Council's £260k Gibraltar Street revamp will hit Oban cafe 'worse than Covid'

The council's new £260,000 plan to revamp Gibraltar Street, aiming to boost economic recovery from the pandemic, will hit a popular Oban patisserie 'worse than Covid', says its owner.

 

Gibraltar Street is the main walkway between Oban town centre and Lochavullin Industrial Estate, which includes big stores such as Tesco, Aldi, M&S, and Homebase.

 

Argyll and Bute Council plans £260,000 improvements, due to start next year.

 

On November 8 it launched a second consultation on designs, which are 'considerably different' from the first consultation in June. It is due to close on November 23, the day after a public display at Gibraltar Street from 11am-3pm.

 

'Since the initial consultation, redevelopment will now only be carried out within the council maintained boundary,' the online consultation explains. 'The change to the site has required more complex design solutions which are considerably different to the original proposals we initially presented, due to the difficulties of the site in regard to gradients and ensuring we meet accessibility standards.'

 

The latest consultation presents two options, 'aimed at drawing more people into the town centre to support local businesses. The proposed work includes improving the pedestrian path to make it accessible for all, new and improved signage, seating and planting.'

 

Councillor Robin Currie, policy lead for economy and rural growth, said: 'With improvement works at the gateway to Oban’s town centre, we want more people to support local businesses and help keep spending local.'

 

Sylvia Bossard is the owner of popular Gibraltar Street café and bakery, Bossards, which will celebrate its 18th birthday this January. Every summer for the last 12 years, the café serves an outdoor seating area near its door, bordered off from the walkway. 'We are the main one relying on this walkway,' she said: 'It is us that will be affected.'

 

The new designs for Gibraltar Street have removed the café's outside seating, she says. 'They have created a big area for sitting, and they have taken all our seating away.

 

'I was guaranteed the last time we had the plans I could keep my area. Now they say you cannot have it anymore. They never once showed me the plans since June. It was just a fait accompli.'

 

Both design options allocate just a couple of tables next to the café, and many more in a closed area across the winding walkway, where the public can eat any food they bring.

 

'The council is spending £250,000 on a picnic area,' she said.

 

Sylvia said 'It is not safe' for her staff to serve customers sitting in the picnic area, adding: 'I could not serve them. We cannot have girls carrying hot teas and coffees across two walkways, up steps. It is not level. They are saying they cannot level it out. What are they spending £250,000 on? It is taking a safe area, and making it dangerous.'

 

There is no incentive to tend tables where people bring food from elsewhere, she adds, saying: 'That is like me asking to go to Eeusk to eat my Tesco sandwich. There is no incentive for us to look after it, which we have done for years, because no one else has done. Who is going to be doing it? It is not going to be us anymore.

 

'This is a loss-loss situation for us. We are one of the few places in Oban where you can have a safe street café culture. It is like losing café culture instead of promoting it.

 

'We do not know how much it will affect us while they are doing the work; we cannot have dirt and dust floating around the place. Financially it will hurt us in the summer. We will lose all our outside seating area. It will be worse than Covid.'

 

An Argyll and Bute spokesperson said: 'The proposed improvements to Gibraltar Street will help attract more people to the town centre, support local businesses and improve access for all users. The designs feature designated areas for everyone to enjoy. We welcome all feedback as part of the consultation www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/consultations/gibraltar-street'