendment saying that council officers would begin meeting with businesses immediately to discuss their needs, but that a universal rent abatement would not be implemented.
Deputy council leader Michelle McGinty said: “I’ve lived in Alexandria all my life. I shop there and I’ve brought my kids up there.
“Our amendment supports local businesses. It hasn’t ruled out abatements, but what it wants to do is talk to businesses because we think more than just rent abatements.
“How can we support them to increase their footfall?
“That’s something we can’t just decide off the top of our head.
“Let’s do what we can to help them over and above just thinking that a rent abatement is all that they
need.”
The Labour amendment was carried by 11 votes to nine, with a disappointed Councillor Bollan saying: “Labour said they wanted to support local people, but they won’t support an opposition councillor.
“This is quite clearly an urgent matter and it feels like they are kicking the can down the road and that this is a talking shop.”
