Latest news with #AlfieLumb
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Businesses delighted as high street reopens after devastating fire
Business owners in Dorchester are hoping trade will get back to normal in time for Easter after South Street was reopened following a devastating fire. Part of the street opened up yesterday afternoon - and shop owners and councillors celebrated the revival of the part of the high street. Part of the street has been boarded up since last December after a fire at the Gorge Café. While work is still ongoing to clear and stabilise the site, a walkway now safely reconnects both sides of the street. Shoppers can now also get to South Street via Hardye Arcade, with Scrivens, Specsavers, and Amplifon now accessible. The building owner's private contractors (Jordan and Faber Ltd) will continue works within the new cordon boundaries. Dorset Council said its Building Control Team will continue to closely monitor progress, and the authority will provide updates 'when appropriate'. (Image: Dorchester Town Council) (Image: Dorchester Town Council) As the walkway opened in time for the influx of tourists for the holidays, traders said they were hoping to return to normal after what has been a very difficult winter for businesses. Jana Pahlow, who owns Simply Stylish in Hardye Arcade, said: 'I was there (Friday) and I was part of the reopening. They opened it up around 2.30pm and people have gone back to walking up and down the walkway.' (Image: Alfie Lumb) Mrs Pahlow said most businesses in the arcade have been affected by the decline in people walking in the area, which majorly helps with profits. She said: "We lost all our footfall. People would just have to walk the other way. It has had a huge impact on our business. We know it has affected us and we're now hoping to get back to normal.' As previously reported, the Gorge café was devasted by a fire that broke out in the early hours of Monday December 9, partially destroying the building and seriously affecting surrounding properties. (Image: Chloe Boden) The café was a much loved by locals and was deep rooted in Dorchester history, as the place where Thomas Hardy trained as an architect. The building was made secure in February after contractors were assigned to start the big clean up job after being assessed by Dorset Council's Building Control Team. David James, owner of Wise Owl Toys in the Hardye Arcade, in response to the reopening said: 'We are very pleased, it's been four months since it happened and hopefully now we will see a lot more visitors. (Image: Alfie Lumb) As a toy shop, Mr James said South Street opening by Easter has been fantastic news, as it's a business that greatly profits from passing trade. He said: 'Being a toy shop it is always good to find new customers who don't come from the town. '[The closure] didn't help but we were very fortunate that we have been here a long time so locals knew we were here. But we do rely on passing trade as well. It wasn't quite the same.' Cllr Richard Biggs, representing Dorchester Poundbury, said: 'It wasn't open first thing. But it's fantastic news and long awaited. The high street has been struggling with traders burdened with national insurance [increases]. So, it's really welcome news. 'Everyone is really concerned and worried and the bid is there to support them directly and anything Dorset Council can do is on the small business part of the website. We need to pull together and use our little shops.' Cllr Andy Canning, from the West Dorchester ward, agreed that local shops need more support than ever before. He said: 'The important thing is to get the people who live in Dorchester rally round and support our shops as they were badly hit by no fault of their own. And residents of the town benefit by rediscovering the local stores.'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Construction firm's closure 'significant loss' to local business community
The business community has been saddened by news that a Dorchester-based construction firm employing more than 40 people has entered administration. As previously reported, at least 40 people at Acheson Construction, whose head office is based at the Railway Triangle Industrial Estate in Dorchester, have been made redundant after the company entered administration. Steve Bulley President of Dorchester Chamber for Business added: 'The announcement that Acheson Construction has entered administration is a significant loss to our local business community. Our thoughts are with the employees and any local suppliers affected. 'This sad news highlights the broader challenges currently facing the construction industry. Over the past year, profit margins in the sector have been under considerable pressure. Notably, the average margin among the top 100 UK construction companies has declined to 1.7% from 2.7% in the previous year. Acheson Construction Head Office (Image: Alfie Lumb) 'Several factors have contributed to this margin compression. While building material costs have begun to decrease, ending a period of record high inflation that severely undermined profits, operating conditions remain challenging and mixed. 'Additionally, the industry continues to grapple with tight profit margins and ongoing skills shortages. 'The demise of Acheson Construction serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within the construction sector locally. Dorchester's business community has remained robust but it is a concern when a company with the heritage and size of Acheson Construction is unable to continue.' Robin Potter, mayor of Dorchester, said: 'It's very sad news that we've lost a well-established business that has been based in the town for many years. It's really sad to see them go. 'We hope everyone involved find employment and I hope that another firm can fill the breach that Acheson's will leave behind.' Richard Lewis and Alistair Wardell of Grant Thornton UK LLP were appointed Joint Administrators of Acheson Construction Limited on Tuesday, February 18 and ceased the company's operations on their appointment, with 40 of its 48 staff made redundant as a result. According to the joint administrators, the retained staff are assisting them with winding down the company's affairs. People reacting to the news online shared messages such as: "How sad. This company trained many building apprentices and done a lot of good. So sorry to hear this." Another added: "This is sad news, Achesons were the employers of so many, including school leavers taking apprenticeships, starting in the 1970s. I hope the people laid off find employment soon." According to administrators, the firm had been impacted by higher costs on fixed price contacts but added that the current efforts are focused on 'supporting employees'. The company, which has been involved in a host of local and regional building projects, had operated for more than 50 years and had another premises in Whiteley, near Fareham, Hampshire. Richard Lewis said: 'The business has been impacted by increased costs on fixed priced contracts, delays in the commencement of new projects and a dispute over amounts due under a key contract. 'Whilst the directors had considered alternative options, they sadly concluded it was no longer viable to continue to trade. 'Our efforts are initially focussed on supporting employees with making claims to the Redundancy Payments Service, securing physical assets and gathering information and evidence to support any claims the company has under contracts including in relation to retentions.' A notice has recently been put up on the company's website to alert people that the business is in administration. The latest accounts for the firm show a turnover of £53m, generating a pre-tax profit of £46,000 in the year to December 29, 2023. Last year's accounts are not yet available. Creditors will receive a formal notification by Monday, February 24 from the joint administrators of their appointment with details of how to claim amounts owed. Anyone with queries on this is urged to contact the company by writing in the first instance to Acheson Construction Limited – In Administration, c/o Grant Thornton UK LLP, Landmark, St, Peter's Square, 1 Oxford St, Manchester M1 4PB or cmusupport@
