Edinburgh Airport – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Council to consider framework to shape development in west Edinburgh

Following consultation with residents and interested organisations in and around the west of the city a final framework for development will be considered by the Planning Committee on 19 December.

Development in the west of Edinburgh forms part of the draft City Plan 2030, currently being considered by the Scottish Government. Therefore, if approved by committee, The West Edinburgh Placemaking Framework and Strategic Masterplan (WEPFSM) will be implemented when City Plan 2030 is adopted. The masterplan would then be used as a material consideration as non-statutory guidance for future planning applications.

The framework was informed by previous work on this area and a 12-week consultation from July to October last year for land extending from Eastfield Road in the west to Maybury junction in the east, with Edinburgh Airport and Turnhouse Road to the north.

There are a range of new opportunities for new homes and other uses in this area as set out in City Plan 2030. The aim is to create new 20 minute neighbourhoods to help Edinburgh toward its housing and net zero ambition, with a range of facilities which people will need to live well locally such as schools and medical centres.

Hundreds of people took part in the consultation either online or in person at drop in sessions or focus groups we held. Meetings also took place with key developers and landowners.

A major theme from the consultation was having excellent transport links in the area including active travel routes and public transport. These objectives are all at the core of the proposed WEPFEM and tie in with the wider Broxburn to Maybury Transport Improvements – a major transport improvement project for area.

The project is funded through the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. The plan is to have better connected communities with major employment, education, healthcare and leisure opportunities easily accessible. This will also make it easier for more people to make a greater number of journeys by bus or by cycling, walking or wheeling.

An overarching vision on how the west of the city could be developed over the next 30 years – Towards West Edinburgh 2050 – was also published for discussion last year.

Planning Convener Cllr James Dalgleish said: “I’d like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation last year. The feedback was really valuable in helping us to finalise our draft framework for committee to consider next week.

“When City Plan 2030 is adopted developers will be able to use this framework as a guide to help us create new thriving 20 minute neighbourhoods to the north of Gogarburn.

“We’re hoping to see more than 3,500 quality energy efficient affordable homes delivered. This will help us address the city’s housing emergency as well as significantly contributing to Edinburgh achieving net zero. The development will have a mix of uses such as retail, schools, healthcare and office space.

“Like other neighbourhoods in west Edinburgh these new communities will need to be well connected to the rest of the city, the wider region and beyond through improved public transport links.

“To help to reduce car use the high density 20 minute neighbourhoods created will need to be supported with a number of new bus and active travel routes and as well as the existing tram line which runs through the area.”

Vodafone 5G and 4G landed at Edinburgh Airport

Vodafone customers using and working at Edinburgh Airport are starting to enjoy stronger and faster 5G and 4G following the installation of dedicated mobile phone coverage.

The improvements, led by leading in-building solution supplier Exchange Communications, will ensure Vodafone customers, who make up approximately 14 million passengers who use the airport each year, benefit from both fast mobile data speeds and better call quality in departure, arrival and across the airport terminal.

Meanwhile, businesses in and around the airport will be able to take advantage. Whilst airport employees with Vodafone devices will benefit from the improvements, the introduction of ultrafast Vodafone 5G will also ensure the airport infrastructure has the technology needed to support a range of services – from contactless check-in to digital passport controls – if required.

Denis McIlroy, Head of IT at Edinburgh Airport said: “Whether it is tracking your flight, sending that important email, joining a virtual meeting or simply staying in touch with family and friends you are going or coming to visit, connectivity to reliable 4G and 5G is really important so it’s great to have enhanced that provision at Scotland’s busiest airport.

“Our work with Vodafone will also allow us to continue to make improvements for passengers behind the scenes and deliver a smooth and seamless journey through the airport.”

Tom Sime, CEO of Exchange Communications, said: “Airports are a pivotal part of the UK economy and having deployed 4G & 5G at Edinburgh Airport it now benefits from the reliable wireless connectivity of 5G.

“This project will benefit from enhanced connectivity, resulting in faster connections and quicker streaming for passengers but it will also help enhance the technology working behind the scenes to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the airport.

