{"id":452270,"date":"2025-09-26T07:27:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T07:27:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/452270\/"},"modified":"2025-09-26T07:27:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T07:27:23","slug":"five-things-you-need-to-know-today-54","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/452270\/","title":{"rendered":"Five things you need to know today"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Big news from Westminster<\/p>\n<p>The government announced \u00a35 billion of funding yesterday in its Pride in Place programme. Local people will be \u201cin the driving seat of national renewal\u201d and will be able to drive \u201cpatriotic renewal\u201d street by street.<\/p>\n<p>Out of this fund 169 areas will receive \u00a32 million a year for the next ten years so that neglected communities get the certainty and control they need to plan for the future. <\/p>\n<p>The government\u2019s plan means that boarded up shops can be taken over by the community to restore pride in the locality.<\/p>\n<p>This is part of the government\u2019s \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fmissions&amp;data=05%7C02%7CCelia.Forbes%40communities.gov.uk%7C166a1b8a10fe48922ac708ddfc1bca13%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C638943918492663676%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=JiZ1a0KbxzMc%2Fz4lOrNvkWopcORs236SpfDi5vm6Gf0%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plan for Change,<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: \u201cFor too long, people have watched their towns and streets decline \u2013 powerless to stop boarded-up shops and neglected parks. That ends now.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re investing in the UK\u2019s future, by backing the true patriots that build our communities up in neighbourhoods across every corner of the country. Because it\u2019s people who bring pride, hope and life to our communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a huge investment, but what matters most is who decides how it\u2019s spent: the neighbours, volunteers and parents who know their communities best \u2013 the people with real skin in the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re choosing renewal over decline, unity over division. This is our Plan for Change in action \u2013 giving power and pride back to the people who make Britain great.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To announce the \u00a3292 million which will come to Scotland \u2013 and up to \u00a320 million over the next ten years from the Plan for Neighbourhoods funding \u2013  to Edinburgh, Secretary of State, Douglas Alexander visited Gasholder Park in Granton. The UK Government awarded \u00a316 million of levelling up monies to the regeneration of the area around the gasholder to include decontamination and the repainting. This is the central focus of a wider development where according to the Council Leader, Jane Meagher who met Mr Alexander at the park, there will be thousands of homes all with ready access to the park.<\/p>\n<p>Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander, said:\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re here at this lovely Gasholder Park in Granton because there has been British Government money provided for the renovation and renewal of this park. And what we\u2019re announcing today is \u00a3292 million \u2013 almost \u00a3300 million, of direct funding by the UK Government into communities across Scotland. That is a manifesto pledge that we made. It is a promise made, and it means that local people will be in the driving seat of local regeneration in the coming years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/government-announces-pride-in-place-funding-up-to-20-million-for-edinburgh\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read more here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"631\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"616377\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/sct_funding05\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/SCT_FUNDING05.jpg\/w=1200,h=1948\" data-orig-size=\"1200,1948\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;6.3&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Alan Simpson Photography&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS R6&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;25\\\/9\\\/2025\\r\\rPicture Alan Simpson 07825 811953\\r\\rDouglas Alexander with Jane Meagher Council Leader.\\r\\rEMBARGOED UNTIL 1800h THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH\\r \\rUK Government\\u2019s \\u00a3292 million Pride in Place investment to transform Scottish neighbourhoods\\r \\r\\u25cf       16 Scottish local authority areas to share funds to revitalise communities as part of our Plan for Change\\r\\u25cf       Across the UK a record up to \\u00a35 billion for 339 communities confirmed to restore pride in local areas\\r\\u25cf       Scotland Office directing funds into a wide range of improvements with spending decisions in the hands of local groups and people\\r \\rLocal communities are at the heart of Scottish life - and the Scotland Office is backing them with millions of pounds to improve the opportunities and environment for people across the country, the Prime Minister announced today.