Restaurant says ‘we need your help’ amid Drypool Bridge closure

Hull Daily Mail Icon News Hull & East Yorkshire News Hull City Council The restaurant is calling on the public to help Alfred Gelder Street has been closed as a part of works to Drypool Bridge (Image: Google Maps/Hull Live) Food for Cowboys, a Mexican street food restaurant on Alfred Gelder Street has sought the public’s urgent help amidst the closure of Drypool Bridge. The restaurant claims the closure “is likely going to kill” their business. The repairs to the bridge, which is key to connecting East Hull with the city centre, are taking place after an inspection last year found significant damage to a number of the bridge’s bearing columns. The work is scheduled to end in late November. In addition to the closure of the bridge itself, Alfred Gelder Street has been closed to traffic from the junction with Lowgate, by the Guildhall. On social media, Food for Cowboys reassured fans that they remain open and claimed: “Although we knew Hull City Council were going to close the bridge nobody felt like telling us they were going to close the entire road from the City Hotel.” A road closure is in place at Alfred Gelder Street (Image: Hull Live) The post added: “Without over-reacting, this is likely going to kill us as a business. As you will be aware it’s an insane time to be in hospitality – we barely afford to keep our doors open at the end of each month and this has taken all passing trade from us. “We’re fuelled by love and passion, I’ve personally worked every waking hour without making any money and this team works with their backs to the wall to deliver something they’re proud of every day. And now we seriously need your help.” Despite the road being closed, the pavement remains open on both sides of the road. Food for Cowboys can therefore be accessed on foot. After being asked about the claims made in the online post, a spokesperson for Hull City Council said: “The council’s business support team has been to visit the businesses affected and set out what steps they will be taking to support them while the road closure is in place.” It is also understood that a letter was delivered to the Food for Cowboys premises in the week leading to the closure. Drypool Bridge will remained closed for over two months (Image: Hull Live) The MP for Hull East, Karl Turner wrote to the leader of Hull City Council, Cllr Mike Ross, asking what support measures have been introduced to support local businesses during the closure of Drypool Bridge. Mr Turner wrote: “Whilst I fully recognise the necessity of these vital repair works for the safety and long-term resilience of our infrastructure, it is equally important that steps are taken to protect Hull’s local economy during the disruption.” The MP sought clarity on four areas. He asked: What consultation took place with the local businesses prior to the closure? What financial or practical support measures have been offered to those most affected? Are there any plans to provide promotional campaigns or alternative access arrangements to help businesses maintain customer engagement? What monitoring will take place during the closure to assess the ongoing impact on the local economy? In response, Cllr Ross, said: “As an administration, we want to do all we can to support local businesses in the city. When I was made aware of the concerns from ‘Food for Cowboys’, I asked for officers from the Council’s business support team to visit them and see what additional support…
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