Reacting to details of the common user charge being introduced on animal and plant product imports into the UK later this month, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said:
“This is an extremely disappointing decision by Defra on the common usage charge. The level of import charges shows scant regard to the interests of both businesses and consumers.
“A flat rate fee for bringing most animal and plant products into the UK is a hammer blow for small and medium sized importers. It’s also deeply concerning for retailers, cafes and restaurants.
“Importing a small consignment of goods with only five different meat, poultry, egg, milk or some fish products in the medium risk category will now face a bill of £145 per package under these proposals.
“The clock is ticking to 30th April when these charges will come into force. We urge the Government to reconsider their import charge plans in the coming days. Failing to do so risks higher prices for us all, at a time when we should be bearing down on business costs and food price inflation.”
The firm’s Sustainable Transport team has advised West Midlands Trains on a £66m investment by Porterbrook into the Bletchley Rail Depot
Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon has advised West Midlands Trains Limited (WMT) on a £66 million investment by Porterbrook into its Bletchley rail depot in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.
The depot is being refurbished so that it can properly accommodate the long-term maintenance requirement of WMT’s fleet of 36 brand new electric 5-car Class 730 Aventra trains that are being delivered by manufacturer Alstom over the next year and are essential for a Net-Zero railway in the future.
This Bletchley depot financing follows on from the £50m Tyseley depot financing that was announced in December 2023, and which Burges Salmon also advised on, demonstrating WMT’s ongoing commitment to the West Midlands and its rail passengers, whose customer experience will be significantly improved when the new trains are introduced.
The Burges Salmon team advising on the transaction was led by partner Chris Simms, supported by partner Colin Ligman and solicitors Louis Bothamley and Madeleine Henson. The firm provided finance, real estate and rail regulatory expertise.
Chris Simms comments: “It has been a pleasure to advise WMT once again on a significant rail sector project. We’re proud to have played our part in this latest venture, which will further add to the modernisation of the UK’s rail network along with contributing to a Net Zero railway for the future.”
Robert Stansfeld, Financing & Treasury Director at Transport UK Group, adds: “This deal will enable WMT to undertake major refurbishment of the depot at Bletchley and is a critical part of our fleet and infrastructure investment programme. As always, the Burges Salmon team worked side-by-side with us to provide the excellent levels of support and legal advice that we needed to complete this latest project.”
Burges Salmon’s Sustainable Transport team works across the entire transport sector including rail, highways, road transport, aviation and marine and ports. With strong expertise and insight into the sector, the firm covers all aspects of transport law; from funding and operations to construction, development and disputes. Working at the forefront of new transport technologies, the firm recently won The Legal Award at the 2023 Self-driving Industry Award
New footage released by the City of Edinburgh Council today (3 April 2024) shows the tank in the iconic gasholder frame has been infilled in preparation for the site to become a public park in the future.
Around 50,000 tonnes of infill material has been placed and compacted within the 11 x 78 metre tank ready for placement of the bentonite membrane. This follows the dramatic removal of the tank walls and bell last year.
Work is currently being carried out on the enormous amount of steel making up the structure with every steel member being looked at and repaired if required. This involves replacing corroded sections or filling holes. To repaint the structure the process involves blasting it with cooper ore which removes the old lead paint and corrosion, cleaning it down and prepping the surfaces then priming coats before the final paint colour.
The progress is the latest in the restoration of the site which began last year. McLaughlin & Harvey are completing the work on behalf of The City of Edinburgh Council using £16.4m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund and an additional £1.2 million from the Scottish Government.
The gasholder, which sits at the heart of the Council’s £1.3bn regeneration project for a new sustainable coastal town at Granton Waterfront, will become an exciting multifunctional public area.
The space within the restored gasholder is to have multi-sensory play zones, a dedicated area for permanent and temporary public art and one for relaxation, outdoor trails, and tracks for exercise as well as a large outdoor space for sports, markets, seasonal events, community use, festivals, performance arts, exhibitions, and play. Work will also be carried out to plant trees, shrubs and wildflowers improving biodiversity and local habitat in the area.
Councillor Cammy Day, Council Leader, said:
It’s exciting to see this footage and the culmination of all the hard work that has already gone into bringing this fantastic project to life for the area. The transformation of the structure will give the local community a much-needed place to come together to enjoy arts, sports, and culture.
