Comhairle reminds businesses offering holiday accommodation they should be closed

The council lists ‘holiday accommodation’ as hotels, hostels, bed and breakfast accommodation, holiday apartments, homes, cottages or bungalows, campsites, caravan parks or boarding houses.

It has stated that business can only continue to stay open and operate for a very select number of reasons.

These are: 1. To provide accommodation for any person who: is unable to return to their main residence, uses that accommodation as their main residence, needs accommodation while moving house, needs accommodation to attend a funeral.

2. To provide accommodation or support services for the homeless

3. For any purpose requested by the Scottish Ministers or a local authority.

Members of the public are also advised that under the current movement restrictions they are not allowed to travel to visit second homes or holiday accommodation for isolation purposes or for a holiday.

People must remain in their primary residence.

A council spokesperson said: “Not taking these steps puts additional pressure on communities and services that are already at risk.”

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 allow the police to close businesses and premises which flout Government guidance.

The regulations also give officers the power to enforce social distancing among the wider public, with the sanction of penalty notices where there has been an offence.

Police Scotland can issue penalty notices of £60, reduced to £30 if paid within 28 days, where they have reason to believe there has been an offence under the regulations.

So far 144 penalty notices have been issues across Scotland, but just one in Highlands and Islands division.

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