Counting the cost of road closures in Dundalk

The impact of frequent road works over the past couple of years at Quay Street in Dundalk, is leaving one business owner counting the cost to his business, and making a plea for more joined up thinking and better communication.

Andrew Brodigan, owner of the Londis at Quay Street, told the Dundalk Democrat that his shop, and the attached post office, has lost a huge amount of footfall and business over the past couple of years due to the works and associated road closures.

The shop employs 25 people, and with the post office and all that the shop offers, it has become a community hub for the area.

Highlighting both major works that took place in October 2022, and subsequent smaller works since, Andrew said that it has been a huge inconvenience for both the shop and people, many who are elderly, when trying to access the shop.

The postmistress of the post office also said that she suffered a “huge loss” of business due to works in December, as well as from the larger works that took place previous to that. She added that it has resulted in a large drop in footfall and that it was a huge inconvenience for elderly customers coming in.

“It's probably going on a couple of years”, Andrew explained. “We understand roadworks have to be done and maintenance work has to be done”, he stressed, adding that the issue is due to the lack of information in relation to the closures. The major roadworks, in October 2022. Basically for two weeks we had no access to the front of the shop whatsoever. And for two to three months, the whole road was a one way system, so we lost a huge amount of business and footfall.

“When people get out of the habit of coming this way, it makes it difficult. Around that time, it was a huge inconvenience, not only for ourselves for deliveries but for local residents. We've a lot of elderly customers who drive up here for their newspaper and come and get their pension and stuff like that. They couldn't park anywhere within 4-500 yards."

Andrew said they got in touch with Louth County Council about it, who told him that it was Irish Water (now Uisce Éireann). “That time it was 8am-5pm [working hours], that was it, Monday to Friday – there was no weekend work. “And then last year its just been constant road closures, one way systems, from Coe's Road corner, all the way up to here. The road's like a patchwork quilt. We just don't get informed about it. So we kicked up a bit of a fuss because we've had to.

“We've had lots of complaints from customers, even though its not our doing. Business is challenging enough at the minute, with costs rising. It's a huge challenge. But through no fault of our own, we've lost lots of business over these road closures. What I can't understand is why the Council can't say 'right guys, we're going to open the road once, so you can do your gas, electricity' – I don't know if that's possible.”

Communication, or lack thereof, is one of Andrew's main concerns. “If I know that the road is going to be closed, we can cut back on staff, we can inform our customers.” Pointing to one closure in particular, he said “on the 7 December, I think it was, there was a closure out here. It was one of the busiest days of December for us traditionally, because of the payments through the post office and different things.

“The guys rocked up and said we're closing the road for half a day or a day. And that's frustrating. When something like that happens, anyone that sees there's a road closure on Quay Street they're going to go somewhere else. Neighbours and residents up and down the road every morning, they're constantly, 'not another closure', it's quite a big ordeal for them.

“We have a busy shop, we try to have as many things here that people don't have to go into town. “We employ 25 people from the area. We're a community hub, with the post office.”

He mentions one customer, “there's one woman there who walked up, I watched her last week, she had to actually walk out on the road because there was a footpath being dug up at the same time as this was being done. There was no barriers on the road. The barriers had blown down in the wind. She had to actually walk out around a van and get back onto the footpath.

“On that occasion there was road works here, the footpath was dug up. They struck a water main which – that was an accident, but it prolonged it [the closure]. We had no water for that day as well, for lunch time we had no water. We didn't have to close, our coffee machines and all that were out of action.”

Cllr Robert Nash has been working on the issue with Louth County Council on Andrew's behalf, and at time of going to press, was waiting on a response from the local authority, to an email asking, among other things, for a list of the road openings last year and what will be happening over the next three months.

With regards licenses being issued for road closures, Andrew says, “The Council will give the road opening licenses to, whether its the gas networks, the contractor next door, Irish Water, so in their eyes, 'it's nothing to do with us'. That's the opinion we got.

