Calls for action over scourge of sewage dumping in city waterways
Plus: Strike misery set to spread; bridge’s birthday celebrations; and why prime office rents are rising
Second paddling ban sparks outcry over sewage discharges into the Forth
Sewage dumping into the Capital’s waterways has come under the spotlight after visitors were warned against going into the water at beaches on the Firth of Forth twice within a week.
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) issued warnings against paddling and swimming at Portobello beach and nearby Fisherrow Sands, at Musselburgh, after finding harmful levels of bacteria in the water. Both alerts have since been lifted after subsequent tests found pollutants had returned to “acceptable” levels.
SEPA has confirmed the tests at Portobello detected e.coli and intestinal enterococci, classic signs of sewage dumping.
Newly-elected Edinburgh East and Musselburgh MP Chris Murray has called for Scottish Water, the Scottish Government-owned water company, to monitor the level of sewage discharged into the city’s waterways, as a first step towards an urgent action plan.
What’s the issue? Edinburgh’s largely Victorian sewage system is under growing pressure due to the vast amount of development in the city and increasing extreme weather. The drains contain Combined Sewer Outflows(CSOs) designed to discharge sewage into rivers and the Forth in emergencies, but there is evidence this is happening far more often than was ever intended.
Isn’t the problem being monitored? No, at least not to any significant extent. While in England and Wales monitoring is routine (covering almost 100% of Combined Sewer Overflows), in Scotland it was required at only 103 of them last year (just 4% of the total). None of those 103 monitoring sites were at Portobello Beach or the Figgate Burn, which carries the discharge from CSOs from a large part of the east of the city, and flows into the Forth at the west end of the beach.
Have there been warnings? Plenty. Testing by Surfers Against Sewage near the point where the Figgate Burn runs into the Forth has found e.coli and other harmful bacteria. The charity is calling for the Scottish Government to direct Scottish Water to monitor all sewage overflows.
What are Scottish Water doing about it? The water company has committed to installing 1000 extra monitoring sites by the end of the year as part of a £500m investment programme, after which it will evaluate the benefit of extending it to another 2,600 sites. Portobello Beach and the Figgate Burn are not expected to be included in this year’s programme.
What they said: Chris Murray MP said the Scottish Government and Scottish Water had failed to take action on the problem. “They have been missing in action. There needs to be better monitoring of sewage in our water and on our beaches as a first step and an urgent plan for tackling the problem.”
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
STRIKES ‘WILL SPREAD’: As the countdown continues to an August bin strike in Edinburgh and Midlothian, the rail unions are set to ballot for industrial action over what they describe as a “derisory” ScotRail pay offer. Kevin Lindsay, Scotland organiser for Aslef, told the BBC: “It’s not just Aslef that are going to be balloting - RMT, Unite, TSSA union are going to ballot as well. This is going to spread right across the whole of the public sector in Scotland until the Scottish Government get real.” Scotrail are offering drivers a three-year deal with a 2% rise each April then a 1% rise the following January.
FILMHOUSE JOY: The Edinburgh Filmhouse has signed a 25-year renewable lease on its Lothian Road home with owners Caledonian Heritable, allowing the team behind its revival to start on the refurbishment of the art house venue. It has also announced Aftersun director Charlotte Wells and actor Jack Lowden as its patrons, ahead of its expected opening at the turn of the year.
FESTIVAL PEDESTRIAN ZONE: Several streets in the Old Town will be closed to motor traffic for large parts of the day from today as part of the councils plans to make the area safer and more welcoming for pedestrians during the Festivals. Announcing the series of traffic restrictions, city council leader Cammy Day said: "Whilst we’re rightly proud to be welcoming performers and visitors from all over the world for our summer festivals, we need to make sure this influx is managed safely and properly."
CHIMP BACK: A chimpanzee has been successfully reintroduced to the 14-strong troop at Edinburgh Zoo following a fatal fight in the ape enclosure. Qafzeh had to have surgery on his injured testicles following the violent battle in which fellow chimp Rene was killed.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIDGE: The 60th anniversary of the Forth Road Bridge is to be celebrated in September with a series of events, including a competition to win one of sixty tours to the top of the towers, and a fleet of vintage and electric buses offering trips across the bridge. When it opened on 4 September, 1964, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world outside the USA.
STUDENT FLATS SWITCH: Part of a site which has planning permission to build 100 new homes would be used instead for 80 student flats under new proposals for 117-135 Pitt Street in Leith. The new plans submitted on behalf of J Smart & Co come as developers continue to stall on house building projects in the Capital in favour of the more certain returns from student accommodation.
LONDON, NEW YORK, BATHGATE: A Japanese fashion brand has caused a stir on social media with a range of t-shirts emblazoned with the names of Scottish local authority areas. The Cutie Blonde collection by Shoo-La-Rue features West Lothian alongside Clackmannanshire and North Lanarkshire. New York, eat your heart out.
TIMOROUS BEASTIES: The internationally acclaimed design house Timorous Beasties will display more than 500 original designs in its new two-storey Edinburgh showroom which opens on the New Town’s Northumberland Street on Thursday. Founded in Glasgow in 1990, the company has worked with many of the world’s leading brands and artists from Nike and Penguin Books to Fornum & Mason and Kate Bush. Its collection includes luxury wallpaper, fabrics, home accessories and smaller gifts.
