Trade decimated following Cockermouth bridge closure, say businesses

They want people to know that the town is open, roads are quiet through the day and there is 'parking galore'.

Three long-standing traders say they have never known it so quiet at a time which should be their busiest.

People are calling for better signage and are desperate for information regarding when the bridge is likely to open.

Unwelcoming: Pedestrian access signs are needed, says Karen Cottier (Image: Supplied)

Colin Graham owns an antiques shop on Market Place. He has been trading for more than 30 years and never known it so quiet.

"It's awful. In my opinion it's worse than the floods, the lack of movement seems harsher," he said.

"We need to get the bridge open to traffic so people can move around without any hindrance. If this was in London or Newcastle it would have been sorted.

"I do not seem to be able to get a clear cut answer from anyone - my MP, councillor, the council."

Business is down by up to to 40 per cent, he said.

"October, November and December are the months you make money to survive the quiet months which are January to March. That's when the crunch will come."

Karen Cottier and Viv Austin opened Percy House Gallery, on Market Place, 21 years ago.

"We have had major roadworks in Market Place which put two or three shops out of business," said Karen.

"Then the 2009 floods and the 2015 floods. We had huge roadworks on Main Street for nine months. And then there was Covid.

"We have gone through a lot and come out the other end. It was horrendous at times but this is the quietest I have seen for 21 years."

It's difficult to plan and stock when you have no idea how long the bridge will be closed, she said.

"Normally we have two people in the shop, now we have one. Some days footfall is down as much as 70 per cent," she said.

Everyone is desperate for the bridge to be open and the town flowing again, said Karen.

"The general consensus is people are avoiding Cockermouth, they think it's going to be clogged up with traffic.

"The reality is that during the day the roads are dead and there's parking galore."

She has contacted Cumberland Council, calling for better signage.

"As you walk along Main Street to the Cocker Bridge there is a huge big red road closure sign, nothing to say there's pedestrian access.

"Everyone is fed up, we don't know how long this is going to take. If this was down south it would have been done."

Catherine Bell owns The Paper Shop on Main Street.

"We are all hurting from this," she said.

"This is the quietest period I have had in 26 years, even worse than the floods.

"There's so much negativity online, people don't want to come into Cockermouth."

Jan Mansergh, of Jacy's, said: "The Chamber of Trade is doing an awful lot to try and promote the town.

"It is worryingly quiet but we have a loyal following and I would like to think it will improve."

In an update last month, the council said: “We will do all we can to reopen the bridge to vehicles as soon as we can but in the meantime, we have installed a covered walkway for pedestrians and cyclists.

“Cockermouth is open for business. Please continue to support local traders.”