Food delivery companies such as Deliveroo should be forced to investigate accidents and address risks facing their Scottish couriers, say campaigners.
The call comes as the Workers’ Observatory – an Edinburgh project supporting fast food couriers – prepares to launch a manifesto in response to rider safety concerns such as traffic hazards.
Developed with the support of the STUC and Edinburgh University, the manifesto calls for riders to have better protections at work, and asks councils to step into gaps left by legislation by monitoring riders’ road accidents.
Riders – who are still considered by many companies to be self-employed despite a ruling by the UK Supreme Court that Uber drivers should be classified as workers – fall outside of UK health and safety laws.
The Workers’ Observatory collective, working with Edinburgh University sociologist Karen Gregory, claims that company policy of pay-per-delivery “incentivises risk taking”.
The group has gathered examples of traffic accidents and “near misses” experienced by Edinburgh food delivery couriers. Riders have told researchers they feel “pressurised” to take jobs in areas that feel unsafe because they worry refusing an order will affect the allocation of jobs.
Karen Gregory, who published a study on related safety issues last December, said: “The structure of paying riders “per drop” incentivises workers to deliver quickly, so that they are ready for the next delivery assignment.
“This can mean pushing it on city streets or racing through the city on a bicycle or scooter to minimise your delivery time.”
Cailean Gallagher, coordinator of the Workers’ Observatory, said: “Just like in other workplaces, when gig workers have accidents or injuries at work, these should be reported and monitored.
“Councils should be able to receive accident reports and then share the information with riders so that they can monitor the risks and hazards of their work and develop appropriate demands.”
Leo Di Caprio blockbuster tops list of people searching to watch the film online
Forrest Gump is second, followed by Best Picture winner in 2017 Moonlight
Globally the most popular film search is Parasite, with Titanic in second and Forrest Gump in third place
The UK’s heart still goes on for Titanic as new research reveals it is the most searched Oscar-winning film that people try to access online.
Ahead of this weekend’s Academy Awards, Search Intelligence investigated which Oscar winner for for Best Picture is the fans’ favourite.
The study found that Titanic is the most searched film in the UK after analysing search terms that people typically use to watch a film online.
Tom Hanks classic Forrest Gump, which won Best Picture in 1995, is Britain’s second most searched film, while 2017 winner Moonlight takes third place.
The UK’s most searched Oscar-winning films – top 10
UK rank
Film
Best Picture-winning year
1
Titanic
1998
2
Forrest Gump
1995
3
Moonlight
2017
4
The Godfather
1973
5
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
1976
6
Braveheart
1996
7
Parasite
2020
8
The Departed
2007
9
The Sound Of Music
1966
10
12 Years A Slave
2014
Globally, the most popular film search is 2020 Oscar-winner Parasite, followed by Titanic, with Forrest Gump in third place.
Overall, global searches showed more more interest in recent winners, with the last four Best Pictures featuring in the top ten – Parasite, Green Book, The Shape of Water and Moonlight.
The World’s most searched Oscar-winning films – top 10
UK rank
Film
Best Picture-winning year
1
Parasite
2020
2
Titanic
1998
3
Forrest Gump
1995
4
Green Book
2019
5
The Godfather
1973
6
The Shape Of Water
2018
7
Moonlight
2017
8
Gladiator
2001
9
Slumdog Millionaire
2009
10
Braveheart
1996
The study used data analytics platform Ahrefs to calculate the average annual search volume for 16 different terms film fans typically use when trying to watch movies online, such as “Titanic full move” or “watch Titanic online free”.
All 92 Best Picture winners were included, from 1928/29 victor Wings, up to last year’s winner Parasite, as well as the eight nominees for the category this year.
A recent survey found that almost 12% of people in Scotland had experienced at least one form of stalking and harassment in the previous 12 months. As we mark National Stalking Awareness Week, I want to reaffirm the commitment of Scotland’s prosecutors in tackling stalking and protecting victims.
Stalking takes many forms and can involve spying on a victim and monitoring their activities, often through their mobile phone or social media and online accounts, along with a host of other intimidating and intrusive behaviour such as being sent unwanted messages, phone calls, cards and gifts, or being followed or having someone loitering outside their home or work.
Many victims of stalking know their stalker in some way, often as their partner or ex-partner but many others do not. The offence does not only occur in intimate relationships; it can be work related, prompted by an ongoing dispute or as a result of a person’s public profile.For any victim, the experience of being stalked can be frightening and distressing and can have a huge emotional impact.
