Councillors will today decide whether a fledgling business in a Wester Ross village will have to cease trading and move camp in the wake of a seafood war.
Kirsty Scobie and Fenella MacRae were given permission to open their Seafood Shack as long as they did not trade within a 490ft (150m) radius of a shop or restaurant selling similar products.
But the nearby Gallery Cafe had fish dishes on its menu and complained to Highland Council about the fare on offer from its new competitor.
The owners of the seafood shack understood that the cafe only sold paninis and cakes but its owner, Paul Eddington, said that they frequently changed their menu.
The cafe owner closed his business down after being deluged with online abuse amid the seafood war, with locals accusing Mr Eddington of deliberately changing his menu to scupper the new operation.
Today, councillors will firstly consider whether the Seafood Shack has the permission of all current businesses selling prepared seafood dishes within the 490ft radius of the West Argyle Street site.
It remains unclear whether another six businesses in the area are supportive or not of the Seafood Shack and all owners have been invited to attend today’s licensing committee, where they can raise their concerns.
If there are objections, the committee must consider whether Miss Scobie is in breach of her licence and must decide whether to suspend it.
However, if the committee finds the licensee has been breached, but is not minded to exercise its powers, they may consider there is reason to remove or amend condition eight in this particular case.
The authority’s environmental health team certified Miss Scobie’s mobile catering unit as fit for use and granted a street trader’s licence in March.
Highland Council said the women were given ample warning about the condition which stipulated they should take care to site themselves outside the 490ft radius and seek permission from other businesses.
But Miss Scobie said previously that the pair spoke to the council about the traders licence and said they didn’t think they sold similar products so “it should be OK”.
The matter will be discussed during today’s licensing committee at the council’s headquarters in Glenurquhart Road.
