The owner of the famous Charlie’s Cafe in Inverness says moving small tour operators from the city’s bus station has cost him a significant amount of trade.
Chris Corbett, who runs the landmark business in Farraline Park, says it has also left passengers waiting to board buses in areas without shelter, food outlets or toilets.
A number of small companies were moved after Stagecoach, which leases the bus station from Highland Council, raised safety concerns.
Alternative pick-up points were offered in Railway Terrace, Union Street and Ardross Street.
But the move means hundreds of passengers who were visiting the bus station are now spread across other parts of the city.
‘No one has thought about the tourists’
Mr Corbett took over Charlie’s Cafe this year after it had been run by the Pieraccini family for around 70 years.
He said: “There are no services in any of those spots for people using the buses.
“There are no shops, no cover if it’s raining and no toilets. It is also detrimental to the businesses in the bus station that cater for them.
“There is no forward thinking in this. We are open at 6.30am and were getting lots of trade from tourists buying breakfast, teas and coffees or sandwiches before their tours.
“We’ve lost substantially because of this.
“But the bigger thing to my mind is that no one has thought about tourists using the services.
“No one is open at that time of the morning in the new locations, so there are no services for them.”
Gordon Pearson, founder of Wow Tours, said the decision to move the smaller operators came “out of the blue”.
“It posed a real logistical problem for us all at the time.
“We have thousands of passengers and took two full days contacting them to say it had changed.
“But fair play to the council, it came up with a workable solution. It’s not perfect, but it’s working.
“I do have sympathy for Chris as we had 300 people a day going on tours from the station so the income would have been significant.”
Will tours start again from Inverness bus station?
Clare Dolan, head of operations at Highland Experience Tours, said the changes have caused some upset and confusion.
She said the firm was given notice of the change and options for a new pick-up point.
After deciding on a new site and printing 40,000 brochures, it was told a different site. However this was later resolved.
She added: “It’s inconvenient, but we’re just getting on with it.
“However, if there was an option to go back to the bus station next year we would take it.
“It’s a clearer departure point and there are better facilities there for people.”
Highland Council said Stagecoach raised safety concerns about ongoing use of the bus station by tour companies.
A spokeswoman said: “Usage by these companies/vehicles was not always appropriate or planned, and could not be effectively managed alongside scheduled local bus services.
“The frequent need for reversing within the bus station stances was raised as a particularly concerning issue created by the presence of small tour buses.”
Three alternative locations within the city centre were identified.
“Although tour companies did express frustration initially, they did accept and adapt to the changes.
“We have not, heard any subsequent negative feedback from these companies or from passengers/users of these services.”
Safety a top priority
Stagecoach Highlands said Farraline Park bus station is operating at maximum capacity for registered bus and coach services.
A spokeswoman said: “The safety of our passengers and other pedestrians in the bus station is a top priority for us.
“As such, the decision was taken earlier this year to ask the council to find alternate departure points for the non-registered services, such as tour operators.”
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