\\r \\rThe Pride in Place programme will see up to \\u00a3280 million shared among 12 Scottish local authorities to precisely target areas which can benefit most from funding being made available for a wide range of regeneration projects. Across the UK 169 of the most-in-need communities will benefit.\\r \\rThis includes revitalising high streets and town centres, preserving local heritage, providing housing, creating jobs, boosting productivity and skills, improving health and well-being, creating new transport links, providing education and opportunity and improving safety and security.\\r \\rAnd a Pride in Place Impact Fund will see eight local authorities share \\u00a312 million to fund the types of changes people have said they want to see. These could include new green spaces, play areas and town centre revitalisation to sports and leisure facilities and the improvement and ownership of key community assets. Across the UK a total of 95 areas will receive this capital funding.\\r\\rPrime Minister Keir Starmer said: \\u201cFor too long, people have watched their towns and streets decline \\u2013 powerless to stop boarded-up shops and neglected parks. That ends now.\\r \\r\\u201cWe\\u2019re investing in the UK\\u2019s future, by backing the true patriots that build our communities up in neighbourhoods across every corner of the country. Because it\\u2019s people who bring pride, hope and life to our communities.\\r \\r\\u201cThis is a huge investment, but what matters most is who decides how it\\u2019s spent: the neighbours, volunteers and parents who know their communities best \\u2013 the people with real skin in the game.\\r \\r\\u201cWe\\u2019re choosing renewal over decline, unity over division. This is our Plan for Change in action \\u2013 giving power and pride back to the people who make Britain great.\\u201d\\r \\rScottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: \\u201cThe UK Government is committed to delivering a decade of national renewal for Scotland. Through the Pride in Place programmes we\\u2019re announcing today, the UK Government will provide 14 places in Scotland with up to \\u00a320 million over 10 years and eight Scottish local authorities with \\u00a31.5 million over two years.\\r \\r\\u201cWe are providing almost \\u00a3300 million new direct investment to local authority areas to revitalise local communities. The UK Government will be working with local partners to deliver economic growth and l see these improvements made to communities up and down Scotland making them even greater places to live, work and play.\\u201d\\r \\rSecretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed said: \\u201cBuilding pride in place starts with people, not politics. Local people know what they want to see in their neighbourhoods \\u2013 and they don\\u2019t need government to dictate it.\\r \\r\\u201cThis plan will spark an historic grassroots movement that will restore local people\\u2019s power, boost national pride and help people get on in life across the UK as part of our Plan for Change.\\u201d\\r \\rThe Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: \\&quot;We\\u2019re giving local people the power to transform their hometowns. Giving them more control of how money is spent where they live so that together we can invest in Britain\\u2019s renewal and build an economy that rewards working people.\\r \\r\\u201cThis \\u00a35 billion investment doesn't just reverse decades of underinvestment in our public infrastructure \\u2013 it cuts through the bureaucracy by giving local people the power to deliver the change they want to see.\\&quot;\\r \\rAround \\u00a3200 million direct funding has already been committed for 10 Scottish towns in the Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme announced earlier this year.\\r \\rThis is being extended in the Pride in Place programme so a further 14 places in Scotland will benefit from up to \\u00a320 million each over 10 years.\\rLocal people in the existing 10 Scottish towns are already having their say over how to improve their community:\\r\\r\\u25cf        In Elgin more than 1,000 ideas have already been submitted, including tackling empty shops, revamping the town shopping centre.\\r\\u25cf       In Peterhead people are ramping up CCTV in the town centre to tackle anti-social behaviour and investing in indoor sports and leisure facilities.\\r\\rThe new Pride in Place Impact Fund will see eight Scottish local authorities receive \\u00a31.5 million each over two years.\\r \\rNotes to editors\\rThe full Pride in Place Strategy can be read on GOV.UK\\r\\rThe up to \\u00a35 billion package includes an additional \\u00a33.5 billion funding to roll out the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme to 169 more areas across the UK.\\r\\rOn the Pride in Place (Plan for Neighbourhoods) programme, neighbourhoods will be selected by the Scotland Office and Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) later this year, following an evidence-led process involving local partners.\\r \\rThe Pride in Place Impact Fund (Pride in Neighbourhoods) will be governed by local authorities who will select the benefitting projects. The fund will run over a two year time-frame, starting this financial year (2025\\\/26).