A fishmongers on Oban’s Railway Pier says its business is being threatened after ScotRail put a barrier up on the pier and continually refuses its customers entry.
D Watt and Son Fishmongers was assured that people arriving to buy fish would be granted entry to the pier to collect orders.
However Donald Watt said that on Good Friday, one of the busiest days of the year, some of his customers were turned away at the barrier.
Mr Watt said: “The barrier was put in about three years ago. They never told us they were doing it.
“The car park is at the end of the road, behind the barrier.
“You get 30 minutes leeway to go into the car park. But if it is full they are supposed to let a maximum of four of our customers in.”
He continued: “The railway staff are supposed to let them through if they are here to collect a delivery. But when they ask they are being told there is no agreement.
“Majestic Line operate cruise boats out of Oban. They want to use fresh local produce as part of their tour. They were turned away on Good Friday.
“Majestic Line have said if it is too much of a problem to get supplies here they will go elsewhere. That’s a big order for me.
“The Seafood Temple, a restaurant along the road, was also turned away when their staff came to collect the order.
“It is not costing me money yet but is threatening to.
“They are only two customers who have complained to me recently, there might have been individuals turned away too.”
Andy Thoms, director of Majestic Line cruises, said: “Our headquarters are at Dunoon. We could take up our own fish from here but because we work out of Oban in the summer, we like to give businesses to the local businesses.
“Our man who goes there had to carry the whole delivery off the pier by hand.
“It is very tempting to bring our own stuff up. But we don’t want to do that because Watts are very good and it’s not their fault.
“It would be a great help to us if ScotRail could just let us have a pass.”
A spokesman for ScotRail said: “We have a strong working relationship with local businesses, and have worked with them since the barrier was installed to ensure their customers can still collect orders without paying to park. This agreement remains in place.”
