Salisbury’s ‘specialist shopping street’ was one-way for more than a year to allow pavements to be widened and new lighting to be installed.
Owners faced a difficult time, losing up to half their footfall as barriers closed or narrowed the pavements, but say their businesses are recovering.
They also say the street looks better and access to the railway station has improved.
But they have questioned a controversial ‘pinch point’ traffic calming measure, saying the positioning of two planters on the pavement reduces drivers’ visibility of oncoming traffic.
Nigel McNally, 64, owns Baileys Domestic Appliances, a family-run domestic appliance and repairs business whose engineers also serve customers in Hampshire.
His business almost closed during the “dark days” of the work, but customers have since been positive about the street’s appearance.
“It nearly cost our business,” he said.
Nigel McNally, owner of Baileys Domestic Appliances“It was very heavy on all the retailers on the street. We were very lucky that we did a lot of business in Southampton, Andover and Winchester.
“Other stores that are solely here and don’t have the capacity to do that suffered. Making up what we lost over that period will take years to recover.
“We’re trying to put that behind us. It’s a positive result. Now that we have gotten through the pain of it, I think the results have been great.
“People are generally very impressed.
“We’ve got much stronger footfall, and passage to the station is much improved with wider sidewalks. We’re very happy.”
Drivers and pedestrians were affected (Image: Salisbury Journal) But he criticised the position of the red planters at the ‘pinch point’.
“I’m still trying to get my head around the red boxes. I don’t know why they are there,” he said.
“The council needs to try and address it. I think, even if they moved one pot plant to the side, it would improve visibility.”
Joe Henry, 61, who owns Fisherton Warehouse, believes the ‘pinch point’ will be changed in the future and praised businesses for surviving the works.
Fisherton Warehouse is next to the controversial traffic calming measure (Image: Newsquest) “It’s great to have the street open again with no roadworks,” he said.
“It looks nice. It was a lot of mess and inconvenience for a year, but we’ve got to do these things, and the end result is pleasing.
“We can pick holes in everything, and it was frustrating, but we’re still here, which proves the strength of the business.
“We’ve done really well to get through a year of turmoil.
“It’s a real pat on the back for the independent businesses that make it such an interesting and vibrant street.”
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Patrick Wadge, 61, director of Chris Wadge Clocks and secretary of the Fisherton Street Traders Association, said the development’s impact on his business was limited because of its specialised work with mechanical timepieces.
Patrick’s shop repairs, restores and sells antique and modern clocks (Image: Newsquest) Mr Wadge is happy to see the road “open and running properly” again, adding: “People we’ve asked have said it is great because the pavements are wider and smoother.
“It was a bit of a pain when it was all going on but the street now looks finished, which is nice.
“The ‘pinch point’ is interesting. The red boxes can make visibility difficult.
“That can cause problems, but traffic is flowing quite cheerfully now.”
Steph Beattie has worked at Dauwalder’s since she was a teenager (Image: Newsquest) Steph Beattie, 65, has worked at Dauwalder’s stamp shop since 1977.
Owner Paul Dauwalder, 82, has been in business since 1958 and said trade dropped by more than 40 per cent when the works were ongoing.
Now, Steph believes the shop’s sales of stamps, coins and collectables is back to where it should be.
“We’re much the same as we were before, being a specialised business,” he said.
“A lot of our customers come in and say, ‘thank god that’s over’. It’s just unfortunate it took a bit longer than we thought.
“Traffic is flowing more nicely, and the pavements are wider, so people are more encouraged to walk up this way.”
Deborah Fox, 56, who runs Fisherton Mill with her husband Derek, 59, wrote to the Journal in October to praise the works and thank the people involved.
She also called on residents to “embrace the positives of the pinch point traffic filter”, saying it would slow cars down and prioritise pedestrians.
Now, she is looking forward to the railway station forecourt improvement scheme being completed to complement the Fisherton works.
Deborah Fox at Fisherton Mill (Image: Newsquest) She said: “Although the works were definitely challenging, since it’s reopened, I think it’s a lovely street to walk down.
“We get anecdotal reports that customers find the wider pavements more pleasant. We found that on bin days, people can get up and down the street more easily.
“I think it’s dramatically better for walkers, and it is nicer aesthetically. Our footfall is back up, and we’ve got no concerns at all.”
Fisherton Street a month before it reopened in both directions (Image: Spencer Mulholland) Councillor Nick Holder of Wiltshire Council said: “We are really pleased with the positive feedback received from many businesses following the recent improvements made to Fisherton Street.
“The street has been transformed and now gives a greater sense of identity which helps support the many independent businesses in the area.
“Indeed, this project was initially initiated by the Fisherton Street Traders Association with the improvements supported by 84 per cent of those who responded to the Central Area Framework (CAF) consultation in June 2020.
“The visibility at the priority working system meets the required standards for a location like Fisherton Street.
“As is generally the case with schemes of this nature, an independent post-construction safety audit has been carried out.
“We are currently waiting for the report from this audit to be finalised and any recommendations will be given due consideration.”