Time to get tough in tackling anti-social drivers
Plus: Cruise ships hove into visitor levy view; roundabout woes set to continue; and city housebuilder to expand down south
City MSP demands crackdown on reckless drivers who are blighting communities
LibDem Leader Alex Cole-Hamilton wants councils to get speed camera powers to tackle growing problem
Edinburgh and Lothian councils should be able to instal speed cameras in places where speeding and antisocial driving is damaging communities, Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says.
He is urging the Scottish Government to get work underway with a view to bringing in powers that would enable local authorities to instal and operate speed cameras – as they can do south of the border.
The Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland, his Party made a Freedom of Information request to Police Scotland to ascertain the highest recorded driving speed dealt with by police at each different speed limit – from 30mph to the national limit of 70mph. And two of the five worst occurred in the city area.
At 30mph, a driver was clocked at 93mph – on Stenhouse Road opposite HMP Edinburgh at Saughton, while the highest breach of the 70mph limit was at Haddington with a terrifying 142mph.
Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “These figures show that despite the deadly toll that dangerous driving can impose there are still people who are blasting along like a bat out of hell.”
Why it matters
Last year there were 5788 casualties reported on Scotland’s roads, including 155 fatalities and 1930 people who suffered serious injuries. UK Government figures show that in free-flowing traffic 44% of drivers speed on within 30mph zones, and 45% on motorways.
Communities hit
Mr Cole-Hamilton chaired a packed public meeting requested by the community of South Queensferry who were concerned that hundreds of often illegally modified cars and motor-cycles were racing around the streets, and said residents spoke of “antisocial driving and racing going on in their streets. Pets were killed and pensioners were at risk of being knocked down. It’s a nightmare for locals and businesses.”
What about the 20mph limit?
Edinburgh became the first city to impose a 20mph speed limit in 2018, covering the majority of the city’s roads. Plans to extend this by a further 66 streets are on hold while an assessment is made of any impact on bus journey times.
Since the lower limit was introduced the number of serious collisions has fallen. However, policing of the limit has been extremely light – Police Scotland warned at the time that it would be “low priority.” Last year only one person was fined for breaking the 20mph limit in the city, and only six fines in the first nine months of this year.
Long running problem needs solution
Mr Cole-Hamilton has raised the issue numerous times with the Scottish Government, and has been reassured by First Minister John Swinney that the issue is on his Cabinet’s agenda – but the MSP wants to see things move faster to bring forward the ability of local authorities to tackle concerns and hot-spots more effectively.
Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “Speed cameras are all well and good, but they need to be backed up by a visible police presence and a strategy for tackling antisocial driving.”
“Nobody should have to suffer the misery caused by dangerous and antisocial driving. It’s time the Scottish Government used the powers of our parliament and Scottish local authorities to work together towards a lasting solution.”
Pitch wrecked
The community football pitch at Ratho has been left unplayable after being repeatedly driven over in a “senseless act of destruction”. Ratho Athletic is looking to raise funds to repair and protect the pitch following the damage in the early hours of Thursday morning. A club statement said the impact would be left way beyond the football club: “This park isn’t just a football pitch. It’s where kids play, families spend time together, and locals walk their dogs. It’s a space that brings people together and now it’s been left in ruins.”
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
GOOD NEWS FROM SUMMERHALL: Arts venue Summerhall has announced that it is "now in a position" to pay out money owed to artists who performed there during this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe following a legal battle with HMRC over claims of unpaid corporation tax. A statement from Summerhall said: “Summerhall Management is now in a position to begin the payout to its fringe companies from its 2024 festival programme and hopes to complete this process as soon as possible.”
TROUBLE COMES AROUND: Lady Road roundabout at Cameron Toll is to suffer further disruption and closure early next year. ork planned by Network Rail on the bridge over the roundabout will cause partial and full closures from January 13, lasting several weeks at least. The roundabout was closed three times this year for emergency utility works and repairs.
CRUISE LEVY ON HORIZON: A levy on cruise ships visiting Edinburgh has moved a step closer. This year a record bursting 161 cruise calls booked to call on Scotland’s east coast, carrying an estimated 235,000 passengers, most of them visiting the Capital. The Scottish Government announced in its December budget that it would consult on the idea, and city councillors have agreed to support the move in principle.
