The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Number of places for student nurses and midwives to increase
The number of degree places for student nurses, midwives and paramedics will increase for the ninth year in a row, the Scottish Government has said.
A total of 4,449 students will be able to study nursing and midwifery in the next academic year, up 243 places (5.8%) from 2020-21.
The recommended intake for mental health nursing courses will also be increased, up 13% to 740 places.
Tuition is free for Scottish-domiciled nursing and midwifery students, who also receive a bursary of £10,000 a year.
Paramedic science degree places will also be increased with 300 places available – up by 7%.
Intake numbers are based on considerations such as future demand as well as from discussions with representatives from NHS workforce planners, social care, universities, professional bodies and trade unions.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Staffing in our NHS remains at a record high level following eight consecutive years of growth, but as we remobilise NHS services, we must keep looking to the future and plan ahead for the next generation of Scotland’s healthcare workforce.
“The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the integral role of nurses, midwives and paramedics but it is just another example of the essential care they provide on a daily basis.
“I am deeply grateful to them for all the work they do, and I commend everyone who is studying for a career in these essential roles.”
An Angus tourism business owner has hit out at proposals for a new powerline after learning about the plans from a neighbour.
Alexis Litton, 55, owner of Greenden Holiday Lets, said two of the three potential cable routes would have a “colossal impact” on her business.
Ms Litton did not receive one of the 7,000 letters Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission (SSEN) sent to people close to the three main proposed routes, advising them of the work.
She said: “One of the properties looks directly on to the route. It’s the uninterrupted view that keeps people coming back.
“My neighbours contacted me a few weeks ago and said do you know this is going ahead? I said what development?
“Then they explained.”
The SSEN Transmission plans will see a replacement 132kV Angus powerline running from west of Aberdeen to Tealing, north of Dundee.
The company – which is in the very early stages of establishing a route – is consulting on three main options.
All three run close to Brechin and cut through the Angus countryside between Forfar and Arbroath.
SSEN Transmission argues that the line is essential to plug renewable energy schemes in the north-east of Scotland to the grid.
Ms Litton said she sold her optometry practice in 1999 to establish Greenden Holiday Lets – three luxury self-catering properties near the village of Farnell.
She fears that the powerline could undo the decades of work she has put into the business. The plans mention 27m steel lattice structures running along the length of the route.
Ms Litton called on the Perth renewable power generation and networks firm to use alternative technology.
“I am not opposed to a line upgrade. I fully support renewable energy and I understand they need to increase the capacity of the power line,” she said.
“However I am against the policy that these huge profit-making organisations adopt in deciding the least expensive way to transfer power from A to B.
“A number of their options bring the cables in close proximity to residential properties.
“We don’t know what they’re doing to reduce the visual impact yet.
“The line could have a detrimental effect for any business dependent on tourism added.
Ms Litton is the second Angus tourism business owner to share concerns about the proposed route.
Kate Latham shared her worries for her family’s Greenhillock Glamping business last week.
An SSEN Transmission spokesman said: “We are still in the early development stage of this project. We are keen to speak to as many people as possible to hear their views on our proposals.
“We would like to thank everyone who has already taken the time to share their feedback with us so far.
“This feedback will inform the environmental and engineering assessment work and help us to develop an alignment and design solution through this sensitive landscape and environment.” in the area,” she
An ambitious Angus sports and community project is to receive a television showcase alongside Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur.
With a royal endorsement ringing fresh in their ears, the team behind the Showcase the Street plan for a UK-leading facility at Arbroath’s Seaton Park is preparing for a weekend slot on CBBC’s Match of the Day Kickabout.
It will highlight the innovative Angus project alongside schemes being developed by Spurs and a plan for the world’s first all-timber football stadium.
Last month, Angus councillors agreed the community asset transfer of the former Arbroath Sporting Club ground in a major boost for the Showcase project which has been years in the making.
The project will deliver a 3G sports pitch and community hub featuring pioneering virtual reality technology to create training environments for employability training.
Feasibility and full costings for the multimillion-pound plan are now being developed with Zero Waste Scotland.
Showcase chairman Fergus Storrier said the opportunity to have the Seaton Park scheme spotlighted alongside Spurs in the sustainability stakes was a major boost for the project team.
The north London club is one of the highestprofile participants in the 10:10 project which encourages individuals, businesses and organisations to take action on environmental issues.
The Match of the Day Kickabout feature will also focus on English League Two side Forest Green Rovers’ eco ambitions.
The Gloucestershire side plan to build the world’s first all-timber stadium, designed by globally renowned architects Zaha Hadid.
Mr Storrier said: “This project is growing into a hugely exciting prospect for our charity and most importantly for the Arbroath community.”
He was also able to give the Princess Royal an online update on project progress in a Zoom call with the Chaffinch Trust.
She is patron of the body which encourages greater collaboration between charities to bring greater support for those living in disadvantaged areas.
Voigt Architects of Arbroath have released a video fly-through of the planned centre and said they were delighted it is to be showcased.
Jonathan Reeve from Voigt Architects added: “Our superb design team are almost finished submitting their lowcarbon report, hopefully illustrating that the building can be constructed using 90% recycled or low carbon materials.”
Areport reveals 97% of residents in tourist beauty spots like Highland Perthshire are concerned by waste left by tourists and dirty campers.
The John Muir Trust compiled the study ahead of the expected influx of holidaymakers to rural communities, saying residents of tourist destinations now see their popularity as a “doubleedged sword”.
Last year Highland Perthshire was overrun by dirty campers, with locals complaining of human waste, tents, rubbish and even a gazebo being left.
The
John
Muir
Trust counted as many as 200 cars parked on the road verges by Schiehallion, with the car park only providing 25 spaces.
James Black, crew commander at Kinloch Rannoch Community Fire Station, said: “Visitor numbers are becoming so severe that the road leading to the Braes of Foss car park is continuously being blocked by overflow vehicles.
“Which means that locals can’t get through, timber wagons and farm vehicles can’t get through and, more importantly, emergency vehicles and fire engines can’t get through.”
With tourism expected to explode again in Highland
Perthshire in the coming months, locals are asking for visitors to be educated.
Anne Benson, who runs Rannoch Paths and Open Space Group, said: “Besides providing people with public toilets and places to empty motorhome toilets, I think we really need to focus on education.”
The John Muir Trust has called on the Scottish Government and local authorities to allow communities to be actively involved in planning visitor management.
The organisation also wants more promotion of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and strategic funding of infrastructure.
Cecilie Dohm, policy officer and lead author of the report, said: “Many rural communities have experienced a reduction in essential facilities.
Perth and Kinross Council committed £480,000 to a two-year ranger service pilot scheme at its budget meeting on Wednesday.
Conservative Highland Ward councillor John Duff said: “Everyone will recall the significant challenges and, quite frankly, horrendous behaviour of some of our visitors last summer.
“We cannot allow that to happen again and this significant move will be key to addressing these problems this year.”
The family of Sarah Everard have paid tribute to her as a “shining example to us all”, describing her as a daughter and sister who “brought so much joy to our lives”.
In a statement released on their behalf by the Metropolitan Police, the 33-year-old marketing executive’s family appealed for information to help the force’s investigation.
They said: “Our beautiful daughter Sarah was taken from us and we are appealing for any information that will help to solve this terrible crime. Sarah was bright and beautiful – a wonderful daughter and sister. She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour. “She was strong and principled and a shining example to us all. We are very proud of her and she brought so much joy to our lives. We would like to thank our friends and family for all their support during this awful time and we would especially like to thank Sarah’s friends who are working tirelessly to help.
“We are so grateful to the police and would like to thank them for all they are doing. We are now pleading for additional help from the public.
“Please come forward and speak to the police if you have any information. No piece of information is too insignificant. Thank you.”
The statement was issued after the Metropolitan Police officer suspected of kidnapping and murdering Ms Everard, left, was taken to hospital for a head injury sustained while in custody.
Scotland Yard said the suspect, who is in his 40s, was treated, discharged
and returned to the station where he is held.
He remains in custody after an application to extend his detention was granted at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court, Scotland Yard said.
The suspect was
police being found
collapsed and unconscious in his cell yesterday after suffering serious head wounds, according to the Sun.
The Met said: “The suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment to a head injury sustained while in custody.”
ADundee yachting club is hoping to create a new clubhouse on the banks of the River Tay. Royal Tay Yacht Club has submitted a planning application to Dundee City Council to transform Glenogil House, which is next to the club’s car park at Grassy Beach, into its new headquarters.
In January, the yachting club agreed to investigate selling its current headquarters at Fort William House in Broughty
Ferry, which it has owned and operated from since 1955, in a bid to move closer to the riverbank where it does its activities.
The club will not buy Glenogil House until the proposals are set in stone and planning permission has been approved.
Fort William House was built in 1838 for Captain James Neish, a wealthy ship owner and sea captain who is attributed as being the first to import cargoes of jute into Dundee, to use as his summer house.
However the club has now set its sights on Glenogil House on Ogilvie Road in Broughty Ferry, a B-listed building overlooking the Tay estuary.
Members of the club say this is an “ideal” location because it will mean its clubhouse and where it carries out its sporting activities will be next to each other.
A spokesman for the Royal Tay Yacht Club said: “While it would be a very sad day to part with Fort William House, which
has served us so well for 65 years, it is also a very exciting time in the club’s history.
“We are looking to shape the club for the next 65 years and provide a clubhouse which is more suited to the needs of the club, its members, and
those who take part in watersports activity on the River Tay at Grassy Beach.”
The club has also said should the proposals go ahead, it would protect the amenity of the residential area around Glenogil House and look to promote
the wellbeing benefits and quality of life that can be achieved from yachting on the Tay.
Planning bosses at Dundee City Council will now consider the Royal Tay Yacht Club’s change of use application for Glenogil House.