Edinburgh Leisure is offering non-members the opportunity to try out their facilities with a free 7 Day Pass. The offer runs from Tuesday, 18 April and runs until 15 May 2017. Continue reading Want to get trim before summer? Try before you buy
Bank branch closures: another two bite the dust
Bank of Scotland branches in Goldenacre and Stockbridge are to close
Two more local bank branches are to close this autumn. The Bank of Scotland branch on Montague Terrace in Goldenacre will close on 16 October, while the Deanhaugh Street Stockbridge branch will close it’s doors for the last time on 3 November. Continue reading Bank branch closures: another two bite the dust
Singasongatlunchtime
New singing sessions start at North Edinburgh Arts tomorrow
New lunchtime singing sessions for anyone looking for some fun and to lift their mood. Singing is a great way to get some of that feel good factor.
No experience of singing? No problem. Come along and join in, it’s just for fun!
Every Tuesday, 1-2pm in North Edinburgh Arts.
Spring Festival at The Botanics
Spring Festival
Sat 29 & Sun 30 April, 1pm-4pm (drop -in), all ages, free
Come to the Botanic Cottage and Demonstration Garden as the Edible Gardening team get started in the vegetable patch for another year. Be inspired by nature and learn about gardening in an environmentally friendly way.
With information for budding gardeners, fun family friendly activities and fresh garden tasters. With Edinburgh Wildlife Watch Group (https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/watch-group/edinburgh/) and Grass Roots Remedies (http://www.grassrootsremedies.co.uk/)
The Edible Gardening project is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Operation Soteria: Easter update
Edinburgh Police report:
Thanks to your calls, we were able to recover three stolen motorbikes at the start of this week hidden in the Clermiston/Drum Brae area. All of these bikes have been sent away for forensic examination.
Our Op Soteria officers and Edinburgh Council colleagues also spotted hidden motorbikes in the Granton area whilst on patrol. Through joining a few dots, we recognised this as being the same bike driven by a man who has now been reported for motoring offences. Like homing pigeons, we returned to the same area the next night and another stolen bike was waiting for uplift.
Following reports of youths driving around in the Easter Drylaw Park area on motorbikes on Tuesday, we reported one for various motoring offences including being in possession of a stolen vehicle. The motorbike was seized for forensic examination and there will be further enquiry regarding other thefts across the city in relation to this juvenile.
Others who we identified having not committed any offences were returned home to their parents. Note to parents – who your kids are associating with is your business. Speak to your children and take an interest in their lives. Next time it could be a phone call from the cells, or even worse.
Later in the week, the Op Soteria team were in the West Pilton/West Shore Road area after numerous calls regarding a high powered motorbike being driven on the foreshore. The police Helicopter was deployed and the bike was followed across the city. We appreciate it’s a noisy machine but it’s truly an invaluable resource to us. Sharp footage from the chopper has led to positive enquiries being conducted to trace those involved.
Another man was spotted breaching his bail curfew so he’s been reported for his troubles.
Keep the reports coming folks. We need your help in combating motorcycle related crime.
Women ‘hardest hit by welfare cuts’
Angela Constance: “Equality has taken ‘massive step backwards”
Women are being unfairly impacted by recent UK Government cuts to benefits and welfare eligibility, Equalities Secretary Angela Constance has said. Continue reading Women ‘hardest hit by welfare cuts’
May Days: Adult learning classes at The Prentice Centre
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Unforgotten Forces Group awarded £4M to support older veterans
A consortium of organisations, led by Poppyscotland, has been awarded £4 million from the Aged Veterans Fund to undertake a three-year programme of support for older veterans and their families in Scotland. Continue reading Unforgotten Forces Group awarded £4M to support older veterans
Prime Minister’s Easter Message
In her Easter message, Prime Minister Theresa May speaks about shared values and religious freedom, and wishes everyone a very happy Easter: Continue reading Prime Minister’s Easter Message
Driving test changes to be introduced in December
The driving test will change from Monday 4 December 2017 to include following directions from a sat nav and testing different manoeuvres.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed that the driving test in England, Scotland and Wales will change from Monday 4 December 2017.
