STRUGGLING small businesses say they are losing more than £1000 a week after a pathway was blocked.

Boards were erected at the back of the Buchanan Galleries, near to the entrance to Queen Street station, earlier this year.

The temporary boarding was put up for preparatory work for the Galleries' £400million extension.

However, that has been put on hold and the firms now want to know when the boards will come down.

The fencing leaves a narrow pathway which can make it difficult for people walking from the station up to Dundas Street.

Shop and take-away owners there say they are frustrated at being “neglected” and used as a “dumping ground”.

Bill Patterson, owner of Adventure 1, said he was losing more than a £1000 in takings a week compared to the same time last year.

The 67-year-old said: “As soon as the boarding went up about three months ago I noticed a drop in sales right away, it happened instantly.

“We’re losing about a £1000 a week.

“Last year on the Glasgow Fair Saturday we took in about £2000. This week we took £900.

“Some of that can be put down to the bad weather but a lot of it can be put down to not having passing trade.”

Mr Patterson said the stores relied on tourist trade.

He said: “This time of the year we should be gathering in all the tourists.

“Buchanan Street is the next street is just yards away but look at the state of it here.

“We always get a lot of tourists coming here – Italians, Spaniards – but when you come out of the station and see that completely blocked off you think it’s all shut.

“It’s like a secret stairway.

“People with prams are struggling to get up too.”

Sandy McLean, Love Music owner, said: “You see people take a couple of steps toward it and then walk away.

“A good percentage of the population actually think the street is closed.

“They’ve made the funnel too small, they’ve made the area too big.

“It’s bad for people with buggies.”

Qahil Reka, 51, of L’Aquila take-away, said: “We have noticed a drop in people coming in.

“Our takings are down by about half.”

Scottish Greens co-convener and Anderston/City councillor Nina Baker said the traders were being “driven out” by the projects on the street.

She said: “First it was the long-running repair project on the Cathedral Street bridge and then the works at Buchanan Street Subway.

“Next it will be the Queen Street Station rebuild. And one day, who knows, I suppose it will be the Buchanan Galleries project.

“And everyone finds it totally acceptable to plonk their portacabins in front of these shops.

“In any other context this would be seen as victimising and bullying.

“These small traders are being driven out of business through no fault of their own and they need and deserve significant help.”

Discussions are ongoing to decide what will happen with the Galleries project.

It is not yet known when the boards will come down.

A spokesman from the developer Land Securities said: “We are committed to work with other stakeholders to promote the city centre during construction enhancement works.”