Edinburgh Leisure rewards 25,000th  member with free membership

Charity Edinburgh Leisure who celebrated its 25th anniversary on 1 April 2023, has rewarded one lucky Edinburgh lady with a free annual membership to celebrate her being their 25,000th current member.

Daniela Ceban, who lives in Dalry, had recently signed up for a fitness membership at her local Edinburgh Leisure venue, Dalry Swim Centre.

Sales Manager, Matthew Smith, explained: “Edinburgh Leisure has recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and we were delighted to discover that it also coincided with our 25,000th current member joining in the same month.

“We thought it would be a great gesture to reward this lucky person with a free annual fitness membership at their chosen venue.

Daniela Ceban said: “It made my week when Edinburgh Leisure rang me to say that they wanted to ‘gift’ me a free year’s membership at Dalry to celebrate me being their 25,000th current member.

“I love Dalry Swim Centre as it’s close to where I live, and the staff are all friendly and welcoming. I originally started out using the pool but will also be using the gym now.”

Edinburgh Leisure is currently offering new customers the opportunity to try before they buy, with an offer of 7 days for £7, offering unlimited access to gym, swim, fitness classes and climbing for one week only.

For only £7, the pass gives customers unlimited access to:

  • 16 gyms
  • 11 swimming pools
  • Over 750 fitness classes per week
  • The Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho

The offer is available from Monday, 17th April until 30th April and valid for 7 consecutive days from the date of purchase.  Usual fitness membership terms and conditions apply.

People can sign up for the 7 days pass online under short-term memberships at any of the Edinburgh Leisure venues.

Customers buying a 7-day pass will automatically be entered into a free prize draw to win a year’s Full Fitness membership with Edinburgh Leisure, when they purchase the pass online.

Edinburgh Leisure’s venues feature some of the latest gym equipment with on-hand instructors who are happy to show customers ‘the ropes’ and how to use the equipment; have a range of swimming pools including four Victorian pools and the famous Olympic-sized Royal Commonwealth Pool, plus a selection of saunas and steam rooms, and of course the International Climbing Arena at Ratho.

So, wherever you’re at on the map or in life, Edinburgh Leisure has something for everyone, no matter what their fitness level.

To buy a pass: https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/7-days-for-7-pounds

Scottish Government to consult on second homes council tax hike

Councils empowered to prioritise ‘homes for living in‘

Plans to enable councils to raise the amount of council tax paid on empty and second homes will be included in a new consultation to help increase housing availability.

First Minister Humza Yousaf will announce proposals at the Scottish Trades Union Congress today (Monday 17 April) which could give councils powers to charge up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes from April 2024.

The proposed change would bring second homes into line with long-term empty homes from next year. The joint consultation with COSLA will also seek views on further powers to charge more than double rate on both empty and second homes in future years.

Latest figures show that in January 2023 there were 42,865 long-term empty homes in Scotland.

The consultation will also ask for views on whether there should be changes to the definition of when a property offering self-catered accommodation becomes liable for non-domestic rates.

The plans will deliver on commitments in the Scottish Government’s Housing to 2040 strategy and Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Green Party to enable councils to prioritise homes for living in and manage the impact of second or long-term empty homes.

Ahead of the consultation opening, the First Minister said: “We want everyone in Scotland to have an affordable home that meets their needs and this work to improve the availability of sustainable long-term housing opportunities is a core part of that.

“By recognising the important role councils have in considering local needs, these proposals aim to strike a balance between good housing supply and helping communities to thrive and benefit from tourism.

“I encourage anyone who is interested to respond to the consultation as we try to prioritise homes for living in, seeking a fair contribution to local services from everyone and recognising the benefits to local economies from self-catering accommodation and second homes.

“All responses will be carefully considered before legislation is introduced to the Scottish Parliament.”

COSLA Resources Spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmaan said: “Local government in Scotland is committed to supporting access for everyone in Scotland to an affordable home.

“That is why we are pleased to be launching this joint consultation, as we work to meet the shared aim of creating the right balance to increase the availability of housing and a taxation system that is fair for the tourism industry.

“We also welcome the greater fiscal empowerment for councils to reflect local circumstances this would introduce. Any additional funding created by these changes under consultation will enable councils to invest in local needs and support sustainable communities.

“We are pleased to be jointly working with the Scottish Government on this vital area of work and we look forward to considering the responses.”

The consultation opens today 1- 7 April 2023 – on the Scottish Government’s consultation page and is expected to run for 12 weeks until 11 July 2023.

