Tadcaster and York open for business despite floods (From York Press)
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Tadcaster and York open for business despite floods
12:06pm Friday 28th September 2012 in News
By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter
The York Food and Drink Festival continues as planned
Tadcaster and York are open for business - that was the message today from business and tourism leaders concerned about the impact of national and international media coverage of the floods.
Business owners and Mayor Stephen Cobb say Tadcaster has been like a ghost town since the River Wharfe flooded on Wednesday and the bridge closed amid fears it might have suffered structural damage.
Dave Stainthorpe, owner of Cyclesense, a specialist bike shop in High Street, said trade had been ‘atrocious’ since people had heard about the floods and bridge closure.
“We are probably 75 per cent down,” he said. “On a Friday morning, we normally have a flurry of customers. Today we have had two.”
He said customers, for example one who had rung up from Boston Spa, wrongly believed they might not be able to drive to Tadcaster, when the only problem was crossing the bridge.
Coun Cobb said: “It’s like a ghost town but people need to know the town is open for business.”
Mel Pratt, partner at Calcaria Carpets & Furnishings in Commercial Street, has put out a sign at traffic lights at the Wighill Lane junction, saying: “Businesses open down hill.” He said it had been ‘really quiet’ since the floods. He said he was clearing up after being flooded and was able to trade.
Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York’s tourism organisation Visit York, said it had taken a series of steps to correct misperceptions that York was totally flooded, for example emailing all visitors who had booked an imminent stay in York to reassure them and using social media to get the message out that more than 95 per cent of the city is unaffected, with the Food and Drink Festival going ahead as planned.
“We are doing everything we can to reassure the public that there is no need to cancel or postpone any plans they may have to visit York in the coming days,” she said.
“All attractions, shops, bars and restaurants in York remain open, with the exception of those few which are located by the riverside, where there has been localised flooding.”
Comments(6)
calmdownyork
says...
1:44pm Fri 28 Sep 12
roskoboskovic wrote:One main road is closed. One, singular.
cruddas would do well to keep quiet.by telling everyone that york is open for business she is implying that all is normal.if i drove say 25-30 miles to come to york only to find that main roads are closed and that i could face a 2 hour traffic jam i wouldn t be best pleased and wouldn t trust any future announcements.is she under pressure from the likes of sinclair to get people in because the city centre was lovely and quiet this morning.
selbyperson
says...
1:44pm Fri 28 Sep 12
roskoboskovic wrote:It's the same with the "open as usual" attitude of the Designer Outlet. Come hell (last two winters) or high water (now) they insist on their silly late openings despite the fact that most of their staff rely on the bus services which have been severely affected. They continue to think it's ok for people to, on a whim, take a visit there in the evening despite all the havoc around
cruddas would do well to keep quiet.by telling everyone that york is open for business she is implying that all is normal.if i drove say 25-30 miles to come to york only to find that main roads are closed and that i could face a 2 hour traffic jam i wouldn t be best pleased and wouldn t trust any future announcements.is she under pressure from the likes of sinclair to get people in because the city centre was lovely and quiet this morning.
Omega Point
says...
5:19pm Fri 28 Sep 12
selbyperson wrote:Don't work there then or get a car. It is an out of town shopping mall for heavens sake.
roskoboskovic wrote: cruddas would do well to keep quiet.by telling everyone that york is open for business she is implying that all is normal.if i drove say 25-30 miles to come to york only to find that main roads are closed and that i could face a 2 hour traffic jam i wouldn t be best pleased and wouldn t trust any future announcements.is she under pressure from the likes of sinclair to get people in because the city centre was lovely and quiet this morning.It's the same with the "open as usual" attitude of the Designer Outlet. Come hell (last two winters) or high water (now) they insist on their silly late openings despite the fact that most of their staff rely on the bus services which have been severely affected. They continue to think it's ok for people to, on a whim, take a visit there in the evening despite all the havoc around
bob the builder
says...
8:14am Sat 29 Sep 12
Even AndyD
says...
12:47pm Sat 29 Sep 12
roskoboskovic wrote:She is implying all is normal? Why? Surely she is merely saying that despite some media hyperbole only one road is shut and that nearly all shops/attractions are open. Yes - factor in some extra travel time, especially if coming in from A19 - but it isn't biblical proportions. What do you want her to say - say away - we are all under water?
cruddas would do well to keep quiet.by telling everyone that york is open for business she is implying that all is normal.if i drove say 25-30 miles to come to york only to find that main roads are closed and that i could face a 2 hour traffic jam i wouldn t be best pleased and wouldn t trust any future announcements.is she under pressure from the likes of sinclair to get people in because the city centre was lovely and quiet this morning.
roskoboskovic says...
12:28pm Fri 28 Sep 12