East Lothian Council COVID-19 Rural Economy Survey

The Council’s Connected Economy Rural Recovery Group would like to hear from people in East Lothian’s rural communities about their experience of COVID-19 and its impact on rural businesses and the rural economy. The Group is made up of local Councillors, Council Officers, rural sector representatives, rural businesses, and community members.

To assist our planning, we have designed this survey to collect information on local experiences and ideas for projects and support . We are interested in what positive changes have occurred in the last few months, what local communities are worried about as we move out of lock-down, what projects or initiatives have helped so far, and what could be done going forward to support the rural economy in East Lothian.

Thank you for taking the time to complete our survey and please share it with others you think will be interested.

If you run a business in East Lothian and need any support please visit https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/covid19 or email economicdevelopment@eastlothian.gov.uk

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* 1. This is a survey for people who live, work, or run a business in East Lothian - please select all that apply.

I live in rural East Lothian

I work in rural East Lothian

I run a business in or that serves rural East Lothian

I have another link to the rural economy of East Lothian, please describe:

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* 2. What positive changes have taken place in your local community as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

More working from home

Spending time with close family

More active helping in community

Better online access to education and training

Local organisations have stronger links

Less pollution

Not aware of any positives

Other (please specify)

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* 3. As Scotland moves out of lock-down, what is your community worried or concerned about?

1 = not concerned 5 = extremely concerned

	1	2	3	4	5	N/A
Increasing numbers of people suffering financially	Increasing numbers of people suffering financially 1	Increasing numbers of people suffering financially 2	Increasing numbers of people suffering financially 3	Increasing numbers of people suffering financially 4	Increasing numbers of people suffering financially 5	Increasing numbers of people suffering financially N/A
Tourism bringing the virus to our community	Tourism bringing the virus to our community 1	Tourism bringing the virus to our community 2	Tourism bringing the virus to our community 3	Tourism bringing the virus to our community 4	Tourism bringing the virus to our community 5	Tourism bringing the virus to our community N/A
There not being enough space in my town or village centre to physically distance or stay safe	There not being enough space in my town or village centre to physically distance or stay safe 1	There not being enough space in my town or village centre to physically distance or stay safe 2	There not being enough space in my town or village centre to physically distance or stay safe 3	There not being enough space in my town or village centre to physically distance or stay safe 4	There not being enough space in my town or village centre to physically distance or stay safe 5	There not being enough space in my town or village centre to physically distance or stay safe N/A
People not accessing the countryside responsibly	People not accessing the countryside responsibly 1	People not accessing the countryside responsibly 2	People not accessing the countryside responsibly 3	People not accessing the countryside responsibly 4	People not accessing the countryside responsibly 5	People not accessing the countryside responsibly N/A
Tourism not recovering	Tourism not recovering 1	Tourism not recovering 2	Tourism not recovering 3	Tourism not recovering 4	Tourism not recovering 5	Tourism not recovering N/A
The health and wellbeing of vulnerable and shielding members of the community	The health and wellbeing of vulnerable and shielding members of the community 1	The health and wellbeing of vulnerable and shielding members of the community 2	The health and wellbeing of vulnerable and shielding members of the community 3	The health and wellbeing of vulnerable and shielding members of the community 4	The health and wellbeing of vulnerable and shielding members of the community 5	The health and wellbeing of vulnerable and shielding members of the community N/A
Local businesses closing down	Local businesses closing down 1	Local businesses closing down 2	Local businesses closing down 3	Local businesses closing down 4	Local businesses closing down 5	Local businesses closing down N/A
Local community organisations closing down	Local community organisations closing down 1	Local community organisations closing down 2	Local community organisations closing down 3	Local community organisations closing down 4	Local community organisations closing down 5	Local community organisations closing down N/A
Organisations running out of funding for PPE, fuel, food etc.	Organisations running out of funding for PPE, fuel, food etc. 1	Organisations running out of funding for PPE, fuel, food etc. 2	Organisations running out of funding for PPE, fuel, food etc. 3	Organisations running out of funding for PPE, fuel, food etc. 4	Organisations running out of funding for PPE, fuel, food etc. 5	Organisations running out of funding for PPE, fuel, food etc. N/A
A reduction in the number of seasonal workers able to support farms and other businesses	A reduction in the number of seasonal workers able to support farms and other businesses 1	A reduction in the number of seasonal workers able to support farms and other businesses 2	A reduction in the number of seasonal workers able to support farms and other businesses 3	A reduction in the number of seasonal workers able to support farms and other businesses 4	A reduction in the number of seasonal workers able to support farms and other businesses 5	A reduction in the number of seasonal workers able to support farms and other businesses N/A
The quality of education for children and young people	The quality of education for children and young people 1	The quality of education for children and young people 2	The quality of education for children and young people 3	The quality of education for children and young people 4	The quality of education for children and young people 5	The quality of education for children and young people N/A
Increasing pollution	Increasing pollution 1	Increasing pollution 2	Increasing pollution 3	Increasing pollution 4	Increasing pollution 5	Increasing pollution N/A
People being made redundant	People being made redundant 1	People being made redundant 2	People being made redundant 3	People being made redundant 4	People being made redundant 5	People being made redundant N/A

Other (please specify)

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* 4. What new or existing projects and initiatives are already supporting business and economic recovery in your area, who is running them, and how are they helping?

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* 5. Do you have any ideas for new projects or initiatives in your local area that could support business and economic recovery, who could lead them, and what would they need?

For example:

- Encouraging or enabling people to support local by shopping and sourcing food locally.
- Making it easier for people to get about.
- Encouraging people to visit the area safely and spend money in local communities.
- Making it safer for people to visit towns and villages

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* 6. What is the most important thing that East Lothian Council can do to revive the rural economy?

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* 7. Many people are supporting local businesses by buying locally. Are there any shops or services missing from your town or village, and what would encourage you to visit more often? Please tell us which town or village.

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* 8. Are there any other questions we could have asked or could ask in the future that would help us understand what's happening in the rural economy at the moment?

East Lothian Council COVID-19 Rural Economy Survey

Question Title

* 1. This is a survey for people who live, work, or run a business in East Lothian - please select all that apply.

Question Title

* 2. What positive changes have taken place in your local community as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Question Title

* 3. As Scotland moves out of lock-down, what is your community worried or concerned about? 1 = not concerned 5 = extremely concerned

Question Title

* 4. What new or existing projects and initiatives are already supporting business and economic recovery in your area, who is running them, and how are they helping?

Question Title

Question Title

* 6. What is the most important thing that East Lothian Council can do to revive the rural economy?

Question Title

* 7. Many people are supporting local businesses by buying locally. Are there any shops or services missing from your town or village, and what would encourage you to visit more often? Please tell us which town or village.

Question Title

* 8. Are there any other questions we could have asked or could ask in the future that would help us understand what's happening in the rural economy at the moment?

* 3. As Scotland moves out of lock-down, what is your community worried or concerned about?

1 = not concerned 5 = extremely concerned