The Glasgow Clan, sponsored by Aspray Glasgow West, issued a news released timed for 7pm on Thursday night confirming that Finnish defenceman Lasse Uusivirta (picture courtesy of Glasgow Clan and Ritten Buam) was joining the club, then nearly three hours later revealed that there had been a u-turn.

The 33-year-old had been expected move to the UK after spells in his native Finland, North America, Germany, Austria, Denmark and Italy.

And it was indicated that Uusivirta could be iced against Belfast Giants in the Challenge Cup on Friday (face off 7.30pm) before a terse statement from the club on Twitter.

It said: “Lasse Uusivirta will not be signing for the club. A further statement will be issued on Friday.”

The Scottish Gallery presents a group exhibition of artworks this Autumn, showcasing a variety of pieces and practices. Artists include Bill Scott; Derrick Guild; Douglas Finch; Hannah McAndrew; Gregory Alliss; James Maskrey; Joe Fan; Koji Hatakeyama; Malcolm Appleby; Naoko Shibua; Stephen Bird; Vicky Lindo and Bill Brookes.

This vast exhibition divides into two sections, one displaying painted surfaces and sculpture, and one section exploring objects, to encourage visitors to investigate what may be beneath the surface of artworks.

Part I
Celebrating the fifty-year career of Scottish Sculptor Bill Scott, ‘Haecceity’ showcases a selection of Scott’s mixed-media, bronze and wooden constructions which explored the human experience and how spaces are inhabited. Scott considered these spaces defined by the changes in society, science and art; an attitude also reflected in his teaching. A dedicated advocate for sculpture, Scott served
on the board for the Royal Scottish Academy of Art, to which he was the first sculptor to be elected President, and Chairman of the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop.

Derrick Guild’s collection of paintings and objects in his exhibition, ‘Natural History’, presents a blend between classical and contemporary, referencing European still life of the 15th – 19th centuries whilst emphasising their anachronistic ambiguity. Guild aims to create a fluidity between past and present and address its ever-present influence of the human condition.

He commented, “I feel the still life format easily allows narrative and metaphor, complexity and simplicity to be conveyed. Whilst every painting can be read alone, I feel that they are each a single sentence in a much longer and ongoing dialogue. The objects are, in a sense, three-dimensional versions of my still life paintings.”

Joe Fan’s exhibition ‘Curiosities’ reflects an extensive exploration; Fan studied at Gray’s School of Art where he was taught by Gordon Bryce, spent time at Cite Internationale Des Arts, and returned to Gray’s as a lecturer and visiting lecturer at Cyprus College of Art.

He was awarded the Miller Homes Young Scottish Artist of the Year Award in 1988 and was elected to be a Royal Scottish Academy Academician. Fan’s passion for his garden and nature is prevalent within his drawings and paintings, offering intricate and detailed surrealist styled works.

The Gallery welcomes a new group of works by Naoko Shibua in ‘Capturing Nature’. These works explore the dramatic changes that are shown through plants and flowers as they grow and wither, capturing the fleeting moments in the stream of time and nature. Having studied at Tama Art University, Shibua continued her practice at Edinburgh College of Art and continues to create between her two studios in Edinburgh and Tokyo.

Shibua said, “I draw ideas from the form of trees, plants, flowers and small birds, not only for visual effects, but also to express the strength and robustness of nature”.

Culled from his travels through India, Asia and Australia, Stephen Bird’s showcasing of works reflects these influences of English figure and slipware traditions, paintings and artefacts in hi exhibition, ‘What Are You Looking At?’. His use of words, collage and found objects as part of the final work, results in powerful multi-dimensional imagery which mirror the global, transcultural nature of myths and ceramic archetypes.

Part II
Internationally renowned potters Douglas Fitch and Hannah McAndrew’s collection ‘A Slipware Tradition’ reflects their distinct styles and also their shared influence of slip decorated earthenware and historical, traditional pottery. Partners in the studio and in life, Fitch and McAndrew both work in red earthenware with a restricted palette of colour slips and rich honey glazes in their workshop, hidden away in the Scottish countryside of Dumfries and Galloway.

Gregory Alliss’ unique glass pieces created by kiln-casting and coldworking techniques are explored in ‘Ubiquitous’, showcasing his skilled practice and understanding for the fragile yet unyielding material. Having graduated from Edinburgh College of Art and currently undergoing a PhD into the qualities and potential use of waste/recycled glass and sustainable practice, Alliss continues to investigate the possibilities for glass artworks.

He commented, “I am inspired by cloud formations, and the juxtaposition of two types of glass creates a visible line which is used to reference the
natural world. Combining this glass in the kiln pushes the boundaries of the material and reshapes what is possible in the process”.

The qualities of glasswork are also explored in James Maskrey’s The Cartographer. Working instead with hot glass for over 30 years, his work is included in collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Crafts Council. Creating factual and imagined objects that are inspired from personal experiences, facts and voyages of discovery to investigate traditional craft skills and new technologies.

The works provide a narrative through this traditional craft approach that invites the viewer to interpret them through combinations of snippets of information, title and the objects themselves.
Koji Hatakeyama’s enigmatic bronze castings will celebrate the artist’s longstanding relationship with The Scottish Gallery in ‘Contained’, with the return of his bronze boxes lined with gold and silver interiors.

These surfaces represent the landscape and evoke a sense of time with bronze being a material that has a memory of a thousand years. Hatakeyama stated, “I create contained vessels; I try to convey the sense that something is concealed or hidden within. I try to provoke a sense of the spiritual world in my bronze boxes. The patterns and facets I create on the outside are a direct response to the landscape”.

Silversmith and metal engraver, Malcolm Appleby’s ‘A Lifetime Achievement’ reveres his long association with the Gallery. Appleby has dedicated his artistic practice primarily to engraving and pushing the boundaries of metalwork; constant experimentation has made him a master of his craft and in 2014 he received an MBE for his outstanding contribution to the arts. Known for his imaginative use of line and form, Appleby considers gold just another lovely material to work with.

Vicky Lindo and Bill Brookes’ collection, ‘Scratching the Surface’, display their large-scaled pieces and ceramics. The couple’s work draws on subjects as diverse as classical mythology, history, the natural world, and even politics, as well as their own day-to-day lives. The two work in partnership, with Lindo designing the original objects in clay before Brookes creates the mould and the centrifugal apparatus needed to make each object. In 2019, Lindo and Brookes won the BCB Award for ‘Dead Dad Book’, nine large-form vessels which were acquired for the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Title – Scratching the Surface
Exhibition Dates – Thursday 29th September 2022 – Saturday 29th October 2022
Location – The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6HZ

Website www.scottish-gallery.co.uk

Ryan Corbett really enjoys introducing new audiences to the accordion, and the evening concert planned for 14 October is his first project with pianist Dida Condria (who was recently nominated as a finalist for BBC Young Musician 2022).

The young accordionist was also recently inducted into the BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists scheme, which picks the most brilliant young musicians. All the more notable as he is the first accordion player to be accepted. 

The concert will be a rare chance to hear a piano and accordion duo perform a mix of pieces, from classical Bach to romantic Franck,  as well as more contemporary works, including one based on fairly tales.

Although the accordion is more associated with traditional music, the number of classical teachers for it is growing, and contemporary composers are also increasingly including the instrument in their compositions thanks to its unique sound.

Ryan and Dida are currently rehearsing in Glasgow ahead of their performance in Musselburgh.

Tickets here. As well as the concert at 7.30pm you can book a two course dinner at 6pm at The Bistro making this a special night out. Tickets: £37 (£35) Dinner & Concert, £16 (£14) Concert Only.

Concert Programme:
 
Franck: Prelude, Fugue & Variation, Op.18 
Bach: English Suite No. 2 in A Minor 
Liszt: Venezia e Napoli 
Lohse: In Liquid… 
Trojan: Fairy Tales for Accordion and Orchestra

Scotland’s Environment Minister Mairi McAllan and Biodiversity Minister Lorna Slater have written a joint letter to the UK Government urging them to drop the proposals announced in its mini-budget, which they call “an attack on nature…and on the devolution settlement”.

