MEMBERS of the Fife Licensed Trade Association (FLTA) met with Crossgates and Hill of Beath MP, Douglas Chapman, to raise concerns about compliance with guidance and the future of the industry.

The FLTA board members spoke with Mr. Chapman about how some bars and pubs in Fife are letting the industry down by not complying with social distancing measures or taking down customer details when they enter the premises.

From Friday, it has been compulsory for the hospitality sector to take names of customers for the Test and Protect system in case of any local spike, as has been seen in Aberdeen.

But there are concerns that the lack of compliance with measures already has risked closing down pubs again.

The financial pressure that has been placed on pubs, bars and restaurants, by the Covid-19 crisis was also raised with the MP with pub landlords concerned they will not be able to sustain their business without tailored Government support whilst social distancing measures remain in place.

Some premises are currently taking in around a third of what they would normally due to restrictions on the number of customers they can have in at the one time and so are calling on for a support package similar to that announced for hotels to see them through the crisis and make sure they do not have to make staff redundant.

Commenting, Mr. Chapman said: “I had a very productive meeting with the members of the FLTA, I am very concerned at their anecdotal evidence of premises in my constituency of Dunfermline and West Fife and across the Kingdom who are not complying with the guidance clearly set-out by the Scottish Government.

“With regards to the issues of support for these businesses, we need to see an extension of the furlough scheme as small, independent pubs are facing the real possibility of having to lay off their staff once the Job Retention Scheme comes to an end.

“We must also see a tailored support package for pubs because they have not been able to take advantage of schemes such as Eat Out to Help Out because they do not serve food.

“I will be looking into both of these issues to ensure that our much-loved watering holes do not close their doors for good.”