LETTER: Chairman of Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust responds to critics over closure of Highland attraction Falls of Shin Centre
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Following the report (in sister paper The Northern Times) concerning the Falls of Shin Centre, (FoS), may I make some comments, as chairman of the organisation that owns the centre - the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust (KoSDT), writes Pete Campbell.
The Trust manager gave a comprehensive explanation to Creich Community Council as to why FoS would not be opening this year whilst it remained under the Trust’s management. Everything he said had been discussed and agreed by the Trust board of directors. That formed the basis of the NT’s article, which was accurate.
As reported, two previous tenant operators of the centre are no longer in business there. Those two failures have been expensive to the Trust; many thousands of pounds of losses have had to be absorbed and the Trust has no intention of allowing that to happen again.
The Trust is a community owned charitable body, handling community owned funds for the purpose of serving community interests. It is governed by a Board of Directors - all of whom are locally based - and is subject to all the usual governance required by OSCR - the charity regulator. The Board has decided that to risk further loss at FoS would be an unacceptable course of action for the Trust to take within its remit to manage community funds.
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Quite a large amount of comment has been posted on social media since the NT article last week; with various suggestions as to what could be done to resolve the situation. Somewhat alarmingly, there is also some suggestion that The Trust should be “investigated”. Quite what for is not made clear but, please be assured that every thing and every penny which passes through the hands of the Trust is open to public scrutiny and it is unwise to make suggestions of that sort without there being a sound basis for doing so.
That sort of insinuation can be damaging - especially so on social media. Remember, the Trust is a community owned and operated body - so any unfounded criticism put into the public arena may damage the integrity of those community assets.
Some of the criticism relates to the design and functionality of the centre. That may indeed be accurate but there is little to be done about that at this stage - it is what it is. Others suggest that the Trust should operate the business themselves. That is not something which the Trust is equipped to do. To be profitable, the FoS needs a professional operator to manage and staff it properly.
Another suggestion is that the Trust has closed the FoS. That is not so. The FoS has closed because the previous operator went into liquidation and we have been unable to find a suitable new tenant.
Whilst it may be fairly simple to make suggestions on social media from the comfort of one’s own home, the reality is sometimes not quite so simple. The Trust Board has gone to great lengths to examine options for the future of the FoS and, to date, have been unable to arrive at a solution which will minimise the risk of further losses. If anyone wishes to verify that, please feel free to come to the Trust and ask the questions directly. There is nothing to be hidden.
"Recent social media comment seems to suggest that the Trust has got it wrong and the writers of these comments have got it right. If that is so and the Trust is missing an opportunity, please come and set us right and we’ll do what we can to make it work. But please try to refrain from littering social media platforms with negative, unviable suggestions. That doesn’t help and doesn’t serve our community well."
We are currently in the midst of an external review, supported by the primary funders - the Lottery - to help determine a way forward for FoS. This is a lengthy business and their advice will follow in due course. We will publish that advice when it becomes available.
Anyone operating a service business in Sutherland this year will realise the magnitude of challenges facing them, not least of which are the dire shortage of labour and, until very recently, the unpredictability of customers’ ability to travel. Whilst able to enjoy a certain amount of local support, FoS depends upon seasonal tourist business. Some of the social media responses have been from such operators and have reinforced those facts - their support is much appreciated.
Two procurement processes have been undertaken to attempt to find a suitable tenant for the centre. Neither of which have been successful. Since the NT article last week, various suggestions have been made as to how the Trust could or should operate the business. Please remember, it has to be a profit making business, not a grant/subsidy dependant service. Any individual, business or community group who missed the opportunity to present a viable business plan during the recent process of procurement and who would like to explore the opportunities of taking on a lease at FoS should make themselves known to the Trust; all suggestions would be given due consideration.
Recent social media comment seems to suggest that the Trust has got it wrong and the writers of these comments have got it right. If that is so and the Trust is missing an opportunity, please come and set us right and we’ll do what we can to make it work. But please try to refrain from littering social media platforms with negative, unviable suggestions. That doesn’t help and doesn’t serve our community well.
We are well aware that this is a big problem, that it presents a poor image within the area and that it is not what we set out to do some years ago. Since then though things have changed - Brexit and Covid have combined to make the service market more difficult to manage than ever seen in our lifetimes. Just look in any town and count the number of empty and struggling retail premises.
Any future for FoS as a community owned asset must and can only be based upon factual information - not conjecture. Equally, any future tenant/ occupier will have to present a viable business plan and will have to look to long-term occupancy, not just a short-term solution.
If you would like any information or to check speculation against facts, please get in touch with either myself, another Board member or the Trust directly. All contact details are freely available.
Pete Campbell
Chairman of the KoSDT Board of Directors
