Town Team urges Travelodge to remove ‘backland’ gates

DISGRUNTLED volunteers are urging the heads of Travelodge to remove the barriers preventing public use of the ‘backlands’ area in the centre of Fort William, writes Neill Bo Finlayson.

The Fort William Town Team (FWTT) have written a stern letter to the chairman of Thame and London Ltd, the parent company of Travelodge, in an effort to resolve the dispute over the land that runs behind the hotel.

As reported in last week’s edition of the Lochaber Times, the hotel chain confirmed it was responsible for a barrier which was erected to stop the public from accessing the ground for health and safety reasons.

The area, know as the ‘backlands’, was resurfaced, tidied and fenced off by the FWTT last year.

In the letter, the FWTT wrote: ‘For Travelodge to claim that it is now ‘unfit for purpose’ and is a ‘health and safety’ issue is beyond belief!

‘We would like to know what part of the car park is ‘unfit for purpose’ and what part of the car park is a ‘health and safety’ issue’.

Group members are looking for recognition for their ‘huge efforts’ in improving the area of land after they spent an estimated £2,800 on materials, thanks to donations from local businesses and volunteers.

FWTT has given Thame and London 14 days to respond to its letter before seeking alternative solutions.