Latest news with #MarieSharp
Edinburgh Reporter
17 hours ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Shipping tank to help develop tropical seafood in Midlothian
Scientists will use a shipping container to help them develop tropical seafood using artificial intelligence on land in Midlothian. Midlothian Council planners have given the go ahead for the container to be placed on Dryden Farm, Roslin, which is owned by the University of Edinburgh, at a historic battle site. A report from planning officers says the shipping container will be used to store equipment which will help with the 'development of AI powered aquaculture systems for growing tropical seafood in Scotland'. The application for the shipping container which will be based on hardstanding next to buildings already in use at the Roslin site, was granted permission by planners this week. Despite being placed on part of the Battle of Roslin, battlefield site, planners said the container would not impact the site and Historic Environment Scotland made no objection to its use. Research into using AI to produce systems which can produce seafood has been hailed as groundbreaking by the industry as it aims to find ways to farm fish sustainably. The Roslin Innovative Centre last month revealed a firm it was working with had received funding from Scottish Enterprise among others which will allow it to advance its technology towards commercialisation. The technology was described by the centre as a 'groundbreaking, sustainable aquaculture system designed to produce fresh, antibiotic-free tropical seafood locally—right where it's consumed'. Granting permission for the shipping container, planners said: 'Dryden Farm is a long established development within the green belt and the use and size of the proposed container will ensure that it will not have a detrimental impact on the objectives of the green belt. 'The scale, character and appearance of the unit will be in keeping with the character of the wider farm complex and there will be no impact on the landscape setting of the battlefield site.' By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Edinburgh Reporter
Dramatic cut in parking spaces on new housing estates in Midlothian
Parking spaces on new housing estates and other developments in Midlothian are set to be dramatically cut in a bid to crackdown on private car use. New parking standards for developers in the county reduce the number of visitor spaces required in new residential site from one for every two houses to no more than one for every 20 homes. And they will reduce the number of spaces for users of new sports facilities with golf courses to be told they can have no more than two spaces per hole and any stadium built with over 1500 capacity allowed no more than one space for every 150 seats. A report due to go before Midlothian Council's planning committee next week for agreement says the new standards have been influenced by the Scottish Government's goal of reducing private car use. It says previous policy which advised developers the minimum number of spaces required for housing will be replaced with new rules setting out the maximum allowed. It will reduce the number of visitor spaces at residential estates to just five per cent of the number of homes – one in 20 – in towns with rural developments allowed up to 10 per cent. The report says: 'A consequence of the proposed new parking standards is that provision of car parking will be reduced across new developments, including in new residential developments. 'The parking standard will apply across a whole development; it will therefore be incumbent on those developing proposals to accommodate the parking standards within the design of the whole development.' As well as reducing the number of visitor parking spaces allowed, the new standards also require that 10 per cent of those provided have an electric charger in place, however to qualify for that in towns the development would have to have at least 200 new homes built. The report says the new parking standards were put through a 'targeted consultation' which involved community councils, Homes for Scotland and internal sections of the council. They cover new build larger stadiums which face a change of one parking space for every 15 seats to one for every 150 seats swimming pools being allowed a maximum of one space per 25 square metres when it used to be a minimum of one every 10 square metres and golf courses reduced from two and a half spaces per hole to two spaces. Minimum cycle parking places and EV charger spaces will also be introduced across all new developments. Councillors will be asked to agree to the new standards next week. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
6 days ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Views sought on East Lothian Council buildings including Brunton Theatre
The future of East Lothian council buildings including The Brunton Theatre, has been put to the public as the local authority looks to save £3,6m in running costs. A new survey has been launched seeking residents views on the use of 29 buildings ranging from the RAAC-hit theatre to village halls, libraries and local offices. They are being asked to describe the value the buildings bring to their communities as well as for views on how they could be used in future. East Lothian Council said the month long survey which includes drop in sessions across the county is an 'engagement process' and a chance for people to have a say over how its properties are used. They said: 'While there are no plans to stop or reduce these services, new approaches to the operation of buildings could help ensure the council has good quality, well used assets within local communities offering modern and flexible facilities to meet the needs of local residents. 'This could be achieved by using buildings differently, for example in some communities co-locating services which might currently be delivered from different buildings under one roof. 