“We'd a major major disruption to business when they put the pipe from the top of the road down to the bottom. I don't want to be seen as going after the Council constantly and that, we obviously know road works have to be done to improve the infrastructure in the area.

“It's more to do with the constant opening of roads, I don't know whether its the same reason, but the guys that did the pipe on the road, they've been back down, I'd hazard a guess, five or six times.

“Look our rates are there, we have to pay our rates. You pay your water charges and in the current climate, every cost is rising. But when that's rising, and then through no fault of your own, footfall is taken away from you, it's tough. And it's tough for every business in town, because I look around, whether its Castletown Road, Avenue Road – there's no joined up thinking. In my eyes there's no joined up thinking and there's no communication.

“All I do know is that when the traffic is a one way system anyone that is coming down Quay Street, they're going to keep going because they don't want to get stuck in traffic. It's a disruption to the area.

"We were told that when they done this pipe work, the whole road would be completely redone in one act, which they did to a certain extent – but it's been dug up again I'd say a dozen times since then between here and in front of the army barracks. I don't have exact numbers, I'd say 10 or 12 times over the past year it's been dug up.

“Myself and my wife work this business, we work every day of the week. It's a community hub and the disruption to pension day, when you have elderly people who come up here and try and park their car outside the door, and come in and get their few bits and go – that's a huge disruption to them. And that's what we've been listenting to since this happened a few weeks ago – 'not again'.”

Cllr Robert Nash, who has been working on Andrew's behalf on the matter, asked Louth County Council a number of questions in relation too road closures in an email to the local authority. They are as follows:

• 1. How many road opening licences have been issued by LCC (Louth County Council) to contractors for the Quay Street/Point road area in the last 12 months?
• 2. Do LCC inspect sites to which licences are granted during relevant works?
• 3. Why can't LCC insist on road open licences being issued at the weekend and is it more expensive to obtain a permit on a Saturday and a Sunday?
• 4. How many road open licences have been granted in the next three months for Quay street?
• 5. How can LCC ensure that correspondents between contractors and businesses about road closures is more transparent and that more notice is given?
• 6. Is it possible for LCC to insist on outside agencies collaborating and possibly completing works at the same time, leading to less disruption for members of the public and local businesses?
• 7. After work has been completed, do LCC inspect to make sure the road surface is of a suitable condition? It is many people's opinion in the area that the road has been left in a terrible condition due to the amount of work which has been done over the last 12 months.

The Dundalk Democrat has also asked Louth County Council for a comment on the matter in relation to the number of closures at Quay Street, and communication to local business owners in relation to them. The Democrat also asked if Louth County Council carries out inspections on sites to which licenses have been granted for works; and if there have been further licenses issued for road works for Quay Street this year.

In its response Louth County County said: “Louth County Council granted a total of 940 licences county wide for various purposes last year. Specifically, with regards to Quay Street, licences have been issued for a number of large-scale gas, utility and water utility works over the past 12 months.

“With these projects there were no road closures in place, but lane closures to allow movement of traffic and parking to minimise disruption to local businesses and residents. These licences were granted on the condition that the applicant must communicate to all residents and businesses by letter drop, a minimum of three days prior to works.

“Permanent road reinstatement on Quay Street was completed by Irish Water utility company in Q3 2023, during night works to minimize disruption. 

“In the last month, a licence was granted which involved a full lane crossing to connect services. Disruption was minimised by allowing traffic flow one way and no road closure was in place for this. Unfortunately, due to rock breaking, noise nuisance, these works could only be permitted during normal working hours, and not night-time works.”

In relation to inspections, it said: “Louth County Council conducts inspections on all large sites, particularly those involving large lane closures lasting more than four weeks. These inspections ensure that works are carried out in accordance with approved plans, and that any potential impacts on the local community are mitigated to the best extent possible.”

In relation to further road closures for this year it said, “Louth County Council can confirm that no further licences have been issued for road works on Quay Street at this time. However, should there be any future works planned, we will ensure timely communication with local stakeholders to minimise inconvenience.”