The letter states that these proposals “demonstrate a reckless attitude to legislation that has been developed over many decades and that enshrines vital protections for both nature and people”.

This follows the reaction of RSPB England to the Chancellor’s mini budget announced last Friday which also called the financial measures an attack on nature, also tweeting “Make no mistake, we are angry. This Government has today launched an attack on nature. We don’t use the words that follow lightly. We are entering uncharted territory.”

The full text of the letter is below:

To: Ranil Jayawardena MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Rt Hon Mark Spencer MP, Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

We write with urgency regarding proposals announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Friday, about which the Scottish Government had very little prior notification.  These measures, alongside the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, represent an attack on nature (when we should be demonstrating global leadership in the lead up to the important CoP15 global summit), and on the devolved settlement itself. We therefore ask that you and your Government drop these damaging proposals, and instead work with us and the other devolved governments, to deliver high environmental standards that rise to the nature emergency and respect devolution.

Your government has given little clarity over how the measures included in the mini-budget will be taken forward, and what the implications of them will be for Scotland. Nor have you engaged with us in advance on these issues.  However, from the information that has been made available, we share the strong concerns highlighted by nature groups such as the RSPB and the Woodland Trust.  The proposals demonstrate a reckless attitude to legislation that has been developed over many decades and that enshrines vital protections for both nature and people.

Your proposed measures also threaten to undermine our programme of planning reform that is underway in Scotland.  National Planning Framework 4 will signal a turning point for planning in Scotland, and we have been clear that responding to both the global climate emergency and the nature crisis will be central to that.

In addition to the measures set out in the mini-budget, the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill threatens to further undermine standards, as well as the Scottish Government’s powers to protect Scotland’s environment. As set out in the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture’s recent letter to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Bill puts at risk the high standards people in Scotland have rightly come to expect from EU membership. Your government appears to want to row back more than 40 years of protections in a rush to impose a deregulated, race to the bottom on our society and economy.  It is particularly alarming that our environmentally-principled approach of controls on polluting substances, ensuring standards for water and air quality, and providing protection for our natural habitats and wildlife are at risk from this deregulatory programme.

Retained EU Law provides Scotland with a high standard of regulation. As we have repeatedly said, Scottish Ministers will continue to seek alignment with EU standards where possible and in a manner that contributes to maintaining and improving environmental protections.  As part of this effort, we remain committed to an ambitious programme of enhancing nature protections and delivering nature restoration.  This includes delivering on the vision set out in the recent consultation on our new biodiversity strategy, setting ambitious statutory nature recovery targets, delivering on our vision to be a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture, investing in our natural capital such as through our Nature Restoration Fund, and expanding and improving our national park network.

Finally, as mentioned above, we are particularly concerned that this attack on nature has come at a critical moment as we approach the UN CoP15 biodiversity summit at the end of this year. The Scottish Government is committed to supporting an ambitious global framework to halt and reverse biodiversity decline, but this sudden and fundamental change in position means our views are no longer represented, and has undermined the UK’s ability to have a positive influence on the outcome of the talks.

We strongly urge you to reconsider both the anti-nature measures set out in the mini-budget and the proposed Retained EU Law Bill. Should you proceed regardless of our concerns and those of the public and civil society across the UK, then as a minimum we seek a guarantee that none of these measures will apply in Scotland without specific consent from the Scottish Government. We expect this matter to be considered at the next IMG-EFRA on 24 October.

From: Minister for Environment and Land Reform Màiri McAllan MSP
Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater MSP

The Registrar General for Scotland, Paul Lowe, has confirmed that Her Majesty The Queen’s death was registered in Aberdeenshire on 16 September 2022. 

This document confirms that Queen Elizabeth II died at 3.10pm on 8 September, and that the notification was made to the Registrar in Aberdeenshire by HRH The Princess Royal.

National Records of Scotland has today published an extract from Her Majesty The Queen’s entry in the Register of Deaths. An official extract of an entry in the Register of Deaths can also be referred to as a death certificate.

More information here.

Guildford Flames square-up to Fife Flyers in a double-header this weekend, with the first fixture at Kirkcaldy on Saturday (face-off 19.15).

And Flyers’ head coach Todd Dutiaume believes it is a good time to face the English combine as two key crocked players could make their comebacks.

The experienced Canadian said: “That has been the biggest factor right from the beginning of the season. 

“We had a lot of talented guys in our line-up, and we have been missing two of our big engines, forwards Dillon Lawrence (cor) and Mikael Johansson (cor). You inject those two bodies into the line-up and you look formidable.

“We have a good chance of seeing Johansson in some capability and Lawrence has responded well in training this week and there is an outside chance we may see him as well. This would be very welcome.”

Flyers were edged 3-2 at Coventry Blaze on Sunday, but Dutiaume stressed there were positives. 

He said: “We have shown the players the game tape and we clearly came out a little flat for whatever reason we are putting it down to extended minutes.

“I had some players are icing for long minutes (to cover for injured men) and that is ridiculous and there were moments in the second period and certainly in the third we continued to push right to the buzzer.

“Character in the team was shown again and it is easy to throw in the towel when you are up against it and short of bodies, it is easy to come out and not give 100 per cent because you know how tired you are going to be at the end of the game, but these guys keep going.

“What we have to address is our start. We need to start better and be thoroughly engaged for 60 minutes and we are working on that.” 

The return is at Guildford on Sunday (18.00).

Meanwhile, Flyers and local radio station, Kingdom FM, have formalised their partnership for the season.

Messages from players, news stories, exclusive offers and updates about the team will be aired.

Tony Chalmers, the station’s commercial manager, said: “Both brands share the same core values and vision to engage with our audiences as we’re both fully committed to serving our local community so the synergy couldn’t be better.”

Todd Dutiaume, Flyers’ general manager and head coach, said: “The opportunity to reach an expanded audience and increase our fan base is exciting.”

PICTURE: Flyers training in midweek. Picture by Nigel Duncan

Gutted Glasgow must overturn a 30-point deficit on Saturday (tapes-up 3pm) in the play-off, semi-final, second-leg if they are to make the final of the SGB Championship play-off.

Tigers were mauled 60-30 in the first-leg at Poole on Wednesday when the visitors mustered two heat wins – and one race advantage – as they struggled to rein in the rampant Pirates who were razor-sharp at the gate.

The tone was set with two opening 5-1s from the home team and, by the time seven races had been completed, the lead had stretched to 16.

It took until heat nine for a Tiger to chalk up a race win as guest Paul Starke, an ex-Tiger, headed home former Edinburgh Monarchs rider Steve Worrall.

But there was to be no revival as the Pirates put three more maximums on the card before a 4-2 in Heat 15 gave Glasgow their only advantage of the night, courtesy of Craig Cook and Ben Basso.

Saturday’s return leg takes place at 3pm.

PICTURED: Glasgow manager Cami Brown (courtesy of Glasgow Tigers)

The Scottish Open Speedway Championship will bring down the curtain on Armadale for Edinburgh Monarchs and the date for your diary is Saturday, October 15 (tapes-up 6.30pm). Gates open at 5pm.

Alex Harkess, Monarchs’ chairman, Alex Harkess said: “Armadale Stadium has been a terrific home for the Monarchs and the Scottish Open Championship will be a fitting way to say Farewell to Armadale. There will be a great field and we hope to see many old faces there to celebrate the wonderful time we have spent at the stadium.”

The championship is sponsored by Duddingston Private Hire and Ratho Coaches and supported by Event Scotland.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland director of events, said: “EventScotland is supporting the Scottish Open Speedway Championship through the National Events Funding Programme, helping to bring an action-packed evening of motor cycling to West Lothian.

“Armadale, home to the Edinburgh Monarchs, has been the perfect stage for motorsports and I’m sure this fantastic event will be enjoyed by all.”

The line-up will see riders who have ridden in Monarchs colours during the Armadale era, with the first names to be confirmed in the coming days. After the main event, the curtain will fall with the sky lit up with a spectacular fireworks display.

