People of Edinburgh banned from travelling to IKEA under new lockdown restrictions

Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed residents in Edinburgh, which is in lockdown level three, will not be able to visit the Midlothian store.

Those from Edinburgh are not allowed to visit shopping locations such as IKEA, Costco and Straiton retail park as the Scottish Government has said people cannot travel outside their own level three local authority area for non-essential shopping.

An MSP pointed out on Thursday that Edinburgh residents travelling to these places would be breaching the travel ban introduced as these sites are not in the City of Edinburgh.

People living in Edinburgh will not be able to visit IKEA in Midlothian from Tuesday November 24 onwards.

Those in level three or four council areas are not allowed to leave their local authority, and will be breaking the law if they do.

This means that those in Edinburgh cannot travel to Midlothian, East Lothian, West Lothian or any other surrounding areas for non-essential shopping.

For the Scottish Government’s full coronavirus travel guidance, click here.

Despite named IKEA Edinburgh, the store is located in Midlothian which, alongside East Lothian, will move down to level two from Tuesday, November 24.

The issue was raised in Parliament yesterday by Christine Grahame, Midlothian South MSP who said that such travelling for shopping would spread the virus in lower risk areas.

Questioning the First Minister, she said: "My constituency is now level two thanks to the efforts of folk there, but adjacent Edinburgh is level three.

"How will travel from Edinburgh to such places [IKEA] be monitored?"

Nicola Sturgeon said people should only be travelling into another level for "essential shopping if it is not possible in your local authority area".

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