Scotland’s first inland surf resort, Lost Shore Surf Resort, officially opened with an exciting ribbon-cutting ceremony at its £60m site in Ratho, near Edinburgh, marking a new era for the nation’s adventure tourism.
Founder Andy Hadden, joined by Ratho Primary P7 House Captains, Scottish Junior Series Champion Robyn Larg, and professional surfer Ben Larg, proudly cut the ribbon at Europe’s largest and most advanced wave pool.
Andy Hadden said: “This is a dream come true. We’re thrilled to welcome visitors to experience Scotland’s new hub for world-class surfing, hospitality, and wellness.”
The resort, powered by Wavegarden technology, generates up to 1,000 customisable waves per hour and features luxury lodges, the Spear Sauna, and top Scottish eateries like Civerinos and Five March.
The Wavegarden Cove is the most energy-efficient technology in the sector, consuming just 250-450 kilowatts per hour (kWh), or less energy than a single chair lift at a ski resort.
With over 130 jobs created and a projected £11m annual boost to the local economy, Lost Shore Surf Resort is set to become a Scottish icon.
With just two days to go until the Colinton/Fairmilehead by-election, the city council’s elections team has been urging residents in the area to cast their votes on Thursday 14 November.
Residents in Colinton, Fairmilehead, Bonaly, Dreghorn, Oxgangs and Swanston who are aged 16 or over and have registered to vote can participate in Thursday’s by-election. Together they will select a new councillor for the ward, which has a current electorate of 19,226.
Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said: “As the by-election approaches, I encourage residents of the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward to visit their local polling place and have their say in electing a councillor to represent the community on issues affecting the ward and the wider city.
“Our elections pages provide helpful information on how the Single Transferable Vote system works – you can rank candidates in order of preference, choosing as many or few as you’d like.
“If you’ve requested and received a postal ballot, be sure to return it as soon as possible to make sure your vote is counted.”
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 14 November:
Charwood
Fairmilehead Parish Church Hall
St. Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church Hall
Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre
Pentland Community Centre
Anyone living in the area who is aged 16 or over and has registered can vote in the by-election, and votes can be cast by post or by proxy if more convenient.
The electronic election count will take place on Friday 15 November starting at 9:30am.
SCOTTISH Water are upgrading the water main in Boswall Gardens, Edinburgh, to ensure you continue to enjoy fresh, clear drinking water and reduce the chance of pipes bursting.
Work will commence on Monday, 18 November and is expected to last approximately six weeks.
The work is being carried out by our contractor, Cleantech.
At A Glance:
Water main upgrade to improve resilience
From Monday, 18 November
Six week duration
Delivered by Cleantech
What to Expect:
Boswall Gardens at the junction with Boswall Terrace will be closed for the duration of our work. Diversion routes will be via Boswall Crescent, Boswall Drive, and Boswall Parkway.
The road closure is essential to allow our team to replace the water main. It will be in place from 8:00am to 5:00pm daily, with an amnesty period at lunchtime between 12:00 noon and 1:00pm to allow essential access for local residents only.
The road will remain open out with hours of operation. Weekend working will also be utilised to expedite work. The hours of operation will be:
Monday to Friday: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am to 4:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am to 4:00pm
Access will be maintained at all times for emergency vehicles and pedestrians. Please take care while following any diversion signage and allow extra time for journeys through this area.
We will do our best to minimise any disruption and construction noise where possible. Any areas of operation will be made safe and secure, with full reinstatements carried out on completion of the work.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while we complete this essential work.
Do you have some research you wish to do concerning the history of Edinburgh? Do you need funds to help you accomplish this goal? Why not apply for a grant from the Old Edinburgh Club?
We have an introductory meeting at The Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, EH1 2JL commencing at 7:30 on the 19th of this month (November) which you can attend by applying to membership@oldedinburghclub.org.uk.
A sports volunteer from Midlothian has won the Volunteer of the Year award at the sportscotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering (COV) Awards 2024.
Stevie Halliday has been recognised for the time and dedication he has given to rugby in the area, particularly at Dalkeith RFC.
Serving as the Director of Youth Rugby last year, Stevie has transformed Dalkeith RFC’s mini and youth rugby sections. Under his leadership, the club fielded its first under-18 team in over a decade, culminating in Dalkeith RFC’s inaugural appearance in a national final.
The club’s mini and youth sections have seen remarkable growth under his guidance, now boasting over 300 boys and girls. Thanks to Stevie’s hard work and organisation, Dalkeith RFC consistently fields boys’ teams at under-13, under-14, under-16, and under-18 levels, along with its first girls’ youth teams.
One of Stevie’s focuses has been providing opportunities for girls graduating from mini rugby to continue playing at Dalkeith RFC. This initiative has been a success with 27 girls now actively participating in youth rugby.
