‘Walking like a Tortoise’ is a mixed media art exhibition based on a series of Granton walks at Madelvic House, the Granton Hub, 29 September to 1 October 2023.
Using maps of the area from 1870 to the present day, Tamsin Grainger skirted the urban and coastal landscapes of Granton, looking into hidden corners, seeing from unlikely angles and meeting those who live and work there.
Through photography, words, video, textiles and found materials, she asks how the act of slow walking can develop a sense of belonging somewhere, and how mindful noticing of the area, on foot, promotes appreciation of, and connection to what is home.
Tamsin been walking around Granton for 14 years now, alone and with other members of the community, and has become interested in the alterations that people and the climate have wrought.
Although places transform all the time, the built-up environment and natural spaces of Granton have recently been changing at a rapid pace; there are new no-go areas, streets and stations with new names, and views which have disappeared.
Slowly wandering the boundary and making artwork has stimulated a deeper understanding of local history and heritage, but how much of this will have soon vanished?
Is Granton disappearing and being replaced by the Edinburgh Waterfront?
You are invited to walk part of the boundary on 29th September in a free Community Walk (4-5.45pm), and to take the exhibition trail (29th September, 6-9pm, 30th September and 1st October 10am – 6pm) and to consider: ‘Where is the boundary of Granton?’
‘Is it important to you that things stay the same or do you welcome the changes which are happening?’ ‘Do you feel part of the decision-making process which is precipitating these changes?’ And, ‘Is belonging somewhere important to your sense of who you are?’
Make an important contribution to our collective memory-making by coming along to add your markers to the map and to discuss and share your views with each other. Granton residents and those who live in other parts of the city and country are all welcome.
Exhibition times: Friday 29th September 4-5.45pm Free Community Walk, the Granton Boundary.
Friday 29th September 6-9pm Private View with refreshments.
Saturday and Sunday 30th September / 1st October 10am to 6pm. All welcome.
NICEIC, the UK’s leading electrical certification body, has launched a campaign to warn consumers of the dangers of online DIY tutorials that could be encouraging them to tackle jobs they are not qualified for.
Platforms such as YouTube and TikTok have become virtual classrooms, where individuals seek guidance on a wide array of subjects.
With a staggering 122 million active users on YouTube per day[1] and 70% of those searching for “how-to” videos[2], many are turning to the internet for quick-fix solutions, in a bid to save time and money.
However, the new campaign launched by NICEIC, is warning that this surge in DIY tutorials could pose a serious threat to personal safety and is keen to warn homeowners against the dangers of dabbling in jobs that should be left to the professionals.
When it comes to electrics within the home, DIY attempts at repairs can have disastrous consequences. In a recent survey carried out by NICEIC, it found that 53% of Brits would be happy to ‘have a go’ at DIY in the home without any prior experience or formal qualifications and almost a fifth (18%) think asking for help is embarrassing or a sign of weakness.
According to recent data, there has also been a notable increase in electrical accidents caused by unqualified individuals attempting electrical repairs. These accidents range from minor shocks and burns to catastrophic fires and even fatalities. On average, 400 people are electrocuted in the home every year, resulting in about 200 deaths[3], a troubling trend that underscores the urgent need for proper education and change.
Paul Collins, Technical Director at NICEIC said: “With the accessibility of online tutorials at the touch of a button, it’s unsurprising that so many UK homeowners are willing to get stuck in and ‘have a go’ when it comes to DIY.
“However, nothing can replace the rigorous training and experience that certified businesses undergo. A botched electrical job attempted at home can easily lead to hefty costs and further underlying issues that may not become noticeable until it’s too late, putting UK homes and families in danger.
“Our stance is not to discourage individuals from learning and engaging with technology but rather to stress the importance of knowing one’s limits. Electrical work demands a deep understanding of the electrical installation and safety protocols that cannot be fully grasped through online videos.
“Ask yourself: ‘If I have to Google this, should I really be doing it?’. If in any doubt, leave it to the professionals and use a certified electrical business such as those certified by NICEIC – it could not only save you a lot of time and money in the long run, but could also avoid a serious electrical accident impacting you and your loved ones.”
