What on earth is going on with the new fence around the exit to the Mallard?
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Mystery surrounds the erection of a high fence around the rear entrance of the Mallard that gives out onto the railway station platform where pub goers frequently gathered to sit in the beer garden.
Scotrail appears to have been responsible for the work and they have been contacted for comment but have not as yet confirmed what is behind the move.
It is understood the landlords, who took over just three and half months ago hoping to breathe new life into the pub, were not heavily involved in the decision.
Their plans will receive a major blow as the rear of the bar now looks much less inviting to those getting off trains coming from the north, west and south as well as a less attractive proposition for those who know it well.
It is difficult to imagine people sitting in the fenced off section and it may well, given fire regulations not even be permitted so a once popular section for custom may now be out of bounds.
Former landlord and Dingwall and Seaforth Councillor Sean Kennedy believes that the new fence will only create problems, particularly with crowd control on big match days with the Mallard just across the tracks from the Ross County ground.
He said: "What has happened is that Scotrail have erected fencing around the back of the Mallard that would be more at home surrounding a concentration camp than a pub.
“Why they have done it, beats me – there is clearly no thought about pub goers trying to escape a fire, god forbid such a thing should happen. It also appears to have been done off Scotrail's own backs and I can see nothing about this being done in reference to the Highland Council as the licensing authority.
"I would say that this makes things much more dangerous on the platform rather than safer. When big teams with big support come up like Rangers or Celtic that platform will still be teeming with fans. Many of them will ignore the fencing, ignore bouncers and then you will have real problems.
"I really sympathise with the landlords and I sincerely hope Greene King the brewer comes in and tries to work things out with Scotrail – the Mallard was and remains an asset for Dingwall and this mind boggling change is damaging both to the pub and to the town."
A previous version of this story incorrectly suggested Network Rail conducted the work, in fact it was Scotrail.
