Latest news with #JimFairlie
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Plans on track for new station on Edinburgh-Glasgow rail line
The council has indicated that the application will be determined within a target of eight weeks of submission. In parallel, WDL's transport consultants have prepared a draft outline business case, which is due to be submitted to Transport Scotland for review in the near future. READ MORE: WDL said the business case will support the forthcoming funding application to the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, with further funding routes also under "active consideration". The station design is now complete to planning stage, with construction cost estimates prepared and benchmarked against comparable projects. Further work continues to explore opportunities for innovative construction techniques to support efficient and low-disruption delivery. A stakeholder meeting with Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie MSP, is scheduled to take place in Winchburgh on June 18. (Image: Systra report) Lawrence Fitzpatrick, Leader of West Lothian Council, said: 'It's extremely encouraging to see this project continuing to move forward at pace. With the planning application submitted and business case prepared, we're entering an important phase, which reflects the positive collaboration between all parties. The station will bring lasting benefits to Winchburgh and surrounding communities - increasing sustainable travel options, supporting the local economy and connecting people to opportunities.' John Hamilton, Chief Executive of Winchburgh Developments Ltd, added: 'We are pleased to see momentum building behind this vital infrastructure. The work carried out to date reflects a strong and effective partnership across the Steering Group. This station will be a key piece of infrastructure, improving daily journeys and unlocking economic opportunities for Winchburgh and the wider Edinburgh/Southeast Scotland City Region. We are committed to continuing to work together to deliver a station that not only connects people but also supports jobs, investment, and the long-term growth of the community.'
The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
More than 14,000 hectares of peatland restored across Scotland
More than 14,000 hectares of degraded peatlands have been restored across Scotland in the past year, which the Scottish Government says exceeds its targets set out in its last Programme for Government. Peatlands are areas of wetland that support habitats and species that are important for biodiversity, while also protecting the wider ecosystem by improving water quality and reducing the severity of flooding. Covering nearly two million hectares, Scotland is home to two-thirds of the UK's peatlands, but nearly three-quarters of the country's peatlands are currently degraded. READ MORE: Scottish minister hits back at Defence Secretary 'student union politics' jibe The Scottish Government has pledged £250 million to support the restoration of 250,000 hectares of peatlands by 2030, with an interim target of 110,000 hectares by 2026. A total of 90,000 hectares have been restored since 1990, with 14,860 of those completed throughout the 2024-25 financial year. Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie (below) hailed the benefits of restoring Scotland's peatland as he said: 'As we celebrate World Peatlands Day, I am very pleased to report Scotland's Peatland ACTION partnership has put 14,860 hectares of degraded peatlands on the road to recovery last year. This is a new record in one year. 'Restoring peatland benefits our environment by reducing emissions, reducing risks of flooding and wildfires and improving water quality. It also invests in people and skills, creating green jobs in rural communities. 'This means we have exceeded our 2024 Programme for Government commitment and represents a 42% increase over the 10,360 hectares restored during 2023-24. I thank all of our partners for their sustained efforts and tenacity in delivering another milestone figure.' Nick Halfhide, NatureScot interim chief executive, said restoring peatland is essential in addressing the climate emergency while helping to boost Scotland's biodiversity and water quality. He said: 'As key partners in the Scottish Government's Peatland ACTION Partnership, NatureScot has successfully facilitated 65% of the restoration work completed in 2024-25. This significant achievement contributes substantially towards the overall target of 250,000 hectares of degraded peatland being put on the road to recovery by 2030. 'Restoring Scotland's degraded peatlands is essential to addressing both the climate and nature emergencies – it makes a vitally important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while providing broader benefits for biodiversity and water quality.' Forestry and Land Scotland helped to deliver 1744ha of peatland restoration work across Scotland in the last year, surpassing its yearly target of 1500ha. Its CEO Kevin Quinlan said: 'Forestry and Land Scotland is proud to be supporting the Scottish Government's commitment to restoring 250,000 hectares of peatlands by 2030 as a key delivery partner in the Peatland ACTION Partnership. 'Every site we restore adds to the scale of the contribution we make in efforts to transform and restore one of Scotland's largest degraded ecosystems to create a far healthier landscape.'
