Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Changes to Lothian bus services from Sunday

Lothian Buses will introduce an update to its critical services network from Sunday 21 June to help keep key workers across Edinburgh and the Lothians moving during this time.

Tram construction works in Leith will also start on 20th June, meaning that our services will be unable to serve Leith Walk northbound. Services 7, 14, 16, 22, 25, 49 will be diverted via London Road and Easter Road, heading north only and Service 11 will be diverted via Annandale Street, Bellevue Road, Mcdonald Road and Broughton Road on journeys to Ocean Terminal.

Since the introduction of the Critical Services Network on Sunday 29 March, teams across Lothian have continued to analyse customer travel patterns and customer feedback to ensure the business is meeting the needs of as many key workers and essential travellers as possible.

Customers can view updated timetables and plan journeys on Lothian’s website or through the Lothian app which offers journey planning tools and real-time service updates, all integrated with Google Maps.

It can be downloaded from tfeapp.com.

Network changes include:

Services with minor timetable changes: 1, 34, 106, 124, X27

Services with revised timetables: 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 14, 16, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35, 37, 38, 47, 48, 49, Airlink 100, 113, 43, X18

Services with revised route and timetables: 2, 7, 41, 49, 140, X28, 400

Service 2

Route extended to operate between Hermiston Gait and The Jewel.

Service 7

Route extended to Western Harbour on Monday to Saturday daytime, evening and Sunday journeys will continue to terminate at Newhaven.

Journeys towards Western Harbour will divert via Easter Road due to Tram construction works.

Service 41

Revised timetable with the route extended to operate between Cramond and Kings’ Buildings.

Service 49

Route extended to Fort Kinnaird.  On journeys to and from The Fort, buses will no longer access the car park at Asda The Jewel and will continue along Milton Link instead.

Journeys towards Fort Kinnaird will divert via Easter Road due to Tram construction works.

EastCoastbuses 140

Route extended to operate between Musselburgh and Penicuik Town Centre on Monday to Saturdays.

Lothiancountry X28

Monday-Saturday daytime frequency increased to every 30 minutes between Bathgate and Livingston.  Short-working buses will terminate at Livingston Morrisons.

East Calder, Mid Calder and Edinburgh will continue to be served hourly.

Skylink 400

Route extended to operate from Fort Kinnaird to Gyle Centre.

The following services are not altered: 20, 44, 63, 139

The following services do not operate: 6, 10, 12, 23, 36, 42, 45, 61, 67, 200, 300, X12, X15, X25, X26, X29, X31, X33, X37, X44, X47, N3, N7, N11, N16, N22, N25, N26, N30, N31, N34, N37, N44, 104, 125, 126, 127, X5, X7, N106, N113, N124, X17, X38, X43, EX2, 275, 280, 287, N28, N43

Timetables can be downloaded below:

Lothian Buses Network – 21 June 2020

East Coast Buses Network – 21 June 2020

Lothian Country Network – 21 June 2020

Phase 2: ‘We must still exercise care and caution’

Further changes to lockdown restrictions in Scotland have been announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The easing of some lockdown measures are the latest steps on the road to the ‘new normal’ – but the First Minister warned that Scots continue to exercise ‘care and caution’.

Those shielding are now able to go outdoors for exercise, and from today (Friday, 19 June) those shielding can take part in non-contact outdoor activities and can meet one other household, in groups of no more than eight outdoors. Physical distancing and strict hygiene measures must still be followed, even if you live with those people.

Also from today, anyone living alone or only with children under 18 can form an ‘extended household group’ with one other household. This does not apply to households with people who are shielding.

Extended household groups can meet indoors with overnight stays permitted and without physical distancing, but any other household meetings must remain strictly outdoors and at a two metre distance. Members of an extended household group should not form a similar arrangement with any other household.

From Monday, 29 June some indoor workplaces can re-open, including factories, labs and warehouses, subject to strict physical distancing, hygiene and health and safety guidance, but non-essential offices and call centres should remain closed.

