Report lays bare economic impact of pandemic

The staggering economic scale of the Covid 19 crisis on the region’s High Street has been laid bare by a new report.

The data, published by Google, uses location data to chart trends in people’s movements and shows that footfall at retail and recreational establishment in the Stirling area has fallen by 85 per cent in the fortnight from March 15 to March 29.

It also reveals that people’s usage of public transport hubs - such as train and bus stations - has dropped by 76 per cent in the same period, while activity at workplaces in the region also plummeted by 62 per cent at the end of last month.

However - in a sign of the numbers spending more time at and working at home - the report also traces an 11 per cent increase in rise in activity in residential properties across Stlrling.

In all of the cases, the local figures broadly match those measured in the region across the UK.

The Observer reported last week on some business owners fearing for their future as a result of the coronavrius lockdown.

They included Callander businessman Wayne Johnson, who runs Fat Jack’s Diner and the Ben Ledi Coffee Co in the village.

Mr Johnson said the coronavirus crisis was having a“dramatic impact” on businesses missing out on tourist traffic and said there was continued uncertainty about when he would be able to re-open.

And fellow business owner Mark Nicols from Scott’s Bistro near Loch Achray said the enforced closure could be“devastating”and would “hammer”his business due to a weaker summer season.