The Scottish Open will see 22 heats and tickets are on sale now. Fans are encouraged to book in advance with high demand anticipated.

Restricting a city’s speed limits to 20mph reduced road deaths by almost a quarter and serious injuries by a third, research has revealed.

Accident rates across Edinburgh fell even without extra traffic-calming measures and police patrols – making the scheme cost-effective, the study found.The relatively modest cost of replacing speed limit signs not only improved road safety but also enhanced quality of life for residents, researchers say.Prior to the new restrictions, 45 out of 100 cars in Edinburgh travelled above 25 mph – one year later, the figure had dropped to 31.

Average speeds on affected roads also fell, according to the study – the UK’s most extensive evaluation of 20mph speed limits so far. Researchers say the number of collisions in one year fell by 40 per cent to 367, and there were 409 fewer casualties – a drop of 39 per cent.

A breakdown of the casualty figures reveals that fatalities dropped by 23 per cent and serious injuries fell by 33 per cent. The team from the Universities of Edinburgh, Cambridge, East Anglia, St Andrews and Bristol and Queen’s University Belfast collaborated with walking and cycling charity Sustrans. Researchers worked with local and national traffic authorities to gauge the effectiveness of 20mph restrictions introduced by The City of Edinburgh Council in 2016.

The new limits applied in 80 per cent of Edinburgh’s streets in a bid to cut accidents, encourage more walking and cycling and create more pleasant neighbourhoods.The research, which also assessed a smaller scheme in Belfast, found that reducing traffic speed also helps to create better quality environments.

Researchers measured liveability – safety, health, sustainability, education, transport, amenities and living standards – and found it improved in both cities after the introduction of speed restrictions. One year after implementation, the number of people who were supportive of the speed limits increased, as did their willingness to obey the limits. Researchers interviewed residents to assess the overall impact. They also examined official records and data, and studied how decisions were reached and regulations were enforced.Project leader

Professor Ruth Jepson, of the University of Edinburgh, said: “The study shows that city-wide speed reductions can reduce collisions and casualties and that they were increasingly accepted by the local community.”

Edinburgh City Council’s former transport and environment convener, Lesley Hinds – who proposed the scheme – said: “It is encouraging to see the reduction in deaths, accidents and speeds. 

“It is also good there is an increase in support from the public in residential streets as well as in the city centre.”

The Belfast scheme, which was restricted to city centre streets, led to a 2 per cent drop in casualties and collisions, and minor reductions. Researchers say results reflect the scheme’s narrower reach and its implementation in an area where traffic speeds were already low prior to the trial – on average less than 20mph.

Professor Ruth Hunter, of Queen’s University Belfast, said: “City-wide expansion of 20mph limits in Belfast would likely lead to further reductions in casualties, collisions and other important public health outcomes”The study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research, which has also published the findings.

 https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/phr/XAZI9445/#/abstract

Western Wildcats warmed-up for Europe by beating Erskine Stewart’s Melville at Inverleith Playing Fields last weekend and on Saturday (17.15 Central Eurpopean Time) they face a stern opening test against former winners and this year’s hosts Harvestehuder THC in Europe’s top hockey league in Hamburg.
Western come into the event in fine form having won their three opening Premiership games so far this term, scoring 18 goals and conceding one.
The Scots are making their return to the prestige event for the first time in 13 years and they are bidding to get past the first stage for the first time.
And they are excited to be playing the former tournament winners on their home pitch according to captain Rob Harwood.
Western travel with a full squad including Hamish Galt who passed a late fitness test after being sidelined with a hand injury.
Harwood (pictured by Nigel Duncan, a member of Scotland’s international squad, added: “Playing Harvestehuder at their home pitch will be a brilliant experience. There will be a big crowd and we expect it to be a great spectacle.
“They have a squad full of talented players and it will be a really tough game but, from our point of view, it is important we give a good account of ourselves and we will need to be on top form in order to compete.”
He added: “We have a strong squad and great belief in our ability so we can’t wait to get going.”
Two Western stars have experience in the tournament. Evergreen striker Jonathan Christie and goalkeeper Gavin Somerville, and their coach, former player, Vishal Marwaha, has also played in the event, the pinnacle of European hockey.
He said: “We are excited to be a part of it and these are the games you want to be involved in.”
Three Western players also have international experience as they were in Scotland’s Commonwealth Games squad in Birmingham.
They are Callum Duke, Harwood and free-scoring Andrew McConnell who has netted seven goals in domestic competition so far this term.
Western’s confidence is on a high having won the Premiership, Scottish Cup and indoor cup last season and they were runners-up in the EuroHockey Club Trophy II with the help of six goals from McConnell.
But they will need to be at their best against Harvestehuder who are making their first appearance in the event since 2016 when they won a bronze medal in Barcelona.
They are previous winners having won gold on their debut in 2014 and a number of players from that squad are still involved including Austrian Michael Körper, one of the competitions most prolific scorers with 20 goals in 12 fixtures.
He netted in the shoot-out to win in the 2014 Grand Final and the team also includes English-born George Farrant, plus South Africans Nick Spooner and Kilian Pöhling, two players from the Argentine and a Welshman, Hywell Jones.

Early photograph album of Edinburgh sells for 20 times more than estimate at auction

A newly discovered album featuring some of the earliest photographs of Edinburgh was sold at auction by Lyon & Turnbull on Wednesday for over £85,000, more than 20 times the estimated price (£4,000).

Taken by pioneering photographer and architect Charles George Hood Kinnear (1830-1894) the salt prints formerly belonged to the Kinnear family of Kinloch House in Fife. 

Kinnear became a founding member of the Photographic Society of Scotland in 1856 and the same year entered into partnership with Edinburgh architect, John Dick Peddie.

Peddie & Kinnear became one of Scotland’s most celebrated architectural firms of the day. The business was responsible for designing much of modern Edinburgh, including Cockburn Street, which winds its way from Market Street near Waverley Station to the heart of the Royal Mile.

Not only did Kinnear exhibit his innovative images in Scotland and across Europe, he also designed a folding camera, thus cementing his reputation at the dawn of photography.

Meanwhile a rare letter by Oliver Cromwell, also offered by Lyon & Turnbull in its Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs sale, went for for £17,640, more than three times the estimated price (£5,000).

Penned in the spring of 1648, the unique epistle which is written entirely in Cromwell’s own hand, discusses personal matters relating to the proposed marriage of his son to Dorothy, daughter of Hampshire gentleman, Richard Major.

A leading figure in the Parliamentarians’ revolt against Charles I during the English Civil War, Cromwell went on to oversee the execution of the King in January 1649, late appointing himself Lord Protector, a title he ensured was inherited on his death in 1658 by his son Richard. 

Cromwell appeals to his friend, Richard, to whom the letter is addressed, to communicate his wishes to his son’s future father-in-law: “I desire you to carrie this businesse with all privacie, I beseech you to doe soe as you love mee, let mee entreat you not to loose a day herein, that I may know Mr Maiors minde…I much rely upon you.”

Lyon & Turnbull’s Rare Books, Manuscripts & Maps Specialist, Dominic Somerville-Brown, said: “There is always great anticipation on the day of a sale and we knew that the items being auctioned would attract a great deal of interest. That said, one can never know just how much interest there will be, nor just how much people will be prepared to pay to own a piece of history.”

Comedian Jojo Sutherland, who has called South Queensferry her home since 1995 will say goodbye to a permanent abode as she leaves to embark upon an exciting adventure to nowhere. 

Jojo Sutherland announced that she will give up her house in the picturesque South Queensferry on Friday after 27 years to eventually live in a motorhome and tour comedy venues around the UK.

But first, she’s off to live with friends and family in Edinburgh, Manchester and London, as well as appearing at the Aberdeen and Galway Comedy Festivals, before heading to Australia for a 3 month tour in January.  

Sutherland brought her two youngest children to the town 27 years ago, married twice and gave birth another twice. Her mother and father died in South Queensferry. A keen community member, she ran the local comedy night for a decade.

