'These rules are just so moronic': Midlothian soft play owner speaks out against having to stay in level two

An owner of a Midlothian soft play centre has spoken out about being unable to open as the region remains in level two.
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Craig Meikle, owner of Saltire Soft Play and Saltire Soccer Centre in Newtongrange, spoke to the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland on Tuesday, saying that the rules keeping Midlothian in level two were ‘moronic’.

He said: “There’s no travel restrictions.

"So, my business is now in the same position where my nearest competitor is six miles away, and they’re allowed to open on Monday.

'These rules are just so moronic': Midlothian soft play owner speaks out against having to stay in level two'These rules are just so moronic': Midlothian soft play owner speaks out against having to stay in level two
'These rules are just so moronic': Midlothian soft play owner speaks out against having to stay in level two
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"So my customers can now literally drive past my front door, drive to one of my competitors and take their kids to soft play."

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Soft play centres for children are only allowed to reopen when an area is in level one.

On Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon announced that Midlothian, along with Edinburgh, would have to remain in level two due to a high number of cases.

West and East Lothian will be moving down to level one from one minute past midnight on Saturday.

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Mr Meikle added that despite some grant money from the government, he still owes his landlord over £100,000 due to not being allowed to open since the start of the pandemic.

He continued that he planned to open his business on July 1, regardless of what level Midlothian is in at that point.

"I might not even wait as long as July 1 because these rules are just so moronic.”

The latest restriction decisions will be reviewed and the next updated given on June 28.

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