Latest news with #Hyslop
The Herald Scotland
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish Government accused of undermining Ardrossan harbour
The ship is too big to fit into Ardrossan harbour safely, with planned upgrades halted in 2023 due to rising costs. The Scottish Government said earlier this year it was considering renationalising the harbour to ensure Ardrossan remains the mainland port for Arran. Read More: However, former Labour MP for Cunninghame North - now largely North Ayrshire and Arran - Brian Wilson has raised concerns after submitting a Freedom of Information request. The Herald columnist asked for communications concerning Ardrossan between transport secretary Fiona Hyslop and (Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd). Wilson wrote: "One interesting line had either slipped through the net or been left in deliberately, in which the chief executive of CMAL, Kevin Hobbs, wrote, the week following Ms Hyslop's instruction: 'We do not believe and have expressly stated that resilience at Ardrossan (given the entrance through the roundheads and turn) will never be as resilient as Troon given the open sea approach'. "In other words, the chief executive of CMAL could hardly have been clearer that they have no interest in pursuing what, in public, has been their obligation and the Scottish Government's aim. So the question now is whether Ms Hyslop's 'instruction' is ever intended to prevail? "I make no claim to nautical expertise but that is not the issue at stake. The real question is whether, consistent with Mr Hobbs' comments, CMAL and Transport Scotland have been (and still are) working to ensure that Ardrossan never again will be the gateway port for Arran. "If that is the case – as I believe it is – the people of Arran and Ardrossan have, for the past decade, been cynically and cruelly deceived. To that, I object strongly – and call for an inquiry into the full circumstances, without evasions or redactions." Under current regulations, the Scottish Government does not have the power to force a sale of the Ardrossan harbour. It's understood negotiations are ongoing between CMAL and Peel Ports over a potential deal. A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: 'This Government is fully committed to Ardrossan serving the Arran route and to investing in the harbour to ensure that the service is fit for the future. '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. 'It is wholly appropriate that CMAL leads on the Ardrossan negotiations. Should ownership transfer be successful, CMAL would be the asset owner and responsible for taking forward any development works at Ardrossan. As owners of 26 ports and harbours across Scotland, they also bring essential experience to these complex discussions. 'We will of course update Parliament and the local community once there is progress and an outcome to report, however, CMAL and Peel Ports need time and space to undertake and conclude negotiations.'
Newsweek
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Woman on Vacation Picks Fresh Oranges for Juice—Horror at What's in Glass
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A video showing a mother and daughter making orange juice from street-side fruit in Portugal has gone viral on TikTok, due to the unexpected discovery of what appeared to be maggots writhing in their freshly squeezed drink. Posted by TikTok user @rubywillow._, the video was filmed last week in Portugal's Algarve region and has garnered more than 9.3 million views since it was shared on June 18. It begins with a caption overlaid on the video saying: "You thought it was a good idea to make fresh orange juice in Portugal … it was not." The footage shows a woman collecting fallen oranges from beneath a tree along a public street, with an empty plastic bag in hand. The video then cuts to scenes of the fruit being juiced, and a close-up of the freshly squeezed liquid reveals small white organisms moving visibly in the glass. Screenshots from a TikTok video of a woman making juice from oranges taken from a tree on a street in Portugal. Screenshots from a TikTok video of a woman making juice from oranges taken from a tree on a street in Portugal. @rubywillow._ on TikTok "We believe it was maggots of some kind in the drink," the poster, who did not share her name, age or location, told Newsweek, adding that "it was my first time making orange juice." While her mother consumed half-a-glass and she herself took a single sip, she said, "neither of us were unwell afterward." Suzanne Hyslop, a qualified nutritionist at the Ocean Recovery Centre in the U.K., told Newsweek that the movement in the juice "could very well be fruit fly or other small insects that had burrowed in." She added that "this can happen when oranges are overripe or damaged or have been left on the tree too long." The incident, while amusing to some, comes amid broader challenges facing citrus production in Portugal and elsewhere in southern Europe. A June 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that citrus production in the European Union is primarily based in Mediterranean countries. Spain and Italy are