More powers for Holyrood to make our streets safer
Edinburgh Wedding Fair
PoppyScotland – red lights across Scotland
Water of Leith Conservation Trust
National Youth Film Academy
More powers to make our streets safer should be devolved to Scotland, according to pedestrians’ campaign charity Living Streets Scotland. The charity is calling on the Smith Commission to include more road safety powers for Holyrood, when drawing up the new Scotland Act. Devolution of power on key areas such as urban speed limits and the time allowed at signalised pedestrian crossings, would help to make Scotland more walking friendly, says the charity.
Head of Living Streets Scotland, Stuart Hay, said:
‘We have witnessed the travesty of the progress of the Inconsiderate Parking Bill which illustrates the legislative confusion which exists around these issues. This piece of legislation has the potential to improve the safety and quality of life for all pedestrians but especially for countless visually impaired and disabled people in Scotland. Yet it has been delayed and disrupted not for lack of support or political will, but because of bureaucratic process and unclear responsibilities.
‘Giving MSPs powers over national speed limits, road traffic offences, crossings and traffic signs is an opportunity to improve our towns and city centres for pedestrians. Given the high levels of physical inactivity in Scotland and the economic cost of poor health as a result of sedentary lifestyles, we cannot afford not to invest and make the legislative changes needed to make walking safer and easier.’
The Living Streets submission to the Smith Commission, The case for devolving further powers for pedestrians and road safety, also calls for the Scottish Parliament to have fiscal responsibility for pedestrian crossings, traffic signs, national speed limits and road traffic offences.
The full submission can read on the Living Streets Scotland website http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/media/12401
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One for your diary for next weekend Saturday 8 – Sunday 9 November 11am – 4:30pm at The Edinburgh Corn Exchange
Tickets:
Advance tickets: £5
On the day: £7
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The charity PoppyScotland is turning Scotland red to mark their 2014 appeal. The charity organises the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal and uses the money raised to provide vital support to the Armed Forces community in Scotland. This includes specialist advice and employment support, home adaptations, mobility aids and tailored funding packages.
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In the week when the council gave the go ahead to the next phase of the Water of Leith flood works,The Water of Leith Conservation Trust held its AGM and presented its annual report:
http://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/THE-ANNUAL-REPORT-20134-PDF.pdf
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The National Youth Film Academy (NYFA) will be coming to Scotland in January as part of a programme of UK-wide auditions and interviews to find the next generation of talented actors, screenwriters, directors and film-crew. The NYFA provides the opportunity to train with respected industry professionals and meet with like-minded individuals to collaborate and learn.
Auditions and interviews are being held on 17th January 2015 at the Jurys Inn in Edinburgh between 9am-5pm. There are auditions for Actors, and interviews for a full range of creative and technical roles including Director, Producer, Writer, and Editor.
With hundreds applying each year for a place with the Academy, competition is expected to be tough, but Rob Earnshaw, Artistic Director of the NYFA thinks that the young talent of Scotland has what it takes to succeed. He said: “Those that show enough talent and determination to build a career in the film industry in these auditions will be invited to attend the NYFA’s Introductory Course, which we’re running twice in 2015, first at Easter, and then again in the summer break. We’ve always had a good turnout from Scotland and seen some really talented young people. I’d hope that this year will be no exception.
“Students on the 2014 course gave us incredible feedback on the experience of spending 10 days in a filmmaking environment. They got to spend time on practical sessions, attend master classes from leading industry professionals, get advice on how to build a successful career, and at the end of it all to produce a short film as part of a team. I’d urge any young person that has a passion for acting or filmmaking to attend an audition. The opportunity this presents to get a start in the industry is fantastic.”
Supported by the Directors Guild Trust and the Directors Guild of Great Britain, The National Youth Film Academy is a non-profit organisation created to locate, educate, develop and showcase the talents of exceptionally gifted young actors and film-makers aged 16-25 years old from around the UK.
Being accepted to the NYFA has many benefits, including free attendance at workshops, film screenings and master classes throughout the year. It also allows talented young people to tap into a network of thousands of other like-minded individuals and special interest groups to collaborate on projects and share their knowledge.
NYFA members are also invited to apply to be ambassadors for the Academy in their region, and this year’s Scotland Ambassadors are Amber Gayfer and Caitlin Morris. Both graduated the introductory course in August, and will now promote the work of the NYFA by attending events, having a presence at festivals, writing and blogging about the film scene in the region and being a point of contact for any young person in the area looking to learn more about the NYFA.
Caitlin said: “For me, being an ambassador for the NYFA is not only about representing the Academy in my local area but also inspiring other young people out there that really want an opportunity to be a part of the film industry.
“Having been through the Auditions and then the Introductory Course myself, I can hopefully highlight to others how helpful this course was in furthering my career and giving me a chance to succeed in this tough industry, and why it’s an opportunity not to be passed up.”
Auditions and Interviews for the NYFA in Edinburgh, and elsewhere in the UK can be booked via the NYFA’s Eventbrite page:
http://nationalyouthfilmacademy.eventbrite.co.uk/?s=29211715
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
