Probe into electricity theft claim at nightclub

Guthrie Street's GRV has now changed hands

Scottish Power is looking into the alleged breaches at the GRV nightspot on Guthrie Street, which happened before the bar was sold to a new owner earlier this month.

The venue had its electricity supply cut off because of unpaid debts earlier this year - only for Scottish Power officials to get a call in August telling them that the supply had been illegally reconnected and used. They disconnected the supply, only to find it again reconnected just days later, a licensing meeting heard yesterday.

It is estimated that several thousands of pounds worth of electricity has been taken illegally. But representatives of the company deny that any electricity has been stolen.

Inspector Gordon Hunter, from Lothian and Borders Police's licensing department, said that the actions demonstrate "a level of negligence and irresponsibility that is unacceptable". He said: "The meter reading is still a matter for Scottish Power. They estimate that 20,000 units have been misappropriated and they are considering pursuing that."

Licensing officials said that the incidents showed there was "no effective control of the management of these premises" and said they are not being operated in a way that ensures public health and safety.

A generator had to be brought in over part of the festival period to provide electricity.

A review of the licence of the nightclub was heard at the Edinburgh Licensing Board yesterday - which could have seen it having its licence suspended. But the board heard that within the last three weeks the bar has changed ownership and is now run by Blair Galloway, a director of a security firm, who has no links to the previous licence manager Callison Eaton or personal licence holder Emerald Eaton.

Because of the change of ownership, the board decided that it was not necessary to hand out a suspension.

But a separate review of the designated premises' manager Emerald Eaton's personal licence is to be held at the next board meeting. If found to be negligent, she could be banned from running pubs in Edinburgh.

Alistair Macdonald, who represented the club at the hearing, said the issues related to a dispute that dates back to the previous owner before Ms Eaton took over the bar. He said: "There was no theft - there was a civil dispute - and there was no attempt not to pay for electricity. It was just one of these unfortunate situations that happen in a commercial situation like this.

"There was an allegation of theft of electricity but there was no electricity stolen."

Councillor Marjorie Thomas, the city's licensing leader, said: "It would seem to me that the premises have been transferred and are being run appropriately.

"We will not proceed with the premises licence hearing. What we will do is proceed with a section 84 to look at the personal licence of Emerald Eaton."

A spokeswoman for Scottish Power declined to comment because of data protection issues.