Latest news with #Larbert
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Swinney 'deeply concerned' over Alexander Dennis job cuts
The first minister has said the Scottish government will do "everything it can" to support workers at bus manufacturer Alexander Swinney said he was "deeply concerned" the firm was planning to move its full operation to a site in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, putting 400 jobs at factories in Falkirk and Larbert at he faced criticism from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who claimed his government had ordered more buses from China than it had from the said most bus ordering decisions in Scotland were made by private operators, and the government had to comply with state subsidy rules in the way it supported businesses. At First Minister's Questions Swinney said: "This issue has been occupying a great deal of the focus and the attention of the deputy first minister and I and the UK government ministers since we became aware of the situation over the last few weeks, and then ultimately to the decision that was announced yesterday."He quoted a joint letter from the UK and Scottish governments, which pledged to "work closely with Alexander Dennis at this challenging time". Alexander Dennis (ADL) cited strong competition from the China, which has seen its market share grow from 10% to 35%, among its reasons for the firm also criticised UK policy, and called for jobs and local economic benefit to be factored in when taxpayers money is invested. Earlier Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham pointed to an order of 160 ADL buses for the publicly-owned "Bee Network" in the city, and questioned why the Scottish government could not do the same. In a statement, Burnham - who has previously visited the Falkirk site - said: "Our iconic Bee Network buses are a bit of Scotland right here in Greater Manchester."We have over 160 Alexander Dennis buses criss-crossing our city-region every day - connecting our communities to opportunity."If Greater Manchester can invest in world-class Scottish bus manufacturing, then why can't the SNP Scottish government?"Sarwar claimed the Scottish government had secured just 44 buses from ADL as part of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) scheme last fund was initially established in 2022 to "disrupt the bus and coach market" and allow operators the chance to make the move to zero-emission vehicles. Sarwar said that number was "five times" less than the number of buses ordered by Greater that figure only covered the second phase of the first phase, in which 276 buses were procured at a cost of about £62m, saw 137 buses ordered from additional 116 buses were ordered from Chinese manufacturer Yutong, while the rest were built in the UK, Ireland and predecessor, known as the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme, also saw 207 electric buses ordered from ADL by operators between September 2020 and March 2021. Swinney said state aid regulations - in the form of the UK-wide Subsidy Control Act - prevented the government from directly procuring from a single Scotland, most public service buses are procured by private operators, who then run them on routes across the said: "What I am doing, what the deputy first minister is doing, is how can we find a way in which we can remain legally compliant with the Subsidy Control Act and enable these obstacles to be overcome?"We are going to do everything we can to find a way through the Subsidy Control Act provision, so the government can continue to work within the law, and so we can support manufacturing in Scotland."
Sky News
12-06-2025
- Sky News
Peter Krykant: 'Beautiful, kind and courageous' drug policy campaigner found dead
A leading drug policy reform campaigner who championed safe consumption rooms has died at the age of 48. Peter Krykant became a public figure in 2020 after setting up an unofficial facility in a minivan in response to Scotland's growing number of drug-related deaths. The vehicle, which was later upgraded to a former ambulance, was taken around Glasgow in a bid to provide a clean space and support for addicts. Mr Krykant, who was a recovering heroin addict and often spoke of his own battles with drugs, hoped the service would prevent overdoses and blood-borne viruses (BBV) among users. The activist, who ran as an independent candidate in the 2021 Holyrood election, always called for dignity for those seeking help. The Thistle - the UK's first safer drug consumption facility (SDCF) - opened in Glasgow in January. Police Scotland said Mr Krykant's body was found by officers on Monday at a property in Graham Avenue, Larbert, following a report of concern for a person. A force spokesperson added: "His next of kin has been informed. A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course. The death is being treated as unexplained." First Minister John Swinney said he was "shocked and saddened" to learn of Mr Krykant's death. He added: "His powerful voice on drugs policy reform, in particular his tireless work to deliver safe consumption rooms, leaves an important legacy which will be remembered." 2:40 High-profile lawyer Aamer Anwar described Mr Krykant as "a one-man army, with a mission to save lives". Mr Anwar represented Mr Krykant when he was arrested in 2020 in connection with the mobile overdose prevention centre. Charges were later dropped. Mr Anwar said: "It was humbling to see him single-handedly fight to deliver the first safe consumption room for drugs in the UK. "Since childhood he was driven by demons, but Peter was also a beautiful, kind and courageous man. "He leaves behind his two boys whom he loved dearly and family and friends who will be utterly devastated. "I hope with time they can find some comfort in that Peter will be at peace and his name will one day be remembered as a drugs campaigner decades ahead of his time." Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said his party was "deeply saddened" by the news. He added: "Peter was a tireless campaigner for a fairer, more compassionate approach to handling drug misuse and addiction, and his campaigning has left such an important legacy in the UK's first safe consumption room in Glasgow. "His advocacy for drug reform, and of course, his yellow van have no doubt saved countless lives in Scotland."
