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When will Scotland return to some sort of normal?

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Huntergreed

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Everyone doesn't need to stay within 5 miles of home, if people are travelling for necessary work reasons which can't be done for home there is no restriction on distance travelled. There's also not a hard and fast limit on travelling to meet family members etc, the advice is not to travel so far that you require to make stops. The 5 mile guidance was to avoid driving beyond a 5 mile radius for exercise or leisure activities. It was also stated that travelling further would often be reasonable for people in rural areas for fairly obvious reasons, lack of services and facilities closer to home etc.
I appreciate that this is the current guidance, but only last week she threatened to make a law that you must remain within 5 miles of your home or face fines, so she obviously views it as necessary and takes it seriously.
 
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route101

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Do keep up !!

BA have been flying in and out of Edinburgh and Glasgow during the whole pandemic.

I flew from LHR to GLA on June 7th.

You should see the FB comments on this EZY flight , they didnt realise that BA have flying all this time.
 

Journeyman

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Do keep up !!

BA have been flying in and out of Edinburgh and Glasgow during the whole pandemic.

I flew from LHR to GLA on June 7th.

How was it? Up until mid-March I was flying between Edinburgh and London every couple of weeks. I'm hopeful I'll be able to start doing so again soon.
 

Butts

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How was it? Up until mid-March I was flying between Edinburgh and London every couple of weeks. I'm hopeful I'll be able to start doing so again soon.

Fine, apart from having to "Mask Up" from entering the Airport onwards.

Heathrow like a ghost town hardly anything open, car parks empty, really weird.

Flight half full had a row of three to myself. Bottle of water and packet of M&S crisps handed out - down come the masks !!
 

Garmoran

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I see that West Coast Railways are planning to resume normal service on the "Jacobite" from 17th July. I can see no suggestion on their website of any measures to limit capacity or implement social distancing restrictions.
It remains to be seen, of course, how many potential passengers will be around.
 

Huntergreed

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I see that West Coast Railways are planning to resume normal service on the "Jacobite" from 17th July. I can see no suggestion on their website of any measures to limit capacity or implement social distancing restrictions.
It remains to be seen, of course, how many potential passengers will be around.
Considering Scotland will only be just entering the phase which England is already in on 15th July, I highly doubt this will be allowed to go ahead without either social distancing, severely limited capacity, or it may sadly be cancelled.

It's looking like it's going to be a summer where the English can holiday, go on leisure trips, and enjoy themselves and the Scots cannot.
 

Garmoran

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Considering Scotland will only be just entering the phase which England is already in on 15th July, I highly doubt this will be allowed to go ahead without either social distancing, severely limited capacity, or it may sadly be cancelled.
It's highly likely that WCR are just winging it and testing the water to see how many bookings they get. I can't see them operating it unless it is clearly going to be profitable.

It's looking like it's going to be a summer where the English can holiday, go on leisure trips, and enjoy themselves and the Scots cannot.
Apart from those who see themselves as special cases - I came across a couple from Falkirk two nights ago, encamped beside the road in an enormous tent, 150 miles from home...
 

duncanp

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It's looking like it's going to be a summer where the English can holiday, go on leisure trips, and enjoy themselves and the Scots cannot.

Do please remember this when it comes to the Scottish Parliament elections next year.
 

scotrail158713

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It's looking like it's going to be a summer where the English can holiday, go on leisure trips, and enjoy themselves and the Scots cannot.
I doubt that. If they’re planning to reopen the tourism industry from July 15 they can’t expect us to stay at home.
 

duncanp

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I bet Nicola Sturgeon is glad she announced that free school meals for Scottish pupils would continue over the summer holidays before 1pm today (12:57 according to the Daily Telegraph)

Because at 1:03pm the UK government announced a U turn on this issue for English pupils.

Of course she was doing it because it is the right thing to do, and she wasn't trying to upstage or embarrass the UK government, was she?
 

MattA7

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does this mean a passenger on a train traveling from Scotland to England must put a mask on when the train crosses the border in to England and vice versa a passenger traveling from England to Scotland can remove their mask once the train crosses the border

Although with how strict sturgeon is being with this I’m surprised she isn’t ordered everyone to wear SCBA masks on public transport
 
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scotrail158713

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I bet Nicola Sturgeon is glad she announced that free school meals for Scottish pupils would continue over the summer holidays before 1pm today (12:57 according to the Daily Telegraph)

Because at 1:03pm the UK government announced a U turn on this issue for English pupils.

Of course she was doing it because it is the right thing to do, and she wasn't trying to upstage or embarrass the UK government, was she?
Cue her now constantly reminding the nation for the next 6 weeks “Scotland announced a continuation of free school meals slightly ahead of the rest of the UK” (like the school closures) - ignoring the total of 6 minutes difference that there was.
 

