Editorial

THIS MONTH there is a great deal to look forward to with the advent of some festival activity, beginning with the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival. But it is a difficult time for both organisers and performers, some of whom cannot travel to Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh International Festival has already cancelled the three opening night shows at the beginning of August as the creative team behind the fire and light promenading event cannot travel from France. There was a travel exemption from quarantine for artists previously available, but it appears that the rules have changed. The French creative team, Carabosse, were unable to do the preparation work required about seven weeks before the event.

One person who is extremely creative all year round is Edinburgh-based photographer, Tom Duffin, who regularly stays up all night to capture the wonderful shots he takes of the capital, often featuring the sun and the moon. We have some of his photos on our centre pages for you to enjoy.

The Edinburgh Art Festival begins right at the end of the month, offering a glimmer of hope that life might have a little more in the way of entertainment to offer us.

The past year has made us change our ways, with some of us out enjoying a walk in our neighbourhoods perhaps for the first time. The council, with funding they won from The Scottish Government, installed extra pedestrian spaces on shopping streets and also 39 km of dedicated cycle lanes. Moving forward, once the public health message changes, some of that infrastructure will be removed, but in line with the City Mobility Plan and there are proposals to make Edinburgh net carbon zero by 2030, and to create a City Centre Low Emission Zone. A consultation is now in place for you to contribute your own views as to whether this is ambitious enough for the capital city.

I very much hope that you and your families are well and that you enjoy our