Proposals for a significant mixed-use development in Falkland and an extensive range of new facilities for the village are set to go out for public consultation.
Scotch Whisky Investments (SWI) is bringing forward proposals for the delivery of a mixed-use development in Falkland. The Falkland development forms part of a multi-million-pound investment in Fife, including a single malt Scotch whisky storage and bottling facility in Glenrothes.
The international business, which is involved in the whisky asset management sector, has a license to offer financial investment products in the form of bottles and casks of single malt Scotch whisky issued by the Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM).
SWI seeks to showcase the history of, and educate people about single malt Scotch whisky, as well as promote investment in the commodity.
SWI is seeking to deliver a mixed-use development in Falkland at the former St John’s Works site, located to the south of the village. This includes proposals for a new iconic corporate headquarters building with restaurants, museum and serviced accommodation and extensive community facilities for Falkland.
The development will deliver significant investment, creating employment and tourism opportunities for the village.
The 3.64-hectare St John’s Work’s site was formerly a linoleum factory and then taken over by Smith Anderson, a manufacturer of paper bags, before its closure in 2013, after which it was demolished.
This headquarters building aims to act as a centrepiece for learning about and showcasing single malt Scotch whisky, as well as providing a place of hospitality for worldwide investors in this commodity. Designed to house the worldwide administrative functions of the company itself, the intent is that the site will have stature and status with global appeal.
The Scottish Government has suspended in-person public consultation events due to COVID-19.
Full details about the proposals will be available to the public at 9 am on Tuesday 2 August on the dedicated project website:
An online consultation for Falkland will take place between 3 pm and 8 pm on Tuesday 2 August.
A second in-person public consultation for the Falkland event will be held on Wednesday, 14 September, between 4.30 pm and 7.30 pm, at Falkland Community Hall, Back Wynd, Falkland, Fife KY15 7BX.
If you cannot access the exhibition boards on the day of the event, please contact Orbit Communications at Falkland@orbitconsultations.scot or on 0131 202 3259 or at 4 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JE, and we can arrange for them to reach you in an alternative manner.
A spokesperson at SWI said:“We’re delighted to be giving the public the chance to have a say on our development proposals at Falkland.
“This exciting development provides much-needed investment in the community with a globally recognised headquarters for Scotch Whisky Investments.
“We are consulting extensively to ensure that that the public have an opportunity to input their views and shape our proposals. We encourage the community to attend, raise any questions they may have and provide feedback.”
It can be difficult for parents and carers to keep up with online technology because it changes so quickly, but it’s something that children and young people deal with every day.
There’s been lots of news about the metaverse being the next big development in online technology, but it’s important to know exactly what it is, and what risks it could pose to children and young people.
The metaverse is an online environment where users can take part in activities which they might already enjoy offline or in the ‘real world’. For example, people can go shopping, have dinner, or watch a film at a virtual cinema. Some experts call it a ‘3D internet’.
Companies use technology to allow users to access the metaverse using a headset to create a more immersive ‘real-life experience’.
The NSPCC is concerned that there’s no age-assurance in the metaverse, so anyone can go online and pretend to be younger or older than they really are. This makes it easier for children to access inappropriate material or digital environments where they could be at risk, and easier for online offenders to groom, bully or abuse children.
When it comes to ensuring your child is safe online, talking with them regularly about their online life means they will feel relaxed about telling you if they do have any worries. You can also ask them who they are talking to online. If it’s people they don’t know offline, don’t get angry, just remind them that not everyone online is who they say they are and they should never arrange to meet someone offline without telling you first.
Using parental controls and, for younger children, keeping gaming devices and computers in family spaces will also help to keep them safe.
For more information visit the NSPCC website. If you are concerned about a child, contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit www.childline.org.uk.
