Efforts to save Leith’s much-loved Lindsay Road Bridge (also known as Pride Bridge) have moved a step closer thanks to a funding award through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme.

The 1930’s bridge, originally built for vehicular traffic, was closed off to motor vehicles in 2008 and has since served as a key walking, wheeling, and cycling route over Hawthornvale Path. In 2021 community members painted the bridge in rainbow colours, leading to it being named locally as the ‘Rainbow’ or ‘Pride’ Bridge.

In December 2021 the bridge, which is at the end of its lifespan, was closed due to concerns around health and safety.

Council officers have since made a successful application for Transport Scotland funding through Sustrans for the design of a replacement bridge deck, with £232,700 awarded. A designer will now be appointed to progress the design, to be developed in consultation with stakeholders and the community.

This process is expected to last a year and, once it’s complete, officers intend to apply to Sustrans for 70% of the construction funding required to build the bridge.

The work will be delivered alongside the Leith Connections project which is making improvements to community spaces and providing better connections for anyone walking, wheeling or cycling through the streets of Leith.

The Leith Connections project was awarded funding through Places for Everyone, an active travel infrastructure programme backed by Transport Scotland and administered by Sustrans.

Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said:

I’m delighted that this funding award gives new hope for the future of Pride Bridge.

This structure is a local landmark, a link to Leith’s industrial past and a reminder of the pandemic, but above all else for me it is a celebration and commemoration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride. It also provides a safe and convenient walking and cycling route between North Fort Street and Newhaven area.

Thanks to all those involved who have campaigned for its preservation.

Kasper Schwartz from Sustrans said:

The Pride Bridge serves as a vital walking, wheeling, and cycling connection for the people of Newhaven. It not only provides a direct and accessible link to local shops, businesses, and public transport in the area, but also stands as a vibrant symbol of community resilience. We’re excited to be able to support the design and development of a new bridge deck, and in due course, see this important link reinstated.

Róisín Thérèse from the Save the Pride Bridge campaign said:

We are delighted to hear that Sustrans has agreed to fund a full design with community consultation. We believe the Pride Bridge to be a very important piece of local history and heritage, an essential safe and accessible active travel route, and a much loved community space. We also believe that, especially in light of rising hate crime statistics, it is really important for us to show both our solidarity with the LGBTQ community and our commitment to their safety and inclusion. The Save The Pride Bridge group is looking forward to working closely with the council to find a suitable solution to restore this important local landmark. 

Members of the Transport and Environment Committee will receive an update on the funding award on Thursday (12 October). Watch committee live via webcast from 10am.

Cruden Building has successfully completed two new housing developments in Prestonpans in East Lothian on behalf of Lar Housing Trust.

The £3.2m Northfields development, located near the railway station and local amenities in Prestonpans, has transformed a former derelict factory site into an attractive new community.  The homes for mid-market rent comprise 22 apartments and 4 terraced houses, ranging from one-bedroom to four-bedrooms.

In tandem, homes have been completed at the £2.6m Jim Bush Drive development which has seen new life breathed into a former derelict site with 16 modern two-bedroom homes, built within a large area of newbuild homes. Two of the homes are wheelchair adapted ground floor homes and Cruden also built three retail units and landscaped communal green spaces.

Cruden has a long-standing relationship with the housing charity, previously delivering a housing project in Cockenzie in the East and Helenvale in Glasgow in the West.

Ann Leslie, Chief Executive of Lar Housing Trust said: “These two sites are a hugely important part of our portfolio, as demand in East Lothian for quality affordable homes is at an all-time high. We have enjoyed an excellent and collaborative working relationship with Cruden and we are delighted with the 42 new homes they have provided at what were previously abandoned and derelict sites. Most importantly, these stunning new developments will allow our tenants to put down roots in their local community.”

Steven Simpson, Managing Director of The Cruden Group added: “These milestone developments in Prestonpans add to Cruden’s varied pipeline of new affordable and private housing developments across Central Scotland and build on our strong working relationship with Lar Housing Trust.  At a time when demand for affordable homes is at an all-time high, these fantastic new developments provide high-quality, energy efficient homes which will enhance the lives of local residents and foster a real sense of community.”