“Airports have an ecosystem of companies and business who interact with them, jointly delivering services which will benefit from the connectivity of 5G for fast reliable production, intralogistics with full flexibility for future Smart Building technologies and IOT.”

Andrea Dona, UK Network Director at Vodafone, said: “Airports play a vital role in the success of the economy as well as being major employers. So, we’re delighted to be able to support Edinburgh in providing the connectivity they need to support their growth.

“Meanwhile, the arrival of both Vodafone 4G and 5G will offer our customers fast mobile data speeds as they work at the airport or travel through.”

The news is the latest in Vodafone’s ongoing investment in its Scottish network. This includes locations across the country where rural Vodafone coverage has been already boosted as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme, a £1bn joint initiative between the UK Government and the UK’s four mobile network operators which will see overall 4G coverage extend to 91% of the Scottish landmass. 

In January 2022, Vodafone confirmed it would begin to switch off its UK 3G network in 2023, with the spectrum being used to boost its 4G and 5G coverage nationwide.

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays announces major expansion at Edinburgh Airport

Significant expansion sees FOUR new routes go on sale in response to strong demand – Rome, Malta, Chambery, and Prague

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays has today responded to continued strong demand from holidaymakers in Scotland, by announcing significant expansion at Edinburgh Airport. This growth includes four new routes, extra summer and winter capacity, as well as an additional aircraft coming into operation for Summer 24.

The UK’s largest tour operator and third largest airline has added a 7^th based aircraft at Edinburgh Airport for Summer 24, enabling them to introduce two new routes for next summer. This gives customers and independent travel agents even more choice and flexibility when it comes to choosing some summer sunshine next year.

The two new routes added for Summer 24 are as follows:

Rome – new Monday and Friday services beginning from 8^th March.
Malta – new Wednesday services starting from 1^st May.

As well as summer demand, Jet2.com has also experienced strong demand for ski flights from local snow sports fans and has added new flights to Chambery from Edinburgh Airport for Winter 23/24 and Winter 24/25 in response. Chambery offers quick and easy access to world-famous ski resorts in France, including the Three Valleys. The popular ski areas of the Alpe d’Huez, Chamonix, La Plagne and Val d’Isère are also easily accessible from Chambery, providing memorable skiing whether you are a beginner or an expert.

This coming winter, weekly Saturday services will operate to Chambery between 10^th February and 6^th April 2024. In Winter 24/25, Saturday services will operate from 21^st December 2024.

The good news does not stop there, as scheduled winter services and city breaks have also gone on sale to Prague from Edinburgh Airport for Winter 24/25 too.

Services will operate to Prague from the airport from 3^rd October 2024 to 27^th March 2025, with up to two weekly services (Thursday and Sunday) operating during this time. With long-weekend and mid-week breaks available from Edinburgh Airport, the addition of this city break favourite offers fantastic choice and flexibility when it comes to visiting the Czech capital in winter.

In addition to this, the strong demand the companies are seeing for flights and great value ATOL protected package holidays means the companies have also added thousands of extra seats for Summer 24 to over ten of their most popular destinations across the Canary Islands, Mainland Spain, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Croatia and Italy.

The destinations where additional flights and holidays have been added (peak weekly departures from Edinburgh Airport in brackets following the increases) are: Lanzarote (5), Malaga (5), Antalya (6), Bodrum (2), Larnaca (2), Gran Canaria (3), Naples (2), Split (2), Tenerife (8), Verona (2) and Zante (3).

This expansion means that Jet2.com and Jet2holidays will now operate up to 96 weekly flights during peak periods to 32 destinations from Edinburgh Airport in Summer 24, meaning unrivalled choice for holidaymakers departing from the airport. With nearly one million seats now on sale from Edinburgh Airport in Summer 24, this represents a capacity increase of more than 20% compared to Summer 23.

With Winter Sun also proving popular from Edinburgh Airport, today’s expansion sees Jet2.com and Jet2holidays add capacity to Lanzarote, Alicante, Antalya, Fuerteventura and Tenerife for Winter 23/24 and to Alicante, Madeira, Fuerteventura and Tenerife and for Winter 24/25. In addition, the companies will operate services to Malta in Winter 24/25, which is a continuation of their summer services.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “Today’s announcement represents a significant investment at Edinburgh Airport and means we are massively expanding our Summer and Winter programmes.