Dom Littlewood visited the Matheson family in Edinburgh as they navigate increasing energy bills and the rising cost of living
Part of a new mini-series, titled What’s Watt, Dom helped the Mathesons follow practical steps to better manage their energy use, including using their smart meter’s in-home display (IHD)
By following the advice, the family has been able to reduce their energy bills from around £7-8 per day to under £5
What’s Watt launches alongside the second chapter of the Super Smart Energy Savers Report, with research by Smart Energy GB revealing that 33% of Scots say that this is the first summer that they’ve taken action to reduce their energy use
Video caption: Dom Littlewood and Smart Energy GB launch a new online mini-series as part of the Super Smart Energy Savers campaign, tracking the Matheson family in Edinburgh as they take steps to better manage energy use and take control of their household budgets.
A family of four in Edinburgh have made significant savings on their energy bills after taking part in a new series with presenter and consumer champion, Dom Littlewood.
Jane and John Matheson, from Edinburgh, recently moved in together along with their two children. Since doing so, their energy bills have increased by more than three times what they were paying when they lived separately.
The new mini-series, What’s Watt, created by Dom Littlewood and Smart Energy GB follows Dom as he visits families across Great Britain including the Mathesons in Edinburgh, to help them navigate increasing energy bills and the rising cost of living.
The Matheson family followed Dom’s practical advice to better manage their energy usage and help reduce their household bills by an average of £75* per month since his visit.
They’ve achieved this by following advice such as shutting doors more often, turning down the temperature on their washing machine and using their smart meter’s in-home display to monitor their energy use in near-real time in pounds and pence.
Jane Matheson said: “Since Dom’s visits we’ve been shutting doors more often, turning lights off, turning our washing machine down to 30 and only washing full loads. The tumble dryer thinks it has been made redundant, we have turned our thermostat down, ordered new insulating curtains and made enquiries about loft insulation.”
By making these small changes, Jane and John are hoping to instil positive habits in their children, so they can continue to reduce their energy usage and spending into the winter months.
The series launches as research finds that four months on from April’s energy price cap increase, over a third (33%) of Scots say this is the first summer they’ve taken action to reduce their energy use, after typically paying less attention to bills during the warmer months.
Despite many taking actions already, one in five (26%) Scots would like more advice on ways to save energy in the summer, with 25% wanting tips they haven’t heard before.
Following this demand for new tips, Dom Littlewood and Smart Energy GB have also teamed up with consumer advocates Helen Skelton and MoneyMagpie, to co-author the second chapter of the Super Smart Energy Savers Report.
The panel has been formed with combined expertise to ensure it features actionable advice to help all households manage their energy use and take control of their household budgets.
Advice from the Super Smart Energy Savers Panel includes:
Get the most out of your fans – choosing the right fan is key to staying cool and in control of your energy bills. Making sure any fans or cooling equipment you have around the house are as energy efficient as possible will reduce your consumption of electricity. The way you use your fan is important too: for example, some have timers that enable you to save energy when you’re asleep; or placing a bowl of ice in front of your fan will lower the temperature of the air circulating in the room and cool you down quicker.
Get a smart meter – smart meters ensure your bills are accurate and come with an in-home display that shows exactly how much energy is being used in near-real time and in pounds and pence, giving customers more control over their energy use. If you’re trying to reduce your energy use to keep bills down, knowing how much you are using – and what you’re spending – can be a huge help. As can knowing what the bill will be before it arrives. And they’re available at no extra cost from your energy supplier.
Switch to a summer routine – maybe you use your tumble-dryer regularly during the winter but using a tumble dryer three times a week costs approximately £223 a year**, so think about drying washing outside if you’re able to in the summer. It will dry much quicker and cost less than using a tumble-dryer.
Dom Littlewood, TV presenter and consumer advocate comments:“Filming this series and meeting the Mathesons was an eye opener. It’s clear that people have become more energy conscious this year – even though sometimes it’s one member of the home leading the change.
“Whilst households are taking lots of positive steps to manage their energy use, by working directly with families we found we were able to identify some further small steps they could take, such as getting a smart meter to monitor energy use.
“My new content series, What’s Watt, and the Super Smart Energy Savers Report offers households access to information they may not have seen before, so they have more tricks up their sleeve when it comes to taking control of their household budgets.”
