As lockdown now in force

Life amidst government closures

Giorno Bakery remains open as a store providing essential goods.

She saidd: “The Village is like a ghost town and businesses are taking one day at a time – that’s all we can do.

“But our shops remain open and we are looking into a delivery service.”

East Mains Community Council chairman, Bill Arthur, told the News the lockdown was a “dramatic challenge” for businesses in the Village and throughout East Kilbride.

He added: “We would ask people to support local businesses whereever possible and continue to do this once it is all over.

“It would be a disaster to see businesses go under after all the work that has gone into preserving the Village and its vitality.”

Councillor for the Village, Labour’s Joe Fage, reiterated that this was “not just a public health emergency”, but “an economic emergency” with decisive action needed from government to help prevent “wave after wave of unemployment”.

He told us: “From talking to local firms, some seem to be coping, but others, particularly the non-food retailers, are struggling because customers, quite understandably, are avoiding non-essential social contact.

“I am pleased South Lanarkshire Council is taking forward a masterplan for the town centre, and I want to see some kind of action plan for the Village too.

“But that’s about the medium to long-term future of the local economy. Firms need real help now.

“Normally we can help by choosing local businesses whenever we can, promptly paying invoices and talking up local firms – but we can only do so much as a community. The market cannot lift the local economy out of this particular crisis. We need state action.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak last week announced extraordinary measures to help workers and companies through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government will cover 80 per cent of the salary of workers who would otherwise be laid off.

An East Kilbride hospice has made an appeal for essential items to protect patients and staff from coronavirus.

Kilbryde Hospice took to Facebook to make a plea for basic items including hand sanitiser, shoe coverings, surgical gowns and disposable masks.

The hospice, which has an in-patient unit, provides specialist palliative care to patients with life-limiting illnesses.

It relies on donations and fundraising from the local community.

All day services have been postponed and restrictions place for visitors.

Now they have taken to social media asking for help from the community.

In the post, they say:“Kilbryde Hospice require additional personal protective equipment (PPE) and we need your help.

“Does your business or a business you know use PPE? Could you donate supplies to Kilbryde Hospice?

“We require:

- FFP3 Masks (preferable, we will take FFP1 masks also)

- Surgical Disposable Gowns

- Fluid Repellent Surgical Masks -Visors/Goggles

- Shoe Coverings

- Hand Sanitiser (must be higher than 60 per

cent alcohol)” On its website a statement reads:“At Kilbryde our priority is always the health and wellbeing of hospice patients, service users, our volunteers and employees. “With the developing coronavirus situation across the UK, we will be taking further sensible precautions to keep our highly vulnerable patients, relatives and volunteers as safe as possible – and to maintain critical services for as long as possible.” If you have stock or can access stock of the above items you are asked to email rebecca. campbell@kilbrydehospice.org.uk and we will arrange further details.