With social distancing now part of everyday life it is important to highlight that not everyone can maintain the required distance as easily as others.
People who are blind and partially sighted can struggle to know when they are getting closer to someone, or if someone is approaching them. And guide dogs, of course, aren’t trained to help in this regard.
There have been occasions when individuals have been aggressively berated for coming in to too close proximity to others, when the reality is they simply weren’t aware of it.
In such uncertain times, tensions over distancing can rise. But we would ask that if you feel someone seems to be ignoring the restrictions, consider for a moment whether that person, rather than being careless, might not be able to fully see you.
Thousands of people in Scotland are living with a degree of sight loss. Please be aware that some people do need just a little extra thought.
James Adams
Director
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland
Tomorrow (Monday 1st June), RVS will be hosting a special online event to mark the start of Volunteers’ Week:
We’ll be thanking all Royal Voluntary Service volunteers and NHS Volunteer Responders for their time and efforts to help others. The line-up includes a range of exclusive performances and a very special message from our President, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.
We hope you will be able to join us on the day. The event will start from 2pm and can be accessed through the Virtual Village Hall Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/VirtualVillageHall/.
The Virtual Village Hall is an online activity programme designed by Royal Voluntary Service and supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. It features a wide range of activities to take part in at home and is open seven days a week.
There are live and pre-recorded activities on offer and all sessions can be viewed on demand on the Virtual Village Hall YouTube channel or website here: royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/VVH
Construction site preparation works for Edinburgh’s Trams to Newhaven project will restart tomorrow (Monday, 1 June) in line with the Scottish Government’s Phase 1 pre-start site preparation.
Work on the project was stopped at the end of March to comply with Scottish Government guidance and to protect the safety of workers and residents during the coronavirus outbreak.
Following the First Minister’s announcement on 21 May of a phased return for construction sites, plans have been drawn up in line with Scottish Government safety guidelines and industry best practice to ensure the safety of workers and the public. At a briefing on Thursday the First Minister confirmed that site preparation could begin.
In advance of the main work beginning, works to prepare construction sites and project offices will include the introduction of infection control stations, additional water stations and toilet facilities for workers within the site and in the project office, and ensuring all office workspaces and facilities are set up appropriately.
Other works on site will include the removal of the protective in-fill material that was used to ensure the work site remained safe and protected during the shutdown.
Measures to protect workers’ health will include daily briefings, continuous on-site inspections and health and safety ‘ambassadors’. The numbers of workers on-site will be kept to a minimum and the majority of project office staff will continue to work from home.
Council Leader Adam McVey said: “Following updated advice from the Scottish Government, we will be carrying out site preparatory works on the Trams to Newhaven project from Monday, 1 June.
“The safety of workers and the public is of utmost importance during this time and all works will be undertaken in compliance with the Government’s guidance on construction working and to allow physical distancing.
“The tram team have put in an enormous amount of hard work with our contractors to take us through this challenging period and it will take some time to fully remobilise sites. The implications of COVID-19 are unlikely to be understood for some time but we continue to work to mitigate the impact as we progress with the project.”
Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “The Trams to Newhaven project is being delivered for the future of our city and is one of a number of schemes that are crucial to the sustainable, long-term development of the city, helping decarbonise the way we travel.
It is exactly the kind of investment we need post-COVID-19 to ensure Edinburgh is a thriving, forward-looking place for people to live and work in and will help to encourage much needed affordable housing, jobs and investment into North Edinburgh.”
Alejandro Mendoza Monfort, Director of Sacyr Farrans Neopul, the main infrastructure contractor, said: “SFN are delighted that we can restart our works on the Trams to Newhaven project. We understand the importance that this project will have for Edinburgh’s future and are committed to ensuring that we continue to mitigate the impact of Coronavirus 19. During this pause period, concentrated efforts have continued behind the scenes to develop and test a series of robust systems and procedures, whilst ensuring the highest level of health, safety and wellbeing can be provided.
“We have used this time to adapt to our new working world and developed new operating procedures that provide information, guidance and site-specific measures that will be implemented when conducting works to mitigate the impact, so far as reasonably practicable, of the virus.”
Mike Thomson, Director of Morrison Utility Services, said: “We are very pleased to be able to begin to prepare to restart this important project for Edinburgh.
” The safety of colleagues and the public is paramount and MUS has been working closely with the City of Edinburgh Council and SFN to ensure that our working practices are fully compliant with the guidance given by the Scottish Government, while also looking at ways in which we can mitigate the impact of the recent enforced shutdown.”
