Corporation Street bus gate blasted by nearby family-run business

Vicky Brown, right, and colleague from Gainsborough Flooring are deeply unhappy about the bus gate Pic: Blog Preston

A flooring company say a new bus-only zone in Preston city centre is going to damage their business.

Gainsborough Flooring, in Heatley Street, are one in one of the side-streets they say will be affected by the new bus gate.

Lancashire County Council’s latest bus-only area becomes enforced during Tuesday (21 May) although motorists are to see a grace period where only warning letters will be issued rather than penalty charge notices.

Managing director of Gainsborough Flooring, Vicky Brown, told Blog Preston: “This is a huge worry for our family run business.

“We moved to Heatley Street from Avenham 11 years ago to be more accessible to customers, but the restrictions LCC are imposing makes it so difficult for all our loyal customers to reach us or Preston City Centre in general.

“We’re also shocked at the lack of consultation from LCC.

“We’re offering our home selection service where we take the showroom to people’s homes to counteract the affects of Bus Gate, but are still left with a newly refurbished showroom which we’ve invested in heavily that customers will struggle to reach.

“We want to support Preston but don’t feel we are getting any support back.”

Vicky, right, has hit out at the county council’s bus gate Pic: Blog Preston

The bus-gate, which has been in the works since 2021, comes as new figures were revealed showing the amount the county council is making from bus lanes in the city is falling.

A spokersperson for the county council said: “We know this part of Corporation Street can be a traffic hotspot with queuing traffic at busier times. Our aim is to reduce the number of vehicles coming through this area, when there are other suitable alternative routes for them.

“People will still be able to travel by car if they wish to, but it will involve a slightly different route. By reducing congestion on Corporation Street, we can increase the reliability for public transport and encourage more people to think about catching the bus.

“We have worked closely with the local business community as the Transforming Friargate and Ringway scheme has been developed and delivered, and made changes to the designs as a result of feedback received from Gainsborough Flooring and other businesses on Heatley Street.

“We really appreciate how patient our business community and the public have been during the construction phase of this project, and will continue to speak to businesses to understand any unforeseen impacts of the Transforming Friargate and Ringway scheme.”

A new bus lane in a section of New Hall Lane is also under-fire, with a petition launched by local councillors calling for the county council to reverse their decision.

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