In March last year the council imposed a ban on licensing any sexual entertainment venues (SEVs) in the city from 1 April 2023 onwards by imposing a nil cap on the number of such venues.

Following an action in the Court of Session raised by owners of venues operated as SEVs, a member of security staff at one of the venues and also a trade union, the United Sex Workers, Lord Richardson has determined that the ban should be overturned. He stated that the council’s legal advice was wrong. He said the council had failed to provide a policy statement on the number of SEVs which it would allow, although the judge said the determination would not have to be “elaborate or detailed”. But in any case the policy statement proceeded the same erroneous legal advice and it fell short of explaining reasons for the nil determination.

The judicial review hearing took place on 1 and 2 December 2022 and evidence was led that the council had held a consultation in April and July 2021, followed by deputations who presented their case to the council’s Regulatory Committee on 31 March 2022. At that point the council was to set the appropriate number of SEVs it would allow in the city and draft a licensing policy statement. The judge said the committee could have been in no doubt as the effect the ban would have on the livelihoods of those who presented to them.

The council was advised by officers to have due regard to the safety of women and girls and the prevention of violence against them. And officers warned that if the number of licenses was reduced to zero that would lead to premises closing and a loss of income for owners and staff.

The Scottish Government’s Equally Safe Strategy defines sexual entertainment as a form of violence against women and girls. Other local authorities have set a nil cap on the number of SEVs but that was usually where there had not already been any such premises in operation. In Edinburgh there were four such venues operating with licences.

The council approved the nil cap policy in October on the basis that the council should work with others (the Scottish Government) to reduce demand for commercial sexual exploitation. But it also granted a motion lodged at full council on 27 October by Cllr Lewis Younie to reconsider the nil cap as it might lead to ‘the further deterioration of performers’ safety in the city’.

Commenting on the decision, Steve MacDonald, a spokesperson for the Club Operators Action Group said: “The Club Operators Action Group would like to take this opportunity to thank the court and our legal team. The decision is, of course, very welcome. 

“We look forward to working with the Regulatory Committee and the Licensing Board in continuing to provide a proven safe working environment for all our staff members, customers and particularly our performers. 

Importantly, we also acknowledge the support of the USW Union – our partners in this action, as well as the continued support of the Police and the LSO in assisting the clubs in maintaining the licencing objectives.” 

A man has died after being found on Viewcraig Street in Dumbiedykes in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 3.45am on Sunday, 12 February, 2023, officers were called to a report of an 18-year-old man found injured in Viewcraig Street, in the Dumbiedykes area of Edinburgh. The street remains cordoned off while police conduct their investigations.

“Emergency services attended and he was taken to Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he died a short time later.

“His next of kin are aware. 

“The death is currently being treated as unexplained.

“Officers remain at the scene and enquiries are ongoing.”

Berwick Bandits skipper Leon Flint (pictured) and Kyle Bickley of Edinburgh Monarchs are two of ten seeded riders for the British under-21 championship at Glasgow on August 27.

The top six from the qualifier at Workington on Sunday, May 28, which includes Ace Pijper, son of former Glasgow, Edinburgh and Berwick star, Theo, join the seeded riders in Glasgow.

BRITISH U21 QUALIFER DRAW: 1 Ashton Boughen, 2 Vinnie Foord, 3 Freddy Hodder, 4 Luke Harrison, 5 Harry McGurk, 6 Sam McGurk, 7 Ben Trigger, 8 Luke Killeen, 9 Archie Freeman, 10 Ace Pijper, 11 Nathan Ablitt, 12 Elliot Kelly, 13 Max Perry, 14 Jody Scott, 15 Mickie Simpson, 16 Sam Hagon.

BRITISH UNDER 21 FINAL – SEEDED RIDERS: Connor Bailey, Kyle Bickley, Jason Edwards, Leon Flint, Dan Gilkes, Drew Kemp, Jake Mulford, Anders Rowe, Dan Thompson, Joe Thompson.

Meanwhile, Armadale will host round three of the British Youth Championship on June 3.

The series will be raced over seven rounds, once again encompassing three categories – 500cc, 250cc and 125cc. Rounds at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Workington and Redcar will feature all classes whilst Scunthorpe, Belle Vue and Kent will split their British Youth offerings to provide additional racing to their league fixtures on those dates.

SCHEDULE: Round 1 – Scunthorpe (500cc/250cc), May 5 / Belle Vue (125cc), May 12; Round 2 – Glasgow, May 14; Round 3 – Edinburgh, June 3; Round 4 – Workington, June 4; Round 5 – Redcar, June 17; Round 6 – Scunthorpe (125cc), July 7 / Belle Vue (500cc/250cc), July 21; Round 7 – Kent (500cc/250cc), August 6 / Kent (125cc), September 10.

Independent cinema is under threat. Edinburgh’s Filmhouse and Aberdeen’s Belmont Cinema have been forced to close their doors, and the cost of living crisis is affecting funding for all creative industries.

In the midst of all this gloom, however, an annual celebration of new cinema and artists’ films is taking place next month. The three day 18^th Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival opens on Friday 3 March, and offers a packed and varied programme of new work, retrospectives, discussions, performances and exhibitions – plus two club nights, just for fun.

Festival Director Peter Taylor said: “We could not be more excited to welcome audiences back to our fully in-person festival this year. As our new Spring festival dates promise, the festival has a new energy and a new lease of life and one which is reflected in a programme of screenings and events which is just as eclectic and exciting as ever. Across the town, we look forward to collectively sharing these new and retrospective works with cinema-lovers as well as offering up more than a few surprises along the way.”

The festival will focus on five themes: New Cinema Awards. Essential Cinema, Propositions, Filmmakers in Focus, and Screentime.

The work of 23 New Cinema Award winners – selected from 918 films submitted via an open call – pushes against boundaries of genre, form and convention. In Last Things by Deborah Stratman, based on two short stories by J.-H. Rosny, science meets speculative fiction in a reflection on evolution and extinction. Sophia Medoidze’s Let us flow uses innovative audio-visual techniques; set in the mountainous region of Tusheti in NE Georgia, it considers the importance of ritual, the maintenance of community ties and the way in which modernisation and migration are transforming rural landscapes.

And in Ungentle by Huw Lemmey and Onyeka Igwe John le Carré meets Derek Jarman in a subtle reflection on the complex relationships between the development of British espionage and male homosexuality. Voiced by Ben Whishaw, the film draws on the life stories of famous historic operatives, from Anthony Blunt and Guy Burgess to Noel Coward and Hardy Amies, to explore the tensions between loyalty and lust that ran parallel in the lives of spies and gay men.

Essential Cinema is a pluralist retrospective series, proposing revisions and additions to what might be considered canonical cinema; it includes Jon Moritsugu’s Asian freak-out magnum opus Terminal USA – ‘a maximally irreverent slice of early 90s punk culture’, and Helena Solberg’s debut short films The Interview and Noon, alongside her feature film From the Ashes: Nicaragua Today, which brings a multi-layered feminist perspective to a political and societal portrait of post-1979 Nicaragua.

Filmmakers in Focus will present the first UK retrospective of acclaimed film-making duo Markku Lehmuskallio and Anastasia Lapsui whose narrative and documentary features centre people, stories and perspectives indigenous to the Arctic Circle, particularly the Nenets, Lapsui’s own nomadic tribe, living for centuries in regions of the Extreme North.

Anerca, Breath of Life by Lehmuskallio and his son Johannes centres on performance and the importance of song. Shot over several decades, the film speaks against the continued infractions of the rights of the indigenous people of the Arctic Circle while also expressing the joy, pain and energy of these individuals and communities through performance, conversation and cinema. The landmark film 7 Songs from the Tundra, the first film made in the Nenet’s language, is an anthology of seven vignettes demonstrating the clash of cultures between the Nenets and Soviet-Russians.

And in Propositions filmmakers and critics will offer, in the discursive setting of a screening, discussion or performance, first hand perspectives expanding their work and contextualising aspects of their research and practice. This will include In Focus, a conversation with Markku Lehmuskallio and Anastasia Lapsui, Code Names, an in-person screening performance by Iranian artist Maryam Tafakory, and The Pleasures of Unbelonging, in which Christopher Ulutupu, an artist of Samoan/Niuean/German descent, creates new narrative forms through a ‘richly pop, queer and celebratory Pacific lens’.

Screentime is filmmaking and cinema programming with and for young people. This will feature two short films produced by Berwick Young Filmmakers and the premiere of Bridge to the Future, a collaboration made as part of a wider community project around the conservation of the Union Chain Bridge, which spans the border between Scotland and England.

