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Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Our once thriving town is dying thanks to MONTHS of roadwork hell – pubs empty, shops shut & tourists can't stand racket
Pubs in the area have been forced to close as early as 3pm and shops are earning as little as £10 a day, furious locals say GHOST TOWN Our once thriving town is dying thanks to MONTHS of roadwork hell – pubs empty, shops shut & tourists can't stand racket A ONCE-thriving town and gateway to one of Britain's 'Seven Wonders' has become a "ghost town" - with tourists "actively avoiding it". Horrendous roadworks and noise pollution are making the popular staycation destination a "nightmare" for visitors, locals and traders say. 19 Tourists have been scared off by the excessive roadworks in a once-thriving town Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 19 The roadworks are not set to end until October this year - long after the summer influx of tourists Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 19 Bartender Jacob Hackett said the pub where he works had to close at 3pm on a particularly quiet day Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Located on the southern edge of the Peak District, Ashbourne is undergoing a huge and costly redevelopment to make its roads narrower and footpaths wider. But blocked off streets, dug-up roads and piercing noise from heavy machinery are driving visitors away from the picturesque Derbyshire town, according to residents. The high street, which is home to quaint shopfronts and inviting pubs, is instead littered with bright orange barriers, diggers and road closed signs - and could kill off trade altogether, locals fume. Business owners have slammed the council over the £15m Ashbourne Reborn campaign, which has heavily impacted footfall and caused shops to take in as little as £10 a day. The roadworks, which have forced several local shops to close, are not scheduled to finish until at least October - well after the summer influx of tourists. It's become a ghost town and it's become survival of the fittest because shoppers and tourists are simply avoiding us, which is very sad. Georgina Ashworth Georgina Ashworth, owner of local shop Pretty Things, said: "Visitors and shoppers are thinking twice about coming here, and businesses are closing down. "It's become a ghost town and it's become survival of the fittest because shoppers and tourists are simply avoiding us, which is very sad. 19 Some shops have been forced to closed as a result of low footfall Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 19 Dug-up roads and heavy machinery are driving tourists away, locals say Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 19 Local business owners are struggling to access their own shops in the area Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd "They can't just nip across the road to browse and buy in many shops because the place is dug up and it's so noisy, people are walking around with their fingers in their ears. "The roadworks have been going on for months and have driven everyone away. People are avoiding Ashbourne. "[The council] have not offered any compensation for loss of business and it seems to be getting worse, rather than better. I visited creepy ghost town on tropical island - there is one building open "Shops are closing - the vintage clothing shop across the road shut its doors last weekend and more will follow. It's a shame. "If there are any visitors, it will put them off coming back again." We're open from midday to 11pm but the other day we closed at 3pm because we had no customers. Jacob Hackett She told how even local residents had been outfoxed by the confusing layout and rampant roadworks. The council-run project has seen excavators targeting all routes in and out of town, causing traffic chaos and delays. Jacob Hackett, who works at The Bridge Pub, said business was so bad the boozer had started closing early. The bartender said: "We're just not getting the footfall. 19 The popular destination is flooded with barriers and excavators putting tourists off Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 19 A local deli and wine shop has closed as a result of the works Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 19 The Ashbourne Reborn Project is ruining livelihoods, traders say Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd "We've had roadworks outside for two months and the noise from the machinery drives you mad! "Normally we get a lot of tourists and passing trade but they're not coming into town. "We're open from midday to 11pm but the other day we closed at 3pm because we had no customers." Whilst pedestrians can still access the streets on narrow, sealed-off footpaths, no vehicles can enter. Traders have pointed to the summer months as being crucial for the survival of small businesses in the area. But the chaos of excavators running rampant through the town centre poses a serious threat to shopkeepers' livelihoods. 19 Ashbourne has been described as a "ghost town" by locals Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 19 Vehicles are no longer able to drive through the town centre Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 19 The town is gearing up for the most important trading months of the year Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Jo Hall, owner of The Olde Sweet Shoppe, told Derbyshire Live: "I do not understand why there was no impact assessment done. "It could have given businesses hope as to what positive impact we can expect after the losses we're facing this summer. "It's summers that get you through the winters. Next autumn and winter, I believe we will see a lot of shops struggle. "Ashbourne is made up of micro-businesses, most of us traders here don't have another shop somewhere else to fall back on. "It may well be that shop after shop just can't cope." Ms Hall's shop is now only accessible by a narrow, dead-end footpath. Derbyshire County Council apologised for the disruption but insisted the town was still accessible and "open for business". A council spokesperson said: 'We understand that local people, traders and visitors are feeling frustrated with the roadworks in Ashbourne at the moment and would like to offer our apologies for any inconvenience they are causing. "We were always mindful that the works would cause disruption, but business are open and accessible and Ashbourne is still very much open for business. 