Month: June 2020

Botanics to reopen on 1st July

A warm and safe welcome back is imminent for visitors to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh when it reopens to the public on Wednesday 1st July.

As the country emerges from lockdown, teams across the organisation are gearing-up for opening the public gates on Wednesday, 1st July.

In line with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s Phase 2 announcement yesterday, well-considered strategies have been adopted to create a safe environment for visitors and staff at Inverleith, in Edinburgh; Benmore, in Argyll; Logan, in Galloway and Dawyck, in the Scottish Borders.

New, temporary, measures include a one-way system on a number of Garden paths and some restrictions to access of other confined areas such as shops and toilets. Staff will be using PPE.

Regius Keeper Simon Milne MBE explained: “We look forward to welcoming back visitors to all four Gardens. This connection with the environment is vital for the well-being of all.

“With the safety of our staff and visitors remaining our prime concern, we have amended operations on all sites to introduce measures that should build trust and confidence. Lockdown has been a difficult time for everyone, caution is widespread and life will remain away from what we regard as normal for some time.

“Travel restrictions remain in place and, for the immediate future, all four Gardens will be restricted to welcoming their local communities. However, this is a first hugely important step in our return to extended outreach.”

A new and important measure for the reopening of the Edinburgh flagship Garden is the introduction of time slots tickets, to be booked in advance by visitors. Time slots can be booked on-line from Wednesday, June 24. 

While admission to the Garden remains free of charge, this temporary method of entry will enable staff to limit the number of visitors accessing the Garden at any one time, gradually building capacity when all are comfortable the operational guidelines work.

The Glasshouses will remain closed, initially. The Garden will initially be open from 10am-5pm and capacity will be limited to 2,000 visitors a day.

To ensure personal distancing, entry will be through the Emergency Vehicle Access (EVA) Gate at Arboretum Place, to the south of the John Hope Gateway visitor centre, and the East Gate on Inverleith Row. Any queues will be managed to ensure a smooth flow into the Garden.

Simon Milne concluded: “It is heartening visitors enjoyed following us online while the gates were closed and we hope they will continue to do so. However, the benefits of real time interaction with the natural environment are unsurpassable. We ask for everyone’s patience, understanding and support as we resume operations steadily and in a way that works for everyone.”

Visitors returning to the four Gardens will be invited to make a donation or support the organisation by becoming a member and providing crucial support for this world-leading charity in plant science and conservation horticulture.

Looking forward, its research and conservation initiatives at home and around the world have never been more important. By supporting the organisation, supporters can make real change in tackling the challenges of the climate emergency and habitat crisis.

Face coverings mandatory on public transport from Monday

Face coverings will become mandatory on public transport from Monday (22 June) as part of operators’ preparations for progress towards recovery and to reduce the risk of transmission.

The move was set out by the First Minister in tandem with the announcement that Scotland will move through phase 2 of the routemap in stages over the next three weeks.

It will apply to all passengers and staff in public areas, although there will be exemptions especially for those who are not able to wear a face covering for specific medical reasons. Children under five will also be exempt.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson stressed the importance of the new rules and that by wearing a face covering everyone is engaged in a collective responsibility to reduce the risk of transmission. He said: “Our message remains clear that public transport should be for key workers and those who need it most and can’t walk or cycle to work.

“Capacity is reduced to enable physical distancing and operators are not yet running full services. However, as we work towards recovery and more people return to work and further local leisure opportunities begin to open up it is vital that measures are put in place to protect everyone’s health.

“Transport operators continue to play a key role in supporting essential travel and in ensuring passenger confidence in public transport while maintaining physical distancing. The use of face coverings forms a fundamental part of gaining that public trust.

“We are asking people to take personal responsibility to do the right thing. Wearing a face covering while on public transport means you are playing your part in the collective effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus and reducing the risk to your fellow citizens.  These measures complement physical distancing and good hand hygiene, they do not replace them. ”

Roz Foyer, STUC General Secretary said: “Our overriding concern is the safety of transport workers and the general public, so we fully support mandatory face coverings for which transport unions have unanimously argued. 

“In conjunction with other key safety measures, this is a vital component in giving people the confidence and security to return safely to their work as a careful and sustainable relaxation of lock-down is enacted.”

