Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has claimed that almost 160,000 people across Edinburgh and the Lothian’s would benefit from increasing the council tax discount for single occupancy households, from 25% to 35%.
Figures obtained by SPICe, the Scottish Parliament research department, show that there are currently 159,490 households across Edinburgh and the Lothian’s who receive the single occupancy household discount. Of which 98,000 are in Edinburgh, 17,218 in East Lothian, 13,967 in Midlothian and 30,305 in West Lothian.
A central Scottish Conservative council election manifesto pledge is to increase the discount for single person households from 25% to 35%.
The average property in local authorities across Scotland is band D. This means that the average single person household in Edinburgh would save an additional £138 per year, in West Lothian £131 per year, in Midlothian £144 per year and East Lothian £134 per year.
The total saving for single occupancy households in Edinburgh would be approximately £13,524,000 in West Lothian £3,969,955 in Midlothian £2,011,248 and in East Lothian £2,307,212. Across all four local authorities the savings for single household properties would be £21,812,415.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“Increased council tax and the rise in the cost of living, all hit single person households the hardest, with more and more people struggling to get by.
“The Scottish Conservatives have committed to and will continue to push for single occupancy households to receive 35% council tax discount, a 10% increase from the current discount of 25%.
“Across Edinburgh and the Lothian’s this would benefit almost 160,000 people, alleviating some of the pressure from council tax hikes.
“Single parents, young professionals and elderly people living alone would all benefit from an increase to the single occupancy household discount.”
Tables for tax bands in each local authority and savings per tax band:
Lothian MSP Miles Briggs is supporting Scottish Conservative colleague Murdo Fraser MSPs plans to introduce a Members’ Bill to tackle fly-tipping.
Mr Briggs has highlighted the increase in fly tipping across Edinburgh and the Lothians over the last five years.
Incidents of fly tipping have become worse in Edinburgh and West Lothian in particular, with the number of fly tipping incidents in Edinburgh increasing from 7,439 in 2016 to 10,358 in 2020. In West Lothian the number of fly tipping incidents rose to from 1,404 in 2016 to 2,367 in 2020.
So far this year Edinburgh has had 7,599 incidents of fly tipping and West Lothian has had 1,795 incidents. [Figures from SPICe, see below]
Work has begun with the Scottish Parliament Non-Government Bills Unit on the new law, which would crack down on those caught fly-tipping by increasing fines and making offenders liable.
Scottish Land and Estates (SLE) have welcomed the intention to introduce a Bill to tackle the “scourge of fly-tipping”.
NFU Scotland also called for action on fly-tipping, branding it a “permanent scar on our natural environment”.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“The level of fly-tipping in Edinburgh and the Lothians has got out of control, with the number of incidents on the rise, especially in Edinburgh and West Lothian.
“It is clear that something needs to be done and the low number of penalties for fly tipping shows that the current sanctions are not working.
“I fully support my colleague Murdo Fraser’s bill to crack down on fly-tipping and change the liability of cleaning up fly-tipping, to those who have committed the crime, rather than the landowner.
“SNP Ministers have let fly-tipping in Scotland get out of control, so the Scottish Conservatives are introducing legislation to make a positive difference and crack down on fly-tipping.”
This data was provided by Zero Waste Scotland on behalf of the Local Authorities.
Table 1: The number of annual flytipping incidents in City of Edinburgh, West Lothian, East Lothian and Midlothian council, 2016 to 31 July 2021
Year
City of Edinburgh
West Lothian
East Lothian
Midlothian
2016
7,439
1,404
779
505
2017
5,701
1,590
654
651
2018
8,145
1,999
500
502
2019
9,322
2,089
487
*352
2020
10,358
2,367
415
558
2021 (to 31 July)
7599
1795
275
293
*Note: In 2019, there were 2 months with limited data available in Midlothian.
