ScotRail launches off-peak all day fares trial
ScotRail launches off-peak all day fares trial
www.scotrail.co.uk
Customers can now travel all day on ScotRail services with off-peak fares as the train operator today (2 October) launched its exciting six-month trial. A first of its kind in the UK, the trial is int...Thank you to everyone who came along to today’s Macmillan Cancer Support coffee morning at The Heart of Newhaven! Many thanks also to everyone who has donated to this great cause. 💚
If you are able to, you can still donate online here: coffeefundraising.macmillan.org.uk/fundraising/cm23012306?fbclid=IwAR2mN_xcEjM7JqL7gUNIQe05KHgFcr...
#MacmillanCoffeeMorning
Deidre Brock MP
A reminder that Deidre Brock MP and I are hosting a Macmillan Cancer Support coffee morning tomorrow, Friday 29 September, at The Heart of Newhaven from 10.30am - 12pm. We hope to see you there for a cuppa, a cake and a chat.
If you can, please consider donating to this cause. You can do so online here: coffeefundraising.macmillan.org.uk/fundraising/cm23012306?fbclid=IwAR2mN_xcEjM7JqL7gUNIQe05KHgFcr...
Further details of the event are also available here: www.facebook.com/events/648992663856654/?ref=newsfeed
📢 Reminder from the Office of Ben Macpherson MSP 📢
Deidre Brock MP and I will be hosting a coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support this Friday 29 September at the Heart of Newhaven. Everyone’s welcome to come along for some cake and a cuppa in aid of a fantastic charity. Hope to see you there!
⏰ Friday 29th September 10.30am- 12noon
📍 The Heart of Newhaven Community Centre, 4-6 Main Street, Newhaven, EH6 4HY
Full details online here: coffeefundraising.macmillan.org.uk/fun.../cm23012306
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people or changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.Constituents have been in touch with my office about the persistent problem of Pavement Parking in Edinburgh Northern and Leith and, last week, I recently raised these concerns with the Minister at the Net Zero, Energ and Transport Committee. The Minister confirmed that legislation is on track to be introduced in December 2023.
Yes a problem in Edinburgh East too !
Are you ready? Scotland’s Climate Week 2023 is kicking off today and runs until 1st October.
It’s the perfect time to take action in ways that will make the biggest difference to both you and the planet.💪
To get involved and find out what actions you can take that will have the most impact, just visit:
www.netzeronation.scot/whats-happening/scotlands-climate-week
#ScotClimateWeek #LetsDoNetZero
📢 Message from the Office of Ben Macpherson MSP 📢
A reminder that Edinburgh & East Lothian Doors Open Days is taking place this weekend, 23-24 September.
There are many places throughout Edinburgh Northern and Leith taking part, such as Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden, Leith Theatre, Custom House, Leith, The Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Edinburgh Open Workshop and many many more.
You can find the full list online here:
Doors Open Days 2023 | Unlock Scotland this September!
www.doorsopendays.org.uk
Doors Open Days is Scotland’s largest free festival that celebrates places and stories, new and old.Good to be out and about on Monday in the constituency visiting The Edinburgh Crisis Centre and Edinburgh Science Festival. Two excellent local organisations - one providing vital support in times of need and the other has been engaging people in science for over 30 years.
The taboo and stigma surrounding drug use, addition and recovery is harmful. New, honest, health based approaches are required - focusing on evidence, safety and well-being.
An extract from a speech I made on The Scottish Government’s proposals for changes to devolved and reserved policy: www.gov.scot/publications/caring-compassionate-human-rights-informed-drug-policy-scotland/.
Colony of Artists is on this weekend in Abbeyhill.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people or changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.I asked the Housing Minister for an update on cladding issues, which I know are affecting many constituents.
For years local people have raised various concerns with me about short-term lets (on platforms like AirBnBs). That’s why I’ve long campaigned for fair regulation of short-term lets. Today I emphasised this in parliament.
My full speech in today’s debate, including an answer to an intervention.
Living Rent
Leith SNP
Leith Walk SNP
Thank you Ben - as one of your constituents in Leith I care deeply about this issue and am very grateful to you for representing our concerns in this debate.
Our Programme for Government commits to introducing a pilot to remove ScotRail peak-time fares from October.
This is a key step in delivering our mission to make rail travel more affordable and accessible.
