Latest news with #FionaHyslop
Edinburgh Reporter
2 hours ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Scottish Transport Awards – Edinburgh's newest active travel link declared a winner
The City of Edinburgh Council has been awarded Excellence in Transport Design at the Scottish Transport Awards 2025 for the Roseburn to Union Canal Active Travel Route which opened recently. This corridor has transformed local connectivity, public space and access to nature with an off road path for walking wheeling and cycling. Lothian Buses and Police Scotland were also recognised for Excellence in Social and Community Value for Operation Crackle, a joint initiative tackling antisocial behaviour and promoting safer public transport. The 22nd annual awards ceremony was held on Thursday evening at the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow. The ceremony celebrated the best of transport operators, infrastructure specialists, frontline workers and local authorities in Scotland. Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop MSP delivered the keynote address and presented the Transport Team / Partnership of the Year award. The Minister said: 'It was an honour to speak at the Scottish Transport Awards tonight (June 19th) and to meet so many of the sector's major players and unsung heroes. 'I particularly enjoyed handing out the 'Team of the Year' award, and speaking to people who are working so hard behind the scenes, day in, day out, to keep Scotland moving. 'This was my third Scottish Transport Awards, and I was able to reflect on the progress being made across the nation on so many impressive projects and initiatives. 'However, there is still so much to do. I want us to build on that momentum to deliver lasting change by working together on our key ambitions and priorities. 'Well done everyone on such a fitting occasion to celebrate your success.' Other category winners included: Best Bus Service: Lothian Buses – Lothian Country Service 43 Rail Supplier of the Year: Story Scotland Excellence in Travel Information and Marketing: Caledonian MacBrayne – 'Every Journey Starts a Story' Contribution to Sustainable Transport: Royal Highland Show Traffic Management Working Group Best Practice in Transport Planning: The Edinburgh & South East Scotland City Region Deal – Workforce Mobility Project Outstanding Contribution to Transport: Roy Brannen CBE Lifetime Contribution to Transport: Gillian Murray Graffiti Roseburn to Union Canal Like this: Like Related
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Dozens of jobs could be axed at major Scots construction firm
Union bosses have called for the government to intervene 'IMMEDIATE RISK' Dozens of jobs could be axed at major Scots construction firm Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DOZENS of people are at risk of losing their job at a major Scottish construction firm. Road workers at Amey SW Trunk Roads are in danger of being made redundant. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Around 100 people are working on the road maintenance contract are in danger of losing their jobs Credit: Alamy A Transport Scotland funded contract for the firm is set to come to an end. Around 100 staff across Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway are employed on the job working on road repairs. Trade union chiefs at Unite say they have been told the 100 jobs are at "immediate risk". They have now called on the Scottish Government to try and save workers from redundancy. Unite's industrial officer, David McGurk, said: "Unite has been informed by Amey that up to 100 jobs are at immediate risk. 'The workers are currently employed on a road maintenance contract funded by Transport Scotland and directly supported by the Scottish Government across Dumfries and Galloway, and Ayrshire. 'Unite will do all we can to support these highly skilled workers who are ensuring that our nation's infrastructure is safe, reliable and up to the highest possible standard. 'We have asked Fiona Hyslop, the cabinet secretary for transport and infrastructure, for action from the government to ascertain what can be done to save these jobs including an immediate review of the contracts awarded to Amey.' Amey has said a "small number" of workers will be impacted by the contract ending and that a number of workers are set to be offered voluntary redundancies. A spokesperson for Amey told STV News: 'Due to the changing needs in the delivery of the service we have reviewed the operational structure of the business. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now "As a result, Amey has entered a 45-day consultation process with a number of employees on our south west Scotland network management contract. 'A very small proportion of employees will be impacted with most of these achieved through the offer of voluntary redundancy. 'We will continue to deliver value for money services and will work closely with all affected employees and trade union representatives to ensure the consultation is fair, transparent, and supportive.' A spokesperson from Transport Scotland said: 'We have been made aware of the situation at Amey and are awaiting further details of the confidential process they are currently undertaking. 'It is essential that a robust level of service is maintained as part of our maintenance contract in the South West trunk road unit.'
