The essential, everyday services provided by Scotland’s Councils – upon which we all rely – have once again been undervalued and underappreciated by Tueday’s passing of the Scottish Budget, says COSLA.
COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Gail Macgregor, said: “Our ask of Scottish Government throughout the Budget process was to give Scotland’s 32 Councils the fair funding and flexibility they deserve to be able to deliver the essential services that they provide to communities and have continued to provide throughout the COVID pandemic.
“We are pleased that the Cabinet Secretary has listened to Local Government and agreed to baseline the £90m that was made available to councils who chose to freeze Council Tax during 2021-22.
“However, our key ask around fair funding and local flexibility has not been met with the passing of the Budget today – instead we are left with a Budget deal which does very little to address a decade of cuts to Local Government’s core funding, and once again ring fenced pots of money for specific Scottish Government policies. Without flexible additional funding to our core Budget, our ability to help recover from COVID is severely eroded.”
“The essential services that Local Government deliver are the foundations for strong communities across Scotland – today’s announcement means that these foundations will come under even more pressure.
“This is not the deal we wanted – it is not a good deal for communities and serious financial challenges lie ahead for councils. Not least in relation to our ability to recognise the amazing effort of our workforce – where Scottish Government has not recognised the pressures such as pay being faced by Councils.
“Scottish Government has raised expectations yet further through their public sector pay policy – without any increase to Local Government’s core funding, a pay increase for our workforce will have to be funded from elsewhere. This will only lead to a reduction in everyday essential services that communities rely on.”
Police have released a CCTV image of two men they wish to speak to as they may have information which could assist with ongoing enquiries into an assault that occurred around 1.30pm on Monday 2 September, 2020 on Montgomery Street.
One of the men is described as being white and in his late 20s to early 30s. He has short dark hair, stubble and was wearing black casual clothing.
The second man is white, in his mid-20s, 6ft to 6ft 4in tall and of slim build with fair hair. He was wearing a grey jumper, dark bottoms and black body warmer jacket.
Detective Constable Philip Wright of Gayfield CID said: ” As part of the investigation, we are eager to identify the two men in the CCTV footage and would urge them, or anyone who recognises them, to get in touch with us immediately.”
Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 1528 of the 2nd September 2020, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Utilita, the UK’s leading Smart Pay as You Go energy supplier, has donated £17,910 to The City of Edinburgh Council for community-based projects as part of its ‘Community Fund’ initiative.
The first project that’s kicked off included tree planting in a green space at Firrhill Crescent, in South West Edinburgh.
With Edinburgh set to become a ‘Million Tree City’ by 2030, three beautiful birch trees and three cherry trees were bought and planted by the council thanks to the Utilita Community Fund to benefit future generations to come.
Cllr Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener at The City of Edinburgh Council, commented: “Edinburgh already outstrips other Scottish cities by having more trees per head of population.
“In 2019, we became the first Scottish local authority to support the Charter for Trees, pledging our full commitment to cherish, nurture and celebrate our trees. We are also committed to becoming a Million tree City and this is a welcome step forward working in partnership with Utilita and with local communities.”
Cllr Amy McNeese-Mechan, Culture and Communities Vice Convener at The City of Edinburgh Council, commented:“The generous donation from Utilita helps to support our mission to become a ‘Million Tree City’ by 2030.
“We’re looking forward to working on many other great projects using the Community Fund which benefits the people of Edinburgh and our beautiful city!”
Bill Bullen, Environmentalist and CEO of Utilita, commented: “We’re delighted that The City of Edinburgh Council is putting the Community Fund towards a series of positive projects that’ll help enrich the area and support locals.
“The tree planting is a great project to kick off with and we’re excited to see how the fund will be used further in the coming weeks and months.”
Other upcoming community-based projects taking place as a result of the Utilita Community Fund include the rollout of digital equipment across 13 City of Edinburgh Council’s Sheltered Housing complexes.