the top producers, followed by Greece, Portugal, and Cyprus. The report stated: "A reduction in EU citrus production is expected mainly in Spain with an almost 18 percent decrease, the lowest citrus production levels since the last decade." It also noted that reductions are projected in Italy and Portugal, particularly in orange yields. Spain's crop alone accounts for roughly 65 percent of the EU's citrus production. Hyslop said: "Picking fruit straight from a tree sounds wonderfully natural, but there are some important things to keep in mind." She cautioned against picking fruit from trees in public areas, adding: "Even in a country known for its fresh produce, safety requires proper handling, hygiene and also quality control," Hyslop said. The nutritionist added that, without knowing how a tree is maintained or what it has been exposed to, there is "no guarantee it's safe to consume." She highlighted possible contaminants such as vehicle emissions, pesticides, animal droppings and other urban pollutants. Despite the mishap, the video has entertained and alarmed viewers in equal measure. User isntthisweird said: "I have never seen maggots in any type of citrus, that's crazy." User house of james noted: "Oh no. I was expecting you to try it and it being sour, but oh my! Disturbing!!" User natasharoots said: "Hmmm extra protein orange juice." User Jennie from the block wrote: "the amount of people that didn't notice the very visible worms swimming in the juice." Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Scotsman
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Level of support for A96 dualling revealed as ministers renew commitment to £5bn scheme
Bypasses of Elgin and Keith among popular priorities Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Ministers have renewed their commitment to fully dual the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness as a consultation showed nearly two-thirds support and bypasses of Elgin and Keith seen as the priorities. However, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has still to decide whether to go ahead with the full scheme or parts of it, which was largely put on hold as part of an SNP-Scottish Greens power-sharing deal in 2021, which ended last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 86 miles of the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverurie remain single carriageway | Google Street View The Scottish Conservatives pointed to 76 per cent dissatisfaction with a subsequent review of the scheme that included partial dualling as showing people wanted the full route upgraded. Transport Scotland published the results of a three month consultation into a range of improvements costing up to £1 billion on Thursday which attracted 1,441 responses. An 86-mile section between Inverness and south of Inverurie remains single carriageway. In November, Ms Hyslop abandoned the target of dualling it by 2030 at an estimated cost of up to £5bn. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Government agency said 63 per cent expressed support for full dualling, although that wasn't specifically asked in the consultation questionnaire. Specific measures which received the greatest support were dual carriageway bypasses of Elgin and Keith, road safety improvements and upgrades to the Aberdeen-Inverness railway line, which runs largely parallel to the road. Ms Hyslop said: 'The position of the Scottish Government has not changed – the current favoured position is to fully dual the A96 and we are already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including a Nairn bypass, having acquired the land for the scheme earlier this year. 'I have now received the report on the feedback gathered during the consultation and will be considering the findings alongside the review's extensive appraisal and assessment work before a decision is made on improvements to the A96 corridor. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Any decision on the way ahead for the A96 corridor will need to take into consideration the UK Government's recent Spending Review and its impact on Scottish budgets, and the forthcoming update to the Scottish Government's Infrastructure Investment Plan, expected later this year.' Scottish Conservatives North East MSP Douglas Lumsden said: 'These results categorically show what everyone wants and that's for the A96 to finally be dualled. 'It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know this needs to happen, which is why this consultation was a ploy by the SNP to kick any decision into another parliamentary term. 'This sends an emphatic message to the SNP government to stop playing games with the lives of motorists and fulfil their promise of upgrading the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's scandalous that 14 years after they vowed to do this, the SNP still won't commit to upgrading the Aberdeenshire section or building a bypass for Inverurie.' But Transform Scotland director Colin Howden said: "The Scottish Government's transport capital investment is already horribly skewed towards vastly expensive road projects that simply don't stand up to scrutiny.