Scottish Green Party members have approved the party’s cooperation agreement, clearing the way for co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater to become Scotland’s (and the UK’s) first Green ministers.
The agreement was approved overwhelmingly by members at a meeting yesterday and ratified by the party’s national council afterward.
Patrick Harvie MSP said: “I am delighted that our party members have given their support to this historic cooperation agreement that will see Greens enter government for the first time in Scotland, or indeed anywhere in the UK.
“With Greens in government we will be able to deliver positive change for the people of Scotland.”
Lorna Slater MSP said: “Scottish Green Party members are thoughtful and considerate, and I am pleased that having discussed and debated this agreement in great detail they have decided to take this historic step into government.
“The time has come for Scotland to step up efforts to decarbonise our economy and invest in a fairer, greener future. There’s no time to waste and I’m looking forward to start work on our transformative agenda in the coming days.”
Welcoming the agreement reached with the Scottish Green Party, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I am delighted that members of both the Scottish Green Party and the SNP have agreed that we should work together in the Scottish Government to build a greener, fairer, independent Scotland.
“This historic agreement will provide a strong platform for the transformative programme we want to deliver. We will work collaboratively to support a fair recovery from Covid, address with urgency the impacts of the climate emergency, and give the people of Scotland a vote on independence.
“The agreement recognises that co-operation and consensus are essential to finding the practical solutions to the big challenges we face, and it echoes the founding principles of our Parliament.
“While our parties do not agree on everything, we have much common ground. We also have a determination – and indeed a responsibility – to look beyond our differences to build a better country.
“I look forward to working collaboratively with the Scottish Greens in government, and with all parties in parliament, to achieve this.”
The Scottish Conservatives, the main opposition party at Holyrood, reckon the deal creates a nationalist ‘Coalition of Chaos’.
“The SNP-Green coalition of chaos will hammer drivers. The Greens want to see essential road upgrades scrapped and most cars forced off the road within just a few years.”
A new residential rehabilitation facility to support families affected by drug use is to be developed in North Ayrshire.
Funding for the National Specialist Residential Family Service which will be run by the charity and housing association Phoenix Futures and based in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, has been agreed in principle. The facility will provide rehabilitation services for twenty families at any one time and will be based on an existing facility run by the organisation in Sheffield.
Once given final approval, funding for the development will be made available from the £100 million announced as part of the national mission to improve and increase the provision of residential rehabilitation.
Meanwhile following the publication of the latest drug-related death statistics, an urgent review has been ordered on the use of so-called street benzos after latest statistics showed the drugs were implicated in 73% of drug-related deaths in 2020.
Benzodiazepines are usually prescribed for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia however increasingly, illicit supplies of street benzos are being used with opiates such as methadone and heroin contributing to poly-drug use in Scotland.
The rapid evidence review will look at who is using the drugs and why in order that measures to reduce demand can be introduced. It follows work by the Drug Deaths Taskforce to develop guidelines on the consistent prescribing of benzodiazepines across the country so that people can be offered support for their drug use and any underlying mental health problems.
Other actions include:
commissioning research on the role and risks of methadone in drug related deaths
awareness campaign on the increasing availability of naloxone and its benefits
awareness campaign on stigma and its negative effect on people seeking treatment
consider whether alcohol and drugs services should be included in new National Care Service as part of the consultation
setting of a target for the number of people in treatment for 2022
Minister for Drugs Policy Angela Constance said: “Once again, Scotland drug-related death statistics are a national disgrace and my heart goes out to all the families who have lost a loved one.
“We announced a national mission on this crisis in January and we have been taking a range of actions to tackle this national tragedy backed by an investment of £250 million over the next five years.
“Of that, £20 million each year is being spent on increasing capacity and improving access to residential rehabilitation and to that end, we have approved in principle an application for a development in North Ayrshire which will create a new national specialist service for families. It is vital that we make it easier for parents to access treatment by removing any barriers such as a lack of childcare and this project, run by Phoenix Futures will do exactly that.
