The owner of a popular independent ice cream parlour has blamed his shutting up shop for the final time on Tuesday on the closure of footpaths to facilitate the construction of Chester’s new cultural centre.

Ray McBurney told the Chronicle he had hoped to continue running Antonina’s Gelateria on Northgate Street until he retired and then pass it down through his family.

But he claims that the business is no longer financially viable due to a reduction in passing trade and a 25% downturn in takings since January, when Northgate Street pavements near the cafe were closed on health and safety grounds so building work could take place.

The 56-year-old, who is originally from Wisconsin, claims local businesses were not consulted by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) about the footpath closure.

The new cultural centre is expected to open in autumn next year
The new cultural centre is expected to open in autumn next year

“We have survived the credit crunch, the recession, the worst summer and winter, but we have not survived CWaC,” he said.

Mr McBurney opened Antonina’s eight years ago.

He said he has ‘seen this coming’ since January and raised his concerns with the borough council: “I have been trying to do something about it but it is a complete waste of time. “No-one is listening. I talked to the council leader, the city manager, the leader of CH1 Chester Bid, the project’s construction manager.

“They all listened and said ‘yes, yes’ and said that they would get back to me and none of them did.”

Consultation dispute

But CWaC head of place operations Maria Byrne insists that businesses and residents were consulted.

“I was sorry to hear that Mr McBurney was closing his business,” she said.

“As we have explained to him, the closure of the walkway along Northgate Street was part of the safety measures in place to protect the public from the ongoing theatre works.

“These were extensively consulted upon with local residents and businesses and approved by the highways department to ensure they were safe.

“It was a temporary measure and the walkway has already been reopened once the works were at a stage whereby the safety of the public using that walkway and the junction at Hunter Street, would not be at risk.

“When the theatre opens it will provide long lasting regenerative benefits for the city, its night time economy, residents and business owners alike.”

Mr McBurney, however, believes that the £37m cultural centre – which will see the former ODEON building converted into a theatre, cinema and library complex – will be something of a ‘white elephant’.

“Do they really think that someone from the West End of London is going to come here,” he added.

“There are theatres in New Brighton, Liverpool and Theatr Clwyd.

“The old theatre closed down because no-one went to it.”

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