Councils have new powers to reduce the negative impact of fireworks
From today (Thursday June 22), councils can designate Firework Control Zones that would make it a criminal offence to ignite a firework, or knowingly throw a lit firework in a zone which can include private properties or gardens.
The maximum penalties are a fine of up to £5,000 or up to six months in prison.
Organised public firework displays will still be permitted within Zones to allow people to enjoy fireworks safely.
The provisions are one of the key measures from the Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.
Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Siobhian Brown said: “Evidence and engagement with communities shows strong public support for tougher action on fireworks, which along with other pyrotechnic articles can cause harm, serious injury and distress to people, pets and the wider community.
“Giving local authorities additional powers to create Firework Control Zones, with input from the local community, marks a significant step in tackling the issues caused by fireworks, which are dangerous when used inappropriately.
“This change to the law demonstrates our absolute commitment to further improve public safety and wellbeing for our communities.”
Police Scotland Chief Inspector Nicola Robison said: “Fireworks Control Zones allow local authorities the power to designate areas where fireworks cannot be possessed or set off and ultimately restricts the improper use of such items in Scotland.
“It is a criminal offence to be in possession of, or setting off, fireworks within a Fireworks Control Zone and I would urge all members of the public to be aware of designated zones within your local area to ensure you are not in breach of the legislation.
“Police Scotland is committed to keeping the public safe from the risk of harm associated with the reckless and criminal use of fireworks and we welcome the addition of Fireworks Control Zones within Scotland.”
Review Group member, and Director of Innovation and Strategic Relations at the Scottish SPCA, Gilly Mendes Ferreira said: “We warmly welcome introduction of Firework Control Zones.
“The restrictions are much needed to prevent unnecessary suffering among pets, farm animals and wildlife.
“They will help to alleviate distress caused by fireworks and also prevent any firework debris that can be harmful to, or ingested by, animals.”
TODAY – RALLY OUTSIDE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT from 12.30 – 1.30pm
The Abortion Rights Scotland campaign will be joined by Engender and representatives of other organisations to call for decriminalisation of abortion care in Scotland.
MSPs have been invited to come outside to talk with us.
Abortion healthcare has been in the headlines again. In Scotland, although the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 does not apply, our abortion services are framed by the 1967 Abortion Act.
Audrey Brown, retired NHS abortion care consultant said: “Abortion care in Scotland is delivered through the NHS. It is time for abortion care to be regulated by healthcare organisations and providers.
“No-one needing an abortion, or indeed the NHS staff providing abortion healthcare, should be at risk of imprisonment.’
The World Health Organisation, along with all the relevant professional health bodies in the UK, and other organisations such as the STUC, all support decriminalisation.
The removal of criminal sanctions and oversight for abortion will shift abortion care clearly into being managed and regulated within healthcare provisions more generally.
In Scotland the vast majority of these services are provided by the NHS. The WHO recommends that nurses and midwives oversee abortion care.
The 1967 legal requirements for signatures from two doctors for every termination carried out, can cause delay for both staff and patients.
The First Minister, Humza Yousaf MSP, indicated during the SNP leadership campaign that he supported decriminalisation and would bring forward proposals on this within a year.
It’s time to decriminalise abortion care in Scotland.
From Monday (26 June) new controlled parking zones will become operational in some streets in Leith, meaning you’ll need a permit or pay and display ticket to park.
Zones N7 (Leith Walk / Pilrig) and N8 (Leith and North Leith)
Zones N7 (Leith Walk / Pilrig) and N8 (Leith and North Leith) will be operational from 26 June 2023. Parking permits will be available for sale from 5 June.
The new controls will mean that, during the controlled hours Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm, all parking is controlled. During those hours all kerbside space will be managed by yellow lines or parking places. Some restrictions such as double yellow lines and some parking places llike disabled bays and car club bays operate 24 hours a day.
Most parking places will be a mix of permit holder only, shared use which can be used by permit holders and visitors paying to park and pay and display bays, with signage situated at each parking place confirming the restrictions that apply.
Pay and display
The parking charge for pay and display parking in Zones 7 and 8 will be £3.10 per hour.
The signage at the pay and display and shared use parking places will indicate the maximum stay period for paying customers.
