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Edinburgh Reporter
5 days ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Winchburgh station plans lodged with council
The first view of how Winchburgh's new station could look has been released as plans have been lodged with West Lothian Council. The move comes a day after the council agreed that subject to approval tomorrow (Friday), council officers will now progress a case for funding for the project through the City Region Deal. It comes ten months after the council signed up to be a co-promoter of the station alongside Winchburgh Developments Ltd and more than a decade since a re-opened station was agreed for the rapidly expanding community. A spokesperson confirmed that an update will be taken back to a future meeting of the council's Executive. Looking north over the site earmarked for the new railway station and 100 space car park at the heart of the growing Winchburgh. Copyright West Lothian Council The station could be operational by the end of the decade taking huge pressure off neighbouring communities including Linlithgow and Uphall which deal with the bulk of commuter traffic on the line at the moment. The plans are likely to be decided on matters specified which means the principle of the station has already been accepted; only details have to be agreed. Transport Scotland told the Local Democracy Reporting Service earlier this week that it would fund the fit out of any new station. However, councillors have called for the Scottish Government to commit to fund the station which could cost £22.5m. The council will seek funding through the City Region Deal, a mechanism that unites six surrounding local authorities with private industry and universities to source UK and Scottish government investment in infrastructure. The council's report confirms that both the Outline Business Case and station design are complete which allows progress to be made with a funding bid for the station. The Outline Business Case identifies the positive benefits of a new railway station at Winchburgh on the Edinburgh – Falkirk High – Glasgow railway line. The proposed design will incorporate a 100-space car park with space for future expansion. A report to the council last week detailed: 'An additional stop at Winchburgh has already been incorporated within the timetable for the Edinburgh – Dunblane service and this has no timetabling impacts on the Edinburgh- Falkirk High – Glasgow timetable.' 'Modelling of the station forecasts around 625 passengers boarding per day at Winchburgh in 2030, increasing to 768 in 2045. 'In the morning peak hour there will be around 80 passengers travelling towards Edinburgh and an estimated 50 towards Stirling. This will equate to an increase of around 10% in rail usage on the Stirling to Edinburgh rail service. 'Winchburgh passenger demand is forecast to grow by around 20% between 2030-45. There is likely to be a 20-25% reduction in bus patronage when the station opens but this loss will be recovered as the housing development is built out.' As a comparison of passenger usage at neighbouring railway stations shows Linlithgow has 1,400 passengers a day and Uphall with 650. Only Falkirk High, with 1,100 passengers comes close to Linlithgow, with passenger numbers in the hundreds at Polmost and Falkirk Grahamston. Speaking at the meeting of the Executive on Tuesday, Linluthgow Councillor Sally Pattle highlighted the problem with parking exacerbated by the numbers of people driving to Linlithgow to commute by train A steering group, which includes the lead developer, Winchburgh Developments, Transport Scotland, Network Rail, SEStran, ScotRail, the City Region Deal and the council, has been meeting monthly for around a year now and 'good progress is being made'. The steering group reports to a stakeholder group comprising MSPs and elected members from the council together with members of the steering group. The next meeting of the stakeholder group has been confirmed for later this month. By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
5 days ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Plans for new West Lothian train station give first look at platform design
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The first view of how Winchburgh's new station could look has been released as plans have been lodged with West Lothian Council. The move comes a day after the council agreed that, subject to approval tomorrow (Friday), council officers will now progress a case for funding for the project through the City Region Deal. It comes ten months after the council signed up to be a co-promoter of the station alongside Winchburgh Developments Ltd and more than a decade since a re-opened station was agreed for the rapidly expanding community. A spokesperson confirmed that an update will be taken back to a future meeting of the council's Executive. The station could be operational by the end of the decade taking huge pressure off neighbouring communities including Linlithgow and Uphall which deal with the bulk of commuter traffic on the line at the moment. The plans are likely to be decided on matters specified which means the principle of the station has already been accepted; only details have to be agreed. Transport Scotland told the Local Democracy Reporting Service earlier this week that it would fund the fit out of any new station. However councillors have called for the Scottish Government to commit to fund the station which could cost £22.5m. The council will seek funding through the City Region Deal, a mechanism that unites six surrounding local authorities with private industry and universities to source UK and Scottish government investment in infrastructure. The council's report confirms that both the Outline Business Case and station design are complete which allows progress to be made with a funding bid for the station. The Outline Business Case identifies the positive benefits of a new railway station at Winchburgh on the Edinburgh – Falkirk High – Glasgow railway line. The proposed design will incorporate a 100 space car park with space for future expansion. A report to the council last week detailed: 'An additional stop at Winchburgh has already been incorporated within the timetable for the Edinburgh – Dunblane service and this has no timetabling impacts on the Edinburgh- Falkirk High – Glasgow timetable.' 