Lockdown easing ‘just not enough’

Council wanted Sturgeon to relax rules more

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that West Lothian will be moved down to level three from Friday evening.

The First Minister was speaking at her weekly briefing to local authorities when she confirmed the county would move down a level at 6pm on Friday (December 11).

Travel restrictions will remain in place for all level three zones, which means people in West Lothian will not be able to travel to places like Glasgow for their Christmas shopping, but shops and restaurants will reopen in the county.

West Lothian Council had been calling for the region to be placed in level two due to the economic and social impact of the most recent restrictions.

The First Minister says they took a cautious approach when deciding on West Lothian.

Ms Sturgeon said: “We have no grounds at all for complacency about the months ahead – and we have every good reason, still, to do everything we can to keep our loved ones safe.

She added: “We should all allow ourselves a smile, this is a good day and a good moment.”

The First Minister was speaking on the day the first vaccinations were carried out in Scotland – but she warned some restrictions would remain in place in the months ahead.

The Public Health Scotland data shows a clear decline in infection rates in West Lothian since level four was introduced.

As of December 6, West Lothian had 35 new cases, 199 over a seven-day period and a total of 3673 since the first person tested positive for Covid-19 on March 9.

This means 109 people per 100,000 have tested positive this week, slightly above the national average of 98.

Councillor Lawrence Fitzpatrick, leader of West Lothian Council said: “The move to level three is a welcome one but the latest data and evidence seems to support West Lothian being placed in level two. Representations were made to the Depute First Minster and Scottish Government on that basis and it is disappointing for all of West Lothian that is not the outcome. “Wes t Lothian Council has always been supportive and encouraged local people to comply with the guidelines, and we will continue to reinforce the message that the guidance should be followed.

“Everyone should adhere to the guidelines and help protect yourself and those around you.”

He added: “At the time of being placed in level four, and at each review since, West Lothian met the databased criteria for level three.

“However, the latest data available that the council has from the Scottish Government shows that four out of five of the indicators should put West Lothian in level two, and the one indicator that indicates level three can be explained.

“Level two would certainly have been welcomed, particularly by the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors of the economy.

“The council obviously understand that the Scottish Government need to find the right balance – but throughout this terrible pandemic, the Scottish Government and health officials have said that we need to follow the science and the data available.

“If that is still the approach, then the data in front of us at the current time would support West Lothian being placed in level two. However they obviously disagree and have taken their decision.”

Billy MacLeod, president of West Lothian Chamber of Commerce, said: “We remain concerned about the ongoing crippling impacts being felt by many of businesses, who have seen their trade being decimated and with little prospect of recovery in the near future.

“The West Lothian Chamber of Commerce will continue to support and work with our economic partners to monitor the ongoing effect lockdown restrictions are having on local businesses.

“There has been a huge amount of effort made by our local businesses, often at additional costs, to ensure all government guidelines are adhered to, and importantly their clients and customer welfare being their top priority.”

 For more on what Level Three will mean for West Lothian, visit: https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/strategy-plan/2020/10/covid-19-scotlands-strategic-framework/documents/level-3-measures/level-3-measures/govscot%3Adocument/level-3-measures.pdf