Maximum stay periods do not apply to resident permit holders in shared parking places and the relevant RingGo parking code for that location.
Payment for parking can be made using the available pay and display ticket machines, or through the RingGo cashless parking service.
Please note that the new pay and display ticket machines will only accept contactless payments and will not be able to accept cash.
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “New controlled Parking Zones which will soon become operational in some streets in Leith have been designed to protect residents’ parking.
“Controls aim to address issues like commuter parking, which people across the city have told us is a problem in their neighbourhoods.
“We’ve been writing to residents and businesses to keep them up to date on when the changes but I would also encourage anyone who lives in or visits the area to visit our website to find out more about the changes and to purchase a permit, if they need one.
“As part of our Strategic Parking Review officers have spent a great deal of time speaking to residents and gathering information on each area. Once in place, they’ll also be monitoring the impact of the changes to make sure they work for everyone.
“Parking controls don’t only help to maintain priority for residents, but protect against vehicle dominance, encouraging alternative modes of transport, while improving the safety and efficiency of the city’s streets.”
Nearly 4 in 10 say they wouldn’t ask for financial help if they were in trouble due to embarrassment
81% say they feel anxious about their financial situation
44% say they feel more worried about their financial situation now, compared to a year ago
New research has revealed that those in Scotland are the most at risk of financial turmoil due to embarrassment about their financial situation.
The findings, which were part of a UK-wide study by financial comparison website, NerdWallet UK, found that those in Scotland – alongside those in the South West – are the most likely to not seek help should they find themselves in financial difficulty due to the embarrassment around the topic.
Almost two-fifths of those surveyed said that embarrassment would stop them from seeking help, while just under one-third would be concerned about the impact doing so would have on their credit history, as well as worries around confidentiality. The same number also believe they can manage on their own and do not need external help.
Other reasons which would stop Scots from getting help include, the cost of getting financial advice (29%), and worryingly, just over a quarter said they were not aware of any organisations to help them with debt, or how to contact them.
If I was struggling financially, the following would stop me from asking for help – Scotland:
Reason
Percentage who agreed
I would feel embarrassed
37%
I’m worried about the impact on my credit history
31%
I’m worried about confidentiality
31%
I think I can manage on my own
31%
I don’t want to pay for advice
29%
I don’t think my financial situation is serious enough
28%
I’m not aware of the debt help organisations or how to contact them
26%
I don’t want to speak about my problems on the phone
23%
This is despite 81% of Scots saying they feel anxious about their financial situation, and 25% saying these feelings are daily occurrences.
Furthermore, 44% of respondents in Scotland say they feel more worried about their financial situation now, than they did a year ago.
When asked who they would go to or help first, almost half (48%) said they would speak to their partner or close family member, while 12% said they would speak to a friend.
Adam French, senior editor at NerdWallet UK, said, “It’s worrying that so many Scots would not get help due to embarrassment. Struggling financially is never something to be embarrassed about, and if the cost of living crisis has taught us anything over the last 18 months, it’s that financial trouble can happen to any of us, at any time.
“Getting help when you first find yourself in financial difficulty, and not burying your head in the sand can help to relieve a lot of stress and anxiety around money, and find a way out before things get worse.
“There are plenty of independent experts and companies available to speak to, for free, including Granton Information Centre, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Step Change. Everything is confidential, and discussing concerns will not impact your credit score.”
For information on NerdWallet, and to view the full dataset, visit:
Rizza’s of Huntly is proud to announce its victory in the Scotmid Scottish Favourites competition for the second year in a row, earning them the opportunity to showcase their latest creation, Scottish Tablet Ice Cream, in Scotmid stores across Edinburgh.
As one of the five Scottish businesses chosen to win the Scotmid Scottish Favourites competition, Rizza’s exemplifies Scotmid’s commitment to supporting local producers and promoting Scottish sourcing. Rizza’s prides itself on using Scottish ingredients whenever possible, bolstering the Scottish supply chain. The tablet used in their ice cream is sourced from Aldomak, a Glasgow-based supplier and fellow Scotmid partner.
Aldomak, a family business with 80 years of expertise, crafts their ‘Totally Tempting Tablet’ in small batches using traditional family recipes dating back to the 1900s. The collaboration between Rizza’s and Aldomak share a dedication to quality and authenticity.