Paul White, Director CPT Scotland said: “This is another boost to operators’ existing safety measures which are keeping buses safe for passengers and staff.

“Passengers have worked with bus operators and with each other to maintain social distancing guidelines; we will be looking to them to work with us to ensure the policy is a success”

Robert Nisbet, Director of Nations and Regions at the Rail Delivery Group, said: “Everyone taking the train wants to be able to travel safely and the vast majority want to help others do the same.

“By wearing face coverings on trains and at stations, passengers are helping to slow the spread of the virus and making them mandatory provides even greater clarity for passengers on how they can do the right thing when travelling.”

Anthony Smith, chief executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: “People thinking of returning to public transport have told us they want face coverings to be used by all passengers. Today’s decision will provide welcome clarity and will boost pressure on others to cover up.

“Transport operators must ensure that passengers who need to travel have clear advice to understand what is expected of them, who is exempt and how they can play their part to help keep one another safe.”

Advice on face coverings, including how to make one and instructions for using one, will be available on the Transport Scotland website.  This advice is being updated to include full details of the applicable exemptions.

Beer gardens staying closed “a bitter blow”

The announcement by the First Minister that outdoor areas in Scotland’s pubs and bars are to remain closed was met with shock and dismay by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association.

SLTA Managing Director, Colin Wilkinson said: “The First Minister’s announcement today is a bitter blow for Scotland’s Hospitality Sector, which expected to be able to now kick-start the rebuilding of the industry.

“With the decision now delayed until the 2nd of July, operators face another anxious period for the survival of their businesses. This may also have a knock-on effect for the re-opening of indoor areas, originally planned, all being well, for the 15th of July.

“This delay, hypothetically only 2 weeks before full reopening may be possible, with social distancing measures in place, again brings into question whether these first steps, for those who have an outdoor area or the potential to have one, will actually help businesses to start recovering from this pandemic.

“With Government guidelines due to be published soon, hospitality businesses will have very little lead-in time to prepare for complying with guidance for outdoor areas, and that alone causes problems, especially on social distancing parameters, which look like remaining at 2m, and toilet provision for customers seated outdoors.

“Research shows that unless the 2m social distancing parameters are reduced, the potential reductions in capacity could be as high as 87%.

”Without question, health and safety must come before profit, but the First Minister’s comment that ‘there is emerging evidence that places such as pubs, restaurants and gyms can be hotspots for transmission” will do nothing to alleviate customer confidence in returning to our pubs and bars.

“Already a recent survey to gauge how people feel about life post-lock down, revealed that 62% of people were unlikely to return to bars and restaurants for some time yet. The challenge of rebuilding our industry just got harder.

“The need for ongoing support for the industry is now even greater with the announcement that outdoor areas will remain closed for at least another two weeks.

“Ongoing and increased support for the months ahead is essential and when the industry does start to rebuild, Governments, both north and south of the border, must not see this as a marker to further reduce support for the industry.”

A survey of 22,000 pub goers and beer drinkers across the UK polled by the consumer organisation CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has found that two thirds of people are confident to get back down the pub when their local re-open. 

The survey found that 65% had confidence in going back to pubs, with only 4% saying they were ‘extremely unconfident’ about returning to their local.

The news comes as the UK Government confirmed that pubs are likely to start re-opening from 4th July and the Scottish Government stating that pubs north of the border can begin to re-open from 15th July.

CAMRA National Chairman Nik Antona said: “We know that during lockdown people have really missed going to their local to enjoy a pint with family and friends.

“It’s really encouraging hat our survey shows most people are confident that they can safely return to pubs, whether that’s outside in beer gardens or inside following social distancing measures.

“As pubs re-open in the next few weeks in England and then in Scotland it is essential, they get support from local communities – especially as many will face reduced trade as a result of social distancing. 

“For people who can’t get to their local, because they’re shielding, and for those pubs that can’t re-open, because they are smaller or because their space isn’t suitable, CAMRA will continue to support those pubs offering take-away and delivery services while things get back to normal.

“Over the next few weeks, I’d like to encourage everyone to play their part in helping pubs get back on their feet either by supporting them in person or from your own home. Now, more than ever, we need to use our pubs or else risk losing them forever.”

