Latest news with #Cowdy
The National
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Edinburgh residents urge Hearts to do more to stop illegal parking
Hearts fans have no allotted car parking space when visiting Tynecastle Stadium on game days. In a stadium that holds a little under 20,000 people, there's been 'little wonder' from fans as to why people take the risk to park illegally. Hearts currently advertise as having 'no special parking arrangements' per their website, only referencing areas available nearby for street parking. One resident of Dundee Terrace, which is an eight minute walk from the football ground, said: 'It happens obviously, but they've got to park somewhere.' Another neighbour described the street during game days as 'congested' and 'jam packed,' noting that: 'The football club should do more.' Football journalist and Hearts fan Aaron Fraser said: 'My dad has driven us to games at Tynecastle on too many occasions to count since I started going to games with him. It's something we now avoid entirely due to the lack of spaces. 'Since the stadium is tightly packed into a residential area, there is very limited space for parking in the surrounding streets. If you're wanting to get a space, arriving several hours before kick-off is basically the only viable option.' Edinburgh City Councillor for Fountainbridge and Craiglockhart Christopher Cowdy said the issue of game day parking in residential areas was brought to his attention over a year ago, to which he responded with calls to introduce double yellow lines. Promises have been made to Cowdy from Edinburgh City Council, but the solution is yet to be brought in. Cowdy said: 'It is a massive issue for Tynecastle and for match days and there is a stadium review being promised, lots and lots and lots and whether that would pick up I hope so." READ MORE: Scotland learn Euro 2028 qualification requirements There are no official plans to build an exclusive car park for Tynecastle Stadium, but one Merchiston Community Council member suggested that there should be accessible public transport schemes, which include reduced fares to dissuade people from driving. 'Transit validation' is a scheme in which sporting venues contract with public transport operators to allow all ticket holders to ride buses and trains for free on game days. According to Bloomberg, it can reduce traffic congestion, save energy, and reduce pollution and carbon emissions. Seattle's Husky Stadium introduced the concept in 1984 and saw a 17% increase in ticket holders arriving by public transit. It would also have the potential to encourage fans who live outside the city to commute for the game and reduce the rate of drunk driving after matches.
The Courier
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Courier
How the SNP lost control of Angus Council
A cut of the cards would have decided Angus Council power if the warring chamber had been equally split in this week's shock no confidence vote. A 13-strong, Tory-dominated coalition now controls the council after the coup which saw the SNP administration dumped midway through their term of office. SNP defector George Meechan will assume the £50,000-a-year leader's role. It is less than a fortnight since his formal resignation from the now deposed ruling group after a fallout with former colleagues. Even by the standards of previous political machinations which have characterised Angus Council, the latest turn of events has taken many by surprise. Ahead of the showdown meeting, The Courier considered who might hold the aces in any deal to get a new administration across the line. It hinged on three Independent members – Carnoustie councillor Brian Boyd, Arbroath East and Lunan figure Lois Speed and Arbroath West and Letham member Serena Cowdy. Mr Boyd backed the SNP, while Ms Speed supported the rebel group. Ms Cowdy was the only figure in the 28-member council to register a 'no vote' in the 14-13 outcome. She, too, is a former SNP councillor but resigned from the party in 2024 over a number of issues. Her 'no vote' did not, therefore, decide the outcome of the battle for supremacy in the Forfar chamber. Had she backed an administration she was previously part of, it would have tied the vote at 14-14. And council rules dictate the outcome would have been decided by a cut of the cards, not the casting vote of SNP Provost Linda Clark who chaired the meeting. However, Ms Cowdy said she could not support either of the factions fighting for council control. 'I understand that, as elected members, we are paid to take difficult decisions,' she said. 'Registering a 'no vote' is not something I do lightly, and I don't believe I have ever done it before. 'However, the question asked at the meeting was whether I had confidence in either of the administrations proposed to me. 'For a number of different reasons, I reluctantly concluded that I did not, and so I felt the right thing for me to do was to register a 'no vote' on this occasion.' Ms Cowdy added: 'This was a difficult decision for me to take, and one that I understand will disappoint and anger some people. 'I take responsibility for that. 'I can only assure my constituents that my focus – as a non-aligned, independent councillor – continues to be solely on them.' She said: 'I will continue to work as hard as I can to improve the lives of those in my ward, and in the rest of Angus.' Another special meeting of the council will be called to decide who will become the £32,500-a-year Provost of Angus and other committee convener roles.