All retail premises with outdoor entrances and exits can also re-open from 29 June. Ahead of that date local authorities and retailers are urged to plan for the responsible use of public space, such as removing unnecessary street furniture, designing systems to manage queuing and pedestrian thoroughfares, and implementing adequate measures to support physical distancing.

It remains government advice to wear a face covering in enclosed areas where physical distancing is difficult, such as shops, and from Monday, 22 June, it will become mandatory to wear a face covering on all public transport.

There was disappointment for those who were looking forward to a long-awaited drink in a beer garden this weekend. Drinkers learned they must wait a wee while longer.

A date for the re-opening of outdoor hospitality cannot be safely set at this stage. A further update will be provided on 2 July. Further advice from the Scientific Advisory Group has been commissioned based on emerging evidence suggesting communal spaces such as hospitality can present a higher risk of transmission.

Physical distancing guidance remains to stay two metres apart from people outside your household. Advice has also been commissioned on circumstances and settings, including schools and transport, where with additional mitigation it may be possible to balance the risk of a shorter distance.

Announcing the measures, the First Minister said: “Thank you for the personal sacrifices you’re making to tackle this pandemic. You’ve demonstrated remarkable dedication to our national wellbeing – that effort should never be underestimated, and my thanks can never be overstated.

“Because of your actions, we can now – gradually and carefully – change some restrictions.

“In deciding when to implement each measure in our staged approach, we have to think about how a decision in one area affects life in other areas. Our test and protect system is important to our gradual return to living more freely while suppressing the virus, and early indications suggest it’s already working well.

“I know for those shielding, the requirement to stay indoors at all times, without meeting up with anyone, has been incredibly tough. I hope that this change to our advice can provide a real improvement to your quality of life, without significantly increasing the risks you face.

“Our extended household groups will allow a grandparent who lives on their own to form a group with another household in their family, a single parent and their children to join with another household for support, and it will allow a non-cohabiting couple, where at least one of them lives alone, to be reunited. It will, I hope, help to ease some of the isolation which is one of the cruellest consequences of tackling this virus.

“I appreciate today’s announcement will be hard for the hospitality industry but I want to give an assurance that we will continue to support preparations for re-opening.

“Ultimately, this is a social bargain. The prize for going a bit more carefully now is a recovery that is much more sustainable and will, I hope, allow more normality to be restored to our everyday lives while suppressing the virus.”

Route map Phase 2 changes

From Friday 19 June:
• Those advised to shield will be able to take part in non-contact activities such as golf, angling, kayaking, and meet members of another household outdoors, up to a suggested maximum of eight in the group. Most importantly in both instances, strict physical distancing of two meters must be followed at all times, and they should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds when they return home
• A household not shielding can meet two other households, outside, up to a suggested maximum of eight people in the group
• Those visiting another household in a private garden will be permitted to use the household toilet, with increased hygiene measures urged. This does not include a household of someone who is shielding
• Single person households, including single parents households with children under the age of 18, will be able to form an extended household with another
• People should continue to stay in their local area as much as possible and should not travel more than around five miles for leisure or recreation

From Monday 22 June
• Construction sector to implement remaining stages of their own phased return
• Dental practices open to see patients with urgent care needs
• Resumption of professional sport, following public health advice
• Places of worship open for individual prayer and contemplation
• Limited College and University staff return for essential preparations for re-opening in Phase 3
• Mandatory face coverings on public transport (please see Transport Scotland for more detail)
• Accommodation can be provided for workers whose workplaces are open in the relevant phase and who need to stay away from home for work

From Monday 29 June
• Indoor non-office workplaces (including factories, warehouses and labs) can resume once relevant guidance is implemented. This does not include non-essential office, call-centre, culture, leisure and hospitality premises
• Restrictions of house moves relaxed
• Public gardens and zoos can open but should remain limited to local access only in this phase
• Outdoor sports courts reopen
• Playgrounds can reopen
• Registration offices can open for priority tasks
• Marriages and civil partnerships allowed with minimal attendees outside
• Street-access retail can re-open once guidance is implemented. Interiors of shopping malls/centres remain closed for non-essential shops until Phase 3
• Reintroduction of some chronic disease management
• Phased resumption of some screening services
• Phased safe resumption of essential optometry and ophthalmology services
• Outdoor markets can reopen once guidance is implemented

