Popular Kildare store faces closure due to effect of roadworks

A Naas businessman and retailer has said he may go out of businesses if road works which have taken place outside his store since Christmas are not completed soon.

Noel O'Connell, owner of leading bathroom showroom Bathhaus in Ladytown Business Park, Naas, Co Kildare says business is down 60% since roadworks for nearby Momentum Logistics Park began five months ago.

According to Noel, many other retailers in Ladytown Business Park report similar issues, and are all down in trading due to the ongoing roadworks.

The road works are for works being carried out at Momentum Business Park, Noel says, but impinge on Ladytown Business Park, with the effect that Ladytown Business Park “looks like it's closed.”

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“There's been road works going on here since Christmas, and it looks like the place is shut down. The access is absolutely dreadful, no signage, people getting lost, people not coming in, like it's just an absolute disgrace”, Noel says.

“I contacted Breffni construction who didn't reply, then I went to CBRE who are the letting agents and they seem to own what is called Momentum Logistics Park and I sent an email to them and they forwarded it on to Schnittger Bourne. But basically I've been told 'tough'.

“The effect of it is, and it's not just me because I've been speaking to other retailers here, we're all down 60%.”

Footfall in the retail units is down due to the construction work, with Noel resorting to contacting Senator Fiona O'Loughlin today (Tuesday May 20) to see if she can be of any assistance.

Bathhaus customers either cannot access the business park, or they are dissuaded from doing so due to the construction works, Noel says.

“Unless you're familiar with the business park, you would think from that roundabout that the business is shut.

“I got no notification of any road works, no consultation as to what damage this may cause to our operation here, and to come up with a plan to cause the least amount of disruption to customers. None of that was done. They basically just ploughed on and don't particularly give a damn about us.”

Noel says there is a risk that the businesses might have to close down, should current circumstances continue. With business 60% down each month since Christmas, he says, continuing to trade is simply not sustainable.

“It (the road works) was supposed to finish last week, which didn't happen, I only found this out in the last couple of weeks when I eventually got a reply. It was supposed to finish last week, and now it's supposed to finish in three weeks' time, but as I said to them, three weeks might be too late for me.”

Leinster Leader contacted Ladytown Business Park, who were unavailable for comment.