Perthshire Advertiser

Police patrols set up amidst slopes worry

Concern more people are travelling to sledge or ski

- KATHRYN ANDERSON

Police have set up patrols amid growing concern at a “considerab­le increase” in people driving to Glenshee for exercise in lockdown.

Local councillor­s are now calling on people to avoid travelling in from other areas to Perthshire’s slopes.

The issue was highlighte­d at Wednesday’s (February 3) Perth and Kinross Council housing and communitie­s committee.

Chief Inspector Graham Binnie told the committee that just as they saw people travelling into Perth and Kinross over the summer for “wild camping”, there was now an issue with people travelling into the area in winter.

He said: “We’re seeing a few people travelling up to the ski centre in Glenshee over the winter.”

He said local officers were working alongside the road policing unit and

Aberdeensh­ire officers in the North East Division to carry out patrols every weekend.

CI Binnie said there had been a “spike” in the number of people getting into difficulty and in the deployment of mountain rescue teams over the winter.

Glenshee Ski Centre and car park is currently closed but the PA understand­s people are parking on the road or using a turning space reserved for gritters from Perthshire or Aberdeensh­ire.

After the meeting, convener Bob Brawn said he had noticed an increase in traffic heading north to go sledging.

The Blairgowri­e and Glens Conservati­ve councillor said: “Current regulation­s state that we should make essential journeys only but we are allowed out for exercise. In this instance we seem to be having a conflict between the two rules.

“Common sense should prevail here if you live in Dundee or Angus you don’t have to come to Glenshee to exercise.

“As we start to see a light at the end of this pandemic, I would ask everyone to keep to the spirit of the regulation­s and ensure that we get back to normality as soon as possible.”

Fellow Blairgowri­e and Glens councillor Tom McEwan said: “News from local police that they have been stopping individual­s from outside of Perthshire on the A93 is of no surprise to me and understand­able given the great snow conditions, the difficulti­es faced by us all in lockdown and the annual use of outdoor exercise as a wellbeing option by most snowsports enthusiast­s.

“However, I must insist that those who do not live in Perthshire or Aberdeensh­ire refrain from travelling at this time to prevent inter-district spread of COVID.”

The SNP councillor added further caution to those heading to the mountains.

He said: “For locals please prepare and go into the mountains fully equipped and trained for the conditions and please stick to your local hills for now. They may not be Munros but any type of hillwalk will help your wellbeing.”

CI Graham Binnie told the PA it was “vital” people make these “significan­t sacrifices”.

He said: “We fully recognise the impact the restrictio­ns are having on people’s lives. However, it is clear that significan­t sacrifices are vital to help suppress the spread of coronaviru­s.

“The chief constable has made it clear that our approach throughout the pandemic has not changed. Police Scotland officers will continue to support people to follow the regulation­s and encourage them to take personal responsibi­lity.

“People should not leave their homes unless for essential purposes and the best way to stay safe is to stay at home.

“Officers will continue to explain the regulation­s and to encourage people to do the right thing. Where officers encounter wilful breaches they will act decisively to enforce the law.”

 ??  ?? Fears More and more people are heading to Perthshire slopes to sledge and ski
Fears More and more people are heading to Perthshire slopes to sledge and ski

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