Lack of available industrial units for businesses in Highland capital claims Inverness businessman Jason Massie who runs Rimtech in Harbour Road
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When an Inverness businessman was told he would have to vacate his current premises by the end of the year he thought it would be straightforward to find a new place.
Jason Massie, who runs Rimtech in Harbour Road, has been there for the past three years and has spent the past 13 years building up the business.
However, over the past three months he has been unsuccessful and says there is a distinct lack of industrial units and sites in the Highland capital.
If he is unable to find a suitable alternative it would mean winding up the business with the loss of six jobs – he says that they have never been busier repairing wheels which have suffered pothole damage with work from all over Scotland and even England.
He said: “I can’t find another building – Harbour Road is so packed at the moment. Larger firms are taking over.
“Inverness has had a serious problem for some time. I spoke to Highland Council and they said they’ve no plans for [industrial redevelopment] for the future.
“Inverness is a growing city. The amount of houses that are going in is ludicrous when there is nowhere for businesses to go.”
The move is necessary because the building owner would like to use it as a Skoda dealership – Autoglass which is also based there will also need to move and Mr Massie said he understood it had also faced similar problems.
Mr Massie said it was a shame that businesses were facing a lack of available space in the city and added: “There’s just nothing for them and it’s a sad situation.”
Mr Massie was critical of Highland Council because he said there were no plans for new industrial units in the Highland capital in the near future.
However, a council spokeswoman said the authority was currently promoting three vacant industrial units for let at Evanton, Alness and Brora.
