Have your say: Haymarket ‘active travel hub’?

The City of Edinburgh Council has secured funding from Transport Scotland to explore the potential for an ‘active travel hub’ at the Capital’s Haymarket Station, a major transport interchange at the west end of the city centre.

One of Scotland’s busiest transport hubs, with thousands of people accessing all means of transport, from trains and buses to bikes and taxis every day, Haymarket Station is also a key milestone along the planned City Centre West to East Link, for which a final route was agreed last week.

Now a £10,000 feasibility study, 100% funded by Transport Scotland and being carried out on the Council’s behalf by consultants Capita Symonds, will examine the potential for Haymarket to become a ‘hub’ for active travel.

The Council has been in discussion with a number of stakeholders, including Abellio ScotRail, Sustrans and Cycling Scotland, about the proposals and a survey is now live seeking people’s views – and especially users of Haymarket Station – on what features they would want to see in such a ‘hub’.

Facilities might include cycling and walking route-mapping information and advice, bike maintenance and/or bike/e-bike hire, depending on demand and the physical space potentially available within the station area for the service.

Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Hinds said: “The City Centre West to East Link and opportunities to create an active travel hub at Haymarket Station represent a step-change in conditions for travelling by two wheels into, from and right through the city centre.

“We want to make walking and cycling as easy and attractive a choice as possible, and for more people to experience the benefits of travelling in an active and sustainable way for everyday journeys, as well as contributing positively to the city’s quality of life and air quality.

“I would encourage station users and anyone with an interest in improving facilities and information services for active travel in Edinburgh to have their say via this survey. The more people who tell us what would most benefit them in an active travel hub, the better we’ll be able to deliver a successful facility for all who’ll one day use it.”

The active travel hub survey is open for comments until Friday 6 January 2017.

Similar active travel hubs are already in place in Stirling, Ayr and Kilmarnock.

Mental health: help is at hand this Christmas season

No-one experiencing depression, low mood or anxiety should suffer in silence this Christmas, Scotland’s Minister for Mental Health has said. Maureen Watt highlighted the help and support that’s available at a time of year when some people can experience mental health problems associated with stress and loneliness. Continue reading Mental health: help is at hand this Christmas season

Ben plays his part at Easter Road’s GameChanger Christmas lunch

Local MSP Ben Macpherson has praised the work of Hibernian FC and it’s GameChanger initiative that hosted a festive lunch for the less fortunate on Christmas Day. The MSP also encouraged people across the country to reach out to those who may be spending the festive period alone. Continue reading Ben plays his part at Easter Road’s GameChanger Christmas lunch

Christmas 2016: Prime Minister’s message

Theresa May sends her best wishes to everyone celebrating Christmas in the UK and around the world:

Prime Minister Theresa May said:

This year, the United Kingdom has had much to celebrate. Her Majesty The Queen celebrated her 90th birthday, surrounded by the Royal Family and well-wishers from across our four nations, the Commonwealth, and the world.

Four years after the success of London 2012, our Olympic and Paralympic athletes continued to work and train – and they were rewarded by coming second in the medal table, becoming the first team ever to increase its medal haul four years after hosting the Games. Many of us will have more personal memories too, of happy times with family and friends. These are precious moments when people from many backgrounds, with different beliefs, come together to celebrate in families and communities.

Coming together is also important for us as a country. As we leave the European Union we must seize an historic opportunity to forge a bold new role for ourselves in the world and to unite our country as we move forward into the future. And, with our international partners, we must work together to promote trade, increase prosperity and face the challenges to peace and security around the world.

As we gather with our friends and families at this time of year we proudly celebrate the birth of Christ and the message of forgiveness, love and hope that he brings. We also think of Christians in other parts of the world who face persecution this Christmas and re-affirm our determination to stand up for the freedom of people of all religions to practise their beliefs in peace and safety.

Having grown up in a vicarage, I know how demanding it can be for those who have to work over the Christmas period. So it’s right for all of us to express our gratitude to those who will have to spend Christmas away from the people they love in looking after others: those in our health and care services, those who work with the vulnerable, as well as those who will be caring for a loved one.

And we thank those in our Armed Forces, security agencies, and emergency services who work all year round to keep our country safe – especially those who will be separated by their duty from their families and friends.

Wherever you are this Christmas, I wish you joy and peace in this season of celebration, along with health and happiness in the year ahead.

Trinity CC: December update

Just in time for the Christmas break and all that wrapping paper from Christmas presents – here’s an update from our December meeting with a special emphasis on recycling!

As ever, we’d be delighted to get your feedback on anything mentioned in the newsletter – indeed on anything at all, really!

Have a great Christmas, a Happy Hogmanay, and a fantastic 2017!

Best Wishes,

Bill Rodger, Trinity CC

Drink driving: ‘too much to lose’

Drivers are being urged not to risk their lives, and their licenses, by getting behind the wheel after having a drink this festive period.

Police officers have caught 388 drink drivers in the first half of their month-long festive enforcement campaign so far. Of these, 38 were caught between the old limit and the new drink drive limit, which came into force in December 2014.

The Police Scotland period of enforcement coincides with a Scottish Government awareness campaign to reinforce the message that ‘the best approach is none’.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “It is disappointing that some are continuing to ignore the law and put themselves, and others, at risk.

“People should be having fun this festive season and enjoying time with family and friends. By taking a few simple steps, like planning ahead, nominating a designated driver or using public transport, you can make sure you have a night to remember for all the right reasons.

“There will be plenty of people on the road visiting loved ones, but please remember the morning after a night of drinking you could still be over the limit and unfit to drive.

“Drink driving is completely unacceptable and if you get caught you face a minimum one year ban from the roads, a criminal record, points on your licence and a substantial fine. To all those who persist in breaking the law remember, the best approach is none.”

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: “There are still too many people taking to Scotland’s roads when they’ve had a drink. They need to know it is totally unacceptable to jeopardise not only their lives, but the lives of innocent people going about their daily business.

“Our officers have seen a sharp increase in the number of motorists failing breath tests from last year’s campaign. In the first two weeks of this year’s campaign alone, 388 drink/ drug driving related offences were detected compared to 452 for the entire four week 2015 crackdown. In addition, 34 drivers were found to be over the limit having been stopped between 6 and 10am.

“Our message is simple – if you’re going to drink, do not risk driving. Police Scotland does not tolerate this kind of behaviour and will stop anyone they suspect of driving under the influence of alcohol. The consequences are severe; they include an automatic ban, a potential fine and even the possibility of a prison sentence as well as being the potential to kill or seriously injure yourself or others.”

Director of Road Safety Scotland, Michael McDonnell, said: “The consequences of drink-driving start with being arrested and, thereafter, the effect on different aspects the people’s lives is like dominoes crashing to the ground one by one – loss of licence, criminal record, hefty fine and potentially even prison can have a devastating effect on present and future employment, destroy relationships, and incur debt problems. Most of us have too much to lose so it’s just not worth taking the chance – don’t risk it.”

Continue reading Drink driving: ‘too much to lose’