Owners of Inverness bar claim contractors ruined trade
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The owners of MacGregor's Bar in Inverness city centre say the final day of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme was ruined for them.
They claimed CityFibre broadband installers arrived without warning outside the pub’s beer garden in Church Street on Monday and began digging up the pavement.
The racket went on until after 7pm and customers had to endure dust, noise and vibration, or get out.
And many did just that, according to owner Bruce MacGregor.
“It was incredible,” he said. “With absolutely no consultation or thought, these boys were sent in to dig up the pavement.
“With the dust and noise it was like a post-apocalyptic scene.
“They couldn’t have picked a worse day if they tried. It was the last day of Eat Out to Help Out, the town was packed for Bank Holiday Monday, the weather was great and it was the end of whatever summer season we’ve had.
“They closed the pavement, blocked the entry and created such a racket and dust that customers either didn’t come in or walked out.
“Just who actually gives a toss about city centre businesses?”
He added: “To make matters worse, people couldn’t walk round the pavement to or from Academy Street, where we have another entrance. This is the most shambolic performance I’ve ever witnessed.”
His wife and business partner Jo added: “I asked the foreman to see the risk assessment for work right next to a beer garden during licensed premises opening hours, and they didn’t have one on site. One was produced later, but it was in general terms and not specific to outside our pub.
“I saw people come along, take a look at the pavement works and turn away. I couldn’t blame them.
“It was so bad we had to shut the kitchen early. Everything was coated in dust and staff had to stay on to clean up.
“We had extra staff on for the bank holiday but only did about 60 covers in the garden, which was a third of what we could serve. This shambles must have cost us more than £3000.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “Highland Council is aware of the works being carried out for the CityFibre project on the Church Street footway. We have asked the contractors to investigate the comments raised about the works.”
Allan McEwan, CityFibre’s city manager for Inverness, however, insisted there was advance warning of the works.
"It is our policy to notify local businesses and residents of any planned works, and in this case, this was done several days in advance," he said.
"In addition, our contractor spoke with the business on the morning in question, prior to work commencing.
"While some level of disruption is inevitable, we do everything we can to mitigate this.
"The works we are carrying out will connect key public sector sites, including NHS buildings, to our full fibre network and will make a real difference to people across the city. Furthermore, we are investing at least £20m to bring full fibre within reach of almost every home and business in Inverness."