More: bit.ly/ProgrammeForGovernment2023-24
#ScotPfG
As a local resident and the constituency MSP, I am proud to support businesses in Edinburgh Northern and Leith and it was great to be able to highlight this during #ScotlandLovesLocal week.
Scotland's Towns created this campaign to put local businesses at the heart of a stronger, greener and fairer Scotland. For more information on this campaign, click on the link in the comments.
#chooselocal
Leith Walk is starting to look better every day just beautiful ❤️
Looking forward to attending this event at Leith Community Croft tomorrow, please do consider coming along to celebrate the 10th anniversary and see the new space!
Affordability and availability of housing in our area is a big issue. That's why I raised it in Parliament during this first week back after the summer recess.
I will continue to raise these issues with The Scottish Government and The City of Edinburgh Council, and to make it clear that the current situation in our capital city is not acceptable.
There are several welcome housing commitments and initiatives in the Programme for Government 2023/24. A link to the whole debate can be found below in the comments.
This afternoon, the First Minister announced The Scottish Government's Programme for Government 2023/24. I was proud to speak in the first debate of this new Parliamentary term on this progressive and ambitious programme. Some key announcements include:
🏠 Introduce a new deal for tenants, enhancing their rights and protections.
👶 Expanding access to funded childcare for those who need it most.
💷 Commitments to increases in public sector pay.
🍃 Speeding up renewable energy projects with a new deal for the onshore wind industry.
More information on what’s in the Programme for Government 2023/24 can be found in the link below in the comments.
There are lots of good charity shops to choose from in Leith. I was kindly invited to the British Red Cross’s shop this week, on Leith Walk, to meet the local volunteers & find out more about how funds raised are spent to help those in need. Grateful to all those who volunteer in charity shops & make donations… Also great for shopping too of course - I’ve picked up several nice bargains myself over the years!
📢Message from the Office of Ben Macpherson MSP📢
£eith Chooses is currently open for applications until 10 October 2023!
The theme for 2023/24 is ‘People Make Leith.’
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for community projects.
More information and Application Forms are available online here:
www.leithchooses.net
PEOPLE MAKE LEITH £eith Chooses 2023/2024 opens today! Posted on 16/08/2023 by Sally Millar £eith Chooses 2023/2024 is now open for applications! There is at least £44,000 available – maybe more,...📢 Save the Date!📢
On Friday 29 September from 10:30am-12noon Deidre Brock MP and I will be hosting a Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. All are welcome.
For more information, check out the event page below or visit: coffeefundraising.macmillan.org.uk/fundraising/cm23012306
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people or changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.Little reminder that our AGM is next Tuesday (29th) at 6pm
All welcome
We are looking for others to join our committee to help grow and develop the centre.
The centre is for everyone so we would like a variety of people with various skills and ideas to help make us the best we can be
I'd you would like more information on roles within the committee then please get in touch
We hope to see as many people from the local community as possible
#Pilton Community Health Project
#Granton Parish Church, Edinburgh
#Granton Community Gardeners
#Granton Garden Bakery
#Granton Library
#Granton:hub
#Granton Information Centre
#Granton Goes Greener
#LIFT
#TSA Employment & Support Provision - Edinburgh
#The NEN North Edinburgh News
Ben Macpherson MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith
Stuart Dobbin, SNP Councillor for Forth Ward
Cllr Kayleigh O’Neill for Forth Ward, Edinburgh
Cllr Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, Lib Dem councillor for Forth
Cammy Day
Do you or someone you know have sensory loss? We're delighted to announce we are attending the See Hear Fest event in Edinburgh on 1 September 2023. It's free to attend, so please join us at Meadowbank Sports Centre alongside 40 other exhibitors 11am to 4pm.
All exhibitors can offer you information, advice and guidance for individuals with sensory loss (blindness and sight loss, deafness and hearing loss, and deafblindness and dual sensory loss). There will also be BSL / English Interpreters and Electronic notetakers available.
#SeeHearFest #SightLoss #SensoryLoss #Edinburgh #SightScotland Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership , NHS Lothian
Image Description: A Sight Scotland team member standing behind a table covered in a Sight Scotland tablecloth that also has leaflets and other information handouts on it. She also has two roller banners with our logo and some information on them either side of her. There is a lime green curved shape to the top left and text on a white background saying that we are attending SeeHearFest 2023.
