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Scottish Government Phase 3 Update – 10th September
The First Minister updated today that given the increase in coronavirus cases at home and abroad, the Scottish Government are taking a very cautious approach to the further easing of restrictions. There will be a delay to some further changes until it is safe to make them. There are also some changes required which will reduce opportunities for the virus to spread.
Therefore, from Monday 14 September the following measures will be in place:
- Revised social gathering rules: 6 people from up to 2 households can meet socially. (Under 12s from the 2 households are not counted within this limit). This applies in all locations – for example at home, in hospitality or outdoors in a park or garden. Limited exemptions apply.
- Attendance limit for weddings, funerals and civil partnerships remains at 20. Receptions and wakes are permitted in regulated settings (e.g. hospitality venues) also with a limit of 20 people. (Social gathering rules apply elsewhere.)
- Face coverings are mandatory in indoor hospitality venues for staff and customers when not eating and drinking (e.g. when entering a venue). Limited exemptions apply.
Protect Scotland: Covid-19 Tracing App
The Protect Scotland app became available for download today. It lets people know if they have been in close contact with someone who later tests positive for Covid-19.
The Scottish government has said the software will support the Test and Protect system and is “another tool in the fight against Covid-19”. The confidential contact tracing app will anonymously notify app users you’ve been in close contact with, should you test positive.
Up until now, contact tracing has been done manually using a method followed for years to help control the spread of infectious diseases.
You can find out more about the app on the Protect Scotland website and you can download for free onto a smart phone from Apple’s App Store or Google Play.
Fabric Masks Still Available
We still have plenty of fabric masks available, very kindly donated by Marjorie Goldie! If you would like a mask please email [email protected].
Fabric face coverings can be easily washed and used again, which saves money and is better for the environment.
Community Cake Feedback
We held our fundraising Community Cake last week via zoom. It was well attended and thank you to all those who came along. Thanks also to Ian Glassey and Alice Watson-Glassey who joined us and shared their expertise.
We will be sharing details of some of the potential funds which can be applied for with our Community Groups mailing list.
If you are involved with a local community group, you can sign up to our mailing list by emailing [email protected]. We share relevant and useful information periodically with groups and details of any events we are running.
Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge Community Council Update
It’s beginning to look a lot like….
While this year has seen many traditional gatherings be cancelled outright, the Community Council has had discussions with One Linlithgow BID, the Rotary and St Michael’s Parish Church on how to organise community Remembrance Sunday and Christmas events. It might seem still a long time away, however, be reassured that plans are afoot.
For those wishing to pay respects on Remembrance Sunday there are continuing consultations on the possibility of wreath-laying only, or perhaps some kind of virtual event. There might be a call for your photographs and videos of previous years soon.
For Christmas, with indoor get-togethers and parades not feasible, there will be an ongoing shop window display initiative. The lighting of the Rotary Tree of Light will also take place starting on Saturday 28th November (the day before the first Sunday in Advent).
More information will be released closer to the time as plans are finalised.
Get in touch with your Community Council via the website or by messaging the Facebook page.
Business Spotlight – Andy’s Bike Clinic
As this month is Cycle September, we are focusing on some of the town’s cycling businesses in our Business Spotlight feature.
First up is Andy’s Bike Clinic. Andy offers you a professional and personal service for all your bicycle repair and maintenance needs. He serves Linlithgow and the surrounding area and deals with all types of bikes from children’s through to commuter, road and mountain bikes.
He also offers a free pick-up and drop-off service within a ten mile radius of Linlithgow. The fully equipped Mobile Bike Mechanic’s workshop will come to your door at a time that suits you.
Andy is passionate about bikes and the enjoyment that can be had from them. In his 20 years in IT, predominantly within financial institutions, Andy has seen some pretty shocking customer service, and he’s keen not to fall in to the trap of taking his customers for granted. To that end, Andy strives to achieve an outstanding customer experience each and every time he works on a bike. You can always be sure of friendly, honest, open and accurate advice, with a price level to match.
Andy’s Bike Clinic offers four different standard services, as well as a comprehensive list of other more specialist tasks. Every effort will be made to address the issue at your home or workplace, otherwise, your bike will be securely transported to Andy’s well-equipped workshop and returned in the same manner.
When Covid-19 hit, I closed my doors for four weeks to take stock and gather advice about trading. Starting off by servicing and maintaining key worker’s bikes in and around Linlithgow showed I could still provide a safe, reliable and socially distanced service to my customers. With the explosion in cycling that lockdown has caused, my services are very much in demand at present!
You can also follow Andy on Facebook and find out more on his website!
Community Spotlight – Linlithgow Arts Guild
This week’s community spotlight is on Linlithgow Arts Guild.
At this time of the year we would normally have been launching our programme for the new season, but you will not be surprised to hear that we’re not yet in a position to do this.
However, we assure you that we will be ready with a programme of live music as soon as this becomes feasible. In the mean-time we invite you to subscribe to our £10 membership, without tickets, to show your support, and to keep in touch with us. This will give you priority booking for any events that we are able to confirm in the remainder of the season, including a garden party which we hope to arrange in the early summer of 2021.
We have provisional arrangements with Emma Abate & Julian Perkins for a concert in late January, and also with Chloë Hanslip & Danny Driver for a concert in February.
Emma Abate & Julian Perkins (4 hands, 1 piano)
30th January 2021
Chloë Hanslip & Danny Driver (violin and piano)
20th February 2021
Ticket prices, venues, and possible limitations on audience numbers will be announced if and when these events are confirmed. Please keep an eye on our website for further information as it becomes available.
We have been in touch with several potential future performers, and we continue to receive enquiries from numerous performers and their agents. This is a difficult time for professional musicians, and the whole of the Arts community. In addition to all of the major professional organisations there are around 70 organisations in Scotland similar to our Arts Guild, all in much the same situation. However, this may also present an opportunity to make provisional bookings for artists who we would really like to hear. Please let us know if there are people or groups of any genre that you would like to suggest!
Hopefully you will have seen some of the amazing performances on-line given by musicians in “Lockdown”. We’ve been posting some of these on our Facebook page, and will continue to do so from time to time. You may have seen items from the Gesualdo Six, Catherine Bryan, Jess Gillam, Steven Osborne, Jean Johnson, and several other musicians who have performed for us in recent times. We are privileged to have been able to hear performers of this calibre in live concerts locally!
You can find out all the latest from the Arts Guild on our website or on Facebook and you can contact us at [email protected].
Latest Covid-19 Guidance
Scotland moved to Phase 3 of the route map for coming out of lockdown on the 10 July 2020. See some key dates for future changes.
The current advice from the Scottish Government to stay safe, protect others, save lives is:
- wear a face covering
- avoid crowded places
- clean hands and surfaces regularly
- stay 2m away from other people
- self-isolate and book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms
See what you can and cannot do to help suppress the virus.
Many thanks to everyone who has been so vigilant in following these procedures already. This will help to keep our community safe.