The devices will be for the use of sheltered housing tenants and others in the area who might attend activities in the community rooms.
The move aims to empower tenants to interact with the council and other services online, promote social inclusion, provide tenants with the tools, knowledge and advice to support them should they consider buying their own devices, and build their confidence in becoming digitally connected.
As a direct response to the Coronavirus pandemic, Utilita – the only energy company created to help households use less energy – introduced measures to reassure and promote a ‘worry-free’ experience for all customers, especially those experiencing hardship or vulnerability.
In 2020 alone, Utilita issued £8.5m in account credits at zero interest for customers facing financial difficulty through its ‘Power Up’ feature in the My Utilita app, or via a customer call. Utilita’s dedicated Extra Care Team has also called every customer aged 80 and over to advise them on all the ways to top-up and stay on supply.
Central to helping people save money is the Utilita Energy High 5 movement, which enables every household to use around £163 less energy each year by making five free and easy-to-follow changes at home.
More than two million households have engaged with the movement so far – every household can benefit – not just Utilita customers, to start saving today.
Abuse survivors in Scotland must not be forced to sacrifice their legal rights to protect the very organisations which allowed abuse to take place in the past, lawyers said today.
Kim Leslie, spokeswoman for the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and partner at Digby Brown was commenting ahead of debate about the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament today.
“As it stands, survivors of abuse who seek redress through the new scheme will have to waive their legal right to compensation afterwards,” said Ms Leslie. “This, apparently, is to give the organisations where abuse has taken place an incentive to fund the new scheme.
“But many survivors will not be aware until it is too late that the new redress scheme, while well-intended, will not always necessarily be their best option of receiving the compensation they need to help rebuild their shattered lives.
“Childhood abuse can have a lifelong effect, with some survivors finding themselves unable to maintain relationships, or hold down jobs because of the trauma they suffered,” she said.
“Even the maximum £100,000 payment available under the scheme may be nowhere near the appropriate amount of compensation for some survivors. You cannot heal from childhood trauma of this nature in the same way as if you’d broken a wrist or ankle.
“Finding the courage to seek redress in the first place is difficult enough. To then find you are expected to sign away your legal rights is unfair and unjust.”
Two men have been arrested and charged following a disturbance in the Clermiston area of Edinburgh on Sunday, 7 March.
Around 5pm police received a number calls regarding an ongoing incident in the Clermiston Park and Clermiston Gardens areas.
A 17-year-old man and a 27-year-old man have been arrested and charged in connection with alleged possession of offensive weapons.
They were due to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday and a report was submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Further enquiries are ongoing into the wider disturbance involving a group of youths which occurred on Sunday evening, and police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.
The two men will also be the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal in connection with the serious assault of a 48-year-old man in Drum Brae South around 3.25pm on Thursday, 4 March.
Chief Inspector Sarah Taylor, Local Area Commander for North West Edinburgh, said: “This type of mindless, irresponsible and reckless criminal behaviour will not be tolerated in our community and there will be additional patrols in the area.
“We are aware of ongoing issues with antisocial behaviour which is completely unacceptable, particularly in the midst of a pandemic when people are being told to stay at home. Local officers are working with partners to address these issues and proactively put a stop to this.
“I would urge anyone with information or concerns regarding antisocial behaviour to contact Police Scotland through 101, or speak to officers out on patrol.
“Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 when a crime is in progress.”
We’re delighted to announce that the BBC Antiques Roadshow is coming to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh!Do you have hidden treasures waiting to be uncovered?
Fiona Bruce and the BBC Antiques Roadshow team are set to come to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh later this year for the 44th series of the much loved family favourite.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the team are once again asking members of the public who’d like to participate to share their stories online. The series will be filmed on a closed set with an invited audience only to ensure the safety of guests, production and the wider public. Successful applicants will be invited to attend a recording session where they will share their items with a Roadshow expert who will be able to reveal more about the craftsmanship, history and provenance of each piece – as well as the all-important value.