'Modelling of the station forecasts around 625 passengers boarding per day at Winchburgh in 2030, increasing to 768 in 2045. 'In the morning peak hour there will be around 80 passengers travelling towards Edinburgh and an estimated 50 towards Stirling. This will equate to an increase of around 10% in rail usage on the Stirling to Edinburgh rail service. 'Winchburgh passenger demand is forecast to grow by around 20% between 2030-45. There is likely to be a 20-25% reduction in bus patronage when the station opens but this loss will be recovered as the housing development is built out.' As a comparison of passenger usage at neighbouring railway stations shows Linlithgow has 1,400 passengers a day and Uphall with 650. Only Falkirk High, with 1,100 passengers comes close to Linlithgow, with passenger numbers in the hundreds at Polmost and Falkirk Grahamston. Speaking at the meeting of the Executive on Tuesday, Linlithgow Councillor Sally Pattle highlighted the problem with parking exacerbated by the numbers of people driving to Linlithgow to commute by train A steering group, which includes the lead developer, Winchburgh Developments, Transport Scotland, Network Rail, SEStran, ScotRail, the City Region Deal and the council, has been meeting monthly for around a year now and 'good progress is being made'. The steering group reports to a stakeholder group comprising MSPs and elected members from the council together with members of the steering group. The next meeting of the stakeholder group has been confirmed for later this month.
The Courier
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Consultants to 'explore options' for future of Stirling's Albert Halls
A consultancy firm has been hired by Stirling Council to assist with 'exploring improvements' for the city's Albert Halls. The local authority says Ove Arup and Partners Limited has been brought in to look into potential options for the future of the category B-listed arts and conference venue. The company describes itself as 'a global consultancy of designers, engineers and consultants who guide, plan, and design the future of the built environment.' It was the only business to apply for the Albert Halls consultancy contract, which Stirling Council valued at £34,133.20. Ove Arup and Partners has 17 offices across the UK, and its Edinburgh-based team is working on the Stirling project. A Stirling Council spokesperson said: 'Consultants are supporting ongoing work that is exploring a range of potential options for improvements to The Albert Halls, Stirling, via funding from the City Region Deal.' Another external consultancy firm, Glamis Consultancy, was previously hired by Stirling Council to conduct a review of the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, sometimes known as The Smith, for a separate improvement project linked to the City Region Deal. This was completed in autumn 2024, and an action plan is expected to be presented to council members in June. However, at a full council meeting in early May, councillors expressed concern over the length of time the review process was taking, as well as the consultancy costs. Opened in October 1833, the Albert Halls on Dumbarton Road were purpose-built as a concert hall. It has capacity for more than 700 people in its Main Hall. Prior to its opening, The Smith was used to stage live performances. The Albert Halls were designed by local architect William Simpson, and were originally known as the New Public Halls.
The Herald Scotland
16-05-2025
- Science
- The Herald Scotland
Why creativity is key to realising Scotland's tech potential
It all feels like something that has been built to help bridge the present and the future, which makes sense, because this is the National Robotarium, a multi-million facility funded by the UK and Scottish Governments through the Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal. For many, the name will conjure up images of hermetically sealed, sci-fi inspired laboratories filled with men and women glued to code-filled computer screens. Some might assume that a place like this is concerned with theoretical advancements from people with narrow but hugely advanced specialisms. The reality is quite different. Ultimately, the people who come to work here every day are in the problem-solving business, and success is just as much about creativity as it is technical knowledge. In one section of the building, a full mock-up of an assisted living home has been created in order to explore solutions to existing, real-world problems. Idea to make life easier for people in need of support, such as assistance robots that can follow people around, or worktops that are automatically height-adjustable, are conceived, developed and tested here using some of the world's most advanced robotic and AI technology. Along another corridor, an expert is working on a medical diagnostic machine that will hopefully enable diseases such as Parkinson's to be detected much earlier; in a large workshop space, a team is developing an advanced machine to sort recycling more effectively and efficiently. Scotland has an extensive history in developing new ideas and technologies to solve problems, and many believe that it can once again be a world leader in the field, but the country is struggling to create the networks and pathways necessary to turn that dream into a reality. Problems with access to, and uptake of, some STEM subjects – especially Computing Science and Design & Manufacture – are well known, but some argue that a subject-specific solution to this particular real-world problem isn't the answer. According to Blair Wilson, Industry and School Engagement Lead at the National Robotarium, an alternative approach – project based learning – might be better suited to this particular task. He name-checks a number of such scheme – LEGO League, F1 in Schools, Vex Robotics – that allow students to combine their learning from various different subjects with their real world interests, before pointing out that the National Robotarium also hosts its own programmes: 'We have an event tomorrow called the First Tech Challenge. It allows students to explore subjects in an environment where you're in a team, so you're not necessarily failing if you don't understand something, and every year there's a different theme which relates to the real world. So you could be talking about archaeology, health, underwater science. The project takes your team through the whole engineering process, the whole design process, and includes things like fundraising, communication and teamwork. It teaches you in a way that is transferable to a working environment, because these are the things that happen in the real world of work.' 