Anstruther business owners say they feel betrayed by the RNLI as it prepares to start work on a new £7 million lifeboat station.
Representatives from 12 different businesses told The Courier of their shock at this week’s July 21 start date announcement.
They fear this gives them no time to prepare for the “catastrophic impact” of the the 18-month construction.
And they estimate they could lose around £1.8 million between them if people avoid the area.
Walker Murray, owner of the world-famous Anstruther Fish Bar, is among those who have spoken out.
He is joined by Chris Lewis of The Wee Chippy and Waterfront Restaurant, James McDonald from the Vintage Tearoom and Nick Chaffaut from P’tit Bazar.
Holiday home rental companies, boat trip operators, gift shops, the local dentist and physiotherapist and even the Scottish Fisheries Museum have also expressed concern.
And all attempts by the RNLI to offer assurances have failed.
RNLI changed it plans after complaints
The lifesaving charity made several changes to its original plans in April, at a cost of £300,000, following complaints.
And it held drop-in sessions in Anstruther this week to discuss the proposals for what will become Scotland’s flagship lifeboat station.
It will house the £3.5m Shannon class lifeboat which is too large for the existing station.
Gone is the intention to close a busy harbourside car park and beach.
Instead, 20 of the 79 parking spaces will remain and access to the beach will be maintained.
A park and ride facility with a further 50 spaces will be set up, paid for by the RNLI.
And regular shuttle buses will run to and from the shore – but only at certain times of the day.
However, concerns over parking and construction vehicles remain.
And Rab Deas, whose three boats take visitors to the Isle of May, says the situation is “a fiasco”.
‘Horrendous’ time to start Anstruther lifeboat station construction
“This is going to cost us thousands,” Rab said.
“It’s not just me. It will have a big effect on every business along the shore.
“To start it at this time of year is just horrendous.”
“We feel it should be put back another couple of months until the crazy season is finished.”
All of the business owners expressed support for the local lifeboat crews
However, they thought they would receive three months’ notice of the construction start date.
Walker Murray from Anstruther Fish Bar said: “All businesses here were planning around this notice period, while being hit with minimum wage increases and higher national insurance contributions.”
Linda McBride from Gibbles added: “It’s so disappointing that there has been so little consultation and no economic impact assessment has ever been done.”
And Gillian McLaren from Pittenweem Properties said: “Genuine consultation with the public and businesses has been lacking throughout the last five years.”
RNLI ‘made as many compromises as possible’
RNLI regional operations manager Stuart Gudgeon says the organisation is doing its best to work with locals.
However, work cannot be put off until autumn due to tides and weather.
“This will be the prime lifeboat station in the whole of Scotland, he said.
“A lot of work that happens early is on the harbour floor.
“Getting out of there before the worst of winter hits is important.”
He added: “We’ve listened to the community and heard their concerns.
“But we’re in a position now where we need to progress the project.
“We’ve made as many compromises as we feasibly can to still allow this to go ahead.
“Inevitably there will be a level of disruption.
“But we just have to work to reduce the impact as much as possible.”
Conversation