Share your story
Returning for her 14th year at the helm, Fiona Bruce acknowledges the team’s success at recording the show under challenging circumstances in 2020 and goes on to encourage people to apply to be a part of the programme in 2021:
“We were thrilled that we managed to make a series of the Antiques Roadshow last summer despite all the difficulties of filming during the pandemic . Hopefully things will be easier this summer though life may not yet be back to normal by the time we start filming . So if you have an item that you’d like to bring along to the Roadshow, do please get in touch with us beforehand. Here’s hoping for a summer of great finds!”
Series Editor Robert Murphy said:
“We can’t wait to see what long lost treasures and family heirlooms might be lurking in the attic or gathering dust on a shelf. Sometimes it’s the most unexpected items that catch our interest – a silk escape map that belonged to a Caribbean airman in the Second World War, a 19th century guitar, a vintage movie poster, even old Star Wars toys! What mystery objects have you found during that lockdown clear-out? Get in touch and you’ll have a chance of being invited to the Roadshow this summer to find out more without even having to queue! We look forward to hearing from you.”
More information and frequently asked questions can be found at the Antiques Roadshow website or on the show’s Facebook page.
NEW SURVEY FOR TOP GEAR HIGHLIGHTS THE FAMILY ‘MOTORING MEMORIES’ THAT COULD SOON BE LOST TO HISTORY
Classic in-car ‘I-Spy’ style games, parents bickering over directions and children’s cries of ‘are we there yet?’are now all part of a bygone age of motoring according to a new study.
Survey into the history of family car travel identifies the motoring experiences that younger generations will never encounter
Research reveals six in ten (63%) adults aged 40 and over cherish childhood memories of family outings by car
60% say the most honest and heartfelt chats with family take place in the car
Study marks the launch of a new series of hit BBC One motoring show Top Gear on Sunday 14th March
First episode sees presenters Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris drive their old family cars as they reminisce about their childhood motoring memories
Mum and Dad bickering over maps and directions, playing ‘I Spy’ style car games with the kids and using wire coat hangers for replacement aerials are now all part of a bygone age of motoring, according to a new survey released today.
The research for Top Gear into family car travel over the last 40 years reveals a seismic change between generations and identifies the in-car travel experiences that could soon be consigned to the history books.
Tuning in the car stereo, picking up hitchhikers and the plaintive cries of ‘are we there yet?’ from listless children are also listed among the motoring expereince wthe motoring experiences that younger generations are unlikely to encounter.
The survey of 2,000 UK adults aged 40 and over was commissioned by BBC Studios to mark the start of the 30th series of flagship BBC One motoring entertainment show Top Gear on Sunday 14th March.
In the series opener, presenters Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris drive their old family cars and reminisce about their childhood motoring memories.
The top ten family car travel experiences which have been lost to history:
Unfurling of maps and arguments between parents over directions (54%)
One CD or tape in the car that you had to listen to every single time you went on a drive (53%)
Pre-planning routes (39%)
Using a coat hanger as a radio aerial (39%)
Using the cigarette lighter for its original intended purpose (35%)
Endless tuning to get a radio signal (34%)
Classic ‘in car’ games such as ‘I Spy’ (34%)
Picking up hitchhikers (30%)
The rallying cry of ‘are we there yet?’ (24%)
His and hers windscreen stickers (sunscreen strips) (23%)
Bygone experiences which just missed out on a top 10 placement included changing your own spare tyre (23%), the discovery of local radio stations being picked up as you drive through a hilly region (19%) and going for a Sunday family ‘leisure drive’ (19%).
The survey also revealed that the countless hours spent on childhood car journeys hold vivid and cherished family memories for the vast majority (68%) of British adults.
In car games such as ‘I Spy’ and imaginative checklists to spot road signs were also named as the most fondly remembered ‘motor memories’ of a now bygone era (67%) and whilst it may have been their parent’s worst nightmare the rallying cry of ‘are we there yet’ still has a place in our hearts, with over half of those surveyed (56%) saying it was one of their most vivid family road trip memories.