And that’s not all! Four exhibitions will run 10am-5pm daily. culture (cultuur) by Fairuz Ghammam explores aspects of (auto)biography, shared authorship and collaborative practices, staged as a walk through Ghammam’s home town of Kortrijk. Kamal Aljafari’s Paradiso, XXXI, 108 repurposes found footage from Israeli military propaganda and transforms it into a fictional drama of men playing at war. Christopher Ulutupu’s Hidden Among Clouds draws on Ulutupu’s experiences of growing up in a large Samoan family in the mainly Pakeha populated region of Nelson to imagine stories of Samoan mythology and question the moral virtues they uphold, while Yu Araki’s tempo is a quiet, atmospheric portrait of an elderly store owner in the small town of Yagi, Kyoto Prefecture.

Finally, after all that sitting down, you’ll need some exercise. On Friday and Saturday nights you can dance the night away at Festival Club, where DJs Miss Mobile Disco and Noodle invite you to ‘get up, get down and get on out to party’ at Magdalene Fields Golf Club from 10pm.

Events will take place all over Berwick-upon-Tweed. The festival hub will be The Maltings overlooking the 17^th century Berwick Bridge and the river Tweed; other festival venues include the Magdalene Fields Golf Club, the Town Hall Council Chamber, The Magazine, The Gymnasium, Berwick Visitors Centre and even a former shop on Marygate.

Berwick is just over an hour’s drive from Edinburgh. It can also be reached by bus (Borders Buses service 253) or by LNER trains. The festival encourages the use of public transport or car-sharing wherever possible.

Full details of the festival, ticket prices, venues and accessibility can be found on the festival’s website here. If you are over 18 you can also volunteer to help at the festival – closing date for this is 24 February.

The first 2023 exhibition at Southside gallery Art & Craft Collective opens on Saturday 18 February.

‘Nature’ by stippling/pointillism artist David Esson contains work inspired by the wildlife around his base in the Highlands. It is his first solo show in Edinburgh.

David’s work engages the viewer directly through his elegantly detailed designs that reflect a deep love of nature, each piece is made entirely out of dots that have been positioned precisely with care. Gorgeous textures and atmospheric depth are all part of this exclusive collection.

David will be in the gallery between 2 and 3.30 pm for the opening to discuss his fascinating process and the inspiration for his work.
The exhibition continues until Saturday 25 March.

Art & Craft Collective 93 Causewayside Edinburgh EH9 1QG

Maximalism, eye-catching colours and unbridled joy are key themes adorning the inside of David Wilson Homes’ newly launched show home at Cammo Meadows in the north-west of Edinburgh.

As the region’s only three-storey show home, the three-bedroom Ashworth from the five-star housebuilder showcases multifunctional rooms fit for modern family living, designed by leading interior specialists Show Business.

A palette of bold, energetic colours has been used throughout the home, invoking feelings of cheerfulness and happiness – acknowledging a key interior trend for joyful, uplifting and mood boosting spaces recently identified by Wunderman Thompson in its annual trend report.

And with various paint brands proclaiming shades of red as their 2023 “colour of the year”, including Pantone’s Viva Magenta, a deep rose shade was selected for the ground-floor family dining room, working as both a grounding neutral and a touch of drama, complemented by a calming teal shade on the opposite wall. Relaxed textures create a laid-back feel to the room, including wood, soft accessories and fur throws.

Alix Riding, creative account manager at Show Business said: “Personality is key when it comes to styling a three-storey home, due to the vast amount of space. In this particular home we injected some fun and humour into the rooms with styling pieces such as artwork featuring jumping dogs and children’s artwork, as well as canvasses covered with splashes of paint to add a playful element. Pulling colours from wallpapers is a good guide when choosing cushion colours, and don’t be afraid to mix and match different patterns as this adds to the theme of fun and playful.”

Upstairs, subtle touches of maximalist wallpaper make a statement, including animal print in the family bathroom and striped wallpaper on the stairwell. To demonstrate the flexible nature of a three-storey house, the first-floor lounge with Juliet balcony takes an escapist “getaway” style to invoke a sense of calm above the hustle and bustle of family life downstairs.

The main bedroom with en-suite is on the top floor, featuring smooth velvets and panelled walls to create a smart look with a wow factor.

Anne Ross, sales director at David Wilson Homes East Scotland, part of Barratt Developments Scotland, said: “We’re really excited to reveal the east of Scotland’s first ever three-storey show home at Cammo Meadows, featuring three uniquely designed floors created for modern family living and with the latest design trends in mind.

“The house sits within a lovely community in the north-west of Edinburgh, less than ten minutes to the beach and just six miles to the city centre.”

House hunters are welcome to tour the show home at Cammo Meadows to get a feel for the property first-hand, as well as discover the surrounding area. A mix of three and four-bedroom homes are available, with David Wilson Homes offering incentives including up to £30,000 towards a mortgage, deposit or moving and running costs.

Modern building methods and materials also mean owners of new build homes can enjoy savings of up to £2,600 per year on energy bills, according to the HBF “Watt a Save” report published October 2022.

www.dwh.co.uk

A new exhibition will open on 15 March and will showcase the work of photographer, Murray Close.

Close has had a stellar career as a film stills photographer. His first experience on a film set was working with none other than the brilliant Stanley Kubrick on The Shining, the horror film with Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall.

As a stills photographer, his first full length feature was on the low budget Withnail and I.  The British cult classic launched Murray’s career as well as those of Richard E Grant and Paul McGann.

Murray has gone on to work on films such as Mission Impossible, The Hunger Games, Harry Potter and The Matrix.

This will be a rare chance to see his work “in the flesh”, and prints will be available for sale with prices ranging from £150-£950.

The exhibition is free and runs from 15 March 2023 until 15 April 2023, Wednesday to Saturday.

Please note opening times can vary so please call if travelling a distance. 07740 870579.

Gallery Close 4B Howe Street Edinburgh EH3 6TD

Edinburgh residents will be consulted on a plan to extend the capital’s tram line with a spur from Granton, through the city centre and towards the Royal Infirmary later this year, according to a report discussed by councillors last week.

Plans for the new line will be put to the public after the extension to Newhaven opens in the spring.

The council’s transport convener said the next phase will open in 2035 “at the latest”.

While the authority says building more tram routes is integral to cutting congestion and meeting ambitious climate targets, news of further disruption, roadworks and risk to the city’s finances may not be universally welcomed. As one councillor warned “you cannot spend what you don’t have”.

Meanwhile councillors have called on officials to look into the options for a “relatively short western extension” to Newbridge and Ratho Station – areas currently under-served by public transport. Almond councillors Lang and Work are particularly keen that such an extension is looked at – particularly as Cllr Lang said that the West Lothian Council is the fastest growing local authority in Scotland.

Transport Convener Cllr Scott Arthur said during a City Chambers meeting this week that a north-south route, estimated to cost £1.2 billion, is “at the absolute heart of everything we’re doing in the transport domain right now”.

He added its importance is “reflected” in The Scottish Government’s STPR2 plans.

A report published by Transport Scotland last year which sets out transport investment priorities over the next 20 years included developing mass transit in Edinburgh and the south-east, which has given the council hope the Scottish Government will fund the Granton to Little France tram line.

A separate report which went before councillors on Thursday said a strategic business case (SBC) was “making good progress” with work ongoing to “finalise alignment options for the southern section of the line”.

It stated: “A three month public consultation is planned for later this year. This will present the primary findings from the work completed so far and the outcome of the consultation will be used to complete the SBC.”

Cllr Arthur said the north-south extension “will open in 2035 at the very latest”.

He said: “There is always tension between getting delivery right and filling the potholes and having the ambition to take our city forward. Let me be clear. If we focus all our attention on the day to day, we will be left behind, because we compete with other cities all the time for investment. A key part of that is around our climate ambitions and also our willingness and our desire to cut congestion.

“We are doing this not because building trams is an ideology, we are doing this because we believe the economic case stacks up. We will build our case in the coming months and that will illustrate that the costs are exceeded by the benefits. If that is not the case then it won’t happen, but I am confident the benefits will be there to make this investment worthwhile.”

Cllr Danny Aston said there was “a strong case for an expansion westwards beyond the current start of the line at the airport serving the rapidly-growing communities of Newbridge and Ratho Station”.

He noted that both are “areas currently very under-served by existing transport links”.

Cllr Cammy Day the council leader also put in a plug for line 1b from Granton, which is one of the areas of the city with the lowest car ownership and highest levels of poverty. He reminded councillors it will also be an area where 3-4,000 homes will be built.

Councillors agreed to bring forward a report on the issues and options that would come with the “relatively short extension”.

The Conservative councillor, Marie-Clair Munro, said that even if another tram extension is desired by residents “we simply don’t have the money”.

She said: “Edinburgh residents have made their views very clear to I think nearly every councillor sitting here today – they want good travel, yes they want active travel, but they want their city’s roads and pavements repaired.