“We are looking forward to our biggest ever Summer 24 from Edinburgh Airport, and this huge expansion to our programme is a demonstration of our continued commitment to investing in our operations at the base ahead of it.

“The demand we are seeing from customers and independent travel agents remains strong, so we have responded by expanding our operations at Edinburgh Airport with new routes, extra capacity and an additional 7^th based aircraft for Summer 24.

“As a result, we are giving holidaymakers in the region even more choice to get away on our award-winning package holidays and flights whether that is in the summer or the winter.”

Kate Sherry, Chief Commercial Officer (Aero) at Edinburgh Airport said: “It’s always good news when we expand choice for our passengers, so having more destinations to jet to with Jet2.com next summer will allow people to already start thinking about that special holiday.

“We know there’s a strong market in Edinburgh and the addition of an extra based aircraft for summer 2024 is a real show of commitment from Jet2.com in Scotland’s capital and to delivering seamless travel and more opportunities to explore.”

Key Summer Sun facts for 2024 from Edinburgh Airport include:

32 sun and city destinations on sale (peak number of flights per week in brackets).
Includes TWO NEW ROUTES – Rome (2) and Malta (1).
Other destinations on sale are: Antalya (6), Bodrum (2), Dalaman (5), Izmir (1), Tenerife (8), Lanzarote (5), Fuerteventura (2), Gran Canaria (3), Reus (2), Alicante (5), Malaga (5), Palma (Majorca) (9), Ibiza (4), Menorca (2), Faro (Algarve) (7), Madeira (1), Crete (Heraklion) (2), Corfu (2), Santorini (1), Kos (2), Preveza (1), Rhodes (2), Halkidiki (1), Zante (3), Larnaca (2), Paphos (2), Naples (2), Verona (2), Dubrovnik (2), Split (2)
Up to 96 departing weekly flights during peak periods.
A 7^th based aircraft coming into operation for Summer 24.

For further information and to book visit www.jet2.com or www.jet2holidays.com

Independent travel agents can visit: trade.jet2holidays.com

Brand new £1.6 million bar opens in Edinburgh Airport

Double the All Bar One fun … Popular bar and restaurant chain, All Bar One has opened up a second site in Edinburgh Airport.

Meaning the existing site, near gate 6, is now joined by a stunning new addition by gate 15. The new £1.6 million venue opened its doors in the airport on Wednesday 28th December, so guests can now enjoy All Bar One favourites at both ends of the airport terminal.

The new bar seats 200 people, and is open daily from 4am until 9pm serving up breakfast, brunch, cocktails and low & no alcohol drinks! Whatever your next destination, make sure to stop in at All Bar One on the way.

Speaking about the refurbishment, General Manager at All Bar One Edinburgh, Lewis said: “We are very excited to be opening our brand new second All Bar One unit within Edinburgh Airport, offering travellers somewhere exciting to start their holidays.

“Open from 4am every day we have an exciting range of cocktails, beer and wine along with a fantastic Breakfast and Main menu in our stylish bar & restaurant setting.’’

Following the significant investment made at All Bar One, new jobs have been created for the local area, with the team now ready to pour pints and serve delicious food to guests.

For more information about All Bar One please visit:

https://www.allbarone.co.uk/national-search/scotland-and-northern-ireland/all-bar-one-e dinburgh-airport#/

Edinburgh and the Lothians to light up red for Scottish Poppy Appeal

Dozens of Edinburgh and the Lothians’ most iconic landmarks, tourist destinations and businesses are being urged to “Light Up Red” in support of the Scottish Poppy Appeal.

From castles to council buildings, schools to statues, Poppyscotland is encouraging buildings across Scotland to take part in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday on November 13^th.

The charity hopes to surpass last year’s record total of around 300 buildings taking part nationwide, including Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Airport, Cockenzie House & Gardens, and Loanhead Parish Church.

