Hairport desperate to reopen after devastating building collapse

As previously reported by the Journal, parts of a building collapsed on itself on Leigh Road on Wednesday, September 13, forcing the closure of newly-opened African restaurant 'Taste Africana' and neighbouring hair and beauty salon 'Hairport'.

Fencing and temporary lights have remained around the site since the collapse, but as scaffolding and remediation work stared this week, it is hoped that the building's will be able to reopen next week.

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Hairport and Taste Africana have been closed for weeks since the collapse (Image: Bryte Chinule)
While there is some positive news for the business owners, it has inevitably been a stressful period for them. At Taste Africana, Bryte and Cynthia Chinule spent thousands on launching a restaurant that offers "something different and positive", which opened just weeks before the collapse.

Next door, Layla Johnstone and Katie Isherwood had been building Hairport's reputation for the past five years before this period of forced closure.

Hairport has not been able to open for clients since early September (Image: Layla Johnston)
Layla, 32, said: "We have obviously had a loss of earnings since the shop's been closed, and I wasn't allowed access to get anything for weeks.

"Me and Katie met at another salon and have been building our reputation here for the past five years, so we have been worrying about losing our clients.

"But things could have been much worse. So after managing to get through all the lockdowns and having a 24-week premature baby last year, I'm just hoping this is our last setback."

Layla and Katie have been treating clients for the past five years at Hairport (Image: Layla Johnston)
After Layla was eventually able to get her hair and beauty products from the building premises, she has been renting space at Miarose Hair and Beauty Studio, also on Leigh Road, to try and retain the clients she has gathered over the last five years.

While both buildings are owned by private landlords, local councillors have been significantly involved in progressing the situation at Leigh Road.

This has included the efforts of Atherton South & Lilford councillors, John Harding, Lee McStein, and Debra Wailes, who have held numerous meetings with the landlords, contractors and building surveyors to try and reopen the buildings as soon as possible while also keeping the public safe.

The properties have been fenced off since the collapse (Image: Bryte Chinule)
A previous Wigan Council statement on this issue said: “Wigan Council has been engaging with the private owners of both affected properties, and they have advised us that building work will commence in the coming days.

"Once this work is underway and the appropriate scaffolding and netting is in place, we hope that the road will be able to be reopened.

"While Wigan Council is advising the property owners to ensure the repair work is undertaken in a timely and safe manner, the affected buildings are privately owned and are not the responsibility of the council.”