19 Bunting has been put up in anticipation of the busy summer period Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 19 Works are underway to widen the narrow footpaths in the town Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 19 The council has apologised to locals but defended the works Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 'We are working with all our partners, including Derbyshire Dales District Council, to do all we can to both speed up the roadworks and work with traders to address any specific concerns they may have. "Once the work is finished Ashbourne will be a much better place to visit.' Derbyshire has developed a reputation for its quirky spa towns, rich history and grand country homes. Ashbourne has previously been hailed as an "underrated" getaway, providing a cheaper option for Brits looking to book somewhere close to the national park. It is often referred to as "the gateway to Dovedale" - a popular valley in the Peak District which was hailed as one of the seven wonders of the UK by the Royal Geographical Society in 2021. According to analysis by Independent Cottages, the town has gained more attention in recent years than more celebrated staycation spots in the area, including places like Bakewell. 19 Locals and tourists alike are being diverted from the town centre Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 19 A local Lloyds branch is set to close in the area next month Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 19 The project has cost the council £15m Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Ashbourne is home to more than 200 listed buildings, including Grade I listed Old Grammar School and The Greenman Pub. Another landmark in the area is St Oswald's Parish Church, which boasts an impressive 212ft high spire. It is also famed for its globally renowned gingerbread, which was allegedly brought to the town during the Napoleonic War. Legend has it that the recipe was given to a local by the personal chef of a captured French general, who was being held captive there at the beginning of the 19th Century. The black and white timber-framed gingerbread shop can still be seen in the roadwork-ridden town centre today. Once a year, locals participate in a peculiar sporting tradition known as Shrovetide Football. Taking place on Shrove Tuesday, the annual event is played over two eight-hour periods, with the goals spaced three miles apart and players able to handle the ball. The games can often become quite violent due to the lack of rules. Local shops and businesses have taken to boarding up their windows in anticipation of the spectacle - but they could be boarding their businesses up for good if the town continues to be plagued by roadworks.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Our once thriving town is dying thanks to MONTHS of roadwork hell – pubs empty, shops shut & tourists can't stand racket
A ONCE-thriving town and gateway to one of Britain's 'Seven Wonders' has become a "ghost town" - with tourists "actively avoiding it". Horrendous roadworks and noise pollution are making the popular staycation destination a "nightmare" for visitors, locals and traders say. 19 19 19 Located on the southern edge of the Peak District, Ashbourne is undergoing a huge and costly redevelopment to make its roads narrower and footpaths wider. But blocked off streets, dug-up roads and piercing noise from heavy machinery are driving visitors away from the picturesque Derbyshire town, according to residents. The high street, which is home to quaint shopfronts and inviting pubs, is instead littered with bright orange barriers, diggers and road closed signs - and could kill off trade altogether, locals fume. Business owners have slammed the council over the £15m Ashbourne Reborn campaign, which has heavily impacted footfall and caused shops to take in as little as £10 a day. The roadworks, which have forced several local shops to close, are not scheduled to finish until at least October - well after the summer influx of tourists. It's become a ghost town and it's become survival of the fittest because shoppers and tourists are simply avoiding us, which is very sad. Georgina Ashworthshop owner Georgina Ashworth, owner of local shop Pretty Things, said: "Visitors and shoppers are thinking twice about coming here, and businesses are closing down. "It's become a ghost town and it's become survival of the fittest because shoppers and tourists are simply avoiding us, which is very sad. 19 19 19 "They can't just nip across the road to browse and buy in many shops because the place is dug up and it's so noisy, people are walking around with their fingers in their ears. "The roadworks have been going on for months and have driven everyone away. People are avoiding Ashbourne. "[The council] have not offered any compensation for loss of business and it seems to be getting worse, rather than better. I visited creepy ghost town on tropical island - there is one building open "Shops are closing - the vintage clothing shop across the road shut its doors last weekend and more will follow. It's a shame. "If there are any visitors, it will put them off coming back again." She told how even local residents had been outfoxed by the confusing layout and rampant roadworks. The council -run project has seen excavators targeting all routes in and out of town, causing traffic chaos and delays. Jacob Hackett, who works at The Bridge Pub, said business was so bad the boozer had started closing early. The bartender said: "We're just not getting the footfall. 19 19 19 "We've had roadworks outside for two months and the noise from the machinery drives you mad! "Normally we get a lot of tourists and passing trade but they're not coming into town. "We're open from midday to 11pm but the other day we closed at 3pm because we had no customers." Whilst pedestrians can still access the streets on narrow, sealed-off footpaths, no vehicles can enter. Traders have pointed to the summer months as being crucial for the survival of small businesses in the area. But the chaos of excavators running rampant through the town centre poses a serious threat to shopkeepers' livelihoods. 