The Scottish Politics Thread

[Biffer]

This thread seems to have turned into fucking Top Gear.

[inactionman]

Needs more campervans

[vball]

Needs more campervans

Downgraded from a 6 berth motorhome last year as kids have left and got a 2 bed campervan (Fiat Ducstto base at 5.99m).
Spend lots of time in the Highlands and Islands. I live on NC500, albeit the Inverness end, and have no issues with them as is probably understandable if they are driven correctly and abide by some rules and common sense. . In fact going to the Fringe for 5 days and Mortonhall campsite is £35 per night and with pensioner bus pass cheap as chips.

[inactionman]

Needs more campervans

Downgraded from a 6 berth motorhome last year as kids have left and got a 2 bed campervan (Fiat Ducstto base at 5.99m).
Spend lots of time in the Highlands and Islands. I live on NC500, albeit the Inverness end, and have no issues with them as is probably understandable if they are driven correctly and abide by some rules and common sense. . In fact going to the Fringe for 5 days and Mortonhall campsite is £35 per night and with pensioner bus pass cheap as chips.

It was intended as a poor segue to get us back onto the SNP's travails, but happy to talk campers!

We've been ruminating about a campervan as the kids get a bit older, we're going to take a look at a VW Ocean but even if the missus gives it the thumbs up they're really just too expensive for my blood. My mate down in Somerset has a Fiat-based van that he fitted out (I think it's a ducato but it might be a larger model), they're utterly huge in the back in comparison to the VW. I vaguely recall it was about half the price of the VW. There's a conversion place out by Mid-Calder/Livingston that I might take a trip over to.

I'm not a million miles from Mortonhall, the Stables is not a bad place for a beer

[vball]

Needs more campervans

Downgraded from a 6 berth motorhome last year as kids have left and got a 2 bed campervan (Fiat Ducstto base at 5.99m).
Spend lots of time in the Highlands and Islands. I live on NC500, albeit the Inverness end, and have no issues with them as is probably understandable if they are driven correctly and abide by some rules and common sense. . In fact going to the Fringe for 5 days and Mortonhall campsite is £35 per night and with pensioner bus pass cheap as chips.

It was intended as a poor segue to get us back onto the SNP's travails, but happy to talk campers!

We've been ruminating about a campervan as the kids get a bit older, we're going to take a look at a VW Ocean but even if the missus gives it the thumbs up they're really just too expensive for my blood. My mate down in Somerset has a Fiat-based van that he fitted out (I think it's a ducato but it might be a larger model), they're utterly huge in the back in comparison to the VW. I vaguely recall it was about half the price of the VW. There's a conversion place out by Mid-Calder/Livingston that I might take a trip over to.

I'm not a million miles from Mortonhall, the Stables is not a bad place for a beer

We lived in Fairmilehead in the mid 90's so can vaguely remember the place. Would rather be in Bennets in Maxwell St though.

[Slick]

Sadly a bit of a shadow of its former self

[vball]

Sadly a bit of a shadow of its former self

Which one or both? Had some drinks for my 60th in Bennets a year back. Was the first time I had been in since we left Edinburgh in the late 90s and also first since smoking ban. You could see people !!! Spent a lot time there in the 90s ...

[Biffer]

Scottish Vacant and derelict land survey is done every year, this year they have made an interactive map



Striking how little there is in Edinburgh compared to Glasgow. Not unexpected but still striking.

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Scottish Vacant and derelict land survey is done every year, this year they have made an interactive map



Striking how little there is in Edinburgh compared to Glasgow. Not unexpected but still striking.

Really interesting, thanks for posting that.

Also quite interesting how quickly it can be out of date - the data says its from 2022, and a few of the sites identified near me on the map have already been redeveloped with new houses built.

Also, a large industrial site in the town which closed during the pandemic is not shown. Probably something to do with timing, or maybe the fact that it's under very early planning application (houses and retail)? I notice a few empty buildings in Edinburgh aren't shown either (the one by Haymarket that had Sustrans in it, plus a few empty office buildings out at South Gyle, for example). I wonder how long something has to be vacant before it show up?

[Biffer]

Scottish Vacant and derelict land survey is done every year, this year they have made an interactive map



Striking how little there is in Edinburgh compared to Glasgow. Not unexpected but still striking.

Really interesting, thanks for posting that.

Also quite interesting how quickly it can be out of date - the data says its from 2022, and a few of the sites identified near me on the map have already been redeveloped with new houses built.

Also, a large industrial site in the town which closed during the pandemic is not shown. Probably something to do with timing, or maybe the fact that it's under very early planning application (houses and retail)? I notice a few empty buildings in Edinburgh aren't shown either (the one by Haymarket that had Sustrans in it, plus a few empty office buildings out at South Gyle, for example). I wonder how long something has to be vacant before it show up?