Once the construction industry is given the approval to move to Phase 2, works on the existing sites will recommence and the Leith Walk construction site will be established as planned prior to site shutdown.
Any commencement of main works will be subject to the Scottish Government giving approval to move to Phase 2 of their construction guidelines which states: ‘soft start to site works (only where physical distancing can be maintained)’.
The project team has been working on plans to mitigate the impact of the enforced shutdown as a result of COVID-19 on the programme and budget. Despite the current circumstances, the project continues to operate within its £207.3m budget. The project is paid for by borrowing monies that are repaid over a 30-year period through future revenues from customers.
While work on the latest phase of the Edinburgh tram project gets back underway, SIX YEARS ON there’s still no sign of a long-awaited report on the shambolic first phase.
The Edinburgh Tram Inquiry was commissioned by Scottish Ministers and in June 2014, the Inquiry was formally announced by then First Minister Alex Salmond. The Inquiry is chaired by Lord Hardie.
The Edinburgh Tram Inquiry aims to establish why the Edinburgh Tram project incurred delays, cost more than originally budgeted and through reductions in scope delivered significantly less than projected.
The official terms of reference for the Inquiry are to:
Inquire into the delivery of the Edinburgh Tram project (‘the project’), from proposals for the project emerging to its completion, including the procurement and contract preparation, its governance, project management and delivery structures, and oversight of the relevant contracts, in order to establish why the project incurred delays, cost considerably more than originally budgeted for and delivered significantly less than was projected through reductions in scope.
Examine the consequences of the failure to deliver the project in the time, within the budget and to the extent projected.
Review the circumstances surrounding the project as necessary, in order to report to the Scottish Ministers making recommendations as to how major tram and light rail infrastructure projects of a similar nature might avoid such failures in future.
Award winning Edinburgh salon SESH Hairdressing have reached the finals of the 2020 Wella TrendVision Hair Awards.
After submitting their entry digitally, the news was announced earlier this week to reveal SESH Hairdressing are through to the next stage in the competition.
Bernard Street’s SESH Hairdressing entered via their Instagram page by sharing editorial images from their ‘Beautiful Seduction’ collection created in 2019. The salon shared six images from this collection and were announced as national finalists in the competition.
The Wella Professionals TrendVision Award is an iconic industry competition and a spectacular platform for true creativity, where up and coming stylists, as well as the most masterful colour work within the industry are celebrated.
This year saw over 1000 photographic entries and SESH Hairdressing were thrilled to be amongst the few finalists revealed. The ‘Beautiful Seduction’ collection has gained lots of popularity over the past year as it also finalised for Scottish Hairdresser of the Year 2019 at the British Hairdressing Awards.
Owner of SESH Hairdressing, Simon Hill (above) commented; “We are thrilled to be recognised in the Editorial Image category of the 2020 Wella Trend Vision Awards.
“We pour our heart and soul into our annual collections and to have finalised for another award after our nomination for Scottish Hairdresser of the Year in 2019 is an incredible feeling. We are looking forward to the national heat of the competition.”
Edinburgh Interfaith Association’s latest podcast is available online now.
Guests include Jane Ansell, founder of Sleep Scotland, on how to get a better sleep during lockdown; Imam Hafiz Muhammad; and Craig Weir, the piper who has played from everyone from Queen to the Dalai Lama!
UK Government okays resumption of competitive sport behind closed doors
Guidance permits return to domestic competition from 1 June 2020
First major sporting event expected to be 2000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse on 6 June
Follows guidance supporting the return to training for elite and professional sport
The Culture Secretary has outlined the strict conditions for elite athletes and professional sportsmen and women to resume competitive sport safely behind closed doors in England from 1 June 2020, paving the way for the first domestic live action in almost three months.
The ‘stage three’ guidance, published yesterday by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), has been developed in close consultation with the Deputy Chief Medical Officers of England, Public Health England and medical representatives across Olympic, Paralympic and professional sports governing bodies.
The guidance, designed for competition delivery partners and elite sport organisations, outlines the facilities and processes that will need to be in place, including that there will be no spectators at events.
Providing its conditions are met, one of the first major sporting events is expected to be the 2000 Guineas Stakes race meeting, which would take place at Newmarket Racecourse on 6 June and be broadcast on free to air television.
