Good news for region’s retail and hospitality industries

Stirling’s battered retail and hospitality businesses have been told they will be able to re-open their doors next month.

The latest timeline of lifting lockdown restrictions was announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday.

The first steps will come into effect from April 2 with the‘stay at home’ order replaced by guidance to‘stay local’. From April 5, the opening of non-essential retail will kick off, with ‘click and collect’businesses able to re-open, alongside garden centres, homeware stores and car showrooms. Hairdressers and barbers will also be allowed to re-open from this date.

April 26 marks a major milestone in the easing of restrictions, with mainland Scotland set to move to Level Three and travel across Scotland permitted once again.

Retail and tourist accommodation can also re-open, as well as museums, libraries and galleries.

It is expected ndoor gyms will be allowed to open for individual sessions, while limits on attendance at weddings and funerals will be increased to 50.

Hospitality will also be given the green light from April 26 - with cafes, restaurants and bars able to serve up to six people from three households outdoors, with alcohol permitted and no requirement for food to be served. There are also hopes some curbs on indoor hospitality could also be eased for premises serving food only.

The final significant date in the plan is May 17, when Level Three areas planned to move to Level Two and indoor hospitality will be able to move to greater levels of normality.

Cinemas and bingo halls will be among the businesses waiting for this date, while certain indoor events may be allowed with a limited capacity.

Universities will also move to a ‘blended’model from this date, allowing more students to return to campus.

And most significantly, Ms Sturgeon expressed hope restrictions on indoor visiting may be eased by this date at the latest.

In her statement to Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said the changes were dependent on continued progress against the virus and the rollout of vaccines. New figures show Stirling continues to have the highest average case rate in the country.The latest data from Public Health Scotland shows Stirling reported an average case rate for the week up March 12 of 142.2 cases per 100,000 of population, putting it on top spot ahead of Glasgow City and North Lanarkshire. And Stirling recorded a further 12 positive cases on Sunday.

Forth Valley is also at the top of the charts for average case rates across the country’s health boards.