CAMRA’s beer ordering app ‘Brew2You’ to allows people to order take-aways and deliveries from pubs in their area, whilst the ‘Pulling Together’ campaign page at www.camra.org.uk/pullingtogether lists services from pubs, breweries and cider producers across the country.

Changes to Lothian bus services from Sunday

Lothian Buses will introduce an update to its critical services network from Sunday 21 June to help keep key workers across Edinburgh and the Lothians moving during this time.

Tram construction works in Leith will also start on 20th June, meaning that our services will be unable to serve Leith Walk northbound. Services 7, 14, 16, 22, 25, 49 will be diverted via London Road and Easter Road, heading north only and Service 11 will be diverted via Annandale Street, Bellevue Road, Mcdonald Road and Broughton Road on journeys to Ocean Terminal.

Since the introduction of the Critical Services Network on Sunday 29 March, teams across Lothian have continued to analyse customer travel patterns and customer feedback to ensure the business is meeting the needs of as many key workers and essential travellers as possible.

Customers can view updated timetables and plan journeys on Lothian’s website or through the Lothian app which offers journey planning tools and real-time service updates, all integrated with Google Maps.

It can be downloaded from tfeapp.com.

Network changes include:

Services with minor timetable changes: 1, 34, 106, 124, X27

Services with revised timetables: 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 14, 16, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35, 37, 38, 47, 48, 49, Airlink 100, 113, 43, X18

Services with revised route and timetables: 2, 7, 41, 49, 140, X28, 400

Service 2

Route extended to operate between Hermiston Gait and The Jewel.

Service 7

Route extended to Western Harbour on Monday to Saturday daytime, evening and Sunday journeys will continue to terminate at Newhaven.

Journeys towards Western Harbour will divert via Easter Road due to Tram construction works.

Service 41

Revised timetable with the route extended to operate between Cramond and Kings’ Buildings.

Service 49

Route extended to Fort Kinnaird.  On journeys to and from The Fort, buses will no longer access the car park at Asda The Jewel and will continue along Milton Link instead.

Journeys towards Fort Kinnaird will divert via Easter Road due to Tram construction works.

EastCoastbuses 140

Route extended to operate between Musselburgh and Penicuik Town Centre on Monday to Saturdays.

Lothiancountry X28

Monday-Saturday daytime frequency increased to every 30 minutes between Bathgate and Livingston.  Short-working buses will terminate at Livingston Morrisons.

East Calder, Mid Calder and Edinburgh will continue to be served hourly.

Skylink 400

Route extended to operate from Fort Kinnaird to Gyle Centre.

The following services are not altered: 20, 44, 63, 139

The following services do not operate: 6, 10, 12, 23, 36, 42, 45, 61, 67, 200, 300, X12, X15, X25, X26, X29, X31, X33, X37, X44, X47, N3, N7, N11, N16, N22, N25, N26, N30, N31, N34, N37, N44, 104, 125, 126, 127, X5, X7, N106, N113, N124, X17, X38, X43, EX2, 275, 280, 287, N28, N43

Timetables can be downloaded below:

Lothian Buses Network – 21 June 2020

East Coast Buses Network – 21 June 2020

Lothian Country Network – 21 June 2020

Phase 2: ‘We must still exercise care and caution’

Further changes to lockdown restrictions in Scotland have been announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The easing of some lockdown measures are the latest steps on the road to the ‘new normal’ – but the First Minister warned that Scots continue to exercise ‘care and caution’.

Those shielding are now able to go outdoors for exercise, and from today (Friday, 19 June) those shielding can take part in non-contact outdoor activities and can meet one other household, in groups of no more than eight outdoors. Physical distancing and strict hygiene measures must still be followed, even if you live with those people.

Also from today, anyone living alone or only with children under 18 can form an ‘extended household group’ with one other household. This does not apply to households with people who are shielding.

Extended household groups can meet indoors with overnight stays permitted and without physical distancing, but any other household meetings must remain strictly outdoors and at a two metre distance. Members of an extended household group should not form a similar arrangement with any other household.

From Monday, 29 June some indoor workplaces can re-open, including factories, labs and warehouses, subject to strict physical distancing, hygiene and health and safety guidance, but non-essential offices and call centres should remain closed.

