THE OWNER of Dunfermline store Park Music has argued that internet shopping and out-of-date Google Maps have played a part in his business closing.

Alan Roy (63), told the Press that he was shutting up shop partly because of the increase of people buying instruments online and not supporting local businesses.

He also added that the construction of Tesco in the city centre had had a negative impact on people parking and visiting the shop.

Mr Roy said, “Since the Glen Bridge car park pathway was shut off around two years ago there has been a lot of frustration because it is so busy there. It takes me around 15-30 minutes every day to leave the shop.

“It has been a bit of an issue with customers visiting.

“Barely anything is the same on this street as it is pictured on Google Maps’ street view, and it’s the same with the High Street and I think that is bad because it doesn’t allow people to find us online as well.

“It doesn’t paint a great picture of Dunfermline.” While Mr Roy claims that the out-of-date Google Map street view and the Glen Bridge car park access do hinder the shopping quality in Dunfermline, he told the Press, that, like many businesses, it is because of internet shopping he isn’t making enough sales.

Mr Roy continued, “A lot of people are getting their musical instruments from the internet now – people don’t support their local shops.

“When I get a delivery of instruments in, the delivery person normally says to me, ‘I was in the area delivering other instruments’ meaning that others have purchased online.

“Any competent musician will tell you that buying an instrument without trying it out first is a silly move – unless it is something like an electric piano or something like that – but a guitar, banjo, instruments like these need to be tried.

“And a lot of people come to me after buying them online to fix it into something that they wanted.

“It is a shame Park Music has to close but I have had a number of great customers and a lot of enjoyment giving service to those people.

“I feel sorry for them that it is closing as they have kept me going the last few years and I would like to thank them for that.” Park Music is to close its doors to customers next week.