Outdoor Remembrance Day events cancelled

Planned outdoor Remembrance Day events will not be able to take place this year unless they are held within a place of worship Aberdeenshire Council has said in a formal statement.

A spokesman said: "Aberdeenshire Council today acknowledged there can be no public events because of social distancing regulations, and the fact that it is simply not safe for people to gather safely this year to watch the traditional services.

"We recognise the cancellation of events this year will be deeply disappointing for all who were due to take part, but this decision has been taken based on expert advice to protect the health and well-being of those who would have been travelling to and participating in events.

"Under the new framework, outdoor events of more than six people from two different households are not permitted in Aberdeenshire under Level 2 restrictions.

"This means that organised local Remembrance events will not be able to take place unless they are held within a place of worship.

"Acts of remembrance taking place in places of worship, both indoor and confined or enclosed outdoor spaces should adhere to the Scottish Government Coronavirus (Covid-19) Phase 3 guidance for the safe use of places of worship including a maximum of 50 attendees in levels 0-3."

He continued: "So this year – on Sunday, November 8 - we would encourage residents of Aberdeenshire to step onto their doorsteps and mark the national two-minute silence and place a poppy in a front window to remember the sacrifices of those individuals from across Scotland and the UK, the Commonwealth and our Allied Nations, which ensured the relative peace and freedoms we enjoy today."

Further advice is available from Aberdeenshire Council's Environmental Health team at psmg@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.