Duck Bay workers slam parking charge plan at Loch Lomond hotel and restaurant

Employees at Duck Bay Hotel and Restaurant have slammed the proposals by Argyll and Bute Council, which they say will hit them hard in the pocket after an already financially challenging year.

The venue on the banks of the loch reopened at the end of April but Alan Cawley, managing director of Cawley Hotels and Restaurants - which owns the Duck Bay resort along with five other sites - says parking fees will hamper the recovery of the business post-lockdown.

It is understood that the local authority intends to impose charges of £1.20 per hour between the hours of 9am and 6pm for off street parking in the Duck Bay car park and on street parking on Auchendennan Road.

Duck Bay offers stunning views on the banks of Loch Lomond

Lodging a formal objection in an open letter to the council, Mr Cawley said: “Following a year when a global pandemic resulted in a catastrophic effect on human life and the forced closure of so many businesses, as well as the entire hospitality industry, resulting in huge financial ramifications and thousands of inevitable redundancies, I find the timing of this notification absolutely incredulous.

“It should be noted that public transport to this area is almost non-existent and extremely limited and therefore the public have no choice but to bring a car, it is actually unbelievable and totally insensitive.

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“The average working day for staff would involve a shift of at least eight hours. Are these same people who have been furloughed now for a full year to be expected to pay a minimum of £8 a day to park their car in order to be able to work?

“Does the council believe that this is fair and reasonable for people working within such a vulnerable industry?”

Hayley Sneddon, one of the more than 120 people employed at the Duck Bay resort, said she was “appalled and saddened” that the proposals were even being considered.

The 24-year-old said: “The proposed charges would mean a little less than £11 a day for me to park safely at my place of work.

“As an employee who regularly works six days a week, this would mean a little less than £70 a week to park at my work.

“I am on minimum wage, running my own home, my own car, and have the same kind of bills that everyone else has. How can almost £300 a month to park safely at my work be justified?

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“This would be one third of my wage. Every month. A figure that is not far from the rent I pay to live in my home.

“I understand that yearly permits can be purchased but not everyone has the kind of disposable income to pay for parking that is not guaranteed as these spaces could be gone by the time people arrive at work.”

Colleague Gemma King, who has been an employee at the resort since 2007, said: “This proposal is nothing short of shameful.

“It is a thinly veiled robbery disguised as a ‘parking charge’ that will affect those who can least afford it the hardest.”

In a response to Miss Sneddon, seen by the Advertiser, the council’s roads manager Stephen Campopiano said a public consultation on the proposals would open “in the near future”.

Mr Campopiano said: “The public consultation is an important stage as this will allow us to formally receive objections.

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“Following receipt of objections, we will engage with objectors and key stakeholders to address any substantive concerns, from which we would hope to find a balance that addresses the majority concerns.

“We would anticipate that proposals will support increased tourist footfall and our economy, that are vital to local businesses, like the Cawley group, while preserving our environment by supporting sustainable transport.

“This also ensures appropriate and available parking that enables safe access and egress of all vehicles including emergency vehicles and public transport.”

A council spokesperson added: “We’ve had discussions with a number of stakeholders, including the Cawley Hotel Group, during the first and second consultation periods.

“Once we go to consultation three, which will be advertised publicly, we will welcome comments from members of the public, organisations or groups.”