The host of the Be Honest podcast will head to Australia to perform at the Perth Fringe Festival (20 January – 19 February), Adelaide Comedy Festival (17 February – 19 March 2023) and the Melbourne Comedy Festival (29 March – 23 April) before returning to Scotland to continue her travels in a motorhome. 

Jojo said: “There has never been a better time to change the way I live. I’ve been telling people for months that I’m off to live in a motorhome, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m single for the first time in 30 years, all my kids have left home and I am doing the job I love all over the UK. 

“Instead of travelling to cities to then come back home, I can always be on the move forward. 

“Obviously South Queensferry will always have a place in my heart, and I can’t wait to bring the motorhome here next summer. This is the place that I was able to bring life into the world, and also say goodbye to my Mum and Dad. 

“The town even waited until my youngest child had gone to High School before they knocked it down! 

“It has been the home of births, deaths, my own near death experience when I had a brain haemorrhage as well as marriages and divorces. It’ll be quite the wrench to leave, but off I go on my adventure to nowhere. No matter what, I’ll always be moving forward – first stop Manchester.” 

This year’s Christmas at the Botanics will open to the public on 17 November 2022.

Set within the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), the one-mile trail will include new installations specially created by artists for the event.  The new installations will feature alongside what have become festive favourites on the trail including a projection onto the front of Inverleith House and the Christmas Cathedral, a tunnel of sparkling lights.

The 12 illuminated flora called Lilies is new for this year. With each luminous flower measuring one metre tall, the installation located on the Botanics pond has been created by artist Jig Cochrane, founder of Jigantics. This will be the first time that his designs have been on a large scale display in Edinburgh, after showing them at venues around the globe since 1989, before Jigantics was established in 2007. The Lilies make use of low LED lights to help the efficiency of the art, with similar lights being used in both the whimsical Feathers and twinkling Aurora installations.

Along the route will be 14 giant wicker sculptures of Christmas gifts, created by talented artist Woody Fox.  Additionally, the Fire Garden will make a triumphant return to the trail this year. Including 120 glowing cans of light creating a warm and cosy illusion and taking the edge off the crisp Edinburgh air, the installation will be accompanied by lanterns of various sizes as provided by Mandylights.

Last year, the trail proved to be a popular event, attracting 90,000 people over its six-week run. This year’s trail runs on selected nights from 17 November until 30 December, with tickets available to buy now.

Kari Coghill, Director of Enterprise and Communication at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh,said: “Now in its sixth year, Christmas at the Botanics has become a milestone moment in the public’s festive calendar. Set against the beauty of the Garden, the newly confirmed light installations will bring something fresh and magical to the trail. Seeing the Garden as you wouldn’t normally is a whole new sensory experience. I am particularly looking forward to seeing the giant lilies, but as ever, there is something for everyone to enjoy during their visit after dark.

“This year’s trail will take visitors past but not into the location of our landmark restoration project, Edinburgh Biomes, now underway to avoid the loss of valuable plant species in our living collection.

Visitors to the trail contribute to our wider work to address the challenges of biodiversity loss and the climate emergency.  Profits from ticket sales support our plant research and conservation efforts in Scotland and around the world.

Jonathan Marks, Director at Raymond Gubbay, the division of Sony Music which is promoting the event, said: “Bringing new installations to the trail is exciting – for both new customers and for our regulars. With many festive favourites also returning, visitors can be sure their evening will be an illuminating adventure and lots of fun.”

Tickets for this year’s show are on sale now.  www.rbge.org.uk/christmas

‘Undertow Overflow’ is a brand-new collaboration between multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Amy Duncan and writer/director Ben Harrison. It combines their love of simple narratives with a strong emotional undertow. The title of the show comes from a joining of the title of Amy’s album ‘Undercurrents’ with Ben’s short story collection ‘Overflow’.

This special performance will be an openhearted exploration of the strangeness of human love and loss, filled with vivid and poetic imagery. The intended audience will come from lovers of music as well as literature, and the curious from Ben’s theatre community.

Amy has released 8 albums so far and Ben’s work as a performer of his own stories is a relatively recent development in his practice. After a year of reading at the monthly ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ events at Summerhall in Edinburgh, Ben was asked to headline the event.

Amy and Ben will entwine their practices to create an evening of emotionally charged, surprising and uplifting performance.

They are inspired by such artists as Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman who toured the world with a suite of songs and stories woven together.

Amy Duncan and Ben Harrison comment on the show: “We believe that there is a synergy between our work, and that the performance will be a refreshing blend for audiences who may have been to gigs, or to spoken word evenings, but rarely a mixture of both. We are so excited to be working together at last having known each other for so long since the days of Swelling Meg in the mid-Nineties.

“We aim to offer an evening exploring love and loss and the strange beauty of human relationship, with laughter and tears along the way.”

For Ben this is a real departure into the world of being onstage after over thirty years as a successful theatre director. His last professional engagement as a performer was nearly twenty-five years ago.

For ‘Undertow Overflow’ Ben has recruited leading and multi-award-winning director Jemima Levick to direct his performance. Ben and Jemima are established colleagues and friends since she was assistant director on the multi-award-winning Grid Iron/ National Theatre of Scotland show Roam in 2006.

6th Oct – Summerhall, Edinburgh 8.00pm – www.summerhall.co.uk/sh-event/undertow-overflow/

The show will tour throughout Scotland. For more details see:  https://www.undertowoverflow.com/

The operator of Edinburgh’s expanding tram network is joining forces with sustainable transport campaigners to champion traffic free streets across the city.

On Sunday 2 October Edinburgh Trams will back the initiative that aims to help raise awareness about air pollution while encouraging car owners to be less dependent on their vehicles. 

Supported by The City of Edinburgh Council and organised by Crexcell, the event also sets out to help people to think differently when it comes to tackling climate change.

Neil Booth, Edinburgh Trams’ Safety Manager (Environment), commented: “Car-free days provide a massive opportunity for cities to raise awareness of how pollution affects our lives, and highlight how congested roads can be used in different ways.

“At Edinburgh Trams we are fully committed to helping to make Edinburgh healthier, safer and more attractive for both residents and visitors by providing a quick, convenient and reliable alternative to driving into the city centre.”

The tram operator already plays a significant role in reducing reliance on more carbon intense forms of transport by offering environmentally friendly travel for tens of thousands of people every day.

To help minimise carbon emissions in the city centre, people driving into Edinburgh can park their cars at Ingliston Park & Ride which has more than 1,000 spaces available, including electric vehicle charging points, before completing their journey by tram.

“Faced with the current climate crisis, we all need to work together to ensure a sustainable future for our city and following the completion of the Trams to Newhaven project we’ll be able to further meet the needs of Edinburgh’s residents and help them to adopt a greener lifestyle,” Mr Booth added.

Following World Car Free Day, which took place in September this local event on 2 October highlights the numerous benefits of citizens going car-free and further details can be found here.

The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson, and Transport and Environment Convener, Cllr Scott Arthur met to take a look at the newly operational EV chargers in Stockbridge on Wednesday.

The council has used a £2.3 million grant from Transport Scotland to install 81 new chargers (141 charging bays). These include 41 rapid and fast chargers at on street locations with the remainder in Hermiston and Ingliston Park and Ride sites.

The installation of these new chargers is to encourage the use of electric vehicles which will have lower emissions. The switch to more sustainable transport of all kinds is a key aim of Scotland’s Climate Week which began on Monday.

Cllr Arthur said: “I am delighted that we are expanding on-street electric vehicle chargers across the capital in a way that does not leave footpaths cluttered with cables and chargers. These new chargers will provide convenient charging for residents and visitors alike travelling around the city.

“Increasing the provision for greener technologies such as electric cars is a vital step in our wider plan for decarbonising transport in Edinburgh and for reaching our goal to become a net-zero carbon city by 2030, which is brought into sharp focus during Scotland’s Climate Week.

“Of course, choosing to walk, cycle or use public transport is the best travel decision people can make if they want to help us in our net-zero ambition.”