“Though men are more likely to use and experience harms from drugs, there has been a disproportionate increase in drug related deaths among women and there is a strong link between women having children removed from their care and risk of drug related death.
“Poly-drug use – the use of more than one drug at a time – is an increasing concern with benzos implicated in almost three quarters of deaths last year and I have asked for an urgent review of benzo use so we can fully address the rise in popularity of this type of drug and reduce the demand.
“To tackle the number of drug deaths in this country we must increase the number of people in treatment and we will shortly be announcing a target so we can measure the impact of the introduction of the Medication-Assisted Treatment standards. These include the roll-out of same-day support services for anyone asking for help.
“We know there is much work to do and that the investment we are making must reach those directly affected by drug use and I am absolutely determined to make every penny count.”
Phoenix Futures Director of Operations CJ Williams said: “The Scottish Government’s Residential Rehabilitation Rapid Capacity Programme (Recovery Fund) announcement that it has agreed in principle to fund a National Specialist Residential Family Service in Scotland has been well received by all at Phoenix Futures Scotland.
“There is a clear and defined need for a service that supports families to stay together in a safe residential setting. Phoenix Futures have decades of experience of providing services for families to draw from in establishing and operating this new project.
“The Specialist Family Service will create fairer access to residential rehab for the whole family, and is a welcomed start to the commitment of investment from The Scottish Government as part of its mission to reduce drug related deaths and harms.
“We look forward to working with all involved to open Scotland’s National Specialist Residential Family service.”
Lothian Tory MSP calls for local residential rehab to be utilised
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has called for local residential rehab to be utilised, following the announcement that a national rehab centre is to be developed in North Ayrshire.
The facility will provide rehabilitation services for twenty families at any one time and will be based on an existing facility run by the organisation in Sheffield.
Once given final approval, funding for the development will be made available from the £100 million announced as part of the national mission to improve and increase the provision of residential rehabilitation.
Scottish Ministers agreed to increase funding for rehabilitation beds earlier this year, following a campaign by the Scottish Conservatives to secure the funding.
Last week figures were released showing that drug related deaths in Scotland had reach a new record high, having risen consecutively in each of the last seven years.
The number of drug related deaths in Lothian rose to 159, an increase of 4 deaths from 155 in 2019. The number of drug related deaths in Lothian has more than doubled in the last 10 years.
The Scottish Conservatives are calling for the Right to Rehabilitation to be made into law, so that anyone needing drug and rehabilitation support has a legal right to access it.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“Scotland used to have a national rehab centre in the form of Castle Craig Hospital which used to provide vital residential rehab to NHS patients across Scotland.
“It is fundamentally clear that the drug deaths crisis needs to see all available services utilised. That is why Scottish Conservatives have led calls for a Right to Rehab.
“Castle Craig Hospital sits just 20 miles south of Edinburgh. But currently only 2 of the 60 patients are NHS funded.
“I have visited Castle Craig Hospital and was hugely impressed with the residential rehab services they offered and the person centred care which was helping people mostly from the Netherlands to get their lives back on track.
“There are growing questions being asked why SNP Ministers not using the rehab beds available on NHS Lothian’s doorstep ?
“I have raised the opportunities which Castle Craig Hospital could present with SNP Ministers for years – we’ve seen no action as the same time as drug deaths have escalated to the shocking level we see today.
“I have written to Drugs Minister, Angela Constance, to ask why SNP Ministers are not utilising this local residential rehab facility and instead will expect patients across the East to travel Ayrshire when local rehab opportunities already exist.”
Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance has described the increase in drug-related deaths as “heart-breaking”, and reiterated the Scottish Government’s determination to continue its work to address the crisis.
National Records of Scotland figures show there were 1,339 deaths, an increase of 5% on 2019 and the highest figure on record.
From September, there will be quarterly reporting of suspected drug deaths to enable better surveillance and response from all those involved in tackling this public health emergency.