19 19 Jo Hall, owner of The Olde Sweet Shoppe, told Derbyshire Live: "I do not understand why there was no impact assessment done. "It could have given businesses hope as to what positive impact we can expect after the losses we're facing this summer. "It's summers that get you through the winters. Next autumn and winter, I believe we will see a lot of shops struggle. "Ashbourne is made up of micro-businesses, most of us traders here don't have another shop somewhere else to fall back on. "It may well be that shop after shop just can't cope." Ms Hall's shop is now only accessible by a narrow, dead-end footpath. Derbyshire County Council apologised for the disruption but insisted the town was still accessible and "open for business". A council spokesperson said: 'We understand that local people, traders and visitors are feeling frustrated with the roadworks in Ashbourne at the moment and would like to offer our apologies for any inconvenience they are causing. "We were always mindful that the works would cause disruption, but business are open and accessible and Ashbourne is still very much open for business. 19 19 'We are working with all our partners, including Derbyshire Dales District Council, to do all we can to both speed up the roadworks and work with traders to address any specific concerns they may have. "Once the work is finished Ashbourne will be a much better place to visit.' Derbyshire has developed a reputation for its quirky spa towns, rich history and grand country homes. Ashbourne has previously been hailed as an "underrated" getaway, providing a cheaper option for Brits looking to book somewhere close to the national park. It is often referred to as "the gateway to Dovedale" - a popular valley in the Peak District which was hailed as one of the seven wonders of the UK by the Royal Geographical Society in 2021. According to analysis by Independent Cottages, the town has gained more attention in recent years than more celebrated staycation spots in the area, including places like Bakewell. 19 Ashbourne is home to more than 200 listed buildings, including Grade I listed Old Grammar School and The Greenman Pub. Another landmark in the area is St Oswald's Parish Church, which boasts an impressive 212ft high spire. It is also famed for its globally renowned gingerbread, which was allegedly brought to the town during the Napoleonic War. Legend has it that the recipe was given to a local by the personal chef of a captured French general, who was being held captive there at the beginning of the 19th Century. The black and white timber-framed gingerbread shop can still be seen in the roadwork-ridden town centre today. Once a year, locals participate in a peculiar sporting tradition known as Shrovetide Football. Taking place on Shrove Tuesday, the annual event is played over two eight-hour periods, with the goals spaced three miles apart and players able to handle the ball. The games can often become quite violent due to the lack of rules. Local shops and businesses have taken to boarding up their windows in anticipation of the spectacle - but they could be boarding their businesses up for good if the town continues to be plagued by roadworks.
The Independent
14-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Volunteers deliver gifts to widows on Valentine's Day. The project began in a florist's driveway
Jillian Myers knows the devastation of losing a husband and feeling alone and empty, particularly on Valentine's Day. Her husband, Jason Myers, was working as a meteorologist for a North Carolina television station when he died in a helicopter crash in 2022, leaving behind his wife of 19 years and four children. 'As a widow, you often don't feel seen,' Myers, 42, said of the holiday. 'You don't feel appreciated. You don't feel the warmth and the love that your person would express.' She is among a growing number of volunteers who deliver gifts to widows and widowers through the Valentine's Day Widow Outreach Project. The movement started in 2021 in the driveway of a Charlotte flower shop owner's home and has grown each year. The project on Friday planned to reach 1,500 people in the Charlotte area who've lost a spouse, while similar efforts are underway in Houston, Nashville, Pittsburgh and other cities. Gifts range from anything from wine and candy to flowers and jewelry. 'You kind of resign yourself to this is how life is going to be — my person's gone and it's never going to be the same,' said Myers, who lives outside of Charlotte and previously received gifts through the project. 'And it's true, it's never the same.' 'But when someone sees you and expresses such compassion for you and you're the recipient of that, it's such a heartwarming feeling,' she continued. 'It's so touching and you can't help but want to pay it forward. Especially for women that you also know exactly how they're feeling.' The project was started by Ashley Manning, who owns the Charlotte flower shop Pretty Things by A.E. Manning. The basic idea emerged years ago, after her son's preschool teacher mentioned to Manning that she had lost her husband to cancer. 'I just remembered that, and I could tell it still hurt her,' Manning said. The following Valentine's Day, Manning bought flowers, chocolate and a card for the woman. Months later, she told Manning, 'I just want you to know how much that meant to me.' By February 2021, Manning had opened her flower shop. She wanted to bring gifts to more widows, maybe 30 to 50, and reached out to followers on social media. 'And over a couple of weeks we had donations, volunteers and nominations for over 120,' Manning said. 'So that was it. The first year it was very makeshift. It was not very organized, but we got it done. And a lot of the people that showed up that year are still here five years later volunteering.' Several of them are widows like Myers. 'I love listening to their stories,' Myers said. 'I love being able to just connect with them in that way — women that are ahead of me in the journey of being a widow, women that are coming behind me. There's way too many widows.' The group of volunteers includes people who didn't lose a spouse, such as Keely Hudson, 36, who lost her father when she was 13. 'I watched my mom struggle as a single mom with young kids,' Hudson said. 'I know how special it is for people to show up for you when you need somebody.' Hudson recalled one particular experience last year when she and her two sons delivered gifts to a woman in a senior living community. 'The look on the woman's face was incredible — she had no idea," Hudson recalled. 'And she kept asking me, 'But who is it from? And who are you?' She didn't understand it. And so, after I explained it, she just cried. And we hugged and she got to hug my boys. And so that was just a really cool experience."
