THE owners of a Helensburgh business have blasted Argyll and Bute Council after a section of East Clyde Street was closed last week due to building safety concerns.

It is business as usual for the owners of the Dry Cleaners and Launderette since the street was shut between Sinclair Street and Maitland Street on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 30.

But the couple told the Advertiser that the closure is discouraging people from using their business – because vehicles can’t pass by or park outside and some pedestrians think they can’t get access either.

Martin Harper, who runs the business with his wife Irene, said: “It’s completely dead out there.

He added: “We deal with a lot of vulnerable people. Some of them are disabled and elderly.

“These people travel here but the street closure puts them in an awkward position.”

Martin also explained that a large number of the laundrette’s customers come from the naval base at Faslane, and in many cases are unfamiliar with the Helensburgh area – and so assume that if the street is closed, so is the business.

The pair also criticised the council for leaving scaffolding up for a year and a half on a property beside their business.

Martin added: “We were forced to close for a while when they were working on the building next door and that lost us business.

“There hasn’t been anyone working on it for a while and we’ve not heard anything about when it will be taken down but it looks awful.”

The street has been closed since Wednesday, May 30 due to safety concerns over a building at 5-7 East Clyde Street. It is expected to remain closed for the foreseeable future.

Businesses on East Clyde Street are open as usual and can be accessed via Maitland Street.