All retail premises with outdoor entrances and exits can also re-open from 29 June. Ahead of that date local authorities and retailers are urged to plan for the responsible use of public space, such as removing unnecessary street furniture, designing systems to manage queuing and pedestrian thoroughfares, and implementing adequate measures to support physical distancing.

It remains government advice to wear a face covering in enclosed areas where physical distancing is difficult, such as shops, and from Monday, 22 June, it will become mandatory to wear a face covering on all public transport.

There was disappointment for those who were looking forward to a long-awaited drink in a beer garden this weekend. Drinkers learned they must wait a wee while longer.

A date for the re-opening of outdoor hospitality cannot be safely set at this stage. A further update will be provided on 2 July. Further advice from the Scientific Advisory Group has been commissioned based on emerging evidence suggesting communal spaces such as hospitality can present a higher risk of transmission.

Physical distancing guidance remains to stay two metres apart from people outside your household. Advice has also been commissioned on circumstances and settings, including schools and transport, where with additional mitigation it may be possible to balance the risk of a shorter distance.

Announcing the measures, the First Minister said: “Thank you for the personal sacrifices you’re making to tackle this pandemic. You’ve demonstrated remarkable dedication to our national wellbeing – that effort should never be underestimated, and my thanks can never be overstated.

“Because of your actions, we can now – gradually and carefully – change some restrictions.

“In deciding when to implement each measure in our staged approach, we have to think about how a decision in one area affects life in other areas. Our test and protect system is important to our gradual return to living more freely while suppressing the virus, and early indications suggest it’s already working well.

“I know for those shielding, the requirement to stay indoors at all times, without meeting up with anyone, has been incredibly tough. I hope that this change to our advice can provide a real improvement to your quality of life, without significantly increasing the risks you face.

“Our extended household groups will allow a grandparent who lives on their own to form a group with another household in their family, a single parent and their children to join with another household for support, and it will allow a non-cohabiting couple, where at least one of them lives alone, to be reunited. It will, I hope, help to ease some of the isolation which is one of the cruellest consequences of tackling this virus.

“I appreciate today’s announcement will be hard for the hospitality industry but I want to give an assurance that we will continue to support preparations for re-opening.

“Ultimately, this is a social bargain. The prize for going a bit more carefully now is a recovery that is much more sustainable and will, I hope, allow more normality to be restored to our everyday lives while suppressing the virus.”

Route map Phase 2 changes

From Friday 19 June:
• Those advised to shield will be able to take part in non-contact activities such as golf, angling, kayaking, and meet members of another household outdoors, up to a suggested maximum of eight in the group. Most importantly in both instances, strict physical distancing of two meters must be followed at all times, and they should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds when they return home
• A household not shielding can meet two other households, outside, up to a suggested maximum of eight people in the group
• Those visiting another household in a private garden will be permitted to use the household toilet, with increased hygiene measures urged. This does not include a household of someone who is shielding
• Single person households, including single parents households with children under the age of 18, will be able to form an extended household with another
• People should continue to stay in their local area as much as possible and should not travel more than around five miles for leisure or recreation

From Monday 22 June
• Construction sector to implement remaining stages of their own phased return
• Dental practices open to see patients with urgent care needs
• Resumption of professional sport, following public health advice
• Places of worship open for individual prayer and contemplation
• Limited College and University staff return for essential preparations for re-opening in Phase 3
• Mandatory face coverings on public transport (please see Transport Scotland for more detail)
• Accommodation can be provided for workers whose workplaces are open in the relevant phase and who need to stay away from home for work

From Monday 29 June
• Indoor non-office workplaces (including factories, warehouses and labs) can resume once relevant guidance is implemented. This does not include non-essential office, call-centre, culture, leisure and hospitality premises
• Restrictions of house moves relaxed
• Public gardens and zoos can open but should remain limited to local access only in this phase
• Outdoor sports courts reopen
• Playgrounds can reopen
• Registration offices can open for priority tasks
• Marriages and civil partnerships allowed with minimal attendees outside
• Street-access retail can re-open once guidance is implemented. Interiors of shopping malls/centres remain closed for non-essential shops until Phase 3
• Reintroduction of some chronic disease management
• Phased resumption of some screening services
• Phased safe resumption of essential optometry and ophthalmology services
• Outdoor markets can reopen once guidance is implemented