The project forms part of the wider £1.3bn regeneration of the Granton area where we are unlocking brownfield land to build a new sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood. We’re continuing to work hard to ensure Granton is somewhere residents will be proud to live and I look forward to seeing progress continue throughout this year.
Graham Brown, McLaughlin & Harvey Senior Contracts Manager, said:
We are delighted to have reached another milestone on this exciting project. The Gas Holder tank has been dewatered, demolished and infilled alongside the ongoing structural frame refurbishment works. This has involved in-depth logistical planning to ensure both aspects of the project can progress side by side whilst ensuring the safety of our workforce. The finished paint surface is also progressing well under the cover of our immense scaffold structure and in the coming months we will commence the public realm works as the final phase of the project.
Planning Minister, Joe FitzPatrick, said:
Derelict sites can be a blight on communities and often hold back development.
The Scottish Government’s low carbon Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme is helping to unlock these sites by providing investment to create great places for people to enjoy, regenerating communities and tackling climate change.
I am delighted that £1.2 million from the programme is supporting this transformative project on this historic site with the creation of a biodiverse, multi-use, and accessible park within the frame of the gas holder, opening it up to public access for the first time.
Do you have an idea that will make a difference to your local community? Applications are now open for a grant of up to £5,000 to make your idea a reality.
The Council set up the Community Grants Fund in 2007 to kickstart projects that benefit local communities. It is part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to empowering communities and fostering grassroots initiatives.
There are 13 local funds, each covering a different area of the city. If you’re part of a community group with a project in mind, apply to your local Community Grant Fund today.
The total amount of funding available in your local fund depends on how many people live in your area. If there’s any money left over after this round, we’ll open another round of applications later this year. Unlike previous years, grants will be awarded a maximum of 3 times a year.
We want to make sure that the projects we fund are the ones that matter most to you. That’s why our funding panels are made up of local community representatives, such as Ward Councillors, Community Councillors, and representatives of community organisations.
If you’re in Leith, keep an eye out for a chance to vote on your favourite projects in January 2025 – information will be available for Leith applicants in the autumn.
The Community Grants Fund has supported some fantastic projects in the past, such as ‘Place to Pause’ at The Eric Liddell Centre and the Broomhouse Street Party. Your project could be next!
For the best chance of securing a grant, apply by the deadline of May 20, 2024. We’ll review all applications in June and let you know if you’ve been successful.
Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker said:
“Our communities are the lifeblood of our city and we’re committed to ensuring that they have the resources to bring their ideas to life.
“From the Pentlands to Portobello and beyond I’m really excited to see the projects that apply for funding during this round of applications.”
- Law firm on track for continued growth in 2024
- Northern Isles key to this strategy
Independent Scottish law firm Anderson Strathern has confirmed the appointments of a new director and associate, as part of its plans to grow the firm’s market share across the islands and the north of Scotland.
The additions strengthen Anderson Strathern’s rural, corporate, and commercial teams and bring experience working for agricultural and renewable sectors, as well as family-run businesses.
Ellen Eunson joins the firm as an experienced legal director specialising in rural law, covering a broad remit. This includes property sales and purchases, bank security work, succession planning, partnerships, agricultural leases, crofting, and renewables. Ellen previously split her time between her old firm’s Aberdeen office and her home in Kirkwall, but now looks forward to establishing a stronger presence for Anderson Strathern in Orkney. She already has an excellent network across Orkney’s farming and business communities and is the only accredited specialist in agricultural law for the Northern Isles.
Ellen said: “I was drawn to the role as it gives me the opportunity to work with a large firm while maintaining my specialisation in rural work. It also gives me the chance to be a full-time part of the professional and business community here in Orkney.”
Jennifer Sim joins Anderson Strathern as an associate, specialising in corporate and commercial law. Based in the firm’s Lerwick office, Jennifer acts for SMEs, venture capital/private equity funds, investors, and family-run businesses in various sectors. She regularly advises on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, re-organisations, investments, as well as corporate governance. Jennifer also has international translation experience, previously working as an interpreter for a commercial law firm in Munich.
A Shetland native, Jennifer chose the firm as it allows her to combine her professional aspirations with the ability to raise her young family in the place she grew up.