Stalking is a criminal offence. For a person to be prosecuted for stalking, they must have engaged in a course of conduct on at least two occasions, which caused the victim to suffer fear and alarm where the accused intended or ought to have known that their behaviour would cause fear and alarm.
In isolation, many incidents of stalking might appear innocuous – receiving an unexpected gift could be viewed as a nice surprise – but it is the repeated and unwanted pattern of behaviour which makes it criminal. It is always important to look at the whole picture and the impact on the victim. Regardless of what prompted the behaviour, it can leave victims feeling fearful, powerless and isolated.
While by definition stalking occurs over a period of time, victims do not have to wait years or even months to seek help and support.Scotland’s prosecutors understand the impact of stalking and will always consider the safety of victims when prosecuting stalking offences.
In 2019-2020, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service received more than 1,100 reports of stalking offences from the police. We take every case seriously and are always mindful of the risk of the behaviour escalating.
We know the fixation of a person engaging in stalking behaviour is unlikely to end on arrest and so we take steps to address this.Stalking has been a specific offence in Scotland since 2010, and every COPFS staff member received training following its introduction.
We have come a long way since then. Every victim in a stalking case is now referred to COPFS’s Victim Information and Advice Service (VIA) where specialist staff provide updates and support to victims to help them navigate the prosecution process, and we work closely with police and third sector organisations.
I would urge anyone who has been the victim of this type of offending to report it to the police and seek support.
This report examines the progress made by the Government in the implementation of the recommendations made by the Select Committee on Financial Exclusion in its 2017 report Tackling Financial Exclusion: A country that works for everyone?
In the Liaison Committee’s report Review of House of Lords Investigative and Scrutiny Committees: towards a new thematic committee structure published in July 2019, the Committee recommended that the Liaison Committee (on a case by case basis) could hold follow-up evidence sessions on a former special inquiry committee’s recommendations, followed by the publication of a report.
This is the third occasion on which this new procedure has been utilised.
The inquiry found that over half of the population are classed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as having characteristics of financial vulnerability.
This issue has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic with 14.2m people in the UK now estimated to have low financial resilience – characterised by over-indebtedness or with low levels of savings or low or erratic earnings.
Types of financial exclusion can include: not being able to open a bank account, not being able to access financial services due to bank branch and ATM closures, not being able to access affordable credit.
The report recommended that a clear Government strategy and increased FCA powers are brought forward in order to stop people experiencing financial exclusion.
The report calls on the Government to introduce a requirement for the FCA to establish a statutory Duty of Care that banks and other financial services providers must operate toward their customers. This should replace the current insufficient requirement to ‘treat customers fairly’.
Other recommendations in the Committee’s report, Tackling Financial Exclusion: A country that works for everyone? follow-up report are:
The proposed legislation to protect access to cash should be brought forward without delay.
The Government should publish the timescale and details on the no-interest loan pilot.
The powers of the FCA to mitigate the trends in bank branch and free ATM closures should be reviewed and enhanced.
The Government should continue to work with the Post Office and UK Finance to roll out a public information campaign about the banking services that the Post Office offers.
Baroness Tyler of Enfield, who was Chair of the Select Committee on Financial Exclusion, said: “It’s time for the financial services industry to recognise they have a fundamental duty to ensure that banks act in their customers’ best interests and that products and services are fair by design.
“That duty of care should now be established in law and overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority to ensure greater consumer protection and prevent banks and others from profiting from their customer’s vulnerability.
“The COVID crisis has laid bare the extent of financial exclusion across the UK. We continue have more than a million adults in the UK without access to a bank account and more than half the country now have characteristics of financial vulnerability.
“It is now more important than ever that Government come forward with a comprehensive financial inclusion strategy that will ensure access to cash, protect the public and end the scandal of the poorest being overcharged for financial and other services. The Government should publish that strategy within 12 months and allow Parliament to assess it and hold them to account for its delivery.”
Gareth Shaw, Which? Head of Money, said: “Millions of people rely on cash as they are not ready or able to take advantage of digital payments. However, rapid closures to the cash machine and bank branch networks in recent years mean that many of these consumers risk being abandoned by their banks.
“Our research has shown that people in some deprived areas have seen significant cuts to free ATMs in recent years, while a domino effect of bank branch closures has taken place without enough regard to whether suitable alternatives are in place.
