Covid cases close to national average
West Lothian is nearing the national average for Covid-19 infections again.
The latest Public Health Scotland (PHS) data shows that as of February 7 there were 34 new cases, and 209 over a seven-day period, with a new total of 5802 since records began in March 2020.
This means, over the seven-day period, the county recorded 114 positive cases per 100,000 of the population, compared to the national average of 118.
In the preceding months, West Lothian had been significantly below the national average, but infections are currently falling more sharply in other local authorities.
However, despite occasional spikes, like February 7 with 45 new cases, the number of positive cases in the county are still declining gradually.
On the PHS heatmap, 12 of the 37 neighbourhoods in the county have suppressed the virus, with fewer than two cases recorded over a week.
Blaeberry Hill and East Whitburn had the highest amount of new infections with 19 of their 5971 residents testing positive, between January 30 to February 5.
Across Lothian, the PHS figures show that there were 121 new cases reported, 751 over the week and a total of 25,188.
Scotland-wide there were 928 new positive cases, 6458 over the seven-day period and 186,720 since records began.
There have been two Covid-19 related deaths recorded in West Lothian over the past seven days.
A row has broken out over proposals to build over 150 new homes in Mid Calder which locals say will destroy the peaceful village.
Robertson Homes Ltd has submitted planning permission for 155 new houses at Calder Park Road to West Lothian Council.
But those living in the area say the development will decimate the surrounding green belt and that the area can’t cope with an increased population.
Dr Fred Freeman said: “Mid Calder is a sleepy, serene village with a healthy balance of residential housing and open space. And it has the basic amenities of a school, sub-post office, pubs and shops and medical facilities near at hand to sustain its existing population.
“It is not Livingston; it is not part of a conurbation, but instead is a healthy mix of uncrowded residential housing and open green space. The planned building of 155 homes at Calder Park Road, which already has considerable new housing, will create more congestion - much more traffic, 300 cars - on an already busy road, more pollution, more pressure on schools and medical services more crime.
“Moreover, it will radically change the character of this pleasant, serene village that adds so much to the balanced social fabric of West Lothian, overall.
“Must we perennially make the mistakes of the 1960s in putting rampant commercial interests before the wellbeing of the people?”
Lorraine Boak said: “Have Covid-19 restrictions not highlighted that wellbeing is an extremely high factor for dealing with and surviving day-to-day situations? Being out, enjoying the natural world and seeing open green spaces is a crucial element to sustaining good mental health.
“Hence I believe the idea of a housing estate proposal on Calder Park Road is not advantageous for anyone in the district.
“The increased housing leads to increased traffic; a danger to children for one but also animals, the elderly, creates pollution and these extra people mean an increased strain on the services in the local community that provide health care, schooling and shopping amenities that can only provide crammed car parks currently.
“It may be a small field to a developer but to locals it is essential to the wellbeing of us and our area.”
And Ian Hamilton added: “The volume of commercial vehicles that will be travelling down from Lizzie Brice towards this development will create various issues including air quality, pedestrian safety and road conditions will deteriorate due to mud etc.
“The junction that heads towards Livingston is already very busy at peak periods and this additional house volume will only make this worse. Not helped by the fact the junction sits on the apex of a bend from both directions and on a hill if you are coming to the village from Livingston.
“The overall additional car volume that the development will generate will generate further problems that already exist today.
“The 20mph speed limit is clearly not enforced. Congestion in the village is already an issue with vehicles at times double parked.
“The recent changes to parking on Bank Street has already made the situation worse before any further development in the village.
“The additional housing will see extra pressure on what is already a very busy medical practice in East Calder and will also impact dental services etc as well.
“Mid Calder Primary and
Nursery schools will also come under additional pressure from the proposed 155 new homes.
“The village will lose a lot with this development going ahead and in my opinion will become a less desirable place to stay given the above impact on the current position.”
A spokesperson for Robertson Homes said: “Robertson Homes has recently undertaken pre planning application consultation in accord with West Lothian Council’s requirements, to establish the local community’s ideas, suggestions and concerns for residential development proposals at Calder Park, Mid Calder.
“The response to the public consultation has identified a number of important issues. We are currently processing and reviewing that feedback before progressing further steps with our investment proposals for Mid Calder.”
A local counselling service for young people has reported referrals for its service have increased drastically during the Covid-19 pandemic.
SMILE counselling from Bathgate told The Courier that it has had a 130 per cent increase in referrals since March last year.
In addition one in four of its referrals from under 16 year olds are now presenting with suicidal thoughts, whereas the year previous it was one in five.
Declan Harrigan, the CEO, says the funding SMILE received recently from West Lothian Council’s Third Sector Fund is crucial.
The charity is now aiming to offer a unique mobile mental health service in the community and offer training in schools.
He said: “The funding that we have received from the Third Sector Fund is enabling us to be able to go into the heart of these communities and deliver our counselling support face to face either through walk and talk therapy or in local centres if open.
“Our goal is to have a mobile counselling unit (camper / RV type unit) which allows social distancing within the vehicle.
“It will be a safe, warm and confidential unit that will travel throughout West
Lothian to offer counselling within these marginalised areas to those most in need it most.
“We feel that we are unfortunately now entering the ‘eye of the perfect mental health storm’ that will create a tragic outcome for our young people’s mental health if we aren’t proactive now instead of reactive after the covid dust has settled.”
Declan explained that 40 per cent of the recent referrals have come from areas of deprivation, but only 20 per cent can access online services due to living in poverty, not having digital technology to have online sessions or not having a safe space to have confidential sessions at home.
He says the group is now offering over 70 counselling sessions per week and has supported over 500 young people across West Lothian.
In addition it reached almost 12,000 school pupils in the last year with lockdown and home-schooling support and mental health materials.
And it is now contracted to work in four schools across West Lothian: James Young High School, Broxburn Academy, Saint Margaret’s and Whitburn Academy.
Declan continued: “We have written a specialist Mental Wellbeing And Health (M.W.A.H) Training course that we hope to reach the whole community in order to upskill them in supporting with their family, friends, colleagues.
“This in turn will also put us in a position to me more self-sustainable and less reliant on grant funding which gives us long term sustainability.
“We have been supported through the Adapt and Thrive Fund to develop this course and create a robust knowledge for our communities.
“Adapt and thrive have also funded us to offer 24 free spaces to individuals from areas of deprivation who otherwise would struggle to afford to do the course.”
SMILE is now applying to the SQA for the course to be levelled to SCQF Level 6.
It is aimed at anyone who wants to understand mental health issues more and how to support those experiencing them.