Stevie also coaches the under-18 side, steering them to the National School Bowl Final at Murrayfield, marking the club’s first national final in its history.
Stevie’s support for Dalkeith RFC’s youth players extends beyond coaching. He has organised first aid courses, mental health workshops and encouraged players to take on roles in running the club and coaching. His commitment to Dalkeith RFC is longstanding, having served as a player, Club Captain and President.
Stevie said: “My view is you always gets out of something what you put in. I met my wife at the rugby club, we’ve got two kids who are both involved in the rugby now so that drives me on to make sure there’s a place for them to be.
“It’s been a place that’s been a good environment for me and I want to make sure it stays that way for everyone else.”
Jason Hendrie, First Team Coach at Dalkeith RFC, said: “He’s always pushing everyone at the club to make things better. He’s always wanting the best for the club, if we didn’t have Stevie I don’t know where we’d be. He drives it so much.”
The sportscotland COV Awards celebrates the people who make sport happen in communities across Scotland, who inspire and enhance the lives of others and often commit their own time to help make sport accessible to as many people as possible.
The COV winners were invited to collect their award at a presentation ceremony at Glasgow City Chambers on Thursday 7 November.
Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “Every year the Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards give us the opportunity to celebrate the people across the country who have given so much of their time and dedication to Scottish sport and are making such an impact on their sport and their community.
“Across Scotland, there are thousands of people who recognise the impact that sport can have on us all. The people we are celebrating have taken that recognition and ,with a huge amount of hard work, helped to change people’s lives.
“Individuals like Stevie have dedicated a huge amount of their time to helping others realise their sporting potential.”
Join PCHP every Tuesday from 1-3 PM for a variety of activities designed to boost your wellbeing! From sports to mindfulness, there’s something for everyone.
Meet New People: Connect with others and build lasting friendships.
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Hundreds of people gathered as a single gunshot fired from Edinburgh Castle today to mark a 2-minute silence at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month to remember those who have fallen in conflicts through the years.
The signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, marked the end of the First World War and each year since 1919 the nation has paid tribute to those who have lost their lives in battle.
Preceding the gun fire, at a service within the Garden of Remembrance on Princes Street, Bugler Iona Macfarlane, a medical student at the University of Edinburgh, performed the Last Post.
At the Edinburgh service, wreaths were then laid by the Right Honourable Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge.
Additional wreaths were laid by the CEO of Legion Scotland, Dr Claire Armstrong OBE, Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising and Learning at Poppyscotland, Colonel (Retd) Jim Wilson, Veterans Scotland, Maj (Retd) Alasdair Henry Hutton OBE TD OstJ, Edinburgh and Lothian & Borders Area President, Legion Scotland, and Reverend Dr Karen Campbell, the National Chaplain of Legion Scotland.
Piper Lorne McIntyre from George Heriot’s School then completed the day’s service under glorious sunshine in the capital city.
Dr Claire Armstrong, CEO of Legion Scotland, said: “As a country, and as an organisation, we will never forget the sacrifices that have been made for so many, for the sake of so few.
“These sacrifices are made on a daily occurrence by our Armed Forces community, and they are made on our behalf. I wish to thank our Armed Forces community for their continued dedication to our values and our freedoms. “
The UK will lead the world in the pro-growth clean energy transition, the Prime Minister has announced at the first day of the World Leaders Summit at COP 29
Prime Minister arrives at COP29 with major boost for industry to invest in clean supply chains
British manufacturing win with blade factory in Hull set to benefit from £1bn offshore wind deal
UK steps up clean energy investment to boost energy security, protect consumers, and create good jobs
UK expected to announce new UK climate target to reduce emissions and show climate leadership during summit
The UK will lead the world in the pro-growth clean energy transition, the Prime Minister has announced at the first day of the World Leaders Summit at COP.
At the COP29 Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister has announced another major step forward in the Government’s mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower.
Offshore wind developers will be incentivised to invest in the UK’s historic industrial heartlands, coastal areas and oil and gas communities, boosting green jobs, and to support sustainable factories.
Delivering on a Government manifesto commitment, the Clean Industry Bonus will come with a provisional £27 million per Gigawatt of offshore wind projects. That means if between 7 to 8GW of offshore wind apply, the budget could go up to £200m.
The UK is wasting no time to accelerate the global transition to clean energy and putting the UK at the forefront of the industries of the future. The bonus will create the conditions for cleaner energy industries to thrive in the UK and elsewhere, while rewarding firms for investing in less polluting suppliers – tackling the climate crisis at home and abroad.
It will help to crowd in private investment in hard-working communities across Scotland, Wales, the North East and North West, to build more sustainable offshore wind blades, cables and ports – reducing industrial emissions and helping support the rollout of clean, secure, cheap power for families.
