Talking-up Scotland

Picture: @Av8Images

Look at that image. Is there anything like that anywhere else?

The Forth currently has three major crossings – Forth Rail, Forth Road, Kincardine. On August 30^th, it will have a fourth – the awesome Queensferry Crossing. I thought the elderly and modest Kincardine Bridge deserved a wee mention here too.

The project will come in on budget too. How often do you [not] hear that?

Also on the 2^nd and 3^rd of September, the bridge will be closed to traffic to allow 50 000 members of the public to walk across. The ballot for places is at:

www.queensferrycrossingexperience.com

It’s not just any bridge either. It’s the largest of its type in the world:

‘The 1.7 miles (2.7km) structure will be the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world and also by far the largest to feature cables which cross mid-span. This innovative design provides extra strength and stiffness, allowing the towers and the deck to be more slender and elegant.’

http://www.forth-bridges.co.uk/queensferry-crossing/about.html

The old Railway bridge [1890] remains special too:

‘It was one of the first cantilever bridges in Britain, and Britain’s first all-steel bridge and the two main spans of 521m were for 28 years the longest and second longest bridge spans in the world.’

http://www.forth-bridges.co.uk/forth-bridge/facts-figures-rail.html

Look at that image. Is there anything like that anywhere else?

The Forth currently has three major crossings – Forth Rail, Forth Road, Kincardine. On August 30^th, it will have a fourth – the awesome Queensferry Crossing. I thought the elderly and modest Kincardine Bridge deserved a wee mention here too.

The project will come in on budget too. How often do you [not] hear that?

Also on the 2^nd and 3^rd of September, the bridge will be closed to traffic to allow 50 000 members of the public to walk across. The ballot for places is at:

www.queensferrycrossingexperience.com

It’s not just any bridge either. It’s the largest of its type in the world:

‘The 1.7 miles (2.7km) structure will be the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world and also by far the largest to feature cables which cross mid-span. This innovative design provides extra strength and stiffness, allowing the towers and the deck to be more slender and elegant.’

http://www.forth-bridges.co.uk/queensferry-crossing/about.html

The old Railway bridge [1890] remains special too:

‘It was one of the first cantilever bridges in Britain, and Britain’s first all-steel bridge and the two main spans of 521m were for 28 years the longest and second longest bridge spans in the world.’

http://www.forth-bridges.co.uk/forth-bridge/facts-figures-rail.html

 

(c) tripadvisor.co.uk

The Kincardine bridge was a wonder in its time [1936] too. See:

‘The crossing was a record-breaking engineering feat as it became not only the longest road bridge in Britain but had the largest swing span in Europe.  And in another first, photo electric cells were also used on the bridge to control the exact location of the swing span – it was so accurately set on its track that its 1,600 tons could be turned through 90 degrees by three farthings’ worth of electricity.’

http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/14825067.Kincardine_Bridge_turns_80_years_old_on_Saturday/?ref=mrb&lp=4

Three farthings eh?

(c) http://allianceforchoiceni.org

The English Supreme Court has already ruled against women from Northern Ireland getting free abortions in England. That’s one barrier to a DUP/Tory alliance removed. However, what if they can just make the shorter trip to Scotland for the treatment?

Backed by Amnesty International, the Scottish government is exploring the possibility of making the procedure free on the devolved NHS in Scotland. Currently, hundreds travel every year to private clinics in the UK and pay thousands for the treatment.

A recent survey revealed 78% of Norther Irish people support reforms:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/northern-ireland-supports-abortion-law-reform-dup-nhs-national-survey-ban-illegal-a7795151.html

If successful this would be just another example of Scotland becoming the kind of tolerant country most of us want it to be. See for example:

Only Independence and the SNP’s compassionate policies can save Scotland’s pensioners and disabled people as the Tories slash funding for sheltered housing in England and implement their second bedroom tax.

http://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/scotland-considering-offering-free-abortions-13201135

© water-technology.net

A new study by Scottish Water Horizons for Scottish Renewables makes a kind of obvious if a little yucky suggestion. Why don’t we recycle the heat from wastewater and sewage? Currently, it all gets lost in the recycling process. By recovering this energy, the group claim dramatically:

‘Scotland’s sewers could contain enough natural heat to warm Glasgow for more than 15 years.’

I take it that they mean the current quantity of sewage could do that so if we keep up our efforts, the supply is infinite?