I think it's vacant land rather than vacant buildings - if the building is still there and the owner is trying to find new tenants it probably doesn't show up? Not certain though.

[inactionman]

Scottish Vacant and derelict land survey is done every year, this year they have made an interactive map



Striking how little there is in Edinburgh compared to Glasgow. Not unexpected but still striking.

Really interesting, thanks for posting that.

Also quite interesting how quickly it can be out of date - the data says its from 2022, and a few of the sites identified near me on the map have already been redeveloped with new houses built.

Also, a large industrial site in the town which closed during the pandemic is not shown. Probably something to do with timing, or maybe the fact that it's under very early planning application (houses and retail)? I notice a few empty buildings in Edinburgh aren't shown either (the one by Haymarket that had Sustrans in it, plus a few empty office buildings out at South Gyle, for example). I wonder how long something has to be vacant before it show up?

I think it's vacant land rather than vacant buildings - if the building is still there and the owner is trying to find new tenants it probably doesn't show up? Not certain though.

There's a building on Jeffrey Street, just up from Waverley that shows - that's a building that's had builder's boards up for a while now.

There's a fair few bits out in the suburbs that are marked as vacant as they're being prepped for new housing estates, so I think the map maybe cover both vacant land and buildings?

Really interesting, ta for posting the link

[Blackmac]

Really interesting, thanks for posting that.

Also quite interesting how quickly it can be out of date - the data says its from 2022, and a few of the sites identified near me on the map have already been redeveloped with new houses built.

Also, a large industrial site in the town which closed during the pandemic is not shown. Probably something to do with timing, or maybe the fact that it's under very early planning application (houses and retail)? I notice a few empty buildings in Edinburgh aren't shown either (the one by Haymarket that had Sustrans in it, plus a few empty office buildings out at South Gyle, for example). I wonder how long something has to be vacant before it show up?

I think it's vacant land rather than vacant buildings - if the building is still there and the owner is trying to find new tenants it probably doesn't show up? Not certain though.

There's a building on Jeffrey Street, just up from Waverley that shows - that's a building that's had builder's boards up for a while now.

There's a fair few bits out in the suburbs that are marked as vacant as they're being prepped for new housing estates, so I think the map maybe cover both vacant land and buildings?

Really interesting, ta for posting the link

Any vacant spot in Edinburgh seems to become student accommodation overnight.

[Slick]

Humza seems to be enjoying himself at the moment.

[Blackmac]

Humza seems to be enjoying himself at the moment.

Who would have guessed his lawyer would be Aamer Anwar. Certainly calls into question him being allowed to represent victims groups during the Covid enquiry.

[Slick]

Humza seems to be enjoying himself at the moment.

Who would have guessed his lawyer would be Aamer Anwar. Certainly calls into question him being allowed to represent victims groups during the Covid enquiry.

What’s this about? I was more generally talking about his attention seeking interviews and social media. How he ever made it to FM is completely beyond me

Edit: ahh sorry, somehow I missed the argument with that tit Musk

[Blackmac]

Humza seems to be enjoying himself at the moment.

Who would have guessed his lawyer would be Aamer Anwar. Certainly calls into question him being allowed to represent victims groups during the Covid enquiry.

What’s this about? I was more generally talking about his attention seeking interviews and social media. How he ever made it to FM is completely beyond me

Edit: ahh sorry, somehow I missed the argument with that tit Musk

Him and Aamer are going to sue Musk, who clearly is baiting the fuck out of him.

[Big D]

Humza seems to be enjoying himself at the moment.

Who would have guessed his lawyer would be Aamer Anwar. Certainly calls into question him being allowed to represent victims groups during the Covid enquiry.

What’s this about? I was more generally talking about his attention seeking interviews and social media. How he ever made it to FM is completely beyond me

Edit: ahh sorry, somehow I missed the argument with that tit Musk

Shame both sides can't lose.

[Slick]

Phoned the GP this afternoon and got a message saying something along the lines ofthey have entered critical levels of service, not to bother phoning the GP and dial 101 if it’s urgent

[Big D]

Drug deaths up again last year.

It is terrible that every 8 hours there is a death due to drug misuse in Scotland.

[Slick]

Drug deaths up again last year.

It is terrible that every 8 hours there is a death due to drug misuse in Scotland.

Was listening to R4 this morning about this. It seems it's the usual story from SG, great policy but zero implementation, total incompetence.

I think there is a big reckoning coming.

[Slick]

Cheap rail tickets gooooooone as well

[westport]

And laptop to the kids gone. The money will now be used to ensure non-teaching staff get a 4.3 per cent wage rise.

[Slick]

And laptop to the kids gone. The money will now be used to ensure non-teaching staff get a 4.3 per cent wage rise.

The poor Spring must have stunted the magic money tree

[Big D]

Cheap rail tickets gooooooone as well

Aye, that is going to hurt commuters.