Scaling up throughout Phase 2
• Public transport will increase services. Capacity will remain constrained due to physical distancing requirements – and active travel remains the preferred mode of travel.
• Increase in health care provisions for pent up demand, urgent referrals and triage of routine services
• Planning with COSLA and partners to support and, if needed, review social care and care home services
• Priority referrals to secondary care
• Public services will continue to resume and scale up, including services such as visiting support to Housing First Tenants and the resumption of area-based energy efficiency schemes

Phase 2 route map

Phase 2 guidance

Further guidance will be published before the current shielding period is due to end on 31 July.

 

Letters: BHF launches free postal donation service for shops

Dear Editor,

I would like to let your readers know about a new service we have launched at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which will make it even easier to donate decluttered items and support our charity to help save lives right here in Scotland.

Many people will have spent their time at home having a much-needed clear out and have been kindly holding onto their preloved items ready to donate to us.

Our post to donate service is a quick, free and simple initiative where you can donate smaller items via post. As our 750 UK shops and stores begin to reopen throughout June and July, this service is the perfect solution if your local BHF Scotland shop is not yet open, or you’re simply not ready to head to the high street

From electronic items, clothes and vinyl records to video games, shoes and collectible objects, we hope to receive good quality items which will be sold either online via our eBay store or at a BHF shop.

You can post your donations for free by downloading a postage label online and dropping it off at your local Collect+ store. To download your label and find your nearest Collect+ store, visit www.bhf.org.uk/shop

Our charity shops rely on the support of the public, which is why we never take for granted anything that’s donated to us. Every pound raised in our shops here helps us to support the 720,000 people in Scotland living with heart and circulatory diseases, many of whom are at increased risk from Covid-19.

Yours faithfully

James Jopling

Head of British Heart Foundation Scotland

Scotland’s printers prove they are essential workers too

The importance of Scotland’s print industry in quickly and efficiently disseminating information has been highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic, during which it has been a vital cog in the machinery employed to fight the virus.

The sector, which before the outbreak employed between 4,000 and 6,000 people, has been instrumental in creating literature, posters and stickers for the NHS and other public sector organisations, as well as helping supply vital PPE equipment.

The industry has also proved invaluable to other enterprises as they struggle to come to terms with new realities, for instance the food and drink sector which suddenly needed to promote new online or home delivery services.

But key figures within the sector feel that the printing industry has been significantly underappreciated since the lockdown began, and that it is deserving of greater recognition as an essential service.

Garry Richmond, Director of Print Scotland, the sector’s campaigning trade body, said: “Not enough credit has been given to printers over the course of this outbreak, because the stark fact is that nothing would be functioning without print.

“There would have been no food in the shops because everything sold in the supermarkets needs packaging, branding and labelling provided by printers. The NHS has needed forms, documents and notices about safe working practices. The list could go on.

“Print helps companies promote their goods and services and keep their customers updated, especially in critical times like this when the importance of verified and trusted information is paramount.”

Mr Richmond said that the sector had been operating at around 25% to 35% of capacity, with some firms shutting down completely in response to Government advice, others running on skeleton staffs and yet others implementing safe practices in order to carry out essential work. He said the figures were similar across Europe.

Some print companies have directed their efforts towards helping the NHS. Trade finisher Taskforce (Finishing & Handling) Ltd produced 2,500 face visors using plastic it had in stock then another 2500 using donated plastic. These have been deployed in care homes.

Alex Porteous, Managing Director of Edinburgh-based Taskforce, said: “We have been delighted by the letters of thanks we have received from nursing homes, care homes and hospices.

“We are appealing now for more donations of plastic. We need sheets of 250-500 micron PVC and, with enough material, we could produce 10,000 visors a day.”

Digital Typeline Publications (DTP) Ltd, also of Edinburgh, has maintained a limited production schedule and has used its laser cutter to produce PPE face shields for the NHS, care homes and the police.