“The government must urgently set out its vision for the future of cash, including its promised legislation to protect access to it. This should include putting the FCA in charge of the cash system so that it can take the steps that are needed to ensure cash remains a viable payment option for as long as it is needed.”
Lawn renovation should be done in Spring or late Summer to early Autumn depending upon the weather conditions. Here are some handy tips and tricks to help you revive your lawn!
1) Remove any debris from the surface of the lawn and when it is dry to mow it closely
2) Rake the lawn using a spring tine rake or a leaf rake to remove and breakup layers of dead matted grass or thatch. This process is known as scarifying and can be made easier with a powered scarifying machine if the thatch is thick or it is a large lawn.
Scarifying in Autumn has the additional benefit of stimulating the side shoots and runners of the grass which tend to develop at this time of year
3) Spike ground with a hollow tine fork, a normal fork can be used, up to a depth of 15cm(6in) to de compact the soil.
4) Top dress the lawn with a good quality topsoil, making sure the dressing fills the holes created when aerating. This allows water, air and nutrients to penetrate deeper into the soil and will result in deeper rooting, dense grass growth.
Minor hollows can be levelled out using this method too, apply the topsoil so the grass tips are just visible, allow the grass to grow back through and repeat the process until the hollow is filled in
5) It is a good idea to apply some lawn fertiliser when reviving your lawn, Johnsons Lawn Thickener and Johnsons Quick Fix already have fertiliser either coated on the seed or mixed with the seed making them ideal for this task.
If you are using a different mix you can apply fertiliser the same day as sowing grass seed or up to a few days later, poultry manure is ideal. Scatter fertiliser evenly over the lawn surface using the recommended rate on the pack and rake in to ensure even distribution, make sure you follow the manufacturers instructions. Ideally the fertiliser can be watered in at the same time as watering the lawn seed.
6) Using your chosen mix of lawn seed you should aim to apply it at the oversowing rate detailed on the pack, this is usually 25g per sq. metre (¾ oz per sq. yard) to 35g per sq. metre (1 ¼ oz per sq. yard). If you calculate the size of your lawn in square metres and then multiply this by the sowing rate you will have a good estimate of the quantity of seed required.
7) You can apply the seed directly from the pack or you can mix the seed in a bucket with some topsoil to make it easier to sow. It’s a good idea to have a trial run by measuring out, for example, 4 sq. metres, weigh out the correct amount of seed for the area, this would be 100g at a rate of 25g sq. metre, and then scatter evenly up and down, left to right.
You can use this method over the entire area. By doing this you will use the correct amount of seed and achieve a more even distribution.
8) After you have sown the lawn seed gently rake the area and then lightly roll or tread in to firm the seed in. This is a very important as it gives the seed good contact with the soil and will really help it to germinate and establish. Keep off the newly overseeded area if possible to allow tender young shoots to gain strength and help with establishment.
9) While it is good practice for the area to be moist when you sow do not water it until you have firmed the seed in otherwise it will stick to your roller and shoes! If dry weather follows overseeding, water copiously with a fine spray, preferably in the evening, keeping the seedbed constantly moist.
10)When grass is 5-8cms (2-3in) high cut for the first time. Trim lightly and very gradually lower blades to an ideal cutting height of between 50mm (2in) to 25mm (1in) for mixtures containing ryegrass and 25mm (1in) to 13mm (½in) for non ryegrass mixtures.
Mow regularly but try not to remove more than a third of the growth at any one time. What may happen is that the existing grass needs a cut before the new grass. To do this raise the cut to a height that just cuts the old grass and leaves the new intact, you can reduce the height of the cut over the subsequent weeks
To find out more about Johnsons Lawn Seed products please visit:
Politicians urged to support investment to create over 13,000 green jobs
Local campaigners have urged all Edinburgh and Lothians candidates in the upcoming Scottish Parliament election to support much needed investment in key sectors to create green jobs as part of our economic recovery all while cutting our climate emissions.
New research shows that over 13,000 jobs could be created in Edinburgh across green infrastructure and care work in just two years.
The call comes after new research from Green New Deal UK revealed at least 130,000 green jobs can be created across Scotland. Campaigners highlight how this will help us deal with the current job insecurity many citizens face, but only if the government invests in key areas including care work and renewable energy.
