The decision to impose tougher restrictions in Angus has been met with fierce criticism from business owners and the area’s council leader.
Dilys Ewart, who runs the Airlie Arms in Kirriemuir, described the consistency in decision-making as “horrific”.
She said: “For businesses to be stable and provide jobs the very least we need is a clear plan for operating.
“Just minutes after the announcement, I’ve had to cancel four dinner reservations. The restaurant is also fully booked on Saturday so those will likely be cancelled too.
“It’s so disappointing.
“It’s unfortunate for the staff as well but at least we have furlough.
“We can only hope for fewer restrictions in the Christmas period. Without that trade it puts businesses in a very bad place.”
‘Wholly unjustified’
Ms Sturgeon said in the space of a week the seven-day number of cases per 100,000 of population has increased in Perth and Kinross by 32%, in Fife by 40% and in Angus by 47%.
The preventative measures, she said, are therefore designed to curb the spread before an even bigger spike.
Angus Council leader David Fairweather said he does not believe the local authority was given a fair chance to argue its case against Tier 3.
He said: “Frustrated is not the word. I’m just so disappointed.
“I feel it is wholly unjustified to give businesses a lifeline for a week then take it away.
“At around 6.30pm last night we were invited to a conference with the communities’ secretary Aileen Campbell.
“She told us Angus was likely heading into Tier 3 and said sorry. She claimed no final decision had been made at that stage but I think it had.
“Cases here are still very low and the chief executive of the council (Margo Williamson) made this point.
“The consequences in Angus are looking monumental. It feels to me like we are heading towards a full lockdown.”
Lockdown rules ramped up to ‘level three’ in Angus, Fife, and Perth and Kinross
Kevin Lidell, who co-owns both The Crown Inn in Carnoustie and The Stag’s Head in Monifieth with his wife, said he was devastated by the first minister’s announcement.
He said: “We sort of had a feeling this would happen.
Fife, Perth and Kinross and Angus move to Tier 3 – what does it mean for pubs and restaurants?
“We were hoping for the best, but expecting the worst and that is what has happened.
“It’s devastating, especially considering Angus was doing so well with keeping numbers down, we feel just because Dundee is on a high level that we’ve been dragged into it.
“That’s us now put in the position where we have to close The Stag’s Head after Thursday night and we won’t know for how long.
“The only positive is that it will be reviewed in a week.”
Pubs being ‘singled out’
Several licenced traders across the country have claimed pubs are being unfairly targeted in the drive to suppress Covid-19, something which Mr Liddell agrees with.
“I would say we are being singled out,” he said.
“When you look at buses or supermarkets, there is no track and trace going on there.
“We’re keeping on top of the social distancing and things like that. Closing down pubs is driving people into having house parties.”
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Mr Liddell also fears for the impact the decision will have on people’s social life and mental health.
He added: “We’re a little local pub. We know everyone who walks in.
“Mental health is going to be impacted in a big way. I fear for how some people are going to handle it.
“More people will suffer more from this than there will be people suffering from Covid.”
The Crown Inn has been closed since October 9, when restrictions were imposed in Scotland prior to the tier system.
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But with Angus now in the second-highest level, Mr Liddell does not expect to be able to reopen the Carnoustie pub anytime soon.
He said: “We don’t have a seating area or serve food at The Crown Inn, so that probably won’t reopen until Angus is in Tier 1 — and that’s unlikely to be before the new year I would think.
“This is harming businesses. We still have to pay rates and rent. Heating isn’t so high because there is no one in the building, but there’s still a lot to pay.
“We’ve put staff on furlough, but it takes three weeks for the first payment to come through. They’ve got that the wrong way round.
“It’s so difficult to tell staff that we’re having to close. Some are family members and the others have become like family to us.”