A national mission on the crisis was announced in January following the appointment of Angela Constance in December 2020 to the newly created post of Drugs Policy Minister.
Since then the Scottish Government has announced that £250 million will be spent on addressing the emergency over the next five years.
An immediate priority is getting more people into treatment and £100 million will go towards improving and increasing the provision of residential rehabilitation while £4 million is being spent on the implementation of MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) standards.
The new standards ensure everyone has access to the support which works best for them, no matter where they live. Same day support will start to be rolled out from this autumn with all of the standards in place by April next year.
Other measures introduced so far this year as part of the national mission include:
funds totalling £18 million for improving outreach services and support for families, and increasing residential rehabilitation provision
£4 million on the expansion of the provision of long-lasting buprenorphine (Buvidal) into the wider community following a successful pilot in prisons
£400,000 on expanding the existing Heroin-Assisted Treatment facility in Glasgow – exploring its use in other parts of Scotland
£3 million to services to expand near-fatal overdose pathways
£3 million to expand the range of outreach services so that treatment and support are available regardless of where people live
£13.5 million for Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships to support local and national initiatives
guidance being finalised by a Drug Deaths Taskforce Working Group on the consistent prescribing of benzodiazepine
Ms Constance writing to the UK Minister for Policing to push for action on the regulation of pill presses, drug checking facilities and overdose prevention facilities
consultations with stakeholders on the formation of a National Collaborative (Forum) to focus on the voices of people with lived or living experience and families
Ms Constance said: “Once again, the statistics on drug-related deaths are heart-breaking. I want to offer my sincere condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one through drug use.
“We need to gather as much information as we can about drug use in Scotland and to that end, data on suspected drug deaths will be published quarterly from this September. This will ensure we can react more quickly and effectively to this crisis and identify any emerging trends.
“We are working hard to get more people into the treatment that works for them as quickly as possible. Without treatment, there is little hope of recovery so we are funding as many community and third sector initiatives as we can so that individuals have the widest possible choice and can opt for the support which suits them and their family.
“Of the £250 million announced over the next five years, £100 million will go on improving the provision of residential rehabilitation and I will update Parliament on progress in this area after the summer recess.
“As I have said before, I am determined that every penny of this additional funding will make a difference to all those affected by drug use in Scotland.”
Drug Deaths Taskforce Chair Professor Catriona Matheson said: “Every drug-related death in Scotland is an avoidable tragedy, and these figures serve to remind us of the importance and urgency of our mission to identify the areas of action that can make a sustainable impact against the challenge.
“We believe the approach of putting evidence into action has saved lives, and we will analyse the detail behind the headlines and look to build upon those areas showing progress and to address those areas requiring more attention.
“Both the causes of, and the solutions to, the challenge we all face are complex, at its heart are real people at real risk, and we continue to be determined to make difference for them.”
Lothians & Edinburgh Abstinence Programme Clinical Lead Dr David McCartney said: “All of us who work in addiction treatment are appalled at the high level of drug-related deaths in Scotland.
“Having a wide range of treatment options that are holistic, reduce harm, promote recovery and are integrated into a recovery oriented system of care is essential to address the crisis. I welcome the Scottish Government’s investment in residential rehabilitation treatment as part of the wider approach under the National Mission.”
Andrew Horne, director of the drug, alcohol and mental health charity With You, said: “With You remains concerned and saddened by the tragic and continual increase in the numbers of lives lost due to problems with drugs.
“Every drug-related death is preventable, and each death has a huge impact on families and communities, continuing to be felt years down the line. Our thoughts are with the thousands of people who have lost a loved one in the past year.
“We have a mountain to climb to reverse these alarming figures but with the recently strengthened commitment and decisive action now being taken, we are hopeful that change is possible.
