Day: December 6, 2024

Storm Darragh: Red Warning advice issued by safety charity RoSPA

Damaging winds expected

  • Red Weather Warning for Wales and South West England: The Met Office has issued a rare red warning for Wales due to Storm Darragh, with winds expected to reach up to 90 mph, posing significant risks to safety and infrastructure.
  • Amber Warnings for Scotland and Northern Ireland: Scotland and Northern Ireland are also under amber warnings, anticipating severe weather conditions that could lead to widespread disruption.
  • Safety Precautions Urged: Authorities are advising residents to secure loose objects, avoid travel, and prepare for power outages to stay safe during the storm.

The Met Office has warned that gusts of up to 90 mph (144 km/h) or more are possible, particularly over the coasts and hills of west and south Wales. The caution is currently in place from 03:00 to 11:00 on Saturday, December 7th.

Additionally, amber warnings have been issued for Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well parts of the South West of England,  with many events being cancelled across the UK.

The rare red weather warning has been issued for Wales ahead of Storm Darragh, which is expected to bring extremely strong and damaging winds this weekend. 

Here are some important safety tips to help you stay safe:

  • Secure loose objects: Ensure that any loose items outside your home, such as garden furniture, are secured or brought indoors to prevent them from being blown away.
  • Avoid travel: If possible, avoid traveling during the peak of the storm. If you must travel, check the weather forecast and road conditions before setting off. Many events have now been cancelled
  • Stay indoors: Stay inside during the storm, especially during the peak hours from 03:00 to 11:00 GMT on Saturday, December 7th.
  • Prepare for power cuts: Have an emergency kit ready with essentials such as torches, batteries, and non-perishable food in case of power outages.
  • Stay away from windows: Keep away from windows and glass doors to avoid injury from flying debris.
  • Charge your devices: Ensure your mobile phone and other essential devices are fully charged.
  • Check on vulnerable neighbours: If it is safe to do so, ensure that they are secure and have everything they need. .

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “A red weather warning is highly unusual and should be heeded as it can indicate a risk to life.

“With parts of Wales and the South West set to be battered by the wind between 3am and 11am on Saturday, we strongly advise drivers to postpone their journeys if they can. Anyone who must drive should stick to major roads, reduce their speed significantly, always keep a firm grip of the steering wheel and be on high alert for debris in the road.

“Exposed rural and coastal routes will be particularly treacherous. Drivers in these areas should be wary of any high-sided vehicles as they are at risk of being buffeted off course or, worse still, blown over. We also suggest parking well away from large trees due to the danger of falling branches or whole trees being uprooted.”

For more detailed advice on staying safe during strong winds, you can visit the Met Office’s stay safe in winter driving page and the RoSPA website

City Art Centre honours Jean Fletcher Watson as statue goes on display

Visitors to the City Art Centre can now celebrate a key figure behind in the city’s art collection with the installation of a statue honouring Jean Fletcher Watson.

In the 1960s, Edinburgh resident Jean Fletcher Watson (1877-1974) established The Jean F. Watson Bequest, a significant financial contribution to the City of Edinburgh dedicated to building a collection of Scottish art. This bequest remains the city’s primary funding source for acquiring artworks.

Since then, the fund has been used not only to address historical gaps in the fine art collection but also supports the purchase of contemporary works.

To date over 1,000 artworks have been acquired through the Bequest, featuring notable pieces by renowned artists such as Allan Ramsay, John Lavery, J.D. Fergusson, Dorothy Johnstone, William Gillies, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Eduardo Paolozzi, Joan Eardley, John Bellany, Victoria Crowe, and Maud Sulter.

In the 1960s, to honour Watson’s vital contribution to the development of the collection, the city commissioned sculptor Eric Schilsky to create a portrait bust of her. Schilsky, who served as Head of the School of Sculpture at Edinburgh College of Art from 1945 to 1969, crafted this bronze bust, which is now permanently displayed as part of the City Art Centre’s collection.

Val Walker, Convener for Culture and Communities, said: “I am thrilled that the council approved the request from the Committee of the Jean F. Watson Bequest to provide a permanent showcase for this influential figure in our culture. Her contributions to the visual arts and culture in Edinburgh are invaluable and she should be celebrated.

“It’s remarkable that over 1,000 works have been acquired through this fund, tracing the evolution of visual arts in Scotland from the 17th century to today.