Any building with external lighting can take part simply by adding red gel filters to the flood or up-lights to join Poppyscotland in showing support for the Armed Forces community.

The Scottish Poppy Appeal is Scotland’s biggest fundraising campaign, raising more than £2 million for the charity’s welfare work with veterans, servicemen and women and their families.

Three million poppies, handmade by veterans at the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, are already on their journey around the country.

Austin Hardie, Director of Poppyscotland, said: “It’s always wonderful to see so many landmarks across Edinburgh and the Lothians lighting up red for the Poppy Appeal. This is a fitting and poignant tribute to our Armed Forces community, and we know it means a lot to them to see this visual support for their contribution, past and present.

“We’ve been delighted how this idea has captured people’s imaginations, and are very grateful for the support of so many businesses and other organisations.

“Of course, with current concerns over energy costs, we understand that not every building will be lighting up this year. But if they already have external lighting, then we’d encourage them to consider adding red filters in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday.”

For more information about how to Light Up Red for Poppyscotland and the 2022 Scottish Poppy Appeal, visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk/light-up-red

Time to rediscover Fjord Norway as Edinburgh launches flights to Stavanger and Bergen

Loganair route to Bergen, norway returns from Edinburgh Airport

Last week saw the long-awaited return of direct flights from Edinburgh to Bergen and Stavanger, as Loganair revives the popular services, reconnecting Scots with Norway.

The two direct services from Edinburgh to Stavanger and Bergen have been relaunched for the first time since the pandemic, and they also mark the airline’s first international routes from Edinburgh Airport since 2019, and the first international route launches in the airlines 60^th anniversary year.

The routes will see three flights per week reinstated to each destination. Flights to Stavanger take-off Tuesday, Thursdays and Sundays. Flights to Bergen take-off Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Additional flights from Aberdeen to Oslo Gardermoen will also commence in September to further strengthen connectivity between the countries.

Customers in Scotland that wish to venture further and explore Northern Norway will have the opportunity to connect easily via Loganair’s codeshare partnership with Norwegian regional airline, Widerøe. Flights to these destinations can also be booked at Loganair.co.uk.

Upon visiting Stavanger and Bergen, you will find much more than just breath-taking Fjords, but an unforgettable experience.

Bergen, Norway’s second largest city, is an incredible hub for both culture and history, with a vibrant night life, juxtaposed with contemporary art museums, such as the KODE. Similarly, Stavanger is full of colourful homes on colourful streets, white sandy beaches, and is home to some of Norway’s top restaurants.

Not unlike Edinburgh, Bergen and Stavanger’s dynamic central and urban culture makes the perfect getaway.

Both routes are operated by an Embraer 145 jet, and fares to Bergen and Stavanger start at £99.86 including 15kg luggage allowance and a mandatory carbon offset charge as part of Loganair’s sustainable flying programme – GreenSkies.

Kay Ryan, Loganair’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are really excited to launch the recommencement of our international services between Edinburgh and the Norwegian cities of Bergen and Stavanger.

“As we start to see European travel strengthen as summer approaches, it is the ideal time to bring back two services that were, pre-pandemic, incredibly popular for both leisure and business travellers looking to enjoy all that Edinburgh, Bergen and Stavanger have to offer.”

Kate Sherry, Aviation Director at Edinburgh Airport, said: “Seeing these routes return to Edinburgh with Loganair is further evidence that things are really moving in the right direction as we continue our strong recovery.

“Welcoming back more routes between Edinburgh and Norway allows us to enhance connectivity for leisure and business passengers from both countries.

“For us it’s about offering passengers choice, and we’re excited to work with Loganair on helping people experience all Bergen and Stavanger have to offer.”

Stein Ove Rolland, CEO of Fjord Norway, said: “It is very positive that Loganair is relaunching its routes to the Fjord Norway region. After a demanding pandemic many are eager to get out and explore again, and the routes to Stavanger and Bergen will make experiences to the Norwegian fjords easily accessible for the Scottish people.”

Reservations for Loganair’s newly launched service between Stravanger and Edinburgh Airport can be made at www.loganair.co.uk, by calling Loganair’s Customer Contact Centre on 0344 800 2855 or via travel agents and travel management companies using all major global distribution systems.