Thousands of highly skilled jobs such as engineers, electricians or welders across the supply chain – will create vibrant towns and cities fit for a clean energy future.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower will fire up our industrial heartlands and break down barriers to growth in our hard-working towns and cities.
“It will strengthen our national security - protecting our children and grandchildren from the climate crisis, and impact this will have on their future prosperity.
“By acting decisively and early, the UK has an opportunity to lead the world in the industries of the future — working in partnership with business — creating real energy security, cutting energy bills and building jobs and supply chains in the UK.
“But we can’t move alone – and at COP I will lead efforts to protect Britain from climate change by also working with other countries to accelerate the global clean transition to tackle the causes at its root.”
The Government has committed to tackling the climate crisis and accelerating towards net zero to make the British people better off, primarily by investing in clean homegrown power to end national exposure to fossil fuel markets and the dictators who control them.
Swift action has already been taken to cut emissions through the Government’s clean power by 2030 mission. Steps taken so far include:
Lifting the ban on onshore wind in England.
Delivering a record number of clean energy projects through its renewables auction.
Consenting unprecedented amounts of nationally significant solar – 2GW – more than the last 14 years combined.
Launching Great British Energy
Firing the starting gun on the UK’s Carbon Capture and Storage industry, with funding agreed for two clusters in Teesside and Merseyside.
In a further boost to British manufacturing ScottishPower has awarded a £1 billion turbine contract for its East Anglia TWO offshore windfarm to Siemens Gamesa, including blade production at its Hull blade factory.
This major contract will inject growth into the industrial heartlands with Siemens Gamesa employing over 1,300 people in Humberside, following extensive recruitment, whilst ScottishPower’s investment in East Anglia supports thousands more. Its East Anglia TWO wind farm alone will produce enough clean energy to power the equivalent of almost 1 million homes.
This cash injection has shown funding is already flowing from last month’s commitment at the International Investment Summit where Iberdrola doubled their investment in the UK, through Scottish Power, from £12bn to £24bn over the next 4 years.
This includes funding for the East Anglia TWO wind farm off the Suffolk coast – unlocked by this Government’s expanded allocation at the most recent renewables auction round.
Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower, said: “Today is tangible proof of the importance of Britain’s Clean Power Mission – our East Anglia projects are delivering UK jobs, UK supply chain contracts and UK green energy.
“Getting more projects like East Anglia TWO off the blocks quicker will turbo-boost the UK’s supply chain, giving companies like Siemens Gamesa the confidence to invest in facilities like this blade factory in Hull.
“Britain’s clean power targets are achievable but demanding. We’ve doubled our investment and are ready to play our part with Government as it gets barriers out the way to build more projects like this, alongside the electricity networks needed to ferry green, homegrown power across the country.”
Darren Davidson, UK and Ireland Vice President for Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa said: “The UK is the first leading industrial country to simultaneously phase out coal power and be a leader in offshore wind.
“If we’re to achieve our net zero targets, it’s mission critical this momentum is maintained. As well as delivering the blades to power the UK’s energy transition, our factory in Hull is acting as a catalyst for economic growth and green jobs across the region.”
At COP29 the UK will encourage other nations to follow its lead to deliver change – strong leadership at home to deliver action abroad.
The Prime Minister is expected to use the visit to make the case for supporting the global transition. In his address to other countries he will argue the global economy depends on nature and a stable climate that is under threat.
The 2022 UK heatwave saw record-breaking 40°C temperatures in England and caused 3000 excess deaths. These events are estimated to be 10x more likely due to climate change.
Climate finance at scale is critical to avoiding the worst consequences of climate change, but the UK is clear public finance alone cannot meet the growing needs of developing countries and innovation is essential to unlock billions in private finance.
This is why the UK will also use the summit to announce the launch of the new CIF Capital Market Mechanism on the London Stock Exchange.
This world-leading, innovative new financial mechanism, has the potential to mobilise up to $75 billion in additional climate capital for developing countries over the next decade.
Its listing in London shows the confidence in our economy and showcases the city as a green finance capital, and the UK as an attractive place to invest in the future.
It will help developing countries cut emissions, build renewable energy and adapt to a rapidly changing climate – all at no extra cost to the British taxpayers.
The mechanism demonstrates the commitment of the UK to work with other like-minded countries and partners like the World Bank to mobilise the finance needed to drive the global clean energy transition.
This will also support the UK Government’s priorities for COP29 – to unveil the UK’s new emission reduction goals, secure an ambitious new global climate goal (NCQG) and the Global Clean Power Alliance by showing the potential to unlock billions more in climate finance for clean energy projects over the next decade.
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