Coronavirus crisis latest

Firms in areas facing Level 4 measures say it could spell end for many

NEW coronavirus restrictions will spell ‘disaster’ for businesses in areas set to be hit with the country’s toughest measures since lockdown.

Firms already hit hard by the pandemic warn that they face ruin if they are placed into the highest tier of Nicola Sturgeon’s new restrictions.

North and South Lanarkshire face the strong possibility of being pushed into severe curbs next week following a continued surge in coronavirus cases.

The local authority areas – along with other parts of the Central Belt – are already under strict measures to suppress Covid-19. Currently restaurants, bars and pubs are banned from opening – but the Lanarkshire health board area could now face more severe restrictions.

Tory group leader on North Lanarkshire Council Meghan Gallacher said: ‘People and businesses across Lanarkshire will be hugely anxious at the suggestion they could soon be facing living under the toughest level of restrictions.

‘If this occurs, the SNP must deliver urgent support to businesses who will be devastated by these restrictions.

‘They have £700million in funding from [Chancellor] Rishi Sunak, now they must stop squab

‘Will be devastated by these restrictions’

bling and deliver it to them immediately. Those living and working in Lanarkshire must also see the SNP Government commit to publishing the local data and rationale behind imposing any further strict restrictions.

‘The need for clarity from the SNP for people’s day-to- day lives and business operations in these communities has never been greater.’

A leaked document to council umbrella body Cosla has revealed the highest level of the fivetier system is ‘being considered for North and South Lanarkshire’. More than 11,000 people in the county have tested positive for the virus so far, with 274 cases announced yesterday.

Next week, Scotland will move into a new strategic framework, with areas placed into tiers based on the prevalence of the virus within their boundaries.

Level 0 will be the closest to normality Scotland can hope to get to without a vaccine – but some restrictions around indoor gathering will remain. Level 2 and 3 will see similar restrictions to those currently in force – with early closing times for hospitality venues, and closures in the Central Belt.

But Level 4 will see areas plunged into a near lockdown – with nonessential shops, bars, restaurants, gyms and hairdressers closed. Schools would remain open, but all indoor gatherings between households would be banned.

Many fear for the viability of business forced into restrictions for two to four weeks at a time. Rab Campbell, 69, and his wife Rachel, 50, had to shut the doors of the Hopetoun Arms, Leadhills, in March and then for a second time in its 200-year history after the reintroduction of restrictions.

Mr Campbell, who has run the pub and hotel for 16 years and has three staff, who are currently furloughed, said the new curbs spell ‘disaster’. He said: ‘Lanarkshire is a massive county but it’s mostly rural and I feel we are being dealt with unfairly.

‘I appreciate we need to do everything we can to contain the virus but the Government needs to treat us like adults and let us open if we feel we can do it safely.

‘Normally we have a summer to build up cash which gets us through the winter but this year we haven’t had that. It’s really been a struggle and if businesses can’t reopen in November it’s going to be a bit of a disaster for a lot of people.

National clinical director Jason Leith told the BBC yesterday that ‘Lanarkshire is probably the area that still worries us most’.

Both local authorities said they are in ‘constructive dialogue with

the Scottish Government’. A North Lanarkshire spokesman said: ‘All parts of the council are assessing the draft framework and the implications each level of restrictions could have.’

A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman added: ‘We continue to work with our partners to drive down the Covid infection rate across the council area.’

The leaked document emerged just hours after Miss Sturgeon said there would be ‘no immediate change’ in case numbers in many areas of Scotland when the five-tier system of restrictions begins next week.

Miss Sturgeon said: ‘The best way we have of driving transmission lower and keeping it low is for all of us to stick to the rules that are in place at any given time.’