Latest news with #FionaHyslop
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
85% of Aberdeen traders rejected for LEZ retrofit scheme
However, of the 26 businesses who applied for aid, just four were approved. The figures come amidst rising anger over traffic regulations in the city. A legal challenge against the SNP-led council's bus gates is poised to be heard next month, after local residents and business owners raised more than £65,000 to fund the effort. The LEZ and bus gates have sparked anger in Aberdeen. (Image: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco) Scottish Conservative MSP for North East Scotland Liam Kerr said the sums were evidence of the government's 'pitiful' stance towards businesses affected by the restrictions. In response, Transport Scotland said that the majority of applicants did not meet the necessary criteria for funding. Kerr said: 'Several businesses have already closed since the LEZs went live in Aberdeen, while others are on the brink of their livelihoods being decimated by this draconian scheme. 'Many are relocating their premises or simply avoiding these parts of Aberdeen because the SNP-Lib Dem council have demonised them from coming into our city centre. The Tory MSP added: 'Yet the woeful number of grants issued by the LEZ Retrofit Fund shows the Scottish Government has also shut the door on Aberdeen's business community. 'Rather than punishing motorists, the SNP government, with the council, should focus more on working constructively with businesses to help renew confidence and deliver economic growth.' Kerr submitted a written question in Holyrood to Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop on 21 May. He asked: 'How much of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Retrofit Fund has been allocated to be used for businesses in Aberdeen's LEZ since its introduction, and how much of that allocation was distributed to businesses?' Hyslop responded: '26 applications for this funding have been received from businesses in the Aberdeen area. The majority of applications were rejected due to applicants not meeting the eligibility requirements. 'Four applicants were eligible and offered funding, however only two accepted these offers. The amount received by these businesses to support retrofitting of vehicles to meet LEZ standards was £14,066 in total.' Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop (Image: PA/Jane Barlow).Hyslop noted that 'over 98%' of vehicles that upgraded using the scheme were taxis, and most were based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. She added: 'Lower demand retrofit funding in Aberdeen may be attributed to a combination of local taxi licencing conditions and vehicle eligibility, combined with an LEZ exemption for taxis in the city.' According to Transport Scotland, there are a number of requirements which must be met in order for businesses to qualify for financial assistance. First, funds are only available for 'micro businesses and sole traders'. A 'micro-business' is defined as firms that report a turnover of less than £632,000 or a balance sheet of £316,000 or retain nine or fewer full-time employees. Furthermore, the applying business must not have received any other retrofit grants, must have been operational for at least 12 months, must not be registered to reclaim VAT, and must hold a UK business bank account. Glasgow's LEZ has been live since June 2023. (Image: Image taken by Newsquest staff) Several businesses in Aberdeen have blamed traffic regulations for the failure of their firms. Whisky bar CASC, located on the city's Stirling Street, shut in December 2024. Owners Bill and Paul West said at the time: 'The final nail in the coffin was the utterly ridiculous LEZs/bus gates, and the seemingly never-ending construction around the city turning the centre into a no-go zone for many.' The Herald previously reported how taxi drivers in Glasgow struggled to enhance their vehicles after one of the only firms equipped to carry out the necessary repairs suddenly went bust last summer. At the time, 225 taxis were on the road under a temporary exemption while retrofitting was being carried out. In January 2025, Labour MSP Pam Duncan Glancy raised the issue in Holyrood, telling Hyslop: 'Taxi drivers in Glasgow are keen to play their part in the transition to net zero, but at present they struggle to access some support to comply with the low-emission zone in the city.' Read more: Glasgow drivers racked up £1.7m in LEZ fines since 2023, figures show 'Hypocrisy': One third of Glasgow City Council vehicles don't comply with LEZ rules 'Kick in the teeth': Lost Glasgow LEZ court case costs campaigners £130,000 A recent Freedom of Information Request submitted by The Herald found that Glasgow's drivers have been fined around £1.7m since the LEZ scheme two years ago. Likewise, in Aberdeen, drivers have been fined more than £3m since June 2024. A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: 'Eligibility criteria for the LEZ Support Fund is set to ensure funding is available for those most in need of support to adapt to Low Emission Zones. 'The majority of rejected applicants in Aberdeen did not meet the microbusiness/sole trader criteria, were registered to reclaim VAT, or did not provide the required evidence for eligibility. Four applications were rejected as no retrofit solution was available for the selected vehicle. 'Additional factors such as the local licensing of taxis in cities like Aberdeen has meant there was less need for retro-fitting due to lower numbers of non LEZ compliant vehicles, in addition Aberdeen has granted exemptions for wheelchair accessible vehicles which will likely have further reduced grant applications'.