• Just two fifths of UK firms (41%) now expect their prices to increase in the next three months, down from 55% in Q1.
• Labour costs are the biggest driver of price rises, across most sectors, cited by 66% of all businesses.
• Domestic sales, cashflow, turnover and profitability indicators are stable but remain at a low level.
• Business investment continues its long-term flatlining trend with only 23% seeing an increase, as the percentage of firms worried about interest rates rises to 45%. 

The BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for Q3 2023 shows the percentage of firms expecting to raise prices in the next three months has fallen for the fifth consecutive quarter.

The data also reveals that for the second quarter running the main factor for increasing costs is coming from wages.

The survey, by the BCC’s Insights Unit, of over 5,000 firms – 91% of whom are SMEs – also reveals business performance across different sectors varies considerably. The research took place between 21 August and 14 September before the Bank of England decided to hold the interest rate at 5.25%. Respondents were split into 28% manufacturing and 72% services industries, with 48% exporting.

Activity in the service sector ticks up but manufacturing is lagging behind

The percentage of all firms reporting increased domestic sales remained unchanged from Q2 at 35%. Meanwhile 23% reported a decrease and 42% reported no change.  But the services sector saw a larger bump with 36% seeing an increase, diverging from manufacturers, where 29% saw an increase.

For cashflow, more businesses saw an improvement rather than a decline – a reversal of the situation in Q1 and Q2. But the changes remain small, as 28% of businesses said their cash flow has improved over the last three months (26% in Q2), while 26% have seen it decline (29% in Q2).

After a rocky end to 2022, business confidence bounced back and has now stabilised.

The percentage of firms expecting to see their turnover increase over the next 12 months stood at 53% for Q3, broadly similar to Q1 (52%) and Q2 (54%) but up significantly from Q3 and Q4 in 2022 (both 44%). Only 16% expect a decrease in the next twelve months.

Profitability confidence also remains stable at 45%, up from 44% in Q2, although it continues to remain weaker than turnover confidence.  23% expect a decrease in the next twelve months.

This recovery in confidence in 2023 is yet to feed into increased business investment.

The percentage of respondents reporting an increase to investment in plant/equipment remains stuck at 23%, while 59% reported no change and 18% saw a decrease.

Over the last six years the number of firms increasing investment has dropped as low as 9%, at the start of the pandemic, but it has never gone higher than 28% (Q1 2018). The hospitality sector remains under additional pressure with 33% reporting a decrease in investment, and 22% an increase.

Inflationary pressures continue to ease but remain the top concern.

The percentage of firms expecting their prices to rise fell for the fifth consecutive quarter. Two-fifths of firms (41%) now expect to put up prices in the next three months. This is down from an historic high of 65% in Q2 of 2022, indicating inflationary pressures are continuing to ease.

While inflation remains firms’ biggest concern, the level has dropped for the third quarter running, with 65% of firms now worried compared to 69% in Q2. However there has been a corresponding 4 percentage point rise in businesses worried about interest rates, increasing from 41% in Q2 to 45% in Q3.

Labour costs are now the number one cost pressure for businesses.

Concerns around wage costs was the biggest pressure for most firms for the second quarter running, although the percentage worried has dropped from 68% in Q2 to 66% in Q3. However, worries about utility prices fell even further from 63% to 59%, creating clear water with wage costs as the number one issue.

But there remain wide sectoral differences with manufacturers citing wages (68%), raw materials (65%) and utilities (65%) in a three-way tie as main factors driving price increases. While in hospitality, 81% of firms were most worried about utility costs, with wages in second place at 74%. The retail sector was least worried about labour costs, with 52% citing it as an issue, against 59% flagging utilities and 58% raw materials.

David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“The results of the QES continue to point to tough trading conditions for many firms as inflation, labour shortages, global trade barriers, and interest rate rises continue to bite.

“Manufacturers have reported a particularly tough quarter, and it will be crucial over the coming months to see how this trend plays out.

