Latest news with #localBusinesses
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Greenwich's Cutty Sark DLR station shuts for a year to replace 'unreliable' escalators
Cutty Sark DLR station has closed for a year to allow four new escalators to be installed. According to Greenwich Council, the four new state-of-the-art, energy efficient escalators will provide customers with 'easier and more reliable access' to and from the station. Cutty Sark DLR closed at the end of Saturday (May 31) and will stay shut until next spring to allow the existing escalators—described as 'increasingly unreliable' and 'beyond economical to repair'—to be replaced with new ones. Greenwich Council has urged those who use the station to use nearby Greenwich station throughout the closure, or local bus services. The council has installed additional street signage to direct customers between the Cutty Sark and Greenwich stations, which is a journey of around 11 minutes on foot. A Greenwich Council spokesperson said: 'We welcome the news of improvement works to Cutty Sark DLR station. The escalator replacement will ensure a fully accessible station for all users for many years to come. 'In the meantime, there are many other ways to get to and from Greenwich including buses, mainline rail stations and riverboat services. 'Greenwich town centre is always open. We're working closely with local businesses and our tourism partners to make sure the impact of the closure is as minimal as possible. 'As a UNESCO world heritage, millions of people come to Greenwich to visit its world-famous park, observatory and other attractions every year, so we'll be exploring all the ways we can work with TfL and others to keep our town centre the vibrant, bustling corner of London that people know and love.'
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Some TMR business owners say Hydro-Québec construction is hurting their livelihoods
A Hydro-Québec construction project in TMR is drawing frustration from some local business owners who say they were given little notice and are now struggling. A major Hydro-Québec construction project in the Town of Mount Royal (TMR) is drawing frustration from some local business owners who say they were given little notice and are now struggling to stay afloat. Crews have been digging and blocking streets since late April to install an underground transmission line along Jean-Talon West and Lucerne Road. While the Crown corporation says the work is essential to meet growing energy demands on the island of Montreal, business owners like Amit Bachar of Details Car Wash say it's left them with no clear way out. 'I've lost half my revenue already,' said Bachar, who's been operating the Jean-Talon West car wash for 18 years. 'On a sunny day like today, there would normally be 15 cars lined up. But now there's no one because customers can't even access my business.' The project, expected to continue through early September, has severely limited traffic on Lucerne Road, which is the main access point for Bachar's car wash. While one lane remains open for southbound traffic, the northbound route is entirely closed. That means drivers must take a detour just to get in. 'Cars can't come in from Jean-Talon like they usually do,' he said. Bachar says the situation has already forced him to cut employee hours. 'I'm trying to help them as much as I can, but I don't have unlimited money,' he said. 'This business is like my baby. Everything I've built over the past 18 years—Hydro-Québec could undo it in weeks.' A stone's throw away, Shalom Grunwald runs District Bagel. He said the disruption only began affecting him in recent days, but business has already slowed. 'Usually, when the weather is like this, our patio and inside would be full,' Grunwald said. 'Now, it's barely just a few people walking in.' He blames what he sees as poor planning and a lack of communication from Hydro-Québec. 'There's a detour, but it adds 15 to 20 minutes if you're driving,' Grunwald said. 'For a sandwich? Most people will just go somewhere else.' Both Grunwald and Bachar said they were only informed of the multi-month construction about two weeks before it began. Bachar described his calls to Hydro-Québec as frustrating, claiming he was told to hire a lawyer if he wanted help. 'So instead of supporting us, they're telling us to get into legal battles?' he said. 'I can't fight the government. They have all the money and we're just small business owners trying to survive.' In a statement to CTV News, Hydro-Québec spokesperson Jonathan Côté said excavation and paving near the intersection of Lucerne and Jean-Talon should be completed by June 6, with the full project wrapping up by Sept. 5. 'These are major works that will be completed in full by the end of summer,' Côté wrote, adding that specific efforts were made to limit disruption for local merchants. Those measures include installing bypass roads, signage, flaggers during work hours, and even a police presence during rush hour. Côté said plans were shared with affected business owners in advance and that the corporation held individual meetings with merchants. However, Hydro-Québec stated that financial compensation would not be provided in this case. The spokesperson said that's due to the work serving a public utility need, construction happening on public roads and mitigation efforts. That's cold comfort for Bachar. 'We pay taxes, we work seven days a week and we give everything to make our businesses work,' he said. 'Then they come in and destroy it all for a project—and don't even try to help. How can they look at people here suffering and just ignore it?' He says he's speaking out not just for himself but for other small business owners across Montreal facing similar situations. 'I'm sure there are hundreds of people in this position,' Bachar said. 'Hydro-Québec does whatever it wants, and it's not fair to the citizens.'