'I would say definitely the way that the world is going in terms of the world work, the careers available - coming out of high school with five A's in the Highers is great. But having a couple of Highers, and a skill set that is transferable to the world of work or to the world of college or university or apprenticeships, currently is probably a little bit more valuable.' Put simply, Wilson argues we don't need schools to create exam-answering machines with high grades – we need them to create learners with real interests and creative curiosity. Wilson points out that even at the very top of the field, creativity is vital. Disney, he explains, employs a team of 'hardcore roboticists' to develop technology for theme parks and films. Their job title is 'imagineer'. He explains that one of his colleagues, who is currently working on a type of pet-like robot to support and monitor people living alone, previously worked in high fashion, but that many of the creative and developmental skills he acquired in that industry transferred brilliantly to working in robotics and AI. In order for Scotland to realise its potential and take a leading role in a rapidly changing world, the country will have to produce people who can examine complex problems and conceptualise new solutions that cut across traditional divisions. Wilson says that we need people who are driven to 'explore', and who can be creative in the pursuit of solutions to real-world problems. 'But the key word there is create.'
STV News
09-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Government urged to use unspent £20m to fund RAAC work
A desperate plea to use an unspent £20m fund to help residents affected by the RAAC crisis has been turned down. The cash was found sitting in the City Region Deal's housing infrastructure fund. It was launched by the Scottish Government to be used across the north-east back in 2016 as part of the 10-year deal – but it has never been spent. There were hopes the money could be used to help with the ongoing RAAC crisis as Torry residents met SNP housing minister Paul McLennan during his visit last week. Labour councillors submitted an emergency call to the council's finance committee recently regarding the cash. They wanted the sum to be used to offer RAAC victims the full value of their houses or to replace the material in homes across Balnagask. Torry councillor Simon Watson said the pot of cash was a 'little glimpse of hope' for residents. But, he also warned that the £20m could be lost if it's not spent in the near future and slammed local authority bosses for not doing enough to help. 'In the last 14 months there has been no formal approach from Aberdeen City Council to the Scottish Government for funding,' he said. 'Our council leaders have not even asked for support for our residents.' Mr Watson noted that council co-leaders Christian Allard and Ian Yuill both sit on the City Region deal committee and oversee the spending of its funds. However, he was aware that members of the City Region Deal and Scottish Government would need to rubber-stamp the spend. Finance boss Alex McLellan argued that the funding solution needs to come in the form of a UK-wide Raac fund to support affected tenants as well as homeowners. He said this would alleviate the 'financial devastation' caused by raac. McLellan stated this was the council's position and asked chief executive Angela Scott to engage with Scottish Government on the matter. He also noted that the City Region Deal cash was 'not just our money' and was shared with Aberdeenshire Council. 'No stone will be left unturned in terms of accessing funding,' McLennan said. He also admitted the council would need 'significantly more' than £20m, saying: 'That won't touch the sides in terms of demolition and rebuild of the area, we need more. 'I would be surprised if cash-strapped Aberdeenshire Council were willing to give up that funding. 'It's not funding that we can snap our fingers and use.' He suggested the council may have to raise council tax or cut services to pay for private homeowners if funding can't be found from the UK Government. Meanwhile, council co-leader Christian Allard praised the 'success' of the rehoming process. 'The vast majority of people have left their houses and have been rehomed. 'The housing team has worked hard to rehome so many of our tenants, it's incredible work they have had to do through no fault of our own, the tenants or owners.' Allard noted the 'financial struggle' the council and residents have faced, saying the local authority earmarked £3m to help tenants move out. 'We promised our owners and occupiers that we would do the same for them,' he stated. But, he argued that the UK Government ultimately had to help out by creating a national Raac fund. The bubbly material was found to be in 500 council houses across Balnagask last year. Aberdeen City Council intends to knock down properties affected by the potentially dangerous material by 2028. This comes despite the fact that some homeowners are refusing to sell their beloved homes. They are fighting for fair compensation as they currently face average losses of between £35,000 and £55,000 for the sale of their homes. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