STV News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- STV News
Councils across north agree £300m deal to install 570 EV charging ports
Electric Vehicle charging points in the North of Scotland will more than double in the next three years. An extra 570 places to top up car batteries are to be installed as part of a £300m deal jointly funded but Highland, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray councils. EV infrastructure company EasyGo will develop the network while also adopting and maintaining the area's existing charging points as part of a 20-year contract. The company currently operates the largest EV network in Ireland, with over 4,500 charging stations across the Emerald Isle. It's the first time several councils have come together to work on a deal of this kind, with Highland Council taking the lead in the project. Councillor Ken Gowans, vice convener, said: 'By addressing the critical need for expanded charging infrastructure, we are removing significant barriers to electric vehicle adoption, better serving our communities in both urban and rural areas and delivering a wide range of community benefits. 'Together, we are paving the way for a greener, more equitable and connected future across the Highlands and beyond.' Of the funding, £7m comes from Transport Scotland's £30m Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, which is aimed at helping councils to work with private companies to boost the number of charging stations across Scotland. Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said: 'Our £30m Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund has now been fully allocated to support this type of collaboration across the country and is expected to support the delivery of around 6,000 additional public charge points by 2030. 'In the north of Scotland, our investment has enabled an innovative procurement partnership across four local authorities, that is expected to leverage over £4.9m of additional matched private sector investment over the next three years to expand the availability, accessibility and reliability of public EV charging. 'As we transition away from ChargePlace Scotland, in line with our published vision for public charging infrastructure – this truly collaborative approach, supported through our Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, directly contributes to our ambition to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.' 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
The Courier
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Courier
Dunkeld roundabout and new junctions in A9 dualling plans going on public display
A new roundabout at Dunkeld and grade-separated junctions at Birnam and Dalguise feature in the next batch of A9 dualling plans. The proposals will go on display to the public next month. The plans also include a new car park for Dunkeld and Birnam station and an underpass under the A9 and the railway. They form part of the 8.4km Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section of the A9. Transport Scotland published its draft orders, including compulsory purchase orders, for the project today. The move signals the start of an eight-week consultation. Public exhibitions will be held on June 11 and 12 at Birnam Arts Centre. An online exhibition, which includes information on the plans for the route, has gone live today. Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said elements, such as the roundabout at Dunkeld and junction layouts at the Hermitage and Dalguise, had been developed out of previous discussions with the community. And she urged anyone with an interest in A9 dualling to take part in the next phase of consultation. 'Whilst the magnitude and complexities of this work are considerable, there will be no let up on progressing the dualling programme,' she said. The pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section is scheduled to be finished by 2032. The new target date for the completion of A9 dualling in its entirety is the end of 2035. That's 10 years later than the Scottish Government's initial goal. And just two sections of single carriageway, totalling about 18km, have been upgraded over the past decade. Another 124km have still to be improved as part of the £3bn project, which will extend from Inverness to Perth. Speaking in January, Ms Hyslop said she also expected to see the contract awarded for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig section and the start of procurement for the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie phase 'in the next few months'.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Stalemate fears over Ardrossan harbour buyout plan
