Jamie McGrigor, Highlands & Islands MSP, has given his full backing to the many Argyll businesses who have voiced concerns about Argyll & Bute Council’s decision to force them to remove road advertising signs on the A85 and A828 roads.

Jamie McGrigor yesterday highlighted the issue from a tourism point of view in a Scottish Parliamentary debate on Scotland’s built environment and has also written on the subject to the Chief Executive of Argyll & Bute Council and to Scotland’s Enterprise Minister Jim Mather MSP, the member for Argyll & Bute.

Commenting today Jamie McGrigor said:

“ Around thirty businesses on or nearby the Connel to Fort William and Tyndrum to Oban roads are going to be affected by this new approach being taken by the Council and there are very understandable concerns about the impact the removal of such an important advertising source might have on business viability.

“ One business, Inverawe Smokehouse, which is sited two miles from the A85 at Taynuilt believes that a very significant part of their trade comes from advertising signs on the road and suggested to me that the future of four jobs might be directly threatened; this would be a devastating blow to an already fragile rural community.

“ Businesspeople are quite rightly asking why the Council is taking this action now when most of these signs have been up for over a decade and indeed some have been in position for up to thirty years. They should have certificates of local use as in the past.

“ In the middle of an economic recession this is the very last thing small businesses need and I call on Argyll & Bute Council to reconsider its position and show the flexibility on this matter that it appears to have shown in the past. I do understand that an original 28 day deadline for the signs’ removal has already been extended due to pressure and I urge Argyll & Bute Council to be positive in helping our businesses rather than burdening them with hurdles of this kind. The Scottish Government’s target for tourism is a 50% increase and they are hardly likely to get it unless businesses have the fullest support from their local Councils.”

Christopher Cox, Operations Director at Inverawe Smokehouses, said:

“We believe that we make a valuable contribution to the local economy through providing employment and also attracting visitors to the area. It is inevitable that the removal of these signs will have a negative impact on our business as many people will simply be unable to find us. I urge Argyll and Bute Council to urgently reconsider and to show their support for local businesses by allowing us to keep this vital signage.”

Nicholas Horne, Proprietor, of the Pierhouse Hotel, said:

"The Pierhouse Hotel & Seafood Restaurant in Port Appin is over 2 miles from the nearest main road. Market research conducted in 2008 showed that 22% of our restaurant business is directly generated as a result of people reacting to our carefully positioned 'personalised' signs on the main road. To lose these signs which have been in position for over 20 years will have catastrophic effects on our business and will inevitably necessitate a reduction in the numbers of employees. Argyll & Bute Council need to carefully consider the negative impact on the local economy before they implement these 'ill-thought out' proposals."

Fiona Hutchison of the Kinlochlaich Garden Centre said: "Our road signs are essential to the survival of our businesses- over 60% of our turnover from Kinlochlaich Garden Centre comes from passing trade who see our existing signs. Our signs also give prior warning to our entrance, which is a safety issue, as the road is curved and de-restricted - i.e they have time to slow down from 60mph."

Nicola Meekin, Proprietor of Castle Stalker View Café  said "Castle Stalker View Cafe & Gift Shop is located on a blind summit and is not visible coming from either direction. Our research shows 80% of our summer trade is from passing tourists, so removal of our signage would have a huge impact on our business, not to mention the road safety implications this would have. Scotland has to nurture its Tourism Industry, not destroy it. This is not the way to treat entrepreneurs in the current recessionary climate", Nicola Meekin, Proprietor

ENDs…

For all further information, please call Jamie’s office on 0131 348 5616

To speak directly to a local businessman who will be affected please call Christopher Cox of Inverawe Smokehouse on 01866 822 777 or 01866 822 810

Argyll businesses that will be affected include Castle Stalker View Café; Kinlochlaich Garden Plant Centre; The Airds Hotel, Port Appin;  the Pier House Hotel, Port Appin; and Lettershuna Riding Centre.

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