Housing statistics: Empty properties and second homes

New art reveals what the next James Bond could look like

  • New art imagines what the next James Bond looks like, based on an AI interpretation of official casting requirements outlined by Barbara Broccoli 
  • The Bond producer revealed that the next 007 would be a British male actor under 40 years of age and over 5’10 in height, following fan speculation 
  • When those requirements are inputted into an AI generator, the resulting images bear a notable resemblance to some fan favourites for the role 
  • The image looks most like current 007 frontrunner Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who coincidentally meets both the casting age and height requirements

New art reveals what the next James Bond could look like, based on the only official confirmation of casting guidelines released so far, from Barbara Broccoli herself.

The image, created by Hearts Land, was a result of inputting the casting guidelines as a prompt into an AI art generator as follows: ‘British actor under 40 years old and over 5′ 10 in height, to play the next James Bond’ – and the results are pretty astounding. 

And despite not including any reference to any current actors or James Bond frontrunners, the image bears a strikingly close resemblance to current favourite, Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

The image shows a James Bond with the same skin colour, eye colour and hair colour as Taylor-Johnson, and even bears a similar facial expression as the High Wycombe-born star.

At 32 years old and 5’ 11 in height, Aaron is a perfect fit – and is currently having a resurgence in popularity on social media, as fans praised his images from Calvin Klein’s Spring 2023 campaign, which he starred in alongside Michael B. Jordan and Kendall Jenner.

Coincidentally, he’s currently the favourite to play the next James Bond at most bookmakers, having dethroned The Witcher’s Henry Cavill last week in the running. 

And whilst the image is by no means conclusive evidence that Aaron-Taylor Johnson is the next James Bond, it’s a good sign that even AI is able to imagine him stepping in the role, with speculation still rife after Daniel Craig stepped down from the role two years ago. 

The argument could be made for other James Bond favourites, too, as the AI image bears some passing resemblance to James Norton, Sam Hueghan and Michael Fassbender. 

As well as imagining what the next James Bond will look like, Hearts Land also asked the AI generator to visualise the next Bond girl, based on the following prompt: ‘Mid-twenties British actress at 5’ 7 in height, to play the next Bond girl’ – and the results are also cool. 

There are no official guidelines for Bond’s love interest, but previous casting choices reveal she’s typically aged between 20 and 30, and has yet to be taller than 007 himself. In fact, Gemma Arterton previously revealed Daniel Craig wore shoe lifts to appear taller than her.

And based on the image, the next Bond girl will be a bombshell, with luminous blue eyes, a stunning complexion and long flowing hair that’s sure to turn 007’s head.

It’s harder to match the AI interpretation to a specific actress given there’s less speculation for that role compared to Bond, but it does bear some resemblance to Doctor Who’s Caitlin Blackwood (22 years), and her superstar cousin, Karen Gillan (35 years). 

Arguably, 28-year old Eloise Smith of Cyn fame could also be a good fit, were she to dye her hair, as well as Liason’s Olivia Popica (29 years), and Apostasy’s Molly Wright (27 years). 

Speaking on the images, Hearts Land said: “One of the most exciting applications of AI at the moment is to imagine what producers and casting directors are imagining or looking for when casting popular characters – particularly for shows where it’s really all up in the air. 

“It’s fascinating that AI is able to create a realistic image of someone based on such little information – and it’s particularly exciting that this bears such a close resemblance to frontrunner Aaron Taylor-Johnson. It’ll be amazing if he actually lands the role now!”

Healthy Heart Tip: The Power of Gardening

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: The Power of Gardening

It is National Gardening Day on 14th April in the UK and as the weather starts to (slowly!) warm up, it is a great time to get outside. Gardening is associated with many health benefits including improved physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Mowing the lawn, digging, weeding and other gardening tasks can help us stay active and hit our weekly exercise goal and simply spending more time outdoors has been shown to improve sleep. If you don’t have a garden, or outdoor space, you can still reap many of the benefits by planting in pots on windowsills or joining a local gardening group near you.

Read on for our top tips to get started and ideas of what to grow: 

Getting started 

Whether you are growing indoors or outdoors, a thriving plant starts with good soil. The surest way to make sure your plants get off to a good start is to buy a bag of compost and use this to start your seedlings; once they are well-established you can re-plant them into regular soil in your garden.

To save money on buying little pots, you can start your seedlings in clean yoghurt pots or any other containers you can save from your kitchen, just poke something sharp through the bottom to allow for some drainage. 

Grow heart-healthy herbs 

Eating too much salt can contribute to increased blood pressure, using herbs in cooking is a great way to add flavour without adding salt. Herbs are one of the easiest things to grow and great for beginners to try. They are a great choice for indoor growing as they do well in pots on a sunny windowsill.

If you’re planting them outdoors, choose the sunniest spot you can find. Chives, mint, basil, parsley, and thyme are just a few that are easy to care for. You can either grow from seeds or buy the small plants from the supermarket and re-pot them. 