The changes are designed to make sure new drivers have the skills they’ll need to help them through a lifetime of safe driving. The changes will only apply to car driving tests to begin with.
The 4 driving test changes
1. Independent driving part of the test will increase to 20 minutes
The independent driving part of the test currently lasts around 10 minutes. During this part of the test, you have to drive without turn-by-turn directions from the driving examiner.
This part of the test will be made longer, so it’ll last around 20 minutes – roughly half of the test.
2. Following directions from a sat nav
During the independent driving part of the test, most candidates will be asked to follow directions from a sat nav.
The examiner will provide the sat nav and set it up. You won’t need to set the route – the examiner will do this for you. So, it doesn’t matter what make or model of sat nav you practise with.
You can’t follow directions from your own sat nav during the test – you have to use the one supplied by the examiner.
You’ll be able to ask the examiner for confirmation of where you’re going if you’re not sure. It won’t matter if you go the wrong way unless you make a fault while doing it.
One in 5 driving tests won’t use a sat nav. You’ll need to follow traffic signs instead.
3. Reversing manoeuvres will be changed
The ‘reverse around a corner’ and ‘turn-in-the-road’ manoeuvres will no longer be tested, but you should still be taught them by your instructor.
You’ll be asked to do one of 3 possible reversing manoeuvres:
- parallel park at the side of the road
- park in a bay – either driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out (the examiner will tell you which you have to do)
- pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for 2 car lengths and rejoin the traffic
4. Answering a vehicle safety question while you’re driving
The examiner will ask you 2 vehicle safety questions during your driving test – these are known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions.
You’ll be asked the:
- ‘tell me’ question (where you explain how you’d carry out a safety task) at the start of your test, before you start driving
- ‘show me’ question (where you show how you’d carry out a safety task) while you’re driving – for example, showing how to wash the windscreen using the car controls and wipers
Watch how the new test will work
This video shows how the test will work from 4 December 2017.
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Read more about what will happen during the driving test from 4 December 2017.
Pass mark, length of test and cost not changing
The pass mark is staying the same. So, you’ll pass your test if you make no more than 15 driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults.
The examiner will still mark the test in the same way, and the same things will still count as faults.
The overall time of the driving test won’t change. You’ll still drive for around 40 minutes.
The driving test cost will also stay the same.
Why the changes are being made
Road collisions are the biggest killer of young people. They account for over a quarter of all deaths of those aged between 15 and 19.
DVSA wants to make sure that training and the driving test reduce the number of young people being killed in collisions.
These changes are being made because:
- most fatal collisions happen on high-speed roads (not including motorways) – changing the format of the test will allow more of these types of roads to be included in driving test routes
- 52% of car drivers now have a sat nav – DVSA wants new drivers to be trained to use them safely
- research has shown that new drivers find independent driving training valuable – they can relate it to driving once they’ve passed their test
Changes are supported by the public
The changes follow a:
- public consultation that over 3,900 people took part in
- trial of the changes involving over 4,300 learner drivers and over 860 driving instructors
The proposals were widely supported by the public. The results of the consultation show that:
- 88.2% agreed with increasing the length of the independent driving part of the test
- 70.8% agreed with asking candidates to follow directions from a sat nav
- 78.6% agreed with the plans to change how the reversing manoeuvres are test
- 78.4% agreed with asking the ‘show me’ question while the candidate is driving
Helping you through a lifetime of safe driving
Transport Minister, Andrew Jones, said: “Our roads are among the safest in the world. However, road collisions are the biggest killer of young people.
“These changes will help us to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads and equip new drivers with the skill they need to use our roads safely.”
DVSA Chief Executive, Gareth Llewellyn, said: “DVSA’s priority is to help you through a lifetime of safe driving.
“Making sure the driving test better assesses a driver’s ability to drive safely and independently is part of our strategy to help you stay safe on Britain’s roads.
“It’s vital that the driving test keeps up to date with new vehicle technology and the areas where new drivers face the greatest risk once they’ve passed their test.”
https://youtu.be/lI08tzIfo4c