Firstly the 3.5m pavement space mentioned above has had permission for street furniture for over 15 years now and is enjoyed by many locals wishing to sit out and enjoy the sun with no complaints. Due to this we always ensure that the pedestrian space is the 2m from kerbside and hasn’t been 3.5m for over 15yrs.

The use of the parking spaces (8 not 9 and we did not ask for this to be extended to 14 as Fife Council are planning) was granted to protect businesses and jobs. Previous to covid social distancing restrictions we had a capacity to include 15 tables. With upwards of £2500 spent to ensure compliance and safety for our customers this was reduced to 5/6 or 1/3 capacity. Furthermore the extra safety measures like chemicals/cleaning costs hospitality businesses like our up to an extra £1000 per month in additional labour costs.

With a rent of over £43,000 per annum the business could not survive with such reduced capacity. The outdoor seating space has literally saved the business (a social enterprise) and the jobs of 14 vulnerable adults. Over 80% of my team have disabilities. If they lost their employment at Zest they would seriously struggle to find another employer, some possibly in their lifetimes, who could/would support their needs. Those people would then move onto benefits and further increase the welfare bill for many years to come. For some their employment is also their main source of support. I would consider this a higher priority than having to walk a little further on a diverted footpath which will only be in place for a few months however i appreciate everyone has different priorities.

Having owned Zest for over 12 years and worked in the premises for 14years i can attest that even without the pavement redirected the public have still chosen to walk on the road. Whether crossing at all points of the street, parking, loading and unloading cars, walking behind the parked cars etc… The majority of the public have had no problems following the signage from what i have seen so far.

We appreciate that the red barriers are not the prettiest so have strived to ensure mitigation. To do this we made many wooden Herb planters and purchased more aesthetic barriers to use where we could. Legally compliant signage was purchased, ramps put in place with regular cleaning of the street area carried out. Feedback from our customers has been overwhelmingly positive with many asking to keep this set up. This is in no way our intention, it is temporary and always will be.

Outdoors is the safest place to avoid COVID transmission. With socially distanced tables and the opportunity to have more outdoor seating using the parking spaces the St Andrews residents have a place to eat out/relax in the safest possible way. Now that we have this safe space set up and working well many of our regulars are returning to town in the knowledge that they can go out safely.

I sincerely hope that this maybe explains some of the concerns around the temporary changes. I fully appreciate that it is an inconvenience for some however i feel the greater good for the community is overwhelming. Many of our costs and struggles as a business in this climate will not be clear to those who do not work in the industry.

I am happy to answer any further queries or concerns that anyone may have.