Victoria Bacon, Director at Smart Energy GB, comments: “Summer is traditionally a time that energy use and bills are pushed to the back of our minds, but the increase in energy prices this year has changed that.
“With the temperatures soaring over the last couple of weeks, people are even more mindful of how much energy they’re using in the home just to keep cool and want to understand how to keep bills as low as possible.
“Understanding your energy use can have a big impact on habits – shown by how much more those with smart meters are reducing their energy bills compared to those without. It’s difficult to change what you can’t see, so using a smart meter’s in-home display to monitor energy use in near-real time helps you stay in control.”
As the world’s largest arts festival is set to return to Edinburgh, Naked Malt will launch the city’s best kept secret cocktail garden complete with sipping stations and Instagrammable delights this August.
An official sponsor of Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe 2022, Naked Malt has created an immersive drinks den called the Naked Malt Garden, located in the legendary Bristo Square serving signature cocktails from some of Edinburgh’s most sought after bars including Top 50 cocktail bar in the UK – Hey Palu and the innovation-driven Superico.
Launching onAugust 3rd, the picturesque garden embodies an urban summer in the city with a vibrant backdrop of oranges, refreshing lemons and of course, whisky. Encouraging guests to drink whisky their way.
Designed specifically to encourage you to savour those little moments in life, the pop up embraces Naked Malt’s ethos to “Live Naked” – celebrating those shared moments with friends. The garden itself is full of Instagrammable highlights including a striking Live Naked vibrant wall, a standing ‘Sipping Station’, along with comfortable seating and a relaxed outdoor vibe.
Popping up at the Med Quad area in Bristo Square, right next door to McEwan Hall for four weeks from 3rd – 29th August, The Naked Malt Garden will bring the very best whisky cocktails to the city centre during the highly anticipated return of Edinburgh Fringe.
The whisky brand has collaborated with expert bartenders from two of Edinburgh’s most respected bars Hey Palu and Superico, to create specially crafted whisky sours.
On the menu, you’ll find three exclusive Naked Sours including their signature Cloudy Apple Sour, alongside an imaginative Tropical Tuesday serve made by Hey Palu (above).
This contemporary drink sees Naked Malt whisky expertly mixed with a homemade passion fruit syrup, a blend of pineapple and lemon juices alongside Orgeat for that ultimate summer drink.
Meanwhile, top bar Superico has crafted The Superico Sour which offers a sophisticated twist on a classic sour which blends Naked Malt whisky, Coconut liqueur, Miso Pineapple Syrup and Lemon Juice.
The Naked Malt Garden will be the perfect spot to enjoy expertly made whisky sours and encourage Edinburgh Fringe visitors to #LiveNaked this summer.
Emily Stephenson brand manager at Naked Malt said: “Taking over an iconic location, we’re excited to reveal The Naked Malt Garden, in collaboration with some of Edinburgh’s top bartenders, just in time for the return of the biggest arts festival in the world.
“Edinburgh in August is a sight to behold, and we can’t wait to welcome guests from the city and beyond to enjoy some very special Naked Sours.
“We’re eager to ensure the spotlight stays on the city’s local bars during the Fringe and that they reap the benefits of the huge influx of tourists into the city, which is why we’ve collaborated with the incredible teams at Hey Palu and Superico, to design their very own Naked Malt cocktail.
“Their skilled bartenders have concocted some truly delicious drinks, inspired by Naked Malt’s ethos to Live Naked – celebrating the little moments when we can get back to our real selves.”
Family-run Italian cocktail bar Hey Palu has gained a cult following since arriving in the city, recognised as one of the Top 50 cocktail bars in the UK, with their modern cocktails and friendly atmosphere.
A design-led cocktail bar, Superico were crowned winners of the best ‘Bar, Club & Lounge’ at the Hospitality Design Awards in New York in 2021, the only venue outside of the US to be shortlisted. Led by Mike Lynch, a multi-award-winning mixologist, the venue has delighted visitors to the city with its show-stopping food and innovative cocktails.
