Data reveals a 77% reduction in retail and recreation on the Western Isles

Google’s figures, which use location data to chart trends in people’s movement, show footfall at retail and recreation establishments fell by 77 per cent in Na h-Eileanan Siar in the six weeks to the end of March compared to two months earlier.

The average reduction across the UK was 85 per cent, when compared to a previous five-week period at the start of the year.

Only a small number of places have witnessed a smaller drop-off, with Scotland being home to eight of the bottom 10.

The British Independent Retailers Association said many successful businesses were fighting for survival, predicting that consumers’ increased use of online shopping is a trend that is here to stay.

Chief executive officer Andrew Goodacre said independent shops have already had to show great resilience and flair, utilising online deliveries to stay in business.

“However, we are also seeing many more previously successful businesses closed down and fighting for survival,” he said.

“It is good to see the government initiatives that have been taken but we are concerned that the support is not reaching the retailer quick enough.”

Though there is no fixed date for when the lockdown will end and social distancing rules relaxed, Mr Goodacre said habits have already been formed and internet sales will continue to trump the High Street.

Where once they represented 20 per cent of all retail sales, they now make up 85 per cent and are “unlikely to come back down very quickly after the crisis”, he added.

​Google’s figures also show a 51 per cent reduction in activity at places of work, as more people work from home.

​However, Google said there was not enough data to do a complete analysis of transport hubs in the area.

Na h-Eileanan Siar also saw 31 per cent less footfall at groceries and ​pharmacies and a 54 per cent reduction at transit stations.

Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said using anonymous data like this from Google, “will help improve our understanding of the impact social distancing measures are having.”

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