Shop forced to close after months of town centre works

The British Heart Foundation has shut its clothes and book store in West Blackhall Street after 18 years.

Town centre regeneration work has resulted in disruption and many retailers have reported been badly hit with a loss of footfall - but at the same time similar new outlets have also opened up. 

READ MORE: Volunteers praised as BHF Greenock shop marks birthday

We have reported that other businesses have claimed to have lost tens of thousands of pounds as a result of the £3.2million pounds redevelopment of West Blackhall Street which saw several road closures. 

But Inverclyde Council said urgent action was needed to revive the rundown street to make it more attractive.

British Heart Foundation (Image: George Munro)

Sarah Malone, store manager of the neighbouring British Heart Foundation furniture and electrical shop, said: "It is a shame and it is really sad. There seems to be more shops closing than opening here.

"The charity shop has been in West Blackhall Street for a long time.

"It has just been really difficult for them with the disruptions. Many of their customers are elderly and they just won't come if they can't get parked. Other shops have found this as well.

"There is a lot of other charity shops selling the same things and there are outlets opened with parking."

Graeme Brooks hits out at West Blackhall Street development (Image: George Munro)

With the tough competition and a reduction in football the British Heart Foundation took the decision not to renew its lease.

Some of the volunteers have now moved to the charity's furniture store which is further up the street and remains open.

The British Heart Foundation store is now lying empty while the furniture outlet is going strong.

Sarah added: "We are the only charity store selling furniture on this scale. We have had our ups and downs but it is picking up.

"Christmas can be quiet but the last couple of years we have been busy."

Greenock town centre Councillor Graeme Brooks said he has been flooded with concerns from traders in West Blackhall Street and elderly constituents who no longer shop there.

But he warned that the problem is not going to go away, because there will be fewer places on the street to park from now on.

He said: "It is disappointing that another trader has closed. But there is nowhere for elderly constituents to park.

"What was agreed, but it was not unanimous, was to take parking spaces away from West Blackhall Street to install a cycle lane instead.

"The car park in Jamaica Street is too far away for the elderly and those with disabilities and the hill there is too much for them.

"I know an elderly couple who tried twice to get parked to get to the Oak Mall. They were going to a travel agent to book a holiday. But they gave up and went to the retail park, spending £3,000 there instead.

"The new design has made a bad situation worse.

"I have been in and out of the shops talking to people while collecting charity tins,  they are struggling and they didn't have one positive thing to say about it."

We previously reported businesses concerned about loss of income while Inverclyde Council set a side £1600,000 of support, a share of which was granted to 60 eligible small and medium-sized businesses. 

The second phase of the work kicked off in late July and has seen parts of West Blackhall Street, Westburn Street, and Nicolson Street given an entirely new look. 

An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: “It is naturally disappointing when any local business closes and especially such a long-standing one in a prominent location.

“Sadly, West Blackhall Street had seen better days and there was widespread acknowledgement that something had to be done to make it a more attractive place to live, work, visit, and do business and that’s why we stepped in to develop plans and secured millions of pounds in external funding to redevelop Greenock’s traditional high street.

“A key aim of the project is to make West Blackhall Street more appealing for shoppers and attract businesses to the area and we’re pleased to see that several new businesses have opened up in recent months and positively acknowledged the regeneration works.

“With a project the size and scale of the West Blackhall Street redevelopment, it was unfortunately inevitable that there would be disruption but we have worked closely with the contractors and listened to businesses to try and keep disruption to an absolute minimum."

Cheryl Hughes, British Heart Foundation Area Manager, says: “We would like to give a huge thank you to our wonderful staff and volunteers for their continued support over the years.

“We’d also like to say a big thank you to our loyal and lovely customers in Greenock who have visited us over the years.

"They can still support us and visit our nearby shops and stores, including our Greenock Home Store on West Blackhall Street or shop online on our eBay store.

"Our free collection service is still available too, so please consider donating to us if you can. We’re grateful for the ongoing support of our customers, who help fund lifesaving research.”