Member Article

Roadrunner back on track

A Morpeth running and sportswear retailer hopes to be back in shape by Christmas with the help of business support organisations and a big flood sale.

Roadrunner, in Bridge Street, which has traded in the town for 14 years, plans to open next weekend - exactly three months after being swamped in the September deluge.

Having had the premises gutted and completely refitted, Carolyn Fisher can hardly wait to open for business again: “It’s been a long haul but we’re virtually there now. Just the finishing touches to be made before the weekend.

“I think the full cost of this must be in the region of £60,000 but fortunately we had insurance and we’ve had great support from the economic recovery group, which has enabled us to pay staff wages right through the closure. We now plan to sell off the undamaged items we managed to salvage when the flood hit.”

The Economic Recovery Group, established to help Morpeth businesses, comprises Castle Morpeth Borough Council, Business Link, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Business Services, Castle Morpeth Business Forum, Morpeth Chamber of Trade and One North East.

Ailsa Coverdale, Regeneration and Partnerships Manager with Castle Morpeth Borough Council, said: “This is great news and marks another milestone in the recovery process.

“However, there are still around 20 businesses not yet trading again and many more will face the disruption of further property repairs so we cannot ease up the effort just yet.”

For more information about the flood support package, call Business Link on 0845 600 9006 or visit Morpeth Business Advice Centre on Newgate Street.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .