Business under threat from fire road closure

The owner of a fancy dress shop says she may have to close the business as trade has plummeted just before Halloween due to the fire on Colston Street.

The street will remain closed until November 2 following the fire which tore through the roof of student accommodation earlier this month.

Sally Quigg, owner of the Christmas Steps Costume & Joke Shop, said shoppers are unaware businesses remain open.

She has been joined by traders nearby who have accused the University of Bristol of not doing enough to redirect pedestrians to their shops

The city council said parts of 33 Colston Street, which caught fire after a pan of oil was left on by new students, are still unsafe.

The University of Bristol said it was doing the “utmost” to ensure the building is made safe and people are aware businesses are still open.

Dozens of firefighters tackled the blaze, which could be seen from across the city centre, at the block of student halls on October 12.

Quigg said: “At the time, we were just thankful that no one was hurt.

“But Colston Street is going to be closed until after Halloween and our customers don’t know how to reach us or think we are closed.

“Halloween is our busiest time of the year and if we don’t have a strong Halloween we’ll have no choice but to close the shop.”

She said the university were not doing enough to support traders of the Christmas Steps Arts Quarter while the roads were closed.

“We all support our student neighbours with discounts and donations, and it would be nice if the university supported us in our hour of need in return – it is within their gift to do so,” she said, calling for more signs showing pedestrians it was “business as usual” on Colston Street.

George Ferguson, mayor of Bristol, said: “Unfortunately we have to keep Colston Street closed to all road users at the moment while emergency  work is carried out to make the building structurally safe, but we are doing all we can to reopen the road as soon as we possibly can.

“In the meantime I would urge all citizens to do their utmost to support the traders in Colston Street and the surrounding area.”

Patrick Finch, director of estates at the University of Bristol, said: “The scale of the fire was unprecedented in recent years for our university.

“We are, however, very relieved that no one was hurt and all the former residents are safe and rehoused.

“We are doing our utmost to make the building sufficiently safe so that the roads may be reopened, and in the meantime we will highlight to our students that the businesses in the area are open with the aim of mitigating some of the negative impacts of the road closures.”

Colston Street is closed from above the Colston Hall and Reflections Training Academy to pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

Other businesses on the street are still fully accessible at the top of the road, via the Christmas Steps and via the steps off Host Street.