Comeback Code launched
but risk assessments will decide when Orkney's
reknowned attractions reopen

The Standing Stones of Stenness

As the foot and mouth crisis worsens in southern Scotland and England, a new code for access to uninfected areas of the country was unveiled on Friday by Minister for Rural Development Ross Finnie.

The Comeback Code, as it has been christened, gives advice to the public on what they can do to help protect Scotland's countryside from the threat of the disease while continuing to enjoy it.

The Executive are particularly keen to encourage visitors into parts of Scotland, such as Orkney, which have remained free of the disease.

Mr Finnie said: "On the issue of access itself, in the initial stages of the outbreak we did not know how widespread the problem might be so organisations and individuals quite rightly took a precautionary approach. Since then I have asked that decisions on access be reviewed on the basis of risk."

But at present all Historic Scotland's sites in Orkney - except the Bishop's and Earl's Palaces in Kirkwall - will remain closed.

A spokesman for Historic Scotland said that from today they were carrying out risk assessments on all their properties to see whether they can be re-opened to the public. She added that the main staffed properties such as Skara Brae and Maeshowe will be the first to be assessed early next week.

"We want to work towards opening what we can safely open," she added.