Day: November 17, 2023

Move in for Christmas at Shawfair  

Five-star housebuilder, Stewart Milne Homes, is offering new residents the opportunity to move into a brand-new home before Christmas at the popular Shawfair development.  

Shawfair is a new community offering spacious country style living within easy reach of Edinburgh, with its thoughtfully designed town centre set to bring a range of local shops and restaurants to the neighbourhood. Located on the edge of the village of Danderhall, Stewart Milne Homes offers an exclusive range of three-, four-, five- and six-bedroom homes for the community.  

Two well-appointed homes are available to move in to before Christmas, with buyers invited to take advantage of a range of exclusive offers including Part Exchange, a 5% Mortgage Deposit Contribution or a£10,000 contribution towards LBTT.  

As well as financial incentives, new home owners will also receive a £250 Marks & Spencer gift voucher to spend on a special Christmas Day dinner.  

The available homes include:  

  • The Kendal – a striking five-bedroomed detached home complete with striking full-height French doors that open onto the rear garden and an integral garage space from £437,000.  
  • The Harris – a generously proportioned detached four-bedroom family home, with prices starting at £414,000. 

Part of Stewart Milne Homes’ Villages range, the homes are architecturally designed to meet the changing needs and lifestyles of owners.

All homes feature high-quality finishes throughout, including integrated appliances in the kitchen and Porcelanosa tiles in the bathrooms. The external finishes of the homes vary from plot to plot creating a unique and varied street scene.   

The main bedrooms all include integrated wardrobe space, with some homes also featuring dedicated walk-in dressing space. Perfect for entertaining family and friends in, private garden space features in all homes and is complemented by the surrounding greenspace within the development.  

Importantly, the homes are all energy-efficient and can save residents over £2,000 per year on energy bills when compared to an older property*.  

Isabel Warnock, Head of Sales Scotland, said: “Spending your first Christmas in your new home is always a special life milestone and we are excited to help make that extra special this year for new residents at Shawfair. 

“At Stewart Milne Homes, we pride ourselves on making the buying process as stress-free as possible for residents. Our competitive incentives are an added bonus, with many people having already taken advantage of the savings to be had.  

“Shawfair is attractive to a range of buyers given the wide selection of homes available coupled with the amenities available in the surrounding neighbourhoods.” 

To book an appointment to speak with a sales advisor or arrange a viewing, please contact 0345 0170923. The sales office is open between Thursday – Monday from 10.30am to 5.30pm.  

For more information about Stewart Milne Homes Shawfair, please visit:

https://www.stewartmilnehomes.com/new-homes-for-sale/edinburgh/shawfair

Talonmore & Wavelength create festive non-alcoholic cocktail for National Hiking Day

In celebration of National Hiking Day on Friday 17th November, Edinburgh’s Talonmore is teaming-up with Wavelength Drinks to create a brand new festive non-alcoholic cocktail, the ‘TalonWave Wine’ – a warming winter mulled wine alternative which can be easily crafted at-home or outside. 

Talonmore & Wavelength Drinks support the importance of health & wellbeing and advocate the outdoors lifestyle. With nature playing a key part in both brand mantras, the partnership aims to encourage people to get outside, ensuring balance in everyday life. 

On Talonmore’s website, the companies are offering a special bundle deal with 10% off both brands up until New Year’s Day, for consumers to purchase bottles and make the delicious, easy-to-make winter cocktail for themselves. 

Talonmore’s distinctive taste is fired by the spice of ginger and Assam tea whilst complemented with malty notes and fruit sweetness. Pairing with the zing and freshness of the hibiscus, lavender and orange & pink grapefruit zest found in WaveLength’s Ruby Non-Alcoholic Aperitif, the ‘TalonWave Wine’ is a gorgeous fruit-forward nod to the classic festive favourite mulled wine.

‘TALONWAVE WINE’
– Measure 50ml Talonmore NA Spirit, 50ml Wave Length Ruby NA Aperitif, then 100ml Hot Water
– Pour all liquid ingredients into tempered glass or mug
– Stir until all ingredients are incorporated
– Garnish with Slice of Orange
– Enjoy, indoors or out! 