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport Michael Matheson said: “During Scotland’s Climate Week and ahead of World EV Day, I’m pleased to welcome these new EV charge points across Edinburgh to the ChargePlace Scotland network.

“Phasing out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, to help respond to the climate emergency, can only be achieved if drivers have the range confidence that comes from readily available charging infrastructure. These latest charge points help provide that confidence to people who require EV charging in the capital.

“Our previous funding approaches have helped us deliver the most public electric vehicle charging points outside of London, and the most rapid charge points anywhere in the UK. We now want to see greater private sector investment and involvement in line with our draft vision for Scotland’s public EV charging network – delivering more infrastructure faster and in way that is more accessible than ever before.”

EV Charger locations:

• Comely Bank Terrace/Avenue
  • 4 fast 22kW chargers with 8 charging bays
• East London Street
  • 4 rapid 50kW chargers with 4 charging bays
• Fettes Avenue
  • 4 rapid 50kW chargers with 4 charging bays
• Heriot Row
  • 2 rapid 50kW chargers with 2 charging bays and 3 fast 22kW chargers with 6 charging bays
• Hermiston Park and Ride
  • 5 rapid 50kW chargers with 5 charging bays and 14 standard 7kW chargers with 28 bays
• Ingliston Park and Ride
  • 6 rapid 50kW chargers with 6 charging bays and 15 standard 7kW chargers with 30 bays
• King’s Road
  • 4 fast 22kW chargers with 8 charging bays
• Maxwell Street
  • 4 fast 22kW chargers with 8 charging bays
• Montgomery Street
  • 4 fast 22kW chargers with 8 charging bays
• Sheriff Brae
  • 4 fast 22kW chargers with 8 charging bays
• Stewart Terrace
  • 4 fast 22kW chargers with 8 charging bays
• Thirlestane Road
  • 4 fast 22kW chargers with 8 charging bays

There is information about how to use the charging points here on the council website.

Yoyo Cups, a new Edinburgh initiative to combat climate change and save money with every takeaway tea or coffee has launched a waste-cutting partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU).

Scots use 200 million single use cups a year – just one in 400 are recycled and the rest end up as landfill or litter, polluting streets, rivers and oceans. What’s more, materials and transport are making them increasingly costly for caterers.

Yoyo Cups, the country’s brand new reusable cup leasing service, solve the problem – customers pay a modest deposit to get their takeaway drink in a stylish reusable steel cup which is refunded when it’s returned.

Each cup just needs to be used and returned nine times to be carbon neutral and when it eventually needs to be replaced it is 100% recyclable.

Crucially, customers can keep the cup and get it refilled as often as they like then return it to any participating outlet.

Yoyo Cups are being pioneered by Ostrero, an Edinburgh-based organisation dedicated to using good design and new thinking to eliminate waste and promote a circular economy.

Co-founders Mary Michel, from Edinburgh and Marian Brown, from Moffat, are delighted to be teaming up with a major institution to run a large scale pilot project.

Mary said: “Single use cups have to go – the waste, the pollution and the increasing financial cost makes them unsustainable in every way.

“Having an organisation the size of GCU on board for a large-scale pilot project underlines what a gamechanger this could be.

“We are also trialling them with a series of independent cafes, which shows that they are ideal for every kind of customer and every size of business.”

GCU describes the scheme as a “Cup Library” allowing students and staff to get refills as many times as they like and return it when it suits them. The trial which is being run by caterer BaxterStory at the Sir Alex Ferguson library and two of their other campus cafes, will involve 1,000 cups.

Paulo Cruz, GCU’s Sustainability Officer, said: “We’re launching the GCU Yoyo Cup Library because it supports our commitment to zero waste. At GCU single-use cups account for around 5% of our general waste, all of which is processed into a refuse-derived fuel. Also, in a recent survey more than 85% of students who took part want disposable cups to be phased out. Yoyo Cups are zero waste by design and will help us reduce this difficult-to-recycle waste stream at source.”

The Yoyo Cups name came from Marian’s sons who had been on a trip to a beach and wanted to help find ways to reduce the amount of litter being washed up on the Scottish coast.

She said: “Mary and I felt that a good name was really important to getting across how the scheme worked and to describe the benefits, but nothing we thought of really worked.

“But after a visit to the beach with my children we were talking about it they just said ‘it’s like a yoyo’ and that was it, the magic moment of inspiration.

“The idea just sums up everything, the cups keep being returned to the café, the cafes return their old cups to us, the materials for the cups keep on being returned to make new products – the ultimate in yoyos.”

The benefits of Yoyo Cups for consumers are:

• Forgotten your reusable cup? No problem!
• Cost-neutral. Deposit is fully refundable when the cup is returned to any café in the Yoyo Cups network.
• Convenient and easy to use.
• Eco-friendly, sustainable, waste-free option on the go.
• Well-made with double walls to keep drinks hot (or cold) for longer.
• Cool to the touch.
• Tracking system lets users see their (46.6g of CO₂e per use) carbon savings grow.
• Highly durable.

The benefits of Yoyo Cups for cafes are:

• Money saving – cups are leased with a monthly subscription and a deposit not bought.
• Attract eco-conscious customers by providing a high quality reusable alternative to single-use cups.

• Cuts waste collection costs.
• Minimises your café’s carbon footprint.
• Makes sustainability appealing with attractive design of reusable cups.

https://yoyocups.com

Errol White and Davina Givan present Worn. The major new show from Scotland’s leading contemporary dance duo Errol White and Davina Givan will tour Scotland this autumn beginning at The Brunton in Musselburgh on Friday.

New show explores how the body is affected by time, space and experience, taking inspiration from the ancient Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken pottery is mended with gold or silver, making the cracks into a beautiful and valuable part of the object

The company has also branched into research and development for two brand new pieces, Hush and Grace.

Originally due to tour during Spring 2020 but postponed due to Covid, Worn is an emotive new dance production, exploring how the body is affected by time and space, and the experiences, marks and scars that become part of our history and affect our present as well as our possible futures.

Choreographed and performed by Errol White and Davina Givan, Worn draws inspiration from the ancient Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken pottery is mended with gold or silver, making the cracks into a beautiful and valuable part of the object.

White & Givan’s trademark strong physical presence, dynamic and tender choreography engages on both a physical and emotional level and asks very relevant questions about the acceptance of transience and imperfection in our current Instagram culture.

“The personal moments directly informing are many” says Errol.  “One that stands out for me is receiving his father’s leather jacket as a young man. It was from the 60’s or 70’s the colour a strange, almost-orange with lining beginning to degrade. It had a smell that brought back memories instantly; the past became the present, releasing a flood of emotion directly into my body as though time had ceased to exist. There was a letter in the top left hand front pocket from my mum to my dad. When I found it I felt as if it was only yesterday that the letter was written and placed into his pocket. The leather had taken on the marks and creases of a lifetime of experiences, like skin these marks were now part of its hidden story.

A phrase that we have been working with in the studio is ‘The Beautiful Broken’ – accepting who we are now, embracing change however this may mark us. We have been inspired by the Japanese art form Kinsugi, where porcelain is reclaimed and reimagined, transformed and unapologetic about its past and how time has affected it. We use our bodies to explore physically how these experiences live within us, a living breathing vessel holding a lifetime of experience and memories.”

“We think there is a conversation somewhere about us being experienced performers and choreographers who don’t what to be put in a box” adds Davina. “We are dance artists and our age is part of our journey and extremely important as that brings a wealth of experiences and knowledge. However, we don’t want it to be the thing that defines us, steering people away from the deeper layers within the heart of Worn that are complex and subtle”.

2022 is an intensely busy year for White & Givan as they research and develop two new pieces alongside the largescale tour of Worn. Hush is a new group work for four dancers on the themes of Isolation, Defiance, Obedience and Silence and will mark the company’s first performance not featuring Errol and Davina on stage. Grace is a duet for Errol and Davina, conceived during lockdown and inspired by the vulnerability and strength of the body as found in paintings from Caravaggio to Paula Rego. 

The 2022 tour of Worn is funded by Creative Scotland and the creation of the show was supported by CityMoves, the Work Room, Tramway, O Espaco do Tempo, Platform, Macrobert, Perth Concert Hall and Dance Base.