“You cannot spend what you don’t have.”

The Green group’s Alex Staniforth hit back, saying: “£1.2 billion is a lot of money and honestly maybe we’re not sure where we’ll get it.

“And these projects can be quite disruptive – trams and active travel – but do you know what would cost us more, would be more disruptive? Climate change and climate chaos.”

by Donald Turvill

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

Prize guys David Cooper (left) and Mike Kyle collect vouchers after their success in the inaugural Edinburgh Winter Shore League sponsored by Edinburgh Angling Centre and the Fishing Megastore.

It was a close finish with Cooper, a self-employed painter and decorator, taking the title by only two points from Gordon Lyall to earn the £100 prize voucher from sponsors. Stevie Souter was third with 36 points but he wins the second place voucher of £60 as Lyall is a member of staff at the Edinburgh Angling Centre.

Midlothian-based Kyle was third and won a £40 voucher and Ian Campbell, the organiser, said that the event proved a great success. The only woman competing, Edinburgh-based Buffy McAvoy, a member of the Scotland women’s sea fishing squad, was 15th.

A total of 23 anglers fished the eighth and final leg at Newhaven and there were no blanks. Midlothian-based Kyle topped the podium with 23 fish with Lyall second on 20 fish and Campbell third on 13 fish. The longest fish was recorded by Kevin McNeish, a 28cm codling.

Overall, the top 20 were: 1, David Cooper  39 points; 2, Gordon Lyall 37; 3, Stevie Souter 36; 4, Mike Kyle 35; 5, Chris Cooper 34; 6, Stevie Burns 28; 7, Steven Barrett 27; 8, Stewart Falconer 19; 9, Ian Campbell 18; 10, Chris Barrett 16; 11, Ryan Venters 16; 12, Gus Brindle 13; 13, Dave McKervail 11; 14, Chris Anderson 9; 15, Buffy McAvoy 8; 16, Lindsay Bell 8; 17, Barry McEwan 7; 18, Cameron Cunningham 6; 19, Kevin McNish 6; 20, Alan Haggon 5.

Only the top five scores of the eight legs counted for final placings and Campbell thanked Arbroath-based Stewart Falconer, David Cooper and Kyle who helped organise the matches.

He said that 40 different anglers took part in the league, some only attending a match or two, and others grinding their way through most legs and he added: “It has been great to see so many new faces and hopefully some have caught the match bug and we will see them again.”

Campbell added: “A wee special mention to guys like Chris Cooper, Chris Anderson, Steven Barrett and Ryan Venters who are either relatively new to competition fishing, or had never fished a match in their lives, but fished most legs and picked up some fantastic results along the way. Hopefully, they are the future of match angling in Scotland.

“And a special mention to the only lady to enter, Buffy McAvoy, who turned up and competed with the men, ending with a very respectable top half finish.”

He added: “There were a couple of hard matches in there but, generally, the fishing was pretty good and over the eight legs there were 1,062 counting fish caught, an incredible number.”

Hearts progressed into the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup with a 2-0 win over cinch Championship side Hamilton at the rain-soaked New Douglas Park thanks to goals from Stephen Humphrys and Cammy Devlin.

Humphrys made it two goals in two games when he collected a ball from Josh Ginnelly and fired a left-foot shot beyond Hamilton goalkeeper Ryan Fulton after 29 minutes.

And Devlin netted the second after good work down the left by Alan Forrest who cut the ball back towards the penalty spot. Devlin stabbed home under pressure after 79 minutes.

The Tynecastle team claimed their fifth Scottish Cup quarter-final berth in six seasons despite a spirited performance from the Lanarkshire side who prop up the Championship table.

Robbie Neilson’s men dominated the first-half, enjoying 79 per cent of the possession, but Hamilton rallied in the second-half despite playing 120 minutes of football in the SPFL Trust Trophy semi-final on Tuesday.

Robert Snodgrass, named captain in the absence of suspended skipper, Lawrence Shankland, was the undoubted Man of the Man, controlling fro midfield, as Hearts had 20 shots on the opposition against four in return.

Overall, the Men in Maroon, who are third in the cinch Premiership, had 74 per cent of the possession during the televised tussle and Neilson told BBC Scotland: “First-half we controlled but second-half I thought we were poor to be honest with you. We had a few chances but ultimately it is about being in the draw on Monday.”

Goalscorer Humphrys also told the broadcaster that his aim was to get in the right position and he said: “The ball came from Gino (Josh Ginnelly). I made the run shipped it onto my left foot and scored the goal.

“It is another goal and two from two now and I will just keep building on that.”    

The council has a very useful map which will confirm to you the polling station to go to, depending on where you live in the council ward.

The details of the polling station will also be given on the polling card which you will be sent if you live in the Corstorphine/Murrayfield Ward and if you have registered to vote. This is the only Ward where voting is taking place to fill the vacancy left by former SNP councillor, Frank Ross.

If you have not yet registered to vote then this page here has some details of how to do that – although the dates are out of date since they relate to the council elections last year.

You will find the map here and if you click on it then various areas will be highlighted and the details of polling stations revealed. There are also similar details on the MySociety Mapit page here.

When an earthquake strikes, like the unfolding disaster on the Turkish/Syrian border, the rest of the world can only stand still in horror. We are suddenly reminded that we live on the fragile surface of an unstable planet. The pictures of the rescue effort, in freezing conditions, are truly appalling.

Here in Scotland we can only watch and sympathise and donate. The small Turkish community living here, of about 8,000 people, have been holding vigils and appealing for aid.  Of the 3,000 Syrians, most are refugees from Assad’s civil war which began in 2014. 

Nicola Sturgeon has spoken of her shock at the “heart-rending scenes” coming out of the earthquake zone.  The Scottish Government has pledged £500,000 towards the relief effort and a small team of experts from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has flow out to help in the search for survivors.  It all seems so inadequate.

Scotland led the effort in the 18^th century to understand the science of earthquakes. Until then, they had largely been regarded as a sign that the gods were angry with us.  The tiny “Earthquake House” at Comrie in Perthshire  was built in 1874 to accommodate the first primitive seismometers to measure the tremors from the Highland fault line which runs through the village. Geology was a favourite subject for Scottish gentlemen after James Hutton published his “Theory of the Earth” in 1785 and indeed it still is.

Not half a mile from where I sit writing this, is Edinburgh University’s School of Geosciences, where there have been geology professors since the 1770s.  There are now over a hundred professors, researchers and lectures teaching 1100 undergraduates in 14 different aspects of earth science, from geology to atmospheric studies, carbon management, environmental protection, volcanology and, of course, seismology. 

Earthquake disasters are not just the result of earth science, unfortunately, they are also man-made.  If the block of flats and offices in Turkey had been more firmly built they might have stood up to the earthquake.  Or if there hadn’t been a civil war in Syria for the last eight years, the emergency services would have been in a better condition to save many more lives.  So the human sciences of economics and politics are involved too.  And thereby hangs a tale.

It seems almost irreverent to discuss our petty politics and economics here in Scotland when there is such huge suffering being broadcast on our television screens from the Middle East and from Ukraine.  But, for the record, Scotland’s politicians have spent much of the week squabbling over government spending cuts. In particular, the money given to our 32 district councils to run their schools, care services, waste collections and maintain their roads. 

The councils say they’ve been given a real-terms cut in funding which will leave them £700m short and result in the loss of 7,000 jobs. The Scottish government says, due to Westminster cuts, it doesn’t have any more money, and is already cutting other budgets to allow councils to offer a 5 per cent pay rise to teachers – an offer refused. That led the teachers’ unions announcing this week that they will be continuing with their rolling strike action. 

One of the other cuts the government has made this week is to the programme to up-grade the A9 road to Inverness.  It’s long been labelled Scotland’s most dangerous road because it weaves about from duel carriageway to single carriageway at odd moments of the 110 miles between Perth and Inverness. The SNP manifesto promised to make it a duel carriageway though-out by 2025 but the transport secretary Jenny Galbraith had to admit that this was no longer achievable. She was careful not to mention any new date but pointed out that she is spending £5m on better signage.

If we can retreat into the world of sport for a moment, I could mention Scotland beating England 29-23 at last weekend’s men’s rugby international at Twickenham.  But I’d better not, lest it lead to uncharacteristic Scottish self-confidence ahead of the next Six Nations match, against Wales on Saturday on the hallowed turf of Murrayfield. 

What does it say about us humans, that we can carry on playing games or debating how we spend our money while others are facing disaster?  It’s not that we are completely selfish – we are donating to the earthquake appeal – it’s just that life must go on.  We learned during the Covid pandemic that we have to live with various crises as they occur. What we never seem to learn is to take care to avoid them in future. 

