POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a crash on Lanark Road involving a van and a pedestrian.
The incident happened around 3.55pm yesterday (Monday, 19 February,) near the Water of Leith Visitor Centre.
Emergency services attended and the pedestrian, a 41-year-old man, was taken to hospital for treatment.
The driver, a 55-year-old man, has been charged in connection and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.
Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2373 of Monday, 19 February, 2024.
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT – THURSDAY 22 FEBRUARY from 1 – 2pm
GRANTON Goes Greener are very excited to be involved in the SUSTAINABLE FASHION SHOW organised by @ELREC_C3R in front of the @scottishparliament and have some of their preloved and upcycled pieces displayed during the show.
Join us on Thursday to learn more about reusing/ recycling and upcycling.
Project to invest in training and support, building capacity and skills through co-creation
A new £1.1M research project led by Heriot-Watt University is set to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities for Roma communities across the UK.
Roma populations experience some of the poorest health and wellbeing outcomes, including significantly lower life expectancy of 10 or more years below the national average as well as a higher prevalence of long-term chronic conditions and increased social exclusion.
Poorer health can result from barriers and challenges when accessing the physical, social, and cultural supports that are needed to age across the life course.
The new three-year project will work in partnership with community groups of Roma people now living in the UK, civil society organisations and public authorities across three focus areas in Luton, Peterborough and Glasgow.
Funding for the research is led by AHRC in collaboration with BBSRC, ESRC, MRC and NERC, all part of UKRI. Additional funding is from UKRI’s Building a Secure and Resilient World, and Creating Opportunities, Improving Outcomes strategic themes and the programme is run in partnership with the National Centre for Creative Health.
Including co-researchers from Roma communities, the research will use innovative visual and creative methods to help identify barriers faced by Roma people in accessing healthcare and other services in mid to later life.
The project will then co-design new place-based ‘Integrated Hubs’ to better connect Roma people with culturally appropriate health, wellbeing and community resources which build upon existing expertise and assets within the community.
Dr Ryan Woolrych, director of the Urban Institute at Heriot-Watt University, said:“This research is urgently needed as public health bodies and government reports continue to evidence the inequalities faced by Roma people living in the UK today which is severely impacting life expectancies and creating growing social exclusion.
“There is a significant evidence gap in terms of exploring what it means to age within Roma communities and the interventions needed to ensure healthy and active ageing.
“We will address this by taking an inclusive, community-centred approach to understanding barriers faced by Roma people in accessing healthcare and other services before supporting the development of services that build on their cultural assets and lived experiences. By doing so, we can positively influence a shift in health, wellbeing and place policies and practices for Roma groups.
“We will employ innovative and creative methods like storytelling, dance and photography, working alongside communities to gain deeper insight into Roma experiences to co-design interventions that will deliver impact where they are needed the most.”
The multidisciplinary team includes the Roma Support Group, Luton Roma Trust, Compas and Community Renewal Trust’s Rom Romeha (meaning for Roma by Roma) in Govanhill as well as expertise from Coventry University, Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Dundee.
Crina Morteanu from the Luton Roma Trust said: “As a grassroots organisation, having worked with the Roma for more than ten years, we are delighted to be part of this project which is aimed at tackling one of the most critical issues that Roma face – access to health.
“Many Roma in Luton and the UK generally, face multiple barriers in their access to health. This project will tackle those barriers which, in return, will result in appropriate solutions and ultimately improving their quality of life.”
Mihai Bica from the Roma Support Group said: “The Roma Support Group is thrilled to be part of this exciting and much needed research addressing some of the existing Roma health inequalities.
“We are particularly pleased that this project will draw on the knowledge and expertise of Roma from across the UK to co-develop healthcare solutions, while equipping them with the skills and capacity to play a central role in future research projects and drive policy change.”
The research builds on already established relationships with Roma communities, public authorities and health providers across the case study areas to give Roma people a voice in developing services that respect their dignity.