Alun Joseph, Managing Director of DTP, said: “As well as being able to help the essential services, we are also finding that customers are looking at new products or new ways of promoting their products. We are glad to have been able to support them.”

Mr Richmond said that although the print industry in Scotland had been badly affected over the outbreak, he was optimistic about its ability to bounce back.

He said: “It might take until the end of the year before we are back to running at a more normal 85% to 95% capacity but, as the easing progresses, more and more firms are readying themselves for a resumption of business.

“They are reconfiguring desk spaces, installing sanitiser stations, working on social distancing and introducing elements such as staggered breaks. There is also consideration of South Korean working models such as separate Monday-to-Wednesday and Thursday-to-Saturday teams, which would also ease the strain on public transport.

“It is probably inevitable that there will be some job losses, but the industry is determined to do everything possible to keep them to a minimum. There will have to be changes across the board to make it work.”

Mr Richmond pointed out that print companies which were not members of Print Scotland were missing out on a huge range of support, advice and services which could be invaluable as they sought to bring their businesses back up to full capacity.

He said: “This is a time when hard-working printers need all the help they can get and Print Scotland has the infrastructure in place to support them as they try to get back on their feet at this unprecedented time.”

For more information, please contact Garry Richmond, Director of Print Scotland, c/o Dentons UKMEA LLP, 1 George Square, Glasgow, G2 1AL M:07776493740, w: www.print-scotland.com, e: garry@print-scotland.com

Housing and homelessness: biggest challenges are still to come

The response from organisations working to prevent homeless during the pandemic in Edinburgh has been phenomenal (writes Councillor Kate Campbell, Edinburgh’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener).

The council’s homelessness service has been working with the Scottish Government, third sector, the police, the NHS, social care and volunteers to provide housing, food, health care, advice and support throughout the lockdown period.

Front line workers and volunteers have powered this work, putting their own health at risk to make sure that our most vulnerable residents are supported. We owe them a massive thank you.

And what is even more phenomenal is the level of engagement we’ve received in return. Turns out showing that you actually care builds trust. So people we have been describing as ‘hard to reach’ have actually been reached, and are engaging, and are being supported on the journey to permanent housing.

So we have learnt a lot – things, frankly, we already knew. But now we can evidence them. If you put in all the support upfront, then people will engage. You have to take services to people and they have to be tailored to meet their needs.

It has cost a lot in the short term, but we also need to learn the lessons about what we are saving in the longer term. Not just money on future services that hopefully won’t now be needed. But life chances, health outcomes, dignity, respect.

There’s a big debate here. And one we need to manage carefully: when our city shut down, suddenly we were able to end rough sleeping.

Now partly it’s to do with resources. It was a public health emergency and so funding became a secondary consideration. And we were allowed, because of public health, to spend money accommodating people with ‘no recourse to public funds’ – where their immigration status means a person isn’t entitled to any benefits, even if they have the right to remain in the UK. Usually the law prohibits us from doing this.

The other thing that happened is accommodation became available to us. Short term let properties were suddenly accessible for people experiencing homelessness. Hotels opened their doors to people who had been rough sleeping.

And we have to be honest. This is about supply and demand. There was no demand from tourists, so residents were the only market.

We will welcome visitors back to the city in the months and years to come. We need to make sure that the balance is right. That visitors are not staying in accommodation that could be used as homes. And we need to support hotels who employ more people, are tightly regulated and have to pay their business taxes.

So we will be pressing ahead with controls on short term lets as they pass into legislation, whether that’s licensing powers or through planning. It’s important for both the hospitality sector, and for our residents, that homes stay as homes after the pandemic.

But there will be more challenges to come. We know that there will come a point when we are no longer legally allowed to accommodate people with no recourse to public funds. The idea that we will have to say, because of the law, that people must leave their accommodation – and we will know that they have nowhere to go – is horrific.

We have limited powers (unfortunately we can’t change legislation at Westminster from the city chambers) but we can start to plan pathways, look at options and work with our partners. Kevin Stewart, Scotland’s Housing Minister, has written to the UK government. We will need to work with the Scottish Government to make the case for legislative change – and funding to go alongside it.