The analysis maps out the huge jobs potential in sectors like solar energy, offshore wind, social care and energy efficiency – all of which are essential to Scotland meeting its national and international climate targets.
The data, compiled by Green New Deal UK, shows:
· 130,000 jobs could be created across Scotland in the next two years.
· 60,000 jobs could be created in care work, looking after people in our communities.
· 62,000 jobs could be created in building the green infrastructure needed to reduce climate emissions, including in renewable energy, construction and transport.
Laurie Dewar, a Green New Deal organiser in Edinburgh, said: “Our research shows that you can reduce unemployment and create jobs whilst tackling climate change at the same time. Politicians have the power capitalise on this opportunity and help their constituents.
“As a young person I know that now is the time in which my future is decided, and I want a world in which my decisions will not be dictated by ecological chaos.
“Considering the irrevocable damage climate change will do to the places we live and love, the global health and humanitarian crises it will spark, and the working solutions that we know can be adopted, we must come to a consensus to act.
“I see real power in our collective desire to live in a safer world and a key example is the public’s display of solidarity and connection throughout the pandemic. Walking down the streets now it is still easy to find rainbows lining the windows one year on: a symbol of our desire to create brightness in the dark. We can do that here as well. Out of the ashes of these twin issues can we form a better society.”
Ryan Morrison, Just Transition Campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, commented: “The next Scottish Parliament must put people and climate action at the heart of decisions they make about the economy.
“Thousands of green jobs can be created by making bus travel free for everyone, scaling up renewable energy whilst ensuring that people in Scotland are reaping the benefits, and planning for a fair transition away from fossil fuels.
“We also need to broaden our understanding of what makes a job green. A truly green economy will see a myriad of retrofitters, carers, bike couriers and teachers, up and down the country, all working towards transforming our economy.
“There are opportunities in every part of Scotland that can support our recovery from the pandemic while tackling our emissions in tandem. It is imperative that new MSPs are focused on turning the potential opportunity shown in this research into quality jobs on the ground.”
Campaigners highlight how almost one in five children in Edinburgh live in poverty – most to adults in paid employment – showing the clear need more good jobs. In a world facing a climate crisis any good job must be green and sustainable, but they can also help revitalise our capital and create a society to be proud of.
ThePCS trade union has condemned the decision to fully reopen jobcentres, reopen jobcentres, warning that it will increase the likelihood of avoidable Covid-19 infections.
Pre-lockdown opening hours for jobcentres will resume allowing a huge increase in face-to-face appointments for people to claim Universal Credit and other benefits.
However, the union has said that the move unnecessarily risks further outbreaks of Covid 19 and pointed out that DWP staff were delivering services to claimants successfully, working from home.
PCS are clear that the vast bulk of the interviews now expected to be done face to face can still be carried out remotely, and fear the real driver for targeting 18-24 year old UC claimants and customers in receipt of JSA back in to jobcentres, is less about providing much needed support to customers and more about reinstating the previous labour market and conditionality regime which saw thousands sanctioned, having their benefits removed.
The government’s instruction for civil servants to work from home if they can, is also still in place.
PCS said DWP management had ignored their concerns over potential Covid outbreaks, and the union added that its members would now consider all options, including taking strike action.
General Secretary Mark Serwotka said: “This reckless move by Ministers is wholly unnecessary and risks putting both claimants and job centre staff in harm’s way.
“DWP staff have been doing an incredible job delivering key services such as Universal Credit and helping those most in need, access the assistance they require, throughout the pandemic.
“It is counterproductive and arrogant for ministers to risk staff and the wider public’s health by resuming normal jobcentre opening hours before the vaccine is fully rolled out and when these services are being successfully delivered from home.
“The anger of our members is palpable and we are not ruling out strike action, until a just settlement is found.”
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, has announced a free, exclusive virtual event with Ooni Pizza Ovens, to share top tips on making great pizza with keen cooks across Edinburgh.
The latest in Dobbies’ series of virtual expert events this Spring, ‘Making Great Pizza at Home with Ooni Pizza Ovens’ will take place on 6 May at 6pm, with Edinburgh viewers invited to log in.
The virtual event, hosted by Ooni’s founder and CEO Kristian Tapaninaho, will share expert tips and tricks to teach Dobbies customers everything they need to know about whipping up an authentic wood-fired pizza, from the comfort of their own home.
