12/08/2015 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Getting communities connected

More than three million homes and businesses have been reached by the Westminster government’s nationwide rollout of superfast broadband, figures published today reveal. The announcement follows news that libraries are to share in a £1.5 million Scottish Government investment to enhance digital participation.

The rollout is delivering superfast access – internet speeds greater than 24 Mbps – to those properties not covered by existing commercial networks and is on track to take superfast access to 95 per cent of the UK by 2017. More than four out of five UK homes and businesses already have access to superfast speeds, and the rollout is currently reaching an additional 40,000 homes and businesses every week.

This comes following recent news that BT will make up to £129m available to extend the Government-led rollout of superfast broadband across the UK.

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: “Reaching three million properties is a huge achievement. Our rollout of superfast broadband is transforming lives up and down the country as every day thousands more homes and businesses are gaining access to superfast speeds.

“It’s fantastic to see that the rollout of superfast broadband is now delivering for customers and for the taxpayer. The levels of people taking up superfast broadband in areas where we invested public money are beyond our expectations, and BT is now reimbursing the public purse to deliver further coverage across the UK. This now means that BT will be providing up to £129m cashback for some of the most hard to reach areas.”

The additional funding will be made available to local authorities to reinvest the money in providing further superfast broadband coverage to even more homes and businesses, and much earlier than originally planned.

The money is being made available as a result of a clause in the contracts BT agreed with government and local authorities that allows the funding BT has received to be returned or reinvested into further coverage if take-up is better than the 20 per cent expected in BT’s original business case. The higher take up rate to date has resulted in BT making a new business case assumption of reaching 30 per cent take-up in these areas.

In Scotland, more than 394,000 homes and businesses have been reached by the rollout of fibre-optic cable.

Gavin Patterson, CEO BT Group, said: “The UK is making great progress with fibre broadband. Twenty three million premises are covered by BT’s open access network, with three million of those enabled under the BDUK programme. Our Openreach engineers have worked tirelessly to connect some of the most remote parts of the UK, from Shetland and Hebrides to the moors of southwest England.

“The public have responded by taking up fibre in large numbers, and that’s good news for those areas that haven’t been reached yet. It means additional funds are being released which will enable us to go even further at no extra cost to the taxpayer and earlier than expected.”

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said: “Our continuing investment in speedier broadband will unleash the full potential of our countryside – creating jobs, boosting exports and improving the quality of life for people living in rural communities.

“By ensuring everyone has access to the same technology and services we can boost the productivity of rural areas, making it as easy to open and expand a business in some of the most beautiful parts of our countryside as it is in our cities.”

Almost £18million funding is being made available to accelerate high speed broadband roll-out for Scotland’s rural communities.

The early benefit comes from the success of the Scottish Government-backed £410million Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme, which has now reached over 365,000 homes and businesses from the Shetland Isles to Dumfries and Galloway.

And Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney yesterday announced £1.5 million to boost free Wi-Fi in public spaces.

The £1.5 million funding for 2015/16 is part of the Scottish Government’s wider drive to enhance digital participation, improve rural connectivity and the uptake of online public services across Scotland.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney visited Ullapool library in the MacPhail Centre to see at first-hand the impact of the public library Wi-Fi programme to date.

He wanted to find out how people are benefitting from freely available connectivity and met trainers and participants in a ‘Get To Know Your Techno’ group, an innovative digital participation initiative which has seen young people teach older people digital skills and the benefits of being online.

Mr Swinney, said: “It’s wonderful to be here in Ullapool to announce our public wireless programme which includes a second phase of funding for free public Wi-Fi in libraries. This supports the promotion of the wider economic, social and cultural benefits from public spaces and has the potential to attract new audiences to our public libraries.

“Helping libraries and other public spaces to provide free connectivity will be increasingly important as the use of smartphones and tablets continues to increase and the appetite for internet access on the move grows.

“Libraries don’t just provide access to reading material they play a crucial role in providing access to IT, improving attainment, supporting children in the early years and empowering communities. We want to help libraries to empower communities, tackle inequality and boost the economy, as well as provide more people with opportunities to learn and to experience local heritage and culture.

“The latest research from Ofcom shows that more Scots than ever before are using smart devices to access the internet – almost 40% say their smartphone is their main way of accessing the internet and indicates that half the adults in Scotland own a tablet. The Scottish Government is committed to improving and extending access to public Wi-Fi in support of our world class digital vision where people can connect anywhere, with any device, at any time by 2020.

“Ullapool is already benefitting from free public Wi-Fi and the ‘Get To Know Your Techno’ group is a great example of how easier access to Wi-Fi improves digital participation across our communities and can bring younger and older members of the community together.”

Stars head North for roller derby showdown

Saturday’s second and final Edinburgh Fringe roller derby game, hosted by Auld Reekie Roller Girls, will be a stellar all-Northern all star line-up (writes Lucy Glennie).