We know too that the economic situation is likely to worsen before it gets better. We know that we are likely to see job losses as the furlough scheme winds down and that alongside this there is a risk of increased homelessness.

We need to increase preventative work to help keep people in their homes. Advice and support are crucial so that people are able to access the benefits they are entitled to and receive help with housing costs. It’s also vital people know their housing rights.

We will also need to increase the supply of temporary accommodation, and make sure that accommodation is suitable for the people that need to stay in it.

Ultimately though, we want people to move into permanent, secure and safe homes – so our housebuilding programme, and the provision of social housing, will be even more critical than ever.

We’ve reconvened the homelessness task force to look at all of this. To have a space where we can learn best practice from each other – and there is so much innovation happening – and where we can share our concerns about what we see coming down the line. And work together to plan solutions.

In the months ahead we will need to keep re-evaluating, and planning, and adapting. This crisis is far from over. But the strength of the partnerships we have now across the city, and the enormous determination to work together to overcome any obstacles, give me confidence that we will collectively rise to the challenges that come.

This article first appeared in the Edinbugh Evening News

Alternative Solutions for Relationship Disputes

Family law experts in Edinburgh are suggesting five alternative solutions to couples wrestling with relationship disputes and unable to go to court to reach a resolution under current guidelines.

Gibson Kerr has seen an influx of requests from concerned parents and separating partners as to what options are available to resolve disputes while the courts remain closed for non-urgent cases.

Head of Family Law Fiona Rasmusen (above) said: “We try to encourage clients to adopt ways of resolving their family disputes and concerns which don’t involve a lengthy or expensive court process.

“With the courts currently closed for non-emergency disputes, now is an even better time to engage in an alternative method to try to resolve issues and concerns.

“The particular route you decide to take will depend on many things including the relationship that you have with your former partner and the nature of the dispute.”

The firm has revealed five common methods of resolving disputes that can take place outside of the courts. The more common disputes Gibson Kerr deal with include dividing assets, support, occupation of the family home, and childcare arrangements.

Fiona, an accredited expert in family law, said: “Former couples can sit down together and negotiate an agreement themselves, with advice from their lawyers to hand – this is what’s referred to as ‘Kitchen Table’ resolution.

“This can save a lot of legal fees, and can even make the relationship more amicable than other methods. Once you have terms decided, you should engage your solicitor to have the arrangements drafted into a formal agreement.”

For couples who can’t easily sit down together to discuss their separation, they might find it easier to work with a neutral mediator to come to an agreement. Gibson Kerr advises that couples have separate legal advice throughout the process, and ask their solicitors to create an agreement once they have reached a resolution.

Collaborative law is another avenue open to couples in conflict, where they work with specially trained solicitors to come together and reach a fair and reasonable settlement. In these situations, both parties agree they will not raise court proceedings, meaning it is less likely to result in a total breakdown of relationships.

Fiona said: “The most common way family law disputes are dealt with is negotiations through solicitors, where each party’s solicitor works to come to an agreement – outside of a court.

“Instead of going to courts, we also encourage clients to look at arbitration, where an independent and qualified arbitrator is appointed to hear a case and make a decision. Arbitration can be very useful if there are one or two important points you want to solve, for example deciding the date you separated, or where your child should go to school.

“As well as being completely confidential, you choose your arbitrator and you can decide the timescales and how the proceedings are managed – including where and when it takes place.”

“When the courts reopen fully, separated partners can look to raise an action. The advantages of going to court are that the process is strict in terms of fairness and timescales, and you will get a definite result at the end of it.

“However, as it’s expensive and lengthy, and can be stressful, we tend to advise clients to look at all of the other options available ahead of making the decision to go to court.”

Anyone interested in alternative methods of dispute resolution should contact one of the family law solicitors at Gibson Kerr on 0131 226 9161.

Youth Project unveils virtual Summer Programme

Pilton Youth & Children’s Project have unveiled their plans for a Summer Programme with a difference this year.

For the first time ever, PYCP activities won’t be happening at The Greenhouse in West Pilton – but will instead be taking place ONLINE ONLY because of ongoing coronavirus restrictions.

