Day: June 15, 2020

Job retention scheme shows we’re stronger together, says Briggs

Lothian list Conservative MSP Miles Briggs has praised the UK Government’s job retention scheme which has protected over 100,000 jobs in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

City of Edinburgh 58,400
West Lothian 21,700
East Lothian 12,500
Midlothian 11,200
Total 103,800

He says the UK Government’s job retention scheme is an excellent example of how Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom are stronger together.

The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented national and global crisis which the Scottish and UK government have responded to together.

The UK Government has provided further support to businesses and individuals in Scotland through the self-employed scheme, bounce back loans, VAT referrals and increases in welfare support such as Universal Credit, as well as an extra £3.8 billion in support through Barnett Consequential funding.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, commented: “Lockdown in response to the outbreak of Covid-19 has been challenging for businesses throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“The uncertainty caused by this pandemic has put tens of thousands of jobs at risk, which the job retention scheme has managed to make more secure.

“It is remarkable that the UK government has been able to protect so many jobs during this pandemic.

“We must now focus on getting the economy moving again so that Edinburgh and the Lothians can start recovering from the Covid-19 outbreak. I have called on SNP Ministers to establish a Recovery Taskforce for Edinburgh and the Lothians.”

Bank support helps plant hire firm through COVID-19 crisis

A Scottish plant hire business is keeping moving during the current crisis after securing support thanks to Bank of Scotland. 

Mulholland Plant Services Ltd in Polbeth, West Calder, has over 600 units of plant equipment and machinery available for hire to civil engineering, housebuilders, local authorities, and industrial contractors across the UK, using its own fleet of lorries and service engineers to provide UK coverage for their customers.

Due to the government’s UK-wide lockdown introduced in March, the business saw 95% of its customers, mainly in the construction sector, stop work immediately though local councils and railway services continued to hire equipment.

As a result of the lockdown, turnover in April fell significantly compared to the same period last year.

The downturn has forced the business to furlough 85% of its employees with the remaining members working to support customers that are still open. This includes staff to deliver machinery, field engineers to support customers remotely, and labour to service and prepare the machines.

In order to pay its suppliers, staff wages and deposits for new plant equipment, Mulholland Plant Services Ltd, approached Bank of Scotland for support. The business secured a loan as part of the government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

George Mulholland, director at Mulholland Plant Services Ltd, said: “The construction sector is a key revenue pillar for us but restrictions imposed by the government meant most of our customers, 95%,  were forced to stop work at very short notice.

“Some of our local authorities and industrial contractor customers are still working throughout this crisis and need our services.

“With Bank of Scotland’s help, we’re able to continue supporting our customers that are currently working through what is a hugely challenging time for everyone.

“The funding will also help ensure we can pay our suppliers and equipment costs when business as usual resumes although it is unlikely to pick up as quickly as where we left in March.”

David Allan, relationship director at Bank of Scotland, said: “Planning a route through this stormy period is a huge hurdle for almost every business in Scotland.

“This is why we’re committed to being by the side of companies like Mulholland Plant Services Ltd to help them adapt and adjust in the short-term and come out of this unprecedented time in a strong position.”

Mimi’s Bakehouse supports Cyrenians through ‘pay it forward’ scheme

Mimi’s Bakehouse is offering its customers a fresh way to support homelessness charity Cyrenians with its ‘pay it forward’ scheme, delivering cakes and sweet treats for at-risk communities across Edinburgh.

Cyrenians, a Scottish charity tackling the causes and consequences of homelessness, has adapted many of its service as part of its response to COVID19.

Their Community Cook School, which provided classes to those at-risk or with experience of homelessness, is now a production kitchen cooking 5000 nutritious ready meals a week, delivering to communities across Edinburgh: from those suffering the injustice of food poverty, to frontline workers separated from their families.

Mimi’s Bakehouse is now offering their customers the opportunity to ‘pay it forward’ by purchasing a box of handcrafted cakes for donation to Cyrenians to include in their food deliveries.

