Road to ruin?

Donal Day, proprietor of Decks Bar and Restaurant in Campsie, estimates his weekly turnover is down 50 per cent on this time last year.

He said this was due to disruption caused by major road works on the new A2 between Maydown and City of Derry Airport, combined with the economic slump.

The road project was started last year and is expected to be completed before Christmas. It has been a source of complaint for local businesses since work on the project started.

Mr Day told the Sentinel he has already been forced to let two waiting staff and some part-time staff go as a result of a weekly drop in revenue of approximately 6,000.

The restaurateur has even had to put his chef on a three day week and don the chef's hat himself on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, to try to cope with the challenging circumstances.

"Between the recession and the road works we are down almost 50 per cent in turnover," he told the paper. "My chef is now on a three day week. I do the other three days. Two waiting staff have been let go as well as some part-timers."

A Road Service ban preventing motorists from turning right into Eglinton between May and September had originally caused consternation amongst business owners in the area but this has since been resolved.

Mr Day said he has been in business in the area for 18 years and expects his loyal local customer base to continue to provide his bread and butter.

But he is resigned to losing any passing lunch time trade, which he believes will be taken away by the new dual carriageway and will be "lost forever."

Keith Lapsley of the Maxol petrol station at Broadbridge said the situation had not improved since spring when he told the Sentinel how he was losing 10,000 a week in turnover as a result of the roadworks.

"It's just as bad as ever," he said. "I've lost all my passing trade. We might get a few people coming in who know the area but strangers in hire cars and people going to and from the airport won't know we are here."

He said passing motorists using the new dual carriageway - unused to the local area - will entirely bypass the petrol station.

Mr Lapsley said it was difficult for businesses to survive as a result of the situation.

"Things are going to have to be streamlined and cutback," he said. "I was in one of the local car showrooms and they said footfall was down 50 per cent."

Maurice Devenney, who said he has been in touch with a number of businesses in the area, said there was tremendous concern about the impact of the roadworks, and that he had urged Roads Service to do more to help the local companies.

A Roads Service spokeswoman said: "As a result of discussions with local businesses a number of additional signs have been erected on a temporary basis until the permanent works are complete.

"Also, at the request of the businesses, a significant length of earth bunds are currently being reshaped to improve the aspect of the businesses."