Good to meet with Zero Tolerance, at their office in Bonnington. We discussed various ways to prevent & reduce male violence against women and girls, including by changing attitudes & behaviours. I will keep working to support them, & other local organisations, to create greater gender equality & reduce harm.
📢 Message from the Office of Ben Macpherson 📢
The Scottish Government and COSLA are seeking views on potential changes to the Council Tax system. The consultation runs until 20 September 2023 (closing in a month).
Please consider contributing if you have any views on the proposals.
Further information can be found online here: www.gov.scot/publications/consultation-fairer-council-tax/.
Fairer Council Tax: consultation
www.gov.scot
The Scottish Government and COSLA (on behalf of Local Government) are inviting responses to this consultation on a Fairer Council Tax System, which concerns the Council Tax charges (also referred to a...Thanks for bringing this to my attention Ben. Very interesting reading and I was happy to respond.
Great to catch up with Spartans Community Foundation this week about various issues & initiatives. They do so much in the community & I’m very proud to work to support them as much as I can. It’s always uplifting & inspiring to hear about their remarkable impact & new ideas, particularly during such an exciting & successful time for Spartans FC & Spartans FC Women. #Hereforgood 💙🤍❤️
Looking forward to attending 'Cuppa with a Councillor' at Pilton Community Health Project tomorrow, Friday 18 August from 9.15am - 11.00am, with my Councillor colleague Stuart Dobbin.
Please do come along if there is anything that we can assist you with. No appointment necessary.
If you can't come tomorrow and you need assistance from me as your local MSP, you can also contact my office via phone on 0131 600 0134 or email me at ben.macpherson.msp@parliament.scot.
#heretohelpJust drop in on Friday morning, no appointment needed. A warm welcome, a cuppa and a listening ear with your local councillor Stuart Dobbin for anyone living in North Edinburgh looking for advice #Listening #community
Live around Granton Waterfront? We asked for your views on proposals for the 1st phase of our £1.3bn regeneration of the area. Come to Granton Station Building, Granton Station Square, 23 August, 4pm - 7pm to find out how we have taken your views onboard. www.edinburgh.gov.uk/grantonevent
I hope that the council really goes for it and that there’s a tram stop. #ForwardThinking
Great to be at Fresh Start’s Community BBQ this afternoon, to meet and chat with constituents and celebrate their volunteers. 👏
A fantastic turnout and even the sun was shining! Thank you to the organisers. ☀️
Grateful to be working with Fresh Start and other organisations in the community, serving North Edinburgh. 🙏
Thank you to Pilmeny Development Project for having me at their North East Edinburgh Care Action Group in Leith for their Older Adults Forum, last week. It was great to chat with these constituents and hear their thoughts and concerns. These forums are held on the first Wednesday of the month. For more details, get in touch with Pilmeny Development Project directly.
www.pilmenydevelopmentproject.co.uk/
Margaret Smith cx
📢 Message from the Office of Ben Macpherson MSP 📢
Good luck to everyone receiving their #SQAResults today and congratulations for all of your hard work!
Remember, no matter what your results are - there is #NoWrongPath.
The Skills Developement Scotland Helpline is open for the next few days to offer information and advice to help understand your results and discuss possible next steps.
You can call the Helpline on 0808 100 8000.
More information on the support and resources available below:It's #SQAresults Day - congratulations to all our learners across Scotland on your achievements this year! 👏
Results are in the post today and if you signed up for My SQA, you’ll also get them by text and/or email.
If you have any questions or need support, we’ve pulled together lots of useful info and wellbeing resources on our website: bit.ly/SQA_Results2023 | #SQAexams
***
🏴 Seo Latha nan Toraidhean! Meal an naidheachd air gach neach-ionnsachaidh air feadh Alba air na choilean thu.
Tha toraidhean anns a phost an diugh, agus ma chlàr thu airson @mysqa_, gheibh thu cuideachd iad tro theachdaireachd teacsa agus/no post-d.