Film competition launched to showcase Scotland’s land – £500 prize on offer as young people encouraged to celebrate land

Schools and youth groups in Edinburgh are being invited to get creative and take part in a nationwide competition to showcase the past, present and future of land around Scotland.

As part of the Scottish Land Commission’s ‘MyLand.Scot’ initiative, the land reform body is urging secondary schools and youth organisations across the country to get involved in its ‘My Land, My Story’ competition. In connection with Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022, young people are being encouraged to highlight how land local to them is owned, used and managed and how it impacts their everyday lives in Scotland now and in the future.

Young people across Scotland have been tasked to find places close to them that are of importance to themselves and their community, using them as the inspiration for their competition submissions.

Two winning groups will be selected by the Scottish Land Commission and will each be awarded £500 to the facilitate production of the films outlined in their submissions. The finished films will be projected in Edinburgh in late autumn.

It could be farmland, forest, a high street or empty site, the ‘My Land, My Story’ competition is on the hunt for entries that highlight the history of a certain area of land – showcasing its past, present and future and why it matters to the young people living there.

Hamish Trench, Chief Executive of the Scottish Land Commission, said: “This is an exciting chance for young people across Scotland to engage in the conversation around land use, ownership and management and how it has shaped their communities – and to use their creativity bringing it to life through a short film.

“Land is at the heart of Scotland’s identity. This competition provides a platform for the younger generation to share their connection to and passion for the land around us, the diverse ways in which it is owned, managed and used and how this affects them and their communities over time.”

Secondary schools across Scotland will receive information directly about how to submit an application and youth organisations for people aged 11-19 can find full details of the competition and the application form on the MyLand.scot website.

The competition will be featured as part of Visit Scotland’s ‘Year of Stories’ which celebrates Scotland’s rich history of storytelling and serves as the theme to Visit Scotland’s 2022 programme.

Hamish added: “I would like to encourage any young people with a love for the land around them to get creative and tell their story. We want to showcase new perspectives and stimulate fresh thinking on how land is owned and used across Scotland.

“We hope by getting young people involved in sharing their stories of the land around them, it will raise awareness within the younger generation of the importance of how land is used. It plays a critical though often overlooked role in everyday life in Scotland and we’re looking forward to seeing incredible, creative examples of this in the upcoming competition.”

MyLand.Scot features a wide range of examples of how individuals and organisations have changed the land around them to transform their communities from social media savvy farmers to festival owners.

The Scottish Land Commission works to create a Scotland where everybody can benefit from the ownership and use of the nation’s land and buildings.

https://myland.scot

https://www.visitscotland.com/about/themed-years/stories/

A new wooden bench has been installed on the bank of the Union Canal at Polwarth. 

It has been designed and built by local woodworker Janie Morris, and was installed by Merchiston Community Council with a community grant from The City of Edinburgh Council.  

The unveiling was performed by local councillor Neil Ross and former Council Leader, Andrew Burns, who is Chair of the newly reconstituted Edinburgh Union Canal Society.

The bench is made from specially sourced Scottish oak and weather-proofed with Danish oil. Access to the bench is through the Polwarth Parish Church garden at 38 Polwarth Terrace. 

This garden is open 24 hours a day and is fully accessible.  

The picture shows (L to R) Bridget Stevens of Merchiston Community Council, Janie Morris, Cllr Neil Ross and Reverend Jack Holt of Polwarth Parish Church.

The date has been set for a court case that could bring about a reversal of The City of Edinburgh Council’s controversial strip club ban.

The decision taken by councillors to impose a ‘nil cap’ on the number of lap dancing bars that can open in the city will be put under the microscope at the Court of Session.

A union representing strippers across the UK joined forces with three existing Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEVs) in the capital and has successfully raised £20k to cover legal costs of the judicial review against the city council.

A judge confirmed that members of United Sex Workers (USW) will be able to take part in the hearing after the local authority attempted to stop the union from attending – and the review date was set for December 1 and 2.

The council has faced huge backlash since members of its regulatory committee voted in March to set the maximum number of SEVs in Edinburgh at zero when a new licensing scheme is launched next year, which will prevent the city’s four strip bars from operating legally and prevent any new venues from opening in future.

Despite this, applications for new venues will still be accepted and determined on a case-by-case basis by members of the licensing board.

At the hearing in December USW will argue that the nil-cap is indirect gender discrimination against women, and that it interferes with the right to respect for private and family life under the European Convention of Human Rights.

The union also warned it will put over 100 people working in the industry in Edinburgh out of a job.

And a councillor said the policy will only drive workers towards a dangerous unregulated market of backroom brothels and unlicensed strip clubs.

Cllr Lewis Younie passed a motion calling for a report on the potential consequences for those in the industry, which will be presented to elected members at a future meeting.

He said: “I wanted to have this decision revisited due to the serious deterioration in women’s safety that the Nil-Cap policy will lead to.

“Fundamentally, the closure of these venues will endanger people’s lives, encourage criminality, and reduce the choices available to workers.”

If successfully contested at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, the council could be forced to reverse the ban and review the terms of the new licensing scheme before it takes effect from April 1, 2023.

A report to a meeting of the regulatory committee taking place on Thursday (September 29) has confirmed the cost of an SEV license, should the licensing board choose to grant one, will be £1,752.

A report stated: “These fees mirror the fees currently charged for licensed sex shops, which are also licensed under the provisions of Schedule 2 of the 1982 Act.

“These fees would be for a one year licence, as that is the maximum period permitted for a licence under Schedule 2.

“If approved, the fee structure will thereafter be reviewed on an annual basis in line with other licence categories, as part of the Council’s annual budget process.”

by Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency: funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

Key representatives from Scotland’s architecture, design and hotel sectors gathered at one of the country’s landmark arts institutions this month for the first in a series of stimulating discussion dinner events looking at trends in the hospitality industry. 

Hickory, the Scottish independent catering business, hosted its first ‘Salonnière’ at Edinburgh’s arts venue and tapestry studio Dovecot Studios, attended by an invited audience from Scotland’s hospitality and design sectors who explored the question ‘What part does design play in hospitality?’

The discussion was chaired by Dovecot Studios Director, Celia Joicey, and was centred on the importance of design in the hospitality industry bringing together some of Scotland’s most prestigious brands, who have collaborated on interior design.

The thought-provoking event kicked off with an introduction by Joicey to Dovecot Studios, the world-renowned tapestry studio in the heart of Edinburgh, before presentations from the three Salonnière panel guests – Emma Jackson, Regional Director of Sales for the newly opened Virgin Hotels in Edinburgh, Lauren Hughes-Glass, Associate at Ica and John Glen, Bute Fabrics Managing Director.

A consensus was reached through the panel discussion and subsequent audience Q&A session over a private dinner, held within the former Ladies Swimming Bath at the Infirmary Street arts venue, that hotels were moving towards a ‘luxurious home-from-home feel’ through fabrics and design for their guests.

Meanwhile, accentuating a hospitality venue’s heritage and ‘story’ was also seen as a key driver for design decisions, as shown at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh where the build project successfully navigated the challenges of working with A, B and C-listed buildings in the Old Town to create the international company’s first ever UK hotel, which opened this summer.

‘Thinking local’ was another primary objective, from working with local designers and suppliers to making sure projects were sympathetic to and understanding of the local area.

Celia Joicey, Dovecot Studios Director, said: “Hickory’s Salonnière is a terrific initiative to link up professionals from so many different but inter-connected worlds. It was a privilege to chair the inaugural discussion, which connected experts from architecture, design and hospitality, and explore how Scottish textiles, from Dovecot tapestries to Bute Fabrics, can provide a platform to collaborate and grow future business opportunities.”

Stephanie Stubbs, Hickory Managing Director, said: “Our first ever Hickory Salonnière was a resounding success and we’re so grateful to all the people behind the scenes who made it possible, from the Hickory staff preparing dinner and serving guests to everyone at the fabulous and unique setting of Dovecot Studios. We’re already hard at work preparing for our next Hickory Salonnière in the series, which will be an invaluable forum for identifying and addressing future trends in the industry.”

