Last Chance to Invest in Linlith-Go-Solar!

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If you’ve been out walking for your daily exercise in Linlithgow, you may have seen the solar panels peeking through on the roofs of Linlithgow Golf Club, Linlithgow Sports Club and Linlithgow Rugby Club.

Despite the impact of the coronavirus, Linlith-Go-Solar (a project from Linlithgow Community Development Trust) and AES Solar Ltd managed to complete installation all the solar panels before the end of March, the UK Government’s Feed-in-Tariff incentive deadline. This means there have been 3 systems installed on 4 different roofs just in time.

However, it isn’t just the clubs that will benefit from renewables, local people can also get involved by investing in the Linlith-Go-Solar project in our community bond offer. The bond will be paid back with interest and you will be helping the local community do our bit for the environment and local sustainable enterprise.

Linlithgow Community Development Trust has successfully secured grants for most of the costs of the project, and thanks to the generosity of people who have invested to date, we’ve now reached over £22k of the required £25K match funding for the project.

With less than £3K to go, we really need people to keep investing. Due to the coronavirus lockdown and the bank holiday, the bond will remain open to applications till the end of April.

Ronnie Anderson shares why he invested in Linlith-Go-Solar. “I bought bonds for each of my grandsons. The process was easy and they each now have a certificate in their name. I was very impressed by the professionalism of SCF who manage the bonds.”

Visit https://scotcomfinance.scot/community-bonds-linlith-go-solarphs2 to find out more and to purchase a community bond from just £50.

Follow the Linlith-Go-Solar Facebook page to stay up to date with all the news!

“Deliver & Collect” West Lothian

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West Lothian Council

Working Guide for “Deliver and Collect”

West Lothian Council has launched a new guide to ensure local residents have access to food, medicine and other support.
To help local residents, the council compiled a useful list to signpost them to organisations that offer delivery or collections in West Lothian. This includes a wide range of organisations including community groups, local shops and national retailers.
There are separate searchable section for both local shops offering home delivery and community information and West Lothian-wide information, which was be broken down by type of service and local areas. To view the list, please visit deliverandcollectLocal residents are then able to contact the organisation direct to arrange for delivery or collection, either online or by phone.
The list has been compiled with details from organisations and businesses that the council have been in contact with, and information that is already in the public domain. Every effort has been made to ensure the list is as a comprehensive as possible, as resources allow.Any business who wish to have their details added to, or amended on the list, can do so via the link at Add-your-business-or-group-to-our-listings

 

Recycling Centres – Update

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West Lothian Council

 

Recycling Centres update

Following recent media coverage, West Lothian Council has confirmed that Recycling Centres in West Lothian remain closed.

They remain closed due to restrictions on non-essential travel and social distancing measures, which have been in place across the country throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The council will be in a position to re-open Recycling Centres when the Scottish Government guidance changes, with some restrictions in place to maintain the health and safety of customers and staff.

In the meantime, residents should continue to follow the national guidance and stay at home.

Further information regarding the opening of recycling centres will be made available in the near future.

 

 

Grass Cutting – Partial Resumption

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West Lothian Council

Grass cutting to resume in priority areas only
Essential grass cutting tasks are being reinstated on a prioritised basis by West Lothian Council following the COVID-19 outbreak.

The work is being undertaken to protect key open space assets, with a number of other councils in Scotland carrying out similar work.

Ground Maintenance was not considered as a key service during the initial lockdown process and many staff members were either redeployed to other essential service areas or are self-isolating.  However the council has inspected a number of its open spaces and believes it is important that some grass cutting and other essential maintenance tasks are reinstated on a phased basis as soon as possible.

The main reason to reinstate grass cutting in some areas is to ensure minimal maintenance is carried out to prevent irretrievable asset deterioration.

Maintenance will resume on council owned golf courses and bowling greens, school grounds, football pitches and large parks, roadside verges and other large grass areas across West Lothian.

All cutting will be carried out in line with guidance on social distancing to protect staff and members of the public.
The council has stressed that this is not a complete return to normal standards.

The council will put measures in place to ensure that the service is delivered in line with guidance on social distancing for staff and members of the public.

Weed management operations remain suspended, but will reviewed on a weekly basis, with a limited service an option where essential.

Staff recruited for the Garden Maintenance Scheme, which was due to start on 6 April, have been re-deployed in Waste Services and the scheme remains suspended.

