The Edinburgh Reporter September 2023

6 NEWS

By STAFF REPORTER

AN EVENT HELD AT the City Chambers

hosted by the Rt Hon Lord Provost of

the City of Edinburgh and President

of the OneCity Trust, Robert Aldridge,

celebrated the work of the Trust in the

past two decades.

The Trust was established in 2003 in

response to the OneCity report of the Lord

Provost’s Commission on Social Exclusion.

It engages the idea of a ‘community

foundation’ to give people and

organisations a means to reach across the

divides of the city and support those who

are excluded from the community.

A permanent endowment was

established with a donation from the

City of Edinburgh Council, which the Trust

has added to over the years, and continues

to build.

In 2012 with the creation of the ‘Lord

Provost’s Rapid Action Fund’ the Trust was

able to raise funds specifically for the

purpose of administering grants to

projects and organisations across the city.

SUFFERING A DECLINE

Irvine Welsh, Ambassador of the OneCity

Trust said: “I’ve been involved with the

OneCity Trust for almost two decades.

Edinburgh and the wider world have

undergone significant changes in this

period, resulting in poverty, inequality,

and social exclusion becoming even

more acute.

“Edinburgh is a city blighted by

geographical inequality, great wealth and

abject poverty coexisting side by side. This

wealth and international acclaim that the

city commands does not translate to many

communities who have been left behind in

an era characterised by public austerity

and private profit, and at the expense of

key public services. This tale of two cities

that is played out not just in Edinburgh but

across the country.

“This is obviously something that is in

dire need of rebalancing. In the meantime,

ventures like OneCity Trust continue to

strive to offer a way for individuals in

adverse socioeconomic conditions to find

a way to express themselves through arts

and culture. This can give them the

confidence to articulate their individual

needs, those of their communities and

consequently inspire them to go about

meeting them. I am proud to support

OneCity Trust.”

Celebrating

twenty years

Douglas Ross - new message for new session

Three more Red Transport Wheels add to a growing list

Historical sites

By PHYLLIS STEPHEN

TRANSPORT ENTHUSIASTS gathered to

mark the unveiling of three red Transport

Wheels at Shrubhill, Scotland Street Tunnel

and Slateford Aqueduct, which recognised

each location as pieces of significant transport

infrastructure.

At Scotland Street John Cameron, CBE, who

is Chair of the National Transport Trust quoted

Robert Louis Stevenson.

He said: “For a railway that was opened for

only 20 years this Scotland Street tunnel

commands a remarkable hold on people’s

subconsciousness, and awareness of

Edinburgh’s transport heritage.

I am first of all going to quote

Robert Louis Stevenson.

He recalled the sight of the

train shooting out

of its dark maw, with two

guards upon the brake,

the thought of

its length, and many

ponderous edifices and

thoroughfares above

were certainly things of

paramount

impressiveness to the

young mind. The Edinburgh

Metro proposal of the 1980s

envisaged its use, regardless of the

steep gradient to see that had been its undoing.

And author Alexander McCall Smith gave us a

false memory of something called the

Edinburgh Underground triggering surprise

amongst several experts, who did not

remember it was

1 April 2011.”

Richard Love

chair of Broughton

History Society also

talked of Alexander

McCall Smith who had

sent in a little piece written by

Bertie Pollock, aged 7 one of the

Scotland Street residents. Bertie writes: “I’m

very proud of having a tunnel under my street.

Not everyone has got one. This tunnel used to

have trains but not any more. My friend

Ranald Braveheart McPherson says they’re

going to make a tram line up the Scotland

Street Tunnel. I think this is a good idea,

although tram lines seem to take a very long

time to build. By the time they build it I will be

at least 18, and will be living in Glasgow. It’s

quite intriguing to have an old railway tunnel

under the streets of the city. I’m so pleased that

this fascinating part of the city’s history is being

marked with a plaque.”

The Clan Baird Commander and future Clan

Chief Richard Holman Baird unveiled the

wheel at Slateford. Hugh Baird was responsible

for the Union Canal and designed the aqueduct

which is such an integral part of it.

From left-to-right: Mrs Sandra Purves, Richard Love,

John Cameron CBE, Jenny Bruce and John Yellowlees

Irvine Welsh

and the Lord

Provost

By STAFF REPORTER

DOUGLAS ROSS the Scottish

Conservative leader unveiled the

party’s ‘Grasping the Thistle’

economic strategy in Edinburgh

just ahead of The Scottish

Parliament reconvening.

The strategy includes these key

recommendations:

Economy: drive delivery via Joint

Economic Board with ministers

from both Scottish governments

National Workforce Plan: align

skills in education system with

needs of businesses and employers

Make Scotland competitive:

reduce taxation for all and build

tourism and export infrastructure

Regional clusters of excellence:

backing export winners with

economic development funding

Mr Ross said: “The Scotland we

live in today is unsustainable –

despite the efforts of hardworking

staff, our essential services are on

their knees, reeling from one winter

crisis after another.

“None of us can afford for

things to go on as they are, we

need solutions to the big

challenges that Scotland is facing,

so we cannot have yet another

Programme for Government in

the Sturgeon mould.

“Tinkering around the edges for

its own sake and focusing on

divisive niche issues will not

improve the lives of working

families. Instead, we need to see

real action.”

He added: “I am sick and tired

of the SNP whining that they do

not have the financial levers at

their disposal to make a difference.

Humza Yousaf has a £60 billion

budget at his disposal and total

control over our devolved

public services.

“Scotland deserves a

government that is focused on the

real priorities of the Scottish

people. If we do not act now, then

we risk leaving a poorer Scotland to

the next generation.

“As a father to two young

boys, that makes me worried

for their future. But as a politician

it would be a dereliction of duty

if I did not act.

“I say ditch the nationalist

independence campaign and lead

a national government for all of

Scotland. Abandon the

constitutional fights with the UK

Government and work with the rest

of our country.

“We need to focus on the big

challenges we all face – not on the

narrow political interests of a few.”

“With a growing economy,

we can better fund our essential

public services and deliver

real improvements. We can

keep household bills low by

reducing tax. And we can

create good, well-paid jobs

and better opportunities for

the next generation.

“The prize of a wealthier more

prosperous Scotland is there; we

just need to do the long-term

planning and hard work to seize it.”

Douglas

Ross