Conversely, arguments between parents over directions (44%), endlessly tuning to find radio stations (43%) and arguments over what radio station to listen to (37%) are the experiences we miss the least.
Paddy McGuinness commented: “Kids now will never witness the delights of an A to Z or the games of eye spy in a very warm car.
“It was great to take a drive down memory lane in our old family cars for the new series. One thing we all recalled with huge affection was the heartfelt chats we had with our parents on those long car journeys when we were growing up.”
The research, launched ahead of Mothers’ Day, reveals that over half of us find it easier to have deep and meaningful conversations with family whilst on a car journey.
53% of respondents recall memorable heart-to-hearts with mum on the road whilst 47% also delved into deeper ‘in-car’ conversations with their fathers. Six in ten of those surveyed said they connected most with their parents while chatting in the car.
Clare Pizey, Top Gear’s Executive Producer said: “As this new survey would seem to prove, whilst long car journeys back in the day took for ever, weren’t always very comfortable – or indeed safe given lots of us didn’t have rear seat belts – what they did have was loads of family chats and games that have made precious memories.
“Fred, Chris and Paddy certainly felt like they were driving down memory lane when they drove their Dads’ cars recently and they all remembered just being with their parents in the car very fondly.”
Further findings revealed that 59% of Brits now identify satellite navigation aids as the number one piece of modern tech they would not want to live without followed by Hi-tech entertainment systems (12%) and sophisticated security features (8%).
The new four-episode series of Top Gear, produced by BBC Studios, returns to screens this Sunday 14 March and will feature: a titanium-shoed presenting team being dragged down a Scottish runway by The Stig driving their cars; a tribute to the most famous and least well-known Bond cars; Freddie racing in the battery-powered-off-road Extreme E against a Jetpack man; and a ‘Mid-life Crisis Cars’ episode involving bicycles, lycra and jet skis!
Top Gear starts this Sunday 14 March at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
A 38-year-old man has been arrested and charged in relation to this incident and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow (Wednesday, 17 March, 2021).
Detective Inspector Bob Campbell said: “We are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen a black Dacia Sondero vehicle in the vicinity of Wester Drylaw Drive on the afternoon of Tuesday 9 March and in particular to the occupants of a small white VW Caddy van that was seen in the area at this time.
“I also urge motorists with dash cams to check their footage as they may have captured images which would assist our investigation.
“There will be additional patrols in the area and local residents are encouraged to speak to these officers if they have any information or concerns as it is vital that we trace everyone responsible.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 1880 of 9 March 2021. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
THE ORIGINAL STORY:
An investigation is under way after a man was found injured in Wester Drylaw.
At around 3.45pm on Tuesday (9 March 2021) a 35-year-old man was found injured by a member of the public in Wester Drylaw Drive. The man was seriously injured and was taken to hospital where he is receiving treatment for head, leg and arm injuries.
Officers attended and carried out door-to-door enquiries to establish what had happened. The location of the attack is believed to be within a rear garden of one of the properties on Wester Drylaw Drive.
Detectives are also checking CCTV footage from in and around the surrounding areas for any additional information on the incident .At this stage, detectives do not know who is responsible, whether it was a single person attack or if a group of people attacked the man.
Detective Inspector Bob Campbell said: “The motive for this attack is unknown and we are still working to establish exactly what has happened.
It’s clear from the man’s injuries that he has been assaulted and we need to find out who is responsible and why. I am appealing to members of the public who were in the area around the time of the incident to contact us.
“I would also ask motorists with dash cams to check their footage as they may have captured images which would assist our investigation.”
Chief Inspector Sarah Taylor said: “I know there will be concerns around this incident and I would like to reassure local residents that we will have additional officers on patrol.
