Category Archives: Commerce

42: Long Haul

Posted on March 24, 2011 by davidsberry

East Lothian prides itself on its rolling, rural countryside, dotted with farms and villages. But, hidden away there are also some sizable businesses, like Andrew Black, the hauliers based at the old Drem airfield. This is a family business, based … Continue reading →

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50 Days to Go

Posted on March 16, 2011 by davidsberry

At the halfway point to May’s election, ELC’s Education Committee has tabled a paper on destinations for its school leavers. It highlighted a 2% year-on-year improvement in positive destinations (F.E. colleges, universities, training and jobs), despite a huge 40% ‘bulge’ in … Continue reading →

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51: Tornado…Tsunami…Tomorrow?

Posted on March 14, 2011 by davidsberry

It was pure coincidence but perhaps symbolic. The day I was invited to visit EDF’s Torness power station was when the 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck Japan. Since we had no news of its impact, the only discussion at the time … Continue reading →

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61: Tomorrow-ness?

Posted on March 4, 2011 by davidsberry

Having been on a doorstep or three as part of my campaign, I have to say that the good people of East Lothian are nothing if not polite. The only hostility in an identifiable group that I have met comes … Continue reading →

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62: Genteel Revolutionaries

Posted on March 4, 2011 by davidsberry

The rarified rooms of the Royal Society in George Street are a perfect setting for the David Hume lectures and a perfect antidote to the brawling good cheer of All Bar One across the road. This month, the lecture was … Continue reading →

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65: Dodgy Defence

Posted on March 1, 2011 by davidsberry

I’m not one to avoid learning from my opponents. But in Labour’s case, their policies can be so hard to track. After Labour had tub-thumped how vital modern apprenticeships were in tackling youth unemployment, they voted against a budget that provided … Continue reading →

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Posted on February 28, 2011 by davidsberry | Leave a comment

71: Parliamo Politico III

Posted on February 23, 2011 by davidsberry

Let’s Talk Pencil-Pusher: Lesson III—Disabling Envelopment (Third of a series, translating bureaucrat-speak into what it means for folk in East Lothian) “Enabling Development” is a phrase used by planners in councils to allow things to be built they would not … Continue reading →

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76: Where There’s Muck, There’s Brass

Posted on February 18, 2011 by davidsberry

Despite still being Europe’s muckiest power station (5m tonnes of carbon p.a.) things have gone quiet around ScottishPower’s proposal to coin more millions for their Iberdrola masters by adapting the coal-fired station at Cockenzie into a CCGT (Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine) … Continue reading →

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77: Belters’ Pelters

Posted on February 17, 2011 by davidsberry

There is nothing wrong with exercising a good pair of lungs on behalf of other people; it’s at the heart of democracy and community. Any councillor worth their salt gets it tight on a regular basis, using the ear-drubbing to … Continue reading →

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