Donald Morrison, Director at Rizza’s, said:“Winning last year’s competition allowed us to sell our ice cream throughout Scotland reaching new customers who hadn’t heard of us before – we even had some get in touch afterwards asking when we would be in store again!
“We are obviously delighted that we have secured a second listing, this time for our Scottish Tablet Ice Cream. We look forward to hearing what Scotmid customers think of it!”
Jessica van Tromp, Local Sourcing Manager at Scotmid, praised the winners, saying: “Our competition celebrates local Scottish producers, and we are always impressed by the quality of products available in our country.
“Rizza’s Scottish Tablet Ice Cream is an exceptional product that we think will excite customers across the country. We can’t wait to see it in Scotmid stores!”
The other Scotmid Scottish Favourites competition winners from this year are:
We hae meat: Chippy-style battered sausage and battered black pudding
Edinburgh Science, the educational charity known for its climate work and producing the annual Edinburgh Science Festival, is delivering on its commitment to continue to reach new audiences as it packs its travelling science kit and makes its way down to the legendary Glastonbury music festival with Andrew Jenkins – Off to Space!
This new exciting show is an iteration of The Rocket Show which was one of the festival audiences’ favourites this year.
Glastonbury audiences of all ages will get a chance to meet Edinburgh Science’s backyard scientist Andrew Jenkins and learn all about rocket science and discover what it takes to build rockets. So, strap-in, countdown and blast-off for an experiment-filled family adventure that’s out of this world!
Andrew Jenkins – Off to Space is supported by the Platforms for Creative Excellence [PlaCE] Programme, a partnership between the Scottish Government-through Creative Scotland- the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals.
Amanda Tyndall, Festival and Creative Director at Edinburgh Science said: ‘’We are over the moon that Off to Space – the first new show that Edinburgh Science has developed since the pandemic – has a new launchpad and is sharing the bill with such stellar company.’’
Andrew Jenkins said: “I’m very excited to be coming to Glastonbury to present Off to Space – especially sharing the line-up with fellow Rocket Man Elton John!”
For those older adults looking to get back in the saddle again, Ageing Well will be starting a new 11-week cycling course on Monday, 10th July, where participants can develop those dormant skills in a relaxed and social atmosphere with like-minded companions.
The level 1 course, based on Cycling Scotland’s Bikeability material, will get participants comfortable again on a bike, developing skills, at a pace that suits them, on the 400m track at Saughton Sports Centre, a traffic free environment on which to learn to cycle. The course will begin on Monday, 10th July at 10am-12noon and run until 18th September 2023.
This is NOT a beginners’ course teaching people to cycle but is aimed at older adults who have not cycled for some years and who want to gain confidence and start cycling again. They will learn skills such as stopping safely, indicating correctly, and mastering the gears. Bikes and helmets will be supplied but participants can also bring their own. The cost is £3 per week.
Cat Wilson, Edinburgh Leisure’s Project Officer for Older Adults explained: “Cycling is a great way to keep fit, active and mobile and enjoy the outdoors and countryside on the amazing network of dedicated cycle paths in the Edinburgh area.
“Perhaps you’d like to join grandchildren on family rides or just to meet some new people? And don’t worry if you haven’t been on a bike for ages or don’t currently own one, we even provide bikes, helmets, and Hi-Viz vests, so all you need to bring is yourself! The courses are led by experienced, fully trained volunteers who are passionate about cycling and supporting those who would like to get back in the saddle.”
A level 2 Course will commence directly after Level 1 on Monday 25th September 2023 with 4 weeks from Ainslie Park and 4 weeks from Meggetland. This course will further explore the cycle paths of Edinburgh using the skills participants have learnt from Level 1.
For more information and to book a place on the cycle course, contact a member of Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities team on: Tel: 0131 458 2260 / Email: active@edinburghleisure.co.uk
The Ageing Well project promotes healthy lifestyles for older adults (typically 50+) in Edinburgh. The project is a partnership with NHS Lothian, Edinburgh Leisure and Pilmeny Development Project and is part of the UK Ageing Well network, which aims to increase the expectation of good health in later life.
