Council chiefs in Inverness have apologised to a city centre businesses after sparking fears that a popular statue of a butcher could be given the chop.
Well known to local residents, the life-sized figure has stood outside Duncan Fraser & Son butchers in the Queensgate for more than three decades.
But the butcher’s shop was among 30 city businesses to receive a letter from Highland Council warning that such advertising hoardings on pavements must be immediately removed, or firms would be hit with a £2,500 fine.
The threat to the statue triggered a furore online, with more than 700 people signing a petition in under 24 hours.
Duncan Fraser said yesterday, however, that he had received a second letter from the council, which clarifies the rules and apologises for any confusion.
The letter said: “We recently sent you a letter regarding obstructions in the public road.
“While we have routinely used this generic letter in the past, we acknowledge that its effectiveness is somewhat limited in part by a failure to outline why an A-frame or advertising sign constitutes a hazard, and to clearly explain the council’s policy on this issue.
“ In addition, some letters recently issued contained outdated contact details. We apologise for this lack of information, for providing incorrect contact details, and for any difficulties any of these aspects may have caused.”
It added that the local authority understood that mobile advertising was “a sensitive issue” and it “fully recognised the desire and need that businesses have in order to attract custom”.
The council said it had previously agreed to “permit certain obstructions in a controlled manner”, with the process “managed using a standardised permit application form”, which the businesses were encouraged to use.
Mr Fraser said: “I think they are basically apologising, though I still have to put an application in.
“There was no way it (the statue) was coming in anyway, the thing has been there for 30-odd years.”