“Our online educational campaign around home electrics will raise awareness about the risks associated with DIY electrics and aims to influence homeowners’ behaviour at critical moments.”
To learn more about the campaign and watch the videos, visit niceic.com/dontdiy.
A new book from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh extols botanical medicine and herbal remedy making
The practice of referencing and using nature to create remedies, recipes and therapeutic preparations has been around for thousands of years. Over time, our knowledge of the more traditional ‘green pharmacy’ of this sort has diminished. Yet today herbology, the study of herbs, is enjoying a renaissance as reconnecting with nature and sustainability surges.
To coincide with this renaissance, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh will publish Herbology – A Physic Garden Pharmacy, a beautiful, hard-back book filled with natural remedies and recipes, and showcasing the best practices on gathering ingredients and safely preparing them. The book, written by herbologist Catherine Conway Payne, will publish on October 31.
Much more than a recipe and remedy book, Herbology is also a history of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, a place where medicinal plants have been grown for hundreds of years, for the benefit of the medical profession and their patients.
The book references four other publications which date from the origins of the Garden in the 17th century. One, the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia (1699), was discovered in the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Originally published in Latin, the contents of the Pharmacopoeia have remained relatively inaccessible to most for over 300 years.
However – with the kind assistance of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the dedicated work of one research associate from the Garden, Robert Mill – the work in its entirety has now been translated into English; several extracts of which are being shared, for the first time, within the pages of this book.
Author Catherine Conway-Payne said: “It was an absolute joy to delve in to the Pharmacopoeia and discover which medicinal plants were being grown in Edinburgh during the latter part of the 17th century, which may be regarded as something of a golden age of herbalism.
“Then, the worlds of plants and medicine were closely aligned and it has been fascinating to find out that some recipes have not changed at all and that others contained extraordinary ingredients such as powdered toad, mouse droppings and even spider’s webs. Readers of Herbology will be relieved that our modern-day holistic formulations have omitted these from their list of ingredients.”
There are many precious botanicals within the pages of Herbology – among them nettle, dandelion, wild garlic and winter blooming witch hazel. Organised by the seasons, the book is filled with recipes and remedies and readers will join Catherine on a journey into ‘green pharmacy’ making special botanical creams, green ointments, herbal honeys, syrups, juices and teas along the way.
Catherine continued: “So much has been lost and forgotten over the years but we have been enjoying a real resurgence of interest in herbology recently. Our herbology courses at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh have become incredibly popular and we are thrilled to now offercertifciates and diplomas in the subject.
“There has never been more desire to study all things ‘green’ and to learn how to work as one with nature, understand the precious therapeutic potentials of medicinal plants and nurture the earth that sustains them.
“The very nature of herbology is so expansive that once you are immersed within this facet of botanical learning you cannot help but become more aware of its inherently curative and dynamic spirit.
“For generations to come, perhaps this age in time might be viewed as a period of great holistic change and life sustaining initiative.”
Herbology is illustrated by botanical artist Jacqui Pestell and contains evocative photography by Kate Soltan. It is published by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on October 31 and is available to pre-order now.
Climate campaigners have announced that Edinburgh will join a global day of action against fossil fuels with a march through the capital on Saturday 16 September.
The march will demand a fair and fast transition away from fossil fuels, calling for the workers and the communities most affected to be at the heart of planning this transition to ensure it meets their needs.
This wave of global protests and mobilisations will include the ‘March to End Fossil Fuels: fast, fair, forever’ in New York City on Sunday 17 September, as world leaders attend the United Nations Secretary-General’s Climate Ambition Summit.
Scientists, energy experts and climate campaigners agree that there must be no new investment in oil, gas or coal anywhere if the world is to limit further climate breakdown. Despite this the UK Government wants to “max out” new North Sea oil and gas and grant over 100 new licences for further oil and gas exploration.
The Edinburgh March is organised by a coalition of groups including Edinburgh Climate Coalition, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Fridays for Future, Climate Justice Coalition, War on Want, Extinction Rebellion Edinburgh, Scot.E3, Greenpeace Edinburgh and Youth in Resistance.
