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The Future of Torness – Find all articles in the series here

The Future of Torness – Find all articles in the series here

With no plans to replace it, and the Scottish Government staunchly opposed to any new nuclear, its closure after forty years of generating electricity, will mark the end of nuclear power in Scotland. Even as, in England, investment in new nuclear power is driving forward plans for Sizewell C and Rolls Royce small modular reactors, the SNP appears steadfast in rejecting it.
Against this backdrop of political tension, The Herald has teamed up with the East Lothian Courier for an in-depth series, The Future of Torness. Our team of journalists has worked together to look at everything from the current state and safety of Torness to ideas for its future, from decommissioning to fresh new options for the site.
Follow along with all the articles in the series here.
Torness is set to close in 2030. The Herald and East Lothian Courier have teamed up to investigate the future of the site and its workers.
Day One
Plans have been brought forward for two new nuclear reactors in Scotland, reports Brian Donnelly.
Each year, Torness Power Station brings in the region of about £45 million to the local economy but what will the town do without this money? Cameron Ritchie reports.
Torness nuclear power station is set to close in five years. Here's what a tour of its reactor and workers taught Vicky Allan about its future.
Plans for new reactors in Scotland have followed a promise of a 'golden nuclear age' ahead, reports Brian Donnelly.
It is hard to imagine John Swinney swinging from the chandeliers but, in another world, the first minister might be bringing down the ceilings in Bute House, writes GMB Scotland secretary Louise Gilmour.

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The Welsh Government unveils major planning reforms
The Welsh Government unveils major planning reforms

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The Welsh Government unveils major planning reforms

Rebecca Evans today (Thursday, June 26) outlined how the Welsh Government is taking decisive action to streamline the planning process, address resource challenges, and build a "modern, efficient" planning system "fit for the future". The Cabinet Secretary said an efficient planning system is essential for creating the homes, jobs and infrastructure Wales needs, while also enhancing our environment and strengthening our communities. She said: 'I am determined to make Wales the fastest country in the UK to determine infrastructure applications. This ambition extends to all planning applications, recognising that this will drive economic growth across our nation.' The announcement includes several key measures to accelerate decision-making and boost the planning profession: The Cabinet Secretary has also commissioned RTPI Cymru to undertake comprehensive workforce planning research to develop a clear picture of capacity, resource and skills needs across the public planning sector. This research will inform a long-term strategy to increase the capacity and resilience of planning services throughout Wales, the Welsh Government said. MORE NEWS: Digital transformation forms another key part of the reforms, with the Centre for Digital Public Services developing projects to enhance communication between planning departments and the public, improve user experiences, and establish digital standards for sharing planning information. The Cabinet Secretary added 'These reforms represent a step change in how planning works in Wales. "By investing in our planning services, developing digital solutions, and growing the planning profession, we are creating a planning system that will drive sustainable economic growth, deliver the infrastructure Wales needs, and create good jobs across the country.'

Douglas Ross hits out at NatureScot in debate on 'dominating' seagulls
Douglas Ross hits out at NatureScot in debate on 'dominating' seagulls

The Herald Scotland

time36 minutes ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Douglas Ross hits out at NatureScot in debate on 'dominating' seagulls

The debate was led by Mr Ross after he submitted a motion stating that the parliament should note concern around the reported changes to the approach taken for granting licences to control gulls in recent years by NatureScot. He argued that this has led to fewer licences being approved. A total of 2,041 licences were granted in 2023, however this figure fell to 505 in 2024. He told the chamber there is a 'clear conflict' in the Scottish Government body Nature Scot between conserving and preserving bird numbers and controlling the applications to regulate bird numbers. READ MORE: Can you be fined for feeding seagulls? Rules to follow Boffin denies being corrupt, but admits being incompetent Dundee University principal: 'I'm not corrupt, I'm incompetent' The Former Scottish Conservative leader said: 'Currently they are clearly conflicted between conserving and preserving bird numbers and also being the agency that looks at and deliberates on applications to control birds. 'It is not possible any more for Nature Scot to do those dual roles." Mr Ross pointed that Nature Scot keep a record of bird deaths or injury but not take any record of people injured. 'I think they have to look at that," he told MSPs today, "We do need to see a record of the number of attacks on people by gulls. 'They are causing a nuisance and people want action.' Mr Ross said communities and businesses in his own constituency of Moray, Nairn and Inverness have had significant problems with gulls in recent years, but that many communities across Scotland also experience similar problems. He also said the gulls are causing 'mental health issues' as their constant screeching torments the general public. 'They are a menace,' he emphasised to parliament. Mr Ross said he is not ignoring that people are encouraging gulls by feeding them and he accepted that was 'part of the problem'. Gulls 'dominating areas' are also seeing a reduction of other smaller birds, he argued. Mr Ross called on more "robust action" from the Scottish Government and NatureScot to protect humans and businesses from "the menace of dangerous gulls". He said this could include Scottish Ministers taking action through a section 11 order under the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 199. As a rebuttal, SNP MSP Christine Graham made her 'cautious defence of the common gull'. She named them 'clever and adaptable', saying she has seen the birds 'case out' shop fronts to find food. The MSP, sympathetic to the plight of the gull, said this is not 'mugging' and it would be wrong to anthropomorphise the gulls, adding that humans are 'mucky creatures' and, unlike gulls, know better. 'What we mustn't have is people versus gulls or gulls versus people', she stressed. SNP MSP Emma Roddick said there is potentially a need to reconsider what actions local councils can take to prevent damage and injury caused by gulls. Scottish Conservative MSP Findlay Carson said the 'wild flappers' appear to 'rule the roost' in his constituency of Dumfries and Galloway and 'appear to revel in the misery that they cause'. 'It's a growing public safety risk…These birds are no longer confined to our beaches,' he said. Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said it was important to note that the birds are not 'acting maliciously' but are protecting their young. However, she said the birds were causing considerable injury and it is a 'public health issue'. Green MSP Mark Ruskell raised in the chamber that the gull population numbers have halved since the 1980s. However, in a heated interaction, veteran SNP MSP Fergus Ewing intervened to say 'there was no such evidence for that' based on an FOI responses he had received disputing their decrease. The Agriculture Minister said he did not accept this comment from Mr Ewing and said he needs 'definitive proof' that is the case. Mr Ruskell continued to argue that the species numbers are declining and that the parliament should focus on 'finding a better way to co-exist' with an 'under-attack" species. Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said he accepts this is a 'deadly serious' matter in Scotland. He said licenses are dealt out for dealing with gulls is based on Nature Scot guidance which has changed. 'The use of language such as menace or nuisance is not a licensable purpose and that's a really critical part. "They can only be issued on the basis of health and safety which is why there has been this differentiation since previous applications. 'We have delegated [license] power to Nature Scot and that is where it should stay for this moment in time.' The minister said if the government went against their licensable purpose it could 'open' them up to judicial review. 'Therefore it would not be appropriate for ministers', he said. Mr Fairlie said society must limit food waste and public littering to 'take away feeding opportunities'. The Minister has said he will convene a summit on the issue in Inverness where the 'entire issue' of seagulls in Scotland will be raised. 'I'll make sure that we try to progress this so that we are not standing here in ten years time with another member's debate about gull species,' he concluded.