Butts

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Considering Scotland will only be just entering the phase which England is already in on 15th July, I highly doubt this will be allowed to go ahead without either social distancing, severely limited capacity, or it may sadly be cancelled.

It's looking like it's going to be a summer where the English can holiday, go on leisure trips, and enjoy themselves and the Scots cannot.

Speak for yourself. How many times do you have to be told the only restrictions are in your mind.

There are no roadblocks, no one checks where you are going.

If you wish to remain cocooned in Dumfries that's up to you but don't extend your misery to the rest of us !!
 

Huntergreed

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Speak for yourself. How many times do you have to be told the only restrictions are in your mind.

There are no roadblocks, no one checks where you are going.

If you wish to remain cocooned in Dumfries that's up to you but don't extend your misery to the rest of us !!
I appreciate this, but they are rules and guidelines, and given the fear-driven messaging used at the start I think that the vast majority will continue to follow them.

And there’s little point in me going elsewhere if there’s nothing to do there. Sturgeon doesn’t plan to open the gates for tourism and leisure travel beyond 5 miles for at least another month yet.
 

scotrail158713

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I appreciate this, but they are rules and guidelines, and given the fear-driven messaging used at the start I think that the vast majority will continue to follow them.

And there’s little point in me going elsewhere if there’s nothing to do there. Sturgeon doesn’t plan to open the gates for tourism and leisure travel beyond 5 miles for at least another month yet.
I’m considering going away for a few days at the end of July. Even if there’s nothing open, I’ll appreciate the change of scenery as much as anything else.
And if Sturgeon has realised that actually, leisure should be open by then even better - I’ll go and support the local economy in shops, restaurants etc.
 

Journeyman

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I’m considering going away for a few days at the end of July. Even if there’s nothing open, I’ll appreciate the change of scenery as much as anything else.
And if Sturgeon has realised that actually, leisure should be open by then even better - I’ll go and support the local economy in shops, restaurants etc.

Much as I'm keen to get away, I need some reassurance on what levels of social distancing are in place before I go anywhere. If cafes and restaurants are closed, or full of perspex screens and staff in masks and gloves, I'd rather just stay at home, to be honest.

I think this might be the summer I hike off into the wilderness and try some wild camping.
 

RomeoCharlie71

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I don't expect perspex screens to go away any time soon, if at all. To be honest they're one of the changes I've welcomed, as they don't just protect people behind them from COVID.
 

Journeyman

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I don't expect perspex screens to go away any time soon, if at all. To be honest they're one of the changes I've welcomed, as they don't just protect people behind them from COVID.

I knew those bloody things would end up being permanent. It's pointless theatre and completely unnecessary.
 

Huntergreed

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It is just me that is genuinely starting to get very concerned indeed for the future of Scotland from an economic, social and wellbeing perspective?

Unemployment is highest it has been in nearly 30 years.
GDP fell by over 20% in April alone (one month out of the three that lockdown has lasted, and it's likely to last 1-2 more beyond now).
In my region I can't even count the small business/shops that have closed for good, causing hundreds, if not thousands, of redundancies.
Sturgeon doesn't seem keen on reopening the transport network anytime soon (phase 3 is still heavily restricted capacity for social distancing), so even when tourism reopens nobody will be able to access it without a car.
0 Deaths for 2 days last week, 0 deaths for 1 day this week and yet still she's insistent that the virus is 'still out of control', what's she waiting for, we're down to approximately 20 cases per day.

The impact on the economy, the education and mental wellbeing of young people, and the general mental wellbeing of Scotland, especially when they are reminded everyday through the news of how much more enjoyable life in England is, is very worrying to me. She doesn't even seem to care about these aspects and seems extremely insistent on driving the virus down as much as possible. Is her 'routemap' really sustainable and, with her plans for social distancing to last until a vaccine (phase 3/4 of her routemap still includes it), I fear that she's going to insist on the importance of suppressing the virus to the point where the economy will shrink so much, the damage may be irreversible.
 

Journeyman

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It is just me that is genuinely starting to get very concerned indeed for the future of Scotland from an economic, social and wellbeing perspective?

Unemployment is highest it has been in nearly 30 years.
GDP fell by over 20% in April alone (one month out of the three that lockdown has lasted, and it's likely to last 1-2 more beyond now).
In my region I can't even count the small business/shops that have closed for good, causing hundreds, if not thousands, of redundancies.
Sturgeon doesn't seem keen on reopening the transport network anytime soon (phase 3 is still heavily restricted capacity for social distancing), so even when tourism reopens nobody will be able to access it without a car.
0 Deaths for 2 days last week, 0 deaths for 1 day this week and yet still she's insistent that the virus is 'still out of control', what's she waiting for, we're down to approximately 20 cases per day.