Campaigners fear a plan to bring Ardrossan harbour into public ownership to enable a major redevelopment has reached a stalemate. The North Ayrshire port faces an uncertain future because two new CalMac ferries ordered for the Arran route are too big to fit the existing facilities. Ministers announced earlier this year they hoped to buy the harbour from its owner Peel Ports so that the long-promised upgrade could finally progress. The Save Ardrossan Harbour campaign says it has now been told the talks have stalled and an early resolution looks unlikely. The Scottish government promised seven years ago that Ardrossan would remain the main gateway to Arran. Ministers pledged to help fund the multi-million pound upgrade required to accommodate the new CalMac ferries MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa. Government considers buying Ardrossan harbour Lifeline harbour plan in limbo, says ferries boss Since then costs have risen and the project has been left in limbo because of disagreements over how the bill should be split between the three partners; Peel Ports, North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish government. It has been estimated the redevelopment could now cost £80m. In February, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop revealed that money had been set aside to take the harbour into public ownership in an attempt to break the logjam. But an update meeting involving government-owned ferries and ports body CMAL - which is leading the negotiations - has left the campaigners frustrated. Christine Cowie, from Save Ardrossan Harbour, said previous assurances that things were "moving at pace" now appeared to be "totally wrong". "They seem to have reached a stalemate," she told BBC Scotland News. "There seems to be a gap between what the government is prepared to pay and what Peel Ports wants to accept." After the meeting, also attended by representatives from Transport Scotland and CalMac, the campaigners wrote a letter to Peel Ports managing director Lewis McIntyre criticising the "the ongoing delay in finalising the long-awaited deal". The letter says: "We understand from CMAL that an offer has now been made, and that they are currently awaiting a response from Peel Ports. "This delay is not just administrative - it is actively harming the interests of Ardrossan, the Isle of Arran, and North Ayrshire as a whole." Peel Ports responded by issuing a statement accusing public officials of failing to negotiate with sufficient urgency. A spokesperson said: "We've entered negotiations in good faith, working with pace and energy to a timetable we believed was achievable. "Unfortunately, that pace and energy hasn't been matched by those at the negotiating table. "We appreciate that the buyers have other ferry issues to contend with but reaching a swift conclusion will require them to give this negotiation a higher priority." Sources at Peel Ports said there had been no contact with CMAL for six weeks. Ardrossan has now been without a ferry service to Arran since January, when MV Glen Sannox entered service - sailing instead from Troon - and a smaller vessel which was capable of berthing at the harbour was redeployed. The campaigners say the town has suffered economically during this period, as many Arran residents often travel there for things like car repairs or dental appointments. Sailings are due to resume in a fortnight's time when the old Arran ferry MV Caledonian Isles returns after 17 months of repairs, but that might only provide short-term relief. Residents are worried that once the second of the ships, MV Glen Rosa, is delivered - currently expected next summer - it could lose its ferry connection once again. CMAL said it was limited in what it could say during commercial negotiations but insisted it was working hard to find a resolution. "CMAL are fully committed to maintaining a robust and resilient ferry service for the Isle of Arran, and no option is off the table," it said in a statement. "However, we must also ensure we deliver the best value for the public purse." Transport Scotland has been contacted for comment. Ms Howie said the Ardrossan campaigners left the meeting with a sense that the purchase of the harbour was far from guaranteed. "At no time did any of them say we are committed to Ardrossan harbour and we're doing our best," she said. "Quite honestly, we felt like we were just a nuisance being there." When the business case for replacements ferries was drawn up in 2014 it stated that "no port modification work will be required to accommodate these vessels initial deployment". But designs put forward by bidding shipyards to meet the ambitious specifications for the dual-fuel ships were heavier than either CMAL or CalMac expected. Computer simulations on the chosen design involving CalMac captains found it would be difficult to berth such large ships at Ardrossan harbour which requires an awkward "handbrake turn". Troon, about 15 miles further south, is capable of handling them but the crossing to Arran is longer, meaning only three daily sailings are scheduled instead of five. The harbour at Ardrossan also benefits from direct train connections while at Troon there is a 15-minute walk from the port to the station. The uncertainty over which port the new liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships will sail from has also left plans to install fast refuelling stations on hold. CMAL awarded a £4.5m contract to build the facilities to a Danish firm in 2020. The dual-fuel ships instead are currently refuelled with LNG directly from road tankers, a process that takes three times longer than filling up with diesel. Ardrossan Harbour campaigners hold protest on ferry route Government considers buying Ardrossan harbour Lifeline harbour plan in limbo, says ferries boss Were Scotland's new gas-powered ferries a bad choice?