Marchers will highlight the threat posed by new oil fields such as Rosebank and the proposal for an extra gas-fired power station at Peterhead currently being considered by the Scottish Government.
Evelyn McGregor from the Edinburgh Climate Coalition said: “The protest is part of the biggest ever global day of action against fossil fuels.
“We’re getting organised and protesting because of Rishi Sunak’s promise to give out hundreds of new oil licences despite the record-breaking temperatures, extreme weather and terrifying wildfires this summer.
“By choosing to max out fossil fuels, politicians are lighting the climate’s touch paper and signing a death sentence for millions of people.”
Dylan Hamilton, an activist with Fridays For Future, said: “The threat posed by the climate crisis cannot be overstated, we have already seen destruction on a global scale at just 1.1C of global warming. Continuing to burn fossil fuels will lock in several more degrees of warming, and destroy billions of lives.
“The solution is simple: we must stop burning fossil fuels.
“Activists, from school pupils to pensioners, have been demanding that governments tackle this crisis and move away from fossil fuels for years. We hope that today’s politicians will finally listen.”
Friends of the Earth Scotland’s just transition campaigner Rosie Hampton said: “Politicians are failing to deliver the fair and fast transition away from fossil fuels that is desperately needed by workers, communities and the climate.
“Both the Scottish and UK Governments are listening to oil and gas lobbyists instead of what climate scientists are telling them and the devastating evidence of extreme weather around the world.
“The Scottish Government is considering approving a huge new gas-fired power station at Peterhead despite the fact it will lock us into fossil fuels for decades to come. The developers have admitted the plant will worsen climate pollution, so Scottish Ministers must use their power and responsibility to reject this new fossil fuel infrastructure.”
“By putting in place a credible plan to transition to renewable energy people in Scotland can have warm homes, excellent public transport and good green jobs. We hope that as many people as possible can join us in the streets to bring this message to both the Scottish and the UK Government.”
Visitor numbers top 100 as 45% apartments now pre-sold
The new show home at Rowanbank Gardens in Corstorphine has proved hugely popular with savvy homebuyers with 100 visitors passing through its doors since it first opened in June.
More than 45 per-cent of the properties have now been pre-sold at the award-winning development, described as a ‘spectacular blueprint for low carbon living.’
Rowanbank Gardens is delivering 93 apartments for private sale set around a large garden space filled with fruit trees and communal planting beds. In total, 42 of the apartments have now been sold with the first completions and ‘move-ins’ expected in September this year.
Developer Artisan Real Estate scooped the first ever ‘Excellence in Sustainability’ gong at the 2023 Scottish Homes Awards. And while Artisan has been hitting the headlines for the impeccable environmental credentials of its developments, the Rowanbank Gardens show home has provided the perfect platform to also highlight the internal quality of the apartments.
With a prominent location at the heart of the busting Edinburgh suburb of Corstorphine, the development has proved to be a popular destination for first-time buyers and downsizers wanting to live in well-connected, vibrant community just minutes from the city centre.
“We definitely hit the ‘wow factor’ with the launch of our new show home” says Artisan’s New Homes Sales Advisor Izzy Bastiani. “Visitors have been impressed by the light and airy living spaces, as well as the quality of the natural oak flooring and the fittings in the kitchen and bathroom, all of which come as standard.
“But there is also the added advantage of experiencing Rowanbank Garden’s commitment to achieving zero carbon low-cost living. It’s one of the first large developments in Scotland to employ individual air source heat pumps in all apartments, providing both heating and domestic hot water.
“So, as well as experiencing an extremely high quality of life at Rowanbank Gardens, home owners can also save money as well as the environment.”
Prices for a one-bedroom apartment at Rowanbank Gardens start from £245,000, with a two-bedroom from £328,000 and a three-bedroom from £422,500.
To book an appointment at the Rowanbank Gardens show home, visit the development website at www.rowanbankgardens.com or call 0131 516 3302.
Additional £5 million from Nature Restoration Fund to enhance biodiversity
Scotland’s councils will invest £5 million this year to develop Nature Networks across the country to help tackle the nature and climate crises.
