Soft play owners express fears over being 'forgotten sector'

Soft play owners across the north-east have expressed their concerns over the Scottish Government’s new tiered framework.

MSPs are set to debate the new structure in Holyrood tomorrow as Nicola Sturgeon announced last week it is likely to be implemented from November 2.

It could see different areas across the country on different levels as the government look to alter how they respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the five-level framework, soft plays will be able to re-open their doors under level 0 and 1 but would have to close or remain closed by level 2.

Soft plays have been closed since the first lockdown began back in March and have had their indicative date for re-opening pushed back several times as cases continue to rise across Scotland.

Rebecca Mennie who owns BECS – Inclusive Soft Play Centre in Inverurie tells us she feels they could have re-opened around the same time as trampoline parks and they have been "forgotten". 

Meanwhile, Julie Baylis who runs Den in the Glen says she believes that if they get to re-open in the near future, it will address children's physical and mental well-being.

And Allanah Watt from Boomerangs in Fraserburgh raised her fears over children with additional needs haven’t had a comfortable environment for play in since the pandemic began.

There was 1,122 new cases across Scotland today with 32 in Grampian.