Poltonhall and Hopefield Community Council

Midlothian Council has announced that normal Garden Waste collections will resume from Wednesday 27 May. Full information on the resumption of the service can be found at the following link:

https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/1054/bins_and_recycling/376/brown_bin/2

A special additional one-off brown bin collection will take place this weekend and next weekend.

if your blue bin was collected this week, (Mon 4 to Fri 8 May) your brown bin will be collected on Saturday 9 or Sunday 10 May

If your blue bin is due to be collected next week, (Mon 11 to Fri 15 May) your brown bin will be collected on Saturday 16 or Sunday 17 May.

Place your bin out for collection by 7.00am on the Saturday of your collection weekend. If your bin is not collected on the Saturday it will be collected on the Sunday. Ensure your bin is not too heavy and the lid is closed. 

 

The Council will resume glass collections from 27 April

Cllr Stephen Curran (Dalkeith) has set up a website:

https://www.kindnessmidlothian.co.uk  

to help if you self-isolating due to COVID 19 and don’t have family, friends or neighbours you can call on and don’t know who to turn to for help?

You can now contact your local COVID-19 volunteer support group on the link below:

https://www.kindnessmidlothian.co.uk/index.php/poltonhall-hopefield

Complete and submit the form which will be passed to the support group.

 

Pharmacy opening times have been published on our Facebook page. Details can be found on the following link.

https://www.facebook.com/Poltonhall.District.Community.Council/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Poltonhall and Hopefield Community Council
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
ZOOM online video conferencing application

The Poltonhall and Hopefield Community Council has decided to continue to hold monthly meetings through the corona-virus emergency on the Zoom online video-conferencing application.

This first online meeting of the Poltonhall and Hopefield Community Council will only be open to the members of the Community Council; we hope to hold an online public meeting of the Community Council soon.

In light of this decision, we invite members of the Poltonhall and Hopefield community to pose questions to the Community Councillors to discuss. Please send questions by email at:

poltonhallandhopefieldcomcouncil@yahoo.com

The meeting will decide to post the relevant questions and answers either directly, on our Facebook page and our website.

The planned April Annual General Meeting of the Community Council will be postponed until a full and open public meeting of the Community Council can take place, it is hoped that this will be in August. This postponement does not prevent co-opted or associate members joining the Community Council.

Sincerely,
John Aitchison
Chairperson
Poltonhall and Hopefield Community Council

Stay at Home | Protect the NHS | Save Lives
 

What the Community Council is for:-

It is a place for residents to find…
• Representation of our community to the Midlothian Council.
• Facilitation of activities which promote the well-being of our community.
• Bring local people together to help make things happen within our community.
• Protect and promote the identity of our community.
• Advise, petition, influence and advocate on causes and cases on behalf of our local community.
• Carry out projects to enhance the community.
• Conduct local surveys.
• Campaign on local issues.
• Discuss local planning.
• Assist with the organising of community events
• Receive a monthly report from local elected representatives.
• Receive a monthly report on local Policing.
Community Councils are one of the best means of becoming involved with your local area.
It will give you a good understanding of the workings of local government and what is going on locally and nationally.
All local authorities in Scotland encourage citizens to become a member of their Community Council.

Police Scotland  & Midlothian Council  have issued a message regarding the use of personal information on Social Media

 

ATTENTION:

Are you part of a social media group on Facebook? Do you know everyone on your social media group?

There have been instances of people sharing personal details and circumstances on social media and we would take this opportunity to remind you to be cautious about what information you are sharing about yourself and making public through social media.

Your personal information could be used for the purposes of criminality including fraud and theft.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are sharing information on behalf of other people, remember to be equally careful with their details, particularly as you may be identifying them as a vulnerable person.

Details which you should be careful about sharing are:

• Name
• Address

Phone Number

That you are in possession of money

People who you should ask for assistance in the first instance should be:

• Family
• Friends
• Neighbours

If this is not possible Midlothian Council are working with a number of organisations including support volunteer groups which can assist in providing you access to food, medicine and support.

Support provided by:

Midlothian Contact Centre – 0131 270 7500

Red Cross Shopping Assistance – 0131 654 0340

Midlothian Council Communities and Lifelong Learning service - CLL@midlothian.gov.uk

The Communities and Lifelong Learning service will coordinate a response either from them or the local community resilience group in relation to prescription collection and delivery, food, money and pets. This email box is actively checked and requests allocated Mon to Friday 8.00am - 6.00pm

• Volunteer Midlothian – (If you or someone you know wants to help volunteer with essential services we would direct you to Volunteer Midlothian) via email to info@volunteermidlothian.org.uk

 

 

Critical services only

The council has now moved to critical service delivery only and will now focus on our core statutory duties.

To enable this, the council is suspending responses to enquiries or complaints about our service provision and will instead be focusing our efforts to prioritise our statutory services, caring for the vulnerable, cooperating with our Resilience Partners and supporting economic recovery.

Full statement by the Chief Executive, Dr Grace Vickers

This means our staff will be focused on delivering our critical services until further notice.