The funding from the Scottish Government will allow local authorities to develop new woodlands, hedgerows, wildflower meadows and ponds, as well as restoring and joining together existing natural habitats that are important for wild plants and animals. Nature Networks provide the opportunity to create and improve active travel spaces, mitigate against flood risk, and give spaces for people and communities to enjoy the natural environment.
The Scottish Government has committed to ensuring every local authority has a thriving Nature Network. Using practical guidance, local authorities and communities can put in place projects that best meet their priorities for nature and climate change.
Local Government Empowerment and Planning Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “We are facing twin climate and nature crises, and we have a responsibility to protect our natural environment for future generations.
“Local authorities have a key role to play through their engagement with communities to identify shared priorities and the projects that will best allow these to be met.
“The additional £5 million from the Nature Restoration Fund will allow councils to develop Nature Networks and build on the good work already delivered through support from the fund to support new, or to enhance existing, approaches to restoring biodiversity.
“One of the key drivers of biodiversity loss is changes to how land is used, causing habitats to be lost and/or broken up. Remaining habitats are often isolated and less resilient, meaning they struggle to support healthy plant and animal populations in the way they once did. If we are to reverse declines in biodiversity, it is vital to address this by developing robust networks for nature across Scotland.”
Jo Pike, Chief Executive, Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “The Scottish Government has recognised that nature is in crisis and that concerted action will be required to tackle the twin crises of nature loss and climate change.
“We welcome the focus on nature networks as a way of stepping up our approach to bringing about nature’s recovery.
“Since 2019, the Scottish Wildlife Trust has been working with the City of Edinburgh Council, with input from a host of community organisations, to develop the Edinburgh Nature Network, which is the first of its kind.
“Every local authority is different but we hope that the methodology, which focuses strongly on local circumstances, will provide a sound foundation for work across Scotland.”
Housing estates are in store for a bumper harvest thanks to a number of new and growing community gardens in the Capital.
The Edinburgh Growing Together project, which began gardening last year after a survey of plots in 2021, has reported a busy summer with new planters and raised beds being built, water supplies linked up and composting facilities installed across community growing areas.
A lot of this work has been conducted by Growing Youth, a social enterprise supported by the council’s Additional Support for Learning Service (ASLS) that educates young people in horticulture and construction.
Located on City of Edinburgh Council housing land, work has started on three new growing areas in Hutchison, Broomhouse and Muirhouse. These will feature home grown fruit and vegetables alongside flowers. They will offer opportunities for tenants and local people to learn gardening skills, socialise and benefit from sustainable, affordable food.
At Hutchison, participants will soon start prepping the area for autumn planting of a forest garden, while over in Broomhouse volunteers have been preparing a wildflower garden.
Opportunities for local communities to enjoy and use space for food growth in greenspaces is part of the Council’s 20-Minute Neighbourhood strategy, which is designed to support people to live well locally and be able to meet most daily needs within a 20-minute walk or wheel.
On a recent visit to the community backgreens, the Council’s Housing Convener Councillor Jane Meagher and the Chair of Edible Edinburgh, Councillor Katrina Faccenda, met with local growers. They were joined by Greig Robertson, Founding Director of Edible Estates, which is delivering the Growing Together initiative of behalf of the council.
Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “What better way to reinvigorate community council estates and work towards net zero carbon than with these beautiful, edible gardens?
“Edinburgh really is blessed with stunning greenspaces but this project is about helping local people to connect with nature and neighbours in their own communities. We have 46 community gardens across our council housing estates and, while many of them are thriving, others need a little bit of nurturing. That’s where the Edinburgh Growing Together project comes in.
“From upskilling local people in gardening to seeing community kitchens set up, our Growing Together project is making a real difference to tenants. It has been fantastic to check in on progress and to meet with volunteers in Hutchison.
“They are doing a tremendous job and I’m sure these gardens will deliver countless benefits for living well locally, in line with our 20 minute neighbourhood approach. Eating good quality nutritious food doesn’t have to cost us, or the earth.”