“New investment in outreach teams for people who have had a non-fatal overdose or who have dropped out of treatment marks a significant step forward, as does the improved support for people transitioning from prison into the community. Changes to enable quicker access to appointments and more choice over treatment, as standard across Scotland, are also positive.
“These figures are stark, but with new initiatives, clear standards and high expectations of services and partnership working, they can be brought down.”
Scottish Conservative MSP Pam Gosal said: “That’s 1,339 preventable deaths. These were real people, with real families.
“The First Minister ‘took her eye off the ball’ and this resulted in drugs deaths at 3.5 times the level of England and Wales.
“It’s time that the Scottish Government dealt with Scotland’s shame.”
There were 92 drug-related deaths in Edinburgh last year, according to the new figures published by the National Records of Scotland.
The statistics showed that across Scotland a record 1,339 drug deaths were recorded in 2020, meaning Scotland once again has the highest rate of drug deaths in Europe.
Scottish Greens MSP for Lothian, Lorna Slater, said: “Today’s sad figures expose the devastating impact of the failed approach to drug policy in Edinburgh and across Scotland. Every single one of these deaths is a preventable tragedy.
“The strategy pursued by the UK and Scottish governments must change. The war on drugs has failed, it’s long past time for this crisis to be treated as the public health emergency that it is. We need a new approach which focuses on restoring people’s dignity and treating them, rather than criminalising them.
“We urgently need the Scottish Government to do everything in its powers to save lives. We also need all parties to work together to urge the Conservative Government in Westminster to devolve powers and change the out-dated and dangerous Misuse of Drugs Act.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “The Scottish Government can’t escape the fact that Scotland has the same drugs laws as the rest of the UK, but 3.5 times the rate of drug deaths.
“We need to look at every option to confront this, but we can and must act now. We need to invest in treatment and recovery.”
Record £978 million committed to help deliver change
Investment of almost £1 billion to tackle child poverty in the last financial year has been welcomed by Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison.
She has also pledged to bring forward “game changing” policies as she called for society to unite to eradicate child poverty in Scotland.
Ms Robison was speaking as she detailed the findings of the third progress report on Tackling Child Poverty. She said: “The report highlights our investment in low income families with children continued to grow as we sought to offer support during the pandemic.
“Direct support to families with children rose to more than £978 million in 2020-21 – including £118 million in response to COVID-19.
“This was part of almost £2.5 billion invested to support low income households, including more than £434 million of COVID-related investment in social assistance.
“The report also shows that all 66 of the actions we have previously reported on are either in progress or being delivered.
“We have made considerable progress over the first three years of this plan, but further action is needed.
“We must continue to deliver at the pace and scale with which we responded to the pandemic.
“We must work across government and with wider society to bring forward the game-changing policies needed to deliver on our ambition to eradicate child poverty.”
Ms Robison highlighted a range of important supports introduced in the last 12 months. These include:
Scottish Child Payment for eligible children aged under six, with thousands of families already benefitting from an additional £40 every four weeks
Investment of more than £56 million in the free school meal provision for low income families during school closures, periods of online learning and school holidays
The distribution of Pandemic Support Payments, with £100 paid in spring and a further £100 being paid around the start of the summer holidays. This is part of a £520 package this year, benefitting around 145,000 children and young people from low income households
Ms Robison added: “We have always been clear that delivering upon the child poverty targets will be incredibly challenging, especially given the limited powers available to this Parliament.
“The Covid pandemic will make reducing poverty that much harder. However, we are serious about ending child poverty in Scotland and have committed a wide range of actions to do just that.”
Lothian MSP Miles Briggs asked Shona Robison, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, what plans the Scottish Government has to make sure we see an end to households with children and pregnant women living in temporary accommodation – and how this will be prioritised during this Parliament.
The number of children in temporary accommodation in Edinburgh has risen to 1,750 as of 30th September 2020, 245 children more than 30 September 2019, when 1,505 children were in temporary accommodation, an increase of 16%.