The impact on the economy, the education and mental wellbeing of young people, and the general mental wellbeing of Scotland, especially when they are reminded everyday through the news of how much more enjoyable life in England is, is very worrying to me. She doesn't even seem to care about these aspects and seems extremely insistent on driving the virus down as much as possible. Is her 'routemap' really sustainable and, with her plans for social distancing to last until a vaccine (phase 3/4 of her routemap still includes it), I fear that she's going to insist on the importance of suppressing the virus to the point where the economy will shrink so much, the damage may be irreversible.

I think she's pandering to the people who are convinced millions will die if you go out for a few minutes, and is also desperate to look better than Boris Johnson, despite the fact that deaths in England are showing a steady downward trend as well. 2-metre social distancing is unnecessary, destructive, depressing and oppressive, and there's no way it can be sustained for much longer. The thing that makes it all especially ridiculous is that Scotland is so sparsely populated, and even under normal circumstances it's easy to avoid other people, yet the five mile travel rule makes it really difficult. I took a hiking trip that involved two overnight stays in bothies in the Borders back in September, and saw no other people for 31 hours. But no, I have to stay close to home, where I can't avoid people, and where there's almost no cases anyway.

I'm sick of people making out the sun shines out of Sturgeon's a*se. She's causing absolute devastation right now.
 

route101

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I’m considering going away for a few days at the end of July. Even if there’s nothing open, I’ll appreciate the change of scenery as much as anything else.
And if Sturgeon has realised that actually, leisure should be open by then even better - I’ll go and support the local economy in shops, restaurants etc.

Im hoping to get away too , i suspect camp sites mau get a go ahead to open first. Dont mind if socialdistancing is in place as all i need is hotel and train there.
 

route101

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does this mean a passenger on a train traveling from Scotland to England must put a mask on when the train crosses the border in to England and vice versa a passenger traveling from England to Scotland can remove their mask once the train crosses the border

Although with how strict sturgeon is being with this I’m surprised she isn’t ordered everyone to wear SCBA masks on public transport

Well techninally , doubt its enforced though. Strangly enough in Glasgow Central the announcements are saying face coverings are neccessary , the same announcements are played at all NR stations
 

scotrail158713

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Im hoping to get away too , i suspect camp sites mau get a go ahead to open first. Dont mind if socialdistancing is in place as all i need is hotel and train there.
If campsites open that’s where I’ll be heading, and social distancing is pretty much what happens there anyway so if it’s still in place then then that won’t matter. (Although I’d prefer it to be gone)
I think toilets are the biggest problem though. But it shouldn’t really be a problem actually, as long as you wash your hands before leaving them.
 

92002

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If campsites open that’s where I’ll be heading, and social distancing is pretty much what happens there anyway so if it’s still in place then then that won’t matter. (Although I’d prefer it to be gone)
I think toilets are the biggest problem though. But it shouldn’t really be a problem actually, as long as you wash your hands before leaving them.
If you read between the lines of the daily broadcast. It's expected that travel industry will start in early July. Just need to wait till Thursday for the next installment.

Seem an Internet shot of a pub in Glasgow City Centre with a screen the length of the bar. Customers would be outside in the lovely Scottish weather. Socially distanced at whatever is agreed distance.

Spain opened today for UK visitors with more to follow in the next couple of weeks. So assuming you are allowed to leave there could be a summer break yet. Just need to lift the quarantine when you come back.
 

GusB

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I bet Nicola Sturgeon is glad she announced that free school meals for Scottish pupils would continue over the summer holidays before 1pm today (12:57 according to the Daily Telegraph)

Because at 1:03pm the UK government announced a U turn on this issue for English pupils.

Of course she was doing it because it is the right thing to do, and she wasn't trying to upstage or embarrass the UK government, was she?
Even if it is actually the right thing to do?
 

route101

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If you read between the lines of the daily broadcast. It's expected that travel industry will start in early July. Just need to wait till Thursday for the next installment.

Seem an Internet shot of a pub in Glasgow City Centre with a screen the length of the bar. Customers would be outside in the lovely Scottish weather. Socially distanced at whatever is agreed distance.

Spain opened today for UK visitors with more to follow in the next couple of weeks. So assuming you are allowed to leave there could be a summer break yet. Just need to lift the quarantine when you come back.

I was in Glasgow today and noticed a bar getting ready.

Im hopeful that when the hotels, the trains etc will open up for non essential travel.
 

route101

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Funnily enough i seen a few older men sitting outside the John Moore with takeaway pints, dont know which pub was doing them ha
 

scotrail158713

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If you read between the lines of the daily broadcast. It's expected that travel industry will start in early July. Just need to wait till Thursday for the next installment.

Seem an Internet shot of a pub in Glasgow City Centre with a screen the length of the bar. Customers would be outside in the lovely Scottish weather. Socially distanced at whatever is agreed distance.

Spain opened today for UK visitors with more to follow in the next couple of weeks. So assuming you are allowed to leave there could be a summer break yet. Just need to lift the quarantine when you come back.
It’s certainly getting more encouraging by the day
 
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