Cleethorpes traders say resort revamp is hitting business as footfall falls

Shop owners and cafe operators in Cleethorpes say a major seafront regeneration project is already affecting trade, raising a familiar concern for high streets across Lincolnshire when improvement works disrupt the usual flow of visitors. Businesses on Alexandra Road say they have seen fewer people passing by since Pier Gardens was closed off for redevelopment. According to traders, the fencing around the site and along nearby routes has made it harder for holidaymakers and day-trippers to move from Central Promenade into the street, cutting off the casual custom many independent businesses rely on. The work forms part of a £7.9m revamp of Pier Gardens, itself included in a wider £18.4m regeneration scheme in the town.

North East Lincolnshire Council has said it will respond directly to the traders in the coming days. For Lincolnshire readers, the dispute will strike a chord. Investment in coastal towns is often welcomed in principle, especially where councils are trying to refresh public spaces and attract more visitors over the long term. But for small firms trading through the works, the immediate issue is much simpler - whether customers can still reach them easily enough to spend money.

A petition has now been launched by traders calling for a cut-through to be created so visitors can once again pass more directly from the promenade to Alexandra Road. Business owner Karen Webb-Meek, of Dollie Jewellery, said the full closure of the gardens had a negative effect that she believes was not properly understood before work began. She said the barriers had effectively channelled people on to the prom rather than towards nearby shops, and argued that if a pedestrian route cannot be created quickly, affected firms should receive compensation. That question has already been raised at a recent council meeting, where one councillor asked whether businesses suffering a loss of income could be financially supported.

The authority's position, as reported, is that compensation will not be available, although council signage is expected to promote businesses that remain open during the works. Other traders have echoed the concern. Cafe owner Jonathan Rowbotham said the loss of walk-in trade was hurting businesses and suggested the work could have been carried out in sections. Lisa-Marie Robinson, who opened LM Art Gallery in November, said the diversion was too long for some visitors and also pointed to disruption caused by dirt around the site.

The Pier Gardens scheme is one of three government-funded projects in Cleethorpes, alongside developments at Sea Road and Market Place. All are due to be completed in 2027. For communities along the Lincolnshire coast, the story is a reminder of the balancing act behind regeneration. New investment may promise future gains, but for independent traders trying to get through the current season, access and footfall remain everything.

This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.