Nightclubs in legal bid over Covid safety rules
NIGHTCLUBS are to sue the Scottish Government over “toxic” Covid safety rules they claim are destroying the industry. The Night Time Industries Association will take their case to the courts after a long-running war of words with the government.
The group – which represents nightclubs and bars across the country, including the Glasgow’s own Sub Club and the Garage – claimed the threat of the deadly virus was no longer as severe as it was “even a few short months ago”, thanks to rapid progress on vaccines and falling rates of deaths and hospitalisations.
It comes less than a week after strict lockdown measures were lifted across the country and punters took to newly-reopened beer gardens.
Mike Grieve, Managing Director of Sub Club and the group’s chairman and director said his organisation was left with no other choice but to meet the government in the Court of Session.
He added: “As things stand, we have no ability to trade, no indicative date for reopening, no ongoing funding, and no prospect of keeping our staff in employment.”
The Scottish Government was treating the industry, which supports around 39,000 jobs, with “complete indifference”, he said.
Donald Macleod, the owner of the Garage and Cathouse nightclubs, warned Scotland was in danger of becoming a “cultural wasteland”.
He said: “The Scottish Government should be protecting, supporting, and celebrating the night-time economy, not insidiously allowing it to wither on the vine and perish.”
Previously, The Strategic Framework Business Fund (SFBF) provided grants to businesses that were required to close by law or to significantly change their operation due to Covid-19 restrictions including nightclubs.
As things stand, we have no ability to trade
What do you think of the legal move by nightclubs? Email letters@ glasgowtimes.co.uk