Spending time in nature has become a key topic across the nation, with time outdoors known to boost physical and mental health in a range of ways. According to a recent study* that included data from 19,906 participants, spending at least 120 minutes in nature per week can significantly boost health and well-being. 

Talonmore is a Scottish based, family run business established in Edinburgh in 2020. Lewis Kennedy, 25-year-old Managing Director, recently made it to the final of Scottish Edge, where over 160 applicants enter to impress a board of seasoned business experts. 

Using a mix of rooted and plant-based ingredients and inspired by Edinburgh’s festival spirit and history of innovation, Talonmore was created to provide an exceptional alcohol-free drink that can be enjoyed without compromising health, control and taste. Choosing brewing methods of manufacture, rather than distilling, Talonmore have developed a unique beverage that ensures flavour is at the forefront, replicating the experience of drinking a dark spirit. 

Talonmore can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, with a mixer or in a multitude of non-alcoholic cocktails, such as the ‘TalonWave Wine’. In 2022, Talonmore was awarded Silver at the International Wine and Spirits Competition scoring an impressive 92 points out of 100. The latest batch of Talonmore includes a new look & feel, with an upgraded label and eye-catching flagship red foil. 

Similarly to Talonmore, Wavelength’s process starts by brewing, but also fermenting. Tapping into decades of experience, Wavelength’s brewers create the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spice. The result is delicious flavour, inviting aroma, and lasting aftertaste. Fermentation takes time, but time brings rich flavours, deep aromas and complexity. Like waiting for the perfect wave, it takes patience and time. 

Founder, Eddie Lofthouse, has a vision to take a stand for flavour by making exceptional non-alcoholic fermented drinks. He brought together his knowledge of brewing beer to brewing premium, non-alcoholic liquids. Wavelength produces wonderfully complex non-alcoholic drinks that actually taste good. 

Lewis Kennedy, Managing Director at Talonmore Drinks Company, said: “Talonmore has been a fan of the Wavelength brand for a while now. I’ve always been really interested to see if the flavours and liquid of the two brands work together, and they do! The team at Wavelength are delightful, we hope this is the first of many partnerships. 

“Talonmore has always, and always will be, a supporter of the outdoors lifestyle, and the importance of it for health & wellbeing. We’re encouraging everyone to get those hiking boots on and head up that hill for National Hiking Day. We guarantee it will be worth it, with the reward of a ‘TalonWave Wine’ at the summit. 

“The flavoursome fruitiness of both liquids match together perfectly. Talonmore offers the malty notes while the zing of Wavelength creates a conjuring of festive flavours for the tastebuds. Garnishing with an orange makes the serve that touch more festive. Definitely a quick-and-simple cocktail to impress family & friends over the Christmas period too.” 

Wavelength Drinks Founder, Founder, Eddie Lofthouse, added: “We are really excited about this collaboration with Talonmore. The two liquids combined create a delicious drink that is perfect for winter gatherings with friends which make long lasting memories.”

With over 8 million adults in the UK looking to reduce their alcohol intake, Talonmore is designed to shake up the non-alcoholic drinks market through championing the adventurous lifestyle that could normally be sacrificed with traditional alcohol. 

Non-Binary Equality Action Plan published

First plan in the UK to improve the lives of non-binary people

New actions to improve the lives of non-binary people in Scotland and tackle inequality will be taken forward.

The five year plan includes actions to support specific research on the experiences of non-binary people in Scotland, fund training for fertility preservation providers on trans and non-binary healthcare needs and meaningfully include non-binary people in decision-making by making processes accessible.

The plan is in response to the recommendations of the Scottish Government’s Working Group on Non-Binary Equality, whose members included non-binary people, charity representatives and academics.

Equalities Minister Emma Roddick said: “Our vision is for Scotland to be a place where everyone’s identity is recognised, respected and celebrated.

“This action plan aims to improve equality and wellbeing for non-binary people and is the first of its kind in the UK.

“Some actions are straightforward and immediate whilst others are long-term and systemic. However, they will all contribute to improving the experiences of non-binary people and begin to tackle some of the challenges that they currently face in their everyday lives.”

Vic Valentine, Manager of Scottish Trans said: “It is really positive to see this Action Plan published, and to see that the Scottish Government has made public, concrete and measurable commitments to changes that will make non-binary people’s lives better.

