Further to last week’s story regarding the planned Byron bypass and the effects it will have on businesses, Wicked Weasel’s Peter Gifford has told The Echo that despite both positives and negatives, overall it will be a ‘good idea.’
Mr Gifford’s business has its own off-street parking and is located at the end of Jonson Street, close to the railway tracks down from Mitre 10 on Browning Street.
He told The Echo, ‘For the record, the bypass will indeed have some negative effects on our business. Council will compulsorily resume part of our front customer parking area.
‘Our offices, shop and storeroom are not air-conditioned and all ventilation windows face the proposed road, ensuring staff and customers will be exposed to constant noise and fumes.
‘The grassy knoll where many now sit and enjoy their lunch will become a concrete footpath.
‘Our pleasant front-facing lunch/meeting area and gardens will suffer significant loss of amenity as our quiet hideaway becomes a major thoroughfare.’
Positives
But Mr Gifford also says there are some positives.
‘Staff who drive to work via Ewingsdale road will be able to sleep in for a half an hour. Similarly, delivery and pick up from the screen printers, post office and others in the industrial area will be much faster.
‘The increased building visibility may result in improved retail sales.
‘As the building owner, I would also expect the value of the property to improve. And hopefully with the end of the parties in the road reserve hosted by nearby businesses our property will no longer be used as a toilet.
‘Overall the bypass will have a negative effect on the day-to-day business lifestyle of the 50-plus people who work at Wicked Weasel.
‘But we set up for business at this address in the full knowledge that the road would eventually be built.
Further housing needed
‘Byron Bay desperately needs further housing and improved roads to cater for the increasing number of people who wish to visit or live and work here.
‘Therefore we will neither complain nor empathise with frogs in the surrounding swamp in order to delay or stop this or any other sensible and necessary development.’
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