Atherton, Market Street traders are claiming that the Bridge Works is making Atherton like a “Lost Island” with the once busy town centre now struggling to even gather crowds on a daily basis. Some traders have even admitted that they haven’t even drawn wages since the Bridge works began last month.
"My takings were £280 down last week," explained concerned butcher Peter Jones.
He and his wife, Christine, run Market Street Meats and Mr Jones told the Leigh Journal:
"For some traders the money coming in has halved. Atherton is like an island - it's hard enough as it is to make a living but we've another eight weeks of this and nobody seems to be bothered about our plight.
"When Market Street was dug up a few months ago for work on water pipes United Utilities compensated us for loss of earnings.
"Wigan Council have said it's nothing to do with them and put us on to Network Rail but we are not sure we will got anything. We are suffering now."
Sarah Jones at Banana Farm pet store claimed takings were down by a massive two-thirds.
She said: "These shops aren't taking enough money to take wages home at the moment. Things are bad enough with the town's one-way system that has shut most of the shops in Atherton - we don't need a three month long main road closure as well."
Denise Greenwood at Glamour handbags and fashion accessories, Zoe Farrell at the men's barbers and Peter Lawson who runs a hair salon on Market Street echoed her thoughts.
"It's really made a big difference to trade - roll on December!" said Denise.
And taxi driver John Painter at Supercabs underlined the traffic nightmare.
"We have a contract to transport pupils from Greenhall School which is on the Bolton side of the bridge and the diversion in place is twice as long and jammed full with traffic. We had quite a lot of passengers from the other side of the bridge."
A spokesman for Network Rail said: "Under English Law it is an accepted principle that claims of this nature cannot succeed. "This means Network Rail have no obligation to compensate for any losses incurred as a result of the loss of business alleged. "We would suggest traders make a claim under their Business Interruption Insurance if they have the appropriate cover in force. "If they are not happy with the above we trust they will take legal advice, speak to their insurer or local Citizens Advice Bureau and if appropriate submit a formal claim in writing to our claims manager."
Of course the sheer somewhat seemingly automated response by Network Rail doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. Yet another one of these situations were nobody is willing to take responsibility and cough up! We mustn’t forget that these works were necessary and clearly the money would not have been spent to replace the bridge if it wasn’t strictly necessary... of course if the works were delayed for even years to come we would still have had the same effect then.
I am extremely surprised to just how much Market Street traders have been effected, If this is the situation here, I dread to think of the poor businesses on Newbrook Road themselves who effectively shall not be getting any passing trade other than Marlborough Road residents... I shall be very surprised if Atherton has its own branch of Costcutter when the road reopens! I sincerely feel for all the traders in Atherton and I hope that they find a way to get through these rough few months. Our town has already gone down to the proverbial (The Punch Bowl pub looks like a bombs hit it from the outside and it has only been vacant for a short amount of time!) we cannot allow our own little individual town suffer down to the stupidity of how the road closure has been handled. 
Admittedly Bolton Road has never been quieter, nor have you been able to cross the road so quickly ever before which is indeed a god send, but if it is effecting our town’s shops... then I would certainly prefer an uncrossable road! Television Personality and Shop enthusiast Mary Portas is somebody who is passionate for the survival of little towns and independent businesses such as ours and quite frankly it is visually apparent that Atherton has died on its feet! I send my support to all the local businesses and can only hope that the roadworks end as soon as possible, I saw a new Carpet Shop opening in our town the other day but I just hope no businesses are forced to close as a result of a major loss in passing trade. This could have all been avoided if Marlborough Road would have remained open for cars... simple! Many thanks to Andrea Davies Pendlebury for her efforts over the Marlborough Road saga. The one way pedestrian system in the town centre is something which should never have happened in my opinion. Better a busy road with a bustling town than an empty one with shutters down! The Road should be reverted to how it once was because I’m afraid the parking situation is laughable!
Matt Howarth, This Week [VIEW HERE]
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