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 The Chamber of Commerce in Stornoway are being urged to improve their own image and relations with the public by the Free Church Presbytery of Lewis. Says the report on Public Questions, Religion and Morals,"It is preposterous that in this day and age so many of them should close down their premises from 1.00pm to 2.00pm.
"Long gone are the days when country people had all day to spend in town. They come at a time convenient to them, and others have buses and ferries to catch. It is increasingly frustrating to have to wait an hour in the middle of the day for shops to open," says the report.
It adds, "There are few towns nowadays who still persist in this outmoded practice and it is time for retailers, if they are looking for support from the public, to open for public convenience and gain their support."
The Presbytery are to write to the Chamber of Commerce asking them to scrap 'the outmoded practice' of closing for lunch between 1.00pm and 2.00pm.
Scottish Hydro-Electric said this week that their shop in Stornoway had only been closed at lunchtime as a temporary measure due to staff shortage.
However as from next Monday it would be open over lunchtime.
The Sports Shop on Francis Street say that from May to September they are open during lunchtime, but not for the rest of the year during 1.00pm and 2.00pm. "Through the summer months we have more staff and open over lunchtime, but it is not worth our while during the rest of the year," said manager Billy Flower.
And although the Free Church Presbytery of Lewis are fully behind a £24 million scheme to modernise the town of Stornoway, they are totally opposed to any grants from the National Lottery being used to fund the project.
The Presbytery compliment the Western Isles Council, Stornoway Trust, Western Isles Enterprise and the Stornoway Pier and Harbour Commission on their 'bold and imaginative' plan to modernise the town.
But they regret that these bodies hope to rely on the National Lottery for funding and are calling on them to oppose applying for grants.
The aims of the Stornoway Town Centre Regeneration Study were to evaluate the problems and opportunities within the town centre and to formulate a strategy to address the regeneration of the area.
Says the report, "The study has been completed and the partnership is to be complimented on producing what is a bold and imaginative plan with detailed and costed proposals for its implementation."
It points out that the cost of the scheme is estimated at £24 million over 15 years.
"It is expected that a substantial part of the total spending will qualify for grants from Europe and Lottery agencies. This latter source of financing the project is to be regretted and I trust that the Presbytery will support a suitable recommendation with reference to it," the report added.
The Presbytery are to write to Comhairle nan Eilean urging them to adhere to their motto that 'Righteousness exalteth a Nation' and say that on that ground the Council should oppose applying for any grants from the National Lottery.
The Presbytery are also urging islanders to support local businesses rather than traders coming to Lewis with sales, 'however attractive the bargains may seem'.
They point out the problems being experienced by the retail trade in the island, particularly in Stornoway town centre.
"Some suffer because of the location of the superstores on the outskirts of the town. Other shops suffer from the ready access to mainland shopping through attractive day trip excursions to Inverness," says the report.
"However, their greatest grievance is with the unfair competition which they face from 'itinerant travelling' sales. Patronising these sales is most unfair to our local businesses who have to pay their Council dues and who employ our own people," the report goes on.
"These 'ships that pass in the night' sales people take all the money they make out of the economy and contribute nothing but a pittance of rental to local village halls."
The report adds, "The Chamber of Commerce are understandably grieved at this trend in public spending."
The Presbytery have agreed to write to village hall committees in the island discouraging them from renting halls to these 'outside interests'.
"If they insist on renting, the rent should be such as to enable local businesses to compete with them on a level playing field," says the report.
Original article Stornoway Gazette May 05 1997.
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