Future Hickory Salonnière events will be held in similar design-led environments across Scotland.

The success of the first ever Hickory Salonnière follows a string of business wins for the Edinburgh-headquartered firm. It was recently announced as the exclusive catering partner for the multimillion-pound Sands Centre events venue in Carlisle, its first foray south of the Scottish border.

With an emphasis on sustainability, Hickory’s mission is to deliver the best events and hospitality experiences.  Their ethos is that thiis is achieved by providing the highest-quality ingredients that are sourced locally by their professional culinary team and delivering the best quality seasonal food.

Christine Jardine MP for Edinburgh West has called on the Home Secretary Suella Braverman to address the alarming backlog of first-time passport applications.

According to figures obtained by Ms Jardine’s office in a Freedom of Information (FOI) enquiry, nearly 2,000 applicants have been waiting for six months including more than 100 who have been waiting for a year for their applications to be resolved.

Ms Jardine said the enquiry was prompted by the number of constituents in Edinburgh West enduring delays at every stage of their application with many waiting as long as two weeks for the Home Office to even acknowledge receipt of their documents.

Unlike regular passport renewals, there is no system of escalation on offer from the Government for applications that go beyond the Home Office’s own ten-week recommended process time.

Ms Jardine has criticised the delays which are forcing people to “put their lives on hold”.

She said: “It is deeply alarming that so many people are having to wait months with no update and no idea what is happening.

“People are forced to miss out on visiting relatives, attend significant life events and unable to provide proof of identity for education and housing.

“Many of my constituents are facing anxious waits as the system appears to have reached a standstill. It is unacceptable that people are being forced to put their lives on hold especially after going through a lengthy citizenship application process.

“The Home Secretary must ensure that clearing the backlog is an absolute priority and lift this barrier that has impeded so many people across the country for so long.”

Views on Edinburgh’s bars, restaurants and booze shops getting extended opening hours during the summer festivals and Christmas period are being sought as a part of a review of the city’s alcohol licensing system.

Residents, community groups and license holders will have the chance to contribute to a consultation which will help formulate a new policy setting out how the council will consider applications for licensed premises in the future.

The city council’s licensing board is also hoping to gather information on the parts of Edinburgh where there are too many places selling alcohol.

Board convener, Lib Dem councillor Louise Young, said the survey will go live on the council website “as soon as possible” after the terms of the consultation were agreed at a meeting on Monday.

The local authority is seeking a wide range of views for the licensing review which takes place every five years.

Cllr Young said the council is particularly keen to hear views about seasonal licensing and the extension of hours for premises during the festival and festive period.

In the initial consultation, which will run for ten weeks once launched, there will be an emphasis on current licensed hours for bars, restaurants and night clubs, protection of children and young people and temporary licensing.

It will be followed by a formal consultation next year with the whole process set to be wrapped up by August 2023.

In addition, the council’s existing policy which allows an unlimited number of occasional licenses for one-off events to be granted will be looked at during the review.

An assessment of over-provision will also be undertaken to consider where off and on sales are in excess in the capital.

The consultation is not yet live but this is the appropriate page on the council website.

by Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency: funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

New drivers who will operate trams to Newhaven, once the line is open next year, are already in training with a state-of-the art, custom-built simulator.

A full-size replica cab unit is in place at Edinburgh Trams’ Gogar Tram Depot, where prospective drivers can experience almost five kilometres of new track and eight stops connecting Leith and Newhaven to the city centre, as well as the existing route from Edinburgh Airport to St Andrew Square, complete with lifelike imagery and landmarks along the route.

As part of ‘The Academy’, Edinburgh Trams’ new purpose-built learning and development facility, it is hoped that the simulator will help trainees increase hazard awareness through inbuilt scenarios involving trouble spots and complex interactions with signals, traffic, pedestrians and other trams.

More than 60 new drivers and staff members are being recruited in preparation for the completion of Trams to Newhaven, which is on schedule to begin passenger operations in spring 2023 and delivered within the £207.3m budget. All major construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2022 ahead of a testing and commissioning period.

Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “It’s a matter of months before trams will begin testing on the new route, and the progress made so far is clear to see. While major construction work is almost complete, it’s fantastic that new recruits can already get a glimpse of the route and hone their skills thanks to Edinburgh Trams’ brand new simulator. The whole team at Edinburgh Trams do a fantastic job, and I look forward to working with them in the coming months to take passengers all the way to Newhaven in spring 2023.

“As we mark Scotland’s Climate Week the case for reliable, sustainable public transport is more important than ever. Trams to Newhaven is on target to deliver a low-carbon, high capacity and clean mode of transport to the north of the city, creating a vibrant multi-modal transport corridor through the heart of Leith.”

Edinburgh Trams Managing Director Lea Harrison said: “As we look forward to the launch of services to Newhaven, we’ve been working behind the scenes to invest in our future by making our training programme more comprehensive, efficient, and environmentally friendly.

“The new simulator delivers a wide range of benefits to our colleagues, our organisation, and ultimately our customers as it enables us to create actual traffic situations as well as realistic effects for weather and light conditions.

“What’s more, without limitation on access to vehicles and track, we can now accommodate up to three times as many recruits at certain points of the training programme.”

Grant Penman, who recently started as a Trainee Driver, added: “Driving on the simulator has helped me improve my concentration skills in a safe environment, while further learning about signals, speed limits, and any other distractions that could be thrown your way.

“It’s been great working with the Training Team and benefiting from their expert knowledge and experience. The simulator feels lifelike as if you are actually on the track with a tram.”

Simulator technology allows trainers to record and stop, freeze or replay scenarios to highlight learning points at an early stage, helping to build a driver’s competence more quickly. Once tram testing begins, drivers will carry out blended training between virtual and real-life tram driving, helping to reinforce safe driving practices.

Trams to Newhaven, including landscape plans and timelines, online.

Visit Edinburgh Trams website for information on existing services.

Kingsbarns Distillery has announced the appointment of Kate Bradley as Production Operator at the family-owned distillery in the Kingdom of Fife.

Born in Ardnamurchan in the West Highlands, Kate will be responsible for all aspects of production within the award-winning distillery. Kate will support Distillery Manager, Peter Holroyd, in the selection and management of the casks – including for the distillery’s famous single malt Balcomie – nurturing the brand’s premium blends, as well as a large focus on new product development.

With previous experience at the Ardnamurchan Distillery, Kate recently graduated from Heriot-Watt University with a BSc in Brewing and Distilling, and joins the team in a bid to follow her passion for whisky and carve out a long-standing career within the Kingsbarns team.

This announcement kickstarts a momentous few months for Kingsbarns as the brand made its debut at Whisky Live Paris last weekend – one of the biggest events in the industry calendar bringing together whisky enthusiasts and brands from all around the world.

Kate Bradley, Production Operator at Kingsbarns Distillery, said: “Kingsbarns Distillery is an incredibly special place and I’m excited to further ignite my love for whisky and learn from some of the very best in the industry. It’s a really exciting time for Kingsbarns and I look forward to seeing what the future holds – both at the distillery and for the wider industry.”

Peter Holroyd, Kingsbarns Distillery Manager, said: “During the interview process, Kate’s love and passion for whisky really shone through, and her knowledge of the industry was second to none. I am in no doubt that Kate will do an amazing job and I look forward to supporting her carve out a successful career within the Kingsbarns family.

“Over the course of the next few months, we have some innovative new products launching as well as some special brand milestones to celebrate, so it’s a great time for Kate to begin!”

kingsbarnsdistillery.com

The UK Government has moved 933 jobs out of London to Scotland in the last two years, as part of a commitment, Places for Growth, to relocate 1500 jobs here by 2025.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Nadhim Zahawi, made the announcement on a visit to the Cabinet Office’s second HQ in Glasgow on Tuesday. There will be 600 more jobs based in Glasgow by 2025.

