Safe distance

A constituent concerned about crowding on the

Union Canal in Edinburgh was told by MP Joanna Cherry’s office “just turn your back” is sufficient for social distancing.

This also happens at sections of the Water of Leith footpath. The problem is that our city’s pavements and towpaths weren’t designed to be wide enough for this. As other walks have closed, so people have become funnelled into the areas where they can walk. With bikes also whizzing past at peak times, it’s not a straightforward situation unless the paths are shut.

Jamie Mcleod When you have a city where there are many hundreds of people, perhaps even thousands living close by per square mile, there is not a hope that you can ensure 100 per cent that you go out for your hour or half-hour’s exercise and not get within two metres of someone. In that circumstance it is only sensible to take the best action possible, which is to turn away while passing. Seems obvious to me, unless people would like a rota system for the 600,000 people who live in Edinburgh and see how that works.

Mike Langan I don’t know what people expect the Government to do . . . the public have been told that they can exercise once a day and we do actually live in a city full of people. If it’s too busy for you, then go somewhere else or don’t leave your house.

Rachel Skilling It sounds sensible. What do you do in the aisles in the shops? I don’t think there are any where you can be two metres apart when two people are in them.

Willie Anderson