Airson fiosrachadh & taic, tadhal air an làrach-lìn againn: bit.ly/SQA_Results2023
Thank you for your support Ben
CREDIT TESTIMONY Incredible but true because I obtained a loan of 45,000 euros thanks to a serious, efficient and reliable financial institution which is available to these customers. Today I am happy because I was able to continue my activities and projects thanks to this financial institute. If you need a loan to reactivate your activities and projects or a personal loan, then they are your solution and are ready to grant you any kind of loan you need. They offer you their fast and safe credit services between natural persons without protocol, they make available to customers a loan of €760 to €30,000,000 with an interest rate of 2% per year and then under conditions very simple. You get financing in 72 hours. If you are interested, do not hesitate to contact them by email to find out more about their loan terms and conditions. I assure you that it is serious and you will be satisfied because they are trustworthy so I highly recommend them. Their contact email address: financial.loanservice.sa@gmail.com web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089128895857
This week I visited Port O' Leith Boxing Club, after first meeting with them about their plans during the pandemic. It was good see the gym and hear about how the organisation has successfully progressed since our initial call a few years ago. They provide an impressively inclusive range of classes, including a collaboration with Parkinson's UK.
Good to be at Leith Community Centre this afternoon for my regular monthly surgeries. My team and I will follow up next week with constituents who raised their issues and concerns with me today.
A reminder that my “Drop-in Help & Advice Surgeries” take place on the first Friday of the month.
If you need assistance from me as your local MSP then get in touch via email: ben.macpherson.msp@parliament.scot or phone: 0131 600 0134.
#HereToHelp
This Friday, 4 August, I will be holding my regular ‘Drop-in Help & Advice Surgeries’ in Edinburgh Northern and Leith. Please find the details below. #HereToHelp
9:30am – 10:30am at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre (11 Pilton Drive North, Edinburgh, EH5 1NF).
11:00am – 12:00noon at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre (19 West Pilton Grove, Edinburgh, EH4 4BY).
3:30pm – 4:30pm at Leith Community Centre (12A Newkirkgate, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6AD).
Please do not attend if you are experiencing covid or flu symptoms.
If you can’t come this Friday, and you need assistance from me as your local MSP, you can also contact my office via phone on 0131 600 0134 or email me at ben.macpherson.msp@parliament.scot.
Was good to be in North Edinburgh today meeting with the R2 Group - it’s remarkable what’s been done to make a positive difference through & coming out of the pandemic, & I’m proud to be working with all the local partners & organisations, as together we continue to try to do what we can to help those we support & serve.
Welcome to our Forex Trade and crypto mining Platform where you can make fortune invest and earn times ten of your capital with 5 working Days of trading (Success rate 100%) Dm me for on how to get started.👇👇 t.me/businesseadvicesor
Young Carer Grant is a £359.65 is a yearly payment for 16, 17 and 18 year olds who spend an average of 16 hours a week caring for someone who gets a disability benefit.
You can spend the money on anything you want from driving lessons, clothes or a subscription to a music or video streaming service.
Find out more and apply: bit.ly/youngcarergrant
Great to see Rennie’s Bridge open! Thanks to all those for making this happen 🎉
Brilliant news
As the MS Victoria departed from Leith this week, I want to share my sincere thanks to everyone involved who ensured our Ukrainian guests received a Warm Scots Welcome.
I will continue to work alongside the The Scottish Government and The City of Edinburgh Council as we do what we can to provide further support for displaced Ukrainians and refugees.
#heretohelp 💛💙🇺🇦
Thank you for your continuing support Ben Macpherson MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith.
A joint consultation with COSLA is looking for your views on potential changes to Council Tax.
Changes could see those in the highest property bands paying more if they can afford to.
Three quarters of properties would be unaffected.
Have your say➡️ bit.ly/CouncilTaxConsultation
Change to a mil rate system like Canada uses. The property OWNER pays based on the assessed value
Grateful to have visited Changeworks who are currently based in Bonnington. They can assist with things like improving energy efficiency and adaptations. This may be helpful to consider before next winter.
Call 0131 555 4010 or visit their website to find out more: www.changeworks.org.uk/energy-advice/Recently we had MSPs Ben Macpherson and Angus Robertson visit our Changeworks Edinburgh Office. They met with our Chief Executive Josiah Lockhart, Kirsty Tomassi, Home Energy Scotland South East Marketing Manager and George Drennan-Lang, Deputy Director of Strategic Development & Communications.
They discussed how Changeworks delivers high impact solutions for low-carbon living, works with partners to drive transformation in energy efficiency and to tackle fuel poverty, as well as the exciting plans we have for innovative new services.
Cool！