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Dramatic surveillance video shows suspects flee scene after Old Montreal fire
Montreal Watch Dramatic surveillance video captures the violent fire at a cafe in Old Montreal in the early morning hours of May 30, 2025.
The Sun
26-05-2025
- The Sun
Our beautiful seaside town was once dubbed the Magaluf of Britain – strict ‘mankini ban' saved us
A SEASIDE town that was once known as 'Britain's Magaluf' is unrecognisable after cleaning up its image - and banning mankinis. Business owners and locals say they hardly recognise Newquay in Cornwall, after a major effort was made to shed its 'wild west' reputation. 11 11 The coastal spot had a reputation for rowdiness and was known for playing host to stag dos, lads holidays and drunken teenage gatherings. The council finally had enough and in 2009 introduced a "mankini ban." The new law, which was part of the award-winning Newquay Safe campaign, banned mankinis and other "inappropriate clothing" such as fancy dress in public. The campaign was introduced after two teenagers tragically died on nights out in the town. It was a huge success, Devon and Cornwall Police reported crime in 2012 fell by one-fifth compared to 2009. Reports of anti-social behaviour also dropped from 685 to 286 in those years. Long suffering locals say Newquay today is a world apart from its past. Independent coffee shops line the high street where the infamous Bertie's nightclub, which closed its doors last year. Families walk along the quiet coast and take surfing lessons, while older residents play bowls overlooking the beach. Vintage and skate and surf clothing stores are dotted amongst quaint pasty shops. The only markers of a different time are the arcades in the town centre. Arcade worker Maddie Grover, 25, says that while there are still stag dos, they're "not as bad as they were at the time." She grew up in the town and said the area particularly quietened down after Bertie's closed down. She said now some clubs don't allow stag dos inside if the attendees are dressed up. Maddie added: "The high street is a little bit rowdy in the central area. It's better now, it's more calm, there aren't as many fights. "We see lots of families because we work in an arcade but we see a lot more families in general." 11 11 Andy, 40, is happy the town had shed its former reputation, he said: "I definitely think it's better. "There's a higher level of respect and there isn't the locals being like: 'Oh God.' "Silly season, we expect, but it's not something you're dreading anymore. You're not dodging vomit on the high street. "I skateboard from the top of the hill to the shop and there's no longer passed-out people, people who have vomited everywhere and broken glass. It's cleaned up quite a lot since then. "I just see hungry, happy, people wandering around in the mornings looking for a good breakfast. "There are families coming down, and the families that come down have that mentality of: 'I'd love to live here because of how it is.' "Compared to before when you would walk down the high street and see six dudes in mankinis and none of them have seen a gym before and you're like: 'Great.' "You still get stag and hen dos but they've been reined in. There are certain rules and regulations, like the mankini ban. You're not allowed fancy dress in certain bars over a certain time in the evenings. 11 11 11 Andy, who likes to wear spandex and cowboy boots, complained that the rules were so strict it had meant staff had refused him entry. "There's a difference between fancy dress and dressing fancy", he said. "It's entertaining to a certain degree. The way I see it, living in Newquay, if you think you're in the circus, it's a headache; if you think it is a circus and you're just watching it, it's quite funny because you're not taking it seriously. "Fights are fights, it's always going to happen. It's the nature of mixing alcohol with idiots. You might not get it to such a grand scale now but it's still going to happen. "We want you to have a good time but also we want to have a good time, so don't knock the bins over at 3am and wake everybody up. "It's just goofy stuff and not stuff the police can be running round and dealing with." He said tourists were attracted by the "little town mentality and community." Seaside town Andy added: "Everyone's welcome until they do something stupid and then they get shunned. "It's a small town; crime is pretty low." However, he said there was a problem with second homes - an epidemic across Cornwall. Locals complain they are being priced out of their picturesque towns by people buying up their houses and raising costs. Andy added: "There is a problem with second homes and the council renting out homes to undesirables. I've noticed that quite a lot. "Families are just shoved in and they then treat the place like crap and then a couple months later they get kicked back out again because the council looks at the state of the place and goes: 'Oh, you're not taking care of this.' That happens quite a lot." Peron Wills, a climbing instructor from nearby St Dennis, said he was part of the nightlife when he was younger. 