Businesses call for clear exit strategy while pubs poised to bear brunt of tighter rules

Businesses in Dundee and Angus have called for a clear exit strategy from tighter restrictions.

Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce, which has 800 members employing more than 67,000 people between them, said the sudden restrictions were making businesses nervous.

Chief executive Alison Henderson said many were operating on just half of their usual income.

She said: “The inclusion of Dundee being specifically mentioned within the first minister’s lunchtime briefing has given considerable cause for concern.

“Businesses broadly agree that the level of detail within the framework and how an area would exit from a tier is insufficient to allow a business to future plan.

“There have been worrying reports of stresses in supply chains, in lack of access to key supplies, and concerns that prices are being driven up.”

Andrew Mitchell, who co-owns the Kilted Kangaroo bar, which has one of Dundee’s largest beer gardens, described the situation as “very depressing”.

He said: “We’ve been doing OK recently because we upgraded our outside space, we do everything we can to adapt but then it changes.

“Will we be allowed to open for Christmas?

“There’s no clarity but the most important thing is that everyone keeps their jobs.”

He added: “You can go to cafés and you can buy as much alcohol as you want from the supermarket – enough for a party.

“It doesn’t make sense.” Hi s concerns were echoed by Dave Glass, owner of Doc Ferry’s pub and president of the Dundee Licensed Trade Association.

He said: “We really are no further forward than April.

“They shut pubs, cases still went up, so they’re shutting more pubs.”