Ferries ban for hordes f leeing to the islands
VISITORS are to be blocked from ferries to the Scottish islands over fears of an unwanted influx of tourists.
A flood of camper vans and motorhomes has begun to swamp the area as people relocate from cities to holiday homes in an attempt to avoid the virus.
The Scottish Government has advised ferry operators CalMac and NorthLink to allow only residents and people providing essential services or deliveries to use the routes.
Announcing the move yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘It may well be an understandable human instinct to think we can outrun a virus but the fact is we can’t.
‘What we do is risk taking it to the places we go and in our remote and rural communities that means extra pressure on essential services and on health services that are already more distant from people. So I can confirm that as of now we have advised our ferry companies, who have already suspended bookings, to no longer take non-essential travellers.
‘Those who do not normally live in the islands and have travelled there in the past few days will be able to leave to reduce pressure, but from now on ferries will be for those who live on our islands, have an essential need to travel to or from the mainland and for essential supplies or business – nothing else.’
She also told hotels, guest houses and self-catering accommodation on the islands that they should not be accepting visitors – and should instead focus on providing a place to stay for staff and helping essential workers and services.
Her comments came after calls for police blockades at the ferry port of Oban to stop tourists travelling to escape coronavirus.
Complaints have been pouring in to MPs and MSPs from residents in remote and fragile communities, who are closing their businesses and following Government advice, only to come under threat from visitors.
Councillor Roddy McCuish, depute provost of Argyll and Bute Council, has called for police blockades in his home town of Oban, the ferry port that is the gateway to the isles.
He said: ‘The Highlands and islands are known for their hospitality and their warm welcome.
‘However, that warm welcome is quickly turning ice-cold as irresponsible people keep coming to this beautiful part of the world to escape the virus. The fact is, they could be bringing it with them.
‘I think they think it is a haven up here, that they are self-isolating, but we should close the gateway and bring the police in to block it.’
Coachloads of holidaymakers have still been being taking ferries from Oban to the isle of Mull.
Billy McClymont, chairman of Mull Community Council, said the risk of infection spreading was much greater when 50 elderly, vulnerable, people were close together on a coach.
He added: ‘We had three coaches here on Thursday – it’s absolutely irresponsible.
‘Elderly people, the vulnerable people, had been holed up in a bus, and probably in a hotel on the mainland – and then they are coming to Mull.’
‘They think it is a haven up here’