Involve the whole family 

Gardening is a hobby for all ages, and it’s a nice activity to do with children. Children love to see flowers grow and growing vegetables together can be a great way to encourage them to try them, which is especially helpful if you have a picky eater.

It is also a great way to introduce a little responsibility in the form of caring for something else, let children choose what flowers and vegetables they want to grow and watch the sense of joy they get from seeing the fruits of their labour. 

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our healthy recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Edinburgh brides can enjoy an exclusive evening of fizz and fashion with designer Alice Temperley MBE

Award-winning bridal boutique, Rachel Scott Couture, welcomes British fashion icon to Scotland for first time

Her designs have graced the likes of HRH Princess of Wales, Beyoncé and Madonna. Her accolades include the title of English Print Designer of the Year and Best Young Designer of the Year.

Vogue magazine described her as “Making the biggest waves in British fashion”. And in 2011 she earned an MBE for her services to the fashion industry.

Today, Alice Temperley MBE is one of the UK’s most revered fashion designers, and this month Scotland will welcome her for the first time as the award-winning bridal boutique, Rachel Scott Couture, hosts an exclusive evening in her honour.


Taking place in Edinburgh on Thursday 27th April 2023, Rachel Scott Couture presents ‘An Evening with Alice Temperley’. Brides-to-be can expect a luxury shopping experience like no other, featuring fizz, fashion, and all the latest looks from this celebrated designer presented in the intimate setting of the Rachel Scott Couture showroom. 

On display will be a carefully curated edit of Temperley London designs from the bridalwear, eveningwear and heritage collections. Plus, Alice Temperley herself will be on-hand to discuss her signature style of wonderfully whimsical ethereal embroidery and bohemian embellishment.

The Temperley London trunk show will then be available to view by private appointment at Rachel Scott Couture, Friday 28th – Sunday 30th April.

Speaking ahead of ‘An Evening with Alice Temperley’, owner of Rachel Scott Couture, Rachel Snedden, reveals; “I am so excited to welcome designer Alice Temperley to Scotland for the first time.

“I have long been a fan of her designs – each one beautifully sculptural, intricately detailed, and uniquely romantic – everything a bride longs for in a dress.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be able to provide Edinburgh brides with this rare and exciting opportunity to see the dresses up close and to actually talk to the iconic designer responsible for creating them.”

‘An Evening with Alice Temperley’ will take place at Rachel Scott Couture, 29b Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6QQ, on Thursday 27th April 2023, 6-8pm.

The event is free to attend but registration is essential as tickets are strictly limited. To request a ticket, email hello@rachelscottcouture.co.uk or call 0131 556 1520.

The Temperley London trunk show, featuring designs from the bridalwear, eveningwear and heritage collection, will be available to view at Rachel Scott Couture Friday 28th – Sunday 30th April.

To book an appointment during the trunk show weekend, head to:

www.rachelscottcouture.co.uk/pages/enquiries-appointments.

Benefits health assessments system continues to let people down, say MPs

The health assessments system to access vital benefits for those who cannot work or face extra costs due to disability or ill-health continues to let down those who rely on it, according to Westminster’s Work and Pensions Committee.

In its latest Report, the Committee calls for the implementation of several measures that would be relatively quick and easy wins to improve trust, drive down the high rate of decisions reversed on appeal and reduce waiting times.

It says assessments should be recorded by default, with claimants having the option to opt-out, adding that footage could be used to review cases more accurately without having to go to appeal, and help assessors learn from past mistakes.

Some of the improvements the Committee suggest could drive down the high rate of decisions reversed on appeal, which still stands at 69% for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Although the Work Capability Assessment used for Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance is due to be abolished, it will remain in place until at least 2026. Meanwhile, PIP assessments will continue, so retaining the status quo is not an option.

MPs on the Committee also recommended allowing claimants to choose between remote or in-person assessments, extending the deadline to return forms, targets to reduce assessment waiting times, and payments to people who have been forced to wait beyond the new targets.

The predecessor Committee originally published a report on significant problems in assessments in 2018, but many of the recommended changes have not been made.

Committee Chair Sir Stephen Timms MP said: ““We surveyed eight and a half thousand people as part of our inquiry and found a profound lack of trust in the system as a consistent theme.

“Many will welcome abolition of the Work Capability Assessment.  The Government’s process improvements, and recognition that the system causes undue stress and hardship, are steps in the right direction.

“However, waiting years for changes won’t cut it when quicker wins are available:  flexibility of choice on assessment by phone or face-to-face; recording assessments by default; extending deadlines to reduce stress; and sending claimants their reports. All this will give much-needed transparency to a process that so few trust yet affects their lives so fundamentally.