Information regarding Council services can be found at the following link:

https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/200296/coronavirus

 

 

Owen Thompson MP has provided the following information in relation to home working and use of vehicles during the current emergency

 

MOTOR AND HOME INSURANCE AND COVID19. 
There's been conflicting advice and constituents have been worried about their insurance policies for home working or helping with the COVID response. My office has been given the following important assurances from the Association of British Insurers. More guidance online at www.abi.org.uk

Home and Motor Insurance Pledges

ABI Home and Motor insurers have made the following pledges to support home and motor insurance customers during the COVID-19 crisis. 

1. Support those who need to make a claim. Insurers have implemented business continuity plans and work closely with service providers to do everything possible in these challenging circumstances to continue to handle claims and support their customers. We recognise there will be many customers who will need additional support and insurers will prioritise those in vulnerable circumstances.

2. Support those who are working from home. If you are an office-based worker and need to work from home because of government advice or because you need to self-isolate, your home insurance cover will not be affected. You do not need to contact your insurer to update your documents or extend your cover.

3. Support those who cannot work from home. If you have to drive to your workplace because of the impact of Covid-19, your insurance policy will not be affected. You do not need to contact your insurer to update your documents or extend your cover.

4. Support those who use their cars to help their communities. If you are using your own car for voluntary purposes to transport medicines or groceries to support others who are impacted by Covid-19, your cover will not be affected. You do not need to contact your insurer to update your documents or extend your cover.

5. Support our key workers. If your work is critical to the national response to Covid-19 and you need to use your own car to drive to different locations for work purposes because of the impact of Covid-19, your cover will not be affected. You do not need to contact your insurer to update your documents or extend your cover.

The Association of British Insurers is the leading trade association for insurers and providers of long term savings. Our 250 members include most household names and specialist providers who contribute £12 billion in taxes and manage investments of £1.8 trillion.

https://www.abi.org.uk

 

 

 

Midlothiann Council has updated its website regarding services.

The council has now moved to critical service delivery only and will now focus on our core statutory duties.

Recycling Centres are now closed until further notice. Buccleuch House will close at end of business on Wed 25 Mar until further notice.

See information on the link below

https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/360/community_safety_and_crime/622/coronavirus

 

 

Midlothian Council has updated its information on the COVID-19 crisis. Information can be found on the following link:

https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/360/community_safety_and_crime/622/coronavirus

 

 

Midlothian Council has updated its website in regards to services and the Coronavirus. All the updated information can be found at the following link:

https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/360/community_safety_and_crime/622/coronavirus

 

 

Midlothian Council has updated its information relating to Health and Care Services. All the information can be found from the link below.

https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/360/community_safety_and_crime/622/coronavirus/4

 

 

The Council has updated its  website regards Council services, relating to Libraries, Leisure Centres & Bin Collectiins

Information can be seen on the link below

https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/360/community_safety_and_crime/622/coronavirus

 

Midlothian Council has issued updated information regarding bin collections and Refuse Centres . This affects collection of red bins (glass) and brown bins (garden waste).

Full information can be found at the link below:

https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/360/community_safety_and_crime/622/coronavirus/3

 

 

Message from Catherine Duns, Communities Officer, Midlothian Council

To ensure volunteers and the community are supported, and efforts are coordinated throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Midlothian Council are currently gathering details of all those who are organising support in their areas. 

If you are a coordinator in your area please can you email CLL@midlothian.gov.uk to let us know what you are doing and provide us with a main contact name and telephone number so we can share advice and ensure support is targeted.

Please share across your social media networks.

 

 

The following information has been issued by Neighbourhood Watch Scotland

You will all be aware of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Neighbourhood Watch Scotland exists to look out for communities and at a time like this we encourage you to consider ways to keep yourself, your loved ones and those in your community safe, particularly the isolated and vulnerable. We are following the advice from the government and encourage you to do the same:  https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

10 ways you can protect yourself, your loved ones and your community:

Meet with household members, other relatives, friends and neighbours to discuss what to do if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community and what the needs of each person will be.

If your neighbourhood has a website or social media page, consider joining it to maintain access to neighbours, information, and resources.   Alternatively, share phone numbers and email addresses particularly with those who are isolated or vulnerable.

Consider establishing a ‘buddy’ system within your community to ensure everyone stays connected to COVID-19 related news, services and can receive support safely, such as essentials deliveries.

Plan ways to care for those who might be at greater risk for serious complications. 

Choose a room in your home that can be used to separate sick household members from those who are healthy. 

Learn how to self-isolate. Guidance can be found on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

Create a list of local organisations that you and your neighbours can contact in the event that one of you need access to information, healthcare services, support, or resources. Consider including organisations that provide mental health or counselling services, food, and other supplies.

Create an emergency contact list of family, friends, neighbours, healthcare providers, teachers, employers, the local public health department, and other local authority, community resources.

Learn about the emergency operations plan at your child’s school or childcare facility, and your employer’s emergency operations plan.
Practice everyday preventive actions including regular hand washing.

The NHS provides guidance on how to wash hands: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/.  

The World Health Organisation provides guidance on basic protective measures: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention provides guidance on handwashing for families https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/handwashing-family.html
 

NHS Scotland provide current updated INFORMATION and ADVICE on the following link: https://www.scot.nhs.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/  and the Scottish Government on the link :  https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/