'Frustrated' hairdressers slam council roadworks turning salon into 'building site'

‘Frustrated’ Leeds hairdressers have hit out at roadworks making their salon look like a ‘building site’.

Owners of the House of Kennedy, in East Parade in Leeds city centre, say they have been surrounded by roadworks for about 18 months. They’ve said footfall has fallen to such low figures due to the roadworks they may have to ‘close down’ if business doesn’t improve.

Kieren Kennedy and Vaughn Thomas, 26 and 37, have hit out at Leeds City Council for making it ‘impossible’ for their independent business to trade. They also claim they were not consulted ahead of cones being placed outside their shop.

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They’ve said the road works are not only blocking passing trade but that the work has caused health and safety issues for people visiting their premises. They’ve claimed a crane was being used at one point to transfer heavy items across the road, and it made them fear for their staff and customers’ safety.

A council spokesman has said planning permission for the development was granted last year and restrictions were agreed to prevent injury risks to the public. They also said they have asked the contractor to replace missing “businesses open as usual” signs.

Kieren and Vaughn said cones were placed outside their property about a year ago. They claimed workmen have been ‘rude’ to their customers while asking them to walk around the cones. They’ve said it’s a struggle for people to even find their salon’s entrance with the shop front frequently blocked and big lorries frequently parking in the vicinity.

Kieren said: “I’m feeling very tired and frustrated. We couldn’t have foreseen this ever going on for so long. We’ve been able to see the downfall, how it’s affected our business. It’s even hard to recruit new staff as they’ll come to visit us and won’t want to take their clients to a building site.

“Our clients have told us they struggle to find our salon and find it uncomfortable and intimidating walking past the site.”

Vaughn said their footfall in the shop has gone down 60 per cent since the road works appeared, adding that passing trade is no longer possible. Vaughn said: “We may have to close in the future as every month, at the minute, the business isn’t recovering what it needs to cover because these issues with these roadworks.

“We’re very frustrated, the council just wants to make it impossible for a small business like ourselves to trade. I think they need to give some financial support to our business due to the inconvenience and they also need to reassess the future impacts of developments on small businesses.”

Vaughn wanted to make clear there aren’t any imminent plans for closure but their position on the high street remains untenable.

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “Planning permission for this development, which will bring a city centre building back into use, was granted in October 2023.

“In order for the development works to be carried out safely and to prevent the risk of injury to members of the public, some access restrictions along a limited section of East Parade have been agreed.

“Our highways team have contacted the developer’s contractor to ensure these are in line with what has been agreed with them and requested they replace some missing “businesses open as usual” signs as soon as possible. The current hoarding licence that has been approved expires at the end of the calendar year.

“Our business rates team have contacted Mr Thomas to provide information on accessing any available support."

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