Next stage for Trams to Newhaven

More traffic disruption inevitable

A new phase of work on the Trams to Newhaven project is set to begin, as the scheme continues to take shape along the route.

Significant progress has been made on several elements of the project, which remains on target for completion in spring 2023 and within the £207.3m budget. More than 60% of track has now been laid (2.8km), 85% of the necessary utility diversions have been carried out and construction work is complete on two new tram stops at McDonald Road and Ocean Terminal.

As part of the next stage of construction the temporary tram stop at York Place, built for the original tram line, will be demolished to allow for the installation of a crossover linking the existing line with the new route.

From 9 February until April the tram from Edinburgh Airport will stop at the West End stop on Shandwick Place. From April, the tram will terminate at St Andrew Square. Details of operational arrangements for this are available on the Edinburgh Trams website.

Construction work on a new, permanent stop at Picardy Place will begin in May. This will come into use when the line to Newhaven opens in 2023.

With construction works on the west side of Leith Walk nearing completion, February will also see changes to traffic management in the area. While traffic will continue to run citybound, from 2 February it will be moved from the east to the west side of the road so that changes to kerb lines, improvements to public realm and the creation of a new carriageway can be carried out on the east side.

This means Pilrig Street and Steads Place can reopen for southbound traffic. There will be some closures to side streets on the east of Leith Walk at certain times, with further details published on the Trams to Newhaven website when these closures are implemented.

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “We’re entering a significant phase of the Trams to Newhaven project, as we work to link the old line to the new. We are in the final year of construction for the project which will be followed by a period of testing and commissioning ahead of opening for service in Spring 2023.

“With 60% of track laid and main construction on two of the new tram stops completed, we’re making great progress and it’s exciting to be able to see elements of the new line in place, giving us an idea of how the route will look next year.

“Of course, as is expected of major infrastructure projects of this nature, there is bound to be some disruption, and I’d like to thank all those living and working nearby for their patience.

“We’re working hard to mitigate the impacts and will continue liaising with residents, businesses and public transport providers to keep them up to date.”

Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “Delivering the tram line to Newhaven will unlock a large area of the city for housing and economic development, while providing a sustainable, reliable mode of transport to densely populated communities.

“We’re clearly making great strides towards its completion, and we’re making every effort to minimise disruption as part of this process.”

Logistics hubs on Montgomery Street, Albert Street, Dalmeny Street and near the Foot of the Walk will remain open for local businesses as part of the Support for Business package, which also includes a local voucher scheme and a business continuity fund.

As work on a bidirectional cycle lane continues the existing cycle diversion remains in place on either side of Leith Walk. Pedestrian footways and access to shops, hospitality and leisure venues on the east side will be maintained at all times.

The London Road to Crown Street section of the project is estimated to be complete by July 2022, while it is expected that the London Road to York Place section will be finished in September.

EIGHT years on, there’s still no sign of any report from Lord Hardie’s Edinburgh Tram inquiry …

Find out more about Trams to Newhaven online.

Edinburgh Airport shares in funding to slash carbon emissions

£8.7 million for green infrastructure projects
£2.1 million for Edinburgh Airport energy initiative

Funding is being awarded to deliver carbon-cutting projects across the country.

Edinburgh Airprt is one of eight projects that will share £8.7 million of Scottish Government investment, with project partners providing match funding, taking total investment to £24.4 million.

The projects, funded through the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme include the construction of a district heat network using heat from a Waste Water Treatment Works in Renfrewshire and new Air Source Heat Pumps and energy efficiency measures for new social housing in the Highlands.

Together they’ll cut carbon emissions by around 4,500 tonnes of CO2e a year – the equivalent to taking 2,000 cars off the road.

This round of LCITP funding was designed to support Scotland’s Green Recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting jobs while tackling climate change.

Since 2015, over £60 million has been committed through the LCITP, which is now drawing to a close. A successor to the programme, which will focus on helping deliver Scotland’s Heat in Buildings vision, will be announced by this spring.