The water and sewage we flush away contains huge amounts of thermal energy. Every day Scots flush away 921 litres of wastewater and sewage. The temperature in sewers is often as high as 21 degrees C. Further, this method would mean preventing 10 000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

https://www.energyvoice.com/otherenergy/142020/waste-water-heat-scottish-cities-study-claims/

Add this to the renewables and oil/gas boom and it’s hard to see what we do with it all. Sell it?

© oilandgaspeople.com

We’ve seen predictions of a return to $70 per barrel already. Expert after expert has emerged with increasing estimates. Even the more conservative corporations themselves are confidently investing on the assumption that $50 is secure for some time ahead. Now we have this:

 ‘The fundamentals of the global supply-demand relationship are favoring higher oil prices. When it goes up it’s going to go up for an extended period of time. I think it can go back to $90, not in six months but over a couple of years.’

This is from Canadian CEO Jean-Guy Desjardins who see a more general recovery in the world economy justifying this demand for increased oil demand and thus prices. Personally, I think it’s also a recognition of the huge demand coming from the developing markets in Asia where a growing middle class has the increasing expectation of being able to own a car. See, for example:

China increases imports of Scottish oil from 8 to 38 million barrels in only 4 months

https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/142342/ceo-called-canadas-stock-bottom-sees-90-oil-2020/

Photo by Colin Keldie

 

I reported back in February, impressive increases in Tourism being experienced at Scotland’s historic sites. See:

Visitors to Scotland’s historic sites surge by 470 000 to reach more than 4.5 million, breaking all records, in only 11 months!

I put some of this down to Americans feeling safer here than in other parts of Europe. See:

North Americans lead surge in Scottish tourism because they feel safer here

You couldn’t get much further from Europe’s anxiety-inducing large urban cultural centres than Orkney so maybe it’s no surprise to see big increases there. I’m sure the sites are a big attraction too. See this from gov.scot:

‘Six sites on Orkney recorded an eight per cent rise in visitors in the last year according to new figures from Historic Environment Scotland. In total, more than 41,500 people visited Historic Environment Scotland’s staffed sites on the islands between April and June 2017, an increase from the same period last year.’

https://news.gov.scot/news/the-lure-of-ancient-history

© newstatesman.com

Betfair now has Jeremy Corbyn as favourite to replace Theresa May. How could that happen? Well in the wake of the tower block fire and her less than human performance after it, some pundits predict she will lose the vote on her Queen’s Speech next week opening the door to a progressive alliance led by Labour.

Boris Johnson’s chances are tainted with his comments on fire-brigade cuts when he was Mayor of London just as May was tainted but regrettably not broken by her comments on police service cuts when she was Home Secretary after the Manchester attack.

Further, May’s reliance on the DUP is looking shakier by the minute. Just as their views on gays and abortion are toxic for many Tories, the Tories’ social policies such as the bedroom tax are toxic for the DUP. Beyond that, what would Sinn Fein do? If their seven MPs were to turn up, May’s Tory/DUP alliance looks very shaky indeed. I’m not the only one to think this:

https://theconversation.com/could-dup-westminster-deal-force-sinn-fein-to-rethink-abstention-79259

Back to Scotland. A progressive alliance led by Labour would depend heavily on the SNP votes. What could we squeeze out of them in terms of further autonomy? A softer Brexit would be a certainty. Labour in Scotland have no political weight to counter Labour HQ’s strategic moves and I don’t think Corbyn is at all hostile to greater autonomy for Scotland. Only Kezia stands in the way and her days must be numbered now. Everyone knows the increased Labour vote in Scotland was down to Corbyn and not her. You could even argue her encouragement of tactical voting to get the SNP out, let the Tories in.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/108813138

http://politicalbetting.com/

It’s not just the oil and gas exports that make the money now. After decades of experience gained in the North Sea and in west of Shetland’s deeper stormier waters, Scotland now earns just over half of its income from international business supplying equipment and expertise across the globe. I’ve written about this already:

Happy New Year Story: Scotland’s ‘renewable energy expertise’ in demand worldwide, says new research. At least 14 news agencies report it but BBC Scotland, STV?

In the above nearly six months ago, I quoted the Aberdeen Evening Express:

‘Scotland’s “expertise in renewable energy” is in demand around the world, with businesses working in more than 40 countries, according to new research. Projects include advising the government of Japan, providing cranes to build wind farms in Morocco and South Africa and working with the World Bank in Chile, industry body Scottish Renewables said.’