“It is imperative we trace whoever is responsible for this attack and we can do that with the support and co-operation of local people, so I would urge anyone with information to get in touch with us.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 1880 of 9 March 2021. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
– Collaboration with Hereford-based NMITE will shape the future of sustainable built environment –
New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) has announced that Professor Robert Hairstans has joined as Founding Director of its Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT).
His role will be to lead the development and delivery of the CATT, to help establish it as the leading national location in timber education and to work with the broader NMITE academic team to create a sustainable educational portfolio.
Hairstans joins on a two-year secondment from the number one modern university in Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University (ENU), where he is head of the Centre for Offsite Construction + Innovative Structures (COCIS) within the University’s Institute for Sustainable Construction.
Commenting on the appointment, Professor Beverley Gibbs, Chief Academic Officer, NMITE said: “We are thrilled at Professor Hairstans’ arrival and know he has the expertise, experience and passion to develop and deliver the CATT’s vision.”
Professor Hairstans’ specialist expertise is in the fields of timber engineering and technology with a focus on adding value to the timber supply chain with an emphasis on engineered timber products and offsite (modular) construction.
Commenting on his appointment, he said: “I am delighted to be the Founding Director of the CATT. Working with industry I want to accelerate the utilisation of timber, digitisation and factory-based approaches by ensuring an inclusive educational model which generates a value return for the sector via the next generation of built environment professionals.”
Central to this vision is a new learning and teaching building in Hereford’s dynamic enterprise zone – Skylon Park.
NMITE’s building will be a beacon of sustainability and is NMITE’s inaugural advanced campus building that will impact timber technology and advanced manufacturing, sectors that are critical to regional and national growth.
The building will accommodate extensive workshops, studio learning space, breakout/study space and ancillary areas. Planning permission has been submitted with the expectation of starting on site in April 2021 and structural completion by March 2022.
When complete, this facility will complement the research and timber testing infrastructure of ENU and, by extension, the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre which is hosted by ENU. This Centre has a unique Innovation Factory capable of manufacturing advanced timber technologies including a vacuum press for Cross Laminated Timber production.
The appointment has the additional benefit of bringing together two organisations who, having seen the potential of a future partnership, have now signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
A key focus of the UK wide collaborative framework is the idea of CATT as a ‘living lab’, working with industry to develop projects that prototype solutions with students gaining knowledge from real-life conditions.
Professor Gibbs explains: “NMITE has always shown interest in working in partnership with existing sector leaders who support NMITE’s potential and are open to exploring new educational approaches for the benefit of industry and society.
“Throughout the recruitment process we constantly heard that ENU were the UK players to talk to and work with and ENU also has a better-than-standard gender split on their built environment course which is one of our core values.
“We are therefore excited at the prospect of a partnering relationship with ENU and respect its accomplishments in sustainable built environment.
“Together, we believe we can offer a joined-up UK-wide educational provision for timber technology that extends throughout the supply chain and user base. We believe a NMITE-ENU partnership could provide a clear opportunity to accelerate and leverage CATT’s full potential.”
Hairstans agrees “I look forward to forging a collaboration between NMITE and ENU which will shape the future of construction delivery to more sustainable forms.”
In the longer term NMITE explains its ambition is to catalyse a UK-wide, full-sector skills strategy for timber technology and sustainable built environment, bringing about growth and impact on industry, society and the environment.
NMITE will continue to focus on education and skills and will benefit from ENU’s research and technology transfer. Sited on the England/Wales border, NMITE believes by working with ENU it will be able to look at a UK-wide framework, without competing, for the benefit of all.
NMITE explains that it is looking forward to meeting the needs of its industry partners and furthering its vision to develop and provide a degree apprenticeship in Timber Engineering underpinned by a Timber Technology, Engineering and Design competency framework that supports flexible learning and pathway progression.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, writes for City Transport & Traffic Innovation (CiTTi ) Magazine on the future of travel in Edinburgh:
Edinburgh is not alone in the challenges it faces. But as a historic, compact Capital, with a unique landscape and, under normal circumstances, a world-beating cultural scene, our response to these must be custom-made.
