GILRUTH SUMMONS MARS TO GLENROTHES
Published date : 02 Feb 2018
The town’s MSP, Jenny Gilruth, has today summoned the owners of the Glenrothes Town Centre, Mars Pensions Trustees[1], to visit the Kingdom centre in Glenrothes’ 70th anniversary year. The MSP is demanding the investors come to the town, following her survey of local businesses last October. She commented:
‘Last year I wrote to every business in the Kingdom Centre. The findings of this survey were frankly appalling. I had constituents emailing in their dreadful experiences and I met with a number of business owners. One tenant has been in the Kingdom Centre for the past 26 years and yet has had no contact from the owners at all since Mars bought the town centre in 2013. That’s unacceptable’.
The MSP has previously raised the issue of Mars’ ownership of Glenrothes Town Centre in the Scottish Parliament. She has since secured a visit with the Scottish Government Housing Minister, Kevin Stewart MSP, in March. In a letter to the Trustees who own the Kingdom Shopping centre, the Glenrothes MSP said:
‘You might think this is ‘just a shopping centre’ – but it is not. The Kingdom Centre is our town centre. Due to Glenrothes’ new town credentials, it is the civic space of our town. It is the place that people should have pride in. It is, in short, being neglected by you and your fellow Mars Pensions Trustees’.
The Glenrothes MSP’s comments come on the back of growing concerns from the residents in Albany Gate. It is understood that an agreement between Fife Council and Lang La Salle, Mars Pensions Managing Agents, has now been reached and that demolition work will begin this Summer.
Last week Gilruth met with Simon Usher in the Scottish Parliament. Mr Usher is based in London, but is paid to run the account for Mars Pensions. He told the MSP that he meets ‘regularly’ with Fife Council officials. However, the Albany Gate demolition work has not been communicated to Mr Usher’s tenants. Jenny Gilruth commented:
‘Simon Usher assured me in Holyrood last week that no business would be adversely affected if they were moved from Albany Gate. That is patently not the case. Businesses are being asked to move further into the town centre and in one case[2] I know of the rent has more than doubled. Mars are making money out of this demolition – the businesses of Glenrothes deserve better’.
Many businesses affected have received no information at all from La Salle or Mars, heightening anxiety for the business owners of Albany Gate even further.
Notes:
[1] There are 6 officers listed as directors at Mars Pensions Trustees Limited – https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00449733/officers
[2] The business Jenny Gilruth MSP refers to is Kingdom Credit Union. They can be contacted via George Kay E: cllrgeo@outlook.com
Local Reporters, East Fife Mail, Glenrothes Gazette, St Andrews Citizen, Courier (Fife)