11 11 The 38-year-old said: "It's not as good a night out as it used to be. "I have been on stag dos here and they were pretty crazy. They have New Year's and Christmas parties still but I think it used to be crazier. "I don't go out anymore so I just assume nobody does." Mark Dixon has been in Newquay for 40 years. The arcade worker said it is nowhere near as busy as it used to be, as Newquay would be "booming" from the Easter holidays until the October half term. However, he pointed to a trend rising throughout Cornwall - the second home. Mark, 58, said: "We haven't got any hotels anymore; most of them have been converted. There used to be a lot of guest houses but now there are second homes no one can afford. "When I was younger there were quite a lot of clubs and pubs. Sailors is the only club we have in town. "Bertie's shut; Hotel Victoria, Prince Albert pub." He said the newcomers sometimes didn't understand the small nature of the town. Mark said: "People ask us: 'Can you tell me where River Island is?' "We say we haven't got one and they look at you and wonder how we exist.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Seaside town rids itself of ‘Britain's Magaluf' nickname after huge clean up and council ban on MANKINIS
A seaside town once dubbed 'Britain's Magaluf' stands unrecognisable today after a huge clean-up and a council ban on mankinis. Business owners and residents say Newquay, Cornwall, is barely recognisable these days, following a determined push to move away from its former 'wild west' image. The seaside town was once known for its rowdy atmosphere, regularly drawing stag parties, lads' holidays, and booze-fuelled teenage gatherings. But in 2009, the council finally put its foot down and imposed a no-nonsense 'mankini ban'. The new law, part of the award-winning Newquay Safe campaign, banned mankinis and other 'inappropriate clothing' — including fancy dress — in public. The crackdown came after two teenagers tragically died on nights out in the town. The results spoke for themselves. By 2012, Devon and Cornwall Police reported a 20 per cent drop in crime compared to 2009, with anti-social behaviour incidents plummeting from 685 to just 286. Long-suffering locals say Newquay today couldn't be more different from its rowdy party past. Independent coffee shops now line the high street, where the infamous Bertie's nightclub once stood before closing last year. Families stroll along the peaceful coastline, surfers take lessons, and older residents enjoy bowls with a view of the beach. Vintage, skate, and surfwear stores sit alongside charming pastry shops. The only reminders of the old wild days are the arcades still buzzing in the town centre. Arcade worker Maddie Grover, 25, says that while there are still stag dos, they're 'not as bad as they were at the time'. She grew up in the town and said the area particularly quietened down after Bertie's closed down. She said now some clubs don't allow stag dos inside if the attendees are dressed up. Maddie added: 'The high street is a little bit rowdy in the central area. It's better now, it's calmer, there aren't as many fights. 'We see lots of families because we work in an arcade but we see a lot more families in general.' Andy, 40, said he was happy the town had shed its former reputation. The shop worker said: 'I definitely think it's better. 'There's a higher level of respect and there isn't the locals being like: 'Oh God.' 'Silly season, we expect, but it's not something you're dreading anymore. 'You're not dodging vomit on the high street. 'I skateboard from the top of the hill to the shop and there's no longer passed-out people, people who have vomited everywhere and broken glass. It's cleaned up quite a lot since then. 'I just see hungry, happy, high people wandering around in the mornings looking for a good breakfast. 'There are families coming down, and the families that come down have that mentality of: 'I'd love to live here because of how it is.' 