CONCERNED traders on a street behind Centrale shopping centre have lashed out after the closure of a walkway led to a downturn in business.
Frith Road traders are worried the closure of the Sports Direct entrance leading to their shops could eventually force them out of business.
They say footfall along the road has dropped by an estimated 13,000 people a month.
The back exit was closed in October for fears of shoplifters running out of the store with goods, despite TK Maxx allowing it to remain open when it was in the building.
Joe Raccagna, co-owner of Tony and Peter Barber Shop on Frith Road, said the closure has had a "dreadful" effect on business.
He said: "We are in this area around the back of Centrale and it is important to us people walk past our businesses. Without it, we are missing out on that passing trade.
"A lot of older people and people who need wheelchair access would come round this way because otherwise they have to walk up a big hill to get to North End.
"So we would get a lot of people popping in that way.
"People would get off the tram and want to head up to North End but they would stop in Cockney's [pie and mash shop] or Sam's Cafe for food or drink but now people have stopped.
"It's also awkward for our regulars who have to walk all the way round.
"These big businesses don't give a damn about us."
Anton Tardivel has run Tuckers Meat Market on Frith Road for 20 years but says trade has never been slower than it is now.
"Where we are, some people still don't know we're here so we rely on that passing trade quite a lot. I mean, we have our regular custom but passing trade is as slow as it ever has been," he said.
Mr Tardivel said he had been told Sports Direct did not want to have to employ another security guard at that entrance so decided to shut the entrance.
He added: "A lot of people have no reason to come down here anymore. You'd think someone, maybe the council, would try and make sure that entrance doesn't close because it is hurting us all badly."
No one from Sports Direct was available to comment.