\\r \\rAllocations\\rPride in Place: extended Plan for Neighbourhoods (new) - up to \\u00a320m each (\\u00a3280m total)\\r\\u25cf       Aberdeen City \\r\\u25cf       City of Edinburgh \\r\\u25cf       Falkirk \\r\\u25cf       Fife x2 \\r\\u25cf       Glasgow x2 \\r\\u25cf       Highland \\r\\u25cf       North Ayrshire \\r\\u25cf       North Lanarkshire \\r\\u25cf       South Ayrshire \\r\\u25cf       South Lanarkshire \\r\\u25cf       Na h-Eileanan Siar\\r\\u25cf       West Lothian \\r \\rPride in Place Impact Fund (Pride in Neighbourhoods) (new)  - \\u00a31.5m each (\\u00a312m total)\\r\\u25cf       Glasgow City\\r\\u25cf       West Dunbartonshire\\r\\u25cf       North Ayrshire\\r\\u25cf       Dundee City\\r\\u25cf       North Lanarkshire\\r\\u25cf       Inverclyde\\r\\u25cf       East Ayrshire\\r\\u25cf       Falkirk\\r \\rExisting Plan for Neighbourhoods - announced Spring 2025 - up to \\u00a320m each (\\u00a3200m total)\\r\\u25cf       Angus (Arbroath)\\r\\u25cf       Moray (Elgin)\\r\\u25cf       Orkney Islands\\r\\u25cf       Aberdeenshire (Peterhead)\\r\\u25cf       Dumfries &amp; Galloway (Dumfries)\\r\\u25cf       North Ayrshire (Irvine)\\r\\u25cf       East Ayrshire (Kilmarnock)\\r\\u25cf       West Dunbartonshire (Clydebank)\\r\\u25cf       North Lanarkshire (Coatbridge)\\r\\u25cf       Inverclyde (Greenock\\u202f)&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1758809327&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Alan Simpson Photography&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;72&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.002&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"SCT_FUNDING05\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;UK Government announces \u00a3292 million Pride in Place investment to transform Scottish neighbourhoods&lt;br \/&gt;&#10;Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander met Council Leader Jane Meagher at Granton Gasholder&lt;br \/&gt;&#10;Picture Alan Simpson  25\/9\/2025&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/SCT_FUNDING05.jpg\/w=185,h=300\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/w=631.jpeg,h=1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/w=631.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-616377\"  \/>UK Government announces \u00a3292 million Pride in Place investment to transform Scottish neighbourhoods<br \/>Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander met Council Leader Jane Meagher at Granton Gasholder<br \/>Picture Alan Simpson  25\/9\/2025<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" data-attachment-id=\"616370\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/20250925-dsc0977720250925\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/20250925-DSC0977720250925.jpg\/w=1200,h=802\" data-orig-size=\"1200,802\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;ILCE-7SM3&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1758806341&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;\\u00a9 2025 Phyllis Stephen&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;72&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;80&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.001&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"20250925-DSC0977720250925\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;UK Government announces \u00a3292 million Pride in Place investment to transform Scottish neighbourhoods&lt;br \/&gt;&#10;Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander met Council Leader Jane Meagher at Granton Gasholder&lt;br \/&gt;&#10;PHOTO The Edinburgh Reporter&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/20250925-DSC0977720250925.jpg\/w=300,h=201\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/20250925-DSC0977720250925.jpg\/w=696,h=465\" data-id=\"616370\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758871634_133_w=1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-616370\"  \/> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" data-attachment-id=\"616372\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/20250925-dsc0979920250925\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/20250925-DSC0979920250925.jpg\/w=1200,h=802\" data-orig-size=\"1200,802\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;ILCE-7SM3&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1758806379&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;\\u00a9 2025 Phyllis Stephen&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;68&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;80&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0015625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"20250925-DSC0979920250925\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;UK Government announces \u00a3292 million Pride in Place investment to transform Scottish neighbourhoods&lt;br \/&gt;&#10;Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander met Council Leader Jane Meagher at Granton Gasholder&lt;br \/&gt;&#10;PHOTO The Edinburgh Reporter&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/20250925-DSC0979920250925.jpg\/w=300,h=201\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/20250925-DSC0979920250925.jpg\/w=696,h=465\" data-id=\"616372\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758820640_213_w=1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-616372\"  \/> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"832\" data-attachment-id=\"616376\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/sct_funding04\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/SCT_FUNDING04.jpg\/w=1200,h=975\" data-orig-size=\"1200,975\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Alan Simpson Photography&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark IV&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;25\\\/9\\\/2025\\r\\rPicture Alan Simpson 07825 811953\\r\\rDouglas Alexander with Jane Meagher Council Leader.