Plea for region’s residents to all ‘play their part’

Perth and Kinross residents have been urged to “play their part” in helping the region exit Tier 3 as heightened restrictions continue to cause havoc among the hospitality sector.

Council chief executive Karen Reid made the plea as Kin loch House in Blairgowrie became the latest hotel in the region to confirm it would not reopen before the end of the year .

It follows similar announcements from Gleneagles and Crieff Hydro last week.

The Atholl Arms Hotel in Dunkeld has also said it will remain closed until restrictions are lifted.

Staff at the Bunker Golf Lounge in Perth were posting pictures of themselves pouring away beer stock shortly after yesterday’ s announcement that the local authority would remain in Tier 3 until the next review date.

The restrictions include a ban on the sale of alcohol in cafés, bars or restaurants while people can now only meet outdoors in groups of six from a maximum of two households.

Ms Reid said the council area was moved to Tier 3 after a rise in cases across the local authority and wider Tayside region and urged people to follow public health guidance on hand washing, face coverings and physical distancing.

She said: “We all want to get back to lower restrictions as soon as possible.

“But the only way we can do that, and the only way that it will happen, is if we all play our part.”

The chief executive also urged businesses affected by the new restrictions to apply for grants from the strategic business framework fund on the council’s website.