Scaling up throughout Phase 2
• Public transport will increase services. Capacity will remain constrained due to physical distancing requirements – and active travel remains the preferred mode of travel.
• Increase in health care provisions for pent up demand, urgent referrals and triage of routine services
• Planning with COSLA and partners to support and, if needed, review social care and care home services
• Priority referrals to secondary care
• Public services will continue to resume and scale up, including services such as visiting support to Housing First Tenants and the resumption of area-based energy efficiency schemes

Phase 2 route map

Phase 2 guidance

Further guidance will be published before the current shielding period is due to end on 31 July.

 

Letters: BHF launches free postal donation service for shops

Dear Editor,

I would like to let your readers know about a new service we have launched at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which will make it even easier to donate decluttered items and support our charity to help save lives right here in Scotland.

Many people will have spent their time at home having a much-needed clear out and have been kindly holding onto their preloved items ready to donate to us.

Our post to donate service is a quick, free and simple initiative where you can donate smaller items via post. As our 750 UK shops and stores begin to reopen throughout June and July, this service is the perfect solution if your local BHF Scotland shop is not yet open, or you’re simply not ready to head to the high street

From electronic items, clothes and vinyl records to video games, shoes and collectible objects, we hope to receive good quality items which will be sold either online via our eBay store or at a BHF shop.

You can post your donations for free by downloading a postage label online and dropping it off at your local Collect+ store. To download your label and find your nearest Collect+ store, visit www.bhf.org.uk/shop

Our charity shops rely on the support of the public, which is why we never take for granted anything that’s donated to us. Every pound raised in our shops here helps us to support the 720,000 people in Scotland living with heart and circulatory diseases, many of whom are at increased risk from Covid-19.

Yours faithfully

James Jopling

Head of British Heart Foundation Scotland

Scotland’s printers prove they are essential workers too

The importance of Scotland’s print industry in quickly and efficiently disseminating information has been highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic, during which it has been a vital cog in the machinery employed to fight the virus.

The sector, which before the outbreak employed between 4,000 and 6,000 people, has been instrumental in creating literature, posters and stickers for the NHS and other public sector organisations, as well as helping supply vital PPE equipment.

The industry has also proved invaluable to other enterprises as they struggle to come to terms with new realities, for instance the food and drink sector which suddenly needed to promote new online or home delivery services.

But key figures within the sector feel that the printing industry has been significantly underappreciated since the lockdown began, and that it is deserving of greater recognition as an essential service.

Garry Richmond, Director of Print Scotland, the sector’s campaigning trade body, said: “Not enough credit has been given to printers over the course of this outbreak, because the stark fact is that nothing would be functioning without print.

“There would have been no food in the shops because everything sold in the supermarkets needs packaging, branding and labelling provided by printers. The NHS has needed forms, documents and notices about safe working practices. The list could go on.

“Print helps companies promote their goods and services and keep their customers updated, especially in critical times like this when the importance of verified and trusted information is paramount.”

Mr Richmond said that the sector had been operating at around 25% to 35% of capacity, with some firms shutting down completely in response to Government advice, others running on skeleton staffs and yet others implementing safe practices in order to carry out essential work. He said the figures were similar across Europe.

Some print companies have directed their efforts towards helping the NHS. Trade finisher Taskforce (Finishing & Handling) Ltd produced 2,500 face visors using plastic it had in stock then another 2500 using donated plastic. These have been deployed in care homes.

Alex Porteous, Managing Director of Edinburgh-based Taskforce, said: “We have been delighted by the letters of thanks we have received from nursing homes, care homes and hospices.

“We are appealing now for more donations of plastic. We need sheets of 250-500 micron PVC and, with enough material, we could produce 10,000 visors a day.”

Digital Typeline Publications (DTP) Ltd, also of Edinburgh, has maintained a limited production schedule and has used its laser cutter to produce PPE face shields for the NHS, care homes and the police.

Alun Joseph, Managing Director of DTP, said: “As well as being able to help the essential services, we are also finding that customers are looking at new products or new ways of promoting their products. We are glad to have been able to support them.”