Ashley Harley from Mimi’s Bakehouse said: “We were keen to work with Cyrenians as they are providing an invaluable service to our local community during this particularly difficult time and nothing spreads joy more than boxes of cake.

“We are very lucky to have a wonderful customer base that donated over 500 boxes of cake to the NHS during peak lockdown and we hope to continue supporting others as best we can going forward.”

Ewan Aitken, CEO, said: “It’s been staggering and humbling to see the way that communities across Scotland have come together during an exceptionally difficult time, and we’re incredibly grateful for this generous show of support from Mimi’s Bakehouse.

“It’s absolutely wonderful to be able to include these high-end products in our deliveries, letting people know how valued they are – I would like to extend a thank you from myself and from everyone at Cyrenians to Mimi’s Bakehouse, and to their customers in advance, for their compassion and generosity.”

Find out more https://mimisbakehouse.com/collections/pay-it-forward/products/pay-it-forward-cyerians-box

Hearts: We’ll see you in Court

The Scottish Professional Football League Board today announced that a league-wide consultation exercise has shown there is insufficient support for a new divisional structure and that the current 12-10-10-10 format will remain in place for Season 2020/21.

The SPFL decision will now be challlenged in the courts by Hearts, who have now been relegated. The Gorgie club says the decision is ‘unjust and unfair’.

16 of the 42 clubs favoured changing to a 14-10-10-10 structure, but this was short of the numbers required and, as a result, the SPFL Board has agreed to draw a line under reconstruction talks.

Separately, the ten Championship clubs have voted to approve a 27-game programme, with teams playing each other three times, rather than four.

Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the SPFL said: “In recent weeks, we’ve been consulting closely with our clubs regarding possible reconstruction and, based on the feedback we received, the board decided to ask all 42 clubs to give their views so that we could have absolute clarity, which we’ve achieved today.  

“Whilst a number of clubs were in favour of a new divisional set-up, the support for it was insufficient and we will now move forward with a fixture programme for Season 2020/21 based on the current 12-10-10-10 structure.

“Due to the restrictions forced upon us by the coronavirus outbreak, the Championship clubs also voted overwhelmingly to play each other three times next season, rather than four, which enables a later start to the Championship league season.

“Now that we have a confirmed structure for next season, the SPFL’s fixturing team will begin work on the Premiership fixture list, which will start on the weekend of 1 August, and the Championship fixture list, which will start on the weekend of 17 October.”

Discussions regarding arrangements for Leagues 1 and 2 remain ongoing.

In a statement issued this afternoon, Heart of Midlothian FC vowed to fight on. The club said:

‘The SPFL Board has today announced that any reconstruction proposals for season 2020/21 will not proceed to a vote due to a lack of support from other member clubs.

‘To say we are disappointed, yet sadly not surprised, at this outcome is, of course, an understatement. We have, from the outset, worked tirelessly with fellow clubs and the SPFL Board to try to find a solution that would right the most obvious wrongs that have been caused in Scottish football by decisions taken as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘Hearts, along with many others, have stated repeatedly that no club should be disproportionately disadvantaged because of this crisis. This was the final opportunity for kinship to prevail and for Scottish football to stand together in an emergency. It is an unfortunate condemnation of Scottish football that this was not possible.

‘We thank those who were open minded, pragmatic and willing to come together to try and reach a fair outcome for all. Sadly, there were too few of us.

‘Now that all other avenues are closed, we are left with no choice but to proceed with a legal challenge.

‘The club has tried throughout these last few months to avoid this course of action but we must now do the right thing by our supporters, our employees, our players and our sponsors, all of whom have been unwavering in their commitment and support.  We can hold our heads up high as we have acted at all times with integrity, common sense and with the best interests of Scottish football at heart.

‘We have stated from the beginning that the unjust and unfair treatment of Hearts, Partick Thistle, Stranraer and indeed other clubs cannot be allowed to go unchallenged.  While many weeks have been wasted in trying to find a solution, we must now formally challenge this outcome.

