MSP LEADS NEWTON STEWART DELEGATION TO HOLYROOD (Jim Hume)

MSP LEADS NEWTON STEWART DELEGATION TO HOLYROOD

November 13, 2008 12:00 AM

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland, will today bring B&B owners from Newton Stewart to meet with Scottish Government Minister, Fergus Ewing MSP.

The meeting was convened amid concerns about costs to small B&B and guest house establishments of implementing new fire safety regulations.

Jim Hume said:

"It seems that the new fire safety regulations are being very strictly interpreted on the ground and the result is a prohibitive cost to B&Bs and guest houses of installing fire safety measures.

"Today's meeting is therefore most welcome and I greatly appreciate the opportunity to put my constituents' cases forward.

The MSP continued:

"The South of Scotland is comprised of many small establishments as opposed to the larger chains of hotels in bigger towns and cities. As such the new regulations could potentially be damaging to tourism in the area if many of these smaller establishments shut up shop because they simply cannot afford the new fire safety requirements.

"I have serious doubts that the Scottish Government's target for a 50% increase in tourism by 2015 will be met if visitors coming to the South of Scotland are unable to find anywhere to stay. In the more immediate term, I fear that the region's tourism industry, as well as local shops and other businesses dependent upon the spending power of visiting tourists, could be damaged.

"I believe that the regulations should be reviewed to take into account the size and nature of small B&B and guest houses establishments, and shall be seeking an assurance from the Minister that these businesses will not be adversely affected by the regulations.

"There has to be flexibility in the system."

ENDS