Scotland Enters Phase 3 of Lockdown
We have now entered Phase 3 of lockdown which means many restrictions are starting to ease. Face coverings are also now mandatory from the 10th of July. Full information is available on the Scottish Government website with their summary infographic below.
Locally this means the following:
- Cafes and restaurants have started to open from 15th July – check social media for specific updates.
- Places of workshop can start to re-open.
- Museums can reopen although at present there is no date for Linlithgow Museum opening.
- Libraries can now reopen. There is now an appointment based click/phone and collect system in place at Linlithgow Library and you can book online. The service will operate appointments over two sessions per day from 10:00am – 12.30pm and 1:00pm – 4.30pm from Monday to Friday. More information is available on the West Lothian Council website.
Online Community Cake
We are testing out our popular Community Cake sessions online! The first session will be an informal ‘getting to know you’, aimed at finding out how we can support you.
Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge Community Council Update
A concern amongst many parents has been what will happen in August when children are due to return to school. What will they experience? Councillor Tom Conn gave the Community Council an update during the last meeting.
During the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney’s statement on the afternoon of 23 June he stated that if the current progress in abating Covid 19 continued then full-time education would resume on 11 August (in-service day for staff only) with no social distancing.
In addition to the £30 million already committed to provide laptops for disadvantaged children and young people and the £25 million of funding to enable a rollout of digital devices to pupils there would be a further £100 million over two years to support the return to school and help children recover lost ground.
In addition, the DFM wants every probationary teacher who has reached the standard for full registration to be employed in a teaching post for the next school year, this is subject to funding being put in place.
West Lothian Council Education Executive had met that same morning to discuss plans for the restarting of school after the summer. The main challenges were social distancing in school and a logistical solution to school transport necessary to facilitate social distancing. Officers had developed a local phasing delivery plan to support the implementation of the phased reopening of schools based upon 50% attendance, each pupil being allocated two days of in-school learning. A system of blended learning (in school teaching and home-based study) was to commence on Wednesday, 12 August. Attendance would be based on either a Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday rolling programme allowing for example tasks set by the teacher on a Monday to be undertaken at home on a Tuesday to be assessed and further teaching on a Wednesday with tasks to be completed before the following Monday. With the progress against Covid-19 now gaining pace, these are now contingency plans should they be needed.
The issue of school transport remains to be clarified, will this be subject to the same social distancing as school buildings or will the 2 metre guidelines still be in place, which would cause a logistically problems of getting pupils to school. As these guidelines are relaxed further with each phase then more settled plans can be made.
Business Spotlight – Sweet Little Cheesecake Cake
The Sweet Little Cheesecake Café opened up on the High Street last year, bringing with it a delicious range of cheesecake options. On the menu, you can find white chocolate & strawberry, chocolate orange and some of your favourite chocolate bars, including Mars, Mint Aero, Caramac and Freddos!
During lockdown, owner Carol has been busy delivering cheesecakes around West Lothian and more recently opening at the weekend for takeaway. It has effectively meant her returning to what she did in Armadale prior to realising her long-held dream of opening a cafe in Linlithgow. Carol said “My cheesecake production facility was a huge success, largely through word-of-mouth. Aside from locals, we had a range of corporate clients. It’s almost gone full circle for me, making up bespoke orders instead of welcoming customers to my cafe. I’m supplying quite a lot of them, as well as delivering to new customers.”
Carol has been providing afternoon tea for two at £18 with dainty sandwiches, cream scones and meringues with fresh fruit, and canape-sized cheesecakes. This month during National Picnic month she is also creating Sweet Little Picnic boxes for two. These contain strawberries, mini cheesecakes, scones, traybakes, sandwiches and mini steak pies! These are also £18 plus delivery. You can arrange deliveries through Facebook, Instagram, calling 07475 793239 or via Scoffable at the weekends.
As restrictions are now easing Carol is delighted to have opened up the café once again and welcome back visitors with new safety measures in place. Opening hours will be 10am – 4pm, 7 days a week and serving the full menu again. Booking to sit-in is advised and can be made via Facebook, by phone or email with maximum bookings of 6 people. The option of takeaway service and doorstep delivery is also still available!
You can read more about The Sweet Little Cheesecake Cafe in this recent edition of The Black Bitch Magazine on page 8. Follow on Facebook to keep updated with the latest news!
Community Spotlight – Linlithgow Amateur Musical Productions (LAMP)
This weeks community spotlight is on LAMP. Find out all about them with this great infographic!
You can follow LAMP on Facebook or visit the website to find out more.
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.