The National
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Protesters take to Holyrood amid 'deadlocked' Ardrossan Harbour deal
There have been no ferries from Ardrossan to Arran – a route which has existed for nearly 200 years – since January because the newest CalMac ferry is too big to berth at the harbour and the MV Caledonian Isles, which does fit, has been out of action for 18 months. Instead, the Glen Sannox has had to travel to Brodick from Troon, which takes longer and is widely viewed as much less convenient for the people of Arran who need to get to medical appointments at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock – for which there is a direct bus route from Ardrossan. Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop announced back in February that money had been set aside to take Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership, but campaigners have become frustrated with a lack of movement since then. This has only been compounded by the fact the Scottish Government pledged back in 2018 to ensure Ardrossan remained the gateway to Arran. The project to upgrade the harbour was then paused in 2023 amid concern over rising costs and disagreements over how the bill should be split between the three partners: harbour owners Peel Ports, North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government. READ MORE: Scottish Government accused of 'sidelining' climate action Campaigners from both sides of the Firth of Clyde – who were supported by cross-party politicians - turned up in their dozens to Holyrood to say 'enough is enough', as they called for Hyslop and the Scottish Government to get directly involved in securing a deal. 'It's been going on for far too long. We've been neglected to the extreme. Businesses are closing in both areas and local communities are disgusted with what's going on,' said Margaret Roberts, from the Arran for Ardrossan Harbour campaign. 'The most important thing is hospital appointments are having to be cancelled, important medication and appointments are being missed. 'It's not fair on the local people. North Ayrshire needs this service to be resolved now.' (Image: NQ) Chants of 'Fiona Hyslop, more hands on' and 'Ardrossan's the crossing' could be heard outside Holyrood as MSPs from Labour, the Conservatives and Greens spoke in solidarity with protesters. Wyllie Hume, chair of the Arran for Ardrossan Harbour campaign, previously told The National a meeting with Peel Ports, CMAL and Transport Scotland had left him 'flabbergasted', as campaigners were left feeling as if the deal 'could fail'. The Ardrossan Harbour issue was raised during FMQs by Labour MSP Katy Clark and SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson. Gibson put to the First Minister that talks appear 'deadlocked', stressing if the situation is not resolved, Arran 'will not have the lifeline service it deserves' and Ardrossan 'will struggle'. He asked if the Scottish Government would 'inject urgency' into the process. (Image: NQ) Swinney said negotiations have the 'attention and focus' of ministers and CMAL and the Government is 'focused on a long-term solution for Ardrossan Harbour'. He added it remained the 'key port' for Arran. Clark asked the FM if he agreed a process of compulsory purchase needed to start if there was no progress by summer recess – the end of next week. John Swinney said he would explore compulsory purchase but it had been indicated to him the Scottish Government 'does not have the basis to do so'. 'The Government is actively engaged in the dialogue to acquire Ardrossan Harbour to enable the long-term commitment that Katy Clark seeks.' READ MORE: 300 jobs at risk as firm moves Scottish Power contract to South Africa Save Ardrossan Harbour committee member Donna Cullinane said she wants to see ministers get directly involved to speed up negotiations, with shops in Ardrossan losing business. She told The National: 'We want the deal done. We want the ministers involved, not CMAL. 'We want the harbour fixed. Why build two ferries that don't fit?' Asked about whether she was concerned for the Ardrossan economy, she added: 'I'm very worried. You can tell even now there's a lack of vehicles coming through, lack of economy, because people are not stopping at the shops. 'A lot of the shops are losing revenue. 'It needs to be done for the sake of people on Arran who are coming for medical appointments. There's a bus route from Ardrossan to Kilmarnock every 20 minutes. 'If people from Arran are coming over for an appointment, they've got to really plan it [from Troon], and it can be an overnight stay for them.' Transport Scotland has previously said to The National it is 'wholly appropriate' for CMAL to lead on negotiations on behalf of ministers. Peel Ports has said, meanwhile, there has not been enough 'pace and energy' from CMAL and Transport Scotland, while CMAL has said it has to 'deliver the best value for the public purse'.
