Angry hotelier claims Open had ‘ghost town’ impact on businesses

Council to conduct survey over economic effects of top golf tournament

Businesses in Carnoustie will be surveyed about the effect of the Open on trade after grievances were aired about its impact on the town.

Rob Alcock , manager of the Kinloch Hotel, claimed the tournament had turned Carnoustie into a “ghost town”, and that visitors were “funnelled” away.

Others argued the area seemed busier than usual.

Mr Alcock said: “The Open for us was one of the most disappointing in terms of expectations versus actual trade. I believe local businesses were punished by the local authorities and the event organisation who effectively ensured that the main town of Carnoustie was bypassed for the entire event.

“I feel that all local businesses who geared up for the event were disappointed by the overall turnout.

“Everything possible was done to make sure a fraction of the 170,000 anticipated visitors came into

ROB ALCOCK KINLOCH HOTEL MANAGER

Carnoustie itself. like a ghost town.

“From visitors being funnelled directly to the event via buses, stewards directing people away from the town, parking restrictions across the area to people being held in the site by organisers, all of these conspired to disadvantage local businesses.

“If you weren’t a golfer and drove through Carnoustie you would have thought the town was actually closed.

“It is local small businesses that are the lifeblood of this town. Day in and day out we employ the local people through good times and bad, but clearly that counts for nothing to the local authority who have bent over backwards to deliver whatever the event organisers asked for, to the detriment of their constituents.”

Carnoustie and District Independent councillor David Cheape disagreed, saying: “Each time I passed the Kinloch Arms Hotel during the course of the week, it seemed considerably busier than it is usually.

“From talking to other businesses in town, many changed their whole attitude to their normal working day in an attempt to capitalise on the flow of visitors.”

Mr Cheape added that the council will undertake an economic impact assessment that will be publicly available. The main street was

Day in and day out we employ the local people through the good times and bad, but clearly that counts for nothing to the local authority.

Picture: Dougie Nicolson. A row has flared amid claims that visitors were funnelled away from the main street in Carnoustie to the Open site.