Scotsman
a day ago
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Level of support for A96 dualling revealed as ministers renew commitment to £5bn scheme
Bypasses of Elgin and Keith among popular priorities Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport 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... Ministers have renewed their commitment to fully dual the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness as a consultation showed nearly two-thirds support and bypasses of Elgin and Keith seen as the priorities. However, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has still to decide whether to go ahead with the full scheme or parts of it, which was largely put on hold as part of an SNP-Scottish Greens power-sharing deal in 2021, which ended last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 86 miles of the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverurie remain single carriageway | Google Street View The Scottish Conservatives pointed to 76 per cent dissatisfaction with a subsequent review of the scheme that included partial dualling as showing people wanted the full route upgraded. Transport Scotland published the results of a three month consultation into a range of improvements costing up to £1 billion on Thursday which attracted 1,441 responses. An 86-mile section between Inverness and south of Inverurie remains single carriageway. In November, Ms Hyslop abandoned the target of dualling it by 2030 at an estimated cost of up to £5bn. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Government agency said 63 per cent expressed support for full dualling, although that wasn't specifically asked in the consultation questionnaire. Specific measures which received the greatest support were dual carriageway bypasses of Elgin and Keith, road safety improvements and upgrades to the Aberdeen-Inverness railway line, which runs largely parallel to the road. Ms Hyslop said: 'The position of the Scottish Government has not changed – the current favoured position is to fully dual the A96 and we are already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including a Nairn bypass, having acquired the land for the scheme earlier this year. 'I have now received the report on the feedback gathered during the consultation and will be considering the findings alongside the review's extensive appraisal and assessment work before a decision is made on improvements to the A96 corridor. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Any decision on the way ahead for the A96 corridor will need to take into consideration the UK Government's recent Spending Review and its impact on Scottish budgets, and the forthcoming update to the Scottish Government's Infrastructure Investment Plan, expected later this year.' Scottish Conservatives North East MSP Douglas Lumsden said: 'These results categorically show what everyone wants and that's for the A96 to finally be dualled. 'It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know this needs to happen, which is why this consultation was a ploy by the SNP to kick any decision into another parliamentary term. 'This sends an emphatic message to the SNP government to stop playing games with the lives of motorists and fulfil their promise of upgrading the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's scandalous that 14 years after they vowed to do this, the SNP still won't commit to upgrading the Aberdeenshire section or building a bypass for Inverurie.' But Transform Scotland director Colin Howden said: "The Scottish Government's transport capital investment is already horribly skewed towards vastly expensive road projects that simply don't stand up to scrutiny.
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Protesters take to Holyrood amid 'deadlocked' Ardrossan Harbour deal
There have been no ferries from Ardrossan to Arran – a route which has existed for nearly 200 years – since January because the newest CalMac ferry is too big to berth at the harbour and the MV Caledonian Isles, which does fit, has been out of action for 18 months. Instead, the Glen Sannox has had to travel to Brodick from Troon, which takes longer and is widely viewed as much less convenient for the people of Arran who need to get to medical appointments at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock – for which there is a direct bus route from Ardrossan. Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop announced back in February that money had been set aside to take Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership, but campaigners have become frustrated with a lack of movement since then. This has only been compounded by the fact the Scottish Government pledged back in 2018 to ensure Ardrossan remained the gateway to Arran. The project to upgrade the harbour was then paused in 2023 amid concern over rising costs and disagreements over how the bill should be split between the three partners: harbour owners Peel Ports, North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government. READ MORE: Scottish Government accused of 'sidelining' climate action Campaigners from both sides of the Firth of Clyde – who were supported by cross-party politicians - turned up in their dozens to Holyrood to say 'enough is enough', as they called for Hyslop and the Scottish Government to get directly involved in securing a deal. 