Fire on the Royal Mile

A fire broke out at the Royal Mile Tavern on Thursday around 1pm. Around ten fire appliances were sent to tackle the blaze and many were still on the scene just after 5pm.

Police closed off the section of the Royal Mile between South Bridge and Blackfriars Street. It appeared that no diversions had been put in place to advise the many northbound vehicle drivers who had to execute a three point turn on the junction between South Bridge and the Royal Mile.

New junction at Winchburgh

Later today you will be able to scoot along to Winchburgh on the M9 and use the new junction 1B which has been created there. This is to serve all the houses built by Winchburgh Development Limited (and other locals) but the road appears to be opened up ahead of anything being done about the station on the main Edinburgh to Glasgow railway line which was included in the planning permission.

You will find the full story here.

Tired out

Residents at Coillesdene House in Joppa are tired out complaining to the council about the lifts in their multi-storey block which have not worked since before Christmas. Elderly residents have been trapped in the lifts which have been stuck on several occasions and the residents complained the service they got from the council was not acceptable.

Read more here.

Lights out

Edinburgh residents are being “literally” left in the dark as a result of nearly 200 faulty street lights across the capital, a councillor has claimed.

Scottish Power has been accused of failing to act over the issue, which it is claimed has been ongoing for more than two years.

Cllr Kevin Lang called on the council leader to intervene and “demand answers” from the company.

Speaking at a council meeting the Liberal Democrat group leader said officers had informed him that 182 Edinburgh street lights “are not working across the city”.

He said this was “not because of the council but the failure of Scottish Power to address a multitude of faults in their supply network”.

He added: “Some have been out now for more than two years, so can I ask the council leader to intervene, to demand answers from Scottish Power and, if necessary, to bring them to a committee of this council to account for themselves for the fact that they are literally keeping thousands of residents in the dark.”

Read more here.

Please subscribe to The Edinburgh Reporter 

Today would be a good day to buy a subscription to The Edinburgh Reporter monthly newspaper as our February paper is now with our stockists in various locations in the city. Among others all branches of Farmer Autocare have papers as well as Birthlink on Lower Gilmore Place and both Leith and Central Libraries. 

If you are able to subscribe, then it would help us to keep our online coverage free to access, and also ensure the future of our newspaper for this coming year. And if you do, then thank you.

Buy a subscription here or click the image below.

A new junction, ‘Junction 1B’, has opened for northbound local access on the M9 at Winchburgh, with southbound routes into the village to follow in the next couple of months.

In a phased opening, vehicles can now access the northbound routes entering and exiting the M9, with southbound routes in and out of Winchburgh to follow in the spring. This marks the first link in a chain of roads connecting routes through Winchburgh and on to the major roads network on its doorstep.

Located adjacent to Duntarvie Castle, the new M9 junction has four slip roads connecting to the existing motorway embankment and provides access to the M9 from north and south. It offers commuters, local businesses and visitors easy, quick access by car to the Queensferry crossing to the east and Glasgow, Stirling and Falkirk to the west.

The developer is keen to stress that the new road layout also includes non-motorised user (NMU) provisions linking into existing walking and cycle routes that connect the surrounding villages to the wider green network. 

John Hamilton, Chief Executive of Winchburgh Developments Ltd, said: “This first step in the opening up of the M9 motorway junction marks a significant moment in Winchburgh’s masterplan to connect the growing community to the surrounding transport network through core roads and upgraded bus services. Local residents, businesses, and visitors will be able to access routes across the central belt that have previously completely bypassed Winchburgh.”

The construction represents a part of a £50 million investment in complex engineering infrastructure over a three year period by Winchburgh Developments Limited that unlocks the next phase of Winchburgh’s masterplan allowing the further development of homes, schools, retail and employment spaces and leisure infrastructure.

The masterplan was designed by civil engineers, Sweco, with Principal Contractor, RJ McLeod Contractors Ltd, and Thomson Gray, as NEC4 Project Manager for the project.

Graeme Paget from Transport Scotland said: “We’re pleased to have played our part in this project over the past three years, and welcome the improved connectivity this new junction brings to the residents of Winchburgh.

“It’s also important to highlight the benefits of the improved active travel links to local walking and cycling routes connecting to the surrounding villages.”

The developer said that the new M9 junction and extensive investment in core and distributor road links have been designed to complement the existing bus service and Winchburgh’s active travel plans and mark a significant next stage in Winchburgh’s evolution.

But a key part of the Winchburgh development was to introduce a railway station at Winchburgh which sits on the main Edinburgh to Glasgow railway line but that was scuppered last year.

At a meeting of the Council Executive in April 2022 council members heard the background to the proposed station. Transport Scotland and the lead developer – Winchburgh Developments Ltd (WDL) – were to be responsible for funding and delivering a new station for Winchburgh.  Winchburgh is one of West Lothian’s Core Development areas which allows for the development of 3,450 houses.

To support the development a number of infrastructure improvements were identified including the provision of a railway station on the main Edinburgh – Linlithgow – Glasgow rail line. However the council’s report set out that there is no condition in the planning consent which placed an absolute requirement on the developer to provide the railway station. Consequently this is being put to one side while a new junction on the busy M9 is introduced.

Edinburgh residents are being “literally” left in the dark as a result of nearly 200 faulty street lights across the capital, a councillor has claimed.

Scottish Power has been accused of failing to act over the issue, which it is claimed has been ongoing for more than two years.

Cllr Kevin Lang called on the council leader to intervene and “demand answers” from the company.

Speaking at a council meeting the Liberal Democrat group leader said officers had informed him that 182 Edinburgh street lights “are not working across the city”.

He said this was “not because of the council but the failure of Scottish Power to address a multitude of faults in their supply network”.

He added: “Some have been out now for more than two years, so can I ask the council leader to intervene, to demand answers from Scottish Power and, if necessary, to bring them to a committee of this council to account for themselves for the fact that they are literally keeping thousands of residents in the dark.”

Council leader Cammy Day replied saying he has asked officials to reach out to the energy firm to find a solution.

Cllr Lang continued: “Proper street lighting is essential for people’s safety, particularly for vulnerable people when they are out and about at night.

“It is disgraceful that Scottish Power’s delay in tackling key faults throughout their network mean over 180 lights across Edinburgh aren’t working.

“Worse still, some faults stretch back over two whole years. This can’t be allowed to continue.”

A spokesperson for SP Energy Networks said: “We can assure all residents and councillors that we are committed to repairing street-lighting faults as quickly as possible in line with available resources.

“We are currently experiencing a backlog within the city ­- and apologise for any inconvenience caused – and are doing everything we can to turn this around, prioritising areas where higher numbers of lights are affected.

“We are in regular contact with The City of Edinburgh Council to keep them up to date with the progress being made and look forward to seeing an improving picture moving forward.”

by Donald Turvill

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

Following a campaign initiated by Edinburgh Central SNP MSP, Angus Robertson, The City of Edinburgh Council has agreed to pay for the installation of a Stolperstein or ‘stumbling stone’ memorial to Jane Haining at St Stephen’s Church.

Just under 90 years ago, Haining left Edinburgh for Budapest to help Jewish children in the Hungarian capital. She was killed in Auschwitz in 1944 and subsequently recognised as ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ at Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem. Haining is the only Scot to be given the honour.

The motion was passed by acclaim by City of Edinburgh Councillors on Thursday.

‘Stolpersteine’ or ‘stumbling stones’ are small brass plaques set in pavements with the inscription of the name and life details of victims murdered by the Nazis. Across Europe, there are now over 75,000 brass plate memorials outside the homes or places associated with victims of the Nazi Holocaust.

The proposals were welcomed by Cllr Vicky Nicolson and Professor Joe Goldblatt, Chair of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association and prominent member of Scotland’s Jewish Community, who brought a motion to Edinburgh Council to have the Stolperstein paid for and installed by the City.

Angus Robertson MSP said: “Jane Haining is Scotland’s most prominent Holocaust victim and is Righteous Amongst the Nations at Yad Vashem. A ‘Stolperstein’ to her memory would be fitting, perhaps outside Edinburgh’s St Stephen’s Church, where her mission to help Jewish children was dedicated. As well as being a proper commemoration, it will also serve as a warning to never forget the lessons of history.”

Professor Joe Goldblatt said: “I hope that in the years to come when children and others pass the Stolperstein stone and plaque they will feel pride because of this daughter of Edinburgh whose courage and bravery saved so many Jewish lives. I hope that the Church of Scotland and Jewish community will work closely together to plan a meaningful and memorable unveiling of the stone.”

Cllr Nicolson, said: “Before Jane Haining left for Budapest, a dedication service was held for her at St Stephen’s Church in Stockbridge. It was presided over by the chair of the Jewish mission committee, Dr Stewart Thompson. Haining left for Budapest the next day, seven months before Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany on 30 January 1933. She went to her dedication service as an everyday citizen and left as a missionary, to Budapest where she looked after and saved many Jewish children’s lives until her extermination at Auschwitz-Birkenau.