“I particularly welcome the commitments that will have a positive impact not only on non-binary people but on marginalised people more widely: such as those that seek to make it easier and fairer for people on benefits to participate in policy making processes and be paid for their time, and to look at how the design of public buildings does, or doesn’t, work for everyone in Scotland.

“As with any plan, the most important thing will be delivering. We look forward to working with non-binary people across Scotland to challenge the Government to turn these commitments in to real change.”

Non-Binary Equality Action Plan

nonbinary-equality-action-plan-2023-2028Download

The Centre book club welcomes award winning author Catherine Rayner

The Centre, Livingston Book Club is set to welcome the multi award-winning author and illustrator Catherine Rayner, who has just launched her 21st book, ‘Molly, Olive and Dexter – The Guessing Game’ at this month’s storytelling event on Saturday, 18th November.

The free monthly Book Club was officially launched in October by authors, Linda Erskine and Justin Davies, to encourage a love for reading, the joy of discovering new books and the chance to meet various authors.

Catherine, whose extensive list of books include ‘Victor – The wolf with worries’ and ‘Arlo – The lion who couldn’t sleep’ has also illustrated books for many well-known authors, like Julia Donaldson and Michael Morpurgo. 

Her awards include ‘The Kate Greenaway Medal’ and ‘Booktrust Early Years Award’.

On Saturday, 18th November at 12noon and 2pm, she will be running fun and interactive storytelling sessions for children aged two to seven at The Centre, Livingston, across from Waterstones and next to River Island.

There will also be a live ‘draw along’ which is a step-by-step guide to drawing the characters in her books, including ‘Augustus the tiger’. Activity sheets and stickers will be available for kids to take home.

Catherine said: “I’m really excited about taking part in this event. It’s always great fun to meet little readers and I hope they will enjoy the storytelling and drawing activities I have in store! 

Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We are delighted to welcome the fantastic children’s author Catherine Rayner into The Centre, Livingston for our next storytelling session.

“Our launch last month was very popular with our shoppers and we’re expecting our interactive session this month to be another big hit.”

The Centre, Livingston Book Club follows on from the recent installation of the shopping centre’s free book recycling vending machine to enable people to swap their favourite novels.

Details on the Book Club can be found on The Centre, Livingston website, www.thecentrelivingston.com and @shopthecentre on Facebook and Instagram.

Lush Snow Fairy has landed at Fort Kinnaird this weekend

Fort Kinnaird has announced that the Lush Snow Fairy Tour will be visiting the centre this weekend.   

The 2023 Lush festive collection is designed around ‘Out of this world Gifting’. Shoppers at Fort Kinnaird will be able to visit the themed pop-up to browse products from both the Lush Snow Fairy and Intergalactic ranges, including body sprays, bath bombs, and the biggest ever Snow Fairy gift set. The space will also have a photo opportunity and ‘kindness wall’.    

Lush sells one Snow Fairy product every 5 seconds on average during the festive period (October – December), so visitors need to be quick to get their hands on this year’s must-have festive gifts.  

16NOV23 Lush Snow Fairy Tour at Fort Kinnaird.

The pop-up will be located next to the play park and near Caffè Nero and a full breakdown of its opening times can be found below.    

For more information about Christmas at Fort Kinnaird and to plan your festive day out, please visit https://www.fortkinnaird.com/christmas   

Lush Snow Fairy pop-up opening times:  

Friday 17th November: 09:00 – 19:30 

Saturday 18th November: 09:00 – 18:00 

Sunday 19th November: 09:00 – 18:00 

Monday 20th November: 09:00 – 19:30 

16NOV23 Adan Bpwland. . Lush Snow Fairy Tour at Fort Kinnaird.

Package of support following Storm Babet

Additional Scottish Government funding to aid recovery efforts

Hundreds of households and businesses affected by the impact of Storm Babet will benefit from additional funding from the Scottish Government to help with recovery.

Impacted local authorities will be allocated additional funding to enable them to provide flat rate grants of:

  • £1,500 to people whose properties were most affected by flooding related to Storm Babet
  • £3,000 grants to businesses where there is evidence that ability to trade was severely impacted by flooding related to Storm Babet

This exceptional additional funding was discussed and agreed during the first formal meeting of the Storm Babet Ministerial Taskforce held today. Grants will be administered by local authorities; further information on when and how to access will be made available in due course.   

