Visitors warned to stay away from beauty spots

East Neuk and Perthshire residents fear people will travel over Easter weekend

Second home owners and visitors have been warned to stay away from the East Neuk of Fife following the resignation of the chief medical officer.

Residents said people continued to travel to the area all weekend, contrary to government advice and there are fears the problem could escalate over this Easter weekend. It comes after Dr Catherine Calderwood was forced to quit when it emerged she had twice travelled to her holiday home in Earlsferry during the coronavirus lockdown.

Anne Williamson, 73, who lives 10 miles along the Fife coast in Crail, said: “People are not listening to the request to stay at home. This weekend it has been bedlam in the village.

“I’ve been sitting at my window watching people on the beach like they’re on a day out.

“Crail has a high percentage of residents over 70, a lot of them in their 80s, and they are frightened.”

She has put a poster in her window telling people to stay away until restrictions are lifted.

Crail Community Council chairman Max Taylor said: “Crail and the East Neuk have a high percentage of elderly and vulnerable residents.

“Healthcare in the East Neuk is stretched as it is and the nearest hospital is over 40 minutes away, so any changes in our local population can have important implications.”

North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie said he hoped the consequences for Dr Calderwood, who apologised for her unnecessary visits, will be a lesson to those who have chosen to move to their holiday homes over Easter.

He said: “It is just not fair to local people who are concerned about the virus spread and whether the local NHS will cope if lots of holidaymakers fall victim to the disease. There are just too many people in the East Neuk just now.”

Villages along Fife’s picturesque coast have among the highest proportion of holiday homes in Scotland.

A 2018 report stated that more than half of houses in Earlsferry were second homes. In Elie a third of properties are second homes while in Crail a fifth are.

Elsewhere, people have been warned not to drive to the countryside to exercise after cars were seen parked nose to tail on grass verges along a country road at Craigmead car park as people flocked to the Lomond Hills.

Conservative councillor Andy Heer said: “I’d advise everyone to not to drive to places away from their homes and to exercise and take daily walks close to their own homes while the restrictions remain.”

Meanwhile, community leaders in Highland Perthshire are urging residents to call 101 if they see tourists flouting the guidelines.

Kenmore and District Community Council chairman Peter Ely is concerned the Easter weekend could draw crowds back to Loch Tay.

He said: “Two weeks ago, before they made the announcement, it was quite busy. Now there’s the odd person but it’s not as noticeable.

“If you see it, you need to report it.”

Picture: Steve Brown. One householder in Crail has put up a notice telling visitors to go home and not visit their holiday homes.

MSP Willie Rennie says it is not fair to the local elderly population of East Neuk villages to expose them to further risk as people travel to holiday homes.