Guardians of the Cairngorms National Park have urged residents not to abuse people staying in local holiday accommodation during the coronavirus lockdown.
Frontline emergency workers including health staff and delivery drivers are known to use such accommodation so they’re on the ground.
There have been widespread complaints in numerous Highland communities that second-home owners and others have travelled big distances to stay at such properties in defiance of government advice.
Such allegations locally have prompted park authority chiefs and community leaders to issue a joint statement appealing to people not to be abusive if they do not know the facts.
Most accommodation within the park’s boundary is currently closed for business as part of efforts to contain the virus.
In an open letter, the park authority, Cairngorms Business Partnership and tourism partnership have attempted to “nip this in the bud and focus on the great work by communities across the park”.
It says: “The face we don’t recognise is not necessarily a stranger and our plea is not to publicly criticise and jump to any judgement.”
It points out how in Badenoch and Strathspey alone, about 900 people volunteered to help with deliveries. There has been similar generosity in Tomintoul and Deeside.
The respective organisations said concerns about anyone flouting the lockdown restrictions should be raised with the police.
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