Forestry boss defends Hub axing

David O'Leary • Published 31 Dec 2010 09:30 3 Comments

THE boss of Forest Enterprise Scotland has defended their controversial decision to close the Hub cafe at Glentress.

Simon Hodge, chief executive of the Forestry Commission body, said in a letter this week that the as-yet-un-named successful tender for a new business at the £9m Glentress site had been chosen because of the need to raise money to maintain mountain bike trails.

Current owners of The Hub cafe, Emma Guy and Tracey Brunger, found out a fortnight ago that their tender had been turned down which in turn has led to a wave of protest from the mountainbiking community.

Bikers feel aggrieved on behalf of the duo who they feel have been snubbed after helping turn Glentress into the world-famous destination it is today.

Emma and Tracy, who built The Hub up from scratch over nine years and now employ 30 staff, are due to leave the site in March 2012 when their lease expires.

In an open letter to protesters, Hodge says: "I understand your disappointment that The Hub was not successful in the recent tender.

"However, I hope you can recognise that it would not be acceptable for a public body like Forestry Commission Scotland to reject other stronger bids for provision of services in the new facilities."

He goes on to say that the choice of bidder had been influenced by the need to make a greater financial contribution to the £250,000 cost of maintaining the trails at Glentress and the 7stanes network in the Borders.

Emma said: "This decision is a real kick in the teeth for us after spending ten years of our life and a considerable amount of money building up this business. But we are just as hurt at the fact that we had to sit our staff down and tell them the bad news.

"We have ten years of experience, we know this area inside out, we have an incredible track record in this area. But now we have been told that we are not good enough.

On The Hub's Facebook page, David Pugh wrote: "This decision is disgraceful. I have ridden Glentress trails for the last ten years and enjoyed good food and chat in The Hub. New cafe will be boycotted for sure."

The Forestry Commission have stated that they hope to announce their preferred bidder by January 12.

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 31 Dec 10

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  R Webb
  Unregistered User
  Jan 8, 08:55
  Report comment

  I rarely ride in Glentress, prefering the "wild hill", The Hub however is a major reason for choosing to visit the Peebles area, and I nearly always call in for the excellent caff, shop and bike servicing when in Tweeddale. I know the new shiney centre's operators have yet to be chosen, but they will not have grown up with the centre, will have to be expensive to deliver what the FC wants, almost certainly a chain. I have seen much loved cafes on FC leases go the same way with a far less pleasant replacement elsewhere.
  
  A callous and idiotic decision - not a lot of point in visiting Glentress once they have gone.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 0

• 

  Marie Muhl
  Unregistered User
  Jan 10, 19:03
  Report comment

  A foolish foolish decision by the Forestry Commission. Riders will vote with their feet (or wheels) and not return to Glentress.
  
  The Hub - it's fine food, awesome camaraderie and years of great experiences are the reason we all visited Glentress. Lets face it - you can cycle anywhere. Tracy and Emma were the magnets for us all to return time and time again.
  
  We emigrated to New Zealand a few years ago from Peebles. The Hub is really the only thing we have really missed in that time.
  
  Good luck Emma and Tracy for future ventures.
  
  Bad move forestry Commission.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 0

• 

  pdagnan
  Unregistered User
  Jan 13, 15:24
  Report comment

  None of the pictures of the £9m building on the forrestry commission show a bike.
  
  I and many, many others will be picnicing in the shell of the once lively, friendy, happy place that was the hub, rather than set foot in that dull, lifeless, expressionless commercial place.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 0

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