This report quantifies just how important this kind of activity is for the Scottish economy. The Scottish Government through Scottish Enterprise has played a significant part in this growth:

‘Through the Energy Jobs Taskforce, we have delivered a significant amount of support to companies around key areas such as innovation, diversification, leadership and internationalisation. An example of this was a series of new market guides published late last year to help companies understand more about potential new markets. Helping companies to grow their international activity saw 59 companies join us in May on the Scotland pavilion at OTC in Houston, one of the world’s largest oil and gas shows. Events like these make a huge difference to companies looking to grow their international presence, helping them showcase their world-renowned skills and experience and build important new contacts.’

The survey producing the £11.4 billion figure was carried out by Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce for Scottish Enterprise and had responses from 295 companies employing 63 000 staff

https://sbnn.co.uk/2017/06/15/scotlands-oil-gas-international-reputation-remains-strong-challenging-times/

© aberdeenvoice.com

As oil and gas activity in the North Sea and west of Shetland begins a third wave of prosperity, it’s beginning to look like unemployment in the sector has bottomed out and jobs are returning to the sector.

According to Aberdeen JobCentre work coach team leader Shonagh Neave:

‘We’re definitely seeing a little bit more confidence in oil and gas and renewables, with people going back to work in that sector. Although we still have a slight percentage increase for the city, this is the best percentage I’ve seen in the last year. figures are going down month-on-month so it is an improving picture – we’re starting to see a recovery. We’re hopeful this might be a turnaround and we might start to see the claimant count figures in the city come down soon.’

Though there was an increase in May’s figures for Aberdeen City, unlike the county as a whole where there was a 2% fall, the JobCentre put this down to the switch to the universal credit benefit system and not a direct oil & gas industry related rise.

https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/142104/fallout-oil-downturn-eases-jobless-figures-show/

© farmingmonthly.co.uk

You’ll have seen those huge timber lorries squeezing through small villages and creating much noise and other disturbance. We’d probably all agree the industry is, however, important to Scotland’s rural economy. It’s a £1bn industry which is currently growing from 7 to 10 million tonnes.

So, to help reduce the negative effects for those living on routes used by the lorries, the Scottish Government will invest £7.05m in fifty projects including:

• Perth & Kinross Council – £1.5M for 4 public road projects
• Highland Council – £1.42M for 6 public road projects
• Dumfries & Galloway Council – £1.4M for 10 public road projects
• Ayrshire Roads Alliance (the shared service representing East and South Ayrshire Councils) – £770k for 4 public road projects
• Scottish Borders Council – £593k for 6 public road projects
• Argyll & Bute Council – £554k for 4 public road projects
• Moray Council – £550k for 13 public road projects

I’ve had a close thing with a timber-loaded monster on the Dumfries and Galloway roads on the way back from hill-walking so I personally welcome the above.

http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/news-releases/1784-7-05m-for-sustainable-timber-transport-projects-to-benefit-communities

© scottishhousingnews.com

I heard that a similar view had been expressed in a TV news report last night but could not trace it. Today, I found Jim Millar, a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and former housing convener at Angus Council quoted as saying without specific evidence:

 ‘I’m quite confident that something like this would not happen to this extent in Scotland.’

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/scotland/449285/grenfell-tower-disaster-happen/

If I lived in a Scottish tower block, I’d want more than that and I did eventually find something more authoritative. See this extract from the regulations:

‘Generally, the requirements in Scotland are more onerous that those in England and Wales or Northern Ireland….In Scotland the AS Fire Resistant Wall system should be used for all walls which require a fire resistance period. See Scottish Building Standards Technical Handbook Section 2 for details of boundary conditions and fire resistance requirements.’

http://www.steadmans.co.uk/support1/fire-performance/

I hope this puts some minds at ease. Add this information to these below and you wonder at anyone, in the know, voting against the SNP:

How the SNP have protected Scotland by maintaining police numbers and how Theresa May has exposed England to risk.

NHS Scotland’s Accident and Emergency Departments continue to outperform

‘Scotland has more GPs per head of population than any other part of the UK, newly released statistics show’

NHS Health Check: Which part of the UK is doing the best?

Despite the deluge, is flood protection stronger and better funded in Scotland?