“Edinburgh was the last place Jane Haining chose to be prior to her mission and it is time we, the Capital City of Scotland, commemorate her incredible humanity, bravery and kindness. Her Stolpestein will be a marker and a reminder of the Holocaust and what that did to the world. Jane Haining was an incredible woman and for Edinburgh not to have recognised her yet is wrong and we want to right that wrong.”

Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland said: “We are delighted that Edinburgh City councillors have voted in favour of buying and installing a ‘Stolperstein’ in memory of Jane Haining, who showed tremendous courage in the face of intolerable evil during a dark period of history.

“A woman of deep Christian faith, she was fully aware of the risks she was taking but repeatedly refused Church of Scotland pleas to leave Budapest and return home to Scotland as the war engulfed Europe.

“Jane was determined to continue doing her duty and stick to her post, saying ‘If these children need me in days of sunshine, how much more do they need me in days of darkness?’.

“She was simultaneously an ordinary and extraordinary woman and her story is one of heroism and personal sacrifice and reminds us that when we feel powerless, there is always something that we can do.

“Her story is moving, humbling, heart-breaking and inspirational and we hope that this honour will help keep her memory alive for generations to come.”

The City of Edinburgh Council will work with the fire service to create a memorial to a firefighter who lost his life tackling a huge city centre blaze last month.

Barry Martin died on 27 January from injuries he sustained tackling a fire at the former Jenners department store four days earlier.

Speaking at the City Chambers on Thursday the Lord Provost paid tribute to Mr Martin, who was 38 years-old – and the first Edinburgh firefighter to die in the line of duty in almost 14 years.

Councillors agreed to collaborate with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to “identify an appropriate form of joint recognition” to honour his life and service.

The full council meeting on Thursday began with a minute’s silence for the firefighter.

The Rt Hon Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said the many tributes which have been left outside Jenners “show how deeply his passing has been felt, both by people throughout the city and by his firefighter colleagues in Edinburgh and right across the country”.

A fundraiser is aiming to raise £10,000 for Mr Martin’s family, and it has been confirmed that his funeral will take place at St Giles Cathedral next Friday.

The Lord Provost continued: “The tributes were sombre and respectful and reflect the quiet admiration and gratitude we all feel for our firefighters who put their health and lives on the line to protect us day after day.

“Thankfully it’s a very rare occurrence indeed for any firefighter these days to lose their life in the course of their duty. That makes the loss of Barry Martin all the more keenly felt by all of us in Edinburgh and I’m sure also by his fellow firefighters.

“I know that his family will be hurting terribly at the loss of a husband and father. But I hope that in time they will gain some comfort from knowing the full extent of the admiration and respect, indeed the pride, this city feels for having had the privilege of being served so well by Barry Martin.

“Firefighter Barry Martin we salute you and thank you for giving your all in service for the people of Edinburgh.”

by Donald Turvill

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

In a multi-storey building in Coillesdene there are lifts which are not working reliably all of the time.

This problem has been ongoing since last November, and continued all the way through Christmas and New Year. Residents, some elderly, have been stuck in the lifts.

There are 41 properties in one block, with six council tenants among the 35 private owners. The council, through their building manager, has overseen lift maintenance in the past, but now residents say lack of communication from the council is getting in the way of either a proper repair or replacement being carried out.

The deputation to the council meeting on Thursday was delivered by Maria Riaza-Sanchez, Secretary of the Coillesdene House Residents Association, and the Acting Chair, Jane Murray. Ms Murray said after the meeting that their hope is that “The council will find a way of communicating with us what’s going on that we’re left blind, which is quite a fearful situation for many of the residents and also the people do become apathetic and lethargic. We don’t know if we’re paying for this. If we are, if we’re not, there’s nothing, just nothing.”

The two women were still shaking after making their very first visit to the City Chambers, but felt it was worth them stating their case.

Maria said that some elderly people had become stuck in the lifts, and one in particular had become quite distressed. If the lift gets stuck she said the doors eventually open but the person may be stuck there for 20 minutes to half an hour before that happens.

She explained the process if the lift stops working. She said: “We need to call to the repairs department at the council – this is what has been suggested to us. However they never reply. There is an emergency call-out but it takes sometimes 24 hours or more.”

One of the residents now calls the lift engineers direct, but they have no idea if that is the correct way to report faults or not.

During their presentation the residents said that they felt unheard, unimportant and unsupported, mainly due to the brief information which had been provided by council officers.

The residents association contacted their local councillors, Citizens Advice and people in the housing department “a little higher up” to get themselves heard.

It was explained to councillors that 22 residents wrote letters to the council. These were digitised and sent to their local councillors on 18 January.

And they admit that the councillors have been quite helpful, particularly the SNP and the Green councillors.

But even so it was only yesterday that the council convened a meeting with the Residents Association after the Housing Association had contacted another council officer asking for some discussion of the problems.

The residents have had to rely on unofficial information from their lift engineers (several different ones) about the lifts. They feel that the situation could have been avoided with pre-planning.

And they claim that on occasion the lifts have recently been fixed with second hand parts as it is difficult to source parts for 60-year-old lifts.

At the meeting held yesterday the residents listed the details of dates and times of the many callouts they have had to make as a matter of record for the councillors.

The residents explained that “with 41 homes – some people are working and others are not. We have had to collate all the information ourselves.

“What is the point of throwing good money after bad? The lifts are obviously worn out and so are we. If we go private how would that work? Common sense tells us to stay with the council.

“Had the council communicated with us then we would not be here now. There has been a lack of care or thought for those stuck in their houses – we are now in isolation again because of the lifts – and this is particularly bad after the isolation of Covid.”

Asked how the council can keep the flow of communication going, the residents replied that the communication was awful. They said: “We tried to contact the building manager who was on annual leave. We contacted the NE locality manager – we were not getting any information. One of our residents then contacted a councillor on Twitter – this is not the way to get things done. We must set up a line of communication for this type of emergency.”

Cllr Jones commented: “Two words. Completely unacceptable. Have you had official notification from the council that the lifts need to be replaced?”

But the residents replied: “That is the problem we have had no notification. The engineers say the lifts are old and they cannot get parts. They are using second hand parts from other already broken lifts. We have elderly residents and younger residents with disabilities. But the simple answer is no.

“We got told that a lift would be fixed on 16 January but that never happened. Yesterday I was at a meeting and we think it is necessary to have a meeting of residents and the council to talk about these lifts which are more than 60 years old. We have to discuss the funding.”

Cllr Alys Mumford said: “It is really important to understand the impact on people’s lives. Are there things you would like to see happening in future to deal with matters of maintenance?”

The reply was forthright: “We would like to get into a lift without fear of it breaking down. The fire exit is also open and anyone can have access to all floors in the building.”

The Housing Convener, Cllr Jane Meagher, asked if the residents had noticed any change since the new contractor appointed to maintain the lifts took over the contract, but the residents replied that they had spoken to several engineers who said their lifts have “behaved quite well until the last 18 months”. They confirmed that the only callout made previously was some vandalism to the buttons in the lifts so the residents felt unable to comment fully as to any improvement in matters being dealt with.

Cllr Jane Meagher, Housing Convener, said: “I feel very much for the plight of the 6 council tenants and 35 owners in this block. Working lifts are clearly vital, but the repairs in Coillesdene House are becoming more complex given the age and profile of the lifts, resulting in an increased risk of further faults/failures.

“So Edinburgh’s Shared Repairs Service Senior Manager met with residents yesterday and recommended discussion on the options available to property owners to commission a survey and possible lift replacement programme. Officers will set up a public Q & A meeting in early March 2023 to talk this through with members of the Residents Association and the wider group of residents in the building.” 

Athlete dives in to celebrate provider’s commitment to learning to swim

Youngsters in West Lothian have participated in a once-in-a-lifetime swim class with Olympic, World & Commonwealth Champion Duncan Scott.

Duncan, the UK’s most decorated athlete from the Tokyo Olympic Games, made a splash at Xcite’s Broxburn Sports Centre to celebrate West Lothian Leisure being recognised as Learn to Swim Provider of the Year.

More than 130 children participated in the swimming lessons from preschool upwards learning vital life skills such as floating, sculling, treading water and the basics of moving through the water such as streamlining and different swimming strokes.

Xcite is one of 37 aquatic providers delivering The Learn to Swim framework – a partnership between Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water – at eight sites including Armadale, Bathgate, Broxburn, Linlithgow, Livingston, Whitburn, Deans High school and Winchburgh Wellness Hub which recently received significant investment.

