City centre events are having a “catastrophic” effect on retailers in Perth, it has been claimed.
As she prepared to close her George Street shop for the final time on Saturday, businesswoman Claire McLaren hit out at a council policy which has seen celebrations such as the Christmas light switch on held on Saturdays – a prime trading day.
Mrs McLaren has been forced to close The Fussy Cow after five years as takings gradually dwindled.
She said her trade has “never recovered” since Perth and Kinross Council gave the go-ahead to a continental-style Christmas Market in 2014.
She said: “There are some days when you are making minimal and small-value sales. The economics don’t add up.
“The impact of holding events in the city centre on a Saturday is detrimental to trade. There’s less footfall and less spend in the shops because people are distracted by the event. But the council spin is that the event has attracted a greater footfall.
“Undoubtedly having the Christmas light switch on on a Saturday was catastrophic for businesses – it’s the start of the Christmas trade and we were denied a good day’s trading.
“Events discourage people from walking around the shops – they may look great but they will not maintain the shop units being filled.
“Collectively the retailers’ feedback has been that we don’t want these events on a Saturday, we would prefer a Sunday when we have the option not to open, but the council tell us we are wrong – they are not listening.
“It was suggested that they try a Sunday and prove us wrong.
“I am severely disappointed in the council – traders invest in the city and we trust them to help everybody build a better Perth. They lack awareness and are distanced from what is going on in Perth.”
