The Scottish Government today published it’s most recent set of guidance on the route map through and out of the pandemic. You can find the detail of the information at the Scottish Government website here. It gives information on the recent changes, which include the following: From Monday 24 August: Organised outdoor contact sports for all ages can resume Driving… Read more »
Following the decisions made by East Lothian Council today, I welcome the decisions made regarding the proposed McDonalds Drive-Through and the Care Village outside of North Berwick. Traffic in that area of Musselburgh is bad enough. I have had messages from constituents as well, expressing concern about the potential noise and extra litter. I also echo my Council colleagues’ comments… Read more »
I have received enquiries from very anxious students and parents regarding the decisions made by the SQA in relation to grading this year. I have written to the schools in East Lothian stating my disappointment in the SQA’s decision-making process. I firmly believe the people best placed to know about pupils are those overseeing and working alongside them during their… Read more »
I recently met with the team at the Whitekirk Hill Leisure facilities between North Berwick and Dunbar. It was great to see the significant work done by the staff and management there to allow them to open their café and restaurant safely on a limited basis, and it was great to see visitors enjoying the gorgeous views over the East… Read more »
In my column in this week’s East Lothian Courier I discuss wearing masks, and getting the balance right between ensuring safe spaces for people in our communities and designing appropriate responses to local issues. “Remembering to take a mask can be frustrating when you’ve left home without one. I’ve started keeping them in different pockets and in the car or… Read more »
In my column in the Scotsman I have written about the need for greater care for our countryside from visitors, in light of concerning recent reports from across Scotland, including in East Lothian. “The right to roam runs deep in the Scottish soul. People were rightly angered by being excluded from land that they saw as their birthright and progress… Read more »
A new report from Warwick University, supported by the CAGE Research Centre, suggests that people in East Lothian are already worse off by an average of £273.54 per person, and East Lothian as a whole is over £28 million worse off because of the Brexit vote. The report uses figures that run up to the end of 2019 and therefore… Read more »
I am encouraging locally-run shops and independent retailers in East Lothian’s towns and villages to enter Indie Retail’s Best Small Shops competition. The competition is free to enter and, according to Indie Retail, an organisation that promotes independent retail, “celebrates not only the commitment and creativity of entrepreneurial independent retailers on the UK’s High Streets but also, the central role… Read more »
In this week’s column in the East Lothian Courier I discuss our need to ‘ca’ canny’ as we head towards our new normal. “Getting out to shops, cafes and pubs is important for wellbeing, as much as our economy. I’ve enjoyed a coffee outdoors, nattering to friends and meeting with constituents. Simple things like that which we once took for… Read more »
I’m really pleased to support the East Lothian Courier’s Love Local Business campaign. While the governments rightly focus on maintaining the national economy, our high streets and local businesses are the backbone of our local economy here in East Lothian. We are rightly proud of our status as a tourist hub and we’re lucky to have so much choice in… Read more »