‘The club can confirm that the necessary steps have been taken to begin this legal challenge.  Given that this is now an active legal matter, the club will be offering no further comment at this time.

‘To our amazing fans we say that we cannot, and will not, sit idly by and watch the decisions made in the past few months further damage Heart of Midlothian Football Club. Thank you for fighting for us, now allow us to do the same for you.’

Everything you need to know about getting a mortgage during Covid-19

Covid-19 is impacting many families and individuals in very different ways. But with so many of us spending more time at home than ever before, many people are thinking about whether they can move or extend to gain more space, or just taking advantage of lower interest rates.

The housing market is now opening up and rates are changing yet many people are unsure about whether mortgages are available for them.

TSB’s Head of Mortgages, Nick Smith answers some important questions on getting a mortgage in the current environment: 

Can I still get a mortgage in the current environment?

Yes, you can. However, getting a mortgage really depends on individual circumstances. Think about your personal situation – is your income sustainable? Are you happy with the deposit you’ve built?

If you’re planning to get a mortgage, speak to your lender or broker openly about your financial situation and they will be able to advise on the best options for you.

Can I physically view properties?

Estate agents are opening up and you should be able to do physical viewings in England. But in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales viewings are not yet permitted.

If you’d prefer an electronic viewing – speak to your agent, they can likely help you, although for many people, nothing can replace the sense of space and perspective you get from being physically in the property.

Can I get a valuation or survey done on a house I want to buy?

Yes, most lenders are now conducting physical valuations where electronic valuations have not been possible.

Most surveyors will be taking their precautionary measures with full PPE equipment, therefore ensuring the homeowner’s safety as well as their own.

However, more and more lenders are using electronic valuations, which are very accurate and can be done very quickly. Remember – the valuation done by your mortgage lender is to satisfy themselves that the house is a good security for your loan.

I’d always advise when buying a new house that you consider a more detailed survey for your own benefit and peace of mind. The RICS consumer guide to home surveys on their website is a useful guide to your different options.

Are first time buyers impacted more than second time buyers?

No, they’re not. It really depends on how much equity you have either as a first-time buyer or those remortgaging/buying a second property.

If you’re looking to remortgage just remember you don’t have to move to a new bank/lender. All major providers will offer a product transfer which means that you can move to a lower rate.

Is there anything I need to be aware of when applying for a mortgage in this environment?

There are a few things to bear in mind. Crucially, it’s important to think about your financial situation. Has your income changed recently? Will you be able to make payments now and in the future? When speaking to your lender/broker, provide as much information as you can about your income. Ultimately, they will want to protect you as much as possible, so that you can comfortably meet your payments and not find yourself in a financially vulnerable position.

For example, consider the following when speaking to your mortgage advisor: have you been working more overtime than normal lately? Will this continue in the future or will your hours and overtime reduce?

Most lenders will lend to those who have been furloughed but each lender will have their own lending criteria. Your mortgage advisor will be able to help with the best options for you. For more complex income circumstances, a specialist mortgage broker will be able to talk through your options.

The physical process of buying a house has also changed very slightly – there will be more social distancing for example and so it is likely a mortgage meeting will take place over the phone rather than face to face.

A mortgage meeting over the phone is easier to book in whereas face to face is a little more difficult at the moment. The Government has recently issued detailed guidance on how house viewings should be conducted with social distancing in mind.

With the rapid market changes, we’ve also seen banks responding very quickly and reintroducing higher loan to value products. At the moment, most banks have reintroduced lending up to 85% of the value of the property – so there are more mortgages becoming available again for those with a 15% deposit. Do your research and speak to your advisor about the best mortgages for you.

If I’ve been offered a mortgage is my bank obliged to offer it if my circumstances change?

No, they’re not. Offers can only be withdrawn under certain limited conditions but this includes a change in income. If your circumstances change, speak to your lender or broker as soon as possible.  It’s important to remember that they will always want to ensure you can afford repayments now and in the future and they will work with you to find the best options for you.

I’m thinking about enlarging my home to create more space – how do I get a mortgage for this?

