Scottish Politics / Independence - Vol 12

[biggbn]

csd19 said:

Essarell said:

wc98 said:

Been hearing a bit on the radio about the 20 million Arbroath has been allocated for local improvements. Locals will obviously know more about it but from what i can see so far i don't think the changes to the main drag are positive. I get having a nice area that is mainly pedestrianised on the sea front but when the main drag that looks like it's been reduced to single lane in either direction happens to be the A92 and the main road right up the east coast it looks like it will cause a lot of congestion, particularly in the summer.

The existing 30mph dual carriageway worked well, allowing through traffic to stay left until the last stretch while those heading into town, the harbour area, Victoria park etc could keep right for the turn offs required. Also looks like a set of lights for a new entrance to the extended industrial estate opposite Elliot beach, another traffic inhibitor that would have been better as a roundabout.

None of it would matter if they stuck an Arbroath bypass in but that is unlikely to happen any time soon. I can still remember the original Dundee to Arbroath road, these days it's one of the stretches that really rams home the population increase in some areas during my driving lifetime.

Works well when they run their net zero / carbon reduction calculations, local authorities can boast how they are slashing emissions etc and don’t forget the savings gleaned by the nhs with people walking, cycling and wheeling, it’s a win win unless of course your one of the businesses that end up closing….

Unfortunately the un-dualling was pushed through by Angus council nursing a semi at the free cash given by Sustrans. From what I remember from the initial consultation papers (which as usual are sent out once the final decision has been made anyway) it was a £10m project with £9m of that coming from Sustrans. There was a huge amount made about equality for locals, and how communities (and bizarrely apparently the LGBT community) had been cut off by the old dual carriageway. Now, as mentioned above, this was a 30mph road with traffic lights and attached pedestrian crossings so it was never an issue to cross the road.
The traffic flowed well, even during rush hour times - now the junctions get snarled up. Admittedly works are still ongoing so I'm hoping it clears a bit but what a backwards step. I have noted more traffic on local residential streets already.

I'll need to observe how many thousands more cyclists are now suddenly using the new paths - I expect to see the same non increase as noted during COVID with the segregated lanes.

Why don't we wait and see how it goes? It is a pain in the arse just now for sure, but I'm intereted to see how it works out. I'm more concerned of the rather parlour state of some of the roads, particularly the one that runs along the front of the infirmary, it's a bloody disgrace and I'm sure it's to blame for my wee mini eating drop links and needing a broken spring replaced recently. Dundee roads are as bad in places.

[sherman]

Good News we are getting a New Ferry.
Bet its in Service before the Glen Rosa.

https://metro.co.uk/2025/03/03/new-direct-ferry-wi...

[hidetheelephants]

sherman said:

Good News we are getting a New Ferry.
Bet its in Service before the Glen Rosa.

https://metro.co.uk/2025/03/03/new-direct-ferry-wi...

A bit premature there; a ferry company will run it if the government subsidise it, which no announcements have been made about. The MP who's constituency has the ferry terminal in it saying it's a good idea is a long way from it happening.

[irc]

sherman said:

Good News we are getting a New Ferry.
Bet its in Service before the Glen Rosa.

https://metro.co.uk/2025/03/03/new-direct-ferry-wi...

I'll wait until I see the prices before popping the champagne. We did a few UK to Europe ferry trips when the Rosyth service was running. The Hull to Zeebrugge service was so much cheaper than we drove Glasgow to Hull rather than use the local service.
From memory we left Glasgow around 9am and we're in Zeebrugge the following morning.

With a 20 hour sailing time we will need to leave Rosyth around noon to get there by breakfast so no time saving.

I would prefer to drive to Rosyth rather than Hull but not at any cost.

[sherman]

hidetheelephants said:

sherman said:

Good News we are getting a New Ferry.
Bet its in Service before the Glen Rosa.

https://metro.co.uk/2025/03/03/new-direct-ferry-wi...

A bit premature there; a ferry company will run it if the government subsidise it, which no announcements have been made about. The MP who's constituency has the ferry terminal in it saying it's a good idea is a long way from it happening.

