Stoke mobility retailer speaks out after road closure impacts vital trade
A road closure in the Staffordshire town of Longton has resulted in lost trade and dwindling footfall for Brighter Ways Mobility, with the council not confirming when the important street will be reopened.
The independent mobility store, owned by Craig Harrison, has operated from the town for the past decade, selling a range of mobility solutions, alongside offering repairs and servicing.
On 15 September, Stoke-on-Trent City closed access to the street where Brighter Ways Mobility is situated to motorists, erecting a metal fence around the mobility store and two neighbouring businesses.
According to a report by Stoke-on-Trent Live, the road closure and shop cordon was imposed due to a ‘potentially dangerous structure’ and has had a significant impact on the mobility company’s business.
Speaking to Stoke-on-Trent Live, Craig Harrison said: “I had to cancel four jobs on Wednesday and one sale for us can be massive, like £2,000, so it makes a huge difference.
“We do repairs and source parts, including batteries, as well as actually selling mobility vehicles. We have customers who really rely on us.”
Alongside its mobility activities, Brighter Ways Mobility also operates as a collection point for Wish parcels, reports the local news outlet. A day after the closure, the mobility store reported having 160 parcels waiting to be collected.
The closure to the independent retailer’s trade compounds an already significantly disrupted year due to the coronavirus.
“It feels like a massive kick in the teeth after what has been a really tough year for local businesses,” noted Brighter Ways Mobility shop volunteer Luke Clayton to Stoke-on-Trent Live.