She said: “I live in Tingwall with my husband and little boy, and we have built a house here, which is something I wouldn’t have been able to do in Edinburgh, where I was previously based. From a business perspective, Shetland is a very dynamic place to be – businesses are thriving, and large-scale projects are generating excitement on a national level. It’s good to know that my work may have a positive impact on the local economy.”
The addition of a new associate in Shetland as well as a director in Orkney means the firm is well-placed to offer and increased range or services right across the Northern Isles. The Northern Isles team is headed up by Orkney-based partner Sheila Tulloch who joined Anderson Strathern in September 2023, bringing extensive experience from across the public and commercial sectors.
Sheila said: “I’m from the islands and have a strong network of connections here. Ellen and Jennifer’s experience bolsters our offering for a wide range of clients keen to do business face to face.”
Anderson Strathern Chair Fraser Geddes said: “The firm is pursuing growth by expansion, but we choose our appointments strategically, matching up the expertise we have across our teams with areas where we see strong potential demand. For us, Orkney and Shetland offer exciting opportunities for wide ranging legal services.”
Work will soon get underway to significantly improve public spaces on Melville Crescent, thanks to £2.1m in Transport Scotland funding secured by the City of Edinburgh Council.
Improvements to the historic west end street will complement the recently completed City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL) scheme, which connects Roseburn to Leith Walk via Haymarket and the West End with a safe and direct cycle route, as well as enhancing streets for those walking and wheeling.
The public realm scheme, which begins on 22 April, will include wider and resurfaced pavements using sandstone slabs in-keeping with the World Heritage Site and the reintroduction of setts on the road along Melville Crescent, reusing the setts which currently lie hidden under the existing asphalt surface. There will also be improved and additional crossing points, new lawn areas and street trees and cycle parking and benches added.
Designs for the project were originally developed as part of CCWEL and involved close collaboration with local stakeholders, along with Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, to ensure that proposals celebrate the unique World Heritage Site location.
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said:
I’m delighted that we’re now able to press ahead with these improvements on Melville Crescent thanks to this significant funding secured from Transport Scotland.
Not only will the changes create a much more welcoming environment, but they will restore some of the historic features unique to the street’s World Heritage status.
As well as street trees and wider sandstone footways, I am delighted the setted street carriageway throughout Melville Crescent will return – using the setts which currently lie hidden under the existing asphalt surface.
What’s more, the project will also benefit people travelling by foot, wheel or bike, complementing the fantastic, world-class CCWEL route, which I helped celebrate the opening of last week.
There will be some changes to traffic during the work, which will be delivered by CCWEL contractors Balfour Beatty and is expected to last until December. This includes the closure of Walker Street North and one-way, northbound traffic only on Walker Street South, from William Street to Melville Street.
CCWEL was completed in March following two years of construction and will tie into a new George Street cycling thoroughfare delivered as part of the George Street and First New Town project. The scheme will additionally link with walking and cycling improvements on Leith Walk as part of Trams to Newhaven, the Roseburn to Union Canal route, due for completion this year, and Meadows to George Street.
Winton Castle opens its doors for its Spring Gardens Open Day with Scotland’s Garden Scheme on Sunday 14 April 2024 (12 noon – 4.30 pm). Visitors will see the wild gardens round the castle awash with daffodils, and the historic walled garden and terraced gardens alive with spring flowers.
Winton, a popular exclusive use events venue in East Lothian, has been opening its gardens to support Scotland’s Garden Scheme since 1931, longer than any other Scottish garden. Profits from the day will be going to Scotland’s Garden Scheme charities, the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland, Perennial and Maggie’s, as well as Winton’s chosen charity, East Lothian Food Bank.
Visitors can join garden tours led by Winton’s gardeners and watch paper flower demonstrations then refuel at Cafe Winton or bring their own picnics.
There are also guided tours of Winton Castle where history buffs can hear about Winton’s intricate Scottish Renaissance ceilings and chimneys, and the castle’s intriguing legacy with links to the powerful Seton family, Henry VIII, Mary Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Elgin Marbles.
The gardens at Winton Castle are known for their stunning natural beauty, whether it’s the colourful array of flowers, the lush greenery or the tranquil loch. As this year’s Open Day is focused on Winton’s gardens, please be aware that there won’t be any activities or stalls.