“The collection offers a rich overview for both current audiences and future generations, encompassing a diverse array of styles and mediums, including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and installation art.

“Now whilst enjoying the collection visitors can also learn about Jean F Watson’s legacy.”
 

Gracemount incident on 5th November: CCTV images released

EDINBURGH Police have issued CCTV footage of three men officers believe might be able to assist with enquiries into an incident on 5 November 2024 at Captains Road, in the Gracemount area.

The first male is described as a white, aged between 20 and 30 years-old, around 5ft 8ins tall with a slim build and a bushy brown/red beard. He was wearing a black hat, black tracksuit top with white logo on left chest and white lining around shoulders and black trainers.

The second male is described as a white, aged between 30 and 40 years-old, with a medium build and black hair. He was wearing a black jacket with a fur hood and black trousers.

The third male is described as a white aged between 18 and 20-years-old, 5ft 9ins tall, with a medium/athletic build, dark eyebrows and black hair. He was wearing a black snood, black crew-neck Nike jumper with small white swoosh on left breast, black trousers and black trainers.

Detective Inspector Steven Dick said: “We are keen to talk to these males as we believe he may have information which could assist with our enquiries.

“The males pictured, or anyone who may recognise them, are asked to please contact us.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 or make an anonymous report to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

‘Game-changing’ funding for Scotland’s creative sector

Hundreds of individuals and organisations to benefit

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has said an additional £34 million in culture and arts spending next year will be “game-changing” for the sector. 

Wednesday’s draft Scottish Budget 2025-26 will see culture and arts spending increase by £34 million, with £20 million of this being channelled through Creative Scotland for its competitive multi-year funding programme for artists and cultural organisations. 

Speaking at the National Gallery of Scotland, Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said significant levels of public investment in the culture and arts sector would be coupled with an examination of the structures around culture funding to ensure as much money as possible goes directly to artists and organisations. 

He confirmed that the review of Creative Scotland’s remit and functions will begin early next year and will aim to publish its recommendations in summer 2025.

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “Scotland’s arts and culture are at the very soul of our nation. They speak to how we see the world, how we share ideas, and how our people can give expression to their hopes.

“Our draft budget could not be clearer in our steadfast support for Scotland’s arts and culture sector. We aim to provide an additional £34 million next year to bolster the sector. This is a game-changing increase.

“This will enable Creative Scotland to roll-out its multi-year funding programme – ensuring that the highest ever number of artists and organisations receive regular funding.

“We also plan to increase funding for Screen Scotland, give uplifts to our National Performing Companies, double our Festivals EXPO funding, provide above inflation increase to Sistema and the Youth Music Initiative, and restart the Culture Collective programme alongside with a range of other activity.

“This budget brings us half way to reaching our five-year commitment of a recurring £100 million increase for the sector in just two years. For 2026-27, subject to the normal budget processes, our aim is to deliver a further £20 million increase.”

The draft Scottish Budget 2025-26 was published on 4 December 2024. It commits an additional £34 million resource funding to arts and culture in Scotland.

Within this, a further £20 million will be provided to Creative Scotland for its multi-year funding programme in 2025-26. Funding will also increase by £4.5 million for Scotland’s National Collections and £1 million for the National Performing Companies. 

The draft Scottish Budget 2025-26 also commits to an increase of £4 million funding for Scottish Festivals, doubling the EXPO Festival Fund to expand its reach beyond festivals in Edinburgh and Glasgow as well as providing funding for the Festivals Partnership. There will also be an additional £2 million for Screen Scotland to support work to attract international investment and large-scale productions to Scotland.

The Culture Collective programme will be restarted with £4 million to benefit Scottish communities, community organisations, individual artists and freelancers.

In addition, £270,000 has been allocated to enable the creation of a single digital library interface which directs people to Scotland’s public libraries, allowing the public to access information, online content and a national e-resources lending area to ensure equitable access to information and reading material across Scotland.

There will also be £4 million allocated for a new Scottish Culture & Heritage Capacity Fund. This fund recognises the significant challenges faced by heritage and culture organisations across Scotland.

Call for UK Government support in scrapping the two-child limit

Social Justice Secretary writes to counterpart seeking early engagement

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has written to Liz Kendall, the UK Work and Pensions Secretary, to follow up on the commitment to scrap the two-child limit from 2026.

