Traders in city street dubbed 'Marijuana Street' say it is becoming a 'ghost town'

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It is a street known for having a grittier edge compared to the city's more genteel shopping spots.

But traders in Magdalen Street say the recent road closures, drug busts and the shutting of Anglia Square have left the once lively area as a "ghost town".

The closure has been affecting businesses on the street (Image: Newsquest)

Business owners - who have dubbed the road "Marijuana Street" - claim the recent fire at the former Cat and Fiddle pub has made the situation even worse.

Following the blaze, believed to have been caused by a cannabis factory in one of the converted flats, Magdalen Street was closed for a week over concerns about the structural damage to the historic building.

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Police and fire at scene during investigations (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest)

IS THE STREET DYING?

Some shop owners in the street worry about the effect the road closure, which reopened on Friday morning, had on their businesses.

Kelvan Mitchell of Second Hand Land said: "The street is dying.

"It has been so quiet - it's like a ghost town.

"It is not Magdalen Street anymore it's Marijuana Street.

"When Anglia Square closed it got slightly worse."

He added the lack of cash points, buses coming through and public toilets are all contributing factors.

READ MORE: Emergency services investigate aftermath of drug den blaze

Kelvan Mitchell, of Secondhand Lane (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest)

Another trader said: "It has been slow, I don't know which is worse - Anglia Square or the road closure.

"It was a very busy street but it will be more than two years of demolition and there will be loads more closures."

Others shared similar views but maintained some optimism over the future of the street.

Sasha Malinonska of Positive Faith Hope Love said: "When Anglia Square closed it became a bit more busy and then the road closed and now that is it.

"It is affecting business.

"The community is very nice - but there is another side to this area.

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Sasha Malinonska (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest)

"I have people who come from more clean areas like Wroxham and they say people they know would never come to this area."

She added that despite its reputation: "We can fix this area.

"When Anglia Square is done it will be better in the future.

"I love this area."

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David Wilimott of Carmichael's darts and trophies said: "It as been impacting us a little, we could not open until Thursday morning."

David added about the fire that caused the closure: "I've had the shop 45 years and have not seen anything like it before."

Somebody from ChilliFlame hairdressers said: "There has been a lack of updates.

"The only way I have been finding out is social media.

"You just have to accept it.

"It is the bus route as well, a lot of our clients come in on the buses.

"There is always something going on up this street."

Others were more optimistic about the closure and said that they felt very little impact.

Stephen Alden of R & S Furniture said: "I have done more business this week with people trying to get to me.

Another Magdalen Street trader, who wanted to remain anonymous had previously said it has all been "terribly inconvenient" and yet "another nail in the coffin" for the area.

READ MORE: Magdalen Street fire causes chaos as fire crews battle blaze

Within just the space of two weeks, two cannabis factories were discovered on Magdalen Street.

Police busted the first, which was found in a building not far from the Cat and Fiddle pub, on May 29.

The site of the drug bust has allegedly been "nothing but trouble" for years according to neighbours.

Following the fire in a flat in the former Cat and Fiddle pub last week, investigators discovered 40 cannabis plants and hydroponics equipment in the building.