‘THEATRE LAND’ HOTEL: The former Hertz car rental office on Picardy Place is set to be converted into a 51-bedroom hotel after plans were approved by the city council. The B-listed building opposite the Edinburgh Playhouse would keep its balcony with views of Calton Hill as part of the conversion plans drawn up by Hackland + Dore architects.
SEASIDE FOOD & DRINK: The popular Stockbridge Neighbourhood Market is expanding with a new seaside pop-up venue at Pipe Lane off Portobello Prom. The market will offer a choice of independent food and drink stalls and is expected to open 12-8pm seven days a week.
TRUST IN FRANCK: The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust has announced the appointment of their new Chief Executive: Franck Bruyère will replace Bob Downie when he retires later this year after 26 years at the helm of the award-winning maritime attraction Britannia and its sister-ship, the luxury floating hotel Fingal.
THE BUSINESS
Supply and demand set to see prime office rents pass £50 per sq ft
Rents for prime city centre offices in Edinburgh have been forecast to pass £50 per square foot in the near future – with lack of availability and pent-up demand fuelling the growth.
Research from independent property consultants Lismore Real Estate Advisors and involving investment firm Ardstone Capital UK, has shown that the supply shortage of prime, let-ready space will see continued investment interest from around the world.
The research showed that 90% of investors would consider investing in Edinburgh over the remainder of 2024 – across all property market sectors, driven by the city's thriving financial and tech sectors, robust rental growth in prime city centre offices, a resurgent retail sector, along with the strongest regional hotel market in the UK.
Chris Macfarlane, director of Lismore, said: “Top quality, well located city centre offices, with strong ESG credentials, continue to attract a broad range of investors, including UK institutions, overseas pension funds and high net worth individuals.
“With limited development and high demand, prime rents at £45 per sq ft signals healthy growth over the coming years.”
Craig McDonald, managing director of Ardstone Capital UK, commented: “The city offers a unique opportunity with its limited supply of Grade A office space. Given the critical office supply shortage, over the next 12 months, we anticipate that rents may rise to close on £50 to £52.50 per square foot for Grade A space.”
He explained the lack of supply was in part driven by the topography of the City and the Heritage/Planning constraints and “perhaps the relentless demand from the hotel sector which has gobbled up a number of potential office developments recently.”
BUYER SOUGHT: Administrators Henderson Loggie are seeking a buyer for a 120-year-old Edinburgh construction business, Charles Henshaw & Sons, which provides a full building facades service. Directors of the Edinburgh-based specialist, which employs 72 people, blamed issues with legacy contracts and main contractor delays on new project starts for causing it to become loss-making.
SALES GROWTH: Edinburgh-based The Prebiotic Company, which produces Ió fibrewater, infused bottled water beneficial to gut health, has seen sales soar after securing a major nationwide supermarket deal. The firm, which has received support from Business Gateway, won a World Best Drink Innovation Award and a Scottish EDGE award, and is now listed in 33 Asda superstores.
FINANCE SKILLS: Heriot-Watt University has announced a new collaboration with J.P. Morgan – the recruitment of Graduate Apprentices onto the Business Management for Financial Services Programme, combining work-based and academic learning to provide key skills needed by the financial services industry.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
BLUES STAR: As the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival heads to a close after another glorious year at the weekend, renowned blues guitarist Doug McLeod brings his unique musicianship to the Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre on Saturday.
RED DEVILS: After attracting 50,000 fans to see them take on Olympique Lyonnais last summer, Manchester United return to Murrayfield to take on Rangers on Saturday.
AFTERNOON LAUGHS: There’s a fun sounding comedy double bill featuring the loveable clown Phil O’Shea and former BBC New Comedy Awards winner Josie Long at The Stand at 4pm on Sunday. Get a cut-price preview of their Fringe shows, with tickets priced £10-12.
SCOTTISH POP SHOWCASE: You can see some of Scotland’s best upcoming musical talent in the Off The Record Showcase at Sneaky Pete’s in the Cowgate on Thursday. The line-up features rising indie-folk star Carsick Charlie, harpist Dara Dubh, pop-punk guitarist Joshua Grant and folk-pop singer-songwriter Liv Dawn.
QUICK BITES
ST JAMES’ FIRST: Scotland’s first illy Caffè has opened at the Edinburgh Food Hall Bonnie & Wild, in the St James Quarter. Mel Hunter, manager of the new illy Caffè plans to work with bakeries in and around Edinburgh to provide artisanal pastries and cakes. The illy Caffè will be open from 9am through to 9pm.
LANNAN BAKERY: Those talented people at Lannan Bakery in Stockbridge have asked us to clarify the measures put in place to allow more of their customers to enjoy their wares. The bakery, recently named the best new bakery in the world in a prestigious list, has seen queues rocket for its array of prized pastries. So to clarify: Customers are limited to two of each kind of pastry (not simply two pastries). And you’re welcome to take photos - but please not of the hard-working and dedicated staff. Enjoy.