The Naked Malt Garden opens on August 3rd until August 29th and runs daily at Bristo Square from 10am until 1am – Sunday to Thursday, and from 10am-3am on weekends. Strictly for over 18+s. Free entry.
Follow Naked Malt on Instagram or visit website for more information
Eddie Izzardhas been appointed as the first alumni Patron of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.
As our first Patron, Eddie will represent the idea that the Fringe Society is the charity that underpins the Fringe and supports the Fringe to fulfil its vision to ‘give anyone a stage and everyone a seat‘.
In 1981, while studying Accounting and Financial Management at Sheffield University, Eddie first came to Edinburgh, and the Fringe, with a vision of emulating her Monty Python heroes who had all played there, but it took her 10 years to get shortlisted for the Perrier Comedy Award in 1991 (now the Edinburgh Comedy Awards).
Eddie performed at the Fringe twelve times over thirteen years to get her career to take off – in sketch comedy, street performing, and finally in stand-up comedy.
Eddie is now recognised around the world, having played in forty-five countries, in four languages, and in venues like Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl. She has also acted in such diverse Hollywood films as Ocean’s Twelve and Thirteen, Six Minutes to Midnight, Valkyrie, Victoria & Abdul, Whisky Galore and The Lego Batman Movie, as well as Sky’s hit drama Stay Close.
Winner of both Primetime Emmy and International Emmy awards, and nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor, Eddie is a global champion for creativity, and a vocal supporter for those starting out.
Eddie Izzard said: “The Edinburgh Fringe gives people from all around the world – a wonderful, open door opportunity to perform and be seen. But it is also physically and mentally as tough as hell. It took me eight Fringe festivals to start breaking through, and ten festivals to finally arrive!
“But the Fringe Festival taking place in the dramatic and historic capital city of Edinburgh gives it something else. It gives it grandeur. It is this grandeur, coupled with young people’s intense creative struggle, that has made the Edinburgh Fringe what it is today. A legend.”
Shona McCarthy, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Chief Executive, said: “Eddie’s enthusiasm and passion for what the Fringe represents is inspiring, and she speaks from the heart and personal experience of its challenges. We are delighted to welcome her as a Patron of the Fringe Society.
“As someone who has performed at the Fringe since the 80s, she has experienced the festival as an emerging artist, as a street performer, and as a returning performer at the top of her game.
“As an organisation created to support artists in navigating, and maximising their time at the Festival, Eddie’s involvement, through her role as Patron, will resonate with many looking to develop their careers. It is a privilege to have Eddie on board, supporting the work of the Society and working with us to achieve our Fringe development goals and commitments.”
Yesterday’s announcement follows the 2021 appointment of Phoebe-Waller Bridge as the Society’s first honorary President.
In the coming months we will recruit a range of patrons from our Fringe alumni to join Phoebe and Eddie in championing the Fringe vision and development goals.
We want the Edinburgh Fringe to be the best Festival in the world for artists and audiences alike, and it is both welcome and necessary to have the support of brilliant Fringe alumni to help make that happen.
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Staying Hydrated This Summer
Staying hydrated is important for keeping your heart and circulatory system healthy. Thirst often feels similar to hunger, so drinking plenty of fluid can prevent over-eating and weight-gain. We have some tips to help you stay hydrated:
Am I dehydrated?
Symptoms of dehydration include headaches, tiredness, irritability and difficulty concentrating. If your urine is pale and clear then you are hydrated. If your urine is more yellow, brown or dark in colour with a strong smell, you are probably not drinking enough.
How much should I drink?
Aim to drink six to eight cups or glasses of fluid every day. You may need to drink more during hot weather, or if you are doing a lot of physical activity.
What should I drink?
Water is best, but if you don’t like water, you could try herbal teas or sugar-free squash. Coffee and tea also count, but try to cut out any added sugar.
You can get water from fruit and vegetables, such as cucumber, watermelon, tomatoes, oranges and apples. Avoid drinking too much alcohol as it causes you to urinate more, which can lead to dehydration.
The charity’s analysis of Police Scotland crime data found that online child sexual abuse offences had more than doubled over the last decade.