Mr Richmond said that although the print industry in Scotland had been badly affected over the outbreak, he was optimistic about its ability to bounce back.

He said: “It might take until the end of the year before we are back to running at a more normal 85% to 95% capacity but, as the easing progresses, more and more firms are readying themselves for a resumption of business.

“They are reconfiguring desk spaces, installing sanitiser stations, working on social distancing and introducing elements such as staggered breaks. There is also consideration of South Korean working models such as separate Monday-to-Wednesday and Thursday-to-Saturday teams, which would also ease the strain on public transport.

“It is probably inevitable that there will be some job losses, but the industry is determined to do everything possible to keep them to a minimum. There will have to be changes across the board to make it work.”

Mr Richmond pointed out that print companies which were not members of Print Scotland were missing out on a huge range of support, advice and services which could be invaluable as they sought to bring their businesses back up to full capacity.

He said: “This is a time when hard-working printers need all the help they can get and Print Scotland has the infrastructure in place to support them as they try to get back on their feet at this unprecedented time.”

For more information, please contact Garry Richmond, Director of Print Scotland, c/o Dentons UKMEA LLP, 1 George Square, Glasgow, G2 1AL M:07776493740, w: www.print-scotland.com, e: garry@print-scotland.com

Housing and homelessness: biggest challenges are still to come

The response from organisations working to prevent homeless during the pandemic in Edinburgh has been phenomenal (writes Councillor Kate Campbell, Edinburgh’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener).

The council’s homelessness service has been working with the Scottish Government, third sector, the police, the NHS, social care and volunteers to provide housing, food, health care, advice and support throughout the lockdown period.

Front line workers and volunteers have powered this work, putting their own health at risk to make sure that our most vulnerable residents are supported. We owe them a massive thank you.

And what is even more phenomenal is the level of engagement we’ve received in return. Turns out showing that you actually care builds trust. So people we have been describing as ‘hard to reach’ have actually been reached, and are engaging, and are being supported on the journey to permanent housing.

So we have learnt a lot – things, frankly, we already knew. But now we can evidence them. If you put in all the support upfront, then people will engage. You have to take services to people and they have to be tailored to meet their needs.

It has cost a lot in the short term, but we also need to learn the lessons about what we are saving in the longer term. Not just money on future services that hopefully won’t now be needed. But life chances, health outcomes, dignity, respect.

There’s a big debate here. And one we need to manage carefully: when our city shut down, suddenly we were able to end rough sleeping.

Now partly it’s to do with resources. It was a public health emergency and so funding became a secondary consideration. And we were allowed, because of public health, to spend money accommodating people with ‘no recourse to public funds’ – where their immigration status means a person isn’t entitled to any benefits, even if they have the right to remain in the UK. Usually the law prohibits us from doing this.

The other thing that happened is accommodation became available to us. Short term let properties were suddenly accessible for people experiencing homelessness. Hotels opened their doors to people who had been rough sleeping.

And we have to be honest. This is about supply and demand. There was no demand from tourists, so residents were the only market.

We will welcome visitors back to the city in the months and years to come. We need to make sure that the balance is right. That visitors are not staying in accommodation that could be used as homes. And we need to support hotels who employ more people, are tightly regulated and have to pay their business taxes.

So we will be pressing ahead with controls on short term lets as they pass into legislation, whether that’s licensing powers or through planning. It’s important for both the hospitality sector, and for our residents, that homes stay as homes after the pandemic.

But there will be more challenges to come. We know that there will come a point when we are no longer legally allowed to accommodate people with no recourse to public funds. The idea that we will have to say, because of the law, that people must leave their accommodation – and we will know that they have nowhere to go – is horrific.

We have limited powers (unfortunately we can’t change legislation at Westminster from the city chambers) but we can start to plan pathways, look at options and work with our partners. Kevin Stewart, Scotland’s Housing Minister, has written to the UK government. We will need to work with the Scottish Government to make the case for legislative change – and funding to go alongside it.

We know too that the economic situation is likely to worsen before it gets better. We know that we are likely to see job losses as the furlough scheme winds down and that alongside this there is a risk of increased homelessness.