Learn to Swim programme ambassador and Scotland’s all-time top medal-winning Commonwealth athlete, Duncan Scott shared knowledge and skills with youngsters during the lessons delivering some teaching on poolside and in the pool – with a designated Q&A session to hear top tips and swimming advice.

Duncan said: “It’s fantastic to see the work Xcite West Lothian are doing around learn to swim to become Scottish Water Learn to Swim Provider of the Year and the programme is set to grow by more than 25% over the next three years.

“Swimming pools are vital community hubs that teach children all over the country the life skill of learning to swim. Without pools we would be literally putting lives at risk so it’s great to see so many happy, smiling faces today!”

Both Duncan Scott, and fellow Learn to Swim ambassador and Paralympian Toni Shaw, are passionate about creating a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers.

Lorraine Pollock, Xcite West Lothian, said: “There has been a real buzz in the lead up to Duncan’s visit. Broxburn is our largest site, welcoming over 1,500 youngsters weekly so it is great to have a visit from such an important role model.

“Learn to Swim has been a major success and we see children improve their swimming skills on a weekly basis. We know Duncan’s visit will leave a lasting impact on our community’s next generation of swimmers.

“The past two years have been challenging but thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Xcite team we have been able to bounce back, and are delighted to have been recognised as Learn to Swim Provider of the Year.

“A large part of this recovery has focused on teacher development and recruitment. We are always on the lookout for people interested in a fun, rewarding career.”

Xcite is a vital community hub and secured the Learn to Swim Provider of the Year award for increasing the capacity of youngsters learning to swim from 3855 in May 2021 to more than 5031 in August 2022.

This resulted in an additional 1300 children attending lessons every week with a further 200 children to join the programme in February 2023 as the programme expands further.

Euan Lowe, CEO of Scottish Swimming, said: “The earlier that a child becomes familiar with the aquatic environment and being in and around water the better. It maybe someone from the programme follows in Duncan’s footsteps, but most importantly, we hope they continue to inspire children to learn to swim.

“Today’s event in Broxburn marks the first Learn to Swim event of the year and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate swimming pools and the vital role they play in Scotland – teaching children an essential life skill and also as the nation’s Natural Health Service – safeguarding mental and physical wellbeing for all ages, abilities and backgrounds.”

The National Learn to Swim Framework has already provided lessons to more than 100,000 youngsters, and wants to reach a further 100,000 by 2025.

Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs with Scottish Water, said: “Duncan and Toni have played a vital role in continuing to inspire, develop and motivate youngsters across the country while helping to create Scotland’s “Generation Swim”.

“The programme equips children with skills that will help them to be safer in and out of the water – whether at their local pool, at the beach on holiday or around Scotland’s miles of coastline, rivers and lochs.”

The Learn to Swim Framework helps to create quality Learn to Swim environments for children from birth upwards where they can become competent swimmers with opportunities to progress through the aquatic pathway and to swim for fun.

The next chapter of Learn to Swim will build a real legacy for Scotland – creating “Generation Swim” by improving water safety, and giving all children a real platform for success and to achieve their full potential in the pool and out.

https://learntoswim.scot/

https://www.westlothianleisure.com/

The Council Leader, Cllr Cammy Day will visit Taiwan next month to attend the 2023 Asian Smart City summit in Taipei.

He will also engage with representatives from Taipei, Tainan City and Kaohsiung City to explore opportunities to build on the long cultural, scientific and educational relationships between Edinburgh and Taiwan.

There will be no cost to the council as the visit is made at the invitation of the Government of Taiwan who will fund all costs.

That is not to say this was passed on the nod. Far from it. Most parties in the chamber wanted to have their say on the proposed visit in one way or another, and the matter had to be put to a vote.

The Culture Convener who is a fellow Labour councillor said that this was an opportunity to build cultural links with Taiwan, and she recalled the beautiful performances by Taiwanese performers last summer during the Festival.

She expressed a reservation about climate change and the flights involved, and asked that the council would look at doing this in a more environmentally way in future.

She said however: “We want people to come to conferences here so it would be hypocritical to say we won’t go anywhere.”

Cllr Stuart Dobbin knows Taiwan well bit commented that the report had “lots to say about Taiwan” but little about the deliverables from such a visit. He criticised the report for being very vague and said: “In these challenging times to act upon a vague objective is not what this council should be doing at present.”

Cllr Danny Aston confessed to knowing little about the destination, but had quickly Googled the country and found that the temperatures at the time of Cllr Day’s visit will be in the order of 20 degrees. “Sounds lovely,” he said. “But is this really a good time for the Council Leader to be jetting off to Taiwan? In the middle of the worst cost of living crisis we have experienced in a generation with spiralling heating bills and basic foods like tea, bread and butter increasing by huge amounts. The Council Leader knows the regard that the SNP Group will submit.He knows the cynics out there will view this trip as frivolous as a junket – perish the thought.

“So we just want the Council Leader to be armed with the facts, so he can look us all in the eye and say this trip is worthwhile, that it’s worth the time and the airmiles while leaving the governing of our capital city at this difficult juncture.”

Cllr Staniforth said: “We as a capital city should absolutely support Taiwan. Taiwan has a right to live free and independent. We see what happened in Ukraine when expansionistic neighbours think they can annexe nearby countries with no consequences. And we have seen in Tibet what happens when that turns out to be true.

“One of the best ways we can do that as a city is with partnerships. Nor are we necessarily against attending conferences in faraway places, but we are facing a climate catastrophe. And while this one flight’s carbon footprint may not be very high in the scheme of things, we have a position of leadership. We should be leading the way in how we look at flights and how necessary they are. We should not condone any such flights without a clear explanation of what is hoped to achieve by engaging in them and what the climate impact of them will be. That is a small thing to ask, and regrettably has not been given in this report. We wish to defer that element till the next council meeting.”

Cllr Day said: “I think as any international city we should be making our presence across the world. And under the last administration the SNP were not shy to send people four times to China and to Canada, and other countries.”

The motion to allow the visit was carried by 33 votes to 27.

The council will work with the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, and the University of Edinburgh progress a future programme of activity in Edinburgh. The Royal Botanical Gardens of Edinburgh continue to exchange plant species with Taiwanese partners and Edinburgh Zoo has exchanged small animals with zoos in the country.

The links of friendship between Scotland and Taiwan are traced back more than 150 years to when Scottish missionaries brought modern medicine, printing machines as well as tap water systems to Taiwan. Dr James Maxwell from Edinburgh established Taiwan’s first hospital in the 19th Century.

This visit comes after a series of discussions held during 2022 when Taiwanese officials welcomed the opportunity of working with Edinburgh to deepen the relationship and collaborate to contribute to the global economy.

Robbie Neilson confirmed that Cammy Devlin and Michael Smith are back to full training ahead of their televised Scottish Cup, fifth round, clash at Hamilton Accies on Friday (BBC, kick-off 19.45).

Hamilton are the underdogs and prop up the cinch Championship table with 18 points from 23 games, but have shown signs of improved lately, having gone six games without defeat, but Hearts are third in the cinch Premiership. 

Their attack has only scored 19 goals and conceded 40 but they edged cinch Premiership side, Ross County, on penalties in the last round and Hearts are in no mood to fail here as they want to win the cup.  

Skipper Lawrence Shankland is, of course, suspended and this game after his red card at Easter Road in the 3-0 defeat of city rivals Hibs in the last round, but his absence  opens the door for somebody else to come in and show what they can do. They including Stephen Humphrys, Yutaro Oda and Garang Kuol.

Hamilton have an artificial surface, but Neilson said that did not really come into play as the club have nine days before their next fixture so that should give players time to recover.

Neilson and Hamilton manager John Rankin go back some years but the Jambos boss is focused and said: “We are the favourites for the game. It is up to use to make sure there is no slip-up.”

Hearts lost 2-0 to Rangers in the last Scottish Cup Final, after extra time, and they also lost 4-3 to Celtic in the 2020 final, the sides being locked at 3-3 after extra time. He added: “You go into a cup competition, the way it is in Scotland, and it is a route to silverware.”

Hearts, he said, had gone to the final twice in recent years and lost but he added: “We want to take that next step. However, we have to make sure we can win the game (at Hamilton) and make the next round.”

Cutting funding for speech therapy services in Edinburgh would hit the most vulnerable the hardest, the council has been warned ahead of the budget.

The body which represents the profession wrote to the council’s education boss this week after documents showed speech and language therapy could lose £3.4 million over the next four years as part of a plan to plug a £76 million hole in the city’s finances.

Glenn Carter, head of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in Scotland, said he was “deeply concerned” the authority was planning to pull “most” of its funding, warning it is “the wrong cut at the wrong time”.  

According to the council there is “significant overlap” between the treatments it funds in schools and the ones available on the NHS.