Councillor Katrina Faccenda, Chair of Edible Edinburgh, said: “These community gardens are a brilliant way to brighten up our estates while helping tenants access nutritious, budget-friendly ingredients.
“It links into the diverse range of work being undertaken by the council, our partners and the third sector to tackle food insecurity and improve the sustainability of food, and it’s a joy to see meet those involved in establishing and nurturing these new gardens.
“As part of the project, improvements are also being made to six existing gardens which are managed by the council plus nine gardens which are run by local community groups, with support also being provided to the remaining gardens in a variety of ways.”
These projects are being delivered by Edible Estates, funded by the City of Edinburgh Council, with support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Greig Robertson, Edible Estates’ Founding Director, comments: “Community gardens are a valuable resource to communities, they support individual and community well-being, promote physical activity, create new connections between folk, and of course grow fruit and veg.
“They are a ‘place’ and an activity, and play an important role in the move towards establishing 20-minute neighbourhoods across the city. Amidst news of produce shortages and a cost of living crisis, community gardens provide skills and resources towards more resilient communities.
“The Community Garden Survey highlighted that gold-standard community growing projects can and do exist across Edinburgh, and showcased the potential for many more to develop with the right support provided through the Edinburgh Growing Together project.
“We are looking forward to continuing work with and supporting the fantastic organisations, groups, and volunteers behind each of the gardens, and more so to seeing how each garden develops over the coming years.”
“It’s only right that the wealthiest pay their fair share”
Wealthiest “feathering their nests” while working people suffer the worst pay crisis for two centuries
NEW POLLING reveals significant cross-voter support for increasing taxes on wealth and excess profits, as the TUC general secretary renews call for a national conversation on tax
3 in 4 think capital gains should be taxed at the same or higher than income tax – including 73% of Conservative 2019 voters
TUC calls for a new deal for workers to help tackle the boom in insecure work, stagnant wages and attacks on workers’ rights.
The TUC has declared that “we must put an end to the grotesque inequality of the Tory era”.Ahead of its annual Congress in Liverpool this weekend, the TUC says the Conservatives have allowed Britain’s wealthiest to “feather their nests” while working people have suffered the worst pay crisis for two centuries.
The union body adds that the Conservatives have delivered a “broken economic model which rewards wealth, not work”.
With “living standards plummeting, public services on their knees, and rampant wealth inequality blighting every corner of the country”, the union body says fair taxation must be a key part of a wider set of policies to help “reset the economy to work for working people”.
The TUC is renewing its call for a “national conversation on taxing wealth and windfalls” to help build a fairer society and “fix broken Britain”.
Significant support for fairer tax
The call comes as the union body publishes new polling, conducted by Opinium, which shows significant cross-party support for increasing taxes on wealth and excess profits.
A clear majority (61%) of the public think wealthy people should pay more tax than they are now – including over half (53%) of Conservative voters in the 2019 general election.
Only 4% of the public think wealthy people should pay less tax.
There is significant backing for increasing capital gains tax too.
Around 3 in 4 (72%) think capital gains should be taxed at the same or higher than income tax – including 73% of Conservative 2019 voters.
There was also huge support across the board for windfall taxes on excess profits:
Three quarters (75%) of the public support a windfall tax on banks’ excess profits – including 76% of Conservative 2019 voters
4 in 5 (80%) support a windfall tax on energy companies’ profits – including 81% of Conservative 2019 voters
7 in 10 (69%) support a windfall tax on large online retailers’ excess profits (like Amazon)
The TUC has already called on the government to equalise capital gains tax with income tax which could raise over £10 billion – and it has supported a bigger windfall tax on energy companies.
Recent TUC analysis set out options for taxing the wealthiest 0.3% with wealth over £3 million, £5 million and £10 million, excluding pensions.
It found a modest wealth tax on the richest 140,000 individuals – which is around 0.3% of the UK population – could deliver a £10.4 bn boost for the public purse.
Rampant inequalities
The TUC warns that huge inequality has “become the norm” in Tory Britain.