You have three options to consider, and the best option for you will depend on a number of things, such as how much additional money you need to borrow, how much your house is worth, and whether your current mortgage is still in a period where early repayment charges apply.

Option 1: would be to speak to your existing mortgage provider about a “Further Advance” – essentially borrowing more money on your existing mortgage. This is likely to be the quickest option to get funds in your bank account, as there’s no change in lender, but you should weigh up both the convenience and the cost, as it won’t necessarily be the cheapest option.

Option 2: would be to move your entire mortgage to a new lender under a remortgage process, taking additional borrowing as part of your application. If you want to take this option, be careful to speak to your existing lender about any early repayment costs associated with your current mortgage.

Option 3: would be to take out what’s known as a “second charge” loan – this is where a new lender advances you the money, accepting that if you default on your mortgage and your house is repossessed, they only get funds from your property once the first-change lender (i.e. your main mortgage) has recovered their debts. As a result, these are usually more expensive interest rates, and are less common in the market.

If the above options don’t appeal, or if you don’t have much equity in your property, you could also consider an unsecured loan.

Whilst interest rates are usually higher than on mortgages / further advances, there is some flexibility in taking a separate unsecured loan, as long as you can afford both payments, and most mainstream lenders will offer up to anywhere between £25k and £50k as their maximum unsecured loan amount.

Do note though, repayment terms are usually shorter, so these will almost always have a higher monthly repayment.

I’m not feeling confident about buying in the current environment, what should I do with my deposit?

If you’re feeling uncertain about buying a house right now, think about when you believe you might feel ready. When thinking about where to put your hard-earned deposit, consider whether you really want it tied-up.

If there’s a chance that you might find somewhere you would love to buy in six months, then putting your deposit in a longer fixed-term savings account, where you might forfeit interest if you withdraw early, probably isn’t the right thing to do, even if it has a slightly better interest rate.

Equally, you should think very carefully before moving any of your deposit into stocks, shares or funds, where the value could go down as well as up – what if the value has decreased at a time you want to buy? Would that be a problem for you?

If so, now probably isn’t the time for that sort of investment. Speak to your bank about your options, they can assist and talk you through what is suitable for you and your circumstances.

Nick Smith, TSB’s Head of Mortgages, concludes: “The market is changing rapidly and we are seeing some confidence grow in the housing market, which will be welcome news for those eager to buy a new home or to remortgage.

“There are mortgages available, but you will need to remember to do your research and have open discussions with your mortgage advisor.”

 

What a first year for The Portobello Bookshop!

When Jack founded The Portobello Bookshop in July last year, never could he have imagined that he’d be celebrating Portobello’s one-year anniversary in the midst of a global pandemic!

While the physical shop might be currently closed, Jack is determined to keep the activity going (safely!) and keep bringing books to his wonderful customers.

After weeks of hard work and planning, the bookshop set up a new online order system, and they will soon be launching a click-and-collect service.

In spite of the current challenges, Jack and his team are remaining hopeful and creative, and are still planning to celebrate Independent Book Week, in whatever form might be safe to do so.

Their current plans involve a virtual event with children’s author Emily MacKenzie, whose latest book Beware! Ralfy Rabbit and the Secret Book Biter (Bloomsbury) is published this month.

Emily will also be curating a stunning shop window for Portobello.

Jack said: “For the time being we don’t plan to open as a physical shop, but instead to run a click and collect service, as we keep an eye on things and open at a time when we feel it is ok to do so. 

We’re going to make sure our shop is as safe as possible. This will include distancing signs around the interior of the shop, a shield for our till area, and of course hand sanitiser always available.

“The interior of our shop was always designed for easy access and navigation and the flow of it from left to right will allow us to hopefully ensure people can move around safely and browse easily.”

 

Jack talked about their plans for Independent Bookshop Week: “IBW is a wonderful thing and we’re pleased that it will be possible for us to do something for it with the lockdown having been lifted a little.

“We’ve got local author and illustrator Emily MacKenzie popping in to the shop to do an inspiring window featuring characters from her latest book Beware Ralfy Rabbit and the Secret Book Biter, a book all about books, reading and the love of literature.