Winton’s head gardener is Neil Davidson who is ably assisted by Sarah Payne. Neil spent 15 years honing his craft at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh before joining Winton last September. Sarah has gardened at Winton for over two years, having trained with the MacRobert Trust in Aberdeenshire and worked in gardens across the UK. Their green-fingered prowess brings life and vibrancy to the magnificent grounds.
Winton’s gardening team are the heart and soul of the Winton Estate so we asked them what inspired them.
What’s your favourite spot in Winton gardens?
Neil: “I’ve only seen the dormant Winton so I’m really looking forward to seeing what appears in the borders once the growing season starts.
“The gardens are so extensive that it’s hard to pick a favourite spot, but at the moment I would say the bottom terrace. It’s a suntrap and is the best display of Winton’s strapline ‘Intimacy on a Grand Scale’.”
Sarah: “There are always new surprises to be found in the garden which makes the job interesting! The variety and different areas at Winton are what I really enjoy.”
What are the next projects for the gardens?
Neil: “One of the next projects would be the annual Wildflower Border in the Walled Garden. This was really popular with folk last year and wildflower meadows are top for insects too!”
Sarah: “We have plans to change the annual borders in the Walled Garden to perennial planting this coming year. I’m looking forward to planning a planting scheme for this. I really enjoy the creative element of gardening.”
What makes Winton special compared to other gardens you know?
Neil: “The diversity of the gardens adds a special element to Winton. I have the freedom to experiment in different spaces with plants and flowers which I really love. I don’t actually have a garden at home, so Winton’s gardens are my home away from home!”
Sarah: “I really enjoy working with a great team across the estate, which for me makes Winton a special place.”
What’s your favourite plant or flower at Winton?
Neil: “That’s an almost impossible question for any gardener to answer! I like big leafy plants and there are a number of those dotted around the place – I like how they give a tropical feel, and yet I’m in Scotland! Surprisingly, at Winton I love the Coper’s Burnese Rose that we have in the walled garden. I’m not normally a fan of roses but this one is pretty mega.”
Sarah: “Last year we introduced some new varieties to our Dahlia borders on the middle terrace. The huge flower head and vibrant colour of ‘Mango Madness’ is my new favourite!”
You can learn more on Winton’s Spring Gardens Open Day on Sunday 14 April 2024 (12 noon – 4.30 pm) on their website. It is recommended that you reserve your tickets, especially for the limited number of castle tours. Please note that there won’t be any activities this year.
Hit STV Studios quiz show format, Bridge of Lies, will soon be challenging audiences across the pond, as US broadcaster Game Show Network has placed a bumper order of 100 episodes of the show, to launch in June.
The series will air under the local title, Beat the Bridge, and will be hosted by actor and presenter, Cameron Mathison (General Hospital, Home & Family).
It will feature an enormous interactive bridge that dares players to cross by stepping on the right answers to challenging trivia questions. Each step forward puts money in the team’s bank, with bonus money for each successful crossing. However, the team gets to keep the money only if it can “beat the bridge” by returning one of its players back across before time expires in an exciting end game.
Bridge of Lies, hosted by Ross Kemp, has proven popular with UK audiences since it was first commissioned by BBC Daytime in 2021 as part of a competitive initiative to find new quiz formats made in Scotland. It has since been recommissioned twice, with two primetime series featuring celebrity contestants also commissioned for BBC One.
The programme currently airs in 16 territories, and a local version in Spain – El peunte de las mentiras – was a hit for public broadcaster La 1 in 2023.
Beat the Bridge is a Game Show Enterprises Studios production with Ed Egan as executive producer and Sabrina Hybel Snow as co-executive producer. Josephine Brassey, Gary Chippington and David Mortimer serve as executive producers for STV Studios.
The US deal was brokered by STV Studios, which retained the rights to format sales in the US and Australia. International format sales elsewhere are handled by BBC Studios Distribution.
David Mortimer, Managing Director of STV Studios and executive producer of Beat the Bridge, said: “We’re so excited that our much-loved UK quiz format has found a home across the pond, and delighted that Game Show Network has such faith in the show to place an order of this size.