Following detailed discussions with DCMS, the Deputy Chief Medical Officers and Public Health England, preparations are also being finalised for the Premier League and EFL football to resume later in June. This will be subject to a successful vote from their clubs and approval by safety advisory groups including police.
Further announcements are expected to be made by other sporting governing bodies in due course.
In light of the Government making clear that the Premier League should widen access for fans to view live coverage during the remainder of the season in light of ongoing social distancing measures, the Premier League has this week reached an agreement with its broadcast partners to televise a significant proportion of its remaining matches on free-to-air platforms, including Sky’s ‘Pick’ TV, that is available on Freeview, and for the first time in Premier League history, the BBC.
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden, said: “The wait is over. Live British sport will shortly be back on in safe and carefully controlled environments.
“This guidance provides the safe framework for sports to resume competitions behind closed doors. It is now up to individual sports to confirm they can meet these protocols and decide when it’s right for them to restart.
“This is a significant moment for British sport. By working with clinicians every step of the way, we are creating the safest possible environments for everyone involved.”
The stage three guidance makes clear that the following conditions should be met for the staging of competitive sporting events until further notice:
All competition delivery partners and user groups involved, from the teams and athletes, to the support staff, officials and media, must travel individually and by private transport where possible;
Prior to entering the competition venue, they are expected to carry out a screening process for coronavirus symptoms. Anyone with known or suspected Covid-19 will not be permitted to enter and should be placed, or remain, in isolation and follow the latest Government guidelines;
A one-way system for the movement of people and vehicles should be established around the competition venue;
Social distancing should be maintained by all groups where possible. This includes the competing athletes and support staff on the bench and field of play, such as during any disputes between players and referees, or scoring celebrations;
Where social distancing cannot be maintained, sports governing bodies, clubs and teams should implement a rigorous regime to monitor for symptoms;
Dressing room usage should be minimised, however showers can be used in line with Government guidelines;
All non-essential activities, such as catering, should be limited;
Team / athlete medical staff must ensure they adhere to the latest Public Health England advice, such as through the use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. Physiotherapy treatment should be limited to an essential need only;
Competition delivery partners and elite sports organisations should appoint a named COVID-19 Officer to be responsible for oversight of all planning and communications, and a named COVID-19 Medical Officer to have oversight of and manage any individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases, to ensure necessary standards are met;
Other restrictions applying to the general population must be adhered to outside of competition venues and official elite training venues.
It is expected that the guidelines will be considered by competition delivery partners (such as the organiser and venue operator) and elite sport organisations (such as the national governing bodies, professional leagues and clubs), and applied to their individual competitions. They will have the responsibility to decide when it is safe and appropriate to move to stage three and resume competition when they have their own protocols in place.
They must also ensure all competition delivery partners and user groups involved in staging a competitive sporting event, from the teams and athletes, to the support staff, officials and media, are fully briefed to ensure they have understood the specific risks and mitigations, and be clear that they must actively ‘opt in’.
It follows ‘stage two’ guidance published on 25 May making clear that elite athletes could resume competitive, close contact training at official elite training venues, so that players can get match fit under carefully controlled medical conditions. However it made clear that time spent within a two metre distance should be kept to a minimum, equipment sharing should be avoided, and communal areas, such as changing rooms, cafes, team rooms and recovery spaces, should remain closed where possible.
‘Stage one’ guidance was published earlier this month, outlining conditions for a return to individual performance training at official elite training venues while maintaining social distancing from teammates and other people outside their households. This included safeguards such as the deep cleaning of facilities and the screening of athletes and staff for coronavirus symptoms before they can enter the training venue by an appropriately trained healthcare professional.
All relevant standards defined in stages one and two for a return to training must continue to apply, and must be satisfied before a sport or sporting event can progress to stage three.
The elite sport return to training guidance intends to minimise the risk to the elite sports community, while also minimising any pressure elite sport places on healthcare workers and the wider community. Like all changes to current measures it will be kept under review in accordance with the Government’s Covid alert system.
A new online platform enables people to share suggestions for creating safer spaces for walking, cycling and wheeling safely in Edinburgh as the current restrictions begin to be lifted – but one local business owner says the city’s plans are ‘a disgrace’.
Mapping tool launched to help people suggest improvements to make active travel easier and safer
£5m funding from Transport Scotland via Sustrans will support changes across the city
Package of measures already underway to help people walk, cycle and wheel as restrictions are lifted
In collaboration with Sustrans, the city council has launched the Commonplace mapping tool, which, throughout June, will allow residents to highlight ‘pinch points’ where emergency measures could help people maintain physical distancing safely on foot, bike or wheelchair.