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero Màiri McAllan said: “Storm Babet was a highly unusual weather event with severe impacts, and communities continue to suffer. Our thoughts are with all those dealing with the aftermath. We have been clear that Scotland’s response to and recovery from Storm Babet would be collaborative endeavour.

“That’s why we have been working with local authorities and those directly affected by the severe impact of Storm Babet to determine where the Scottish Government can provide additional support to local partners.

“Given the unprecedented scale of damage and impact caused by Storm Babet we have concluded that additional funding is required to support households and businesses.

“This is in addition to our long-standing annual funding of £42 million and the additional £150 million for flood risk management and £12 million for coastal change adaptation over the course of this parliament, and sits alongside the Bellwin Scheme, Scottish Welfare Fund, and additional funds to farming businesses and organisations. Our Taskforce will continue to oversee these matters and support local partners.

Leader of Angus Council, Cllr Beth Whiteside said: “We welcome these discussions with Ministers and have the reassurance that they are fully aware of the scale of impact across Angus.

“Recovery will be a lengthy process as we support people and communities to rebuild their lives and businesses from the unprecedented flooding and we will need ongoing support for years to come to rebuild our infrastructure and take action to protect Angus from such devastating flooding in the future.”

Work to assess and identify the damage caused by the exceptional level of rain caused by Storm Babet has been ongoing in partnership between local and national government.

Existing support which can be accessed as a result of adverse weather events includes:

  • Council Tax relief for up to 12 months for homes which are uninhabitable and discretionary Hardship Relief for non-domestic rates for businesses where the applicant would sustain financial difficulty without it
  • the Scottish Welfare Fund which exists to help people in Scotland on low incomes through crisis grants and community care grants, with £41 million invested into the scheme for 2023/24 and an average award of £715 for community care grants and £113 for crisis grants

The Bellwin Scheme has been activated; however, given the scale of damage endured Scottish Ministers have today agreed an extension period of eligible costs from two months from the date of the incident, to four months from the date of the incident, to further support local authorities with the cost of recovery.

The Scottish Government has already pledged support for the repair of damaged flood banks, in addition to providing an additional £50,000 to the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI) to help bolster the charity’s Flooding Crisis Fund supporting those affected by recent adverse weather in the agricultural sector.

Council set to award environmentally friendly heat network contract for Granton Waterfront regeneration

The creation of a £1.3bn well-connected, sustainable new coastal town at Granton Waterfront in Edinburgh has reached yet another major milestone.

A contract for pre-development work to refine and finalise the design of a sewer source low carbon heat network solution to serve thousands of homes, local facilities and the many other commercial and social enterprise businesses planned for Granton Waterfront is set to be awarded by the City of Edinburgh Council in the coming weeks.

Following a competitive procurement process Vattenfall Heat UK Ltd is being proposed as the preferred bidder and the Finance and Resources Committee will consider a report on the award of this contract at its meeting on Tuesday next week. It is anticipated the contract will be signed by both parties in the coming weeks.

The energy company, known for its work supporting many areas throughout the UK find net zero solutions, will work with the Council to finalise the plans for this heat network.

The aim, subject to future further approval from the Finance and Resources Committee, is for an agreement for the company to build, operate, finance, manage and maintain the network over the following 40 years.

This is a significant milestone for the Council and the Granton Waterfront area to help Edinburgh reach net zero by 2030.

As well as supporting the Council’s commitment to build new affordable homes over the next 10 years, the Granton Waterfront £1.3bn regeneration project has exemplar urban design which will also champion low carbon transport and active travel.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “It is fantastic to see work continuing at pace at Granton Waterfront, the largest sustainable regeneration project of its kind in Scotland.

“As well as helping the Capital reach net zero by 2030, awarding this contract is the next step towards finalising the right heat network solution for our tenants and others moving into the area to provide them with a cost competitive low carbon heating source.

“The homes being delivered in the area are being designed to be well insulated and energy efficient which will also be a huge benefit to everyone living there, particularly those facing fuel poverty.