Across Scotland there are 7,900 children in temporary accommodation, with Edinburgh making up 22% of all children in temporary accommodation.
The number of children living in temporary accommodation has increased over the last two years, with 1,190 children living in temporary accommodation on 30 September 2018, increasing to 1,750 on 30 September 2020.
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government said that reducing the number of children in temporary accommodation would be one of her top priorities.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“We all know that a safe and stable home is vital for a child’s wellbeing and development. After 14 years of this SNP Government the situation is getting worse and worse, especially here in the Capital.
“No child should be without a secure home and it is unacceptable that the number of children in temporary accommodation is increasing year on year under this SNP Government.
“It is concerning that we are seeing a significant increase in the Capital. The underfunding of Edinburgh City Council by SNP Ministers must be addressed if we are to address the crisis in housing we are seeing running out of control in Edinburgh.”
Cllr Sue Webber is the Edinburgh Conservatives’ Transport Spokesman in Edinburgh Council and candidate for Edinburgh Western in the Scottish Parliamentary elections:
In May 2020, the SNP-Labour Council used emergency Covid-19 powers to rush through several road closures, an unnecessary Low Traffic Neighbourhood in East Craigs and the widespread introduction of segregated cycleways along Comiston Road and Duddingston Road.
These schemes were first introduced as a temporary measure during the pandemic. But the SNP-Labour Council now intends to make these changes permanent.
Local opposition has been substantial but the SNP-Labour Council have continued to ignore residents. One group, Get Edinburgh Moving (GEM), had to resort to threats of Legal Action against the Council to stop the introduction of the LTN in East Craigs.
I have led opposition on the Council, consistently voicing the public’s concerns about the negative impact these immensely unpopular measures are having on livelihoods and local businesses.
From the outset, I demanded greater community involvement and political scrutiny on the schemes. I too have been ignored.
If you oppose the SNP-Labour Council’s undemocratic and reckless changes to our city then please sign below to fight back against the permanent imposition of these measures.
National Records of Scotland figures released in December) revealed that the number of drug related deaths in Edinburgh and the Lothians have risen from a previous record high last year of 152 to a new record high of 155.
The number of drug related deaths in Scotland have risen from 1,187 in 2018 to 1,264 in 2019 (the latest figures available).
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has called on increased funding for rehabilitation beds in NHS Lothian, to support drug addicts in their recovery from drugs.
Current services in NHS Lothian include:
In NHS Lothian we provide no residential rehabilitation beds as such. What we do provide is a service called LEAP Lothians and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme which operates in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council to provide a quasi-residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation service.
The city council provide supported accommodation for Lothian patients during the treatment which is provided by NHS Lothian. This offers around 100 treatment places per year and a treatment episode of three months followed by up to two years of aftercare. In 2018/19, 72% of patients were admitted with alcohol problems, 43% with a cocaine problems, 35% with opiate problems and 31% with benzodiazepine problems.
Two thirds of patients had problems with two or more drugs which is why the percentages are greater than 100.
The Scottish Conservatives have called for a dedicated £20 million Scottish Recovery Fund, backed by recovery organisations including Favor Scotland, Phoenix Futures and Jericho House, to replace the cuts to rehab over the last 13 years.
In Edinburgh the number of drug related deaths has risen by 1, from 95 to 96, in East Lothian the number of drug related deaths has remained the same at 18, in West Lothian the number of drug related deaths dropped by 2 from 25 to 23 and in Midlothian the number of drug related deaths has risen from by 4 from 14 to 18.
In the last 10 years the number of drug related deaths has more than doubled in Lothian from 73 deaths in 2010 to 155 deaths in 2019.
The number of drug related deaths from Heroin, in Lothian, has risen from 56 in 2018 to 69 in 2019.
Drug related deaths from Benzodiazepine rose from 94 in 2018 to 109 in 2019, with “street” Benzodiazepine drug related deaths rising from 69 to 85, of which Etizolam rose from 42 to 72.
