Poole traders hit as car park lift failures slash footfall
Footfall at Poole Dolphin Centre has fallen up to 70%, according to local business owners who blame the broken lifts
Businesses in Poole’s main shopping centre say they are facing a dramatic drop-off in customers after lift failures at the nearby council car park have left many shoppers unable to access stores.
Five lifts serving the multi-storey car park at the Dolphin Centre are currently out of order, with traders reporting footfall drops of up to 70%.
Shop owners say the impact has been immediate and severe, particularly for elderly and disabled customers who rely on step-free access.
Simon Stockdale, who runs Canvas Print, said the situation was unprecedented in his 25 years of trading.
“We normally have a lot of customers who are in wheelchairs, but this past week we have hardly seen any,” he said. “I would say there has been a 70% decline in footfall.”
Others report similarly stark figures. Siobhan Sneddon-Kay, of Body Shop, said customer numbers had fallen by nearly half in just a week, while Steve Wyatt, owner of Restored Retro, estimated a 30–40% drop.
“We are self-employed – if we don’t have customers, we don’t have money,” Mr Wyatt said. “It is getting to the point where we are going to have to start making some tough decisions. It feels tougher than it was during Covid.”
Restaurant owner Stephen Brockway said older customers in particular were staying away, while Ian Davis, who runs Loope, described the lack of visitors as “outrageous” and called for lower parking charges instead of retail discount schemes.
BCP Council said it recognised the concerns and acknowledged that improvements were needed.
A spokesperson said alternative access options remain available, including ground-floor parking with 40 disabled spaces and step-free routes into the centre, as well as ramps from higher levels leading to internal lifts.
However, traders argue these measures are not enough to offset the disruption, warning that prolonged access issues could have lasting consequences for the town centre.