“She’ll also be doing an online event, most likely streamed via our Instagram, which both children and adults are welcome to join!”

From online events with bestselling authors, to a picture book celebrating key workers, to virtual bookshop crawls, Independent Bookshop Week 2020 will go ahead this year, taking place 20-27 June as planned.

Organised by the Booksellers Association (BA) and sponsored by Hachette, the annual celebration of independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland this year has adapted to include online events to give book lovers across the country access to authors and books during lockdown.

The week will celebrate the role indie booksellers have continued to play in building a sense of community during the pandemic, as well as encouraging customers to support their local highstreet by shopping local at what is a particularly challenging time for small retailers.

VIRTUAL EVENTS

Confirmed events taking place during IBW include:

  • Meg Rosoff, bestselling author of How I Live Now, will be joining the series of virtual events “At Home with 4 Indies”, created by booksellers from Book-ish (Crickhowell), Linghams (Wirral), Forum Books (Corbridge) and Booka Bookshop (Shropshire). The series, which since the lockdown began has included guests such as Joe Wicks, Robert Webb, David Baldacci, and Marian Keyes offers all book-lovers a new, special kind of author event. The event with Meg Rosoff will be live on the At Home with 4 Indies Facebook page on Tuesday 23rd June at 8pm.
  • Maggie O’Farrell, bestselling author of the Women Prize nominated novel Hamnet, will join At Home with 4 Indies on Friday 26th June at 8pm.
  • Cressida Cowell, Waterstones Children’s Laureate will be a holding a virtual bookshop tour on her social channels, featuring each of the following indies on a different day for the duration of IBW. Bookshops confirmed so far are Mainstreet Trading (Melrose), Little Ripon (North Yorkshire) and Silverwood Events (Kirkham, Preston).
  • Steve Chambers, co-author of Resist: Stories of Uprising, a collection of stories and essays exploring two millennia of British protest, will be doing a virtual event with Bookmarks Bookshop (London) on Friday 26th June.
  • Julia Bell, novelist, essayist, poet, creative writing course director and author of Radical Attention will be taking over the social channels of Newham Bookshop (London) and sharing her bookshop picks during the week.
  • Tim Burgess will be curating a special book-inspired playlist, released on his Twitter channel at 3pm on Sunday 21st June.
  • To celebrate National Reading Group Day, which coincides with the first day of IBW, The Reading Agency will be encouraging reading groups across the UK to read The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri. There will be a discussion with the author on Facebook on Saturday 20th June.

INDIE BOOKSHOPS AND PUBLISHERS PAIR UP

To underline the many ways in which small businesses are supporting each other at this difficult time, IBW wills see independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland being “twinned” with indie publishers, in a series of special events and exclusives.

Confirmed twinned bookshops and publishers include:

  • Saraband Books (Glasgow and Manchester), indie publisher of fiction, nature writing, and environmental reads will be twinned with Sam Read Bookseller (Grasmere, Lake District).
  • Publishers of “the best of Chinese literature”, Alain Charles Asia (West Sussex) will be promoting 11 indie bookshops from Sussex throughout the week via its social channels.
  • Indie publisher Wrecking Ball Press (Hull) will be partnering with The Rabbit Hole (Brigg) and will be hosting virtual events with a selection of their authors, providing signed titles and more.

EXCLUSIVES

An early release of Meg Rosoff’s new children’s book, The Great Godden will be available exclusively in indie bookshops during Independent Bookshop Week, with signed copies and tote bags available for customers, before its general release in July.

Thank You, Heroes, a new picture book celebrating key workers by Patricia Hegarty and Michael Emmerson will be release exclusively in indies from 20th June, ahead of wider publication in July. Little Tiger will be donating all publisher profits on UK sales to NHS Charities.

INDIE BOOK AWARDS

The shortlist for the Indie Book Awards 2020, this year in their fourteen edition, has been revealed, as voted for by independent booksellers across the UK and Ireland.