Like youth organisations all over the country PYCP have had to adapt to these unique circumstances but despite huge challenges they have managed to put together a programme that’s  packed with fun activities despite being drastically different to those of recent years.

Activities commence week commencing 29 June. Full programme below:

PYCP summer-programme

 

Praise for Drylaw’s ‘urban art installation’

A controversial community art ‘installation’ has been praised by arts organisation Creative Scotland. Drylaw’s ‘Love My Docs‘, which is situated behind The Ferry Boat in Drylaw Shopping Centre, has been recognised as an iconic image of the coronavirus era.

Creative Scotland’s Ruaridh Afton-Waters said: “The Drylaw artwork is an important piece of modern sculpture, symbolising  a working class community’s fight against this all-powerful invisible enemy that is Coronavirus.

“What makes this piece so special is that it encourages local people to add their own pieces of art – and hundreds of community artists have stepped forward to embrace the challenge. Their imaginative contributions have built into an incredibly important statemement of empowerment.

“They are saying: ‘you won’t defeat us, coronavirus.  You can shut our museums and art galleries, you can even shut our Ferry Boat – but you’ll never destroy our spirit of creativity.’

“It is brutal, it is primitive, but most of all ‘Love My Docs’ is truly,  deeply moving.”

Moving, indeed – and some Drylaw residents are hoping the artwork will be moving on sometime soon!

Community togetherness won’t last, says study

The UK public feel that any sense of ‘community togetherness’ that has been built during the coronavirus crisis will disperse as soon as it is over says a new study commissioned by the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham .

A poll undertaken by Populus of 2,088 adults in the UK found that older generations and women have felt a stronger sense of community togetherness recently, compared with younger generations and men, who have not felt this to the same degree.

Conversely, there was the opposite generational gap identified in terms of those who agreed that community togetherness would disappear after the crisis is over, with those aged 45-64 being most negative (61%), compared with less than half of those aged 18-24 (46%).

This suggests that there has been a marked generational divide in how people have responded to the crisis. This is highlighted further in responses from 18-24 year olds to the valuing of health of older generations today over longer-term economic prosperity. Younger people disagreed with this statement in larger numbers (13%) than those aged over 45 (9%).

The importance of character in times of crisis was highlighted, as 68% of the British public valued ‘being compassionate/caring’ in their top 3 most valued character strengths seen in those around them – an identical figure to a preliminary poll conducted in April 2020; they also valued it the most in terms of personal well-being (25%). Yet, concerns over the lack of community spirit were further emphasised.

Findings showed that less than a quarter of the British public have given their time to benefit others during the crisis. Of those who have, 18-24 year olds and those aged 55-64 have volunteered the most, with women volunteering more than men, and the East Midlands and South East being the areas of the country where people have volunteered the most.

There was a decline in the value placed on the civic character strengths of ‘being of service’ and ‘having community awareness’ in the people around us, compared to the April 2020 poll. Instead, the British public placed greater value on ‘being resilient’; this is suggestive that the public mood has moved to one of self-preservation over community togetherness.

Commenting on the findings, Aidan Thompson, Director of Strategic Initiatives in the Jubilee Centre, said; ‘Strengths of character have helped everyone to negotiate a path through these uncertain and unprecedented times.

“This poll reflects the continued importance of character in how we treat those around us and those we look up to. Good character development benefits both the individual and the community, so whilst notions of ‘community togetherness’ may seem as though they are dwindling, continuing to provide opportunities to serve the public good are essential to cultivate a character-full society.’

Other notable findings include: 

  • Good judgement is valued more by older generations than younger ones as important to one’s wellbeing;
  • Older people have felt a stronger notion of community togetherness during the crisis than younger people, but were more likely to agree that it would disappear once the crisis is over;
  • The public value having ‘good judgement’ (71%) and ‘being wise’ (40%) in senior leaders and politicians in greater numbers than in the first poll;
  • A large majority (71%) of the public support following government lockdown guidelines as an expression of civic duty, though only 56% of 18-24 year olds agreed, compared with 87% of those over 65 years.

