A HOST of Gourock business owners are braced for disruption on Saturday with thousands of Orange Order members set to march through the town during a contentious Boyne celebration parade.
Road restrictions will be in place as the procession, featuring around 3000 walkers plus large crowds of onlookers, meets up at Battery Park and passes through nearby roads and streets.
Stained glass artist Alec Galloway, who runs Crow Cottage Arts on Kempock Street, has already made "the very difficult decision" for the day.
In a social media post, he said: "There is an Orange Order march in Gourock and the traffic restrictions will make it impossible for me to get to my stained glass jobs in Greenock and on The Esplanade.
"They are expecting over 3000 people to attend, with 30 flute bands. Travel to Gourock will be severely restricted as the parade will shut the main road, so the shops in the whole of Gourock, especially at Cardwell Bay, will be massively affected.
"I’m sorry for any inconvenience this causes and I am sorry for all the small businesses caught up in this, it is difficult to make a living as it is in a bricks and mortar company and all the shops in Gourock try their best to create a positive, welcoming environment for our community."
Galloway added: "All I can say is that you naturally expect your council to share the same basic values around human dignity.
"I deplore any form of racism, sexism or sectarianism and hate-motivated marches in an authority I love so much is not a good look.
"The kindest thing I can say about the decision to allow this march is that the council needs to get out more.
"The world has changed and unfortunately with decisions like this we are being left behind."
The Pirate and Bluebelle gift shop, also on Kempock Street, said it will be open as normal having "considered this so carefully".
They added in a statement: "Unfortunately, in the current climate we are unable to take the decision to remain closed.
"In all honesty our wee business just can’t afford it.
"Please support the businesses of Gourock that day by visiting if you can."
Meanwhile, Karma Beauty on Shore Street shared a similar message after claiming the event "is set to cause havoc to small businesses".
They said: "As a small business Karma Beauty cannot afford to close business for the day.
"I would be interested to hear from Inverclyde Council on why small businesses that will [be] affected so terribly were not considered during the planning for this such event.
"The girls in the Style Bar have made the difficult decision to take the loss of the day's wage."