Spanning four categories – Fiction, Children’s Fiction, Picture Book and a new Non-Fiction prize – the awards celebrate the paperback books of the year, as chosen by independent bookshops, and are part of Independent Bookshop Week (20 – 27 June 2020), the annual celebration of indie bookshops organised by the Booksellers Association.

Included in this year’s shortlist are Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo (Girl, Woman, Other), international best-selling author Elif Shafak (10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World), Baillie Gifford Prize winner Hallie Rubenhold (The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper), former Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson (Animalphabet) and Irish Children’s laureate Sarah Crossan (Toffee).

Chosen by a judging panel of independent booksellers, authors and industry influencers, the Indie Book Awards winners will be announced on Friday 26 June 2020, the penultimate day of Independent Bookshop Week.

The full Indie Book Awards 2020 shortlist:

FICTION SHORTLIST

The Offing by Benjamin Myers (Bloomsbury)

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak (Penguin)

You Will Be Safe Here by Damian Barr (Bloomsbury)

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Picador)

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (Corsair)

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo (Penguin)

NON-FICTION SHORTLIST

Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner (Hodder & Stoughton)

War Doctor by David Nott (Picador)

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold (Black Swan)

Extraordinary Insects: Weird. Wonderful. Indispensable. The Ones Who Run Our World by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson (Mudlark)

Mudlarking by Lara Maiklem (Bloomsbury)

No Win Race by Derek A Bardowell (Mudlark)

CHILDREN’S FICTION SHORTLIST

Toffee by Sarah Crossan (Bloomsbury)

Deeplight by Frances Hardinge (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Chinglish: An Almost Entirely True Story by Sue Cheung (Andersen Press)

The Star Outside my Window by Onjali Q. Rauf (Orion Children’s Books)

The Somerset Tsunami by Emma Carroll (Faber & Faber)

The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson (Usborne)

PICTURE BOOK SHORTLIST

Animalphabet by Julia Donaldson & Sharon King-Chai (Two Hoots)

Greta and the Giants by Zoe Tucker & Zoe Persico (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)

Don’t Worry Little Crab by Chris Haughton (Walker Books)

Alfie on Holiday by Shirley Hughes (Puffin Books)

I’m Sticking With You by Smriti Halls and Steve Small (Simon & Schuster)

Franklin and Luna Go To The Moon by Jen Campbell, illustrated by Katie Harnett (Thames & Hudson)

The final winners of the Adult categories will be chosen by a panel chaired by bookseller Matt Taylor (Chepstow Books & Gifts) and including Elizabeth Perry (Daunt Books), Zool Verjee (Head of Marketing and Publicity at Blackwells), Sarah Shaffi, (freelance journalist and #BAMEinPublishing co-founder) and Hachette author William Shaw.

The judging panel of the Children’s categories will be chaired by bookseller Vanessa Lewis (The Book Nook) and includes Layla Hudson (Round Table Books), Jessica Paul (Max Minerva’s Marvellous Books & More), Jonathan Douglas (CEO of National Literacy Trust) and Hachette author Piers Torday.

For updates and to join the conversation on social media, follow @booksaremybag and #IndieBookshopWeek.

Free parking ends next Monday

Charges for on-street pay and display parking will be resumed in Edinburgh from Monday, 22 June.

The city council suspended the enforcement of pay and display parking spaces in March to protect workers and the public from the risk of coronavirus, while helping key workers to make essential journeys.

In line with the Scottish Government’s phased approach to lifting lockdown measures, the reintroduction of pay and display parking enforcement will ‘support the city’s economic recovery by encouraging the turnover of parking spaces and therefore visitors to shops, cafes and restaurants when they reopen’.

The council says it will also be central to a package of measures facilitating safer walking, cycling and wheeling as restrictions are eased, by limiting congestion and obstructions on the road.

This week the council will issue warning flyers, notifying customers on ticketing machines and updating social media to remind drivers that charges will be coming into place in the week leading up to their return.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “This has been an extremely challenging period, and as we begin to emerge from it, we need to adapt the way we manage the city.