'It's been going on for far too long. We've been neglected to the extreme. Businesses are closing in both areas and local communities are disgusted with what's going on,' said Margaret Roberts, from the Arran for Ardrossan Harbour campaign. 'The most important thing is hospital appointments are having to be cancelled, important medication and appointments are being missed. 'It's not fair on the local people. North Ayrshire needs this service to be resolved now.' (Image: NQ) Chants of 'Fiona Hyslop, more hands on' and 'Ardrossan's the crossing' could be heard outside Holyrood as MSPs from Labour, the Conservatives and Greens spoke in solidarity with protesters. Wyllie Hume, chair of the Arran for Ardrossan Harbour campaign, previously told The National a meeting with Peel Ports, CMAL and Transport Scotland had left him 'flabbergasted', as campaigners were left feeling as if the deal 'could fail'. The Ardrossan Harbour issue was raised during FMQs by Labour MSP Katy Clark and SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson. Gibson put to the First Minister that talks appear 'deadlocked', stressing if the situation is not resolved, Arran 'will not have the lifeline service it deserves' and Ardrossan 'will struggle'. He asked if the Scottish Government would 'inject urgency' into the process. (Image: NQ) Swinney said negotiations have the 'attention and focus' of ministers and CMAL and the Government is 'focused on a long-term solution for Ardrossan Harbour'. He added it remained the 'key port' for Arran. Clark asked the FM if he agreed a process of compulsory purchase needed to start if there was no progress by summer recess – the end of next week. John Swinney said he would explore compulsory purchase but it had been indicated to him the Scottish Government 'does not have the basis to do so'. 'The Government is actively engaged in the dialogue to acquire Ardrossan Harbour to enable the long-term commitment that Katy Clark seeks.' READ MORE: 300 jobs at risk as firm moves Scottish Power contract to South Africa Save Ardrossan Harbour committee member Donna Cullinane said she wants to see ministers get directly involved to speed up negotiations, with shops in Ardrossan losing business. She told The National: 'We want the deal done. We want the ministers involved, not CMAL. 'We want the harbour fixed. Why build two ferries that don't fit?' Asked about whether she was concerned for the Ardrossan economy, she added: 'I'm very worried. You can tell even now there's a lack of vehicles coming through, lack of economy, because people are not stopping at the shops. 'A lot of the shops are losing revenue. 'It needs to be done for the sake of people on Arran who are coming for medical appointments. There's a bus route from Ardrossan to Kilmarnock every 20 minutes. 'If people from Arran are coming over for an appointment, they've got to really plan it [from Troon], and it can be an overnight stay for them.' Transport Scotland has previously said to The National it is 'wholly appropriate' for CMAL to lead on negotiations on behalf of ministers. Peel Ports has said, meanwhile, there has not been enough 'pace and energy' from CMAL and Transport Scotland, while CMAL has said it has to 'deliver the best value for the public purse'.
BBC News
a day ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Fully dualled A96 'remains favoured Scottish government position'
Making the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness fully dual carriageway remains the Scottish government's "current favoured position".Transport Scotland has published a new report summarising public feedback from a consultation on options aimed at improving the has been passed to Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, who said the preferred option had not changed from full dualling. Last year, a 2011 commitment to upgrade 86 miles (138km) of the route by 2030 was abandoned by the Scottish government. The A96 passes through large areas of farmland, and the route includes the towns of Nairn, Elgin and has long stretches of single carriageway and some shorter dualled road and crawler lanes. Ms Hyslop will now consider the feedback and assessment work, before the Scottish government makes a final decision on how to progress."The position of the Scottish government has not changed," she said."The current favoured position is to fully dual the A96 and we are already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including a Nairn bypass, having acquired the land for the scheme earlier this year." How many responded to the A96 consultation? She said it was a sign of the public interest that more than 1,400 responses to the consultation were received."It was important that local people, businesses and communities were given the opportunity to help inform the government's final decision on how to take forward improvements to the A96 corridor," Ms Hyslop 12-week consultation took place from November to than 60% of respondents expressed support for the current commitment to fully dual the A96.