“All efforts must be made for unnecessary limbo and stress for claimants to be put to an end.”

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Speaker’s Chair from the Parliament building that never was acquired by National Museums Scotland

The Presiding Officer’s chair from what would have become the Scottish Parliament building in the event of a vote for devolution in the 1979 referendum has been gifted to National Museums Scotland.

It had been intended that the Scottish Assembly, as it was referred to at the time, would sit in the former Royal High School building on Calton Hill in central Edinburgh, and plans were sufficiently advanced for the Debating Chamber to have been furnished.

However, the referendum did not secure the required number of votes to achieve devolution. When the vote for devolution was later carried in 1997, the decision was taken to build a brand-new purpose-built Scottish Parliament building and so the chair was never used for its intended purpose.

Georgia Vullinghs, Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary History, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to acquire this object. The furniture represents a key moment in the story of devolution and the history of Scottish politics.

“This large, blocky chair and its futuristic design is emblematic of a confidence in significant political change for Scotland in the late 1970s, but which did not ultimately happen at that time. This generous donation will allow us to better tell the story of that fascinating moment in Scotland’s history through our collections.”

The former Royal High School building is now undergoing a major restoration which will see it repurposed as a world-class centre for music education and public performance for the benefit of the whole of Scotland as the National Centre for Music. The Royal High School Preservation Trust (RHSPT) is leading the project and took possession of the building in March.

William Gray Muir, Chair of the RHSPT said: “We are delighted that this piece of constitutional history will have a fitting home in the national museum, where it can help tell the story of how modern Scottish politics encountered the legacy of the Scottish Enlightenment.

“The significance of the Thomas Hamilton building – the Old Royal High – and its symbolic importance to our national political and social ambitions is indisputable and its past, present and future form a critical part of Edinburgh’s status in the world. The Trust’s aim is that we add a new chapter to that story and the building’s relationship with Scottish heritage and our national museum will continue.”

Although the Scottish Assembly never occupied the building, the site of the Royal High School remained a focal point in the debate over devolution, with images of the building used in campaign material, and a Vigil for a Scottish Parliament was held outside the building for 1,980 days from 10 April 1992 until the 1997 referendum.

The tent from the touring campaign and related material are on display in the National Museum of Scotland. The chair is now at the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh where it will undergo conservation treatment.

EMERGENCY STOP! UK Government scraps all new smart motorway plans

New smart motorways to be removed from government road-building plans due to financial pressures and lack of confidence felt by drivers

  • plans for new smart motorways will be cancelled in recognition of the current lack of public confidence felt by drivers and cost pressures
  • smart motorways earmarked for construction during the third Road Investment Strategy (2025 to 2030) and previously paused schemes will now not go ahead
  • existing smart motorways will continue to benefit from £900 million safety improvements

Plans for new smart motorways will be cancelled, delivering on the Prime Minister’s summer campaign pledge.

New smart motorways – including the 11 already paused from the second Road Investment Strategy (2020 to 2025) and the 3 earmarked for construction during the third Road Investment Strategy (2025 to 2030) – will be removed from government road-building plans, given financial pressures and in recognition of the current lack of public confidence felt by drivers.

Initial estimations suggest constructing future smart motorway schemes would have cost more than £1 billion and cancelling these schemes will allow more time to track public confidence in smart motorways over a longer period.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: All drivers deserve to have confidence in the roads they use to get around the country. That’s why last year I pledged to stop the building of all new smart motorways, and today I’m making good on that promise.

“Many people across the country rely on driving to get to work, to take their children to school and go about their daily lives and I want them to be able to do so with full confidence that the roads they drive on are safe.”

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “We want the public to know that this government is listening to their concerns.

“Today’s announcement means no new smart motorways will be built, recognising the lack of public confidence felt by drivers and the cost pressures due to inflation.

Independent road safety campaigner, Meera Naran, whose 8-year-old son Dev, died in a motorway collision on the M6 in 2018, said: “Since successfully campaigning for the 18-point action plan, £900 million commitment and the pause in the roll out in January 2022, there has been a lot of joined up thinking in mutually coming to this decision.

“I thank ministers and executives for inviting me to work alongside them in memory of Dev, towards a mutual goal and for their commitment over the years.”

The government and National Highways continue to invest £900 million in further safety improvements on existing smart motorways.

This includes progressing plans on installing 150 extra emergency areas across the network in line with the commitments made in response to the Transport Select Committee, as well as further improving the performance of stopped vehicle detection technology on every all lane running smart motorway.

The government will also continue to give motorists clear advice when using existing smart motorways.

While no new stretches of road will be converted into smart motorways, the M56 J6-8 and M6 J21a-26 will be completed given they are already over three quarters constructed.