I stand by my second sentence.

[Snow and Rocks]

This is the same old story that's been rehashed for years - the Newcastle to Holland boat is already often prohibitively expensive without adding 5 hours more sailing time.

If we are going to try and encourage a new ferry route then the money would be better spent getting the existing Denmark/Faroes/Iceland boat operated by Smyril line to call in at Lerwick or even Aberdeen like it used to. Would open much more exciting possibilities than providing just a slower and more expensive route to the continent.

[wc98]

irc said:

I'll wait until I see the prices before popping the champagne. We did a few UK to Europe ferry trips when the Rosyth service was running. The Hull to Zeebrugge service was so much cheaper than we drove Glasgow to Hull rather than use the local service.
From memory we left Glasgow around 9am and we're in Zeebrugge the following morning.

With a 20 hour sailing time we will need to leave Rosyth around noon to get there by breakfast so no time saving.

I would prefer to drive to Rosyth rather than Hull but not at any cost.

I liked the convenience of the Rosyth Ferry, just over 20 miles from my house although the run down to Newcastle on the bikes was always a good laugh. It's a holiday so unless a huge difference, cost was way down the priority list and i'm definitely not a PBD.

[Olivera]

Getting towards the end of the tax year - don't forget to make use of pension tax relief if you're a higher rate or above taxpayer. Or pay the 42/45/48%.

[Mercdriver]

Another bill written by the fruitcake party written off by the SNP, can’t wait to hear Harvey whinging about it on FM questions on Thursday. He wanted house buyers to install a heat pump after a period of time after purchase

[irc]

Mercdriver said:

Another bill written by the fruitcake party written off by the SNP, can’t wait to hear Harvey whinging about it on FM questions on Thursday. He wanted house buyers to install a heat pump after a period of time after purchase

The Patrick Harvie who does'nt have a heat pump in his own house.

" "I'm on the second floor of a tenement. I can't at the moment install a heat pump.""

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politi...

[vikingaero]

Sturgeon to step down from Holyrood:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg5j74ld9lo

She added: "However, I have known in my heart for a while that the time is right for me to embrace different opportunities in a new chapter of my life, and to allow you to select a new standard bearer."

A new standard bearer, to raise the current ultra low standard!

[Error_404_Username_not_found]

Hot off the BBC website:



Apologies for the screenshot, it's the easiest way on my ancient tablet.

[Leithen]

Branchform?

[Error_404_Username_not_found]

Also;
"Allow you to select a new standard bearer"...
The utter conceit of the woman.

[Tom8]

Does this mean they are finally about to announce the outcome of the police investigation onto SNP finances? Can't believe it is still going on. Would love to see her taken off in handcuffs.

[Error_404_Username_not_found]

Leithen said:

Branchform?

Yep, I speculated about that myself. What else could motivate her to jump off the gravy train?

[irc]

Error_404_Username_not_found said:

Leithen said:

Branchform?

Yep, I speculated about that myself. What else could motivate her to jump off the gravy train?

I'd like to think someone senior in the SNP told her there was no chance of her getting a high place on the list
because she has hardly been in Holyrood since standing down as lwader. It is not a part time job.

Her ego would not let her stand in a constituency without a list as backup because she couldn't bear the risk of losing.

More likely she doesn't need the money and can't be bothered doing the everday work of an MSP.

[Alpacaman]

I wonder if Blackford might try and get her seat, he has bought a "love nest" in Glasgow now he is no longer welcome on Skye.

[wc98]

irc said:

The Patrick Harvie who does'nt have a heat pump in his own house.

" "I'm on the second floor of a tenement. I can't at the moment install a heat pump.""

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politi...

Given he is a blowhard full of hot air he could probably heat the entire tenement block just by sitting in his living room talking to himself.
Trouble is all the wind and pish he is also full of would probably negate the above.

[Master Of Puppets]

The sort of person that if the SNP get hammered at next years elections she'll say it was because she was no longer in the party.

To do with Branchform?, highly unlikely, I thought that had all been sorted out, nothing to see here status?