The Scottish Government’s plan to mitigate the limit on Universal Credit, announced as part of the 2025-26 budget, will require cooperation from the Department for Work and Pensions to enable systems development and data-sharing.

In the letter to Ms Kendall, Ms Somerville said: “Eradicating child poverty in Scotland is a national mission and we believe that this policy will be a key driver in delivering that mission.

“The Scottish Government is committing the resources required to begin the preparatory work in the coming financial year with a view to making the first mitigation payments in 2026-27.

“The Finance Secretary was careful to note that co-operation with your Department will be necessary, which I understand will primarily need to centre around systems development and data sharing.

“We will also want to work with you to ensure that any mitigation payments are disregarded as income for benefit calculations. The Scottish Government is keen to progress this work as soon as possible. I would therefore be keen to meet before Christmas to discuss our policy and how, together, we might best be kept appraised of progress as officials take forward this work.”

Two-child limit: Letter to UK Government – gov.scot

Swinney welcomes political leaders as British-Irish Council meets in Edinburgh

First Minister John Swinney will welcome political leaders to Scotland today as he hosts the 42nd Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council.

The First Minister will hold talks with the UK Prime Minister, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, Prif Weinidog Cymru (the First Minister of Wales), the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, the Chief Minister of Jersey and the Chief Minister of Guernsey.

This main focus of the summit – which marks the 25th anniversary of the first meeting of the British-Irish Council – will see leaders gather for substantive talks on financing a just transition and tackling climate change.

First Minister John Swinney said last night: “Scotland will welcome political leaders to our capital city as we gather for the 42nd Summit of the British-Irish Council – a meeting which also marks 25 years since the first council was held following the Good Friday Agreement.

“As we reflect on 25 years, it is testament to the value of the British-Irish Council that the partnership conceived a quarter of a century ago has prevailed in the midst of unprecedented change and challenge.

“The meeting in Edinburgh provides a forum for us to discuss the greatest challenge facing the next 25 years that of climate change and delivering a just transition. The need to share our knowledge, our efforts and our actions is no less urgent today than it was when the first British-Irish Council meeting was held in 1999.

“As First Minister of Scotland, achieving a just transition is integral to the four main priorities of my government. Scotland needs to attract investment to tackle climate change and grasp the opportunities of that journey to Net Zero in a way that grows our economy and helps provide investment to tackle child poverty and improve public services.”

The Summit will be attended by political leaders from the BIC’s eight Member Administrations and will focus on the theme of ‘Financing a Just Transition’. Leaders will also discuss topical political developments.

This will be the sixth Summit hosted by the Scottish Government. The last was in November 2020 and was virtual owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. Previous BIC Summits hosted by the Scottish Government have taken place in Glasgow (June 2016), Stirling (June 2012), South Queensferry (September 2008) and New Lanark (November 2002).

This Summit in Edinburgh will also mark the 25th anniversary of the very first BIC Summit, which took place at Lancaster House in London in December 1999.

Home | The British Irish Council

The British-Irish Council was formally established following the Good Friday Agreement and brings together political leaders from the Northern Ireland Executive, the Government of Ireland, the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, the Isle of Man Government, the Government of Jersey, and the Government of Guernsey.

The following political leaders are attending the 42nd meeting of the British Irish Council in Edinburgh:

Scottish GovernmentRt. Hon. John Swinney MSP, First Minister 
Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister 
Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs & Culture (Thursday only) 
UK GovernmentRt. Hon. Sir Keir Starmer MP, Prime Minister
Rt. Hon. Pat McFadden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP, SoS NI (Thursday only) 
Government of Ireland Simon Harris TD, Taoiseach 
Micheál Martin TD, Tánaiste  
Welsh GovernmentRt. Hon. Eluned Morgan, Prif Weinidog Cymru (First Minister of Wales) 
Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning 
Northern Ireland ExecutiveMichelle O’Neill MLA, First Minister 
Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, deputy First Minister 
Minister Conor Murphy MLA, Minister for the Economy  
Minister Andrew Muir MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs 
Isle of Man GovernmentAlfred Cannan, Chief Minister 
Government of Jersey Deputy Lyndon Farnham, Chief Minister 
Deputy Ian Gorst, Minister for External Relations  
Government of Guernsey Deputy Lyndon Trott, Chief Minister