STV News
28-05-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Scottish Government to hold seagull summit to tackle 'dangerous menace'
The Scottish Government has promised to hold a 'seagull summit' later this year to tackle the 'dangerous seagull menace' in the north of Scotland. Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie came under pressure in parliament from Highland MSPs on Wednesday, warning that the birds are posing a risk to the health a safety of people and putting some businesses at risk. Tory MSP Douglas Ross and SNP MSP Fergus Ewing have been calling on Scottish ministers to intervene in the ongoing seagull 'crisis' in Moray after an elderly woman broke her leg during an attack earlier this year. As part of his efforts against the gulls, Ross held urgent 'crunch talks' with Ewing, NatureScot – Scotland's state-owned nature agency – and the minister for agriculture and connectivity, Jim Fairlie, in April. Ross said that in 2023, NatureScot granted more than 100 licences for pest controllers in Inverness and Nairn to either remove nests or 'spike' eggs, preventing the gulls from hatching. In 2024, no licences were initially approved except on appeal and after most of the eggs had hatched. Ross claims this same pattern has continued this year. NatureScot updated its guidance in February 2024 in response to 'significant and serious declines' in all five gull species that breed in Scotland. With gull numbers in Scotland down by between 44% and 75%, depending on the species, NatureScot intended to reduce the number of lethal licences issued to control the birds in towns and cities. The organisation is now focusing on preventative, non-lethal measures to control the birds. 'We have always been very clear on the reasons for updating our guidance for gull licensing. The evidence shows that gull populations are facing significant and serious declines,' a spokesperson for NatureScot said. 'Simply killing gulls and their chicks is a sticking plaster and will not solve the problems some people experience. 'We need to find ways to live with gulls and other wildlife, and that is why we are working with several Scottish local authorities to look at how we can support a more coordinated approach to gull management across a number of town and city centres, including Inverness, Nairn and Elgin.' However, Ross has still accused NatureScot of managing the 'ongoing gull menace' in towns across Moray 'extremely poorly'. He criticised the license crackdown and said he has been met with an 'attitude from NatureScot that they are right, and everyone else is wrong'. 'They refuse to acknowledge the concerns of local people and businesses and they are making it almost impossible for licences to be issued to control the growing population of urban gulls,' he said. More information about the Government's seagull summit will be announced in due course. 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
STV News
26-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
'Unique in the UK' support scheme gives £6m to upland hill farmers
Hill farmers will benefit from more than £6m that is being paid out as part of a 'unique' support scheme. The Scottish Government has awarded cash to more than 1,000 businesses – with more than 95% of eligible applications having been processed before the end of this month. The payments are part of the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS), which helps those farmers whose animals are on poorer quality, rough grazing land in the hills. Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie said Scotland was the only part of the UK to offer this kind of assistance, as he insisted Holyrood ministers are 'committed' to supporting hill farmers. He said: 'We have an incredible sheep sector that is globally renowned, with thousands of jobs dependant on well managed robust hill flocks, often in areas where we want to ensure there is no rural depopulation, as well as the downstream value from efficient distribution and enormous retail potential at home and abroad. 'This payment scheme is unique in the UK and we maintain it because we recognise the value of supporting our upland hill farmers.' With almost all eligible SUSSS applications being processed, Mr Fairlie said: 'We are acutely aware that farmers need to be able to plan their year and it is why we remain committed to directly supporting them, unlike elsewhere in the UK where payments are being stopped. 'Turning the applications around quickly and getting this money into accounts, as per the payment strategy, allows farmers to stabilise cash flow and invest in their businesses.' 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 Herald Scotland
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
‘Unique in the UK' support scheme gives £6m to upland hill farmers
The payments are part of the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS), which helps those farmers whose animals are on poorer quality, rough grazing land in the hills. Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie said Scotland was the only part of the UK to offer this kind of assistance, as he insisted Holyrood ministers are 'committed' to supporting hill farmers. READ MORE: He said: 'We have an incredible sheep sector that is globally renowned, with thousands of jobs dependant on well managed robust hill flocks, often in areas where we want to ensure there is no rural depopulation, as well as the downstream value from efficient distribution and enormous retail potential at home and abroad. 'This payment scheme is unique in the UK and we maintain it because we recognise the value of supporting our upland hill farmers.' With almost all eligible SUSSS applications being processed, Mr Fairlie said: 'We are acutely aware that farmers need to be able to plan their year and it is why we remain committed to directly supporting them, unlike elsewhere in the UK where payments are being stopped. 'Turning the applications around quickly and getting this money into accounts, as per the payment strategy, allows farmers to stabilise cash flow and invest in their businesses.'
