A FRUSTRATED Clydebank soft play owner is urging residents to help him campaign against the forced closure of his business, which is on the brink of collapsing.

In Scotland, soft play centres were forced to close their doors in March and have remained shut ever since – despite being open everywhere else in the UK.

Neil Halls, who owns i-Play in Clydebank, is appealing for additional funding and clarity on when his business can welcome customers back.

He said: “This situation is getting too carried away now, it really is depressing. With the way things are going I might not have a business by the end of the year and that scares me.”

The 46-year-old previously spoke about how he has been left devastated following the downturn of his business.

He has had to make 10 employees redundant so far and it is looking likely he will have to let the remaining eight go too.

Neil is pleading with parents and carers to write to MSPs and sign a petition to help save the country’s soft play centres.

Neil, who says the sector is being discriminated against, has hit out at a statement made by the First Minister when she announced that bars and pubs across Greater Glasgow were to close for 16 days at 6pm on Friday, October 8.

He said: “Nicola Sturgeon said, ‘seeing as the government is placing an obligation on businesses, we also have an obligation to help them financially’.

“Where’s the obligation to help us? Where is the financial help for us? We had one grant back in April. I’m just lost for words.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We do not underestimate the severe impact this pandemic has had on play centres – but we are at a critical point, the virus is rising again and everyone must play their part in stopping its spread.

“We have always been clear that indicative dates are conditional on making sufficient progress in suppressing the virus. We are currently working with the soft play sector and other stakeholders to develop guidance for the re-opening of soft-play centres when it is safe for them to do so.

“Our absolute focus has been to help businesses survive and retain as much employment as possible – using the limited powers available to us.

“Our support for businesses includes almost £900 million of non-domestic rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses including soft-play centres; and the Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund worth over £1bn.”