3.d Key announcements/developments and contextual information from UK and Scottish Government
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Thursday 21st May 2020
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Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister for Scotland, announced a road-map for listing the lockdown and the Government published a document for everyone in Scotland, outlining the way forward (see attached) or via this link: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-framework-decision-making-scotlands-route-map-through-out-crisis/
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The news report and short video of the announcement can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52745643
From the BBC new site above, there is a summary of the four phases to the easing of the lock-down as follows:
Phase 1: Virus not yet contained but cases are falling. From 28 May you should be able to meet another household outside in small numbers.
Sunbathing is allowed, along with some outdoor activities like golf and fishing. Garden centres and drive-through takeaways can reopen, some outdoor work can resume, and childminding services can begin.
Phase 2: Virus controlled. You can meet larger groups outdoors, and meet another household indoors. Construction, factories, warehouses, laboratories and small shops can resume work. Playgrounds and sports courts can reopen, and professional sport can begin again.
Phase 3: Virus suppressed. You can meet people from more than one household indoors. Non-essential offices would reopen, along with gyms, museums, libraries, cinemas, larger shops, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and dentists. Live events could take place with restricted numbers and physical distancing restrictions. Schools should reopen from 11 August.
Phase 4: Virus no longer a significant threat. University and college campuses can reopen in full, mass gatherings are allowed. All workplaces open and public transport is back at full capacity.
Friday 29th May 2020
Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister for Scotland, announced a first-stage easing of the lockdown and this means people are able to travel locally (up to 5 miles) from their home. In this video diary Sandy explains his concerns about:
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· The re-opening of the countryside and the National Park without proper preparations by the government agencies (eg no proper toilet facilities)
· The furlough scheme and possible impact if businesses are asked to contribute, even when they have no income.
· Sandy covers points he raised directly with the Scottish Minister in a conference call earlier in the week and concerns for the wider economy.
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Thursday 4th June 2020
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There have been repeated calls for a relaxation of the 2m social distancing rule. It has particular implications for the tourism and hospitality industry and the number of customers they can have in their premises at any one time. Figures from the article below are:
Research commissioned by the STA found that a square-shaped bar, which could normally accommodate 200 people standing, would:
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· Have to reduce capacity to 100 people with a one-metre social distancing rule
· Have to reduce capacity to 25 people with a two-metre rule
For a square-shaped restaurant with seating for 100 people:
· Only 34 seats could be used under the two-metre rule
· Up to 65 seats could be used with a one-metre rule
This is clearly a significant factor in whether a premises can open again and get enough custom to remain viable. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-52920481
Wednesday 10th June 2020
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Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing announces in the Scottish Parliament that tourism businesses should prepare to open from 15th July, with a final decision being made at a review on 9th July 2020.
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Information on this and a video of the announcement can be found at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52998176
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Wednesday 17th June 2020
The Scotsman newspaper reports on possible special support and funding for the hospitality and tourism sector in Scotland.
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Thursday 18th June 2020
Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister for Scotland, is to announce possible developments for the tourism and hospitality sector in her speech at 12:30pm this day. Her speech has been promoted as making announcements about Scotland now moving into phase 2 of the lockdown recovery phase. In this video diary filmed at around 10am on this day, before the First Minister’s announcement, Sandy explains some of his thoughts on the impending announcement and shares his hopes and concerns about what might be in the announcement:
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Have been waiting for an announcement for some time, a gradual easing open of the business. But the devil will be in the detail.
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Hopes the social distancing situation will be looked at. Regulations for the bedrooms being opened (eg specialist company in to decontaminate bedrooms between guests)
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Try to pre-empt eg in discussions to see about getting a Victorian lean-to conservatory; and have purchased two marquees
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“Don’t know what is expected of the business or how we cope with it”
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Yes, moving to phase 2, but still need to see the National Park opening up with proper car park management and adequate toilet provision.
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The issue with visitor management, car parks and toilet provision are however not just Covid problems, they have been issues the National Park has not addressed for years.
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“Look forward to hearing the First Minister saying something positive for the industry” later this day.
Thursday 18th June 2020
There was not much good news for the hospitality and tourism sector included in the First Minister’s announcement of moving to phase 2. No decision was announced on when or how premises could reopen (including no information on opening outdoor spaces). Nicola Sturgeon stated that she is hopeful that a further announcement could be made on or around 2nd July.
So for an industry hoping to have had some movement on the use of outdoor spaces (eg beer gardens, etc) in this announcement, nothing will be stated for another two 2 weeks.
The impact of this on further movement on redundancies and business closures across the sector is yet to be known, many of such businesses will have been desperate to get a least some trading started from today.
