Coronavirus

Number of reported Cases UK – 29,474 : Scotland – 2,310 : Lothian – 311 : Deaths in Scotland – 76 [at 31st March 2020].

Your Council went into lockdown mode last week and non essential workers such as Councillors are now working from home. Key information can be found here:

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/coronavirus

Blue box bottle recycling has been suspended since 23rd March and you are asked to retain this as local centres for glass are not being serviced at this time.

Dog Waste – You are asked to help by taking waste home and disposing of it in your waste collection. This is to aid the collection service.

Bulky items and Fly tipping – This has been suspended too to enable the on street collection to continue.

Garden Waste

Uplift of garden waste has been suspended from 3 April 2020 so that general and food waste can be prioritised using available resources to best effect.

Collection crews are working in conditions that contravene Government guidance. There is dialogue between the Council and Trade Unions to resolve this problem so that the current restricted form of collection can continue. The workers here deserve our thanks for work that is essential for our city.

Financial Advice

This is a tough time for all and debt and benefits advice can be found here:

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/benefits-grants/advice-shop

A Resilience Centre has been set up in Leith in Newkirkgate at the Criminal Justice and Social Work office specifically and only for the following work:

The service is available Mon-Fri 10am – 4pm and the service is for those who:

• Are experiencing homelessness
• Are experiencing harassment
• Have prearranged an emergency cash payment

All other enquiries should be made via email and/or phone contact to enable this service to function for the purposes above and adhere to social space conditions due to Covid 19.

Council tenants

Essential information can be found here:

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/council-housing-association-homes/council-house-repairs

Port of Leith tenants

Essential information can be found here:

https://www.polha.co.uk/coronavirus

Local businesses are in testing times and those that are essential deserve your support and their workers your respect. Please minimise trips and purchases so that service and essential items can continue.

These are hard times for all and advice for local businesses can be found here:

Business Gateway

https://www.bgateway.com/local-offices/edinburgh/local-support

Business support

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/coronavirus-4/apply-coronvirus-business-support-fund

Exercise

When taking exercise do respect the space of others. If exercising your dog then keep it on a lead or under close control. Take any waste including dog waste home with you for disposal there. All play and exercise equipment has been taped off to prevent transmission.

Leith Festival and Gala Day

For those of you who don’t know this has been cancelled. Even the 4th biggest ticketed event in the World, the Edinburgh Festivals in August, have been cancelled. But keep up the communal singing of Sunshine on Leith. It raises our spirits – even in Gorgie!

Do heed the advice to stay at home so that the stark statistics above stay low and our NHS can cope with all that comes their way. Do take care.

Councillor Gordon Munro – Leith Ward, Labour