I would urge people to support local businesses

This column is by Kirsteen Currie, a Highland councillor for North West and Central Sutherland.

The past few months will have taken its toll on many of us.

For some its been very difficult to be so separated from friends and family; for others our worries are about our businesses and jobs and how we will make ends meet in the weeks and months to come.

It’s clear that there is no completely risk free way of lifting lockdown and we must be very careful to ensure that we are keeping the pressure on the NHS as little as possible, but we must balance this with keeping our rural economy, so dependent on the tourist industry, viable for the future.

I’ve been really impressed by a number of businesses around Sutherland who’ve found innovative solutions and ideas which are helping, albeit in small ways, with keeping their business and suppliers afloat during these difficult times. Paying it forward schemes, take away provision from restaurants and crowdfunders are just some of the ways that our businesses are finding ways to generate a little income whilst we wait for this pandemic to be over.

I would encourage all readers to support their local businesses where they can and would applaud the work that so many have put in to create ideas for generating income at such a difficult time.

There is a danger though, which many readers have been in touch with me about, that the tourist industry reopens too soon. For me, whilst the issue is a particularly difficult one, I always would argue that lives MUST come before profit. North, west and central Sutherland has fared pretty well so far but east Sutherland has been more affected. Our communities are not immune and I believe we must do all we can to keep instances of infection to as low as possible.

Support is available from many sources and I have been pushing the Scottish Government and Highland Council to expand that support to include businesses that don’t fit in with the criteria which already exists. No one in any sector of life or in our communities have ever experienced a crisis such as this before, so mistakes are bound to be made and it’s only by coming together to discuss and debate things properly that we can ensure that we find our way through this.

I hope all readers are enjoying the benefits that phase one is bringing to them and I hope that it won’t be long before our communities and economy can fully recover.

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