Education bosses said the balance of resources would be ‘shifted to benefit the most vulnerable’ if councillors approve the decision.

They said a reduction in the number of speech therapists may lengthen waiting lists for support.

In a letter to Amanda Hatton, director of Edinburgh’s Education and Children’s Services, Mr Carter said local authorities need to “urgently address the spoken  language crisis in Scotland, not make it worse”. 

He said: “Teachers are reporting alarming numbers of children coming to school with minimal spoken language. 

“Almost 90% of early years practitioners report that they have seen an increase in the numbers and complexity of children with communication needs in Scotland.”

Mr Carter said upwards of half of all children from “areas of poverty” go to school “without adequate spoken language skills for learning”.

The cut would mean the majority of speech and language therapy would be provided in NHS clinics with most school-based services axed.

“We know a very high percentages of children from areas of deprivation do not attend clinic appointments,” Mr Carter added. “Therefore, the most vulnerable children in Edinburgh would be  disproportionately impacted.”

Listing the consequences of proceeding with the cutback, he said the decision will lead to poorer attainment for children, deepen poverty and inequality, lead to poorer well-being and mental health for children and “undermine the human rights of children with communication needs within education settings”. 

Although the council’s spending plans will not be finalised until 23 February, when political groups will table their own proposals which could include retaining speech and language therapy funding, it is one of several suggested cash-saving measures set out in a report published last week.

The report said: “We propose a shift towards more focus on complex needs in the provision of the speech and language therapy additionally funded by The City of Edinburgh Council through a service level agreement with the NHS.

“The aim of the suggested change to the service delivery is to target the most vulnerable children in our society and ensure that they have every opportunity to improve their communication skills and continue to reduce any inequalities in line with the Local Authority’s Education statutory requirement.

“There is a need to be more effective and targeted in the referral process and the data reporting and monitoring needs to be interrogated more to identify actual / potential efficiency savings. This targets our limited budget to
where the need is greatest.

“Children, young people and their families will continue to access support provided universally through the NHS clinics. Individual schools in areas of material deprivation, or upon evidence of a specific need, may continue to
purchase speech and language therapy in addition to the support provided in NHS clinics.”

by Donald Turvill

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

Housebuilder Dandara has donated food plus £500 to the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home (EDCH) which cares for more than 1,000 stray animals each year.

EDCH set up a pet food bank in 2019 extending to a food bank for humans after identifying the need. The charity aims to take in all stray animals brought to them for assistance. It also has a non-destruct policy, trying to make the animals’ lives as enjoyable as possible while they remain resident there.

Derek Stewart-Brown from EDCH explained: “It was heart-breaking to hear of mums and dads who were giving up their own meals from the food bank so they could feed their children and their pets.

“Since our campaign began in 2019, we have given out 37 tonnes of food; supported 40,796 pets and given out 398,000 meals to pets.

“We started by delivering a few boxes of pet food to one food bank and are now supplying 83 from Falkirk to the Lothians and the Borders. We would much rather pets stay in a loving home with their family than have to come to a shelter like ours and be rehomed.”

Lisa Archibald, Head of Sales for Dandara East Scotland, said: “We know times are very tight for so many people, and it is awful to think of families having to give up their precious pets every year because they simply cannot afford to feed them. 

“Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home does an incredible job and provides a real lifeline to animals and their owners. I am so proud of our charity committee for organising this donation and so thankful to everyone who lent their support.”

Lindsay Fyffe Jardine, Chief Executive of EDCH, added: “We are so grateful for this generous gift from Dandara, we rely on donations from sponsors to keep our vital services running. With the financial crisis, there has never been more need for support.”   

www.edch.org.uk

The proposed development at Jock’s Lodge which will involve the demolition of existing buildings and their replacement by a seven-storey building for student accommodation continues its journey through planning.

The planning application for a “Student accommodation development including ground floor retail /commercial space (use Classes 1, 2, 3 or 4) with associated access, landscaping, open space and drainage” is open until midnight on Friday night for comments.

If it is ever approved, current businesses including the Willow pub would of course have to move from their existing locations.

The Save Jock’s Lodge campaign group opposes the plans for more student accommodation and the group set up a petition which has now been signed by 3,709 signatories to save the local businesses at Jocks Lodge, Smokey Brae and London Road. The campaign group stated on their petition page: “The rejuvenated street is thriving with “The Willow”, a hot spot for local, students, families and tourists alike. In combination with the Ball Room, this area is an attractive and lucrative hub for the community.” Campaigners also say there are already 600 student flats in the vicinity and more are simply not needed.

Now the owners of businesses at Jock’s Lodge have issued a statement on their current position.

“We write as owners of our relevant establishments on the Jock’s Lodge site and we have noted recent media attention focusing on the loss of these premises to the community.

“It should be noted that we have all come to an agreement with Alumno to sell our properties as part of the site redevelopment, should planning permission be granted for its proposals. Clearly it is disappointing to note that we appear to be being used as a means to try and prevent the site from being developed, when we want to sell. 

“For those of us who own commercial property on the site, it has been a challenging experience to operate and manage in this location, exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis. Many of the tenants have changed hands a number of times over the years, and this demonstrates that it is not a sustainable location.  

“Alumno has a strong track record of developing on similar sites across the UK and particularly on challenging sites, such as Jock’s Lodge. The overall plans for the site will see the delivery of high-quality purpose-built student accommodation, including ground floor commercial space. The intention is that a new community ‘local’ food/drink use will be created in place of the neighbouring Limelite, which will have the same ownership, providing continuity and a venue for the community to come together and socialise in.

“The Limelite owners have high aspirations for refreshed and improved facilities, which will include gourmet food and an outside space. 

“We hope that this clarifies our position and our support and desire to sell can be respected.”

“We write as owners of our relevant establishments on the Jock’s Lodge site, and we have noted recent media attention focusing on the loss of these premises to the community.

“It should be noted that we have all come to an agreement with Alumno to sell our properties as part of the site redevelopment, should planning permission be granted for its proposals. Clearly it is disappointing to note that we appear to be being used as a means to try and prevent the site from being developed, when we want to sell. 

“For those of us who own commercial property on the site , it has been a challenging experience to operate and manage in this location , exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis. Many of the tenants have changed hands a number of times over the years, and this demonstrates that it is not a sustainable location.  

“Alumno has a strong track record of developing on similar sites across the UK and particularly on challenging sites, such as Jock’s Lodge. The overall plans for the site will see the delivery of high-quality purpose-built student accommodation, including ground floor commercial space. The intention is that a new community ‘local’ food/drink use will be created in place of the neighbouring Limelite, which will have the same ownership, providing continuity and a venue for the community to come together and socialise in.

“The Limelite owners have high aspirations for refreshed and improved facilities, which will include gourmet food and an outside space. 

“We hope that this clarifies our position and our support and desire to sell can be respected.”

In a separate announcement Star Pubs & Bars stated: “Following a chequered and difficult trading history, and a detailed review of the sustainability of the Jocks Lodge pub, Star Pubs & Bars identified The Barrelhouse for disposal, in lieu of this agreement to sell and recognising the timeframes required to go through the planning process. It was agreed to let the pub for a limited tenure/timeframe and on a below market, minimum rent/discounted below market rent basis. This was all agreed with the current tenant (The Willow), and they understood fully this arrangement. This is not a viable long-term agreement.

“The Willow have agreed to relocate to Musselburgh and on a more sustainable longer-term arrangement.”

Local SNP councillor for the area, Danny Aston, who supports the Save Jock’s Lodge campaign, said: “Alumno conducted what they termed a ‘consultation exercise’ last year where they asked for views from local people. I suspect they didn’t like what they heard in response. They’ve made minimal, superficial changes to their application. They have not tackled the underlying concerns of the community, which forces me to conclude it was always nothing more than a PR stunt.

“For instance, the simple reality is that Alumno’s application would reduce the number of pubs on the site from two to one, and the number of other commercial units from five to one. This would gut the Jock’s Lodge ‘local centre’ – the closest that we have to a high street in this area, where people come for shopping, a meal and a drink. The pub now called the Willow has been operating as a popular family venue since 2017, initially as the Barrelhouse.

“I wish the tenants of the Willow pub all the best with their new bar in Musselburgh. They’re clearly talented hospitality operators and will no doubt make their new premises a success too. But how that benefits Jock’s Lodge or the people who use its amenities is a mystery to me. Evidently, this has always been about Alumno maximising their margins, with lip service paid to the local community.

“Local people still have until 23:59 on Friday 10 February to get their comment into the Council’s planning team and make clear why we need to save Jock’s Lodge.”