“Beat the Bridge has all the ingredients that have made the format so popular in other territories: nail-biting gameplay, enthusiastic contestants, and a brilliant host in Cameron Mathison. Bringing Bridge of Lies to America is just the latest step in the format’s international success story, and I’m looking forward to seeing the response to Beat the Bridge from US audiences when it launches in June.”
RSABI’s flagship annual outdoors team event, the Great Glen Challenge, is returning for 2024 and for the second-year running will be sponsored by expert legal advisors to the rural sector, Gillespie Macandrew.
Last year’s event raised over £50,000 towards the work of RSABI which provides practical, emotional, and financial support to people in Scottish agriculture. The 2024 event hopes to surpass this amount and take the total amount raised since the event was launched to over £500,000.
Now in its 12th year, the Great Glen Challenge 2024 will take place on August 30th when competing teams of four, plus a support driver, will take on the multi-sports event, with four designated stages set out on a scenic route between Fort Augustus and Fort William.
Competitors will cycle, kayak, walk, and run to a prize-giving reception at Neptune’s Staircase, located at the end of the route, with the designated driver picking up and dropping off fellow team members at various locations along the Great Glen Way.
As well as offering a unique team-building spirit, the Great Glen Challenge also highlights the importance of fitness in maintaining good physical and mental health.
Consisting of a 49km mountain bike, 6km kayak, 18km walk, and 17km run, the event is designed to challenge teams, encouraging dedication and teamwork from the onset of training up until the day of the event.
Registrations for the event are now open and RSABI is seeking dedicated teams to help reach its fundraising target while raising awareness of the vital services it provides, including its 24/7 Helpline, 0808 1234 555, free counselling and mental health first aid training.
As well as supporting as the official sponsor for the Great Glen Challenge for the second year running, Gillespie Macandrew is competing and volunteering at the event.
The firm, with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth, advises clients across Scotland and the UK on all areas of land and rural business, private client, commercial real estate, energy, tax and disputes, combining a personal approach with industry-leading expertise.
Lois Newton, Partner of Land and Rural Business at Gillespie Macandrew, said: “We are delighted to once again be supporting the Great Glen Challenge and to help highlight the excellent work of RSABI. Our staff are very much looking forward to competing in this fantastic event for the third year running in the great Scottish outdoors. The Gillespie Macandrew team has significant experience of the challenges individuals and businesses face in the rural sector and we are proud to support the vital emotional, practical, and financial services RSABI provide to people in Scottish Agriculture.”
Carol McLaren, RSABI Chief Executive, said: “The 2024 challenge wouldn’t be possible without the generous sponsorship and support of Gillespie Macandrew and we are delighted to be working with them again. Our thanks also go to the volunteers who help us run the event and to all those who have both competed and sponsored teams over the years. We are really looking forward to welcoming teams on board this year and to hearing their stories about training and teamwork in the coming months. This year we are offering an early bird discount for those quick off the blocks to sign up teams and, with interest looking particularly keen this year, we are encouraging those interested to sign up quickly!”
Entries to the Great Glen challenge are now open. Teams can be submitted by completing the Sign-Up form which is available on the RSABI event page: https://www.rsabi.org.uk/event/rsabi-great-glen-challenge-2024/.
With the Easter school holidays just around the corner, Duck & Waffle Edinburgh is thrilled to announce the return of breakfast service seven days a week starting April 1st, and to celebrate KIDS EAT FREE for the first two weeks! Duck & Waffle smallest fans will enjoy a selection of kid-friendly dishes, such as sweet & savoury Pancakes, Caramelised Banana Waffles, Greek Yoghurt, Eggs, and more! Available from 1st April to 15th April with every adult breakfast purchase*.
KIDS MENU
SEASONAL FRUIT SALAD GREEK YOGURT
homemade granola or fresh fruit
TWO EGGS ~ ANY STYLE
sourdough toast & hand-churned butter
HOMEMADE BAKED BEANS cheese scone, feta, chives
PANCAKES
SWEET ~ berries, whipped cream
SAVOURY ~ bacon, fried egg
LEMON MERINGUE WAFFLE
lemon curd, Italian meringue, lemon sorbet, dill
CARAMELISED BANANA WAFFLE
homemade chocolate & hazelnut spread, vanilla ice cream, peanut crunch
