Edinburgh Council staff '˜refuse to wear too warm Reducer costume'

20mph mascot The Reducer at Johnston Terrace. Picture: Scott Louden

But enthusiasm for  the cartoon character  The Reducer among council staff is, well, reducing after hearing what their colleagues  have to say about pulling on the mascot’s costume for publicity events.

While those who have done it have not quite sacrificed blood, sweat and tears to the cause of persuading the city’s motorists of the merits of the scheme, they have certainly given one of the three in generous quantities.

The very particular challenges presented to city council staff by The Reducer – the cartoon character promoting the new, lower speed limit – have been laid bare in emails between police and council staff.

The eye-catching mascot, designed by Tollcross Primary School pupil Teo Edwin Gonzalez and created at a cost of £1095, is likely to be seen around the city in the coming days with a broad smile.

You can be fairly sure though that whoever is inside is wearing more of a grimace.

Emails between police and council staff reveal that getting volunteers has become less than straightforward.

In an email to the council, a member of  staff at Police Scotland joked: “I have heard  that the Reducer  costume is ‘slightly’  warm and as such everyone that wears it leaves a little bit of themselves in it – good luck getting a volunteer.” So hats off to anyone sporting enough to don The Reducer suit now.