We need to increase preventative work to help keep people in their homes. Advice and support are crucial so that people are able to access the benefits they are entitled to and receive help with housing costs. It’s also vital people know their housing rights.

We will also need to increase the supply of temporary accommodation, and make sure that accommodation is suitable for the people that need to stay in it.

Ultimately though, we want people to move into permanent, secure and safe homes – so our housebuilding programme, and the provision of social housing, will be even more critical than ever.

We’ve reconvened the homelessness task force to look at all of this. To have a space where we can learn best practice from each other – and there is so much innovation happening – and where we can share our concerns about what we see coming down the line. And work together to plan solutions.

In the months ahead we will need to keep re-evaluating, and planning, and adapting. This crisis is far from over. But the strength of the partnerships we have now across the city, and the enormous determination to work together to overcome any obstacles, give me confidence that we will collectively rise to the challenges that come.

This article first appeared in the Edinbugh Evening News

Alternative Solutions for Relationship Disputes

Family law experts in Edinburgh are suggesting five alternative solutions to couples wrestling with relationship disputes and unable to go to court to reach a resolution under current guidelines.

Gibson Kerr has seen an influx of requests from concerned parents and separating partners as to what options are available to resolve disputes while the courts remain closed for non-urgent cases.

Head of Family Law Fiona Rasmusen (above) said: “We try to encourage clients to adopt ways of resolving their family disputes and concerns which don’t involve a lengthy or expensive court process.

“With the courts currently closed for non-emergency disputes, now is an even better time to engage in an alternative method to try to resolve issues and concerns.

“The particular route you decide to take will depend on many things including the relationship that you have with your former partner and the nature of the dispute.”

The firm has revealed five common methods of resolving disputes that can take place outside of the courts. The more common disputes Gibson Kerr deal with include dividing assets, support, occupation of the family home, and childcare arrangements.

Fiona, an accredited expert in family law, said: “Former couples can sit down together and negotiate an agreement themselves, with advice from their lawyers to hand – this is what’s referred to as ‘Kitchen Table’ resolution.

“This can save a lot of legal fees, and can even make the relationship more amicable than other methods. Once you have terms decided, you should engage your solicitor to have the arrangements drafted into a formal agreement.”

For couples who can’t easily sit down together to discuss their separation, they might find it easier to work with a neutral mediator to come to an agreement. Gibson Kerr advises that couples have separate legal advice throughout the process, and ask their solicitors to create an agreement once they have reached a resolution.

Collaborative law is another avenue open to couples in conflict, where they work with specially trained solicitors to come together and reach a fair and reasonable settlement. In these situations, both parties agree they will not raise court proceedings, meaning it is less likely to result in a total breakdown of relationships.

Fiona said: “The most common way family law disputes are dealt with is negotiations through solicitors, where each party’s solicitor works to come to an agreement – outside of a court.

“Instead of going to courts, we also encourage clients to look at arbitration, where an independent and qualified arbitrator is appointed to hear a case and make a decision. Arbitration can be very useful if there are one or two important points you want to solve, for example deciding the date you separated, or where your child should go to school.

“As well as being completely confidential, you choose your arbitrator and you can decide the timescales and how the proceedings are managed – including where and when it takes place.”

“When the courts reopen fully, separated partners can look to raise an action. The advantages of going to court are that the process is strict in terms of fairness and timescales, and you will get a definite result at the end of it.

“However, as it’s expensive and lengthy, and can be stressful, we tend to advise clients to look at all of the other options available ahead of making the decision to go to court.”

Anyone interested in alternative methods of dispute resolution should contact one of the family law solicitors at Gibson Kerr on 0131 226 9161.

Youth Project unveils virtual Summer Programme

Pilton Youth & Children’s Project have unveiled their plans for a Summer Programme with a difference this year.

For the first time ever, PYCP activities won’t be happening at The Greenhouse in West Pilton – but will instead be taking place ONLINE ONLY because of ongoing coronavirus restrictions.

Like youth organisations all over the country PYCP have had to adapt to these unique circumstances but despite huge challenges they have managed to put together a programme that’s  packed with fun activities despite being drastically different to those of recent years.

Activities commence week commencing 29 June. Full programme below:

PYCP summer-programme