http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: We need a Scottish Parliament election thread en Wed, 27 May 2026 20:27:08 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=46#post-365205 Sun, 11 Dec 2022 10:02:30 +0000 gembo 365205@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sorry to miss you. Those brownies looked good. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=46#post-365202 Sat, 10 Dec 2022 23:54:06 +0000 acsimpson 365202@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>We picked up a Christmas tree and some brownies there earlier but missed your tam o shanter. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=46#post-365195 Sat, 10 Dec 2022 16:52:58 +0000 gembo 365195@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Spotted Joanna Cherry today at Balerno Farmers’ Market. She admired my Tam O Shanter and enquired where I acquired it. I said strangely enough in the SNP shop in Nort( Berwick. She replied she didn’t know there was an SNP Shop in Nort( Berwock. I said this was so long ago that it was when the SNP were a joke party. She said she remembered as her dad used to take her. then she felt my Pom Pom. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=46#post-354713 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 10:26:33 +0000 chdot 354713@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>A quiet rebellion is now brewing among the SNP’s civic chiefs. Edinburgh Council leader Adam McVey was the first to break ranks, challenging then Scottish government’s culture secretary Fiona Hyslop in 2018 over the capital’s desire for a tourism tax that would add £1 to hotels’ guest bills. In 2019, the Scottish government caved in, and announced it would allow councils to impose tourism taxes and also workplace car-parking levies, though these changes have yet to come to fruition.</p> <p>This was seen as a start, but it still denies local government meaningful fiscal freedom. At the SNP’s annual conference at the weekend, McVey came back for more, putting forward a motion calling for councils to be allowed “local flexibilities”, warning they relied “too heavily” on annual budgets from Holyrood. New central government initiatives such as expanded childcare are passed to councils but are not fully funded, and therefore eat into core budgets.</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/scotland/2021/09/why-the-snp-must-stop-hoarding-power-in-edinburgh" rel="nofollow">https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/scotland/2021/09/why-the-snp-must-stop-hoarding-power-in-edinburgh</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=46#post-354601 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 17:58:14 +0000 Rosie 354601@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Spokes has Spoken on the active travel measures in the Programme for Government.</p> <p><a href="http://www.spokes.org.uk/2021/09/programme-for-government-21-22-making-it-happen/" rel="nofollow">http://www.spokes.org.uk/2021/09/programme-for-government-21-22-making-it-happen/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354600 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 17:57:17 +0000 Rosie 354600@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good article by Joyce MacMillan in The Scotsman about whether the words of the Scottish Programme for Government will be matched with deeds.</p> <p><a href="https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/climate-change-deniers-have-changed-tactics-deploying-warm-words-special-pleading-and-inaction-joyce-mcmillan-3377710" rel="nofollow">https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/climate-change-deniers-have-changed-tactics-deploying-warm-words-special-pleading-and-inaction-joyce-mcmillan-3377710</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354238 Wed, 01 Sep 2021 08:35:38 +0000 Rosie 354238@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Tenants' Rights would have been a good gig for Andy Wightman, if he had stayed in the party. However I doubt Sturgeon would give anyone of his calibre and independence of mind any power. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354220 Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:24:59 +0000 14Westfield 354220@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Angus McNeill amongst those particularly annoyed that Gretas BBC interview was not suitably glowing about Scotland:</p> <p><a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/BBCScotlandNews/status/1432587847039651841" rel="nofollow">https://mobile.twitter.com/BBCScotlandNews/status/1432587847039651841</a></p> <p>BBC Scotland News is "Not a world leader of reflecting truth in headlines."</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/AngusMacNeilSNP/status/1432612829128011776?" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/AngusMacNeilSNP/status/1432612829128011776?</a></p> <p>Edit- well that’s not come out right!