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The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
'Torness has to close: but we'd welcome a new reactor'
Currently, about 550 full-time EDF employees are based at the nuclear power station, with a further 180 full-time contract partners. That makes the power station among the largest employers in the south-east of Scotland. However, the station will stop generating power in less than five years' time. Already, EDF has confirmed that various career opportunities will be available for those employed at the power station, located off the A1. Councillor Norman Hampshire, leader of East Lothian Council (Image: Contributed) Councillor Norman Hampshire (Labour) has represented the area for more than 30 years and was part of the construction team at the power station when he was first elected in 1988. The East Lothian Council leader said: 'Torness is close to my heart. 'I have two sons-in-law who work in the station and it is really their job; if Torness was not there, they would likely have to travel away from here. 'Both are engineers and I had a grandson who was there as well. 'He is an electrical engineer as well and he has taken a year out and is away living in Australia, but his job is there for him when he comes back. 'The family connection is really strong and Torness is of huge, huge importance to the Dunbar economy but also the East Lothian economy as a whole with people working there.' He described it as 'a huge blow' if the county were to lose the power station and pointed to the increasing demand for electricity across the country. Mr Hampshire said that this would only continue and said nuclear power was able to provide electricity '24 hours a day, seven days a week'. He called for a greater examination of a new nuclear facility, such as a modular reactor, being created on the site. He said: 'We have made that quite clear to EDF when we have been speaking to them. 'We would support a new conventional nuclear power station. 'Rolls Royce have now been appointed by Government to deliver modular reactors in the UK. 'They have got a test site somewhere south of the Border and we would support a modular reactor to be delivered at Torness. 'If it were possible to get a new conventional station, we would support that, but we need the Scottish Government to change its current stance against any new nuclear. 'We have got a real issue that in the future we are going to have a lot of renewable energy but, when we have no wind, then the country will be struggling to keep the lights on, unless we can import power from south of the Border, and that is not the way we should be looking to develop our energy system.' Councillor Donna Collins (Image: Contributed) Councillor Donna Collins (Conservative) lives on the opposite side of the A1 from the power station and described its impact on employment in the area as 'massive'. She said: 'You see a line of cars coming out of Dunbar in the morning. 'It is a massive employer. 'I think they really need to look at how they can retain as many people as possible for decommissioning.' Nuclear power stations at Hunterston B and at Sellafield in Cumbria are among the stations to have stopped generating power in recent years. Mrs Collins said: 'It is learning lessons from those decommissioning projects and making sure mistakes are not made here and it is as smooth as possible, any way they can move people to other jobs and they can minimise redundancies.' Finally, Councillor Lyn Jardine (SNP), who also represents the Dunbar and East Linton ward, described Torness as 'a fairly significant employer'. Councillor Lyn Jardine (Image: Contributed) The leader of the opposition on East Lothian Council said: 'Having been there a couple of times and being something of an engineering geek myself, I am aware that the vast majority of jobs are general engineering jobs rather than specific to the nuclear industry. 'I would hope there would be significant opportunities for the workforce to retrain or direct their skillset – and they have a huge skillset – especially if you look at the extent we have got renewable energy coming into the area as well, I would hope there is a bit of a crossover. 'Torness has to decommission, which will happen over a period of several years.' Douglas Alexander (Labour), Lothian East MP, echoed Mr Hampshire's calls for further consideration to be given for new nuclear facilities in Scotland. Douglas Alexander, Lothian East MP (Image: UK Parliament) He said: 'Clearly, Torness has been a significant local employer, providing many hundreds of skilled jobs and apprenticeships for people in Dunbar and the wider area since 1988. 'It also supports further jobs and the local economy through its supply chain and use of contract workers. 'As it approaches the end of its lifetime, many staff at Torness will be involved in the process of defuelling and decommissioning the plant, which will take several years. 'EDF has experience of this at other sites, including Hunterston B, and I'm sure it will be working with trade unions and other partners to support staff through the various phases of its closure in the coming years. 'However, I also hope to see a change in the Scottish Government's current block on new nuclear projects in Scotland to allow for the possibility of the Torness site having a longer-term future in providing skilled jobs and generating clean, consistent nuclear power.' Paul McLennan, East Lothian MSP, is looking for a focus on the renewables sector (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) However, Paul McLennan (SNP), East Lothian's MSP, stressed that the Scottish Government would focus on renewable energy, rather than nuclear power. He said: 'The SNP think the investment is much better placed in areas of renewable energy, which is cheaper to produce and is also cheaper for consumers. 'I am aware of figures around 450-500 staff being employed at Torness, in addition to contractors. 'In 2021, when I was elected, I set up the East Lothian Energy Forum meeting with renewable energy providers and local companies looking to benefit from the growth of renewables, such as Sunamp and HadFab in East Lothian amongst others who have seen an increase in their employment. 'I meet with Torness station manager Paul Forrest on a regular basis as we move towards 2030. 'Paul managed the process of closing Hunterston, which was managed very well. 'We discuss the role of EDF, enterprise agencies and Scottish Government in that process. 'Torness are also part of the East Lothian Energy Forum. 'EDF also has a renewables division, where with them, EDF and others, we are looking at the opportunities for hydrogen in East Lothian.' A spokesperson for EDF pointed to what happened at Hunterston B in Ayrshire as it approached the end of its life. They said: 'During defueling at Hunterston B, people were trained to take on project management roles, which the station needs more of now. 'People have also been supported to gain additional qualifications in HGV driving or electrical skills which are needed on site during defueling but can also be used to build a career outside of the nuclear industry. 'Now Hunterston B is getting ready to transfer to Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS), there are further opportunities for retraining to take on jobs the station will need during decommissioning like health physicists and waste technicians. 'We expect to see the same kinds of opportunities at Torness when it reaches this stage.'
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Meghan Markle gets slammed for her 'too runny' jam; gets questioned about the ingredients
Meghan Markle , the Duchess of Sussex, recently launched her 'Summer Drop' with new products and restocks of her lifestyle brand, As Ever. The 43-year-old proudly endorsed her brand new apricot jam, only to get negative feedback just after a couple of hours of sale. Meghan Markle's jam is too... According to Daily Mail, the critics of the food industry aren't holding back when it comes to the actress' brand-new launch. Donna Collins, the champion who has won more than 40 jam-making competitions, called Markle's apricot jam - 'too runny' - and proceeded to insult further by calling the product - a fruit spread - which in the chef's terms is something that is a failure. 'It's a real disappointment that Meghan is selling a fruit spread, which is what you make when your jam fails. In the jam industry, a spread is what we call something that didn't work,' Collins said, before adding, 'It can have the best ingredients, but if I had a jam that was too runny, I'd slap a label on it and call it a spread. There's no excuse for this. It should be perfect.' Donna Collins questions the ingredients... Furthermore, Meghan's brand was further ripped apart when the jam champion asked about the ingredients used to make the summer product. Collins questioned, 'Why should she include conventionally grown apricots, which will have used pesticides?' 'And why is she using pectin, which is a gelling agent, unless it's because her spread was too runny? Most spreads don't use pectin,' she said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo When Meghan launched her brand in April by introducing raspberry jam, the netizens trolled her for debuting something that is ill-suited for spreading on bread or a toast. As the excited fans tried to buy the products during the summer sale, they were disappointed to learn that the apricot jam had already sold out. "They really don't know what they are doing.' 'Her apricot spread sold out in minutes, just like her earlier raspberry spread, which may mean they only made a small batch,' Donna Collins said, and added, 'I don't know who's making her spread, but we all know it's not Meghan. It sounds like they really don't know what they are doing.'
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘No excuse': Meghan Markle's As Ever fruit spread savaged by MasterChef star
The queen of jam has spoken. Jam expert Donna Collins trashed the new apricot spread from Meghan Markle's As Ever lifestyle brand. 'It's a real disappointment that Meghan is selling a fruit spread, which is what you make when your jam fails,' Collins said, according to the Daily Mail. 'In the jam industry a spread is what we call something that didn't work,' the Jelly Queens owner continued. 'It can have the best ingredients, but if I had a jam that was too runny, I'd slap a label on it and call it a spread.' 'There's no excuse for this,' Collins added. 'It should be perfect.' The MasterChef alum, who has reportedly won over 40 world championship honors in jam-making competitions, also called out Markle, 43, for her 'conventionally grown apricots, which will have used pesticides.' 'And why is she using pectin, which is a gelling agent, unless it's because her spread was too runny?' Collins asked. 'Most spreads don't use pectin.' On Friday, Markle released her new apricot spread in an individual jar for $9 and keepsake packaging for $14. Both items quickly sold out. 'Her apricot spread sold out in minutes, just like her earlier raspberry spread, which may mean they only made a small batch,' Collins surmised. 'I don't know who's making her spread,' the jam guru continued, 'but we all know it's not Meghan. It sounds like they really don't know what they are doing.' The Post has reached out to Markle's reps for comment. Markle revealed her plans to sell homemade jam after announcing her own lifestyle company last year. The royal even sent out lemon-filled gift baskets containing fresh fruit jam to 50 of her friends last summer. She ended up releasing fruit spread instead of jam as part of the official launch of her lifestyle brand in April. The other products (which also all sold out) included a limited-edition $28 wildflower honey with honeycomb, $12 herbal teas (hibiscus, peppermint and lemon ginger), $14 crepe mix and shortbread cookies with $15 flower sprinkles. Earlier this month, The Sun reported that Markle is looking to add hotels and restaurants to her brand.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Meghan Markle comes under fire for posting snap similar to one shared by Kate Middleton in 2019
Meghan Markle has been accused of copying her sister-in-law Kate Middleton, as her new As Ever post looks very similar to a snap shared by the Princess of Wales. The Duchess of Sussex teased her recent launch via the As Ever Instagram account with a snap of her on a swing in a sunny garden and the simple caption: 'No more sleeps.' However, the picture is reminiscent of one taken by Kate in a garden she designed for the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019. And this is the only criticism Meghan has been hit with since promoting her As Ever merchandise. She may have set the tills ringing, but her new apricot spread has been savaged by critics within hours of going on sale. Champion jam-maker Donna Collins said: 'It's a real disappointment that Meghan is selling a fruit spread, which is what you make when your jam fails. In the jam industry a spread is what we call something that didn't work. 'It can have the best ingredients, but if I had a jam that was too runny, I'd slap a label on it and call it a spread. There's no excuse for this. It should be perfect.' Popular: The As Ever website showed that nearly all of the new and restocked products, including the apricot jam were already sold out The ingredients list mentions conventionally grown apricots, dried organic apricots, organic pure cane sugar and fruit pectin. Collins said: 'Why should she include conventionally grown apricots, which will have used pesticides?' 'And why is she using pectin, which is a gelling agent, unless it's because her spread was too runny? Most spreads don't use pectin. 'Her apricot spread sold out in minutes, just like her earlier raspberry spread, which may mean they only made a small batch. 'I don't know who's making her spread, but we all know it's not Meghan. It sounds like they really don't know what they are doing.'
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
America's queen of jams savages Meghan Markle's latest 'As Ever' fruit spread: 'There's no excuse for this'
The Duchess of Sussex may have set the tills ringing with the latest 'As Ever' merchandise, but her new apricot spread has been savaged by critics – within hours of going on sale. Champion jam-maker Donna Collins said: 'It's a real disappointment that Meghan is selling a fruit spread, which is what you make when your jam fails. In the jam industry a spread is what we call something that didn't work. 'It can have the best ingredients, but if I had a jam that was too runny, I'd slap a label on it and call it a spread. There's no excuse for this. It should be perfect.' Ms Collins, who owns Jelly Queens jam company and has won more than 40 world championship honours in jam-making competitions, also queried the ingredients in Meghan's spread. The jars, sold in keepsake packaging for £10 or plain for £7, list conventionally grown apricots, dried organic apricots, organic pure cane sugar and fruit pectin. 'Why should she include conventionally grown apricots, which will have used pesticides?' said Ms Collins. 'And why is she using pectin, which is a gelling agent, unless it's because her spread was too runny? Most spreads don't use pectin.' Meghan launched her 'As Ever' brand in April with a raspberry spread, which critics attacked for being ill-suited for spreading on bread or toast. Many fans who jumped online the moment Meghan's 'As Ever' products went up for sale on Friday were disappointed to learn the apricot spread had sold out. Ms Collins added: 'Her apricot spread sold out in minutes, just like her earlier raspberry spread, which may mean they only made a small batch. 'I don't know who's making her spread, but we all know it's not Meghan. It sounds like they really don't know what they are doing.' Maureen Foley, owner of Red Hen Cannery near Montecito, said she suspected Meghan wanted to make a spread to take advantage of marketing opportunities. 'She may be smart trying to fill a niche,' said Ms Foley. 'Spreads can be sweet or savoury, and used on dishes for all meals, so perhaps it's just clever marketing.'
