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The council is putting steps in place to support pupils to return to full time education after the Easter break. National restrictions currently allow for all pupils to return to schools from 19th April. With pupils having been out of school to different extents for a year, the council is putting help in place for anyone who needs support in adjusting to this change.

We welcome the re-opening of some non-essential retail services and hairdressers/barbers on 5 April. To help businesses do this safely, our Environmental Health team has five top tips to share. Top Tip 1- Employees and Risk Assessment Talk with your staff and review your risk assessments together:

PվɫÇéƬ will introduce some new administration charges in its planning process from 1 April 2021 as agreed at the February’s council budget meeting.

Plans for how to use the additional £2.61m added to the roads reconstruction programme at last month’s budget have now been completed. The total value of works planned for 2021/22 is £10m, as reported to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee earlier this month. Members will review the full, updated, programme at the committee’s next meeting in June.

PվɫÇéƬ has increased its electric vehicle charging network to 28 points across the area as part of its commitment to reduce the impact of climate change. Its new policy of recovering costs for the electricity drawn to charge private vehicles comes into effect on 9 April 2021. This will bring PվɫÇéƬ and Bute in line with many other Scottish local authorities. Read more information on locations of the EV charging points and fees.   

Beating covid together -  answers to questions you may have about asymptomatic tests Free tests are now available in Helensburgh for people without covid-19 symptoms. Here are answers to questions you may have.   Question Answer Why should I get tested if I have no symptoms?  

PվɫÇéƬ and PվɫÇéƬ Community Housing Association (ACHA) have secured £1.23m from the UK Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator (SHDFD) project. ACHA will manage and deliver the project with support from SSE Energy Solutions, owned by OVO.

We’ve heard concerns that Ardencraig Gardens, on Bute, will close. Ardencraig Gardens themselves will remain open, the only difference will be that the flowers will be sourced externally. The tearoom has been commercially leased and has been vacant for some time. If anyone is interested in taking on the lease, we would like to hear from them. The aviary and display glasshouses are being retained as these are integral parts of the gardens.

Rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) testing is available now in Helensburgh for people without symptoms.  The community testing initiative aims to drive down local COVID-19 rates and transmission by identifying positive cases more quickly, as people can spread the virus to others before symptoms appear. Residents who don’t have any of the three COVID symptoms (a new continuous cough, temperature, loss or change in sense of taste or smell) are encouraged to get tested.

“PվɫÇéƬ will join the National Day of Reflection on March 23 to mark the anniversary of the start of the Covid-19 lockdown. As a mark of respect to all those who have lost their lives, the council will light up buildings in the area and join the minutes silence at midday.