***UPDATE Friday 29th @ 6.30am: Closed car parks in Helensburgh and Lomond will NOT now reopen this weekend, the council says - click here for more details***
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COUNCIL officials have been urged to shelve plans to re-open car parks in Helensburgh, Luss and elsewhere this weekend.
Lomond North councillor George Freeman says Argyll and Bute Council’s elected councillors were told on Tuesday afternoon that car parks in the area are “likely to re-open this weekend”, depending on guidance expected from the First Minister on Thursday on the easing of lockdown restrictions.
The local authority’s car parks at Luss, Duck Bay and Arrochar have been shut since before Easter in a bid to discourage people travelling from elsewhere to visit the area – something which would be in breach of lockdown limits in place since March 23.
And the parking area at Kidston Park, at the west end of the Helensburgh seafront, was shut on April 24 at the request of police.
The council has confirmed that closed car parks across Helensburgh and Lomond will indeed reopen this weekend subject to Nicola Sturgeon giving the green light for the country to move to 'phase one' of its route out of lockdown – though the authority insists it is NOT encouraging people to come to the area from further afield.
Ms Sturgeon, as expected, confirmed the easing of some lockdown limits in her daily briefing on Thursday.
But Councillor Freeman says that re-opening council parking facilities now will inevitably encourage people to visit from further afield – and will put those who live in the community at risk from the virus.
He said: “This appears to show that the council is prioritising the income they can generate from the car parks in the Helensburgh and Lomond area, that generates by far the most income, ahead of the safety of my constituents who live at Luss.
“The opening of this car park will clearly encourage people to travel to Luss which will increase the risks to my constituents from the Covid-19 virus.
“My view is that this is totally unacceptable and I would be surprised if the other two ward councillors were happy with this proposal.
“On a topical note, this will likely encourage members of the public from further afield to undertake what has now become known as ‘a Dominic Cummings journey’.
“Although Police Scotland may have been consulted by the council, our senior local inspector confirmed to me that he had not been made aware of any proposal to open the Luss car park.
“I am sure that if this were to happen, this will put extra strains on the already stretched police resources in the Helensburgh and Lomond area.”
Nicola Sturgeon announced last week that if lockdown limits in Scotland are eased at the end of this week, people would be asked – but not legally required – to travel for exercise no more than five miles from their homes.
But the Advertiser understands there are fears that people will travel Luss in particular, whether from nearby or further afield, in any event – especially with fine weather forecast for this weekend – and that the village's narrow streets will be unable to cope if the car park in the village is not opened.
However, Councillor Freeman says that re-opening parking facilities is likely to make road safety concerns worse, not better.
He continued: “As a simple layman, I do not accept that reasoning. Over the weeks that the Luss car park has been closed, I have not been made aware of any road safety issues at Luss or on the A82 adjacent to Luss due to the closure of the Luss car park.
READ MORE: Helensburgh seafront car park is closed due to lockdown fears after police request
“I believe that it would be the opening of the car park that could create road safety issues that currently do not exist.
“I have no doubt that the opening of the Luss car park will see Luss inundated with motorists from across the region, as we have come to expect during the summer months, which will increase the Covid-19 risks for those living in the Luss area.
“I would therefore ask that, no matter what relaxation the First Minister announces on Thursday, the Luss car park remain closed for the time being.
“The Scottish Government and council are currently discouraging people from travelling to islands and rural areas. Why should Luss be any different from our island communities?”
A council spokeswoman said the authority was not encouraging people to come and visit, and said the council was holding “regular discussions” with police and other partners.
READ MORE: Villagers take action over Luss tourist parking 'nightmare'
The spokeswoman added: “We are urging people to be responsible and sensible in their decisions.
"It may be tempting to head out to beauty spots just now but think about how your actions could put yourself and others at risk.
“Car parks will be available for those travelling from nearby. In preparing for the easing of restrictions we have been working in partnership with Police Scotland and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park to put in place arrangements for their safe reopening.
“Please think before you are tempted to make a journey. There will be limited facilities for you including no public toilets.
"We want to welcome you back to the area but only when it is safe to do so.”
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