'We do not want any more barriers for our businesses'

TRADERS FEAR EXTENDING FOOTBRIDGE CLOSURE TO WEEKENDS WILL HIT FOOTFALL

- By GEORGE PALMER-SOADY

An entrance to the footbridge at Nottingham Station

BUSINESSES fear an extension of the footbridge closure at Nottingham railway station to weekends will “cut the throat” of their livelihoods.

Independent traders and publicans have slammed rail bosses’ plans to close access between station platforms and the footbridge - which connects Station Street to Queen’s Road - during weekends.

Since August, the bridge has been closed to passengers between 7pm and 6am every day, a looser version of heavily-criticised plans which would have stopped access to most platforms at all times.

East Midlands Railway (EMR) says the restricted access, which comes into place on the weekend of Friday, February 6, will improve safety and reduce fare-dodging. But businesses who rely on footfall from passengers exiting the station from the footbridge fear the closure will negatively affect trade.

Hopkinson café, bar and antiques shop on Station Street, which says a hefty amount of its revenue comes from the station’s passing trade, has long fought against the plans.

Co-owners Ash and Louise Hudson said they first received the news from the railway station’s manager, who visited the store last week.