Please note that despite the forthcoming relaxation of travel restrictions, the club cottage is still closed to members and guests until further notice. The committee is considering whether the cottage can be opened safely for members use, but note that this would one single household at a time, and the club has a duty to ensure that if we can open, we do so safely.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for the post on the club cottage. I'm wondering why the committee is considering only one single household should be able to use the cottage at a time. The rules will soon allow up to three households to be indoors, observing social distancing (whatever that comes to mean). I'm sure up to 8 people from 3 households can keep well separated in the cottage.
Current government regulations for self-catering accommodation state that premises opening from 3 July must have no shared facilities. All holiday accommodation can open from 15 July provided it is following guidance. The guidance is large, spread across multiple documents and often covers the whole hospitality sector making it difficult to work out what needs done in the specific circumstances of the cottage. We also need to consider the legal issues - what if someone blames the OMC for allowing them to catch Covid-19? And, not least, we are still awaiting delivery of hand sanitiser dispensers (on order since mid-May).
Hi
Viv, that guidance covers private premises rather than commercial properties, we fall into the latter camp. We also need to get the water system re certified re Legionella which is 'booked'. MS is preparing guidance re COVID, taking account of all the docs coming out of Scot Gov, hopefully this will give us a single point of reference re our own guidance (Maureen and Christina are on the case), All official club activities (Inc meets etc) also being considered here re duty of care club has over members.
Nothing will occur re cottage re-opening until at least the 15th July. I'm afraid that for now, we will just need to be patient!
Thanks, Dave and Karen for the update. Regs sound a nightmare and I certainly wouldn't want to risk committee members being subject to any legal liability. But I was puzzled about the need for hand sanitiser. Good old soap and water is just as effective as alcohol based sanitiser as well as being cheaper and widely available. Arguably better since soap will not only kill the virus but also wash it off whereas sanitiser only does the former. The advantage of sanitiser is that you don't need water to rinse off but that isn't a problem, I guess.
Anyway, what's the latest status? I'm asking because I was in the area yesterday and will probabaly be up that area again soon. Haven't gone near the cottage, no need to check CCTV. :-}
cheers
Viv
Hi
Its more about placement. Sanitiser can be placed at the entrances, no water required. Yes, I suspect there will also be more hand soap about at sinks etc.
Karen