The data shows 1,298 Indecent Image offences and crimes of Communicating Indecently with a Child were logged in the year to March– up from 543 just ten years ago.
The NSPCC said the growth in crimes and the scale of abuse taking place against children should serve as a wake-up call for the next UK Prime Minister to make the Online Safety Bill a national priority.
The charity said it underlines the urgent need for Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak to commit to passing the legislation in full and without delay.
The NSPCC first secured the commitment to regulate social media four years ago in a bid to combat the inaction of Silicon Valley to abuse taking place against children on their platforms.
The legislation would put a duty of care on companies for their users and mean they would have to put measures in place to prevent and disrupt child abuse on their sites and protect children from harm.
“Being groomed has had a horrific impact on my life and I want no other young person to endure that. I know this delay to the Online Safety Bill will see more young people like me experience harm when it could have been prevented, and that is devastating.”
The NSPCC has written to both Conservative leadership candidates saying, ‘delay or watering down of the Bill will come at considerable cost to children and families. It would represent the reversal of an important manifesto commitment that commands strong levels of public support’.
With school summer holidays under way for families across the UK, many of us will be counting down the days until we step on a plane for potentially the first time since pre-covid. However, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is asking families if they are up to date on their water safety knowledge.
The charity fears that we will see more tragedies overseas in the coming months, as we have seen in previous years, as families head abroad to enjoy the sun, sea and swimming pools.
Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK said: “Every year during the summer we see a sharp rise in the number of accidental drownings not only in the UK but also with UK citizens abroad.
“Unfortunately we have already this year seen a number of drownings of both adults and children who were enjoying their holiday abroad and we do not want to see any more over the summer period.
“We understand how exciting a summer holiday can be but we want to ensure that families long awaited trips do not turn to the unimaginable for all of the wrong reasons. We are encouraging families to ensure that they take responsibility for their own water safety and enjoy their time on holiday but be safe whilst doing so.”
The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s advice is clear, that those preparing for their summer holidays should ensure the following simple tips are understood by all members of the family:
You are your family’s lifeguard – Lifeguard standards differ outside of the UK and Ireland. Always supervise children and keep them within arms’ length.
Do your research – check the safety arrangements of any water-based activities and if there is lifeguard cover at the pool/beach and know what to do and who to call in an emergency.
Do not use inflatables in open water – Inflatable dinghies or lilos are a well-known hazard – each year there are a high number of incidents where people on inflatables are blown out to sea.
Make sure the whole family can swim and knows basic water safety – visit www.rlss.org.uk to take their free, online Lifesaver Lifechanger toolkit.
Check bathing sites for hazards, check the safest places to swim and always read the signs – find out what local warning signs and flags mean.
Lee continued: “We want to help families enjoy water safely with our summer water safety information.
“We truly believe that people can be equipped with the right knowledge around water safety, and as a result we won’t need to see the fatalities we currently are seeing with accidental drownings both in the UK and abroad.”
For further water safety information visit the RLSS UK website – www.rlss.org.uk.
The biggest ever Commonwealth Games and the largest sporting event to be held in the West Midlands will open in Birmingham today ‘on time and on budget’.
Backed by £778 million of public funding, including £594 million from the UK government, Birmingham 2022 is the most significant investment in a major sporting event since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Prince of Wales – accompanied by The Duchess of Cornwall – will represent Her Majesty The Queen and officially open the Games at this evening’s Opening Ceremony, taking place at the newly-refurbished Alexander Stadium in front of over 30,000 spectators and an estimated global television audience of over one billion people.
Birmingham 2022 will be the quickest delivered Commonwealth Games in history – ready in just four and a half years instead of the usual seven. It also boasts the biggest para-sport programme in Commonwealth Games history and more medals for women than men for the first time at a major multi-sport event.
Birmingham is hosting 6,500 athletes and officials from 72 Commonwealth nations and territories competing in 11 days of sport across the West Midlands. More than one million tickets have been sold for events across the West Midlands from Cannock Chase to Coventry.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson – remember him? – said: “The UK rightly has an outstanding reputation for hosting major sporting events, and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will be another fantastic opportunity to showcase the best of Britain on a global stage.
