Inverness charity shop remains closed due to drainage issues at Victorian Market
Drainage issues that have seen a charity shop closed for two months appear no closer to being resolved – with no-one apparently taking responsibility for the issue.
The Carr Gomm shop in the Queensgate Arcade in the Victorian Market has been closed for two months, its stock left outside along with an honesty box.
Following fresh inquiries by the Courier this week, a spokesperson for the charity, which supports people in need to live in their own homes, said: “Carr Gomm is working with relevant parties to address an issue with drainage. We will reopen the shop once the issue is resolved.”
They added: “We have experienced and are continuing to experience a loss of revenue since the shop has been closed.”
Another business owner who said they have also been impacted but did not want to be named gave more details of the impact of the still unresolved issue.
“We haven’t been able to use the toilets in our premises, and have to go and use the public toilets,” they said. “It smells awful, and we have had workers gagging due to the stench.
“It is not healthy, and everyone seems to be passing the buck with the issue.”
A spokesperson for Scottish Water said: “After being made aware of drainage problems affecting some businesses in the Queensgate Arcade of the Victorian Market, our local team responded and confirmed that the public sewers that serve the building are clear and operating normally.
“We believe that the problem is within privately-owned drainage pipes which are within and beneath the building.
“Reflecting the significant impact this is having on businesses, we are making efforts to help further with confirming the location of the problem, but we are not able to carry out an intrusive repair within a private building.
“We will continue to do all we reasonably can to assist the responsible parties so that the issue can be resolved.”
Highland Council and the Inverness Common Good Fund own parts of the Victorian Market but confirmed that this does not include ownership of the Queensgate Arcade.
Donations to Carr Gomm can be made via Paypal at shop@carrgomm.org
