Edinburgh residents are being asked for their views on Firework Control Zones.
The introduction of a Firework Control Zone will mean that certain fireworks will no longer be permitted to be set off in these areas, and a Citywide Firework Control Zone will mean that certain fireworks will no longer be permitted to be set off anywhere in the capital.
These Firework Control Zones will not impact organised displays, such as Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Christmas or Hogmanay.
Consultation is currently underway for the following locations:
Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker said: “Bonfire Night and broader fireworks use in the city can be an opportunity for communities to come together to celebrate and spend time together.
“However, we all remember the shocking scenes we saw in some areas of the capital last year with emergency services being attacked, and we are doing everything in our power to prevent similar occurrences this November.
“This consultation is an opportunity for everyone to share their position on the use of fireworks, and I encourage everyone to take some time to have their say before the consultation closes.”
Further information on Firework Control Zones is available on the council website. The consultation closes on Friday 23 August 2024.
Enjoy tasty food and brilliant performances from local people. Returning for its fifth year, Stories and Scran celebrates dynamic, thought-provoking work created by our Citizen participants.
Expect diverse and creative talent from Project Esperanza’s Women’s Group, WHALE Arts, the Book Festival’s own Adults Writing Group, and Citizen Collective.
And Scran Academy are back to serve up delicious, sweet treats you can enjoy during the event.
Stories and Scran runs from 8 – 9.15pm at the Book Festival’s new home at Edinburgh Futures Institute on Lauriston Place.
Industrial action looming across Scotland paused as members vote
GMB Scotland today suspended looming industrial action in Scotland’s local authorities after receiving a revised pay offer.
The union, one of the biggest in Scotland’s local authorities, paused eight days of strikes in waste and cleansing, due to start on Wednesday, to allow members to vote on the new terms.
GMB Scotland’s local government committee met this morning to discuss the offer from Cosla, representing Scots councils, involving a 3.6% increase for all grades with a rise of £1,292 for the lowest paid, equivalent to 5.6%.
Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in public services, said: “This offer is a significant improvement on what came before but our members will decide if it is acceptable.
“It is better than that offered to council staff in England and Wales, would mean every worker receives a rise higher than the Retail Price Index and, importantly, is weighted to ensure frontline workers gain most.
“As a gesture of goodwill, we will suspend action until our members can vote on the offer.
“It should never have got to this stage, however, and Scotland’s council leaders have again shown an absolute lack of urgency or sense of realism.
“For months, we have been forced to waste time discussing a series of low-ball offers when it was already clear the Scottish Government needed to be at the table.
“The obvious reluctance of some council leaders to approach ministers has only caused needless uncertainty and threatened disruption.
“That is no way to run a railroad or conduct serious pay negotiations.”
UNITE has also called off imminent strike action and UNISON are expected to announce their position later this afternoon.
Joint Statement from the Leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom on the Middle East:
We, the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, welcome the tireless work of our partners in Qatar, Egypt and the United States towards an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
We endorse the joint statement of HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, President Sisi and President Biden calling for the immediate resumption of negotiations. We agree that there can be no further delay.
We have been working with all parties to prevent escalation and will spare no effort to reduce tensions and find a path to stability. The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid.
We are deeply concerned by the heightened tensions in the region, and united in our commitment to de-escalation and regional stability. In this context, and in particular, we call on Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardise the opportunity to agree a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
They will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardise this opportunity for peace and stability. No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East.
Ahead of the closing ceremony for the 2024 Olympic Games, First Minister John Swinney has commended the Scottish athletes who will have inspired the next generation with their efforts in Paris.
Scottish competitors taking part individually or in team events secured three gold medals, four silver medals and six bronze medals, contributing to TeamGB’s overall medals tally of 65 medals and highlighting, once again, the world class athletes that Scotland has across a number of disciplines.
In either individual or team events, Duncan Scott, Scott Brash and Sholto Carnegie all won gold.
In either individual or team events, Duncan Scott, Jack Carlin, Josh Kerr and Neah Evans all won silver.
And Beth Potter (two), Rowan McKellar, Nicole Yeargin (two) and Jack Carlin all won bronze.
Several Scots achieved Scottish and British records in their events, including British Records for Josh Kerr in the men’s 1500 metres, Jack Carlin’s silver in the men’s cycling team sprint and a new Scottish record for Keanna MacInnes in her opening heat of the women’s 100 metres butterfly.
Laura Muir also broke her personal best in the 1500 meters final on Friday.
Almost two thirds of the Scottish athletes selected for Team GB are female athletes, including Eilish McColgan who became the first Scottish four-time track and field Olympian. The visibility of such strong role models will inspire young women and girls across the country to participate in sport.
The First Minister said: “Competing on the world stage amongst some of the best sporting talent on the planet is a tremendous honour, and I know the whole nation is with me in congratulating our Scottish athletes who have made an enormous contribution to Team GB’s success at these Games.
“These athletes have all been outstanding in their performances and as ambassadors for their sport, and will inspire many young people to become more active in their lives.
“These games have seen amazing achievements, including Duncan Scott becoming Scotland’s most decorated Olympian, and will be remembered for being the final curtain on the remarkable career of Scotland’s greatest ever sportsman, Andy Murray.
