HUNDREDS OF CAMPER VANS ARRIVE IN SCOTTISH MOUNTAINS AS PEOPLE TRY TO FLEE THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
21st March 2020
Last modified on May 15th, 2021
Around 30 turned up in the car park of the Nevis Range ski resort and many more are already in the Highlands. PlanetSKI reports.
Here at PlanetSKI we are posting government advice at the top of every story we write about coronavirus.
Government advice
The leader of the SNP in the Commons, Ian Blackford, has urged the people to turn round and go home.
He is MP for the constituency of Ross, Skye and Lochaber.
The ski resort had to turn them away saying they came from various parts of the UK.
They were intending to use the car park as a refuge.
“I cannot stress enough that this pattern of behaviour is irresponsible, counterproductive and must stop with immediate effect,” said Mr Blackford.
“Local services here face unprecedented pressure levels as we all battle this global pandemic.
“I urge everyone to do the right thing; follow the Government advice and please do not travel here.
“If these warnings are not heeded and people need to be stopped from travelling, then I am afraid that is what will have to happen.
“Those in camper vans please go home!”
It is the same in other parts of Scotland.
The Highlands, Scotland. Image © PlanetSKI.
Scotland’s Finance Secretary, Kate Forbes, has said people should not make the Highlands their means of isolation.
People with second homes of camper vans have been travelling there in the past days.
Ms Forbes, represents the constituency of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
“If you live elsewhere, please don’t use the Highlands as your means of self-isolation,” she said in a tweet.
“People live here who are trying to follow government guidance and the continuing flow of campervans and other traffic who appear to be escaping the cities is not helping.”
Nicola Sturgeon also warned that the number of Covid-19 cases was “set to rise sharply”.
She urged people to follow social distancing advice to save lives and reduce pressure on the NHS.
At the same time skiing is continuing for another day on Sunday at Cairngorm and Glenshee.
Some are making their final turns, while others question why the resorts are open at all.
There is a similar scene in other parts of the country.
In Wales Snowdonia is seeing unprecedented numbers.
Car parks and trails could be shut to stop people from visiting Snowdonia National Park.
There were so many people on mountain summits it was “impossible to maintain effective social distancing”, according to reports on the BBC.
Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons was also busy with visitors on Saturday.
Welsh ministers are considering their legal powers to force people to stay away during the coronavirus outbreak.
There are reported to be similar scenes in Cornwall and the Lake District.