MAKE IT A HIT: Capital Theatres has released Christmas (Like it Was Before), a heartfelt new Christmas song written by people living with dementia working alongside city singer-songwriter Gus Harrower. It is available for download on platforms including Spotify and Apple Music, with all proceeds supporting Capital Theatre’s dementia friendly programme.
STRIKE OFF: A planned strike over the festive season at Scotland's busiest airport has been called off. North Air fuel tanker drivers based at Edinburgh Airport had planned to walk out for almost three weeks in a dispute over a rejected 4.5% pay offer, but new offer has been accepted.
HISTORIC PUB SHUTS: The 300-year-old Cramond Inn has closed less than two years after a community campaign resulted in it reopening. Hospitality industry leaders have warned of a swathe of pub closures in the New Year as bars are hit by rising costs and subdued consumer spending.
WIND OF CHANGE: Pioneering new technology will be introduced at Edinburgh Airport in a bid to generate previously untapped renewable energy from the wind. Innovative Wind Panel prototypes are to be installed thanks to a partnership with zero-carbon company Katrick Technologies. The panels are smaller in size than traditional wind turbines which are not suitable for airport estates.
STRIKE OFF: A planned strike over the festive season at Scotland's busiest airport has been called off. North Air fuel tanker drivers based at Edinburgh Airport had planned to walk out for almost three weeks in a dispute over a rejected 4.5% pay offer, but new offer has been accepted.
SOFA SO GOOD: The UK’s largest independent furniture retailer, Furniture Village, has opened its first Scottish store at Straiton Retail Park near Edinburgh. The 26,000 sq ft store promises furniture and accessories for every room in the house over its two floors.
THE BUSINESS
City-based housebuilder expands south of the border
Miller Homes has agreed to buy St Modwen Homes for a reported £215m. The deal sees the company gain 19 live sites, which when developed will total around 3,500 plots for new homes.
It will see Miller Homes grow its business in the West Midlands, East Midlands and South regions and entering the Southwest for the first time. The company said the deal is in line with its growth strategy, which involves a medium-term target of building 6,000 homes a year.
The St Modwen Homes brand will continue to operate. The deal is subject to regulatory approval but is expected to close within the next few months.
CONFIDENCE UP: Business confidence in Scotland rose by 13 points during December to 44%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Bank of Scotland. While companies in Scotland reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down four points at 39%, their optimism in the economy rose 31 points to 49%. A net balance of 44% of businesses in the country also expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up 21 points on last month.
WASHBAG AID: Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey East Scotland has donated 51 washbags to the homeless charity Cyrenians in Edinburgh. The bags were created by employees at the company’s regional office in Dunfermline, and will provide vulnerable people around the UK with essential toiletry items, including toothpaste, shower gel and sanitary products.
NEW CASKMASTER: The Herald reports that long-established independent whisky bottler and cask management specialist Aceo Limited has appointed George McNeil, a former senior executive at Johnstons of Elgin, as Chief Executive. Edward Odim, founder of the business 25 years ago and its managing director, moves into the chairman role.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
LIGHT UP: The ever-popular torchlight procession gets Edinburgh’s Hogamanay celebrations underway on Sunday. Up to 20,000 people are expected to join the “river of fire” as it weaves through the Old Town from the Meadows to its finale below the Castle.
PUNK IT UP: The Rezillos and the Filthy Tongues top a bill of the best of Scottish Post Punk, Punk, Alt-Country Bands at the Voodoo Rooms on Monday, 30 December. All profits go to UNICEF’s Gaza Appeal for Children In Crisis.
DARING WOMEN: Take a guided walk around the city centre and learn about the Daring Women of Edinburgh. The history walks include discussion and pauses in fascinating the alleyways off the Royal Mile. Until 5 January.
QUICK BITES
SHIP SHAPE: Fingal, Edinburgh’s luxury floating hotel (and Tripadvisor’s No.1 UK Luxury Hotel), is expanding its award-winning Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar, which boasts 2 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence. For 2025 Fingal’s original Bridge is being developed into a new private dining experience.
FAVOURITE REMAINS: Gordon’s Trattoria, the well-loved Italian restaurant on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, is to remain open following the retirement of restaurateur Gordon Scott, who opened the restaurant in 1982. Merchant Leisure, which owns several bars and restaurants in the city, has acquired the restaurant and plans to keep it as it is for the time being.
OPENING BELL: Edinburgh’s second Taco Bell restaurant has opened on the site of a former bank in Picardy Place, adding to the franchise’s Shandwick Place branch in the west end.