A health centre boss fears appointments will be affected if bus gate plans are introduced and has called for a delay on any decisions being made.
Andy Knibbs, Principal Chiropractor and Centre Director at Stoke Chiro Spinal Health Centre, is the latest businessperson to speak out after Daily Focus reported on Monday about Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce writing to Government ministers asking for a rethink of the scheme.
Plans are to stop motorists travelling westbound on Etruria Road (Basford Bank) from the A500 junction towards Newcastle-under-Lyme during rush hours.
Yesterday, Debbie Tams – who is hoping to open a luxury beauty salon, mini-spa and restaurant on Etruria Road – said it could be the final nail in the coffin for her new business.
Andy, who employs over 20 people at his Etruria Road centre, above, said: “This issue is a distraction and a frustration. It is taking up time and energy on my part when I should be concentrating on growing my own business, not looking over my shoulder at what we may have to deal with.
“Basford Bank has been a great location for us. We’ve grown really well over the last 14 years and attracted some very good people to come and work for us from all over the country.
“However, we are currently one of 20 or 30 appointment-based businesses on Basford Bank and many of our appointments are at the times that the bus gate would be active.
“A survey of our customers showed 30 per cent of them would struggle to attend appointments at those times if the measure was brought in – it would have a huge impact on us.”
Andy added: “It is brilliant to have the support of the Chamber weighing in on the matter. Our local councillor has been very supportive too but as far as I am aware, there has been no direct consultation with businesses.
“I’d like to see the plans pushed back to get more cars on the road which are less polluting and the introduction of better strategies for reducing pollution in the area.
“People will still need to travel from A to B if the bus gate is implemented – they will just have to travel further and pollute a wider area to get there. It’s a concern that moving the problem elsewhere will take traffic to areas where there are more schools.”
The Government has instructed local councils to implement the bus gate and a clean air zone around the city centre and down into Fenton due to illegal levels of air pollution (NO2) detected at those traffic hotspots.
The three local authorities involved – Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council – are understood to have raised concerns with the Government and are carrying out impact assessments. Daily Focus has approached them for a comment and is awaiting a response.