Scotsman
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Scottish councils, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, to be given full powers to introduce road charging
A new strategy cover car use charges has been announced after the Scottish Government ditched an ambitious traffic reduction target. Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Ministers are to provide councils with the powers needed to charge drivers for using roads as part of a new strategy to cut car use. The move on Thursday came after the City of Edinburgh Council's transport leader said last month charging should be considered, but the relevant legislation remained incomplete. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A cheating Chesterfield mechanic who registered a customer's campervan in his own name before selling it on has since been pummelled with '160' congestion charges 'from Bradford to London', a court heard. | Archive The pledge forms part of a new Scottish Government strategy after Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop admitted in April that its long-standing, but highly ambitious target of reducing traffic by 20 per cent by 2030 was 'unachievable'. Cars contribute nearly 13 per cent of Scotland's total emissions with traffic levels rising sharply since the Covid pandemic. Transport Scotland said it would make a 'regulatory check' of the 2001 Transport (Scotland) Act 'to allow local authorities and/or regional transport partnerships (RTPs) the option to implement' local road user charging schemes. The organisation said: 'While a number of the necessary technical regulations to give effect to this power were made, initial scoping identified that further regulations must be put in place to enable local authorities and RTPs to enforce schemes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Given the passage of time since the existing regulations were brought into statute, the Scottish Government will take the opportunity to check whether these remain fit for purpose. Once the necessary regulations and guidance are in place, it will be a decision for local authorities or RTPs whether and how to implement schemes.' Transport Scotland said it would also 'revise' its car use reduction objective 'to develop a new, longer-term target, which will support our 2045 net zero target'. Ms Hyslop said: 'The renewed policy statement reiterates our commitment to reducing car use in Scotland. It recognises the high level of car dependency in many parts of Scotland, particularly mainland rural and island areas, and that car use will remain a transport need for many people.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop will step down from Holyrood next year | NationalWorld City of Edinburgh Council transport convener Stephen Jenkinson said in May that road charging 'should be on the table for discussion' despite being overwhelmingly defeated in a local referendum 20 years ago. He admitted it would be 'challenging' and would be best introduced across a wider area than the capital. 'Potentially divisive' Deborah Paton, the city council official in charge of transport, said the Scottish Government should take the lead on such schemes and provide local authorities with the powers needed. She said: "The legislation is not complete and Transport Scotland are charged with doing a regulatory review, so we really have to wait for that. It would be more equitable if Transport Scotland looked at this on a national basis. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Leaving it to local authorities to do it on a local level is a real struggle and potentially a little bit divisive." Scottish Conservatives transport spokesperson Sue Webber said: 'This looks like the SNP have upped the ante in their war on motorists. 'Show some common sense' 'Reducing car usage depends on providing efficient and affordable public transport alternatives. READ MORE: Drivers face 43 miles of roadworks as huge road upgrade ramps up Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Yet under SNP control, ScotRail is deterring passengers by cutting services and packing commuters like sardines into carriages. The result is, despite being left with pothole-scarred roads and taxes to drive into the city, Scots still need to use their car. 'SNP ministers need to show some common sense and focus on incentives, rather than penalties, to encourage Scots to leave their cars at home.' The Scottish Greens said the Government's car reduction plan lacked vision, with transport spokesperson Mark Ruskell arguing the ambitions did not go far enough to revolutionise the country's transport. Mr Ruskell said: 'We are in a congestion crisis in our major cities. Air quality is suffering and communities are being cut off by the lack of affordable and accessible public transport. It's dragging our economy down and damaging our health. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The decision to walk away from the 20 per cent reduction target was a huge step backwards that undermined years of work to decarbonise transport. The plans laid out today give no indication of a new target and no plans on how to deliver better public transport.
