Bus lane fines go up - as city asks for power to enforce 20mph limit
Bus lane fines go up - as city asks for power to enforce 20mph limit
Plus: World athletics glory for Josh Kerr; Netflix subtitles Edinburgh voices; and business award winners
City council gets go-ahead to raise bus lane fines and asks for more powers
Bus lane fines are set to go up to £100 in Edinburgh - and the city council is asking to be given the power to enforce more road regulations.
Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop has authorised the increase from £60 penalties (all the fines are reduced by half for prompt payment) as part of the council’s drive to improve the reliability of bus services into the city centre.
The council has plans to introduce more bus lanes, including on main routes into the city centre in the west, and extend the hours of those which currently only operate at peak times. The increased fines will come into effect in the coming weeks, once the council has advertised the changed.
The city has also asked for the power to issue fines for other traffic offences - breaking the city’s 20mph speed limit, no left or right turn regulations and driving in car-free streets near schools - as part of a package of road safety measures. The proposal, which involves transferring powers from the police to local authorities, would require Scottish Government legislation.
The context: The request for more powers came just before an 11-year-old was killed after being hit by a bin lorry as he cycled on Whitehouse Road, Barnton, on Friday. Although the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy are still the subject of a police investigation, it has brought a renewed focus to road safety issues.
Pavement parking precedent: City transport convener Scott Arthur told the Evening News after the successful introduction of the pavement parking ban: “We appreciate the police are under huge pressure and have their own priorities, so we would welcome powers over the use of cameras to enforce 20mph speed limits, school streets and prohibitions on turns as part of a wider package of measures to make our streets safer."
£2m bus lane fines: The council collected more than £2m by issuing more than 64,000 bus lane fines last year. Only eight motorists appealed their fines and just three were successful.
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
FAMILY’S TRIBUTE: The family of the 11-year-old killed when he was hit by a bin lorry while cycling on Whitehouse Road, near its junction with Braehead Road, have paid tribute to him. In a statement released through Police Scotland, the family of Thomas Wong said: “We are utterly heartbroken. Thomas was the perfect son.” Police said a report would be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
GOLDEN BOY: Edinburgh Athletics star Josh Kerr continued his glorious form by grabbing another world title as he stormed to victory in the indoor 3000m in Glasgow on Saturday. Josh is the reigning world champion for the outdoor 1500m and broke the world two-mile record in New York less than three weeks ago. We can’t wait to see him line up at the Olympics with his Edinburgh teammate Jake Wightman this summer.
NETFLIX DOESN’T UNDERSTAND US: Several popular Edinburgh venues are featured in the latest episode of the hit Netflix series Somebody Feed Phil. The food and travel show visits Roseleaf, Social Bite, Oink, The Fishmarket, IJ Mellis, Mary’s Milk Bar, Archerfield Links and the Johnnie Walker Experience during its visit to Edinburgh. However, amusingly, the producers clearly feared many of its international viewers would not understand our accents, and subtitled many of those interviewed.
JAWBONE ARCH: A council plan to break up the crumbling remains of the Meadows’ famous Jawbone Arch and incorporate fragments in an interpretation panel in the park have been put on hold after an objection from Edinburgh World Heritage. The heritage watchdog had been hoping to see the whale bones - which were first displayed in the park for the great International Exhibition of 1886 - restored. The council says they are beyond practical repair and efforts to reuse them in an art work have hit the buffers due to restrictions on the use of bones of endangered species.
‘FRESH START’ MONKEY: Honshu, the seven-year-old Japanese macaque monkey who went on the run for five days after escaping from the Highland Wildlife Park last month, has moved to Edinburgh Zoo. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which runs the wildlife park, said he had been moved to give him "a fresh start".
NEW NHS CHIEF: Professor Caroline Hiscox has been appointed chief executive of NHS Lothian to succeed Calum Campbell who retires at the end of May. Currently seconded to the role of interim chief executive at NHS Tayside, she was appointed to the top role at NHS Grampian three years, following a distinguished career in nursing and NHS leadership roles. She is said to have placed great importance on improving patient care, creating a healthy working culture and building strong partnerships with other public bodies during her time at Grampian.
GRASS CUTTING FOR THE CHOP: The regularity of grass cutting is to be cut in some city parks this summer in order to encourage wildlife and increase biodiversity. A handful of parks are to be chosen for a trial project, with local residents engaged so they realise the council hasn’t simply given up on grass cutting, the BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.
£50M FACELIFT: The owners of the city’s Hilton Carlton and Waldorf Astoria - still better known to many as The Caledonian - are investing £50m in an upgrade of the two prestigious hotels. At the Caley, whose famous guest include Barrack Obama and Queen Elizabeth, the work planned by Henderson Park includes upgrading and restoring bedrooms and public areas. On North Bridge, the Hilton Carlton will be expanded with 86 extra rooms - taking the total to 297 - and a new bar and lounge on the extended ground floor.
FILMHOUSE PLANS GROW: The team working to reopen the Edinburgh Filmhouse have extended their fund raising targets after hitting their initial crowdfunding goal of £250,000. The Open the Doors campaign is now looking to reach £300,000 to support the reopening of the independent art house cinema. They have raised almost £800,000 in total, against an overall target of £1.25m, as they await the outcome of other funding bids, with a view to reopening in October.
NIGHTCLUB FLATS: The former Cavendish nightclub in Tollcross is to make way for student flats after councillors approved plans for the 143-bed block from developers Silvermills Estates and Lands. The Cavendish - more recently known as Atik - had played host to legendary bands over the years including Pink Floyd, The Ramones and The Clash.