Leon Puska of Rom Romeha, Glasgow said: “As a Roma-led organisation, we bring first-hand understanding and passion to address the unique challenges our community face for maintaining good health throughout their lives.
“We are delighted to be part of this UK-wide partnership which will give us the opportunity to work with community researchers to better understand community situations and to co-design appropriate responses.”
UK Government acts against controversial dismissal tactics through a new statutory Code of Practice.
Employment tribunals will have the power to apply an uplift of up to 25 percent of an employee’s compensation if an employer unreasonably fails to comply with the code.
Code protects workers’ rights whilst respecting business flexibility.
Action against unscrupulous employers to tackle the use of controversial ‘fire and rehire’ practices have been rolled out by the Westminster Government.
Dismissal and re-engagement, also known as ‘fire and rehire’, refers to when an employer fires an employee and offers them a new contract on new, often less favourable terms.
The Government has been clear that it firmly opposes this practice being used as a negotiating tactic. Today, a new statutory Code of Practice has been published making clear how employers must behave in this area.
This new Code of Practice shows the Government is going a step further to protect workers across the country. This will help to preserve security and opportunity for those in work, as part of our plan to grow the economy.
Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:“Our new Code will crack down on employers mistreating employees and sets out how they should behave when changing an employee’s contract.
“This announcement shows we are taking action to tackle fire and re-hire practices by balancing protections for workers with business flexibility”.
In future the courts, and employment tribunals, will take the Code into account when considering relevant cases. This will include on unfair dismissal claims where the employer should have followed the Code.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1759563650212200518
Employment tribunals will have the power to apply an uplift of up to 25 percent of an employee’s compensation if an employer unreasonably fails to comply with the Code.
The new Code clarifies how employers should behave when seeking to change employees’ terms and conditions, aiming to ensure employees are properly consulted and treated fairly.
Employers will now also need to explore alternatives to dismissal and re-engagement and have meaningful discussions with employees or trade unions to reach an agreed outcome.
The Code makes it clear to employers that they must not use threats of dismissal to pressurise employees into accepting new terms. They should also not raise the prospect of dismissal unreasonably early or threaten dismissal where it is not envisaged.
Acas Chief Executive Susan Clews said: “Fire and rehire is an extreme step that can seriously damage working relations and has significant legal risks for organisations. Employers should focus on maintaining good employment relations to reach agreement with staff if they are thinking about making changes to their contracts.
“Acas offers impartial advice on employment rights and obligations, and has expertise in helping parties to maintain good industrial relations and resolving disputes where they arise.
“The Government’s new draft Code is clear that employers should contact Acas for advice before they raise the prospect of fire and rehire with employees.”
Principal Policy Advisor at Institute of Directors, Alexandra Hall-Chen said:“The publication of this Code of Practice provides employers with welcome clarity and practical guidance.
“The Code rightly places good industrial relations at its core and represents an effective means of balancing worker protections with labour market flexibility.”
Head of Public Policy at CIPD, Ben Willmott said: “The Code promotes good practice, making clear employers should always seek to agree any changes to terms and conditions with employees and that ‘fire and rehire’ should only be used as an absolute last resort.
“It highlights the importance of early and meaningful consultation with employees to maximise the chances of finding alternative solutions which can lead to agreement over proposed changes.
“It also emphasises that Acas has a key role to play and should be contacted by an employer for advice before it raises the prospect of fire and rehire with the workforce.”
The Government previously asked Acas to produce guidance for employers on fire and rehire practices, which was published in 2021.
The TUC says the guidance does not go far enough: ‘Government’s code of practice on fire and rehire lacks bite.
“It will not deter bad employers like P&O from treating staff like disposable labour. We need far more robust legislation to protect people at work.
“Labour’s New Deal for Working People would be the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation and end fire and rehire.”