</p> <p>ADMIN EDIT </p> <p>hope I’ve kept what you were trying to post! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354219 Tue, 31 Aug 2021 13:41:04 +0000 HankChief 354219@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Meanwhile, if you want to read about the demise of the LibDems in Scotland, this is an interestinf read about their demise and how they won't breakout from their few remaining strongholds.</p> <p><a href="https://ballotbox.scot/lib-dems-in-the-corner" rel="nofollow">https://ballotbox.scot/lib-dems-in-the-corner</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354218 Tue, 31 Aug 2021 13:32:38 +0000 Yodhrin 354218@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's going to be the big question isn't it. If the two of them are to be genuinely included in decision making when their briefs overlap with those of other ministers they could have a real and lasting impact, but if they're just going to be "kept in the loop" and then left to tinker around the edges it'll be a shambles.</p> <p>You'd *hope* that they would at least have the self-preservation required to see why signing up to the latter kind of deal would be career suicide and hugely damaging to both the green and indy movements. I do think the "optics" would have been a bit better if both posts hadn't gone to the co-leaders though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354217 Tue, 31 Aug 2021 13:27:29 +0000 chdot 354217@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19547074.green-delight-deal-snp-unionists-frothing-mouth/" rel="nofollow">https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19547074.green-delight-deal-snp-unionists-frothing-mouth/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354210 Tue, 31 Aug 2021 11:27:35 +0000 chdot 354210@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“Biodiversity, which sounds like Feelgoodness as a department“</p> <p>Except that it shouldn’t be. </p> <p>Rather important area of (potential) policies involving (natural) carbon capture, land use, food production/farming, agricultural runoff/flood reduction, landscape, tourism etc. etc. </p> <p>Whether a Green sub-minister is allowed to do much remains to be seen. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354209 Tue, 31 Aug 2021 10:58:42 +0000 Rosie 354209@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>These look like Ministers with Shiny Green Portfolios as a PR exercise. Though totally cynical about the SNP's greenwashing I thought having Active Travel in the mix was something where there could be budgets, policy and implementation as distinct from Biodiversity, which sounds like Feelgoodness as a department. Nice posters of wildlife? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354193 Mon, 30 Aug 2021 21:20:34 +0000 crowriver 354193@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@SRD, all the bits the SNP don't fancy or cannae be bothered with. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354192 Mon, 30 Aug 2021 21:18:44 +0000 crowriver 354192@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo, you mean Cllr Susan Webber MSP? Or Dr Maximilian Weber, Durkheim, et al? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354188 Mon, 30 Aug 2021 18:27:24 +0000 gembo 354188@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crow, is Effect known as Weberonics. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354184 Mon, 30 Aug 2021 17:10:18 +0000 SRD 354184@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>those portfolios feel like such grab-bags. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354183 Mon, 30 Aug 2021 17:08:01 +0000 crowriver 354183@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Tories in general going full-on QAnon alt-right conspiracy theorist these days. Not just the youth wing or "fringe" elements either - elected reps spouting fake news populist BS all over the show. Almost as if they don't have any actual rational arguments any more. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354182 Mon, 30 Aug 2021 16:46:43 +0000 chdot 354182@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19546570.tories-brand-snp-green-deal-act-pure-economic-vandalism/" rel="nofollow">https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19546570.tories-brand-snp-green-deal-act-pure-economic-vandalism/</a></p> <p>There’s a surprise. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354181 Mon, 30 Aug 2021 16:26:03 +0000 crowriver 354181@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>SNP retain control over road building, public transport, etc. Harvie has lots of responsibility but little real power over transport policy or spending (c.10% of budget). Housing oversight only partial - minor planning remit. Slater may have more influence given industry brief? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354180 Mon, 30 Aug 2021 16:22:22 +0000 PS 354180@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Will be interesting to see whether "Active Travel" covers being empowered to do things that actively discourage motor vehicle use rather than just trying to encourage AT. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354179 Mon, 30 Aug 2021 16:09:53 +0000 CycleAlex 354179@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Patrick Harvie will be the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights</p> <p>Lorna Slater will be the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity</p> <p><a href="https://www.gov.scot/news/new-ministers-to-be-appointed/" rel="nofollow">https://www.gov.scot/news/new-ministers-to-be-appointed/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354143 Sat, 28 Aug 2021 19:24:31 +0000 chdot 354143@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/28/scottish-green-membership-backs-power-sharing-deal-with-snp" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/28/scottish-green-membership-backs-power-sharing-deal-with-snp</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-354142 Sat, 28 Aug 2021 15:16:35 +0000 SRD 354142@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Greens have voted in favour. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-353921 Sat, 21 Aug 2021 17:04:31 +0000 Rosie 353921@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Some analysis of Sturgeon's green washing. </p> <p><a href="https://jacobinmag.com/2021/08/scottish-national-party-climate-greens-nicola-sturgeon?fbclid=IwAR3h4mppgJkogtbyytxTVThBvnq2pt0iKlBqlWtaFHFVrRtEQhFSzSK2HdA" rel="nofollow">https://jacobinmag.com/2021/08/scottish-national-party-climate-greens-nicola-sturgeon?fbclid=IwAR3h4mppgJkogtbyytxTVThBvnq2pt0iKlBqlWtaFHFVrRtEQhFSzSK2HdA</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-353914 Sat, 21 Aug 2021 13:33:18 +0000 crowriver 353914@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Morningsider, IIRC the Sustrans funds have been oversubscribed for applications. So the money has been awarded to various councils. £200 million spread quite thinly, starting from a low base of infrastructure turn too. Whether the cycle lanes have actually been built is, as you say, in the hands of the TRO/RSO process. Certainly Edinburgh seems to have been dragging its heels on the various permanent routes it has been funded to build. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-353908 Sat, 21 Aug 2021 10:53:58 +0000 gembo 353908@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@14Westfield sounds good. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-353907 Sat, 21 Aug 2021 10:44:17 +0000 14Westfield 353907@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Perhaps an easier spend of that active travel budget would be to re-pave and add in missing bridges on abandoned railway lines.</p> <p>Eg Several of the closed Highland and Spey lines have much of the old track bed still available and long distance safe cycling routes could be a new boost to leisure tourism. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-353906 Sat, 21 Aug 2021 10:32:27 +0000 gembo 353906@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@morningsider the Scottish govt does not expect this money to be spent and has done nothing to aid it being spent re TROs</p> <p>The same party in charge in Edinburgh has no interest apart from lesley</p> <p>See also Boris V Mad John EEN </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20408&page=45#post-353902 Sat, 21 Aug 2021 09:06:26 +0000 Morningsider 353902@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The deal between the <a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/agreement/2021/08/scottish-government-and-scottish-green-party-shared-policy-programme/documents/scottish-government-and-scottish-green-party-draft-shared-policy-programme/scottish-government-and-scottish-green-party-draft-shared-policy-programme/govscot%3Adocument/SG%2BSGP%2BTalks%2B-%2BDraft%2BPolicy%2BProgramme%2B-%2BFINAL%2B-%2BOFFSEN.pdf?forceDownload=true">Scottish Government and Scottish Greens</a> states:</p> <p><blockquote>increase the proportion of Transport Scotland’s budget spent on Active Travel initiatives so that by 2024-25 at least £320m or 10% of the total transport budget will be allocated to active travel.</blockquote></p> <p>This is great. I do have a couple of concerns though:</p> <p>1. Do we have the mechanisms in place to distribute these funds? The "Councils bidding for project funding from Sustrans" surely doesn't cut it.<br /> 2. Can we actually spend it? The Scottish Government has allocated over £100m for active travel in each of the last two years. I don't see £200m worth of cycle infrastructure, projects etc. I suspect only a fraction of this cash has ben spent. Given all the SfP hoo-haa, who thinks that without a wholesale revision of the TRO system and top-down direction from the Government that we will see cycle lanes popping up all over the place? </p>