THE BUSINESS
City business has eyes on Wednesday’s Spring Budget
Strong hints around cutting the high tax burden for individuals have been dropped, tempered by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s need to continue to seek further reductions by the rate of inflation. A cut in National Insurance continues to look the most likely option, although we could also see an increase in the individual tax free allowance.
But what of business? What would businesses hope to see the Chancellor offer them? Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, working with colleagues from the national British Chambers network, has compiled a list of asks, and these include:
• A need to improve and speed up our planning system at a time when planners are in short supply: Government to match industry-led funding of £3m for planning qualifications to help plug the lack of resource. Planning delays are holding back much-needed housing developments in the city and are also a discouragement for major commercial investment.
• Skills shortages and gaps remain an issue and we need a consistent long-term skills plan.
• The need to promote business and economic growth, and especially a need to support small businesses to grow: Government should restart the VAT registration review as research shows the registration threshold is a growth inhibitor.
· Business rates are an outdated property-based model for business taxation, and chamber members want a fairer, transactional system that reflects modern trading and incentivises growth. This is a key issue in Edinburgh, where business rates are a regularly raised issue amongst the city’s small business community in particular.
• Government should reverse its recent policy on VAT tax-free shopping which has impacted businesses of all sizes across the UK’s nations and regions by discouraging high-earning tourists from coming to the UK to shop.
BODY BLOW: The Body Shops at Edinburgh Gyle and Edinburgh Princes Mall centres are to close, as the retailer continues to operate in administration and cut costs and jobs. A total of 75 stores are to go, including seven in Scotland, with the loss of almost 500 jobs in total.
SUNNY OUTLOOK: The capital-based food retailer Margiotta has installed solar panels at its Newbridge HQ in its efforts to lower its carbon footprint. Around 950 panels have been installed on the roof to power its office, warehouse and refrigeration. The development was made possible by £300,000 of funding from HSBC Equipment Finance. Surplus electricity will be sold to the National Grid.
LIFETIME HONOUR: One of Edinburgh’s long-serving captains of industry was honoured at the 13th annual Edinburgh Chamber Business Awards. Charles Hammond was given the organisation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, following more than two decades at the helm of Forth Ports as Chief Executive. Mr Hammond enjoyed a double whammy, as Forth Ports also won the award for Large Business of the Year. The event was sponsored by LNER. The other winners were as follows:
Rising Star of the Year: Alexander Galpin, Galpin Group (Sponsored by Edinburgh Airport); Director of the Year: Louise Birnie, Change Waste Recycling (Sponsored by Wright Johnston & Mackenzie); Developing the Young Workforce: NHS Lothian (Sponsored by DYW Edinburgh Midlothian and East Lothian); Responsible Business of the Year: Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (Sponsored by City of Edinburgh Council); Service Excellence Award: Clockwise Leith (Sponsored by Stagecoach); Inspiring Partnership: Edinburgh International Conference Centre x RSPB Scotland (Sponsored by Edinburgh Playhouse); Employer of the Year: Muckle Media (Sponsored by Edinburgh Construction); Excellence in Digital Marketing: Clean Digital (Sponsored by Cameron Events); Innovation in Business: Anturas Consulting/Edinburgh College (Sponsored by Forth Ports); High Growth Business of the Year: The Scotch Whisky Experience (Sponsored by Balfour Beatty); International Business of the Year: Heehaw (Sponsored by Edinburgh Gin); Net Zero Champion of the Year: Edinburgh International Conference Centre (Sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland); Small Business of the Year: Caritas Neuro Solutions (Sponsored by SSE Energy); and Mid-sized Business of the Year: Muckle Media (Sponsored by DIMA Group Services)
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
A PLAY, A PIE & A PINT: Glasgow’s celebrated A Play, A Pie & A Pint at Oran Mor has teamed up with the Traverse for Bread & Breakfast. Life at Nessie’s Lodge, an ordinary B&B in the Highlands, is turned upside down in this farce when a guest chokes to death on his toast. Runs Tuesday to Saturday at 1pm.
BRILLIANT BILL: He’s been described as the best stand-up working in Britain today and a comic maestro, Bill Bailey brings his Thoughtifier tour to the Playhouse next Monday, 11 March. You know what you are getting by now from the Strictly Come Dancing champion come national treasure.
HIT ME: Billericay’s finest the The Blockheads visit La Belle Angele on Friday. Ex-The Fall producer Mike Bennett has the presence to step into Ian Dury’s shoes to perform the band’s classics, including Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick. Watch them to remember where Blur and Madness learned their trade.
BOOK NOW FOR… Irvine Welsh will be talking Crime at a Toppings Booksellers event at the Tom Fleming Centre for Performing Arts, Stewart's Melville College, on 8 July. Well, he will be discussing Resolution, the third in his series of Crime novels starring ex-detective Ray Lennox.
QUICK BITES
BRUNCH ON MENU: A popular neighbourhood seafood restaurant is set to offer locals a new brunch spot. Leftfield, in Bruntsfield, has announced plans to open Margot – serving brunch and snacks throughout the day – on Barclay Terrace on the edge of Bruntsfield Links.
SMOKING NEWS: Good news for foodies upset at the recently announced closure of The Chop House in Leith. Rising star chef Dan Ashmore is to open a fine dining BBQ firepit venue on the site in Constitution Street, promising to use different coals and woods to create new flavours. Dan will also remain as Food Director at the acclaimed Dean Banks Group, and his new eatery will also join the group.