Edinburgh Radio legend, Jay Crawford, strengthens the team at Edge Radio, Scotland’s Hit Music Station, with DJ’s Micky Gavin and Yasmin Zemmoura (Yazz).
Forth 1’s Throwback favourite and veteran DJ, Micky Gavin, has announced that he will be joining rival Edinburgh station Edge to present Afternoon Drive.
Micky said; “I can’t wait to get going on Edinburgh’s newest radio station. Joining such a brilliant team, playing the hottest hits and chatting chatting about everything Edinburgh each weekday.”
Having worked with Jay Crawford at both Forth 1 and Real Radio, Micky is excited to help build on Edge Radio’s summer success following a bumper year for listeners in 2022.
Jay Crawford said, “We’ve had a brilliant year so it seems a perfect time to strengthen our Edge Radio team. Micky and I have worked together off and on for 25 years and he’s a fantastic presenter. Yazz has such a lovely radio voice and personality to match. I’m delighted they’ve agreed to join us.”
Yazz, whose dulcet tones will be making a welcome return to the Edinburgh airwaves, has spent the last 10 years in Belfast presenting on Q Radio.
Edinburgh super-fan Yazz will take on the weekend playing the biggest hits in the Afternoon.
Yazz said; ”I love Edinburgh and love the localness of Edge Radio. To be back working with Jay, Matt, Mark and Micky again excites me for the summer ahead.”
Edge Radio is available on DAB, online and mobile and will shortly be moving to studios in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge.
Schools in Scotland are being warned to take precautions amid fears of a rise in crime over the summer holidays.
As many schools across the country prepare to close their doors for the summer holidays, specialist insurer Ecclesiastical says schools will be an attractive target for criminals over the coming months.
Ecclesiastical is encouraging residents in Scotland who live near local schools to be vigilant this summer and report any unusual or suspicious activity they notice on school grounds.
Ecclesiastical reports schools have been targeted over the summer months including vandalism, arson, break-ins, smashed windows, theft of lead from roofs and stolen laptops.
Amid high inflation, soaring prices and more facing economic hardship, there are worries there will be a large spike in criminal activity.
Faith Kitchen, customer segment director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “Schools are far more vulnerable during the summer holidays when school buildings are closed and largely unoccupied, tempting opportunists.
“With high inflation and the cost of living crisis, it is more important than ever that schools take steps to protect their premises from offenders. There are a number of measures schools can take to better secure school property and assets, which would ideally be a combination of both physical and electronic protection.
“Fencing around the perimeter can often offer a good first line of defence against unwanted visitors, while CCTV can act as a visual deterrent for those not wanting to be caught on camera.
“Vigilance from the local community can be a huge help. We urge those who live near schools to be vigilant this summer and report any unusual or suspicious activity they notice on school grounds.”
How to protect schools in Scotland this summer
Ensure CCTV systems have remote 24/7 monitoring services. Monitoring and alerting the police is far more effective than tracing criminals after a crime has taken place.
Install remotely monitored intruder alarms and change alarm security codes and passwords on a regular basis.
Install security lighting systems that have motion sensors to detect body movements.
Restrict access to school premises. Well-designed perimeter security such as walls, fences and electric security gates, and anti-climb paint help to prevent people from getting onto school sites.
Restrict vehicular access to the school site. Locate any designated parking as far from the school building as possible. The further thieves have to travel on foot the greater the risk of detection.
Use security marking systems such as SmartWater which can help with successful prosecution of thieves.
Ask the local community near your school to be vigilant and report any unusual or suspicious activity they notice on school grounds.
Inform neighbourhood watch schemes / police liaison officers of planned work over the holidays as thieves might pose as contractors.
Seek advice. Specialist insurers can offer advice and expertise to help schools manage security risks. Insurers can offer a combination of onsite and remote risk management services including security assessments and advice, alongside broader property protection and building valuation services.
Ecclesiastical Insurance offers a range of risk management support and guidance to help schools manage the risks they face.
Firefighters across the East of Scotland responded to almost 10,000 unwanted fire alarm signals last year – the equivalent of around 27 a day.