“Most firms continue to report no increase to their investment intentions. This is in part a reflection of broader uncertainty, with little clarity on major long-term projects and yet more trade barriers to come with the EU.

“Easing inflation and a recovery to business confidence provide brighter spots, but these need to be reinforced with a clear plan from Government on long-term investment and direction from the Bank on the interest rate.”

Responding to the findings, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, Shevaun Haviland, said: 

“Our research shows that business confidence has stabilised at much healthier levels following a rocky end to 2022. But the economic warning lights are still flashing.

“Firms are increasingly worried about interest rates, and while inflation concerns are falling, persistent wage pressures show we need a greater focus on relieving the UK’s tight labour market.

“With manufacturing lagging behind services, and low rates of investment across the board, especially in the hospitality sector, it is clear more needs to be done to spur growth.

“After the disappointment of HS2, firms want to see clear signals from Government to encourage investment. This means putting in place a five-year rolling guarantee on the full expensing tax allowance to give business some much needed certainty.”

What businesses say:

“We are looking to invest in new machinery as part of our growth plans so interest rates for asset finance are more an issue than previously.”

Small manufacturer in the East Midlands

“We cannot put our prices up much as [we] trade under the VAT limit and there is no sign that this will change. This means we are unable to expand or significantly up our prices despite all our suppliers increasing theirs.”

Small hospitality firm in Bristol

“Increasing interest rates is not reducing inflation on core costs which is crucial, as we cannot continue to absorb reduced sales prices and increase in costs.”

Medium-sized construction firm in Aberdeen

Opposition party leaders sign letter to FM calling for “fairer funding” for disabled children

A Fife girl’s campaign for fair funding for a charity supporting disabled children in Scotland will be debated in Parliament today (Tuesday 3 October 2023) after capturing the attention of the nation’s politicians – including the leaders of Scotland’s main opposition parties.

Fronted by Eilish Cowan (4) from Dunfermline, who has a rare genetic disability, the ‘Our Kids Won’t Wait’ campaign was launched by dad Lawrence in June, urging the Scottish Government to introduce a fairer funding deal for charities supporting families with disabled children like The Yard. The Yard works with children and young people aged 0-25 with Additional Support Needs through adventure play sessions in Edinburgh, Dundee and Kirkcaldy.

Today, leaders of Scotland’s opposition parties joined together to sign a letter urging the First Minister to act.

Almost 2,000 people have also signed the online petition urging the First Minister to rethink the decision to roll forward the Children and Young People Early Intervention Fund (CYPEIF) based on a funding level set seven years ago. Campaigners say the move is “short changing” charities like The Yard which have needed to grow significantly to meet demand. In 2016, the Scottish Government contributed £163 per family in core funding towards the work of the Yard through the fund. In 2023, this has reduced in real terms by 76% to £39 per family because demand has increased by more than four times 2016 levels.

Eilish, who has been attending The Yard since last year, is one of around 200 children in the world with a genetic abnormality in a gene called TUBA1A, meaning that she struggles to walk and is visually impaired. She also has a learning disability.

Now, Claire Baker, Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, has secured a public debate about the campaign at the Scottish Parliament.

Ms Baker said, “I have heard at first-hand how much support and enjoyment Eilish gains from attending The Yard and want to ensure this continues for her and other children with disabilities.  My debate is an opportunity for the Minister and the Scottish Government to listen to how valuable charities like The Yard are for families and to hear their plea for funding to continue and expand their work.”

Eilish’s dad Lawrence Cowan added, “My daughter and disabled children like her deserve every opportunity to be loved and belong just like everyone else.

“Time and again parents with disabled children have to fight or wait for support we need. This funding decision means The Yard cannot grow to meet demand. It effectively means that disabled children and parents are missing out on vital support, yet again.

“Our kids won’t wait any longer. The First Minister says his priorities are tackling poverty and improving childcare. Charities like The Yard are essential services delivering both these priorities for some of the most vulnerable children in Scotland. We need to see a fairer funding approach.”