New shop opening on Leith Walk

Just in time to take advantage of the new part of the tram line which will stop right outside their front door, Lauranne Bourgaux and her partner, Kieran Macrury are excited about their new shop. The premises on Haddington Place are now a groovy throwback is called Fifth Season Vintage, selling all kinds of unisex vintage clothing from the late 1960s to the early 2000s, focusing on quality timeless pieces, but also rare and unique pieces with a section for designer clothing. A lot of stock comes from Belgium, but other sources are top secret!

Until now Lauranne has sold everything online for the past four years and has done pop ups including one on George Street at egg & Co, but now it is time to put down their own roots.

Lauranne told us: “It has always been my dream. My dad had his own business, a CD and DVD shop for 30 years in Belgium so kind of grew up behind the counter. I used to play shop rather than with Barbie dolls.

“It has been difficult with Brexit increasing shipping costs, but we will stock lots of lovely vintage clothing, including shoes and accessories, including cowboy boots.”

The groovy shop opens on Friday at Haddington Place on Leith Walk.

Historic Environment Scotland open public consultation

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has opened a public consultation for everyone to shape the strategy for the country’s historic environment.

Neil Gray Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development has charged the body with updating their Strategy currently called Our Place in Time (OPiT).

The historic environment contributed £117 million to the country’s economy in 2021-22, and it supports employment and the development of skills as well as educational opportunities.

Adam Jackson, Head of Strategy and Policy at HES, said: “We know people in the Lothians feel strongly about Scotland’s heritage – we recently learned that 87% of people in the area said Scotland’s heritage is important to them. Given the diversity of the sector and the different ways in which this can manifest itself, we’re calling on them to make their voices heard and help us continue to champion Scotland’s past to make a better present and future against core agendas which have an impact on people’s lives, from economic recovery to equality and climate change.”

The consultation is open until 20 February 2023. To take part, visit the HES website.

Ryanair new routes

As a result of a multimillion pound investment in a new aircraft and additional crew at Edinburgh Airport, Ryanair is announcing six new routes from our capital’s airport this summer.

The new routes will take passengers to Belfast, Bournemouth, Cornwall, London Stansted, Rhodes and Venice as well as 63 other destinations in Ireland and Europe. There will also be an increase in the number of flights to the existing routes from Edinburgh with a total of 11 planes now based here which represent a total investment by the airline of $1.1 billion.

Ryanair has invested £100 million in a new Boeing 737-800 which will lead to 30 new jobs for pilots and cabin crew to fly 4.7 million passengers to and from Edinburgh this year.

An introductory fare of £29.99 for travel between April and October this year can be booked by midnight on 10 February.  www.ryanair.com

New homes in Portobello from a row of old garages

Planning permission has been granted to convert a row of old garages into two family homes in Portobello. Local councillor Tim Jones objected.

Read more here.

Please subscribe to The Edinburgh Reporter

Today would be a good day to buy a subscription to The Edinburgh Reporter monthly newspaper as our February paper is now with our stockists in various locations in the city. Among others all branches of Farmer Autocare have papers as well as Birthlink on Lower Gilmore Place and both Leith and Central Libraries. 

If you are able to subscribe, then it would help us to keep our online coverage free to access, and also ensure the future of our newspaper for this coming year. And if you do, then thank you.

Buy a subscription here or click the image below.

Monarchs Academy have added Cumbrian Adam Roynon to their line-up along with Dayle Wood, a new name to British speedway.

Roynon (pictured) brings an extensive knowledge of British speedway to the team and he has the potential to be a big scorer in the National Development League.

Scott Wilson, the team’s new manager, believes Roynon the biggest bargain in the league and he added: “To be able to bring a rider of his quality and experience into the side on a 6.00 average is a coup for the club.

Wood has experience from Australia and the 28-year-old from Wagga Wagga in New South Wales has raced motorcycles since the age of six before switching to speedway in 2018.

He is a British passport holder with a British mother and is determined to develop his speedway career by moving around the world to race more.

Wilson added: “Any rider willing to travel to the other side of the world to further their career is a very motivated individual and my conversations with Dayle have only confirmed this to me. He’s not coming over here to sit behind anyone.”

So the Edinburgh Monarchs Academy line-up so far is Kyran Lyden, Mickie Simpson, Alex Spooner, Adam Roynon, Dayle Wood.

ESMS has taken the decision to close its Boarding House, Dean Park House, on Queensferry Road in July 2025.

The school says it has weathered the pandemic well and numbers are strong and growing, however, boarding, which has always been a small part of the School, has not kept pace with their day places. 

A spokesperson said: “We have loved offering a second home to our boarders over the last 60 years. It is an important part of our heritage, however, our school must continue to evolve and as we invest in our future, our focus must be on our day students, who represent the vast majority of our School community.  

“The move will allow us to repurpose Dean Park House to expand our facilities for other areas of the School. 

“We would like to thank all the members of staff who have gone over and above to support our boarders over the years. Dean Park House will remain open for another two years and we will continue to accept new boarders throughout this period.”

ESMS is a group of independent schools in Edinburgh formed by the former Mary Erskine School for Girls and Stewart’s Melville – which was formerly Daniel Stewart’s and Melville College. In 1832 the Rev Robert Cunningham founded the Edinburgh Institution for Mathematics and Language at 59 George Street, which later became Melville College. 60 boys attended initially.

Notable alumni of Daniel Stewart’s include international athlete, Jake Wightman (who also attended Fettes College), the MSP Daniel Johnson, the Calder brothers who played rugby for Scotland, artist Sir William Russell Flint and the most well-known Scottish Olympic swimmer, David Wilkie.

Mary Erskine was a philanthropist who died in 1707 but established a school for girls, initially the daughters of burgesses.

Jet2.com has announced more availability in their winter sun flights and holidays in Turkey and Cyprus as they put 32,000 more seats on sale.

The holidays to Dalaman in Turkey will have added capacity with around 15,000 additional seats on sale all the way to 20 November.

And there are more than 6,000 more seats from the UK to Antalya in November.

As well as Turkey there are holiday options in Cyprus by flying to Paphos with extra flights leaving in early December.

In addition to departures from Edinburgh Airport there are flights from all other major airports in the UK.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “In recent weeks we have expanded our programmes for this winter and summer, and today we are continuing to respond to strong demand by expanding our programme for next winter too. Adding capacity across many seasons shows just how popular our flights and package holidays continue to be, and we know this extra winter sunshine to Dalaman, Antalya and Paphos will be extremely popular with customers and independent travel agents. Once again we are demonstrating our commitment to Turkey and Cyprus, two stunning destinations which continue to be firm favourites with UK holidaymakers all year round including the winter.”

 www.jet2.com   www.jet2holidays.com

Plans to knock down a row of derelict garages in Portobello to make way for two family homes have been given the go ahead.

Edinburgh councillors granted planning permission despite 40 local objections, after they visited the small site off East Brighton Crescent.

However the proposals were not backed by all members of the planning sub-committee this week with one saying he feared it would ‘cram too much into a very limited space’.

Residents also complained the new homes – described by one councillor as being “extremely attractive” – would be out of keeping with the Portobello conservation area and would overshadow neighbouring properties and invade privacy.

The existing four lock-up garages, situated at the end of Lee Crescent, will be demolished as the site is cleared for two semi-detached three-bed houses, both of which will have back gardens.

Work will also involve repositioning and rebuilding of the existing rear listed garden wall.

Planners said: “The two new houses will be one and a half storeys in height and of a contemporary design.

“The proposal will result in the creation of a satisfactory residential environment and will not have a detrimental impact on the amenity of neighbouring residents and setting of the listed building.”

However, one objector argued the plans would result in “over-development” of the site.

They said: “The existing garages are not visually intrusive and are appropriate in scale and form. The creation of two, 2-storey dwellings is over ambitious for this site.”

Another called it “visually intrusive,” adding: “It overlooks the gardens of 2/3 East Brighton Crescent, impacting their privacy. The proposed garden is too small and keeps light out of the ground floor living areas.”

It was also feared that having no parking spaces for the homes would result in added  pressure to “already congested” surrounding residential streets.

Following a site visit last week plans went before councillors at the City Chambers on Wednesday.

Cllr Jo Mowat praised the houses for being “extremely attractive and good use of space.”

Cllr Amy McNeese-Mechan said: “We’re not looking at the conversion of a listed building, we’ve got some not particularly attractive and probably not particularly useful lock-ups there that are going to become family homes, although I appreciate people right now may be concerned about the change.”

Planning sub-committee member Cllr Tim Jones said he was concerned the redevelopment would be “cramming too much into a very limited space”.

He added: “The problems regarding the impact in terms of noise, privacy – it’s very difficult to come down one side or the other on this.

“I do have quite serious reservations about this. I just feel it’s crammed into too small a space.”

The committee granted full planning permission and listed building consent with Cllr Jones, who represents Portobello, noting his dissent.

by Donald Turvill

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.