 

Val McDermid reveals the rising stars of crime fiction

The undisputed ‘Queen of Crime’ Val McDermid has unveiled the hotly tipped ‘New Blood’ authors for 2020, showcasing the year’s best breakout crime writing talent: 

–          Deepa Anappara – Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line (Chatto & Windus)

–          Elizabeth Kay – Seven Lies (Sphere)

–          Jessica Moor – Keeper (Penguin)

–          Trevor Wood – The Man on the Street (Quercus)

Since 2004, the best-selling Scottish author of the Tony Hill & Carol Jordan series has curated an annual celebration of the most formidable debuts taking the crime and thriller genre by storm, with an invitation to join the line-up of the world’s largest and most prestigious crime fiction festival: Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. 

This year, Deepa Anappara has been selected for her part coming-of-age, part detective mystery Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line, a heart-breaking and thought-provoking social commentary of modern India’s slums that has been recognised for the Women’s Prize.

Elizabeth Kay is on the list for her explosive Seven Lies, taking domestic noir to a whole new level in a deliciously dark blurring of truth and lies, and Jessica Moore is recognised for her brutal and beautiful Keeper, the addictive literary thriller that has had everyone talking. Concluding this year’s New Blood contingent is Trevor Wood and his debut The Man on the Street, a gritty thriller set on the streets of Newcastle. 

Val McDermid said: “I have been hosting the New Blood showcase since the festival began in 2003 and, in my book, discovering and sharing new talent with an eager audience is the best job in crime fiction.

“I know exactly what I’m looking for on my quest: fresh and distinctive voices, a well-told, convincing story and the almost indefinable sense that these authors all have much more to say. Deepa, Elizabeth, Jessica and Trevor tick all of these boxes and more, and if this year’s debuts share a theme, it is the irresistible and devastating way in which crime fiction shines a light on our times: homelessness, domestic violence, child trafficking and mental health are all dissected with an unflinching gaze.

“Whilst we can’t gather en masse at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate this year, I hope that readers will enjoy our virtual introduction to these brilliant new writers.”

 The unveiling of McDermid’s selection has become one of the most anticipated moments of the publishing calendar, with readers on the lookout to uncover their new favourite author and add the ‘next big thing’ to their bookshelves. 

Former ‘New Blood’ alumni include Clare Mackintosh, SJ Watson, Stuart MacBride, Liam McIlvanney and Belinda Bauer, as well as three authors on this year’s shortlist for the UK’s most prestigious crime writing award – Theakston Old Peculier: Abir Mukherjee, Jane Harper and Oyinkan Braithwaite, who was chosen just last year for her Booker longlisted My Sister, the Serial Killer. 

As part Harrogate International Festivals’ year round programme of events, each year the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival welcomes the world’s famous authors each year to Harrogate’s Old Swan Hotel – the scene of Agatha Christie’s mysterious disappearance in 1926 – for a celebration of the crime genre like no other.

 This year’s instalment – which formed part of Harrogate International Festival Summer Season – was cancelled, with much sadness, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and so the 2020 ‘New Blood’ showcase will be streamed on the festival’s HIF Player on what would have been the legendary weekender on Saturday 25 July 2020. 

Val McDermid will also interviewed by Mark Lawson about the legacy of the New Blood panel, discussing the vital role of the showcase in giving a platform to new writers in the industry and the crime community, and giving a peek behind the scenes into how and why she chooses the books. 

Trevor Wood said: “As a kid I dreamt of playing in the cup final. I’m a fraction older now but being chosen for Harrogate’s New Blood panel feels exactly like that did.” 

Jessica Moor said: “To have been chosen for this panel, which has included some of my favourite new authors of the last decade, and to have been chosen by the legendary Val McDermid, is a such an honour.” 

Deepa Anappara said: “I am thrilled and honoured to be picked for the New Blood panel, and grateful to Val McDermid for her immense generosity and support of debut novelists.” 

Elizabeth Kay said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have been selected for such a prestigious event. The ‘New Blood’ panel has an incredible history, and I’m delighted to be participating this year alongside three really exciting other authors.”