Zero Carbon Buildings Minister Patrick Harvie said: “Meeting our ambitious climate targets will require rapid reduction in carbon emissions across our homes and buildings.

“So I am pleased to announce funding for these eight impressive projects, each of which demonstrates how, working together, we can ensure our homes and buildings are climate-friendly and bring benefits to communities and local economies across the country.

“We are continuing to engage with other exciting projects regarding funding opportunities, and will soon announce plans for a successor to the LCITP which will provide significant investment in large-scale heat projects and heat networks.”

A list of projects to be awarded funding is below:

Lead project partner	Local Authority area	Grant offered	Project Description
Renfrewshire Council	Renfrewshire	£2,887,660	District heat network using heat from a Waste Water Treatment Works with an ambient loop to provide heat to the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland.
Edinburgh Airport	City of Edinburgh	£2,167,000	Integrated Energy system using 9.9MW of solar PV for battery storage to supply energy and EV charging stations
SWG3	Glasgow City	£170,000	Air and Ground Source Heat Pumps to provide heating and cooling to the SWG3 Arts Centre, utilising heat recovered from cooling event spaces
North Fish	Shetland Islands	£887,253	Wind Turbine being used to generate heat to a number of industrial buildings.
Glasgow City Council	Glasgow City	£329,313	ASHPs to be installed in new build Children’s Nurseries
Trees for Life	Highland	£240,360	ASHP, Batteries and Solar PV for the new Trees for Life Dundreggan Rewilding educational centre.
Link Group	Highland	£812,013	Air Source Heat Pumps and Energy Efficiency for new build Social Housing
Scottish Power Energy Networks	East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire and Highland	£1,270,000	Innovative Heat Pump project installing heat pumps, thermal storage and batteries and assessing impact of electrification on electricity grid.
	Total: £8,763,599

Moderator embarks on first presbytery visit in Edinburgh

The Moderator of the General Assembly Lord Jim Wallace has embarked on a ten-day schedule to learn more about the life and work of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Lord Wallace said he is looking forward to attending events organised by the Presbytery of Edinburgh which will see him meet people from all walks of life and learn how they have coped during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presbytery visits provide Moderators with an opportunity to offer encouragement and support to church members and the communities they serve.

Due to the lockdown, this is the first fully in-person visit to take place since 2019.

*Lord Wallace, Moderator of the General Assembly*

Lord Wallace, a QC and former MP and MSP, said the city is close to his heart. “I am very much looking forward to my first presbytery visit, not least because it is Edinburgh where I went to university, trained as a lawyer, practiced as a lawyer, sat in the Scottish Parliament and where I met my wife, Rosie,” he said.

“I am very grateful to the presbytery for putting together a very comprehensive programme, which will allow me to engage with a whole range of people who reflect my interests and background.”

Candidates

The programme will see Lord Wallace visit churches, hospitals, universities and a prison and meet ordinary church members, politicians, senior figures in the judiciary, ministers, chaplains and interfaith and ecumenical leaders.

Lord Wallace was ordained as an elder at what was St Bernard’s Church in Stockbridge in 1981. It is now called Stockbridge Parish Church and Lord Wallace joined the congregation there yesterday (above).

In the evening, the Moderator led worship at Holy Trinity Church in Wester Hailes.

Lord Wallace will meet with Councillor Frank Ross, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, at the City Chambers today and will later attend an event at New College to mark their 175th Anniversary and meet candidates for the ministry.

This evening, the Moderator will attend a civic event at the City Chambers for members of the Edinburgh Area Children’s Panel who make sure that a young person is at the heart of legal decisions that affect them.

Many church members are involved in this work and Lady Wallace, who will be accompanying her husband, was a panel member for many years until recently.

Courts and prison

On Tuesday, Lord Wallace, who is currently sitting on the non-affiliated benches in the House of Lords, is visiting the Charteris Centre run by Greyfriars Kirk, which is based in a refurbished church building at The Pleasance which is nearing completion.

It is a social enterprise initiative which seeks to provide a place for connection with communities of all kinds.

Afterwards he will visit Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Courts to hear more about the administration of justice, especially during the pandemic.