Earlier this month the city council announced a package of suggested interventions to make it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to move around the Capital.
As well as providing extra space, the proposals recognise a rise in active travel since lockdown began and aim to facilitate this as the phased lifting of lockdown continues. On Wednesday, Edinburgh was granted £5m Transport Scotland Spaces for People funding, administered by Sustrans, to help deliver measures to achieve this.
Over recent weeks the council has received many suggestions for road closures, widened pavements, segregated cycle lanes and other possible actions from across the city.
Now, the public will be able to highlight specific areas on an interactive map and provide feedback on barriers experienced, as well as identifying improvements. This, along with ideas already shared, will help shape council efforts over the coming weeks and months.
Cllr Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “We’ve hit the ground running with an extensive programme of measures to help people observe physical distancing while walking, cycling and wheeling, and to support them to continue to do so once restrictions are eased.
“We’ve seen a real increase in cycling and walking since the beginning of lockdown and we want to help this to continue as we return to a sense of normality.
“We’ve already had an incredibly enthusiastic response from residents who also want to see calmer, safer conditions maintained as we return to normal. This new tool is a great opportunity to involve the very people who use our streets to help shape our plans.”
Cllr Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice-Convener, said: “Our transport officers are working extremely hard to implement these changes as quickly as possible, and we’re delighted that the measures already in place have received such a great response from residents.
“We’ve received lots of ideas from across Edinburgh for further interventions, and this tool will help even more people highlight areas for improvement. We’d also like to reassure everyone who has already submitted suggestions to us that there is no need to resend them via this new tool, as we are reviewing all suggestions collectively no matter how they come to us.”
Dave Keane, Infrastructure Manager, Sustrans Scotland, said: “The City of Edinburgh Council has shown great ambition to make it easier for people to get around safely on foot, by bike or wheelchair during Phase 1 and beyond.
“We hope people living in Edinburgh will engage with the Commonplace mapping tool – it’s really simple, clear and easy to give feedback. Most importantly, it will help the council get a clear picture of where temporary interventions are needed most.”
Responses received through the Commonplace platform will be recorded and used to inform plans, though temporary interventions that will have the greatest benefit to public health and can be delivered in a short timeframe will be prioritised. The website will close for comments on 29 June.
A council spokesperson said: “While we welcome every response, we won’t be able to deliver all the improvements suggested, with any work dependent on available funding, procurement of materials and the availability of contractors.
“We’ll soon be sharing information on schemes that have been suggested alongside those that are being progressed on our website.”
A programme of changes is already underway across the city. The latest measures to be implemented include the partial closure of Stanley Street and Hope Lane (between Stanley Street and Christian Grove) and the closure of Warriston Road to through traffic.
The first will provide a low-traffic corridor for people to walk and cycle and access nearby green spaces like Figgate Park while the latter will create a wide pedestrian and cyclist-friendly space leading to access to the North Edinburgh path Network.
The council says existing temporary road closures in Silverknowes, Greenbank, Cammo and Leith have been welcomed by community members, creating welcoming and safe spaces for pedestrians and cyclsts of all ages and abilities – but at least one business owner is furious over ‘bungling council road closures’ (see below).
The Council’s overall approach will be implemented to support the Scottish Government’s phased approach to lifting lockdown.
All measures that are introduced will be closely monitored and refined or adapted in response to any issues, where necessary. The design process for any intervention will consider all road users, particularly people with mobility or visual impairments, and will seek feedback from organisations including RNIB, Edinburgh Access Panel and Living Streets.
At least one less than complimentary suggestion will be winging it’s way to the council. Boardwalk Beach Club, located on Silverknowes foreshore, is furious over a council decision to close local roads and is calling for consistency across the city.
In a statement on Facebook, Boardwalk Beach Club said:
*** COUNCIL BUNGLE WITH MISMANAGED CLOSURES DISCRIMINATING AGAINST DISABLED, ELDERLY, YOUNG FAMILIES, BUS USERS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ***
“Road of Cramond Glebe Road and Silverknowes Road and closure of Cramond Car Park leave only one road access to Silverknowes and Cramond Beaches via 50 Marine Drive EH4 5es accessible via Silverknowes Parkway/Pennywell Road/Lower Granton Road).