'Compared to before, when you would walk down the high street and see six dudes in mankinis and none of them have seen a gym before, and you're like: 'Great'. He added: 'You still get stag and hen dos, but they've been reined in. There are certain rules and regulations, like the mankini ban. You're not allowed fancy dress in certain bars over a certain time in the evening. 'In the day, if you want to come out and have a stag do and everyone dresses up and has fun, that's absolutely fine, but once it gets past a certain time of night, it tends to knock that on the head.' Andy, who likes to wear spandex and cowboy boots, complained that the rules were so strict it had meant staff had refused him entry. 'There's a difference between fancy dress and dressing fancy', he said. In general, he agreed Newquay had 'cleaned up its act'. 'It's entertaining to a certain degree. The way I see it, living in Newquay, if you think you're in the circus, it's a headache; if you think it is a circus and you're just watching it, it's quite funny because you're not taking it seriously. 'It's the only place you have to look up and down a one-way street because you can get run over. On this street, you see it all the time, and tourists will get angry at you for stopping them until they realise they're going the wrong way. 'Fights are fights, it's always going to happen. It's the nature of mixing alcohol with idiots. 'You might not get it to such a grand scale now but it's still going to happen. 'People will smash bottles on the beach. 'I don't care what you do but my mates walk down here barefoot, my friend's kids play on the beach. The beach is for everyone, not just for you to have fun. 'There is a bit of that and locals will bark at people. 'We want you to have a good time but also we want to have a good time, so don't knock the bins over at 3am and wake everybody up. 'It's just goofy stuff and not stuff the police can be running around and dealing with.' He said tourists were attracted by the 'little town mentality and community'. Andy added: 'Everyone's welcome until they do something stupid and then they get shunned. 'It's a small town; crime is pretty low.' However, he said there was a problem with second homes - an epidemic across Cornwall. Locals complain they are being priced out of their picturesque towns by people buying up their houses and raising costs. Andy added: 'There is a problem with second homes and the council renting out homes to undesirables. I've noticed that quite a lot. 'Families are just shoved in and they then treat the place like crap and then a couple months later they get kicked back out again because the council looks at the state of the place and goes: 'Oh, you're not taking care of this.' That happens quite a lot.' Peron Wills, a climbing instructor from nearby St Dennis, said he was part of the nightlife when he was younger. The 38-year-old said: 'It's not as good a night out as it used to be. 'I have been on stag dos here and they were pretty crazy. They have New Year's and Christmas parties still but I think it used to be crazier. 'I don't go out anymore so I just assume nobody does. 'There were always moans in the local papers that Newquay needs cleaning up.. I don't think it's just Newquay; every town has the old versus young. 'Everyone moves away to go and find money. You grow up here and can't afford to live here for a while so you go away and come back when you retire. There's a big age gap. 'There are still clubs around but not as many as there used to be. 'It was always families during the day but don't go out at night.' Mark Dixon has been in Newquay for 40 years. The arcade worker said it is nowhere near as busy as it used to be, as Newquay would be 'booming' from the Easter holidays until the October half term. However, he pointed to a trend rising throughout Cornwall - the second home. Mark, 58, said: 'We haven't got any hotels anymore; most of them have been converted. There used to be a lot of guest houses but now there are second homes no one can afford. 'When I was younger, there were quite a lot of clubs and pubs. Sailors is the only club we have in town. 'Bertie's shut; Hotel Victoria, Prince Albert pub.' He said the newcomers sometimes didn't understand the small nature of the town. Mark said: 'People ask us: 'Can you tell me where River Island is?' 'We say we haven't got one and they look at you and wonder how we exist. 'In the last few years there have been a lot of new houses being built. That's the crux of the problem. 'I don't know what all the people here are doing. I assume they all work from home.' He noticed the high street had changed, with more smaller restaurants. Mark added: 'It's different. It's a nice place to live.'