The ONS’ analysis of its Wealth and Assets Survey shows that the richest 1% of households had wealth of more than £3.6 million, and the least wealthy ten per cent had £15,400 or less.
Of financial wealth, the ONS say the wealth held by the richest 1% of households was greater than for the entire bottom 80 per cent of the population.
City bonuses have been at a record level for the past two years. And banks and energy giants have been registering record profits too.
Worst pay crisis for two centuries
The TUC says working people are suffering the worst pay crisis in 200 years, which is contributing to the rampant wealth and income inequalities blighting every corner of the country.
Fifteen years on since the financial crisis, real pay is still down £360 this year compared to 2008. The average worker has lost out on a total of £21,600 since 2008, compared with wages just keeping pace with inflation.
And pay is not expected to return to 2008 level for at least another two years.
If real wages had continued to grow at the average pre-2008 rate of 2.3 per cent each year, the average worker would now be £280 per week, or £14,600 per year, better off.
Time for an economic reset
The TUC is calling for an economic reset after years of Tory failure.
As well as growing inequality, declining living standards, and public services which have been cut to the bone, the union body says the Conservatives have presided over a boom in insecure work and an attack on workers’ rights.
In addition to fairer taxation, the union body is repeating its demands for stronger protections for workers, and calling for improvements including:
Fair pay agreements to get pay rising in low-paid industries
A ban on the abusive use of zero hours contracts and a ban on fire and rehire
Day one employment rights, like protection against unfair dismissal.
The TUC says these policies are hugely popular across the political spectrum – as various recent polls have shown.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “It’s time to end the grotesque inequality of the Tory era.
“As households across the country have struggled to put food on the table, energy companies and banks have registered eyewatering profits, and CEO pay has skyrocketed.
“The wealthiest have feathered their nests while working people have suffered the worst pay crisis in two centuries.
“Rampant inequalities are the direct result of a broken Tory economic model that rewards wealth, not work.
“We need a reset – and an economy that delivers better living standards for all – not just those at the top.”
On the need to kickstart a national conversation about taxing wealth, Paul added: “Now is the time for a national conversation on taxing wealth and windfalls.
“With living standards plummeting, public services on their knees, and huge wealth inequalities blighting every corner of the country, fairer taxes can help to fix broken Britain.
“But our current tax system isn’t fit for purpose. A nurse will pay a bigger share of their income in tax than a city trader does on profits from their investment portfolio.
“That’s not only absurd and unfair – it’s bad for our economy and our public services too.
“The public overwhelmingly back increased taxes on the wealthiest and companies that have made massive profits.
“It’s only right that the wealthiest pay their fair share.”
Inspections carried out by local authorities have shown that, at present, there are 16 council areas which have identified schools as containing Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).
Local authorities have responsibility to ensure schools are safe for pupils, staff and all their users, and are carrying out inspections of school buildings to identify the presence of RAAC. Ministers have been clear to local authorities that those must be carried out as a matter of the highest priority and have offered assistance to councils in the matter where appropriate.
Where RAAC has been identified, Councils have assured the Scottish Government that mitigations are in place in accordance with guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers.
The schools currently impacted are in the following council areas:
Aberdeen City
Aberdeenshire
Argyll and Bute
City of Edinburgh
Dumfries and Galloway
Dundee City
East Ayrshire
East Lothian
Glasgow City
Highland
Inverclyde
Moray
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Perth and Kinross
West Lothian
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “The Scottish Government has been actively engaging with local authority partners, who have statutory responsibility for school buildings in Scotland, for some time.
“It is important that there is transparency around the schools where RAAC has been identified and mitigations in place. Local authorities were asked to publish by today the data relating to impacted schools in their area given the seriousness of this issue and to ensure this data is freely available.
“I hope this provides reassurance to parents, carers, staff and pupils who may be concerned about the presence of RAAC in their learning facilities. I also expect the local authorities still to publish to do so as a matter of urgency.
“Currently half of Scotland’s local authorities have identified RAAC in schools. COSLA has confirmed that safety is their central consideration and that there is robust guidance that is followed by every local authority to ensure that those buildings are safe to be in for pupils, staff and the public.
