Read on Twitter
A Scottish Parliament question is being asked by Jackie Baillie in relation to the right of responsible access and suspending it where livestock is present, which can be found here (reference S5W-28236: 03/04/2020), and the question is in the next tweet. https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S5W-28236 >
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to reduce the reportedly increased number of people roaming through livestock farms during the COVID-19 outbreak, and whether it will consider temporarily revoking the right to roam, particularly during lambing season." >
The question is in broad terms. If it is aiming high, it strikes me that an absolute revocation on the basis of a livestock related issue (which I confess I have not seen heard of anecdotally, and I am not aware it causes a public or animal health issue) would be quite a jump. >
Of course, if there is an issue and the existing exhortation in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 of responsible access (and indeed management) is not enough and suspension is needed (a point I am not settled on, yet), a targeted measure would be better than blanket revocation.
I received a few responses to this tweet (I won't share for fear of any kind of pile-on), with a couple of correspondents saying access is being taken in a way that affects farming/crofting, and others bemoaning land managers using this shutdown to shut accesses. One to watch. >
With a hat-tip to @HelenRambler, here is a solid article in the Inverness Courier @InvCourier on the issue, following on from Highland Council (correctly) stating that access rules continue to apply. https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/illegal-signs-claiming-routes-are-closed-slammed-196048/
In terms of possible justifications for a land manager incidentally blocking access when genuinely doing a management activity, this I think can happen when the (temporary) activity is completely incompatible with social distancing. I blogged on this. https://basedrones.wordpress.com/2020/03/28/responsible-access-to-the-outdoors-in-scotland-in-a-time-of-crisis/
I've also seen some signs noting that COVID-19 can linger on metal gates etc. That's as may be, but the scheme of the act is to allow the user to be responsible. Someone following gov advice (e.g. sneezing into a sleeve) or wearing gloves on daily exercise could be "responsible".