Celine Sinclair, CEO of The Yard added, “The Yard is well placed to support the Scottish Government in effectively achieving its key priorities of tackling poverty and childcare. Disabled children and their families face multiple barriers to inclusion and are simply not getting a fair deal. The Yard directly supports over 2300 children and young people from 16 different local authorities. By rolling forward our grant without adjustment, our funding has in effect dropped from £163 per family annually to only £39 per family. By reversing this decision and reinstating funding levels in real terms, Scottish Government will be supporting some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children and giving them the chance to flourish.”

The Yard service offers creative and inclusive play experiences in a well-supported environment, alongside wraparound support for the whole family, with a varied programme of drop-in, respite and transition youth clubs, early years, specialist sessions with schools, family play sessions, plus inclusive play and disability training.

Households containing a disabled person have higher levels of child material deprivation (20%) compared to households with no disabled people (8%)* and 33% of Scottish families have extra disability and care-related costs of £300+ a month**. This summer, just 4% of families with disabled children had a holiday club for all the days and hours the family needs, with over a third reporting that providers could not meet their disabled child’s needs.***

To sign the petition, visit https://www.change.org/ourkidswontwait

For more information about The Yard, visit www.theyardscotland.org.uk

 

Scotland Away Match Screenings

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR EXCLUSIVE LOW SEASON PROMOTION

St Andrews is a historic town situated on the East coast of Scotland with stunning views of the North Sea. Its beautiful beaches stretch along the coast providing scenic walks and outdoor activities such
as water sports, fishing, and golfing. Known as the Home of Golf, it is steeped in history. With its proximity to major cities like Dundee and Edinburgh, as well as the spectacular Fife countryside, St
Andrews is an ideal base for exploring and experiencing Scotland.

Book a group of 12 or more and receive the 12th spot free per day, offer includes accommodation and all contracted food and beverage, for new bookings from 1st November 2023 to 31st March 2024.

Old Course Hotel events brochure.

Teens+ is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its new transitional education centre dedicated to providing post-school support for young adults with complex and severe communication needs.

This new Teens+ centre based at Eskmills Musselburgh, with the capacity to support 25 students, will provide tailored support five days a week to students aged 17+ who are typically excluded from accessing further education due to their learning needs, enabling them to develop essential life skills and preparing them for their future.

The expansion marks a significant milestone for Teens+, bringing the organisation’s capacity to 98 students, two years ahead of its initial target of supporting 100 young people with learning disabilities and complex support needs by 2025.

The new centre follows the launch of NEXT STEPS, an extension of the Teens+ service that empowers young people with complex needs to develop skills and explore new experiences to discover what independence can look like for them through a network of opportunities for social inclusion that includes Heart of Midlothian Football Club’s Big Hearts Community Trust and Hibernian Football Club Community Foundation.

“We are delighted to open the doors of our fourth Teens+ centre in the Edinburgh area whichwill provide high-quality transitional education opportunities and therapeutic support to even more young people,” says Simon Pearce-Madge, Head of Teens+. “It is crucial that young adults with additional needs have access to opportunities that enable them to actively participate in their community. Education and life skills play a key role in young people with complex needs engaging in society, so we’re on a mission to ensure everyone has the right to further education, regardless of need.”

In 12 months, Capella has seen substantial growth, opening two new centres, bringing the charity’s footprint to four centres and adding 85 Living Wage roles, bringing the organisation’s headcount to 162 staff.

“Capella’s service Teens+ has been growing rapidly to meet the overwhelming demand for transitional education day service for young adults with additional needs, so we’re incredibly proud to be able to be opening a new centre to empower even more students,” says Gail Burden, CEO of Capella, the charity that operates Teens+.

“Amid a national social care recruitment crisis, Capella is achieving our ambition of becoming an employer of choice and earning the reputation as the most employee-focused organisation in our field. During this period of uncertainty for many charities, and with many similar providers struggling to fill roles, Capella’s services Teens+ is regularly overwhelmed by high-quality applicants, allowing us to operate at 100%.”

This week, Living Wage Scotland announced Capella as a finalist for their Outstanding Leadership Award 2023 recognising Capella’s efforts to go above and beyond for their employees during the ongoing cost of living crisis and during a period of funding difficulties for the charity sector across the UK, particularly, their free staff meals programme.