Fabulous skaters from teams across Scotland and northern England will pit their speed, stamina and agility against each other to determine the victor.

The two all-female teams will each field a jammer, who will strive to get past four opposing blockers to score points. The teams will aim to outwit, out sprint and hit their opponents out of play using only the power of their bodies and minds.

This Saturday’s game comes hot on the heels of Auld Reekie’s All Star Reserves’ incendiary head-to-head against Glasgow Roller Derby’s Maiden Grrders on 8 August. Active Edinburgh’s sponsorship of the first Fringe game really helped things go with a bang!

The next game will be a special evening event, building on the excitement of the last, with a stadium full of fans and a licensed bar. This is an inclusive, family-friendly event celebrating strength, teamwork and friendship for young and old, regular and brand new fans.

All welcome at Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh on Saturday 15 August, 7 – 9.30pm.

What should we do with George Street?

Have your say on the future of George Street

Edinburgh residents are being invited to help shape the future of one of the city’s best-known streets. An open day to be held tomorrow will offer an opportunity to meet the designers working on a long-term vision for George Street.

Participants can give their views on a year-long trial in the street, which has seen the introduction of a dedicated two-way cycle lane and a one-way system for general traffic and buses.

They will also be invited to contribute ideas and opinions on a permanent layout, with the drop-in session featuring four themes for George Street: A Civic Place, A Place for Living, A Place for Enterprise and A Place for Movement.

Transport Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “Throughout this trial we have involved the public to ensure changes take into account the users of the street, and I think that’s reflected in the positive feedback we’ve received along the way.

“Now, as the trial draws to a close, we want to include those who live, work and travel on George Street to help us decide its future, and that’s why it’s so important that people come along to our open day to give their views on a long term plan.

“Making the city centre a great place to be is about striking a balance between work and leisure, practicality and atmosphere – and I think that by working together we can achieve that.”

Throughout the trial, regular ‘stakeholder engagement’ and on-street interviews with passers-by (approximately 100 per month) have gathered feedback from the public.

Amongst the findings were the importance of cycling facilities to the future of the street to respondents, the need for George Street to be accessible to all and the preference for symmetry in any long-term designs.

Ironside Farrar have been appointed until October 2015 to turn the information gathered into design principles, which will be presented with the concluding report on the George Street Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to Committee in November.

The George Street ETRO finishes on 6 September, when the street’s layout will revert to that of pre-September 2014, when the trial began. This means both sides of carriageway will be open and the cycle lane removed, as will all marquees and decking. An interim cycle facility will then be introduced, as approved by Transport and Environment Committee on 2 June.

The open day will be held at the Roxburghe Hotel

on Thursday 13 August, from 3pm to 7pm.

Beatson is 300th Living Wage employer

Scotland on track to hit Living Wage target

A significant milestone in the push to have 500 Living Wage-accredited employers in Scotland has been reached. Beatson Cancer Charity has been confirmed as the 300^th employer to be accredited, meaning that Scotland is well on track to reach its target by March next year.

The charity delivers a range of patient and family support including patient wellbeing and complementary therapy services. These are delivered through their unique and award-winning Wellbeing Centre and throughout the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and related facilities throughout the West of Scotland.

They also provide funding for a range of specialist posts including specialist nursing, radiography, physics and research-based staff as well as providing funding for enhanced medical equipment, innovative service developments, unique research projects and developmental staff training.

Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training Roseanna Cunningham said: “The Scottish Government is committed to fairness and supporting those on the lowest incomes. We recognise the real difference the Living Wage can make to working people and are leading by example by becoming the first accredited government in the UK earlier this year.

“We have been working closely with the Poverty Alliance to encourage employers to seek accreditation and today’s landmark demonstrates excellent progress in our aim to have 500 employers signed up by next March.

“The charity and its staff is a key partner of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and of NHS Scotland and they should be commended for their work in supporting the treatment, care and wellbeing of current and former cancer patients and their families. Today’s news ensures that all staff at the charity will be paid the Living Wage, good news for staff and a good example set for the sector in Scotland.

“Research shows that the Living Wage can enhance productivity, reduce absenteeism and improve staff morale, but we need even more organisations to recognise those benefits and sign up for accreditation and help those on the lowest pay.”

David Welch, Chief Executive of Beatson Cancer Charity said: “Beatson Cancer Charity is proud to be the 300^th Living Wage-accredited employer and to have contributed to reaching this significant landmark. We are committed to continue to support this initiative and to ensuring that all of our staff are well supported and paid a fair wage for their work.”

Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance said: “Warm congratulations to the Beatson Cancer Charity on becoming the 300^th employer in Scotland to receive accreditation as a Living Wage Employer. Over the course of the past year, employers from the public, private and third sectors in Scotland have been standing up to be counted as Living Wage Employers.

”Scotland now has the highest public awareness of the Living Wage, and has the fastest rate in terms of growth of number of accredited Living Wage Employers than any other part of the UK.”