\\r\\rEMBARGOED UNTIL 1800h THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH\\r \\rUK Government\\u2019s \\u00a3292 million Pride in Place investment to transform Scottish neighbourhoods\\r \\r\\u25cf       16 Scottish local authority areas to share funds to revitalise communities as part of our Plan for Change\\r\\u25cf       Across the UK a record up to \\u00a35 billion for 339 communities confirmed to restore pride in local areas\\r\\u25cf       Scotland Office directing funds into a wide range of improvements with spending decisions in the hands of local groups and people\\r \\rLocal communities are at the heart of Scottish life - and the Scotland Office is backing them with millions of pounds to improve the opportunities and environment for people across the country, the Prime Minister announced today.\\r \\rThe Pride in Place programme will see up to \\u00a3280 million shared among 12 Scottish local authorities to precisely target areas which can benefit most from funding being made available for a wide range of regeneration projects. Across the UK 169 of the most-in-need communities will benefit.\\r \\rThis includes revitalising high streets and town centres, preserving local heritage, providing housing, creating jobs, boosting productivity and skills, improving health and well-being, creating new transport links, providing education and opportunity and improving safety and security.\\r \\rAnd a Pride in Place Impact Fund will see eight local authorities share \\u00a312 million to fund the types of changes people have said they want to see. These could include new green spaces, play areas and town centre revitalisation to sports and leisure facilities and the improvement and ownership of key community assets. Across the UK a total of 95 areas will receive this capital funding.\\r\\rPrime Minister Keir Starmer said: \\u201cFor too long, people have watched their towns and streets decline \\u2013 powerless to stop boarded-up shops and neglected parks. That ends now.\\r \\r\\u201cWe\\u2019re investing in the UK\\u2019s future, by backing the true patriots that build our communities up in neighbourhoods across every corner of the country. Because it\\u2019s people who bring pride, hope and life to our communities.\\r \\r\\u201cThis is a huge investment, but what matters most is who decides how it\\u2019s spent: the neighbours, volunteers and parents who know their communities best \\u2013 the people with real skin in the game.\\r \\r\\u201cWe\\u2019re choosing renewal over decline, unity over division. This is our Plan for Change in action \\u2013 giving power and pride back to the people who make Britain great.\\u201d\\r \\rScottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: \\u201cThe UK Government is committed to delivering a decade of national renewal for Scotland. Through the Pride in Place programmes we\\u2019re announcing today, the UK Government will provide 14 places in Scotland with up to \\u00a320 million over 10 years and eight Scottish local authorities with \\u00a31.5 million over two years.\\r \\r\\u201cWe are providing almost \\u00a3300 million new direct investment to local authority areas to revitalise local communities. The UK Government will be working with local partners to deliver economic growth and l see these improvements made to communities up and down Scotland making them even greater places to live, work and play.\\u201d\\r \\rSecretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed said: \\u201cBuilding pride in place starts with people, not politics. Local people know what they want to see in their neighbourhoods \\u2013 and they don\\u2019t need government to dictate it.\\r \\r\\u201cThis plan will spark an historic grassroots movement that will restore local people\\u2019s power, boost national pride and help people get on in life across the UK as part of our Plan for Change.\\u201d\\r \\rThe Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: \\&quot;We\\u2019re giving local people the power to transform their hometowns. Giving them more control of how money is spent where they live so that together we can invest in Britain\\u2019s renewal and build an economy that rewards working people.\\r \\r\\u201cThis \\u00a35 billion investment doesn't just reverse decades of underinvestment in our public infrastructure \\u2013 it cuts through the bureaucracy by giving local people the power to deliver the change they want to see.\\&quot;\\r \\rAround \\u00a3200 million direct funding has already been committed for 10 Scottish towns in the Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme announced earlier this year.\\r \\rThis is being extended in the Pride in Place programme so a further 14 places in Scotland will benefit from up to \\u00a320 million each over 10 years.\\rLocal people in the existing 10 Scottish towns are already having their say over how to improve their community:\\r\\r\\u25cf        In Elgin more than 1,000 ideas have already been submitted, including tackling empty shops, revamping the town shopping centre.\\r\\u25cf       In Peterhead people are ramping up CCTV in the town centre to tackle anti-social behaviour and investing in indoor sports and leisure facilities.\\r\\rThe new Pride in Place Impact Fund will see eight Scottish local authorities receive \\u00a31.5 million each over two years.