“All of our athletes have excelled themselves and done themselves and their country proud. I hope they are able to celebrate with their friends, family and the public in the coming days.”
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “Scottish athletes have once again delivered on the biggest stage.
“There have been consistently strong performances from Scottish athletes at the highest level for a number of years now across a range of sports, demonstrating that Scotland’s approach to developing a pathway to performance sport is paying off.
“That success is down to years of hard work and commitment from the athletes, their coaches and their wider support teams including Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport and the sportscotland institute of sport.
“Ensuring Scotland’s athletes are ready to compete with the best is a real team effort and we are proud to play our part in that.”
A new community is taking shape at the new Lovell housing development Oakwood Edge in Mayfield, with ten households, including many families, having now moved in.
The very first buyers to move to Oakwood Edge were Leah and Andrew Christie, a married couple with two young children aged 1 and 3 years old. The couple decided to move after their family expanded with the arrival of their second child, and they outgrew their previous house.
The couple from Midlothian moved into their 3-bedroom semi-detached Carnoustie housetype this summer, and the deciding factor was the 5% deposit that Lovell offered towards the house.
The new development of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes has spectacular views across to Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh and beyond to the Firth of Forth. It allows residents the opportunity to easily explore the nearby rugged peaks of the Pentland Hills.
Leah said: “It’s right on the cusp of beautiful countryside. You could walk for miles and miles. The views over Edinburgh, the Pentland hills, and Fife are stunning, and you see some amazing skies at night.”
The Carnoustie housetype has lots of storage space and a spacious lounge, where double doors connect to the bright dining space.
Leah said: “Lovell has really thought about storage and layout, which are so important to a young family. We love our kitchen; it’s the centre of our home and where we spend most of our time.
“It’s great to be able to eat and cook while still having the kids within sight in the living room. We also really love our en suite bathroom. It’s amazing having one especially when you have kids. It’s our little adult escape.”
Oakwood Edge is just ten miles from Edinburgh City Centre on the outskirts of Dalkeith, home to an array of bars, restaurants, cafes and shops. Nearby the development, there are two primary schools and a high school.
Find out more about the homes available by visiting: www.lovell.co.uk2
Looking forward to meeting up with some of my Citizen pals this evening at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. We have a slot at 6.15pm, sharing stories about our memories of the old Royal Infirmary.
The Book Festival has a new home this year – the Edinburgh Futures Institute, which is built on the site of the old hospital in Lauriston Place – and I really do hope it has the same warm and welcoming atmosphere as the ECA did last year.
Walker’s Shortbread is inviting those travelling through Edinburgh Airport on a sensory journey this summer, with a new pop-up site which invites passengers to ‘experience the joy of shortbread’ through sight, smell and taste.
The activation will run until 2nd September, coinciding with Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival, which drew in travellers from over 170 countries last year.[ii] A whopping 15 million travellers are expected to pass through Edinburgh Airport in 2024.
Walker’s new pop-up looks to encapsulate visitors’ senses, with scents of freshly-baked shortbread, set to transport visitors to Walker’s home-town of Aberlour in the Scottish Highlands. This includes a new feature where shoppers can use the available atomisers to activate the scent.
To celebrate Walker’s provenance and heritage, the impactful space is decorated with eye-catching illustrations of well-known Scottish landmarks featured alongside a 3D replica of Joseph Walker’s original baker’s van. Walker’s iconic tartan presents a running theme throughout the designs, creating a visual, photo-friendly backdrop.
Visitors will have an opportunity to taste Walker’s delicious all-butter shortbread, with plenty of Shortbread fingers samples available.
As they progress on their shopping journey, customers can grab their very own complimentary postcard spotlighting Scottish designs to take away with them.
Shortbread themed signs hanging on the ceiling will also guide shoppers to Walker’s personalised vending machine within the World Duty Free store at Edinburgh Airport, where they can take a digital quiz to help match them to the perfect Walker’s product for any occasion.
Bryony Walker, Head of Commercial Strategy at Walker’s Shortbread, said:“As a proud Scottish brand, Walker’s new pop-up site aims to engage international audiences visiting Edinburgh in an exciting and memorable way.
“We have embodied Scotland’s ‘friendly and welcoming’ reputation, to create something that is not just a shopping experience, but a journey through Walker’s heritage using sight, smell and taste, to bring to life the joy of shortbread.”
Linsey Jordan, Head of Retail at Edinburgh Airport, commented:“Many passengers like nothing better than to stock up on Scottish favourites as they pass through the airport, and as Walker’s Shortbread is always a top choice it’s no surprise this eye-catching installation is proving a big hit.
“As travellers from all across the world come to Edinburgh to enjoy the Festival – and experience the very best of Scotland – we’re pleased to work with Walker’s on showcasing one of Scotland’s most loved treats in a unique way throughout the month of August.”
Jonathan McIvor, Head of the Confectionery Category in the UK for Avolta added, “At Avolta, we know that consumers want to be immersed in unique and memorable shopping experiences.
“Through collaborations with brands like Walker’s, we can deliver on this mission, while bringing heritage and culture to the forefront of what we do. Travellers from all over the world will now be able to visit this exciting pop-up to experience the true essence of Scotland.”
Most insect bites and stings can be treated through the following steps:
Wash the affected area with soap and water.
Apply a cold compress.
Take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen to help with pain or swelling.
