Scaffolders working on St Andrews University’s Music Centre are continuing work in spite of Scottish Government advice to close construction sites.
Today (26th), four workmen were observed by a local resident removing scaffold poles at the back of the Music Centre. It was clear that they were not observing 2 metre social distancing.
This activity is contrary to the advice given the First Minister in her Covid-19 update on Monday (23rd) during which she said “So I want to reiterate that if you run a business, and if the nature of your business makes it difficult for you or your workers to work from home or to practice safe social distancing, then you should close for the period of the efforts to combat this virus.”
“If you are an employee, and your workplace is not abiding by this, I would urge you to speak to your employer and ask that they take action.”
“This morning I was specifically asked on the radio about building sites and hair salons, and my advice would be to close. I know this is a difficult situation for businesses and I know difficult judgements are having to be made.”
“I have therefore asked for additional guidance to be drawn up urgently by government for businesses that will make clear exactly what we are expecting of them and how they can make the right judgments about what is essential and what is not essential.”
QV understands that the University’s position is that there is confusion between the positions of the Holyrood and Westminster governments and that, in any case, the Music Centre site is the responsibility of the main contractor, Graham.
As of the 26th March, there were 25 deaths and 894 confirmed coronavirus cases in Scotland, 29 in Fife and 57 in Tayside. However, the Chief Medical Officer in Scotland, Dr Catherine Calderwood, has said that the actual number could be 50 times greater.
