Trams trams trams – Edinburgh Labour talking about culture – Gorgie/Dalry Gala – Elizabeth Melville Day
Today The Edinburgh Reporter will again be on the tram with the media pack. Tomorrow it’s your turn. Are you excited yet or still fed up with the mess that the tram works have made of our city’s streets?
Having been on an Edinburgh Tram several times now between St Andrew Square and the airport it is clear to us that this will be a very smooth way of travelling along the whole route. It is also quite green and pleasant when you get out towards and beyond Edinburgh Park. There are many places in between the two end points where the journey costs less, and there is an equally good reason to go there. (Generally if you avoid the airport stop then your journey will cost less.) If you get on the tram in the city centre you will be able to glide along to the Gyle Shopping Centre where a short walk will take you into the shopping centre offering many High Street names.
For those who use wheelchairs the tram should be very easy due to the level access from the platform to the inside of the tram. Those of you with prams and small children will also find getting on and off very easy indeed.
For residents of Corstorphine and for those living in other residential areas close to the tram line we imagine this might be the transport of choice to come into the city centre. There will be a tram roughly every ten minutes or so. The trams will run from 05.00am at the Gyle Centre, 06.15 from the Airport and 05.29 from York Place.
The only thing missing for us is the Free Wifi that we so enjoy on the airport bus, but perhaps that will come soon?
Do remember to add your photos of your first tram journeys to our storyboard here.
Here are all the tram videos we have filmed so far. We are really looking forward to filming the first passengers getting on tomorrow morning. If you are planning to go on the first tram then perhaps you would let us know what you think of your journey?
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Over fifty guests of Edinburgh Labour will meet today at The Queen’s Hall to discuss the relationship between Scottish Labour and the arts and culture sector. The political group will provide a report of their work to the Scottish Policy Forum so that they might influence the Labour manifesto for 2016. The meeting will look at six aspects of our culture: making great art in the capital city; educating the next generation of artists; supporting artists today; broadcasting in Edinburgh and beyond; equality and inclusion; leadership.
People from many artistic backgrounds will be there including visual artists, dancers, traditional musicians, theatre and craft peoples to festival administrators, agents and funders.
Speakers will include Margaret Curran MP and shadow secretary of state for Scotland, Sarah Boyack MSP , Ken MacLeod sci-fi writer and Susan Morrison, comedian and director of the Scottish History Festival.
The event will be chaired by Cllr Norma Austin Hart the Labour spokesperson for Art and Culture who said:- ‘I have been talking to people from this sector trying to understand what they need from government. Labour has a proud history of investment and leadership in this are and we hope to build on that.. I hope our discussion will be the first of many across Scotland. This is not just about the referendum, although I am sure that will come up. Some people think that Scottish culture is in the control of the SNP. The people of Scotland are the owners, providers and judges of our culture. We want to know how we can best support and nurture this sector by starting a conversation. I believe we should put culture at the heart of everything we do.’
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The Scottish Parliament has approved the Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Scotland) Regulations 2014, meaning the 5 pence minimum charge will commence on 20 October 2014. Scotland currently uses 750 million bags every year – the highest number in the UK. The purpose of the charge is to encourage shoppers to think about reusing bags to prevent litter and improve Scotland’s environment.
A public consultation revealed overwhelming support for the charge, which will see funds generated being donated to good causes.
Welcoming the decision, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said:
“I am delighted that the Scottish Government’s regulations on carrier bag charging have been approved by Parliament. This is landmark legislation that underlines Scotland is serious about tackling litter, reducing waste and creating a cleaner, greener environment for everyone to enjoy.
“The vast number of single use carrier bags given out in Scotland is symbolic of our throwaway society. By requiring retailers to charge at least 5p per bag we want shoppers to stop and think about what we discard. Instead of taking another bag that could end up as litter, we want people to re-use their bags or consider alternatives like bags for life.
“This charge is not a tax but will see retailers donating the proceeds to charity and has the potential to raise millions of pounds for good causes, including environmental projects. The Scottish Government and delivery body Zero Waste Scotland have been working closely with retailers at all stages of the process and will continue to do so in the run up to October 20 and beyond.
“The level of support from the Scottish public is extremely heartening and I hope we can repeat the real success achieved in other counties, where similar measures have been brought in. I urge everyone to get behind it.”
Ian Gulland, Director, Zero Waste Scotland said:
“Zero Waste Scotland welcomes the Scottish Parliament’s approval for a single use carrier bag charge in Scotland. This is a hugely positive step which will help to reduce the number of bags in use and therefore the number ending up as litter in our communities.
“We are working with all types of retailers affected by the charge, in all parts of Scotland, to help them understand how the charge will work and what the impact will be for their business. I encourage them to get in touch.”
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The Gorgie/Dalry Gala takes place between 9 and 14 June 2014. The full programme can be downloaded here.
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On 21 June Professor Germaine Greer will be here in Edinburgh to celebrate Elizabeth Melville and the voices of Scottish women. Elizabeth Melville was also known as Lady Culross and in 1603 she wrote Ane Godlie Dreame which was the first work written by a Scotswoman ever published.
There will be a day of events from a lunchtime reception to a symposium in the afternoon and a choral concert in the evening.
Full details of these events here on the Previously website
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
