Businessman's fears over reopening chocolate shop in Dornoch
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A claim by a local businessman that Sutherland’s county town has not been made ‘Covid resilient’ has been strongly rebutted by community leaders.
Chocolatier Paul Maden, who with his partner James Findlay, runs Cocoa Mountain in Dornoch says he may be unable to reopen his retail operation in the town, resulting in the loss of 10 full-time equivalent jobs.
Mr Maden, who has another outlet at Balnakeil and whose online sales have increased by 200 per cent during lockdown, wants to see a new one-way traffic system introduced in the town, a pedestrian area created in the centre and wider pavements, to allow social distancing.
He has applied to Highland Council for consent to take over some of the pavement space outside his Dornoch cafe and shop, which he had intended to run as a takeaway with people queuing on pavement space outside.
But he claims he is receiving no support from East Sutherland and Edderton ward councillor Jim McGillivray, Dornoch Community Council and Dornoch Area Community Interest Company (DACIC), of which Cocoa Mountain is a business member.
Mr Maden said: “As a business I want to feel really comfortable that I have done everything I can to make my staff and customers safe. but I cannot open in Dornoch now because I cannot do so safely.
“I have been asking the town for a recovery plan for three months and have forwarded over 20 emails showing planning in other places.”
Dornoch Community Council chairman Patrick Murray said a ‘two-tier’ resilience plan was in place for the town, which was working well.
He said that under phase two, businesses had been kept up to date with the changing regulatory framework and all had been encouraged to go for the ‘We’re Good to Go’ Quality Assurance standards.
In addition, talks were under way to establish a pop-up visitor information point; a a 20mph speed limit had been applied for, and and approach made to the Town Regeneration and Recovery Fund.
Mr Murray added that there was no support from other businesses in the town for the measures suggested by Mr Maden.
DACIC chairwoman Joan Bishop said Dornoch was fortunate in having wide pavements and open spaces as well as lots of street furniture to accommodate social distancing. A Visitor’s charter had been issued to make people aware of the changes to expect this year.
She said DACIC had been in close contact with members of its business group and had encouraged discussion of concerns and solutions. DACIC had helped businesses with sketches of their queuing system.
“It is up to each business to carry out a risk assessment in consultation with their staff and to plan for reopening in line with the regulations,” she said.
Cllr Jim McGillivray said: “There is a process to undergo for any adaptation of the streetscape, and I referred Mr Maden’s suggestions to the council roads engineers who have the professional expertise and experience to analyse what was proposed and whether or not there is a satisfactory fit with the roads regulations.
“I am aware of the widening of pavements and establishing of pedestrian areas in Inverness but the council was granted £752,954 of Scottish Government money under the Spaces for People initiative for phase one in the Highlands, with a further £1,215,600 last week for phase two.
“ I have already complained to the council that there has been no money set aside for any community projects of this nature between Dingwall and Wick under either scheme. All roads schemes unfortunately need money, and Sutherland is simply not a priority for this council administration."