The figure has been revealed as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) gets ready to change the way it responds to unwanted fire alarm signals:
From 1 July, 2023 an alarm activation will require those with fire safety responsibility, known as dutyholders, to investigate the cause of an alarm and only call 999 once a fire has been confirmed.
This approach is already embedded across several other UK fire and rescue services, who require a confirmed fire before they send fire appliances
Fire Alarm Systems provide an early warning of fire and are one of the most effective ways to keep your business, staff and customers safe in the event of a fire.
Unfortunately, most signals from these systems are not actual fires – they are false alarms often caused by cooking fumes, dust or a lack of maintenance. These unwanted fire alarm signals (UFAS) mean our fire crews are called out unnecessarily.
From 1 July 2023, we will stop attending automatic fire alarm (AFA) call outs to commercial business and workplace premises, such as factories, offices, shops and leisure facilities – unless a fire has been confirmed.
Dutyholders with responsibility for workplace premises should safely investigate a fire alarm before calling 999, as our control room operators will now be asking for confirmation of an actual fire, or signs of fire, before sending the nearest resource.
SFRS will treat any fire alarm as a sign of fire, other than from a single smoke detector. Other signs of fire include: visual flame/smoke, smell of burning, or any other fire alarm signal.
This change does not apply to sleeping premises, such as hospitals, care homes, hotels or domestic dwellings who will continue to get an emergency response.
This follows the SFRS public consultation in 2021 and is estimated to greatly reduce unnecessary call outs in order to free up our firefighters to attend real emergencies and to allow them to do more community safety prevention work.
What do I need to do next?
As a dutyholder you must ensure that your premises are safe for staff, visitors and occupants in the event of a fire. You have a responsibility under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 to maintain the facilities and equipment provided. Failure to do this could lead to prosecution.
Staff and occupants should be made aware of how to respond safely to AFA activations in each premises. It is recommended that you read the guidance Investigating Fire Alarms prepared by the Fire Industry Association. Ignoring them or assuming the fire and rescue service has been notified could put people at risk.
You should contact your insurance company to discuss the changes in response to AFA activations, but please note that SFRS will always attend a confirmed fire.
If there is a fire you should always call 999 immediately and follow other specific strategies, such as evacuation and assembly points.
How you can help to reduce false or unwanted alarms
As a dutyholder, you have a responsibility under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 to maintain the facilities and equipment provided. Failure to do this could lead to prosecution.
We fully support the installation of automatic fire alarm systems, but these systems must be fully managed and maintained to reduce false alarms and ensure that they activate at the right time and achieve the correct response.
You must work with your fire risk assessor and update your fire risk assessment with any changes.
We have two initiatives in place to assist with reducing instances of UFAS. ‘TAKE5’ and ‘BE AWARE’ are simple and effective ways of delivering key information to staff and guests, allowing them to consider their actions in buildings.
Other key steps include:
Reviewing your Fire Safety Risk Assessment and keeping a log of all false alarms to identify any trends which should be raised with your alarm engineers.
Creating an action plan to reduce the chance of any false alarm occurring
Check detector types and their locations – would moving detectors or changing the type used reduce activations? Seek advice from your alarm engineer.
Upgrading automatic fire detection (AFD) systems that are obsolete with more modern technology e.g. ‘multi-sensing’ detectors
Fitting manual call points with protective plastic covers in problem, vulnerable or high traffic areas
Ascertaining whether any false alarms are a result of activating the wrong call points such as green emergency door release points
Keeping AFD systems appropriately maintained
Considering whether a link to an Alarm Receiving Centre is necessary or if it is appropriate to suspend the automatic dialling function whilst buildings are occupied or at certain times of the day
Seeking further guidance and advice from their alarm system provider or servicing agent as well as their local legislative fire safety officer.
Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Stewart Nicholson is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Head of Service Delivery for the East of Scotland. He said: “We will continue to work with dutyholders to help them better understand their obligations, but I must stress the importance of having adequate training in place for staff and in ensuring appropriate fire safety provisions are in place within your premises.
“By changing our response to these types of incidents, we can potentially free up 64,000 hours every year giving firefighters more time for other activities, such as training and fire safety prevention work.
“However, there are benefits to businesses too by preventing these incidents from happening in the first place. On average, every unwanted fire alarm signal interrupts business for around 27 minutes each time.”