Here, transport accounts for 31% of carbon emissions, and that’s rising. Poverty rates vary considerably across the city, yet the cost of travel averages at more than £80 a week – 14% of average weekly budgets. Congestion significantly impacts daily journeys, adding up to 41% to travel time during peak hours. And our population continues to skyrocket, with a forecast growth of 12% to 600,000 by 2043.
We simply must adapt if we are to address these issues head on, to achieve our net zero carbon goals by 2030, to improve air quality and provide inclusive, accessible transport options while creating a better place to live. Our next steps will be crucial as we work to make a green recovery from the COVID crisis, helping citizens to return to normality while supporting local businesses to flourish.
In direct response to this, our City Mobility Plan sets out a ten-year plan to deliver a better connected, carbon neutral transport system, a healthier environment and a thriving, inclusive future.
We’ve spent the last three years honing this strategy, engaging closely with the people who live and work here, with partner organisations and with accessibility, active travel, transport and business groups.
We’ve analysed Edinburgh’s specific travel patterns and data as well as drawing from pioneering cities around the world. A major public consultation received significant support for proposals to overhaul movement to and around the city.
For that reason, we know we’ve created a plan which meets people’s needs but also pushes forward with the kind of changes we must make if we are to address the climate emergency and create a better quality of life for everyone.
Of course, as we emerge from the COVID pandemic, we will remain in a period of uncertainty, so the Plan will be flexible to take account of longer-term impacts as they become clearer.
However, over the next decade we’ve committed to delivering a bold programme of policy measures to meet these goals. By encouraging a change in behaviour towards environmentally friendly transport, while providing flexible and affordable public transport fares, we’ll help people to make sustainable choices.
Plans to expand the tram and mass rapid transit network and improve bus routes will further support the transition from private car journeys while introducing ‘mobility hubs’ in communities and a city operations centre to monitor traffic will be pivotal to reducing the impact of polluting vehicles and congestion.
We’ve pledged to create more liveable places less dominated by motor traffic and to build on Edinburgh’s network of walking, wheeling and cycling routes. We’re already a compact, walkable city, where 45% of households don’t own a car – we want to make getting from A to B by foot, bike or wheelchair even easier.
This people-focused approach was brought to life with the publication of new concept designs for the George Street and First New Town public realm improvements project.
The £32m scheme is central to the broader transformation of the city centre and a key element of the City Mobility Plan, and the new designs offer a glimpse of how we can create more liveable places in the city.
Under the proposals, we would turn this car-dominated street into a largely pedestrianised area, with a cycling thoroughfare and places to sit, play and hold events. The designs, which conserve the street’s heritage, have already been well received, and if approved by committee we want to deliver the improvements by 2025.
Our commitment to support 20-minute neighbourhoods as part of the plan will help to create great, liveable places to spend time in too. Thanks to the compact make-up of our city we want to go even further to facilitate 10-minute neighbourhoods, helping people to shift away from longer journeys to active travel and to meet our net zero carbon target.
We’re not starting from scratch with the City Mobility Plan. We’re recognised as one of the most liveable cities in Europe and since the ‘90s we’ve made great strides to enhance transport systems and invest in streets and public spaces.
This ranges from the completion of 95km of off-road cycleways and walkways between 1995 and 1999 to the launch of Edinburgh Trams in 2014 and becoming the first Scottish city to implement a citywide network of 20mph routes in 2018.
Ongoing projects, such as the completion of Trams to Newhaven and the introduction of a Low Emission Zone, put us at the forefront of sustainable transport development.
These have all been ambitious ventures, but we’ve achieved them, or soon will. As we move forward with the next ten years of transport and mobility in the Capital, we want, and need, to be just as bold, for the sake of its future and for the generations of people who will live, work and visit here.
