THE worst fears of main street traders have been realised as the consequences of opening Brisbane St up to traffic during the country music festival hits home.
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The owners of many businesses between Brisbane St and Bourke St are reporting a savage decline in pedestrians during the first four days of the festival.
Tamworth Regional Council has decided not to close Brisbane St this year in a bid to improve pedestrian safety and reduce bottlenecks in the CBD.
But the change – combined with a lack of crowd-drawing entertainment in the block – has conspired to keep festivalgoers away and marginalise businesses.
Ali’s Boutique owner Wendy Ryan, who has run the store for five years, said her shop was doing only a quarter of its normal festival-time trade.
“Retail is pretty damn tough at the minute, without having this put on us,” she said. “In effect, we’re being cut-off from everyone but people walking to their cars.
“Council, in their wisdom, have moved all the activities they have had previously up the other end, so there is nothing in our block to bring people down.
“Even our busker said there is not much point in being here because there’s no people to play to.”
Hog’s Breath Cafe owner Liam Benson said he estimated foot traffic in the block was down between 30 and 40 per cent this year.
He said the council’s desire to concentrate the festival in the blocks between Brisbane St and White St – as well as a growing focus on Bicentennial Park – was hurting traders.
“I think a lot of businesses are going to suffer,” he said. “We wouldn’t have half the restaurants, hotels or businesses if it wasn’t for the festival.
“We really rely on this to get us through the slower months.”
Country Capital Newsagents proprietor Glenn Andrews said he had reduced his hours of operation, as well as staff numbers, in response to the downturn.
“It’s very flat,” he said. “In my correspondence to council, I indicated that we were going to be marooned and that’s exactly what we are.
“We’re marooned and we’re not really part of the festival at all.”