[Blackmac]

Drug deaths up again last year.

It is terrible that every 8 hours there is a death due to drug misuse in Scotland.

As usual, lots of talk from the Scottish Government but zero action. They really are just a shower of spoofers bluffing their way through life.

[Sandstorm]

Cheap rail tickets gooooooone as well

What's a cheap rail ticket look like?

[Slick]

Cheap rail tickets gooooooone as well

What's a cheap rail ticket look like?

They made all tickets at off peak fares for the last few months to try and get people back onto the trains

[Slick]

Drug deaths up again last year.

It is terrible that every 8 hours there is a death due to drug misuse in Scotland.

As usual, lots of talk from the Scottish Government but zero action. They really are just a shower of spoofers bluffing their way through life.

yeah, the guy on R4 this morning was pretty scathing, but having to hold back a bit as presumably he gets funding from them. But the consumption room is way behind and he didn't have a clue why and basically said all their policies around drugs sound great but none had actually made it to action. As per.

[Paddington Bear]

Cheap rail tickets gooooooone as well

What's a cheap rail ticket look like?

They made all tickets at off peak fares for the last few months to try and get people back onto the trains

Whilst still running a shitty reduced service then handwringing as to why people weren’t rushing to the railway. Going through to Edinburgh was a turn up and go every 15 minute service pre-pandemic. When I’ve done it in rush hour recently I am staggered (as a regular London commuter) at just how quiet these services still are.

[Blackmac]

What's a cheap rail ticket look like?

They made all tickets at off peak fares for the last few months to try and get people back onto the trains

Whilst still running a shitty reduced service then handwringing as to why people weren’t rushing to the railway. Going through to Edinburgh was a turn up and go every 15 minute service pre-pandemic. When I’ve done it in rush hour recently I am staggered (as a regular London commuter) at just how quiet these services still are.

They also did a great job of leaving 5000 kids stranded in Glasgow after they cancelled the late trains on the last night of the Transmit festival.

[Paddington Bear]

They made all tickets at off peak fares for the last few months to try and get people back onto the trains

Whilst still running a shitty reduced service then handwringing as to why people weren’t rushing to the railway. Going through to Edinburgh was a turn up and go every 15 minute service pre-pandemic. When I’ve done it in rush hour recently I am staggered (as a regular London commuter) at just how quiet these services still are.

They also did a great job of leaving 5000 kids stranded in Glasgow after they cancelled the late trains on the last night of the Transmit festival.

Yep. Within reason I don’t accept that price is the main driver of rail journeys. Reliability, frequency and going to and from places that people want to travel are far far more important. And of course not knocking off early because it’s a Sunday

[Big D]

What's a cheap rail ticket look like?

They made all tickets at off peak fares for the last few months to try and get people back onto the trains

Whilst still running a shitty reduced service then handwringing as to why people weren’t rushing to the railway. Going through to Edinburgh was a turn up and go every 15 minute service pre-pandemic. When I’ve done it in rush hour recently I am staggered (as a regular London commuter) at just how quiet these services still are.

100% this. The service is terrible in my experience.

Rush hour trains to Fife regularly with two carriages meaning it gets very uncomfortable, trains cancelled or delayed during rush hour and some still worried about covid in confined spaces are reasons why people will not be rushing back to the trains.

£30+ return between Edinburgh and Glasgow is far too much. It will see people return to ride sharing.

6.8% increase in train usage considering the level of service was actually pretty good. They could have increased the prices gently rather than doubling the price in some cases.

[Biffer]

Edinburgh council has approved the application of a visitor levy or tourist tax. Cue much wailing and gnashing of teeth from halfwits who don't realise it's applied in most other major cities.

[epwc]

Cue much wailing and gnashing of teeth from halfwits who don't realise it's applied in most other major cities.

Is it?

[Biffer]

Cue much wailing and gnashing of teeth from halfwits who don't realise it's applied in most other major cities.

Is it?

Outside of the UK, a visitor levy on hotels is very common.

[epwc]

Yeah, I guess to most visitors its invisible

[duke]

Logical move, I don't suppose many visitors will even blink when asked for it.

[inactionman]

It's ultimately only a few bob, and will help with all the expenses incurred in silly season.

[SaintK]

Cue much wailing and gnashing of teeth from halfwits who don't realise it's applied in most other major cities.

Is it?

Outside of the UK, a visitor levy on hotels is very common.

Yep all the major tourist countries in Europe plus a few others.
I also noticed it when I went to Japan. Think Aus and NZ has it as well.

[Biffer]

Is it?

Outside of the UK, a visitor levy on hotels is very common.

Yep all the major tourist countries in Europe plus a few others.
I also noticed it when I went to Japan. Think Aus and NZ has it as well.

And the US. 15% in NYC