Sky News
12-06-2025
- Sky News
Peter Krykant: Tributes after death of 'beautiful, kind and courageous' drug policy campaigner
A leading drug policy reform campaigner who championed safe consumption rooms has died at the age of 48. Peter Krykant became a public figure in 2020 after setting up an unofficial facility in a minivan in response to Scotland's growing number of drug-related deaths. The vehicle, which was later upgraded to a former ambulance, was taken around Glasgow in a bid to provide a clean space and support for addicts. Mr Krykant, who was a recovering heroin addict and often spoke of his own battles with drugs, hoped the service would prevent overdoses and blood-borne viruses (BBV) among users. The activist, who ran as an independent candidate in the 2021 Holyrood election, always called for dignity for those seeking help. The Thistle - the UK's first safer drug consumption facility (SDCF) - opened in Glasgow in January. Police Scotland said Mr Krykant's body was found by officers on Monday at a property in Graham Avenue, Larbert, following a report of concern for a person. A force spokesperson added: "His next of kin has been informed. A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course. The death is being treated as unexplained." First Minister John Swinney said he was "shocked and saddened" to learn of Mr Krykant's death. He added: "His powerful voice on drugs policy reform, in particular his tireless work to deliver safe consumption rooms, leaves an important legacy which will be remembered." 2:40 High-profile lawyer Aamer Anwar described Mr Krykant as "a one-man army, with a mission to save lives". Mr Anwar represented Mr Krykant when he was arrested in 2020 in connection with the mobile overdose prevention centre. Charges were later dropped. Mr Anwar said: "It was humbling to see him single-handedly fight to deliver the first safe consumption room for drugs in the UK. "Since childhood he was driven by demons, but Peter was also a beautiful, kind and courageous man. "He leaves behind his two boys whom he loved dearly and family and friends who will be utterly devastated. "I hope with time they can find some comfort in that Peter will be at peace and his name will one day be remembered as a drugs campaigner decades ahead of his time." Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said his party was "deeply saddened" by the news. He added: "Peter was a tireless campaigner for a fairer, more compassionate approach to handling drug misuse and addiction, and his campaigning has left such an important legacy in the UK's first safe consumption room in Glasgow. "His advocacy for drug reform, and of course, his yellow van have no doubt saved countless lives in Scotland."
BBC News
11-06-2025
- BBC News
Drugs campaigner Peter Krykant dies, aged 48
A prominent Scottish drugs campaigner who set up a safe consumption bus has Krykant, a former heroin addict, became a public figure after he set up an unofficial supervised facility in a van which he took around often talked about his own battles with addiction, admitting he started taking drugs when he was just 11 and speaking out about a relapse in confirmed the 48-year-old's death was being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course. A Police Scotland Sotland spokesperson said: "Around 5.15pm on Monday, 9 June 2025, police attended an address in Graham Avenue, Larbert following a report of a concern for person."The body of a 48-year-old man was found within. His next of kin has been informed."Mr Krykant started taking drugs when he was 11 and began to inject heroin at the age of 17, but stopped using drugs for 11 went on to open a mobile unit in a converted van with the aim of preventing overdoses and the spread of blood-borne viruses among users in was arrested in 2020 after launching his "safe space" where users could take their own drugs under medical supervision. Charges against him were later this year The Thistle, the UK's first and only drug consumption room opened in the East End of Glasgow in an effort to reduce drug ran for election as an independent candidate in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, campaigning on drug policy later said the "cut-throat" world of politics along with the pressure of running the consumption bus caused him to relapse into drug use.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Hundreds of jobs at risk as bus maker Alexander Dennis plans shutdown of Scottish sites
Up to 400 jobs are at risk after a bus manufacturer announced plans to move operations to Dennis, which has factories in Falkirk and Larbert, has said it is considering moving all operations to a site in plans would see work at the Falkirk site discontinued, while the Larbert site would be closed after current contracts are company manufactures single and double decker buses. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