The National
5 days ago
- Business
- The National
Ardrossan Harbour deal 'far from complete', campaigners claim
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced earlier this year that she had asked officials to look at the potential purchase of the harbour in North Ayrshire. For almost 200 years, ferries have left from the harbour for Arran, but for the majority of this year there have been no services from Ardrossan because the Glen Sannox – and its sister ship Glen Rosa that is yet to enter service – are too big to berth there. The Glen Sannox has been travelling to Arran from Troon alongside the MV Alfred, while the Caledonian Isles – which is due to return to Ardrossan next month – has been out of action since January 2024. The Ardrossan Harbour Task Force met for the first time in a year in April after which the Scottish Government said it remained committed to trying to purchase the site. READ MORE: Robin McAlpine: Why I'm angry about the approval of the Loch Lomond Flamingo Land plan However, since then, campaigners from Arran for Ardrossan Harbour have met with CMAL, Transport Scotland, CalMac and Peel Ports – which currently owns the site. Wyllie Hume, chair of the group, claimed they were told at the meeting by Kevin Hobbs, CEO of government-owned ferries and harbours body CMAL, that the public ownership deal is "far from complete". He also claimed CMAL said Peel Ports was asking for 'an exorbitant amount' for the dilapidated harbour that it could not afford. Hume added: 'Throughout the entire meeting, he and the Transport [Scotland] representative treated us as an irritant and gave the impression that they were meeting us under sufferance. 'A no point in the discussions did Mr Hobbs say he was committed to saving Ardrossan Harbour or that he is strongly committed to pursuing the buyout.' (Image: Arran for Ardrossan Harbour) Hume said the group now plans to campaign 'more aggressively' against Peel Ports, including organising a protest outside the company's offices in Glasgow. Peel Ports said it has been working with 'pace and energy' on negotiations, but claimed this has not been matched by other parties at the table. Transport Scotland said a timeline 'can only be reasonably established and published should actual purchase and transfer of control of the port be successful'. Bosses explained that neither CMAL or the Scottish Government could force the sale of a port or use compulsory purchase powers under existing harbours legislation. READ MORE: Highlands and Islands residents split over £100bn investment plan CMAL told The National it remains 'fully committed' to maintaining a 'robust and resilient' ferry service but must ensure 'we deliver the best value for the public purse'. The task force involves Transport Scotland, North Ayrshire Council, Peel Ports, CalMac, CMAL, the Isle of Arran Ferry Committee and the area's MSP Kenneth Gibson. The Ardrossan port requires a costly berth realignment in order to accommodate the new Glen Sannox – which entered service to Arran in January – and the Glen Rosa – which is now not due to be delivered until 2026. The Ardrossan Harbour Project – to develop the port and make it suitable for the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa – was given the go-ahead way back in 2018 by then transport minister Humza Yousaf, but the project was paused in 2023 and a fresh business case has never emerged. With ferries only going in and out of Troon for the past few months, residents in Arran have been struggling to get to medical appointments at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, which is easily reachable by bus from Ardrossan but much more challenging to get to from Troon. There are also fears Ardrossan could suffer a similar fate to Stranraer, which in 2011 lost the ferry to Northern Ireland after more than 150 years. The local economy quickly took a significant downturn after Stena Line moved up the coast to Cairnryan. A spokesperson from CMAL said: 'We met with Save Ardrossan Harbour, Arran for Ardrossan Harbour, CalMac and Transport Scotland at the CMAL offices last week to discuss the current situation. While we recognise this is an emotive issue for the Arran and Ardrossan communities, we are in the middle of a commercial negotiation process, which limits the amount of information that can be shared. 'We are fully committed to maintaining a robust and resilient ferry service for the Isle of Arran, and no option is off the table. However, we must also ensure we deliver the best value for the public purse.' Transport Scotland said it will update Parliament and the community once there is progress to report. A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: 'We absolutely understand people and communities' views in favour of retaining Ardrossan as the mainland port and their frustration that there is not yet more progress to report. 'The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring the Arran ferry service is fit for the future and we want to see progress just as much as local campaigners do. However, as was explained to them when they met recently with CMAL, Transport Scotland and CalMac, a timeline can only be reasonably established and published should actual purchase and transfer of control of the port be successful. 'CMAL and Peel Ports need time and space to undertake and conclude negotiations.' A Peel Ports spokesperson said: 'We've entered negotiations in good faith, working with pace and energy to a timetable we believed was achievable. Unfortunately, that pace and energy hasn't been matched by those at the negotiating table. 'We appreciate that the buyers have other ferry issues to contend with but reaching a swift conclusion will require them to give this negotiation a higher priority.'