Covering everything from rolling and stretching your pizza dough to choosing the perfect toppings, Kristian will also share the fascinating history of Ooni Pizza Ovens, along with a live pizza making demonstration – just in time for alfresco dining this summer.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to submit any questions they have, with Kristian answering as many as he can throughout the session.
Kristian Tapaninaho, founder and CEO of Ooni Pizza Ovens, said: “I am so excited to host this virtual event with Dobbies, to showcase Ooni’s game-changing products. I’ll be sharing my top tips like how to stretch dough like a pro and how to choose the best ingredients.
“I’ll be answering any questions you have on how to level-up your outdoor cooking game. There’s nothing better than making truly great pizza at home.”
The event is the latest in a series of free virtual events hosted by Dobbies this Spring. Following a successful programme of Facebook Live sessions in 2020, they provide a virtual alternative to regular events usually hosted instore.
Further events have already been announced for the coming weeks, including virtual gardening hosted by Dobbies’ Horticulture Director, Marcus Eyles. Advance booking is essential for the virtual events, which are hosted on Microsoft Teams, making it quick and simple for viewers to log on and join in the event from the comfort of their homes.
The sessions are free of charge and exclusively available to Dobbies Club members. For those who aren’t yet members of Dobbies Club, membership is free and signing up is quick and simple, giving access to a variety of benefits, special offers and exclusive events. To sign up visit dobbies.com
Tickets are now available for ‘Making Great Pizza at Home with Ooni Pizza Ovens’, and are free of charge.
To secure your place at the event on 6 May at 6pm, visit:
The UK Government has published a series of photographs taken by photojournalists working with the NHS, showcasing the people behind the ‘UK-wide vaccination programme’ – but none of them are from Scotland.
Working with the NHS, photojournalists have captured the monumental collective effort of the largest vaccination programme in British history in a series of poignant, never-before-seen photographs
Images show intimate moments across the UK, including in Salisbury Cathedral, the Royal Welsh Showground in mid-Wales and on Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland
The new photo montage comes as over 45.5 million jabs in total have been administered across the UK in over 2,800 vaccination sites
From care homes to cathedrals and museums to stadiums, photojournalists Jude Palmer, Glenn Edward and Liam McBurney toured the UK over the past few months capturing intimate moments during the monumental national effort to vaccinate the British population and end the (coronavirus) COVID-19 pandemic.
A series of unseen photographs capturing the size and scale of the UK-wide vaccination programme have been published by the UK government ahead of a new campaign urging under-50s to get the jab.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “These incredible photographs show the heroic efforts of thousands of vaccinators and volunteers in every corner of the UK who have given so much to protect the most vulnerable in our society against this cruel virus.
“While there is much to celebrate with over 45 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered so far, the battle is not yet over. I urge everyone to do their bit – when you get the call, get the jab.”
Photographs include smiling portraits of vaccinators and volunteers, a bird’s eye view of socially distanced patients awaiting their jabs in Salisbury Cathedral, and an elderly couple holding hands at a vaccination site in Ulverston, Cumbria.
Jude Palmer, photojournalist, said: “While the pandemic has been an incredibly difficult time in our history, it had to be documented. It’s been an honour to witness the incredible roll out of the life-saving vaccine first-hand and document this in a meaningful, compassionate way.
“The photography project tells many genuine stories of people involved in the vaccine programme and those that have come forward to have their vaccine already – from their smiles, laughs, nerves, and sighs of relief as we get one step closer to a more normal way of life.”
The UK Government has already hit its target of offering everybody in cohorts 1 to 9 – those aged 50 and over, the clinically vulnerable and health and social care workers – and is on track to offer a jab to all adults in the UK by the end of July.
Over 33.5 million people have now received a first dose of a vaccine – over 63.5% of the UK adult population – with 12 million receiving their second dose. This means over 22.8% of the UK adult population have now received both doses of a vaccine – giving them the strongest possible protection from this virus, with over 45.5 million vaccines administered overall.
Throughout February and March, Palmer, Edward and McBurney visited the Science Museum in London, Salisbury Cathedral, the Royal Welsh Showground in mid-Wales (above) and Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland, as well as hospitals, mobile vaccination units, care homes and pop-up vaccination sites.
These never-before-seen images, which illustrate the monumental and collective effort of NHS teams, volunteers and members of the public, have been compiled into a video montage to mark the success of the vaccine programme to date.