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF ‘EXCRUITIATING NEGLECT’
The British Dental Association Scotland has welcomed the coming debate in the Scottish Parliament on the challenges facing NHS dentistry.
Scottish Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie MSP, who is leading Wednesday’s debate, accuses the SNP Government of “excruciating neglect”, revealing cases who have travelled to India for dental care and who have performed “DIY dentistry” with tools purchased from Amazon.
The BDA’s own recent surveys found 83% of dentist respondents in Scotland had treated patients that had performed some form of DIY dentistry since lockdown.
Some reforms to the discredited small margin/high volume system NHS dentists work to were rolled out in November 2023. This system has been in crisis for a generation but proved undeliverable during the pandemic. Facing soaring costs, some practices were left delivering some NHS treatments at a financial loss.
The BDA had been seeking a decisive break from this system, and a move to a patient-centred, prevention-focused model of care. The Scottish Government refused to break with the overall framework. The BDA stress that this must be the beginning, not the end of the road for reform, and that access, outcomes and inequalities need to be closely monitored.
Charlotte Waite, Director of British Dental Association Scotland said:“The crisis in this service has seen desperate patients take matters into their own hands, or head overseas for care that should be available in their own communities.
“The Scottish Government unveiled some reforms back in November. Time will tell if it’s enough to turn the tide, so those who want and need NHS care can secure it.”
Heriot-Watt University and Napier University join forces to accelerate health technology innovation and improve patient outcomes
A first-of-its-kind research collaboration between Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh Napier University is bringing together engineering and nursing students to develop cutting-edge health technologies tailored to addressing real clinical needs.
The Edinburgh-based universities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising a joint programme which will see Heriot-Watt engineering students visit Edinburgh Napier’s specialised clinical simulation facilities to gain first-hand understanding of real healthcare scenarios and challenges.
These learnings, together with insights from Edinburgh Napier’s nursing students into patient needs and care, will drive collaborative projects focused on co-designing novel health solutions that target clinical issues.
“Nurses are an untapped reservoir of innovative solutions for the health and care sector,” explains Cathal Breen, Professor of Simulation and Clinical Skills at Edinburgh Napier, which is Scotland’s only university to offer pre-registration training in all four nursing specialties and midwifery.
“However, the health sector workforce is not currently incentivised to come up and come forward with solutions. In our new agreement with Heriot-Watt, our students will identify potentially suitable clinical problems and work with engineering students at Heriot-Watt to design solutions to real-life clinical problems. It is hugely exciting.”
Maïwenn Kersaudy-Kerhoasis a Professor in Microfluidic Engineering at Heriot-Watt University and the lead academic for the university’s new global research institute in Health and Care Technologies. She said:“It has already proved to be a fantastic and fun learning experience for students from both the nursing and engineering programmes.
“This collaboration will ensure an excellent student experience and we are very enthusiastic about the interface between nursing and engineering. Nurses are the closest to patient needs on a daily basis, by championing this first-hand knowledge and expertise, we enable nurses to co-create and help deliver innovation.
“Alongside this, our engineering students benefit from detailed real-world feedback on their health and care engineering concepts. The professional advice of nursing practitioners and their network of patient engagement opportunities is invaluable as we continue to create the health and care technologies needed for the future.”
Professor Breen adds:“While nursing students are exposed to engineering innovation, when they are given the opportunity to contribute to development they are empowered to innovate in their future career.
“There is no doubt that technology is going to play a vital role in delivering health care solutions in the future.
“In September, Edinburgh Napier is launching a new Masters programme for clinicians trying to understand the opportunities and challenges that new technologies will bring – The MSc Clinical Healthcare Technology.
“This MoU with Heriot-Watt is another link in the chain to ensure we equip the UK’s future healthcare professionals with the skills, experiences, and opportunities they need to sustain a world-leading healthcare service.”
One of the Heriot-Watt engineering students involved in the pilot, Sree Choyathala, said:“Our visit to Edinburgh Napier University marked a significant milestone for our team, allowing us to conduct a successful test of our project prototype and derive essential conclusions.