\\r \\rNotes to editors\\rThe full Pride in Place Strategy can be read on GOV.UK\\r\\rThe up to \\u00a35 billion package includes an additional \\u00a33.5 billion funding to roll out the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme to 169 more areas across the UK.\\r\\rOn the Pride in Place (Plan for Neighbourhoods) programme, neighbourhoods will be selected by the Scotland Office and Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) later this year, following an evidence-led process involving local partners.\\r \\rThe Pride in Place Impact Fund (Pride in Neighbourhoods) will be governed by local authorities who will select the benefitting projects. The fund will run over a two year time-frame, starting this financial year (2025\\\/26).\\r \\rAllocations\\rPride in Place: extended Plan for Neighbourhoods (new) - up to \\u00a320m each (\\u00a3280m total)\\r\\u25cf       Aberdeen City \\r\\u25cf       City of Edinburgh \\r\\u25cf       Falkirk \\r\\u25cf       Fife x2 \\r\\u25cf       Glasgow x2 \\r\\u25cf       Highland \\r\\u25cf       North Ayrshire \\r\\u25cf       North Lanarkshire \\r\\u25cf       South Ayrshire \\r\\u25cf       South Lanarkshire \\r\\u25cf       Na h-Eileanan Siar\\r\\u25cf       West Lothian \\r \\rPride in Place Impact Fund (Pride in Neighbourhoods) (new)  - \\u00a31.5m each (\\u00a312m total)\\r\\u25cf       Glasgow City\\r\\u25cf       West Dunbartonshire\\r\\u25cf       North Ayrshire\\r\\u25cf       Dundee City\\r\\u25cf       North Lanarkshire\\r\\u25cf       Inverclyde\\r\\u25cf       East Ayrshire\\r\\u25cf       Falkirk\\r \\rExisting Plan for Neighbourhoods - announced Spring 2025 - up to \\u00a320m each (\\u00a3200m total)\\r\\u25cf       Angus (Arbroath)\\r\\u25cf       Moray (Elgin)\\r\\u25cf       Orkney Islands\\r\\u25cf       Aberdeenshire (Peterhead)\\r\\u25cf       Dumfries &amp; Galloway (Dumfries)\\r\\u25cf       North Ayrshire (Irvine)\\r\\u25cf       East Ayrshire (Kilmarnock)\\r\\u25cf       West Dunbartonshire (Clydebank)\\r\\u25cf       North Lanarkshire (Coatbridge)\\r\\u25cf       Inverclyde (Greenock\\u202f)&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1758810982&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Alan Simpson Photography&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;20&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.002&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"SCT_FUNDING04\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;UK Government announces \u00a3292 million Pride in Place investment to transform Scottish neighbourhoods&lt;br \/&gt;&#10;Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander met Council Leader Jane Meagher at Granton Gasholder where the press were waiting to talk to him&lt;br \/&gt;&#10;Picture Alan Simpson  25\/9\/2025&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/SCT_FUNDING04.jpg\/w=300,h=244\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/SCT_FUNDING04.jpg\/w=696,h=566\" data-id=\"616376\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758871637_286_w=1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-616376\"  \/> <br \/>Picture Alan Simpson  25\/9\/2025<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" data-attachment-id=\"616367\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/20250925-dsc0977120250925\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/20250925-DSC0977120250925.jpg\/w=1200,h=802\" data-orig-size=\"1200,802\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;ILCE-7SM3&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1758806340&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;\\u00a9 2025 Phyllis Stephen&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;72&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;80&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0015625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"20250925-DSC0977120250925\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;UK Government announces \u00a3292 million Pride in Place investment to transform Scottish neighbourhoods&lt;br \/&gt;&#10;Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander met Council Leader Jane Meagher at Granton Gasholder&lt;br \/&gt;&#10;PHOTO The Edinburgh Reporter&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/20250925-DSC0977120250925.jpg\/w=300,h=201\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/20250925-DSC0977120250925.jpg\/w=696,h=465\" data-id=\"616367\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758871638_917_w=1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-616367\"  \/> <\/p>\n<p>Sir Chris Hoy Scholarship Fund<\/p>\n<p>A fund has been created by athlete Sir Chris Hoy along with The University of Edinburgh to support students training for elite sport at the same time as studying for a degree.<\/p>\n<p>The Sir Chris Hoy Sports Scholarship Fund has been set up to assist 20 students deal with financial hurdles posed by training intensively for high level competition.  <\/p>\n<p>Sir Chris Hoy, said: \u201cI hope the scholarship will give young students the opportunity to give their all in pursuing their dreams in sport and education. The financial support and practical support they receive at the University is important to make their sporting dreams a reality. For any athlete, your sporting career will end at some point, so gaining an education at the same time is such an important thing to do. I am excited to see what amazing things this first cohort of scholars will go on to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/scholarship-fund-established-to-help-sports-stars-of-the-future\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more here<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-attachment-id=\"616283\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/scholarship-fund-established-to-help-sports-stars-of-the-future\/dsc09487\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/DSC09487.jpg\/w=1200,h=675\" data-orig-size=\"1200,675\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;ILCE-7M3&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1635014719&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;50&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;640&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"DSC09487\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Credit University of Edinburgh&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/DSC09487.jpg\/w=300,h=169\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/DSC09487.jpg\/w=696,h=392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758871638_794_w=1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-616283\"  \/>Credit University of Edinburgh<\/p>\n<p>A November date for your diary<\/p>\n<p>Su-a-Lee and Hamish Napier will be in concert in November at Portobello Town Hall at 3pm in the afternoon..<\/p>\n<p>Su-a Lee is one of Scotland\u2019s most versatile, adventurous and charismatic cellists. She has been a member of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for 31 years, so she comes from classical background but has worked with some rock legends such as Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce. Over the years Su-a has also become very involved in the Trad music scene and collaborated with many of its biggest names.<\/p>\n<p>Hamish Napier is a pianist, flautist, singer and accomplished composer who is inspired by the heritage and nature of his native landscape of Strathspey. Hamish has collaborated with many of the leading artists in the Trad scene, such as Duncan Chisholm, Donald Shaw, Ross Ainslie, Julie Fowlis and many more.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/events.humanitix.com\/su-a-lee-and-hamish-napier-in-concert\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/events.humanitix.com\/su-a-lee-and-hamish-napier-in-concert<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" data-attachment-id=\"616281\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/five-things-you-need-to-know-today-1993\/su-a-lee-dialogues-at-cc-24-by-elly-lucas-180-copy\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/Su-a-Lee-Dialogues-at-CC-24-by-Elly-Lucas-180-copy.webp\/w=2400,h=1200\" data-orig-size=\"2400,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Su-a Lee \u2013 Dialogues at CC -24 by Elly Lucas (180) copy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/Su-a-Lee-Dialogues-at-CC-24-by-Elly-Lucas-180-copy.webp\/w=300,h=150\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/Su-a-Lee-Dialogues-at-CC-24-by-Elly-Lucas-180-copy.webp\/w=696,h=348\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758871639_676_w=1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-616281\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Silver Sunday at Lauriston Castle \u2013 book now<\/p>\n<p>On 5 October it will be Silver Sunday \u2013 a day coordinated by charity Age UK. There will be two free tours of Lauriston Castle on Cramond Road South during the day from 1.30pm. Booking essential. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cultureedinburgh.com\/events\/highlights-tour-castle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tickets here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-attachment-id=\"595729\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/lauriston-castle-bluebells_0001-jpg\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Lauriston-Castle-bluebells_0001.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1200,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Saltire News&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;DSC-RX10M4&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Copyright pic: Saltire News and Sport Ltd \\rLauriston Castle bluebells_0001.JPG\\r\\rBLUEBELLS AT LAURISTON CASTLE IN EDINBURGH. THE NATURAL SPECTACLE OF \\&quot;PEAK BLUEBELL\\&quot; HAS ARRIVED AT LEAST A WEEK EARLY -- A FORTNIGHT IN PLACES -- IN SCOTLAND THIS YEAR, ACCORDING TO WOODLAND TRUST SCOTLAND.  SEE STORY FROM GEORGE MAIR, SALTIRE NEWS, 07703 172 263\\r\\rTel: Mobile: 07703 172 263\\rE-mail: george@saltirenews.com&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1745599699&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Saltire News &amp; Sport Ltd 2025&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;12.04&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.01&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Lauriston Castle bluebells_0001.JPG&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Lauriston Castle bluebells_0001.JPG\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lauriston Castle \u2013 PHOTO Saltire News and Sport Ltd &lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Lauriston-Castle-bluebells_0001-300x225.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Lauriston-Castle-bluebells_0001-1024x768.