Trade has 'fallen massively' since bridge closure

Business owners in a Derby suburb have said has trade has "fallen massively" since the sudden closure of a river footbridge.

The bridge, known as Walter's Walkway, was closed on Friday 12 December after concerns were raised about erosion of the riverbank. Derby City Council has said it will remain closed over the festive period.

Those who run bars, cafes and restaurants on the eastern side of the bridge believe customers in Darley Abbey and Allestree have been put off visiting as a result.

One restaurant manager said she has seen a big increase in cancellations and no-shows since the closure of the bridge.

La Burrata is one of Derby's newest restaurants, having opened in the summer of 2025. But Leah Padmore who runs it is worried that the much-needed pre-Christmas trade will not be as good as she had hoped.

"All the locals that would normally pop over during the afternoons, early evenings, walking the dogs have stopped, trade has fallen massively," she said.

"Once you come out the end of summer it's always a really quiet period up until Christmas and it's really where you win back a lot of it and to be losing a lot of the trade now is quite devastating."

Graham Mulholland is another new business owner in Darley Abbey. Derwent Emporium is a gift shop and cafe offering a quirky range of ornaments, furniture and pre-loved goods.

"On the first Sunday we saw a noticeable drop in trade and two or three customers came in to moan about the bridge closure as they were unable to complete their usual loop walk," he said.

"That was quite challenging. Every Sunday we're talking a couple of hundred customers easily and last Sunday it was just dead."

Across the courtyard from La Burrata, The Lamp House operates as a cafe by day and a bar in the evening.

It has become a popular haunt for dog walkers but pets and their owners have been almost absent since the bridge closed.

"One day this week we had just one dog in at lunchtime when normally we'd have ten or so," he said.

"People tend to go to the park at Darley Abbey but they can't get over the bridge. We've lost all that.

"Luckily, at night time, if people are out on Christmas parties, then they're still coming out, they're getting taxis."

In a series of updates posted on its website, Derby City Council said it was working closely with the Environment Agency and partners to understand the full extent of the damage.

A radio-controlled boat was used on Tuesday to carry out a survey of the area where the erosion has taken place and the river bed, as it was too risky for people to be working in the water.

The council added the decision to close the bridge was not taken lightly, that public safety must come first and the decision taken to close the bridge was the right one.

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