A shop owner claims he is closing his business after major works taking place outside his store "killed it".

We previously reported that Ian McNeill, who owns Frankie’s in Giffnock, feared his business wouldn’t last "six months" after it was affected by road closed signs and a four-way traffic light system outside the shop on Braidholm Road.

Starting back in August, the street is set to be closed for around 11 months to allow major investment works to take place on behalf of Scottish Water to reduce sewer flooding, with many residents not having access to their driveways for the duration.

READ MORE: Owner of Frankie's in Giffnock 'sickened' by lack of compensation from Scottish Water

Mr McNeill says he has now been forced to make the decision to close his convenience store after he lost the majority of his passing trade due to the project.

With footfall getting increasingly worse, Mr McNeill estimates he has lost around £6000 per month and will close the business at the end of October.

He said: "I don’t have a choice.

"The business isn’t viable anymore, it’s now losing money.

"I’m haemorrhaging money and I can’t stem the losses, so I’ve got to close the business."

Glasgow Times:

He continued: "I’m totally gutted. I’ve got to walk away.

“I can’t sell the business on, so I’ve got to put the key in the door and walk away from everything.

"Any money that I put in to buy the business, improve the business, is lost.

"I’ve lost everything."

READ MORE: Braidholm Road to close in Giffnock for 11 months to allow major investment project

Mr McNeill previously had to let go of one member of staff, but he also had to cut the hours of the three remaining members, with him having to cover them.  

He said: "I’m 62, I can’t just work a 60-hour week.

"It’s having a detrimental effect on my health as well.

"I suffer from arthritis of the hip and the doctor is telling me I need to rest my hip, but I can’t, I’ve got to stand in a shop.

"I’m standing in the shop six days a week."

Glasgow Times:

Mr McNeill contacted Scottish Water asking for compensation due to the loss of business but was previously told it only looks at claims on a "strictly legal basis" and it will only be given if he can provide evidence the water supplier has been "negligent" or caused any damage.

However, he says he was recently offered a one-off inconvenience payment of £529 - which is equivalent to his water and sewage charges.

He said: "That is just an insult.

"It’s criminal, they shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it.

"All my regular customers that used to come in, they’ve all disappeared.

"They’re not going to come down and sit at four-way traffic lights to get a roll and sausage. They want to just draw up somewhere, jump in, get their stuff and go, and they’ve killed it."

Glasgow Times:

While Mr McNeill took over the business around seven years ago, Frankie’s has been there for about 50 years and the local community is "shocked" that the store will close.

Mr McNeill said: "They didn’t realise it was so bad.

"Obviously I’m not going to stand and tell everyone my business.

"They say ‘you can’t close’, but I’m not making money and that’s the bottom line.

"I’m not making money, I’m now losing money.

"My hand is going in my pocket to pay things."

Mr McNeill says he will now have to look for a job when Frankie’s closes and it is unlikely he will reopen the store.

A Scottish Water spokesperson said: "We have previously met with the owner of Frankie's Convenience Store in Giffnock to understand the circumstances that his business is facing.

"We have implemented mitigation measures to help support the business.

"We recognise that this is a challenging time for small businesses faced with increasing costs and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

"We also recognise that the road closure adjacent to Frankie's will have reduced passing traffic.

"We were due to meet the owner of Frankie's again this week but unfortunately that was cancelled by him over the weekend.

"We have not been informed that the business is closing.

"Scottish Water is publicly owned and we must ensure that money raised from customer charges is invested in improving water and sewerage services for customers.

"We appreciate that there is inconvenience caused by these essential works to help reduce the risk of repeated internal sewer flooding for local householders although that will be far outweighed by the long-term benefits to the wider community.

"We will continue to work with local residents and business owners to help minimise any disruption for the duration of this major investment project."