“Not only will we be celebrating sporting success, we will also be strengthening the crucial ties between our 72 nations and territories – bringing businesses and governments from across the world together to encourage trade and boost economic growth that will leave a lasting legacy for years to come.
“Good luck to all the athletes competing – let the Games begin!”
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “Today the eyes of the world turn to Birmingham. We have an incredible 11 days of sport and I know that fans from across the home nations will get right behind our athletes.
“Beyond the medals won and records broken, these Games will deliver a fantastic legacy – sporting, cultural and economic – for the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands.”
The investment in the Games will create a positive economic and social impact for Birmingham and the West Midlands; including:
40,000 new jobs and volunteering opportunities;
A £38 million investment to kickstart a range of innovative programmes in the West Midlands to help those who need the most support to get physically active;
A Business and Tourism Programme, supported by £21 million government investment, to attract more visitors and investors to the West Midlands, including a two-week UK House programme drawing global business leaders to Birmingham;
A brand new aquatics centre in Sandwell, that will be used by the local people as a state-of-the-art sport and leisure facility for decades to come;
The redevelopment of Alexander Stadium to transform it into a world-class sporting facility that will attract future major events to the region;
The Birmingham 2022 Festival – the biggest celebration of creativity ever staged in the West Midlands with free events open to the public.
President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Dame Louise Martin said: “These Games have been four and a half years in the making and Birmingham has done an incredible job, overcoming challenging circumstances, to prepare for the biggest ever Commonwealth Games.
“I’m absolutely delighted that over 1 million people will be attending and more than a billion people watching around the world to share in the excitement. I have no doubt that Birmingham 2022 will be a spectacular Games for the host city, and the Commonwealth.”
Birmingham 2022 Chief Executive Ian Reid said: “Over the coming days, all eyes will be on Birmingham and the West Midlands, as we host the 22nd Commonwealth Games. After many years of hard work, I am delighted to say that we are ready and are looking forward to welcoming athletes and spectators from around the world to the region.
“These Games will play host to the largest sporting programme of any Commonwealth Games and for the first time will see more medals awarded to women than men. Over the coming two weeks, we will be able to showcase the very best that we have to offer.
“Now is the time to celebrate our city and region. This is our moment.”
Over one hundred vehicles were stopped as part of a Police Scotland five-week long road policing initiative to combat careless driving.
During Operation Tramline, which was carried out between Tuesday 26, April, to Thursday, 26, May,2022 a total of 78 cars, 44 LGVs and two motorcycles were stopped by officers using an unmarked HGV cab
The HGV cab was deployed on dual carriageways and motorways in Fife, in and around Edinburgh, and in the Forth Valley area.
As a result 138 offences were detected. Of these 58% (80) related to mobile phone offences, 14.5% (20) to seat belt offences, 4.3% (6) to careless or inconsiderate driving and 23.2% (32) to other road traffic offences. (Please note some drivers committed more than one offence)|
These included a 23-year-old woman seen driving in lane two of the M90 Queensferry Crossing eating cereal from a bowl as she drove southbound. She was fined £100 and had three points added to her licence.
On the Edinburgh City bypass a HGV driver was found to be using both hands on his mobile and steering with his forearms, clearly not in control of his vehicle. He received a £200 fine and six penalty points.
On the M90, southbound a 37-year-old woman was given a £100 fine and three penalty points for driving while using her laptop.
Road policing officer Tom Aitken said: “Keeping all road users safe is a top priority for Police Scotland and Operation Tramline was set up to help us to reduce the number of road casualties we see on a day to day basis.
“I cannot emphasize enough that drivers should be in control of their vehicle at all time. Eating your breakfast or using a mobile phone or laptop is clearly a major distraction.
“A split second lapse in concentration could result in a crash which can cause serious injury and even death. I would urge all road users to be aware and to stay safe. Road crashes can cause devastation for all those involved.”