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Lauriston-Castle-bluebells_0001-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-595729\"  \/>Lauriston Castle \u2013 PHOTO Saltire News and Sport Ltd <\/p>\n<p>Trams from Granton to Edinburgh BioQuarter \/ Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and beyond<\/p>\n<p>The final two drop in sessions which are part of the tram consultation take place next week:<\/p>\n<p>The council is currently asking for views on the proposed route.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.edinburgh.gov.uk\/surveyfuturetrams\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Until 17\u00a0November 2025 you can comment on the proposals using the council\u2019s online survey.<\/a> In addition the council is also doing market research alongside this consultation. Given the importance of the project to the city, councillors asked that officers\u00a0do market research\u00a0in addition to\u00a0standard consultation. This has been done recently on other projects, such as the Circulation Plan: Our Future Streets\u00a0and the City Mobility Plan,\u00a0and is recommended as part of the Council\u2019s approach to consultation on large projects.<\/p>\n<p>Briefings were provided to all political parties.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk\/documents\/s66427\/Item%207.3%20Tram%20from%20Granton%20to%20BioQuarter%20and%20Beyond%20Consultation%20for%20Strategic%20Business%20Case%20Develop.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">These were based on the content that was provided to the Transport and Environment Committee on 1 February 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" data-attachment-id=\"613741\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/20250908-dsc0836520250908\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/20250908-DSC0836520250908.jpg\/w=1200,h=802\" data-orig-size=\"1200,802\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;7.1&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;ILCE-7SM3&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1757330032&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;\\u00a9 2025 Phyllis Stephen&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;105&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;80&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.004&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"20250908-DSC0836520250908\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Tram approaching Edinburgh Park Central &lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/20250908-DSC0836520250908.jpg\/w=300,h=201\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/F92qk9bnhVOT8KcXbWkWyg\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/2025\/09\/20250908-DSC0836520250908.jpg\/w=696,h=465\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1757374811_666_w=1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-613741\"  \/>Tram approaching Edinburgh Park Central <\/p>\n<p><a class=\"m-a-box-avatar-url\" href=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/author\/phyllis-stephen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Phyllis-Summer-2022-100x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-100x100 size-100x100\" alt=\"\" itemprop=\"image\"   data-attachment-id=\"523819\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/phyllis-summer-2022\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Phyllis-Summer-2022-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2315,3089\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 11&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1652451720&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.25&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;32&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0034364261168385&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Phyllis Summer 2022\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Phyllis-Summer-2022-225x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/theedinburghreporter.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Phyllis-Summer-2022-674x900.jpg\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.<br \/>Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.<\/p>\n<p>Like this:<\/p>\n<p>Like Loading&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"sd-link-color\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\n\tRelated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Big news from Westminster The government announced \u00a35 billion of funding yesterday in its Pride in Place programme.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":452271,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8816],"tags":[748,1102,4154,4155,4884,712,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-452270","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-edinburgh","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-edinburgh","10":"tag-edinburgh-local-news","11":"tag-edinburgh-news","12":"tag-great-britain","13":"tag-scotland","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115269418965955499","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452270","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=452270"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452270\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/452271"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=452270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=452270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=452270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}