Drug related deaths from cocaine rose from 51 in 2018 to 62 in 2019 and the number of alcohol related deaths dropped from 25 in 2018 to 22 in 2019.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“Every single drug death in Scotland is a tragedy and it is deeply concerning that the number of drug related deaths has risen year on year.
“Cuts to drug rehab beds and addiction programmes by SNP Ministers have been counterproductive in reducing drug related deaths in Scotland.
“The Scottish Conservatives have called on a £20 million Scottish Recovery Fund, to shift the focus from methadone prescriptions to drug rehabilitation programmes.
“SNP Ministers have failed to prevent people from using drugs in Edinburgh and the Lothian’s or to support people off drugs if they have become addicted.”
Figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives have shown that 1,219 ambulance journeys between St. John’s hospital Children’s ward and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary took place between September 2016 and August 2020 – an average of 25 journeys a month over the four year period.
In October this year (2020) NHS Lothian announced that St. John’s was reintroducing a 24/7 children’s ward, following years of a reduced service.
An extensive recruitment drive led to the recruitment of two consultants one locum and increased availability of Advanced Paediatric Nurse Practitioners.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, previously welcomed the recruitment of doctors and nurses, so that a 24/7 service could resume, but warned that any future recruitment challenges must be dealt with well in advance.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“I am delighted that 24/7 paediatric services have resumed this year at St. John’s hospital and it is a credit to the people of West Lothian who campaigned tirelessly to get these services reinstated.
“Far too many young patients and families have had to make the twenty miles trip to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary over the last four years .
“It is important that the workforce at St. John’s hospital is properly managed and any recruitment challenges are sorted far in advance so that we don’t go back to a situation where young patients are having to travel into Edinburgh to be taken care of.”
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has accused SNP Ministers of having second thoughts about the development of Sheriffhall junction.
Plans for the development of Sheriffhall junction stalled earlier this year when the SNP Government went back on their commitment to commence the development, following pressure from the Greens.
Last week, (Wednesday 28th October), the Lothian MSP met with Scottish Conservative Transport Spokesperson Graham Simpson and South Scotland MSP Michelle Ballentine at the junction to see first hand the urgent need for the junction to be developed.
The development is a key national infrastructure projects that is vital for commuters in Edinburgh and the Lothian’s and to meet future demand with the South East of Scotland having the fastest growing population in Scotland.
A Written Answer to Lothian MSP Miles Briggs, attached, states “should Transport Scotland be unsuccessful in removing all objections, then a public local inquiry may be required” and that “Delivery of the scheme itself can only commence if it is approved under the relevant statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable for its progress can be set”.
The junction is also a major safety hazard with 299 accidents involving injury or death at the junction over a 10 year period.
Investment in infrastructure should be a key approach to Scotland economic recovery from Covid-19 and it is disappointing the this development is being delayed.
Lothian MSP Miles Briggs commented:“This development of Sheriffhall Junction needs to be brought forward as soon as possible.For too long we have been campaigning for this and it is now time for action.
“This is a key national investment for the South East of Scotland which will reduce congestion and create jobs.
“I have written to the Scottish Government to get an update on their review to improve active travel and public transport provision.”
South Scotland MSP, Michelle Ballantyne, commented:“Sheriffhall Junction is the gateway to Edinburgh for much of south-east Scotland and thousands of residents rely upon it every day.
“We cannot afford any further delay; upgrades to the roundabout are critical for development in the region and will attract jobs and investment to Midlothian and the Borders.
“I will continue to press the Scottish Government on this important issue. South East Scotland deserves a road network that is fit for purpose.”
Scottish Conservative Transport Spokesperson, Graham Simpson, commented:“This project is badly needed and the SNP need to pull their fingers out and deliver it.
“It’s essential to Edinburgh and the wider region. Delays at Sheriffhall should be sorted – and fast.”
