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RIAS welcomes six new Honorary Fellows
Reduce, reuse and recycle – or simply eat the containers
By PHYLLIS STEPHENTHE EDINBURGH Festival Fringe Society
(EFFS) is to rent the South Bridge Resource
Centre on Infirmary Street on a long lease
from the council following approval by the
council’s Finance Committee.
The current tenants include Canongate
Youth who will have to move from the
B-listed former school, but they are said to
be positive about the news.
The possibility of new premises came
after the funding of £8.6 million from the
UK Government announced in the Spring
Budget for the festivals. After a degree of
clarification it is now known that £1.
million is intended for the Edinburgh
International Festival and the remaining £
million is awarded to the Fringe as capital
funding. This means the funding must be
used on capital assets and probably only
covers any improvements made to the
building. Scotland Office Minister, John
Lamont, confirmed in an interview with us
that EFFS had actually asked for capital
funding, although EFFS had earlier put out
in a tweet a firm denial that the funds were
for “plush new offices”. Instead, the former
school is intended to become a year round
space for artists and creatives as set out by
the Fringe in a 2017 blueprint.
EFFS said: “It is dependent on the Fringe
Society creating a full business case and
detailed scoping in the coming months.”
They confirm it means speaking to Fringe
participants, locals and stakeholders.Fringe move to
centre stage with
UK Gov funding
By MARIE SHARP
Local Democracy ReporterA BEACH SNACK van has introduced edible
ice-cream tubs to help reduce rubbish and
save the planet.
Alan Devine and Kate King have run The
Picnic Box, on Longniddry Bents, East Lothian,
for nearly a year.
And this month they introduced the new
tubs to help reduce waste from the popular
coffee stop.
The couple already offer visitors 20p off a cup
of tea or coffee if they bring their own mug and
the latest sustainable offering adds to their
efforts to protect the coastline.
Kate said: “It is important to us that we arepart of the community and doing everything we
can to reduce rubbish and help the planet is a
big part of that.
“Encouraging our customers to bring their
own cups for hot drinks took off well,
particularly with locals who are regular visitors,
and the edible ice-cream tubs were the next
logical step.”
And former ice-cream salesman Alan said:
“The tubs have proved very popular with
customers who like the idea and have really got
behind it.
“We initially trialled them for free with a few
customers and based on their positive response
introduced them on our daily menu.
“Now we are looking forward to them being a
firm favourite over the summer months.”Kate and Alan, who live locally, have recently
applied for planning permission to remain at
the Bent No2 car park for a further three years
after they were initially granted permission for
one year only.
And they are hopeful they will be able to
continue on the site after becoming part
of the community.
As well as running the snack van which
operates out of a converted horse box, they have
organised a wide range of local events from a
beach swimming club to under-fives stay and
play clubs and even an Easter Egg hunt.
Kate said: “The beach swimming club was
inspired because there are clubs in Portobello
and further east at North Berwick but nothing
where we are.Melting moments
By STAFF REPORTERSIX NEW HONORARY Fellows
have been announced by the Royal
Incorporation of Architects in
Scotland. Many are recognised for
work to harness architecture and
the built environment for the public
good. Honorary Fellow Sue Palmer
highlights connections between
placemaking and better health
outcomes in her work. Others have
supported the architectural
profession in Scotland for many
years.THE NEW FELLOWS INCLUDE:- Sue Evans MBE FLI
who is Chair of the Scottish Civic
Trust and a member of the
Executive Committee of Scotland’s
Landscape Alliance. - Dr Will Maclean, MBE, RSA, RSE
who is an award-winning sculptor,
printmaker and artist. - Dame Seona Reid, FRSE, who is
Vice Chair of Wasps Artist Studios
and Chair of the British Council
Scotland Advisory Committee.
4/5. Steve Evans and Gail Evans,
the founders of Inscape Joinerywhich is known for its approach
welcoming complexity, challenging
constructional ideas and difficult
sites.- Professor Sir Geoff Palmer
who is Chancellor of Heriot-Watt
University and who advises the
council and The Scottish Government
on the history of British slavery.
Chris Stewart PRIAS, president of
the Royal Incorporation of
Architects in Scotland said: “The
RIAS Honorary Fellowships should
always be more than simply a
roll-call of the great and the good.“All of this year’s recipients are
making energetic, inspirational and
at times challenging contributions
to architecture in Scotland. Through
their work they demonstrate that
architecture has a vital role to play
in so many aspects of our lives –
whether our health and education,
our appreciation of our landscape
and culture, or our understanding
of how our built heritage at times
reflects uncomfortable truths and
future challenges.
“I am looking forward to working
with all of them to celebrate
architecture as a positive force for
change and public good.”1 42 53 6