“The impact of this experience resonated profoundly in the preparation of our design report, and we are sincerely grateful to Professor Kersaudy-Kerhoas for facilitating such a remarkable opportunity.”
Stacey Jenowska, Edinburgh Napier nursing student, said: “I found this activity very interesting and useful. It was great to hear about and see so many creative ideas on ways to improve the care we provide to patients.
“Going forward I feel this will help shape the support and care we can provide to patient groups of all ages.”
XL Bully dog owners are being urged to prepare for new rules which are expected to come into force on Friday.
New laws laid for consideration in Parliament will make it illegal to sell, advertise, gift or exchange XL Bully dogs, or letting such dogs stray. XL Bully dog owners will also be required to ensure their dog is muzzled and on a lead while in a public place.
This is the first stage of safeguards being introduced. The second stage will mean from 1 August 2024 it will be an offence to own an XL Bully without an exemption certificate or having applied for an exemption certificate. Full details on the exemption applications process and the support available will be announced in the coming weeks.
Minister for Victims & Community Safety Siobhian Brown said: “With new safeguards for XL Bully dogs coming into force in just a few days it’s vital that owners get ready and prepare from them now.
“Whilst dog attacks remain a rare occurrence, where they do occur, they can have devastating consequences which is why safeguards must be introduced. We are doing so whilst ensuring we promote and support responsible ownership, and public safety as effectively as possible.
“The new regulations aim to protect public safety and are being introduced as a consequence of similar XL Bully controls brought in by the UK Government, which created an unacceptable risk of dogs being moved to Scotland from England and Wales.”
A teenage girl has been reported to the procurator fiscal after an XL bully-type dog injured three people and another dog in East Kilbride at the weekend .
Police shot dead the “dangerously out of control” bulldog-type dog after it attacked a collie on Sunday morning.
British motorists are being given top tips on how to save money on their car insurance policy after concerns premiums are on the rise.
In a year many goods have increased in price, car insurance premiums are no exception.
Insurance price comparison specialists Quotezone.co.uk are urging drivers to take steps to lower their premiums.
One of the most important money-saving tips is to do your homework, compare different providers, and never let a policy automatically renew.
Drivers need to strike a good balance between cost and coverage, ensuring the policy has all the essentials they need at a competitive price.
Among the list of money saving hacks is shopping early, improving vehicle security, building up the no claims bonus and being mindful of where the car is kept overnight.
These simple tips can come in very handy for those looking to make cutbacks on their insurance expenses without making any major changes.
Quotezone.co.uk Founder and CEO Greg Wilson said: “It’s concerning to see car insurance prices on the rise. The soaring cost of repairs, materials and even paint, has all had a knock-on effect on premium price. The volume of claims is also increasing, partly due to the extreme weather we’ve witnessed recently.
“However, we can help, there are ways to save and using our comparison site is an ideal platform to compare products, to make sure you’re getting the cover you need, at a price you can afford.
“While aiming to secure cost-effective coverage, it’s crucial for drivers to ensure they’re not compromising on protection in case of accidents or unforeseen circumstances. Often there’s very little difference in price between third party cover and fully comprehensive, so if you can, it’s best to safeguard your finances and go fully comprehensive.
“It’s also important to always give accurate information when getting a quote, as any incorrect information can invalidate your policy and leave you unprotected.”
Here are Quotezone.co.uk’s top 10 tips to help get a cheaper insurance premium:
Shop early
It’s better to plan ahead and buy your policy early to lock in the price, as premium prices tend to increase the closer you get to your renewal date. The optimal time for bagging the cheapest deal is three weeks before the new policy is due to start.
Pay annually
If possible, it’s best to pay the entire annual premium upfront to save hundreds in the long term. Insurance providers look at monthly instalments as loans and can have high interest rates. Consider paying it all in one go to knock cash off your policy.