“We’re already seeing an increase in traffic on the roads so it’s essential that we respond to this. As businesses begin to reopen, and footfall to certain streets rises, parking enforcement is crucial, not only to encourage a turnover of visitors to shops, restaurants and other businesses, but also to create a safer, more welcoming environment for the many people travelling by foot, bike or wheelchair.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “We want to make it as easy as possible for people to walk, cycle or travel by public transport while maintaining physical distancing.

“By reintroducing pay and display parking charges we will be able to ensure our streets are obstruction free while also managing demand on some of our busier thoroughfares.”

Dispensation for residents who have a valid residents’ parking permit to park in pay and display parking places in their own zone will continue, helping people who need to work from home.

Drivers will be encouraged to pay for pay and display parking using RingGo and contactless payments to limit the use of cash, though coins will still be accepted by ticket machines.

A series of interventions encouraging people to travel around the city on foot, bike or public transport as restrictions are eased is already underway across the Capital. Changes include temporary segregated cycleways, widened pavements and bus gates and are being delivered using £5m funding from the Scottish Government’s Spaces for People programme, via Sustrans.

The next phase of improvements will focus on the city centre and other town centres across Edinburgh, helping people to visit these areas while maintaining physical distancing, without having to resort to private car use.

Find out more about service changes on the Council website.

Filmhouse announces online live public consultation sessions

Edinburgh’s Filmhouse continues to consult with as many people as possible by adapting its pre-planning public consultation in light of the social distancing and other advice issued by the UK and Scottish Governments in response to Coronavirus.

Open public drop in sessions which were to be held at the Filmhouse with CEO of the Filmhouse Ken Hay, the architect Richard Murphy, and Fraser Littlejohn from planning consultants Montagu Evans will now take place online with members of the public able to sign up in advance, or join spontaneously.

Questions for the panel will be prioritised from those who email in advance to future@filmhousecinema.com  but there will also be the opportunity to feed through questions live to the moderator.

The public sessions are scheduled for 24 June at 1pm and 7pm, and 25 June at 10am and 4pm.

Each registered participant will be sent a short introductory video to watch before the session and be encouraged to submit questions in advance so they can be collated into areas of discussion.

During the session the panel will each speak and share images and plans of the new building before opening up to questions. The sessions are expected to last between 45 and 60 minutes.

If you would like to secure a place at a session please email future@filmhousecinema.com  to book.

Ken Hay, CEO of Centre for the Moving Image (inc Filmhouse and Edinburgh International Film Festival) said: “It’s a challenging environment in which to make sure we do the best job possible of reaching as wide a public as possible.

“We already have almost 500 responses to the consultation on the new Filmhouse building through our online survey, which is terrific. It is really useful to receive this feedback while the consultation is live so we work to address areas of concern or questions through our continually updating information online.

“We’re looking forward to these web consultation sessions and some live interaction with those who are interested so we can answer their questions.”

Information on the bold new vision to create an internationally significant, fully accessible and environmentally sustainable landmark home for film and screen culture in Edinburghincluding architect drawings and visualisations, the background to the development and FAQs are available on Filmhouse’s website.

People can feedback through a simple online survey on the Filmhouse website.

The project team is currently creating a series of further digital resources which are being shared through Filmhouse and Edinburgh International Film Festival websites, social media and email.

These resources are drawing out different aspects of the building and its purpose, responding to some of the questions emerging from the consultation feedback so far. The upcoming public consultation sessions will also be recorded and made available on YouTube post event.

The planned new Filmhouse building has been designed by award-winning Edinburgh based Richard Murphy Architects and will significantly improve and increase the quality and quantity of spaces available to and needed by Filmhouse and EIFF for their audiences, customers, participants and industry partners.

It will create a hub for Edinburgh’s film and broader cultural community to base themselves in, and be a focal point for Edinburgh’s citizens to learn about film and filmmaking in all its diversity.

