Shop owners are calling for a Stoke-on-Trent road to be reopened – eight weeks after a major fire forced the closure.

Traders have been left frustrated as Newcastle Street in Middleport – a main route through the neighbourhood – remains closed to traffic with no sign of work.

Firefighters had been scrambled to Newcastle Street to tackle the blaze at the derelict three-storey building which council leaders have ordered the owners to tear down. But businesses say they are yet to hear from the council on what, if any, action they plan to take.

Mr T, who owns Mr T barber shop just a few doors down from the fire damaged property and has been on the street for 30 years says this is the worst it's been. The passing trade which his business relies on is gone, speaking at 12pm on a sunny Wednesday afternoon he said he had no customers all morning and thinks the road might not be open for another two months.

Mr T has been on Newcastle Street for 30 years and says he would be surprised if the road reopens in the next two months (LDRS).

He said: "I've been around here for 30 years and this is the worst I've seen it. I'd be very surprised if this street is open within the next two months, if it opens before I'll be very surprised. The passing trade has gone during the past eight weeks. It isn't just me that's complaining, it's chaos for local businesses."

Previously residents have complained about the diversion route which has been put in place. Many motorists are using residential streets as a rat-run with residents saying their house shakes due to the increase in traffic.

This is not the first time the road has been closed in 2019 falling bricks from a row of unsafe shops forced the closure of the road for several weeks.

At the end of April Stoke-on-Trent City Council ordered the owner of the fire damaged building to 'remove the danger' or 'pull it down' within two weeks. The authority claimed that if the work is not carried out the city council has the powers to do so and levy a charge as 'the continued closure of the road is not an option'.

A representative from the Continental Off Licence & Grocery said: "It affects all the businesses constantly. The council say that the building is dangerous, it doesn't take risks but it doesn't help the small businesses.

A fire swept through a three-storey building on Newcastle Street, Middleport, last month (Nub News).

"Normally a lot of people stop here and buy something but people know the road is shut and now nobody drives this way and the council don't come and ask if you need anything."

Despite many of the shops staying open despite the challenges, Morrisons located next door to the fire struck property has stayed closed since the fire. The supermarket had the nearest ATM which many customers used for the local pharmacy. Now they are forced to go elsewhere.

Sandra Lawrence, from Middleport Pharmacy, commented: "I can't understand why it's shut to be honest. They are not working on it, they're not doing anything. I don't know why they've shut the road, they could have made it one way. 

"They've already had to come out and fill a hole on the corner because of all the lorries, it's a bit chaotic. Morrisons has been shut for that long which has a big impact around here, especially for the elderly because they rely on these shops.

"The cash point is closed so it affects us because we have to tell people they need cash and they will probably go somewhere else."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has previously been contacted for an update to the situation on Newcastle Street.

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READ MORE: Bus stop improvements begin on busy Stoke-on-Trent road

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