'There could also be opportunities for communities to take over the running of some buildings – such as by leasing them, community asset transfer or looking at opportunities with community planning partners and others.2 Among the buildings being discussed in the survey is The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, which is closed and expected to be demolished after the discovery of crumbling concrete known as RAAC in its ceiling. People are asked whether they used the theatre before it shut its doors, what they believe it brings to the community and if the council 'need to replace the Brunton Hall & Theatre'. Also in the survey are the council's Haddington headquarters John Muir House alongside the attached former courthouse, which is owned by the local authority. People are asked about the head office 'are there any ways of making savings or increasing / generating income at this building that could be explored?' Participants in the survey are told the could has approved savings including £3.6m from reducing current operational property running costs, alongside £23.4m capital receipts from land and property sales. The council said: 'In order to support these challenges, it is hoped this placed based asset review will ensure the council operates good quality and well utilised buildings with modern facilities in a sustainable and efficient way.' Drop in sessions are being held next month at various sites. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
28-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Dunbar flat owner loses bid to carry on letting
A Dunbar flat owner who claimed the majority of her guests were 'professional' and letting her property was good for the local economy has lost her appeal to carry on renting. Leanne Montgomery appealed to Scottish Ministers after East Lothian Council refused to grant a change of use for her second floor flat on the High Street to a short term let. She told them use of the holiday flat 'helped the economy', however the Scottish Government Reporter ruled its local impact was irrelevant. And they said the flat owner had provided no evidence that it was mainly used by professionals, as had been claimed. Dismissing the appeal, they said: ' In assessing the appeal I am only able to consider whether or not the use as a short term holiday let represents a material change from the legitimate established use of the property as a flat. 'Any assessment which considers the merits of the use would need to take place through an application for planning permission.' East Lothian Council refused the application for a certificate of lawfulness, which would mean planning permission was not needed, to operate the holiday flat, because they said a shared stairwell with other residents in the block meant it was a material change of use. And the Reporter agreed with their position saying the frequent arrival and departure of guests in the flat would impact on residents who used the same hallway. They also dismissed claims that the majority of guests at the flat were 'professionals' who were there to work in the town. They said: 'The appellant contends that most visitors are professionals who visit the area to work a nine to five job for a the very short period of time they are in the area. 'I have been provided with no specific reasoning as to why the property would appeal to professionals in particular and I have been provided with no evidence to substantiate this claim..' The Reporter ruled the impact of guests at the short term let was a material change of use and the council had been correct to reject the application for the certificate. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
28-05-2025
- Health
- Edinburgh Reporter
Midlothian has no current plans to introduce a drugs safer consumption room
Midlothian has no current plans to introduce a drugs safer consumption room for drug users amid concern about 'community disquiet' surrounding Scotland's first one in Glasgow. A meeting of the council's SNP administration cabinet last week heard the performance of the Glasgow facility was being monitored by social work and health professionals in the county. However their chief social worker Nick Clater said while there were plans to trial a second room in Edinburgh, Midlothian was not currently considering it. He said: 'There are plans to pilot one in Edinburgh and funding is available with the decision to be made by Edinburgh Alcohol and drugs Partnership, 'There are no plans to do something similar here for two reasons – one is financial – it would mean stopping something else – and second is the economics and space required to do it. 'A third reason is emerging – community disquiet in the area in Glasgow where it is currently being piloted. We are waiting to see the outcome of the pilot when it is fully assessed.' Glasgow opened the UK's first safer drugs consumption room , called The Thistle, in January this year. It says the facility can combat drug-related deaths and improve public health by offering a clean, safe place for people to inject their own drugs – obtained elsewhere, not provided or purchased on site – under clinical supervision and access a wide range of treatment and support. At last week's Midlothian cabinet meeting, members heard that while a similar facility was not currently in the pipeline, current work with substance use in the county was progressing with its treatment standard among the best 'if not the best' in the country. A report revealed that over the last year 100 per cent of users referred for treatment were seen within the 21 days target set by Scottish Government. And it shared feedback from one of its groups established by Midlothian mental health and substance use service which revealed up to 100 per cent of users said it had found it strongly helpful and were treated with respect and listened to. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
