Fears another lockdown will spell disaster for Highland businesses

A 'circuit-breaker' lockdown to tackle rising rates of coronavirus could herald the death knell for some businesses in Inverness.

That is the stark warning from city business representatives, particularly in the hard-hit hospitality industry, as the prospect of further restrictions across Scotland loomed closer.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to make an announcement on the matter in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow while Scotland’s clinical director Professor Jason Leitch said a two-week circuit-breaker could buy the country 28 days in the pandemic.

By that, he is suggesting the stopgap measure could drive the rate of infection down for 28 days, delivering a short-sharp shock to the R number.

Six new cases of Covid-19 have been detected by NHS Highland in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall number of cases in the region to 728.

But the possibility of tighter measures is worrying business representatives who are calling for additional financial aid to help companies survive.

Stewart Nicol, chief executive of the Inverness Chamber Commerce, said everyone understood the number priority one was the health and wellbeing of everyone in business and communities.

But he said further restrictions would be a significant blow to the area's fragile economy.

"Many businesses have already implemented significant changes and invested money to comply and stay open within the regulations," he said.

"The challenges have remained. The economy is quite clearly struggling.

"Certainly, it would be the final straw for a number of businesses financially."

Jane Cumming, chairwoman of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry’s Highlands and Islands Committee, said following the rules and guidance on preventing the spread of the virus was vital to avoid further lockdowns.

"Sadly, thousands of business, particularly those in the tourism and leisure sectors which form such an important part of the economy in this part of the world are potentially facing the end of the line for their business, through no fault of their own," she said.

"It is particularly hard to take given their hard work and investment to reopen safely.

"Support from both governments to save jobs and livelihoods in these sectors needs to be forthcoming if jobs are to be saved."

The need for further restrictions in the Highlands was queried by Norman MacDonald, owner of Cafe 1 in Castle Street.

"Our rates are low in the Highlands," he said. "There would be no justification."

He also felt there needed to be better management of existing local lockdowns.

"No one is policing who is going in and out of the areas," he said.

Doubts were also raised by Kit Fraser, owner of the Hootananny music venue and bar in Church Street.

"A circuit breaker financially just makes an appalling situation even worse," he said.

"Will it be worthwhile? Probably not.

"Are we talking two weeks, or five weeks?

"Would it be subsidised by the government, or do we have to pay for it?

"I do not want to go bust unnecessarily."

Matt MacPherson, of the Malt Room whisky bar, felt there was no clarity around existing restrictions and said if there was to be a further lockdown further financial help was needed to help companies survive.

David Richardson, Highlands and Islands development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, said recent restrictions appear to have resulted in a dampening effect on resident and visitor footfall for many businesses.

"Surviving until next Easter is the number one priority for most, and there is no doubt that a short-term, circuit-breaking lockdown, or even the introduction of additional restrictions if a lockdown is deemed to be going too far, would make survival less likely," he said.

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