Improve vehicle security
Most vehicles should have an alarm and immobiliser as standard but it’s worth installing anti-theft devices such as a tracker and dashcam – it will upgrade the vehicle’s security and could get you cheaper premiums. Get the policy quotes first to consider whether the extra cost of fitting the devices will be worth it for the insurance savings.
Review your policy
Make sure to only pay for what you need and avoid driving up the premium by adding unnecessary add-ons – such as annual mileage, make sure your estimation is accurate. Also check your vehicle use, if you use it to drive to the train station for your commute to work it still needs to be noted as used for your daily commute. If you now work from home full-time, it might be worth switching the vehicle use to social only, it could result in big savings.
Add another driver
If you add another driver to the policy then you may be eligible for a multi-driver discount, plus you can split the cost of the premium. It can be particularly beneficial if the other person is an experienced driver with a clean record as they pose less risk to the insurance company, which could lead to lower premiums. Just make sure the person who uses the vehicle the most is noted as the main driver, incorrect use of this information is known as ‘fronting’ and is actually illegal, likely resulting in a criminal record and a void insurance policy.
Park in a safe place
Car owners that make use of their garages, driveways or carports for overnight parking can make big savings on their car insurance – parking on driveways rather than on the road can save you over £140 on average every year. Carport owners can do even better, with savings coming in at £230 on average.
Build up your no claims bonus
Avoid filing small claims to build up your no claims bonus. Opting to pay for minor damages out of your own pocket instead of filing a claim can prevent potential premium hikes.
Opt for a telematics product or black box
Getting a telematics device or black box fitted allows drivers to showcase their safe driving which can lead to cheaper premiums. This is a good option for young drivers and those with previous motoring convictions who are charged more as they are seen to be more at risk. By using the device it’s giving the insurance company data on which to base its risk analysis.
Avoid penalty points
Penalty points on your licence may not only result in a steep fine but will also bump up your insurance costs too. Drivers can expect premiums to rise by 5% for three points and 25% for six points if they’re starting from a clean licence.
Compare everything
Don’t allow your policy to renew automatically or settle for the first insurance quote you receive. Take the time to do your research and compare rates from multiple sources to get the cheapest price on your premium. You can save time and utilise price comparison websites to help you compare providers, compare products and of course compare prices.
To compare up to 110 UK car insurance providers visit:
Higher education students can apply to spread their student financial support package over a 12-month period for the first time this coming academic year.
The year-long package of support will be available for eligible undergraduate students from August 2024. The change will ensure that payments of relevant student loans and bursaries can continue through the summer months. This follows a successful two-year programme, which saw care experienced students being given the option of 12-month support.
Care-Experienced students will continue to receive additional support for their living costs under the Summer Accommodation Grant from Summer 2024. Students eligible for the grant – which will replace the Care-Experienced Accommodation Grant – will be entitled to a payment of up to £1,330 to help ensure they do not fall into rent arrears over the summer.
These changes will coincide with the £2,400 increase to the annual support package, which sees the main undergraduate funding package rise up to £11,400.
Higher Education Minister Graeme Dey said: “The summer months can be a difficult period for learners when their payments stop – these changes will ensure that learners can access the vital funds they need the whole year round.
“This is another example of the actions being taken by the Scottish Government to support students through the cost of living crisis. Scotland already has the lowest student debt levels in the UK, which is thanks to our commitment to free tuition and our enhanced student support offering.
“We are already seeing a record number of students from Scotland’s most deprived areas applying to study at university. The changes made to the student support package will help to further break down barriers and ensure that access to our world-class institutions is not denied to anyone, whatever their background.”
Changes to the student support package will come into place from the next academic year.
From August this year, undergraduate students can opt to receive their financial support over the full year.
Community Tree Care Day 
Granton Crescent Park
Wednesday 28th February 2024
Drop in from 10.00am to 12 noon