Source: BBC News website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-53049825/page/2
Nicola Sturgeon’s specific announcement on this can be found here: https://twitter.com/BBCScotlandNews/status/1273588655165190144
Thursday 18th June 2020
Reaction from the hospitality industry to the First Minister’s announcement is one of “dismay” as stated in this BBC News article:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-53098619
Friday 19th June 2020
Sandy discusses his views of the First Minister’s (Nicola Sturgeon) announcement the previous day (18th June) regarding arrangements for the next stage of easing of lockdown (going into phase 2). Sandy explains:
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Disappointing statement for the hospitality and tourism sector where there had been an expectation built up that there might be some immediate easing for the opening up of outdoor spaces, beer gardens, etc
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Instead there was an indication that there was more scientific advice needed and that pubs, restaurants, etc were possible “hot beds” for virus transmission.
Sunday 21st June 2020
Scotland Office Minister Iain Stewart and Scottish Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing appear on TV to discuss the future of the Scottish tourism sector. It is stated that they very much hope that the sector will still open from 15th July but that it will need “long term help”. There is also a call for VAT to be reduced to 5%.
Tuesday 23rd June 2020
A series of announcements made over the previous weekend, including information stated above (21st June) about possible support for the tourism sector, including a request for VAT to be reduced (maybe to 5%). There is also to be a possible announcement by Boris Johnson, Prime Minister, later that day about possible reduction in the 2m social distancing rule (it was in face reduced to “1m plus” for England but no change at this time for Scotland). Sandy explains his views on these most recent developments:
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VAT reduction would be wholeheartedly supported – anything that would help “would be a hugely welcomed and would be a massive support and it may be the difference between the industry surviving and going to the wall”.
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A move from 2m to 1m would be a “game changer for the bar, restaurant hospitality trade; it would give them a lifeline”. The Scottish Government would then need to follow suit, having reflected on the implementation in England. However “it is crucial” that the move is made.
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Fergus Ewing, Scottish minister for tourism, stated that they are trying to ensure tourism opens up from 15th July, so the business is planning for this with, for instance planning for an out-door covered area and has begun talks with the planning department for permissions.
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Without too much detail and without knowing whether the National Park will be putting in temporary toilets, there is only so much the business can plan for.
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There will be reflection on why the toilet and car parking facilities were not planned for at a much earlier stage.
Wednesday 24th June 2020
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-53056582/page/3
Listen to the announcement via this link: https://twitter.com/BBCScotlandNews/status/1275764295104704512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1275764295104704512%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flive%2Fuk-scotland-53056582
There were some significant announcements made in the Scottish Parliament for the tourism and hospitality sector (some opening now possibly going to be permitted before 15th July):
Key dates from the announcement:
3 July - Five mile travel distance relaxed, most self-catering holiday homes and second homes can be used
6 July - Outdoor hospitality such as beer gardens can reopen
10 July - People can meet in extended groups outdoors and with two other households indoors
15 July - Pubs, restaurants and all holiday accommodation can reopen, as can hairdressers, barbers, museums, cinemas, libraries and childcare
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-53056582/page/4
Watch this statement here: https://twitter.com/BBCScotlandNews/status/1275757388218404864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1275757388218404864%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flive%2Fuk-scotland-53056582
However comment from the hospitality sector is that if the 2m rule remains, this will mean many places will not be viable; and that the 15 July date may be “too little too late” for many tourism businesses with the First Minister urged to act more quickly in order to “save Scottish jobs”.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53154763
and
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53166816
Sunday 28th June 2020
Nicola Sturgeon made announcements as above, so here Sandy shares his views on this:
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Taken slightly surprised by the announcement since believed that the 15th July would be tourism across the board as opposed to early openings on a staged basis.
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But by removing the 5 mile travel limit for leisure from Friday 3rd July this has put pressure on National Park to get toilets available in the car park.
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Problem is that the toilet block in the National Park visitor centre, which is getting refurbished, is not Covid secure.
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Welcome the announcement and the approach of opening up slowly
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“Like starting the engines of a large liner or power station, it’s re-firing it up and we are doing this in stages.
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“It gives us a chance to open our village shop first, then open our coffee shop for carry-outs, then look at what we need to do for the Oak Tree Inn as far as social distancing goes, PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), screens and comply with the regulations.”
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“But the devil is in the detail.”
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Welcome the news especially on a phased basis of reopening.
Thursday 2nd July 2020
Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister for Scotland, confirms at the daily press briefing that:
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The 5 mile travel limit for leisure purposes will be lifted from the following day
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53264720
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The use of self-contained holiday accommodation - such as cottages, lodges and caravans with no shared services - will also be allowed, along with second homes.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53166816
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On Monday 6 July, pubs and restaurants will be able to open outdoor spaces, such as beer gardens.
But visitors were warned that Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park campsite and camping permit areas remain off limits, despite the easing of the five-mile travel restriction.