The whole programme will move 22,000 jobs out of London by 2030.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Nadhim Zahawi said: “We want to drive growth right across the United Kingdom and moving Civil Service jobs out of London is crucial to delivering this. I am delighted to say that the Cabinet Office is leading the way with this work by ensuring we have key decision makers based in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“It is imperative that we continue to build on this momentum and expand opportunities for people outside of London, giving them the chance to build successful careers right across the UK and bring diversity of thought and experience right to the very top of government.”

Naomi Hunter, who was born in Edinburgh but moved to London to join the Treasury in 2013, is now a Senior Civil Servant based in the Cabinet Office’s Glasgow HQ. After joining the UK Civil Service, she spent the next seven years living in London and travelling back to Scotland regularly to see family and friends.

Ms Hunter, who leads the strategy team for recovering public sector debt, said: “When I first joined the UK civil service, I moved to London because it was the only option if I was going to progress in my career. The opening of the Cabinet Office HQ in Glasgow has meant I’ve been able to move back to Scotland and still do what I’m passionate about. I’m so pleased for people in Scotland that they no longer need to move south to start their careers or get good, expert jobs in their field.”

In Edinburgh Queen Elizabeth House has more than 3,000 civil servants working in 11 departments in the 190,000 square feet of space over seven floors.

The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland (OSSS) and the Office of the Advocate General, have been joined in the hub by other UK Government departments and bodies including HMRC, HM Treasury, Cabinet Office, the Office for Statistics Regulation, the Information Commissioner’s Office, and the Government Actuary’s Department.

A panel of experts, including economists who will study the impact on Scotland of the UK Chancellor’s fiscal approach will assist The Scottish Government in the upcoming Emergency Budget Review (EBR).

When the Scottish Government Resilience Committee met last month it promised to undertake an emergency budget review to assess all the ways to help those most in need, to reduce burdens on business and stimulate the Scottish economy.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney informed The Scottish Parliament that further time was required to consider the implications of the UK Government’s tax changes and he would report the results of the review in the week beginning 24 October.

The EBR will outline how resources will be redirected to tackle the cost of living crisis. In light of the UK Government’s mini-budget last Friday and the significant economic instability which has followed, the government is now seeking advice on the implications for Scotland.

Mr Swinney said: “The Chancellor’s statement provided little respite for many families who are already facing a winter unable to afford essentials like food and heating. The UK Government needed to use its reserved powers to help those who need it most – but instead we got tax cuts for the rich and not much for anyone else.

“The Chancellor is taking a huge gamble on public finances and the health of our economy. And the markets have reacted strongly – the pound fell to record lows on Monday, the cost of government borrowing has risen to its highest level in over a decade and investor confidence is plummeting.

“The Scottish Government is doing everything within its powers to support people, public services and the economy but these efforts are under threat by the UK Government’s new and dangerous race to the bottom. That is not a race we are willing to run. We will not be replicating the UK Government’s tax cuts but will consider carefully the correct measures for Scotland.

“It is vital that we give proper time to consider the serious implications for Scotland of the UK mini Budget before we conclude our Emergency Budget Review. I intend to seek advice from an expert panel and also to embark on discussions with businesses and trade unions. The Scottish Fiscal Commission will incorporate the impact of the changes in their next forecasts.”

Royal Bank of Scotland has installed one of the largest electric vehicle charging car parks in Scotland at their Gogarburn Head Office. There are 264 chargers on the site available for staff and visitors as part of the bank’s purpose-led role in leading the charge to a low carbon economy.

The bank, one of the country’s largest employers, committed to the development as part of a suite of activity to tackle the climate crisis. Collaboration with staff highlighted that being able to easily and affordably charge an electric vehicle was a primary consideration for switching, but that access to chargers was not always easy to find, in particular for colleagues living in flats and city centre areas where chargers were more difficult to install at home.

Speaking during Scotland’s Climate Week, Judith Cruickshank, Scotland Chair at the Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “We are proud to wear our climate credentials on our sleeve. Having been a principal Sponsor at last year’s COP26 it is important that we continue challenging ourselves to do more, and that includes looking at the support we can offer at our headquarters at Gogarburn.

“Working in partnership with EQUANS and our property services team, we developed and delivered the installation which has created one of the largest electric vehicle charging car parks in the UK, with 264 charging points available for colleagues and visitors to use, charged at set prices to allow for easy budgeting.

“We are also moving our fleet of company-use cars to electric vehicles, in partnership with Novuna, ensuring that as a company we are maximising every opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a better, heathier environment.

“Realising our ambition for Net Zero requires a systemic shift in energy use, in sustainable thinking and action. With this investment at Gogarburn, we are supporting our colleagues to be able to make those changes as stress-free as possible.”

Paula Burnett, a Royal Bank of Scotland colleague based at Gogarburn, said: “I bought an electric vehicle because I want to be part of the change. I want my children to grow up in a cleaner world which prides itself on caring for the environment. Making this change is just a small step, but being able to charge my car at work made this possible.”

Dee Humphries, Director of EV Solutions at EQUANS UK & Ireland said: “We’re delighted to have installed one of the largest EV charging car parks in Scotland through our partnership with the Royal Bank of Scotland, reaching a significant milestone in our five-year contract. We hope the chargers will provide convenient charging for bank colleagues and visitors, helping to keep drivers on the move and support others to transition to EV.

“The installation highlights that the bank is setting an example for others to adopt more sustainable transport measures, and this installation is a testament to their commitment to a greener future.”

The Gogarburn development is part of the bank’s project to halve operations emissions by 2025 from a 2019 baseline. The bank has committed to supporting staff and visitors to travel sustainably and aim to install EV charging points in 15% of parking spaces by 2025, all of which will be powered by renewable electricity.

Berwick’s GHT Bullets are preparing for a Shielfield Park return on 8 October even if they don’t yet know the identity of their opponents, writes George Dodds.

The date has been set aside for the National Development League play-off, semi-final, first-leg and their opponents will be confirmed no later than Sunday even if there is intervention from the weather which has already wreaked havoc on the Championship and Premiership versions of the title deciding series.

Armadale are due to entertain Belle Vue on Friday night with the Colts needing at least a point to deny Oxford the final qualification place by virtue of superior race points.

If the weather intervenes then the Devils and Colts need to rearrange it before Sunday night’s extended cut-off date or the match will be voided giving the Challengers the final place.

First will play fourth, second face third, in the play-offs and the Bullets’ trip to Leicester on Saturday, 7pm, will decide the final finishing order. Whoever wins will top the table, a draw or a point for Berwick would see them overhaul Mildenhall in the final standings.

If the weather wins the day – and Sunday at 4pm has been put aside in the event of a need to restage to league campaign finale – the Tigers would finish on top of the table.

“It is still all to play for but what we do know is that whoever the opposition, we plan to stage the first leg of the semi-final a week on Saturday,” Berwick promoter and team manager Gary Flint said.

“Were we to face Mildenhall – which is a strong possibility – then the second leg would be at West Row on 10 October. But we could just as easily be looking at arranging second legs with Leicester, Belle Vue or Oxford!

“I know the boys are desperate to get back on track after what seems like an age waiting for the line-up to be decided.

“We will make a late check on Ace (Pijper) (pictured by Taz MacDougall) to make sure that he has fully recovered from his big crash at Mildenhall last time out. He was cleared by a CT scan that weekend and has completed his compulsory time out under the concussion protocol.

“I would say that he is 99 per cent certain to race on Saturday but we would never take any unnecessary risks and are prepared to use rider-replacement for him in needed.”

New averages see Ben Rathbone swap with Mason Watson in the line-up with the Cubs making a similar change to their riding order as Max Perry moves into the top five with Mickie Simpson dropping to reserve.

Tickets for the Berwick semi-final will go on sale via the club website as soon as the opposition is confirmed.

Lion Cubs: Dan Thompson, Max Perry, Connor Coles, Tom Spencer, Joe Thompson, Vinnie Foord, Mickie Simpson

Bullets: Kyle Bickley, Ace Pijper, Ben Rathbone, Luke Crang, Greg Blair, Kieran Douglas, Mason Watson