“This is in line with the existing guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers who have advised us they do not believe there is sufficient grounds to update their advice.”
EDINBURGH REPORT:
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) is a lightweight construction material that was used in the construction of some public buildings between the 1950s and 1990s. It was mostly used mostly in flat roofing. Despite its name, it is very different to traditional concrete. It is aerated, or ‘bubbly’, and is therefore less durable than traditional concrete.
RAAC can be susceptible to failure when exposed to moisture. As a result UK Government has issued guidance to organisations across the UK to carry out check buildings where RAAC may have been used.
Since April 2023, we have been inspecting our schools to check for RAAC. The work is being carried out in line with UK Government advice. We have contracted independent structural engineers to do the surveys.
No schools have had to close as a result of RAAC.
These are the schools affected and the mitigations that are in place (as at 8 September 2023):
Colinton Primary School – no impact on the school
Cramond Primary School – one classroom block is closed, temporary classroom units on site
Currie Community High School – access still available to dining hall, old gym block, assembly hall and an art classroom are closed. Newer gym block still in use, some gym classes taking place outdoors
Fox Covert/St Andrew’s RC Primary School – gym hall/dining hall closed but likely to re-open after remedial works; kitchen closed for longer term
Lorne Primary School – top floor currently closed while assessment takes place; classes relocated within the school.
Pentland Primary School – four classrooms, kitchen and supporting areas not in use; numbers restricted in dining hall
Trinity Academy – swimming pool, no impact as building has been closed since 2014
Trinity Primary School – a classroom area and kitchen not in use; temporary classrooms on site.
Local healthcare workers at the Western General Hospital (WGH) in Edinburgh have been honoured for their exceptional work at a prestigious ceremony.
The annual NHS Lothian Celebrating Success Awards 2023 are nominated by staff working across the healthcare system.
Among the winners are the Same Day Emergency Care Team (SDEC) who scooped the coveted Team of the Year Award for the work they do helping patients get the right care in the right place.
The team are helping to reduce waiting times and pressure on the front doors by assessing, diagnosing, treating and discharging patients with specific conditions without admission to a ward.
Michael Shek, Lead Advance Nurse Practitioner for SDEC said: “We’ve put in so much work to make SDEC a successful service and we continue to expand.
“It’s not just the SDEC team but everyone wider. None of this would have been possible without everyone in NHS Lothian’s help. This award is recognition of that hard work and it will help drive the team forward to provide even better care.”
Kirsten Smith,a Senior Charge Nurse for Acute Medicine who won the cherished Lynn Jackson Nurse of the Year Award in memory of the former Chief Nurse for Edinburgh Cancer Centre.
Kirsten was recognised for leading her team on a huge change journey from specialising in Medicine for the Elderly to providing care to acute medical admissions and her commitment to working with student nurses.
Finally, Zakariya Vansoh (18), won the Voluntary Service Award for the hundreds of hours he’s clocked up connecting with patients, helping to entertain, comfort and reassure them, or just lend a friendly ear.
Celebrating with his Gran at the ceremony Zak said: “I’m speechless, I had my granny record it, but I didn’t think I was going to win so speechless!
“The fact that I was even nominated for the award is already more than I could ever have imagined. Events like this one today are so important to let people feel really appreciated. It’s simple but so valuable.”
Professor John Connaghan CBE, Chair of NHS Lothian Board said: “It’s been a very special year as we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the NHS. We’re incredibly proud of our staff achievements over the decades and their commitment to caring for others.
“These awards ensure we recognise those who’re not just upholding the NHS values but also helping us evolve and transform for the future.”
The awards were presented on Thursday 7 September at a special Ceremony at the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, sponsored by NHS Lothian Charity.
“I want to thank all our finalists for their hard work, resilience and professionalism and extend a warm congratulations to them all for their achievements.”
The NHS Lothian awards are also supported by Ernst & Young, Intersystems, RMF Health (a partnership between Robertson and FES Group), Royal College of Nursing Scotland, Unison and NHS Staff Benefits.
For the full list of all of NHS Lothian’s award winners please visit:
