Latest news with #EastLothian
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.'
Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Popular East Lothian cafe to close due to 'rising costs and challenging demands'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A popular East Lothian seaside town cafe is set to close permanently due to rising costs and challenging daily demands. Goose on the Green, in Gullane, will close for good on Sunday as the team took to social media to make the difficult announcement. Julie, the owner of the cafe, wrote on Facebook on Thursday and admitted although the decision to close was not an easy one, it "feels like the right one." She thanked staff and customers who have worked at and visited the cafe over the years, saying the team have met some "wonderful people and made lasting memories." She wrote: "Dear Friends and Loyal Customers, this Sunday marks our last day at Goose on the Green. After much thought we have decided that it is time to close our doors. Rising costs and the daily demands have become increasingly challenging, and while this was not an easy decision, it feels like the right one. "We opened this cafe to bring warmth, quality coffee, and scrumptious food to Gullane. Along the way we've met wonderful people and made lasting memories. Your support, laughter, and friendship have made this journey incredibly rewarding. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "Thank you all, sincerely, for being part of our story. We will dearly miss seeing your smiling faces (and waggy tails) each day but we will treasure the memories that we have created together. Pop in if you can before Sunday, we would love to say goodbye in person. "With heartfelt gratitude, Julie and the Goose on the Green Team. "P.S. A very special thank you goes to Kevin, our talented patisserie chef, who has been with us for 7 incredible years. Kevin's hard work and dedication brought you (and your furry friends) all of the wonderful cakes, pastries, soups, sandwiches, and much more. He has truly been our rockstar. "We also want to extend a deep thanks to all the wonderful staff that we've had over the years." Customers were quick to leave supportive comments and express sadness following the news. One wrote: "We will definitely miss you. Always looked forward to our bacon rolls after a swim on Saturdays. Wishing all the best." A second added: "So sorry to read this but it's important you make right decision for you. Good luck with whatever comes next and know that'll you will be missed very muchly!"
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Death threats, a few regrets... and my bid to replace Sir Alex with Souness: Former Rangers chairman SIR DAVID MURRAY reflects on a rollercoaster journey through life in his new autobiography
Sir David Murray recently revisited the spot where a tyre of his purple Lotus Elite blew, sending him smashing into a tree and lying unconscious next to the wreckage, his legs so mangled by an impact which forced the engine into the driver's seat that they would be amputated. The marks are still there at the base of the tree, nearly 50 years on, just as there are still purple shards of the car's bodywork embedded in his upper leg. It struck him, for the first time, that he'd so nearly avoided that life-defining catastrophe, on an overcast Saturday afternoon on a dual carriageway in East Lothian, after playing in a rugby match in 1976.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Scotsman
I tried Scotland's first North Berwick inspired spa treatment, and it's wonderful
Olga - This treatment is an exclusive collaboration between Laura Thomas and One Spa Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox 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... Sometimes going to the East Lothian town of North Berwick is my therapy. I just want to breathe some sea air, grab an ice-cream to eat on the beach - or a cruffin from Bostock bakery - and maybe, afterwards, get a souvenir at the Laura Thomas Co beauty and homeware shop, on the High Street. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad That sort of day trip never fails to reboot my haggard old soul. Now, there's a taste of my favourite destination, but at the capital's One Spa. They've partnered exclusively with Thomas to create her first ever spa treatment, Balance and Restore. The 80-minute experience will be available over the summer months, and perhaps for longer, depending on how popular it proves. Very, I'd say. It starts in their treatment room, where the sideboard is decorated with cockle shells that the spa manager procured straight from North Berwick's West Beach. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Then you're face down onto the treatment table, to inhale some of Laura Thomas Co's Detox Lavender Bath Salts from a bowl of warm water. Three deep breaths and I'm in the zone. The next element is a full body massage that features sinuous medium-pressure flowing moves that make you feel as if you're being gently buffeted by warm waves. My therapist uses her palms, elbows and heels of hands, and it feels like she's an octopus, in a good way, rather than The Kraken adjacent. There are oodles of Laura Thomas Glow Body Oil used, and this lush almond oil based potion has a gentle orange scent, so it feels even more beach-y, as I start dreaming about Calippos. My back, which is as rigid as Bass Rock at first, soon eases out, then she focuses on each leg, as the sound of waves overlapped with piano music plays on the stereo. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Once I've turned over, the front of my legs, hands and arms, get the same treatment. Then there's a mini facial, with a cleanse using a light and frothy lotion, and a bit of toner with pads before the Laura Thomas rosehip-infused Face Oil is applied, along with some more wave-like massage moves that circle my face, or stretch the muscles from scapula to chin. My therapist works right down into my shoulders, and those crunchy barnacle bits along my traps. It's so lovely, and there is more for afters. Once the massage is over, I'm escorted to the relaxation room, where I'm presented with a mini Laura Thomas scented soy wax candle in Wave, with notes of lime, grapefruit and lemon zest, to take away and, hooray, a pot of vanilla Arran Ice-Cream. I eat it while reclining on the lounger, with a furry blanket slung over my knees. My blood sugar levels are restored, and I've had the full NB reboot, absolutely no train journey necessary. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
East Lothian shop owner who was held at 'knife point' says shoplifting out of control
An East Lothian shop owner has detailed how shoplifting is out of control after he was threatened by knife wielding thieves. Dan Brown, who runs a store in Musselburgh, claimed his store experiences around ten thefts a day. The issue of shoplifting is at its highest level in Scotland for 54 years with many blaming the cost of living crisis, the nation's drug problem and worryingly, organised crime. Dan has called for tougher penalties and says staff increasingly feel that their lives are in danger, the Daily Record reports. READ MORE: Edinburgh emergency services shut key West End road as bus seen with 'hole in side' READ MORE: Major Edinburgh road reopens after emergency incident as bus services resume The 33-year-old, who runs the PInkie Farm convenience store in Musselburgh is currently losing tens of thousands of pounds a year. Most of the thefts are by repeat offenders, with many selling the stolen goods to feed a drug habit. Recently a shoplifter convicted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court of assaulting him was back in his store later that day stealing goods. On two occasions in 2023 Dan was threatened with a knife by a shoplifter he confronted. He has also been assaulted. Recently one thief walked out with £250 worth of food in a trolley. Others will load up holdalls and then calmly walk out. Another major problem is large numbers of children stealing sweets or cans of juices. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Dan said:"Thefts are becoming more threatening and violent. "We do not want to put out staff in harms way." Most businesses now have a don't approach rule. "The problem is that the shoplifters expect to walk in and walk out with stuff completely unchallenged. "The larger value thefts are fuelled by organised crime and addiction. "These people can be quite dangerous." The most common stolen items are fresh meat, ready meals, coffee and cleaning products like washing powder. Dan has the latest instore CCTV technology which warns shoplifters and sends images straight to his phone but it's not deterring the thieves He added:"Unless you want to tackle them and put yourself in danger then there is not a lot you can do." Dan says the police are under resourced and only able to investigate the larger scale thefts or where the CCTV identifies a suspect. He continued:"As a retailer I am getting more and more and more concerned about my safety and my staff's safety "A lot are repeat offenders who are stealing multiple times a day form various shops including mine. "It gets to the point where you get quite disheartened." Dan says he is now very concerned for the safety of his staff on a day to day basis. He concluded: "There is no real deterrent for these shoplifters. "Until there are significant punishments for shoplifting it it is only going to get worse." We are seeing a significant rise in thefts and they are becoming increasingly violent and more aggressive. "There are more instances each day where we feel our lives are in danger. Shock figures published by the Scottish Government show shoplifting increased by 16 percent from 38,674 cases to 44,730 cases last year. It represents a 57 percent rise over the ten year period between 2015/16 and 2024/25. The figures show a drop during Covid but increases in the last four years to the highest level since 1971 - according to the Scottish Government. A separate report from Police Scotland released on Monday revealed a spike in shoplifting between July and September last year when there were 22,806 cases up more than 18 percent on the same period the previous year. The report by Chief Constable Jo Farrell said:"The key drivers in this rise were identified as cost of living serious organised crime, changes in retail environment peer pressure, addiction and assaults of retail workers." Trade body the Scottish Retail Consortium say the shoplifting cases being reported by stores are only the tip of the iceberg. A spokesperson added:"Despite significant investment in crime prevention, shop theft continues to rise. Many low-level incidents go unreported. Shoplifting is not a victimless crime; it often leads to abuse and threats towards shop workers and the financial burden ultimately falls on customers through higher prices." Luke McGarty of the Scottish Grocers Federation added: "The latest figures will come as no surprise to anyone working in the retail in Scotland. Crime has risen exponentially in stores in the past few years, and in the worst cases retailers and staff are forced to put up with multiple instances of theft and abuse every day. "What the statistics don't show is the impact that crime has on the viability of running a local shop and the harm to the wellbeing of staff, families and the wider community. "Our own research for the Scottish convenience sector confirms that shop theft and vandalism carries with it an average yearly cost of £19,600 per store. "That's over £100 million taken out of small local businesses, many of which provide essential lifeline services and local employment at the very heart of their community." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Police Scotland say they have received £3m from the Scottish Government to tackle shoplifting. Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs added:"This funding has been utilised to create a Retail Crime Taskforce, which supports local policing divisions in addressing retail crime, such as shoplifting. "We work closely with key industry partners, retail sector groups and with Retailers Against Crime to protect shop workers, and bring those who offend to justice. "It is unacceptable that anyone should feel unsafe in their workplace."While we have seen a continued increase in shoplifting this year, the number of shoplifting incidents where an offender has been identified have also increased, demonstrating our commitment to investigate these crimes."
