THE CONSERVATIVE co-leader of a central belt council has urged the Scottish Government not to put his area into Level Four restrictions.

Andrew Polson has told officials to exercise "severe caution" when it comes to East Dunbartonshire Council, where Covid cases went up by 4% last week.

Polson is joint leader of the local authority, which is run by a Conservative-LibDem coalition.

It's understood that areas in the central belt may be placed under the highest level of Covid restrictions next week.

But Polson says ministers must "take into account the wider issues and ramifications" of the pandemic control measures on the economy.

In a statement, he insisted the locality should be given "more time" in its current restriction level, saying: "I can confirm that I have been in contact with officials in the Scottish Government at the highest level about the possibility of our area
and that of Greater Glasgow going into the highest tier of restrictions.

"I made my feelings perfectly clear and have urged severe caution."

He went on: "We understand harm one of the virus, which is clearly very important but it appears that there is no real interest in the other three harms as per the strategic framework.

"The impact on the economy has already been seen and the long term disaster
that looms for businesses and people's livelihoods is immeasurable  — notwithstanding the follow-on health implications both physically and
mentally.

"Going into level four seriously increases the probability of our
schools having to close and the uncertainty that that would bring for
parents and children, particularly in the more deprived areas."

Polson stated: "We have only just moved into level three in the west of Scotland. Should we not be giving that more time? Also where do we go from level four if
this doesn't work and cases in some areas continue to stay stubbornly
high?

"If it was a straightforward case of only having to deal with the virus itself we should consider increasing the restrictions, but the strategic framework and reality, tells us that there are the other things to take into consideration. It would appear officials are only paying lip service to the other three harms and have not fully grasped the long term ramifications of the lockdown restrictions."

Earlier today Nicola Sturgeon said infections rates in some areas remain "stubbornly high" and that officials continue to consult with local authorities.

Cases in East Renfrewshire increased by 13% last week, with Glasgow's rate up 7% and West Dunbartonshire's by 6%.

She said she'd release details of any changes to parliament, adding: "We're not taking these decisions lightly."

The First Minsiter said: "A stubbornly high prevalence means that we might have less flexibility to offer some limited and careful easing of restrictions over the Christmas period, which we are very keen to do."