With only a few days to go until Christmas, I wanted to provide some information on the issues which local people most frequently ask me about.  I hope the following is helpful.

Public transport

Bus services will be significantly changed over the Christmas and New Year period.  Here are links to the revised bus timetables;

• Lothian Buses
• Stagecoach
• FirstBus

Scotrail service changes can be seen here.

Edinburgh taxi fares will be higher than normal 24-27 December and 31 December-2 January.  Full details can be found here.

Health Services

Opening times for local GP surgeries are as follows:
Almond Group Practice, Winchburgh
Cramond Medical Practice
Davidson’s Mains Medical Group
Muirhouse Medical Group
Parkgrove Medical Group
Ratho Medical Group
South Queensferry Medical Practice 

Information on the Kirkliston Medical Centre was not available online.

HS24 will be working throughout Christmas and New Year.  You can ring them by dialling 111.

Accident and emergency services will be available at St John’s and the Royal Infirmary.  The Western General will operate reduced hours for its minor injuries clinic.

Here are details for any emergency dental care.

Christmas tree recycling

Edinburgh City Council runs a free collection and composting service for Christmas trees. If you have a brown bin then you can recycle your Christmas tree by placing it on the kerbside on your scheduled brown bin day by 6am.

Remember to cut your tree in half if it is 6ft tall or higher Also, don’t forget to remove all decorations and stands.

For streets with shared recycling facilities, you can see the collection dates for Christmas trees here.

You can also take Christmas trees to any of the Community Recycling Centres. The sites will be closed 25, 26 December and 1, 2 January.

Bin collections

The Council has said there will be no changes to waste and recycling collections over the festive period. Collections will take place as normal on;

• Monday 26 December
• Tuesday 27 December
• Monday 2 January
• Tuesday 3 January.

You can see more information about rubbish collections here.

Parking

There will be free parking across the City of Edinburgh council area on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.  Meters will not be operating on these days but will operate as usual on all other days.

More information is available here.

Shops and postal services

There will be no Royal Mail deliveries 25-27 December or 1-2 January.  Deliveries should be as normal around these dates. More information from the Royal Mail is available here.

Check your local post office for opening times over the next couple of weeks.  General information is available here.

Christmas and New Year opening times for major local supermarkets are as follows;
Morrisons Gyle
Sainsbury’s Barnton
Sainsbury’s Craigleith
Tesco Davidson’s Mains
Tesco Queensferry Ferrymuir
Tesco Parkgrove
(Christmas opening times for Scotmids were not available online so check with your local shop)

Please also remember to support all the fantastic independent local shops over Christmas and New Year.

Leisure Centres

Christmas and New Year opening times for Edinburgh Leisure centres, including Kirkliston, Queensferry, Silverknowes, Drum Brae and Ainslie Park are available here.

Emergency services

An usual, you should phone 999 if you need emergency assistance over the festive period.   If you need to contact the police about a non-emergency or have a general enquiry then dial 101.

Here is more information on how to stay safe over Christmas.  I want to make a point of thanking all those people who I know will be checking on their older neighbours and friends in their community over the Christmas and New Year period.

Donating Food

Finally, it’s not too late to donate food to those who need it this Christmas.  Foodbank collection points are easy to access and more information is available here.

I hope all this information is helpful.

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Kevin Lang