Don’t change the rules at weekend

A Perthshire politician warned the Scottish Government not to relax lockdown rules on a Friday.

Mark Ruskell was speaking after the first step in the route map out of lockdown was marred by large groups congregating at beauty spots.

The issue was particularly bad in Highland Perthshire, with thousands of people descending on the area.

There were also complaints in Perth at large gatherings leaving rubbish in the North Inch.

Across Scotland more than 1000 arrests and 800 dispersal orders have been issued by police using emergency coronavirus laws.

Mr Ruskell said: “Clearly the relaxation of lockdown restrictions immediately before the weekend led to confusion over what was and was not allowed.

“That resulted in dangerous situations emerging across the country, including a large influx of camper vans to Loch Tay and Loch Tummel.

“As the lockdown is eased public health messaging will become more complicated.

“It’s essential that there is time to reinforce and explain each change ahead of weekends where people will be looking to go out and exercise their new freedoms.

“Police Scotland’s deputy chief constable said on ‘Good Morning Scotland’ that further legally-binding restrictions would be impractical for officers who are already busy, so clear public messaging needs to be the priority.

“Moving announcements to earlier in the week is the easiest way to make that possible.”