Salmond at Leveson today – MET Office say it will be a cloudy day – Bus service restored to Craigentinny and Fillyside – EIFF – The REAL RELAY
If you have nothing better to do with your time today then you could always tune in to the constant coverage of the Leveson Enquiry where you will be able to follow what First Minister Alex Salmond tells the enquiry about his dealings with the Murdoch media moguls. His appearance will probably take place this afternoon as Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is listed to appear this morning. The First Minister has been accused of treating Holyrood with contempt in not divulging any details before he gives his sworn testimony to the investigation into the media, so his appearance is awaited in some quarters with bated breath.
***
Forecasters from the Met Office are forecasting a rather cloudy day with the chance of some isolated light rain as the torch relay journeys from Milnathort toEdinburghon Wednesday.
As it makes its way toEdinburghfor the evening celebrations any light rain will die out leaving a dry and cloudy evening. Temperatures however will be on the cool side with highs of around 11°C.
Lord Provost Donald Wilson said: “The Olympic Flame is guaranteed the warmest of welcomes fromScotland’s Capital whatever the weather holds in store. The Torch’s journey throughEdinburghon Wednesday and Thursday will be an unforgettable occasion, showcasing the City’s incomparable beauty and historical landmarks to a vast global audience.”
Derrick Ryall, Head of Public Weather Service at the Met Office said: “If you are planning to head out to follow the Olympic Torch then you can check one of our local forecasts available for every location along its route. In fact the Met Office provides local forecasts for over 5,000 locations across theUK.”
Forecasts for the Olympic Torch Relay are available on our website as well as on mobile phones and on our iPhone and Android Apps meaning you are never far from a local, detailed weather forecast.
Forecasts for sporting venues at the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be available as the Games draw closer.
The Met Office are providing weather forecasts to LOCOG as well as local and national government for the Torch Relay, Olympic and Paralympic Games to support event organisers, competing athletes and visitors and spectators alike.
***
Successful negotiations over the new contract for the 129 bus service from Ocean Terminal to Seton Sands have secured a new route that will now serve the Craigentinny and Fillyside areas of the city.
Following the announcement in April that First Bus would be curtailing many of their routes in the Lothians, the opportunity arose for the City of Edinburgh Council to provide a service that would reinstate transport links in the Craigentinny and Fillyside areas.
In 2008 the shortening of Lothian Buses service 12 meant that the public transport link between Leith Links, Craigentinny/Fillyside and Portobello was lost. This was the subject of consistent complaint from residents in the affected area. Work began to identify a solution and when East Lothian Council moved to secure the lost First Bus services, the opportunity arose for the City of Edinburgh Council to participate in the contract for the 129 service.
This contract was won by Eve Coaches, based in Dunbar, who already operate a number of other subsidised bus services on behalf of East Lothian Council.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “Our public transport network should aim to serve all of our residents and I’m delighted that by working with East Lothian Council we have been able to engineer a solution for the affected community.
“Implementing this contract will ensure that those without independent means of transport can gain access to employment, education and recreational facilities along the revised route.”
A division of the cost of the contract between the two Councils, based on mileage operated in each area, produced a 43% share of the total contract cost payable by the City of Edinburgh Council. This equates to £1,034 per week or £53,768 per year. The contract covers a period of three years from a start date of 2 July 2012.
A report on the contract, including timetable information, will be presented to the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee on Monday 18 June 2012.
***
Only seven days now until the Edinburgh International Film Festival opens the doors to big screen fans. The opening night film is Killer Joe but there are many others that you can actually still get tickets for.
You can see the full programme here.
And here is a showreel to whet your appetite:-
***
Although we will be welcoming the official Olympic Torch Relay to Edinburgh tonight amid much pomp and ceremony, there is another Olympic event arriving here next week. And if you can run about ten miles then you can take part. The REAL RELAY is following the same route as the official relay but with runners who will be running every step of the way. They still have a few vacancies for some of the stages both before and after it will reach Edinburgh on 22 June 2012. The REAL RELAY left the starting point about ten days after the Olympic flame but will cover the 8,000 mile journey before the Olympic Games opening ceremony at the end of July. For more details on the stages available have a look at the website.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