“Work is also continuing to transform the iconic gasholder in the area into a place for the wider community and visitors to play and relax. Arts and social enterprise charity WASPS has moved into the eye catching former Granton Station building now refurbished and taking pride of place at the heart of the community, with a spacious attractive public square. And we’re currently building hundreds of energy efficient affordable homes which will be ready for tenants to move into next year.”

Eoghan Maguire, Director of Heat Networks – Scotland at Vattenfall Heat UK said: “Granton Waterfront is an ambitious long-term project that will act as a blueprint in urban development and regeneration in Scotland. District heating will enable the Granton Waterfront development to deliver on its pioneering and climate conscious ambitions for its residents.

“Vattenfall has responded to the low carbon district heating proposals for Granton Waterfront and is proud that these have been recommended for approval by the City of Edinburgh Council. We are excited to work with the City of Edinburgh and its partners to help deliver on the city’s net zero by 2030 targets.

“The Granton Waterfront heat network aims to capture heat that would otherwise be wasted from the sewer system and could serve the community of 3,000 new homes, as well as existing buildings. The network will adopt a future proofed design, meaning expansion to the northwest of Edinburgh would be possible.”

Greendykes gunshots two weeks on: Can you help?

Officers investigating shots being fired in Edinburgh have revisited the scene two weeks on.

Around 10.15am on Thursday, 2 November, 2023, Police were called to a report of shots being fired at a block of flats on Greendykes Road in the city.

Officers carried out enquiries at the time and identified shots were also fired towards the same building, about 4.30am the same morning.

There were no injuries during either incident, however windows were damaged.

This continues to be treated as a targeted attack.

Yesterday morning, officers from Gayfield CID returned to the area as part of their enquiries.

Detectives spoke to a number of motorists and pedestrians in an attempt to jog their memories and gain additional information that could help trace two people on bicycles in the area around the time of both incidents.

Detective Sergeant Gavin Howat said: “The response from the public has been encouraging and information gained yesterday, and over the last two weeks, will no doubt assist in our enquiry to identify the suspects.

“I am again appealing to anyone who has any information which may assist us and who hasn’t already spoken to police to get in touch.

“Any piece of information, no matter how small, could be relevant.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 0961 of 2 November, 2023. Alternatively, information can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.

Scottish Gas recruiting 350 jobs in it’s Edinburgh Call Centre 

  • New staff will be in post by the end of the year to help customers this winter
  • Scottish Gas has a £100 million support package available – the largest of any UK supplier – and staff will be given additional training on helping customers who are struggling with energy costs.  

Scottish Gas has announced it is growing its team of call centre operators in Edinburgh as it continues to provide even more help for customers this winter. 

The energy provider is recruiting 350 new roles at its Edinburgh energy contact centre which will see total staff numbers rise to more than 480. Additional training on assisting customers in the UK with financial difficulty will also be rolled out across the team as the winter heating season begins. 

The move is part of nationwide commitment to increase its existing customer service teams and hire more than 700 new call centre staff. These roles will all be in post by the end of the year with continued hiring taking place in January as part of the company’s aim to move all its call centre resource to the UK. 

Last winter, Scottish Gas experienced an increase in call volume due to the energy crisis and invested £25 million in its customer services operations to meet this demand. Whilst energy prices have come down, the company still expects customers to need support so is continuing to boost its UK teams. The increased staff numbers will also mean longer opening times for Scottish Gas customers of 8am to 6pm on weekdays and 9am to 2pm on Saturday. 

Scottish Gas has a £100 million support package in place to help customers who are struggling with energy costs – the largest voluntary support package offered by a UK supplier. Its customer services teams will receive additional training in how to help customers in financial difficultly including directing them to available support.   

Chris O’Shea, CEO of Centrica, parent company of Scottish Gas, said: “Although energy prices have come down slightly, many of our customers are still struggling overall with the cost of living and need to speak to us for longer about their energy bills.  

“Strengthening our call centre operations in Edinburgh will allow us to help more households across Scotland and the rest of the UK with expert advice and support during this time.

“I’m extremely proud of how our expert teams support our customers every day – in the past year they’ve helped over 1 million customers who’ve been struggling to afford their bills with additional support such as grants, debt relief and payment plans.”