Lord Wallace will then travel to HMP Edinburgh in the Saughton area of the city where he will be given a tour and introduced to staff, prisoners and the chaplains who support them.

On Wednesday, he will visit Napier University’s Sighthill campus where he will meet Principal Andrea Nolan and be given a tour of the Clinical Centre in School of Health and Social Care.

He will meet staff, students, members of the university’s chaplaincy team and Professor Gary Hutchinson and Liz Aston from the School of Applied Sciences to discuss work with Scottish Institute For Policing Research.

In the afternoon, the Moderator will visit the Granton Goes Greener project at Granton Parish Church to learn more about an innovative clothes upcycling project which is part of work to reduce consumption as part of efforts to tackle the climate crisis.

He will later attend a special Presbytery service in St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile, which will be attended by the church’s ecumenical and interfaith partners, as well as national and civic leaders, and will be followed by a reception in Parliament Hall which will bring people from the worlds of religion, politics and legal profession together.

On Thursday, the Moderator is visiting Edinburgh Airport with Rev Moira MacDonald, minister of Corstorphine Old Parish Church and Workplace Chaplain, Esther Elliot, to hear about the work of workplace chaplains.

He will later meet with the Principal of the University of Edinburgh and visit the law school – the place where he studied – to speak with students and staff.

Frontline chaplains

In the evening, the Moderator will attend a Presbyterial Guild event in Craiglockhart Parish Church, speaking on the theme of “Look forward in Faith”.

On Friday, he is visiting the Royal Blind School, the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and will attend an evening reception at Edinburgh Castle for chaplains who serve in a wide variety of contexts – hospitals, the military, universities and the workplace.

Lord Wallace said: “I am looking forward to meeting people engaged in chaplaincy, many of whom have been at the front line during the COViD-19 crisis.

“I will be very much in listening mode and hope to provide them with encouragement.”

Polwarth Parish Church is the Moderator’s next stop where, on Saturday, he will visit the new All Aboard canal boat that the congregation jointly own with a charity called People Know How.

It is used for spiritual and educational pursuits on the Union Canal, which links Edinburgh and Falkirk.

The Moderator will take part in worship at Tron, Moredun and Gilmerton Church on Sunday and join members of Leith Churches for a special service in the evening.

He will visit the Richmond’s Hope bereavement project for children and young people at Richmond Craigmillar Church the following day.

Very Rev Dr Derek Browning, Moderator of Edinburgh Presbytery, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Lord Wallace.

“Presbytery visits allow Moderators to meet local Christians and gain a wider perspective of how the Church, and the communities we support, engage.”

Police issue lazer danger warning

Police Scotland has issued a warning to people not to shine LASER lights at aircraft following a number of recent incidents in the Edinburgh area.

In the last six to eight weeks, there have been four incidents reported to police where LASER lights have been shone into aircraft attempting to land in Edinburgh area.

In one incident last month, the pilot of an air ambulance transferring a seriously-ill patient to hospital in Edinburgh had to abandon the landing after a LASER light was shone into the cockpit for 30 seconds.

After trying to land a second time, and being targeted again, the pilot had no option but to divert his helicopter to Edinburgh Airport. Enquiries into this incident are continuing.

Inspector Graeme Rankin, of Police Scotland’s Aviation Safety Unit, said: “This was an incredibly reckless and dangerous act which could have resulted in the injury of a pilot who was trying to fly a helicopter with a sick patient on board.

“Not only is this clearly illegal, with the possibility of a custodial sentence and/or an unlimited fine, it is exceptionally dangerous. Pilots can become temporarily blind at the most critical part of the flight while they are taking off and landing an aircraft which could have several hundred people on board.

“The consequences do not bear thinking about and we are determined to stop people from carrying out such obviously dangerous acts.

“We will do everything possible to track down, arrest and bring before the courts anyone who does this, but we are asking for the public’s help. If you see anyone shining a LASER light at an aircraft, you should call 999 immediately and report it to the police.”

Anyone who has any information about these, or any other incidents of a similar nature, is asked to call Police Scotland on 101 or report it anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.