The nomination comes hot on the heels of Capella being named Employer of the Year at the prestigious Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2023.

— Dr. Bill Lumsden’s fascination with the city inspires first Glenmorangie part matured in Mizunara oak casks, with the whisky’s creative inspiration brought to life by Japanese artist, Yamaguchi Akira —

Combining bright, bold flavours with soft sweetness, Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo is a single malt whisky as full of delicious sensory contrasts as Tokyo itself. Japan’s capital has always been a place of great creative inspiration for Glenmorangie’s globe-trotting whisky creator, Dr Bill Lumsden, countering bustling streets with quiet gardens and ancient customs with ultra-modernism.

Inspired by the memories, feelings and flavours of his many visits to Tokyo and a desire to experiment with rare Japanese Mizunara oak casks for the first time, Dr Bill has created a limited edition expression characterised by enchanting opposites. In the whisky’s flavour profile, pepper meets bitter cherries and coconut, as mouth-watering orange zest fuses with incense and sweet oak. On the finish, classic Glenmorangie flavours of mandarin, almond and marzipan can be detected.

Glenmorangie’s whisky creators have been endlessly experimental on their quest to create delicious whiskies for the last 180 years. Led by Director of Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, they take whatever captures their imagination and turn it into whisky. Some time ago, as he travelled through Japan to share the joy of Glenmorangie more widely, Dr Bill wondered how he could create a single malt that encapsulated Tokyo’s contrasting delights, and what the influence of complex Japanese Mizunara oak might be on the Highland distillery’s light, floral character. After a tireless quest, he was able to source a small number of Mizunara casks, which are known for bringing a very distinctive and unusual flavour to whisky. He balanced the resulting unique and bold flavours from the Japanese oak with Glenmorangie aged in both bourbon and sherry casks to create a deliciously balanced whisky that encapsulates the juxtapositions of Tokyo.

To bring the vibrant inspiration and flavours of A Tale of Tokyo to life, Glenmorangie collaborated with Japanese artist Yamaguchi Akira, who has created his own playful perspective of the city’s rich layers of history and culture in an artwork which adorns each bottle and its packaging. Uniting his trademark maximalist bird’s-eye view style with Glenmorangie’s technicolour palette, it juxtaposes famed landmarks and characteristics from both Tokyo and the Highland Distillery, as well as traditional Japanese pastimes with nods to the whisky’s flavours. From the Tokyo Tower and Ueno Park to Glenmorangie’s giraffe-high stills and lush Mizunara oak trees, there are many intricate, hidden discoverables in his work, including several Dr Bill figures peppered throughout.

Dr Bill Lumsden said: “I’m lucky to have travelled widely over the years sharing Glenmorangie around the world whilst also gathering new inspiration for whisky creations, and Tokyo has always been one of my favourite places. I’m fascinated by the contradictions between its bustling streets and tranquil gardens, ancient and modern buildings, its many sensory experiences and its culture. My time there over the years made me wonder whether I could capture my experience of Tokyo, and these beautiful intricacies, in whisky form.

“I partly matured a proportion of Glenmorangie spirit in rare Japanese Mizunara oak casks, which I’ve been curious to experiment with for some time. The influence of this wood is incredibly complex and unusual; it required balance and softening with Glenmorangie matured in bourbon and sherry casks, and the result is a dram as full of delicious sensory contrasts as a trip to Tokyo.”

Yamaguchi Akira said: “It’s been a joy to collaborate with Glenmorangie to bring Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo to life through my art. The idea of my residing home conjures up so many different thoughts and feelings, and my work reflects Tokyo’s contrasts in many ways. Incorporating hints about Glenmorangie and its whisky really appealed to my sense of playfulness.”

Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo has recently been awarded Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023. It will be available from Selfridges exclusively from 1st to 15th October, then be available from 16th October onwards at whisky specialists, Glenmorangie.com and Clos19.com.

To explore Yamaguchi Akira’s full artwork as well as a range of cocktail serves inspired by A Tale of Tokyo, visit glenmorangie.com.