They provide an opportunity for people to look back on the programme, reflecting on the heroic efforts to protect those most vulnerable to COVID-19 and look ahead to the second phase of the vaccination programme, which will see all adults offered a first dose by the end of July.
A major new campaign marking the second phase of the national vaccination rollout will be launched today to encourage people aged 50 and under to get their jab when their turn comes.
Alice Tooley, 25, a Volunteer Service Co-Ordinator at refugee charity RETAS in Leeds, who is featured in the photography (above) said: “I was invited to get the vaccine because of my frontline work with vulnerable adults.
“Getting the vaccine was important to me as it meant I could continue my work with asylum seekers and refugees feeling confidence that I wasn’t putting them or myself at risk of the virus.
“As younger people my age get called for theirs, I hope they jump at it the way I did so, as a collective, we all play our part in getting back to a more normal way of life.”
Dr Gavin Chestnutt, 42, GP Partner at Ballycastle Medical Practice and part-time farmer, is seen vaccinating a 92 year-old man in his front garden overlooking the Rathlin Island coastline, Northern Ireland (above).
He said: “It’s been a real honour to play such a central part in the vaccine roll out programme and witness people’s physical relief as they get their first and second jabs. To save elderly people travelling to the clinic through snow and frosty conditions, I’ve been travelling round on boats and by car to reach the most remote corners of Northern Ireland.”
“Most overwhelming has been to see how grateful everyone has been for getting their vaccine and finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.”
Just to compensate for the lack of Scottish content, here are a just a few from Greater Glasgow and Clyde! – Ed.
As Edinburgh prepares for the gradual lifting of lockdown, Council Leaders are looking forward to a safe, sustainable reopening of the economy, and many of the city’s health and leisure venues.
From tomorrow (Monday 26 April), hospitality, non-essential retail and gyms, including Edinburgh Leisure centres, can reopen, with restrictions in place. Leaders have wished businesses and operators well as they get ready to open their doors.
Their comments follow the launch of Forever Edinburgh – The Story Never Ends, a joint campaign between the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (ETAG) and VisitScotland. This encourages people to rediscover the city, its stories and places while supporting local businesses, promoting attractions, shops, bars and restaurants as lockdown eases.
Amongst other restrictions being eased, libraries and galleries will be able to resume services, and in Edinburgh, plans are being drawn up for the phased reopening of libraries and cultural venues over the coming weeks.
Councillor Adam McVey and Councillor Cammy Day also encouraged people to continue following the rules in place, and to take care of their local parks and greenspaces this weekend.
“Council Leader Adam McVey said: “The sun is shining, there’s a good weather forecast for the weekend and we have much to be hopeful about. As we approach 26 April, when COVID restrictions on many businesses will be eased for the first time since Boxing Day, cafes, restaurants, shops and gyms across the city will be making their final preparations.
“We’re doing everything we can to support them, whether that’s our licensing officers working to provide advice and guidance or with partners through our City’s Forever Edinburgh campaign, which is inspiring people to enjoy all the Capital has to offer.
“We’re also gearing up to welcome people back to our libraries and cultural venues in the coming weeks, places I know many people have sorely missed, and we’ll soon be publishing plans to open their doors again, starting with the Central Library (above).
“Edinburgh Leisure will be reopening their leisure centres and swimming pools from Monday too, and I know a huge number of people are looking forward to getting back to their local facilities.
“We’re all excited about a sense of normality being returned, as well as the chance to socialise with friends and family in the sun. Let’s enjoy the weekend responsibly, continuing to stick to the rules and taking care of our outdoor spaces, keeping COVID cases low, preserving our beautiful green spaces and helping Edinburgh to recover safely.”
Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “Together we’ve endured an extremely difficult year, responding to changing restrictions and strict lockdowns which have been immensely challenging to our mental health and, for many, their financial situation.
“I want to take this opportunity to recognise the sacrifices and adjustments made by the many businesses across Edinburgh during this time, and to wish them well as they get ready to reopen on Monday.
“Thanks also to our residents, who have worked so hard to observe the guidance in place, helping to limit the spread of this virus – their efforts have been a crucial factor in our ability to gradually lift restrictions.
“We know what an impact the changes we’ve experienced have had on people’s quality of life, so I hope that the forthcoming reopening of libraries, cultural venues and, from next week, Edinburgh Leisure venues and gyms around the city, will provide a much-needed boost.