PPE for Unpaid Carers

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Provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Unpaid Carers and Personal Assistants (PAs) in West Lothian
West Lothian Health & Social Care Partnership is working with Carers of West Lothian to make PPE available to Unpaid carers or  Personal Assistants providing personal care.If  the person being cared for is in the shielded category, or if the carer normally uses PPE in their caring role but are struggling to obtain it then PPE is available to protect them or the person they are looking after.  Individuals can check whether they are eligible and  place an order, by contacting Carers of West Lothian on 01506 448000.

Guidance on a range of issues including PPE for unpaid carers and PAs is available on the Scottish Government website at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-unpaid-carers-providing-personal-care/pages/carers-not-living-in-the-same-household/  

 

Scottish Government Phase 2 Business Support Fund Now Open

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Business Support Fund Phase 2 now open
Phase 2 of the Coronavirus Business Support Fund Scheme from Scottish Government is now open for applications.

The Scottish Government Coronavirus Business Support Fund is being administered by Local Authorities. It consists of the Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.

Eligible business ratepayers can apply for these grant funds until 31 March 2021. The grants are aimed at helping to keep small and medium-sized companies in business and keep productive capacity so that they can recover.

Ratepayers must have been in occupation of the non-domestic property as at 17 March 2020.

Further details on the scheme and application forms can be found online at https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/business-support-fund

 

Far From the Madding Crowd Back in Business

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We’re back in business!

We are thrilled to announce that from Tuesday 5th May we are reopening for contactless home deliveries and postage to anywhere in the UK.
We have literally thousands of books in stock, covering most genres and suitable for all ages. We also have an extensive range of stationery, cards, educational games and toys. You can check out our stock in real time on our website here.
For books we don’t currently have in stock, we’re taking orders on an individual basis as many of our suppliers are either closed or running a slow service, we will do our best to source books for you however!
There will be someone in the shop between 10-2, so if you would like to speak to a human for recommendations, advice or information, please ring 01506 845509 during that time. Otherwise, we’re accepting orders by email: sally@maddingcrowdlinlithgow.com or via our social media channels on facebook and twitter.
We hope everyone is keeping safe and well and we look forward to happier times soon!
Copyright © 2020 Far From The Madding Crowd, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
sally@maddingcrowdlinlithgow.com

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Business for Scotland – COVID-19 Survey

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Scottish Ministers Welcome BfS COVID-19 Survey

355 responses and counting

The survey BfS has been running for the last two weeks has already generated 355 responses and I have shared the provisional survey results on the phone with Scottish Ministers. As a result, the survey has already influenced the Scottish Government’s thinking on developing business support policy. Personally I felt some of the survey statistics and stories were astounding and so they are vitally important for the Scottish Government to understand.
Ministers will receive the full report and our policy recommendations early next week – IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY DONE THE SURVEY – please take a few minutes to  (confidentially) complete this important survey on how your business has been impacted.
PLEASE also pass the survey link on to any business owners you think would be willing to participate, the Survey closes Sunday, May 3rd at noon.All information collected will be treated with the utmost confidentiality – we will not ask you for any information that identifies your company nor will we present any information supplied individually / not as part of the whole, so you can answer frankly and candidly in all confidence. The information will be used solely to advise policy makers.
Please hit Submit My Results at the end of the Survey or we won’t receive your answers.
Complete the survey here.  
Getting this update via a friend you can join our mailing list here:

Scam Share – Neighbourhood Watch

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Local Business Grants – thanks to West Lothian Council

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Hyslop Thanks Council Staff as 1,416 Businesses are Supported through Covid Crisis

Local Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, has thanked West Lothian Council Staff for their hard work in processing 1,416 Scottish Government grants and ensuring that over £16m of support reached our local businesses during the current Covid 19 pandemic.

A total of £16.13 has been awarded through Scottish Government Schemes to support small businesses and the retail, hospitality and leisure sector. This grant support is worth over £1 billion to business across the country and is part of the wider business support package worth £2.3 billion.

Commenting, Fiona said;

“This is an exceptionally difficult time for businesses across West Lothian. This Scottish Government funding is designed to support firms and ensure that our economy is on the best possible footing when we get through this health crisis.

“I know it has been a challenge for local authorities to process these grants in such a short space of time and so I want to extend my thanks to the staff at West Lothian Council who are working tirelessly to ensure that Scottish Government money is reaching businesses and helping to support the local economy.

“I would encourage all businesses across West Lothian to ensure that they are receiving the support they are entitled to.”