Leven café owners set to sue Fife Council over works.

Claims access to premises was denied during regeneration works

Café owners are threatening legal action against Fife Council amid claims they were forced out of business by a £1 million regeneration scheme.

Vicky Smith, owner of the Pancake Station in Leven, is to speak to lawyers tomorrow over allegations workmen fenced off her Branch Street premises, denying access to workers and customers.

She and managers Ewan Brown and Steven O’Donnell say they were unable to open during the months of works to upgrade the road and paving at the shorehead – aimed at improving the area and increasing footfall in the high street.

Fife Council said they or the contractors would have arranged safe access to the premises but were never asked, a claim denied by Ewan.

They are the third set of shop owners to complain the scheme affected their business. James Craigie, owner of pet shop Paws and Claws, said he was packing up after 20 years as takings had plummeted by 70% due to loss of footfall.

Mohsen Atabat of the Shorehead Pizza Parlour reported an 80% drop in business after works started in October.

The Pancake Station opened in September but closed for a few days at the start of December due to a plumbing issue. Ewan said when he returned to reopen the premises were surrounded by fences. “We couldn’t reopen,” he said. “I couldn’t physically get in. “It was horrendous. “It’s now getting dire financially and we’ve had to pay staff off.”

Ewan added that he had spoken to contractors several times in a bid to gain access to the café and had tried and failed to claim compensation from the local authority.

Fife Council engineer Mark Methven said: “Fife Council always strives to minimise any disruption caused by essential roadworks to businesses, communities and local people.

“All businesses were informed in advance of these works, face to face and via letter, about potential disruption. Contact details were provided.

“Works in this area started in October and were carried out around The Pancake Station in mid-December. It was only after the premises shut that the works started. Contractors would have given safe access to the premises... at any time, should this have been requested.”

I couldn’t physically get in. It was horrendous. It’s now getting dire financially and we’ve had to pay staff off. MANAGER EWAN BROWN

Picture: Kim Cessford. Ewan Brown, Vicky Smith and Steven O’Donnell outside The Pancake Station.