Calls for seagull summit as fears grow someone could be 'killed'
Calls for seagull summit as fears grow someone could be 'killed'

The Herald Scotland

time36 minutes ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Calls for seagull summit as fears grow someone could be 'killed'

Fellow Tory Rachael Hamilton said a nationwide summit must be held to tackle the issue as she warned that Scots are being left 'scared, attacked and traumatised'. Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie had already promised to hold a seagull summit in the north of Scotland but Ms Hamilton, who represents the south of Scotland, said a summit for the whole country is needed. The Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP said 'aggressive' seagulls had attacked seven children in one month last year in Eyemouth, with one girl 'left with gashes to her scalp and blood running down her face'. She called for action on the 'growing nuisance', which she said posed a health and safety risk to residents. Despite rising complaints from locals, though, she said NatureScot's licensing system to control the birds was bureaucratic and failing to solve the issue. 'I think we need a summit,' she said. 'I don't think we just need a summit in Moray, we need a summit across Scotland.' Ms Hamilton said the debate was 'important' as she criticised what she said was a lack of action from the Scottish Government. She told MSPs: 'Absolutely nothing is getting done. I don't believe the Government are listening to us because the issue continues in my constituency in Eyemouth. 'Aggressive seagull behaviour continues to cause a real concern amongst businesses, amongst tourists, amongst everybody that has anything to do along the harbour. 'And it is not just a seasonal nuisance. It is a serious, growing health risk. It's a safety risk, particularly for children and elderly residents.' Read More She said one business owner had described the situation as 'people being scared, attacked and traumatised'. MSPs debated the issue on Thursday, the last day of Parliament before the summer recess. Opening the debate, Mr Ross said people often 'smirk' when hearing that the Scottish Parliament is debating the problems around gulls – but he said it was an 'extremely serious issue'. The Highlands and Islands MSP said constituents have told him they are worried about leaving their homes for fear of being 'divebombed', while others have suffered mental health issues thanks to a lack of sleep caused by noisy gulls. One resident, he said, is spending £2,000 a year to remove nests from her home. 'People should not have to keep living in fear of being divebombed by these menaces on a daily basis, and are crying out for action,' he said. He accused NatureScot of having a conflict of interest as the body responsible for both the licensing to control birds and to conserve them. He went on: 'The behaviour of the SNP's quango NatureScot confirms they have lost the plot. They have told people to protect themselves with umbrellas and even suggested dogs as a deterrent. 'The time has come to break up NatureScot. There is a clear conflict of interest in the fact they are responsible for considering licences to control gulls but are also responsible for protecting bird numbers. 'If the minister cannot see that is a problem, then he is divorced from reality. 'The strength of the cross-party support in my debate today should be all the SNP government need to finally act before we see someone killed due to being attacked by a gull.' Jim Fairlie, the minister for agriculture, said that while people often 'chuckle and laugh' about the issue of gulls, he warned it was 'deadly serious'. But he told MSPs that he could not intervene on NatureScot to change the licensing system because it would leave the Government open to judicial review. He urged people to stop feeding the birds, which he said was the primary reason for the issue. The birds have been an increasingly common site in urban areas as they leave their natural habitat in search of food. He said: 'We have to work out what it is that is causing the issue in the first place. 'We are feeding them – it is quite simple. We are creating habitat, and we are creating feeding stations which are allowing gulls to inhabit our space, and that is now quite clearly coming into conflict.' He added: 'We have got to try and limit food waste and public littering. We have got to take away these feeding opportunities.' SNP MSP Christine Grahame warned against 'demonising' gulls, which she described as 'clever, adaptable' animals. 'Language such as 'mugging', 'menace' can be applied to us, our fellow counterparts,' she said, 'but it is not appropriate to demonise an animal simply looking for food. 'Anthropomorphising is tempting but not helpful.'

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