People can now travel between islands within the Western Isles to visit family under relaxed lockdown rules.
Until now, crossing the Sound of Barra and the Sound of Harris was banned except for essential journeys.
The visit is to be undertaken on a day return trip. Visits to second homes are still forbidden.
Easing of the restrictions permits islanders to use the inter-
The First Minister announced a winding back of the lockdown in the Scottish Parliament today.
Uisdean Robertson, the council’s transport chairman, welcomed the move.
The council approached the Scottish Government to relax the inter-
Nicola Sturgeon confirmed: “It is important that people who live on islands can take advantage of the freedoms that we are all now able to enjoy.”
She added: “The changes that I have announced today apply throughout the country and in every part of it.
“As part and parcel of our approach to scaling up public transport, we will look at the capacity of ferries so that people who require to get off or on to islands to visit family, in the way that all of us can now do, are able to do so.
She added: “The restriction on travel for recreation and leisure that we are asking people to abide by is important. It, too, applies across the country.”
“We are asking people not to go further than five miles for such purposes, and not to flock to beauty spots or tourist attractions.
“Such actions still pose a risk and put avoidable pressure on parts of our infrastructure.
“We very much hope that we will be able to lift that restriction when we go into the next phase -
Inter-
18 June 2020