Information on the proposed building is at www.filmhousecinema.com/future

Free virtual business support from Zero Waste Scotland

Businesses in Edinburgh are being encouraged to bring their costs down with free, one to one, virtual support available from Zero Waste Scotland.

Through the recently launched Energy Efficiency Business Support Service, which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Zero Waste Scotland is offering small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) energy assessments to identify where simple actions could result in significant financial savings.

Support can begin immediately, and assessments typically find 24% savings on business energy bills. For a typical SME in Scotland that’s around a £2,500 saving on energy costs.

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “We know businesses are exploring every measure that could benefit their budget at the present time, as well as helping to futureproof their operations.

“I would encourage any business in Scotland to contact our advisors and see where we can work together to identify savings.

“Lighting can account for over 20% of a business’ total energy bill, and more than half for offices with gas central heating. It’s clear that energy can be a significant cost to a small business, and with many in Scotland negotiating the unprecedented effects of the coronavirus pandemic on their bottom line addressing energy inefficiency could be a welcome solution to reducing overheads.

“There’s a strong argument to be made that economic recovery must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility, and our work with SMEs in Scotland reflects that too. Our advisors have already supported organisations to identify over £200million in savings – that’s a clear demonstration of the demand for sustainable opportunities for growth.”

Businesses interested in a virtual energy assessment can receive a dedicated, expert advisor who will work with them on a one to one basis and assess current energy use data to identify and quantify savings.

Examples of savings typically identified include:

  • installing more efficient heating systems,
  • improving the insulation of a building or investing in more energy efficient equipment, such as a state of the art oven or a more efficient refrigeration unit, and
  • investing in LED lighting. 

Dedicated support from Zero Waste Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Business Support Service identified annual savings of nearly £1,800 for Goldenace Mini Market in Edinburgh.

A detailed assessment undertaken by expert advisors appointed to the convenience store on a one-to-one basis recommended several energy-saving actions that would both reduce costs and help the environment. These included investing in LED lighting and replacing fridge and freezer units with more modern, efficient models.

Aleem Farooqi, owner of Goldenacre Mini Market, said: “I am absolutely delighted with the new double-glazed refrigeration cabinets and the LED lighting. I have already seen my electricity bills drop by about 30%, saving me about £1,800 a year.

“The support from the service helped me to identify and fund the changes to my shop and I am really happy with the results.”

The full case study and further case studies are available on the Zero Waste Scotland website.

To find out more, or to apply, visit www.energy.zerowastescotland.org.uk. Alternatively, contact our advisors directly by calling 0808 808 2268 or emailing EnergyEfficiency@zerowastescotland.org.uk

The Energy Efficiency Business Support Service is part of Zero Waste Scotland’s Resource Efficient Circular Economy Accelerator Programme, which will invest £35million in Scotland in resource efficiency projects thanks to support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Police seek witnesses to attempted robbery in Gayfield Square

Detectives are continuing their enquiries and appealing for information after two men attempted to rob a man in Gayfield Square on Friday (12 June).

Around 3.45pm on Friday afternoon, the two suspects approached a 66 year-old man near to Gayfield Square in Edinburgh. They threatened him with a knife and demanded money. The victim refused and the men walked off.

The victim was uninjured but badly shaken as a result of the incident.

The first suspect is described as white, aged mid-late 20s, 6ft 1ins in height and of slim build with dark hair. He was wearing a dark blue parka-style jacket with a fur hood, dark coloured trousers and white trainers.

The second suspect is described as white, aged mid-late 20s, 5ft 10ins in height and of slim build. He was wearing a black jacket, dark-coloured trousers, a white t-shirt and a black cap.

Detective Constable Joanne Robertson from Gayfield Police Station said: “We have been carrying out enquiries in the local area and studying CCTV footage to gather more information on these two men.

“We believe that they may have approached other members of the public in Elm Row and Picardy Place and asked them for money too. I would ask anyone who was approached or who was in the area at the time on Friday afternoon and saw these two men, to come forward.”

Any information can be passed to Gayfield Police Station through 101 quoting reference number 2711 of 12 June. Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.