“A disgrace and terrible for businesses and disabled, elderly people and young families in the area. Expect Cramond to have no businesses or services very soon. The village has been dying with less shops and businesses than the 1960’s and this will continue with the loss of Cramond Car Park.
“A total disgrace to businesses who didn’t open during Lockdown to help the community and who are now being hit with a double whammy as this disgraceful council discriminates against Cramond Beach/Silverknowes Beach while Portobello Beach is huge crowded with people and cars with little or no traffic restrictions.
“It doesn’t make sense that elderly, disabled people, young families and others can now not access two major roads leading to the safest, widest, most beautiful Promenade in Edinburgh within the second largest park in Edinburgh and largest coastal park and deny them access to buses within one mile (removing the 29 Lothian Bus from Silverknowes Promenade).
“And removing more than half of the free car parking at a time when Lockdown was lifted and Phase One measures allow people to meet in parks and on beaches in groups of up to eight people when people are travelling by car to congested garden centres and supermarkets.
“Please can The City of Edinburgh Council explain why Cramond Beach and Silverknowes Beach continue to be discriminated against when other beaches are accessible and open?
“Ten years without a bus, three years with no JustEat Hire Bicycles on a 3 mile promenade which is now flooded with people cycling, Noddy small roadside bins which constantly overflow with rubbish, six cycle racks along a 3 mile promenade when 15 were put in outside small shops elsewhere, uncut grass, roads closed in order to cause traffic jams to justify more roads being closed.
“The Council is a disgrace discriminating against elderly, young families and disabled people wanting to enjoy the amazing Cramond Beach and Promenade. Marine Drive is now fully open but disabled people have to search for a place close to the entry and for some this is too much.
“Please reconsider for beach access for all, especially since the 29 Lothian Bus service to Silverknowes Promenade was removed due to your closure of Silverknowes Road.
“It looks like the monies from The Scottish Government will be going DOON THE PAN!
“Edinburgh Council are turning the situation into “Go oot, dinnae go oot”. Why deny access to amazing safe social distancing setting and shoehorn people into tight areas? It makes no sense, especially when people are allowed to cram into small garden centre car parks and rammed supermarket car parks.
“It’s utter nonsense. Let’s make this place awesome. Please contact your Councillors, MP and MSP to make your voice heard. Live the dream.”
Submit suggestions on the Commonplace tool online, by 29 June.
A ‘very high’ risk of wildfire remains in place across large parts of Scotland this weekend, the country’s fire and rescue service has warned.
As public lockdown restrictions are eased amid the coronavirus pandemic, people who live within or who may enter any rural environments have been warned to exercise extreme caution.
Following several weeks of dry weather conditions, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Area Commander Bruce Farquharson has stressed that Scotland’s countryside is “vulnerable” to fire.
A spate of wildfires could place unnecessary pressure on the emergency services as they already work to support partners and protect the public amid the Coronavirus pandemic.
The ‘very high’ wildfire warning – released in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF) – remains in place until Monday, June 1.
Area Commander Farquharson, who is also chair of the SWF, said: “While we appreciate that many people will seek to enjoy the outdoors during this spell of good weather this weekend, we urge everyone to make sure that they don’t increase the chance of wildfire.
“We have had very little rain over the past two months, and a large volume of dead, bone-dry vegetation remains left over from last year – which essentially acts as a fuel for fire.
“As a result, there are currently vast areas of countryside all over the country that is tinder dry and vulnerable, and has all of the ingredients for fire to take hold and spread.
“We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame, such as disposable barbecues or campfires.”
Wildfires can start by the careless disposal of barbecues or campfires left unattended. They then have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife; threaten the welfare of nearby communities; and place a strain on the emergency services.
In recent weeks, notable wildfires in New Galloway forest in Dumfries and Galloway, at Wester Ross in the Highlands, and on Kilpatrick Hills near Clydebank, have drawn upon significant SFRS resources across several days.
During the Spring period last year, SFRS crews worked tirelessly to tackle and contain more than 2,000 fires involving grasslands, woodlands and crops – three times as many as the same period in 2018.
Area Commander Farquharson continued: “We would always stress the importance of being vigilant in areas of countryside, but right now we are in a unique and testing period for all emergency services.
“Large wildfires require huge resources to bring under control, and this has the potential to then impact on our entire structure across Scotland.
“We will always do our utmost to protect our communities, and to save life and property from harm at all times – but we also need the public to help us.
“Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments, and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.”
For further advice and information about wildfires and how to prevent them visit:
