EAST LOTHIAN TRUST FUNDS SUPPORTING TAX DODGERS AND POLLUTERS

East Lothian Greens are raising concerns after discovering 48 county trust funds are benefiting global corporations accused of dodging taxes and polluting the environment.

Using a Freedom of Information request East Lothian Greens obtained a list of the trust funds, of which East Lothian Council is the majority or sole trustee. They include personal bequests and parish funds.

Accounts recently published by the council reveal that the trust funds hold £2.8million in shares in companies including:

- Shell, accused of hundreds of oil pipeline leaks in Africa, under investigation for alleged price-fixing, and preparing to drill in the fragile environment of the Arctic.
- HSBC, under investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority amid concerns of mis-selling.
- JP Morgan, the USA's biggest bank which recently agreed to pay regulators $13billion to avoid being taken to court over risky mortgage deals.
- And Vodafone, which has paid no corporation tax in the UK for the last two years.

Eurig Scandrett, co-convener of East Lothian Greens, said:

"I'm sure many people in East Lothian will be shocked by this discovery. You have to wonder why these investments weren't questioned before, either by officials or councillors.

"These funds were created to benefit local communities but it would appear they are also delivering a bonus for some dubious multinationals. Now that we have exposed what's going on I hope East Lothian can join the global trend for considering the ethics of financial investments."

More details...

Page 107 of East Lothian Council statement of accounts 2012/13 shows the shares held by the trusts.

£99,000 in UK Treasury
£87,000 in Shell
£77,000 in HSBC
£98,000 in JP Morgan
£82,000 in UBS
£78,000 in Vodafone
£67,000 in Threadneedle
£2.2million in other stocks, shares and cash



FoI request reveals the 48 Trusts are:
Bankton (Prestonpans) Bequest
Bankton(Tranent) Bequest
Belhaven Bequest
Helen Bridges Bequest (North Berwick)
Mrs Bridges Bequest (Musselburgh)
Brown Bequest
Mrs M. Brown's Legacy
Dr Bruce's Fund
Brunton Bequest
Caplan Charity
Thomas Carse Fund
Clark-Campbell Bequest
Coronation Fund
W.S. Davidson Trust
Jessie Dickson Mackay Fund
Dirleton Parish Fund (also known as Lady Hamilton Bequest)
Dunbar Memorial Trust
James Easton Bequest
Gourlay Trust
John Gray Trust
Guildry Fund
Guns Green
Haddington Combined Trust
Hamilton (Innerwick) Bequest
Hamilton (Pencaitland) Bequest
Hamilton (Stenton) Bequest
James Hislop Legacy
Humbie Parish Fund
John Hume Fund
Jimmy Harrison Fund
Lewisvale Park Trust
James McKelvie Bequest
Christina Milne Bequest
Lady Milne Memorial Fund
Museum Purchases Fund
Midlothian Education Trust
Agnes Neillan Bequest
New Hall Fund
Oldhamstocks Parish Fund
Richardson Bequest
Sailors Park Trust
T & AR Taylor Trust
Frank Tindall Trust
Wrights & Masons Trust
Yester Parish Fund
Yester Precious Lands
Burial Grounds Funds
Inveresk Churchyard Funds

When asked if East Lothian Council had concerns about investments in large companies, the council replied:
"The Trusts (sic) investments are managed on behalf of East Lothian Council by external investment managers. They have not raised any issues with us."

MUSSELBURGH POLLUTION - GREEN WARNINGS PROVED RIGHT

Warnings earlier this year by East Lothian Greens that people in the county’s biggest town were being exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution have been proved right.

In a report going before the East Lothian Council cabinet next Tuesday (12 Nov) – a report that had been expected seven months ago – environmental protection officers recommend a legal order to declare Musselburgh High Street the county’s first Air Quality Management Area.

In July a Freedom of Information investigation by East Lothian Greens revealed that a report for the council by consultants last year suggested that levels of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant from vehicle exhausts known to increase the chance of respiratory problems, were breaching World Health Organisation guidelines on the High Street and on Bridge Street.

The report going before councillors next week confirms the results of monitoring showing parts of the High Street are exceeding the guidelines.

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, said:

“Musselburgh has so much potential and the fact that the High Street is set to be declared an Air Quality Management zone was entirely avoidable. The Council has had its head in the sand and put the health and wellbeing of local people at risk. It’s appalling that the authorities are only now facing up to the reality of the situation.

“Air pollution is hard to see but its impacts are real, especially for children and the elderly. I want to see this issue move right up the agenda and I will be writing to East Lothian Council asking for clear timescales for action.”

East Lothian Greens campaigner Jason Rose said:

“This is a massive embarrassment for the town of Musselburgh, the gateway to East Lothian. If East Lothian Greens hadn’t asked for the earlier reports using Freedom of Information local people would have been in the dark until now.

“I remain concerned that despite knowing of this problem for some time East Lothian Council has done nothing when it could have been doing traffic surveys and working with bus operators to make Musselburgh the priority for low emissions vehicles. And even if the council does declare an air quality management area it could be years before we actually see any action.

“In the meantime people who live, shop and work in and around Musselburgh town centre will have to put up with exposure to poor quality air. Local people must be fully involved in what happens next and must be kept better informed.”





Report to East Lothian Cabinet

East Lothian Greens petition for low emissions buses in Musselburgh

East Lothian Greens Freedom of Information results from July

GREENS CALL FOR FAIRER FARM PAYMENTS

East Lothian Greens are welcoming a recent speech in the Scottish Parliament by Green MSP Alison Johnstone calling for a fairer Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In the speech she explained how Scottish farmers receive lower CAP payments than those in other parts of Europe.
Alison said: "CAP subsidy is geared towards farms that already have the best chance of being profitable. If the CAP continues to reward those on the best land, Scotland will continue to lose out. "Scotland is in an excellent position to argue that subsidies should be delivering profitable farms in tandem with the marginal and most biodiverse land. That is a big shift away from the argument for ever more direct payments and towards a CAP that delivers subsidy that is based on the public good." Commenting on Alison's speech, East Lothian Green campaigner Jason Rose said: "Greens support sustainable agriculture and local food production. That is why we welcome Alison's efforts to highlight the need for a fairer system of CAP payments. "We also welcome the motion passed at the recent Scottish Green Party conference which proposed a limit on the maximum CAP payment to any single landowner of 300,000 Euros. This would allow CAP funding to be redistributed to benefit the many smaller farmers in the South of Scotland who are more geniunely in need of support."

Burgh Buses Petition

Sign our petition calling on East Lothian Council to lobby for low emissions buses in Musselburgh. 500 buses a day go up the High Street and East Lothian's biggest town is on track to be declared the county's only air quality management zone. A serious embarrassment.

Let's tackle the town's pollution problem at source. Buses are only part of the cause but they are something we can influence without delay. Let's pile some pressure on those who should be working for us.

You can sign the petition here:
http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/burghbuses

Spread the word!

Musselburgh Should Be Priority For Greener Buses

East Lothian Greens say advice they have received from local transport operators shows that the local authority needs to start lobbying for low emissions buses on routes through Musselburgh in a bid to tackle the town’s air pollution problem.

 

It follows last month’s discovery by Musselburgh-based Green campaigner Jason Rose of potentially dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide from vehicle exhausts in the High Street and surrounding areas.

 

On average there are 500 buses a day on Musselburgh High Street. Now it has emerged that at least one bus operator is aware of the pollution problem and they say it is a factor in deciding where they will roll out new low emissions vehicles.

 

Mr Rose said:

“I contacted First Bus and Lothian Buses about the problem and their responses suggest East Lothian Council need to raise their game and start lobbying to have the most polluting vehicles phased out of Musselburgh. Lothian Buses say they already operate low emissions buses on the 30 service, and that their aim is to target cleaner buses in areas where reduced emissions levels will be of greatest benefit.

“East Lothian Council have so far failed to keep the people of Musselburgh informed about this important issue. Rather than pinning hopes on moving bus stops and revising traffic lights they should be tackling the pollution at source.

“I would urge anyone who supports the call for low emissions buses to let EastLothian Greens know and we will press the case for Musselburgh to be given priority.”

 

 

The response from Lothian Buses on the issue of low emissions vehicles:

 

“Thank you for your interest in the Get There Greener bus you saw in Musselburgh last week.  This bus has been retrofitted with a sophisticated exhaust system called an SCRT which reduces levels of key air pollutants by between 70 and 99% depending on the pollutant.  It is one of 45 converted vehicles in our fleet which have been so converted over the last couple of years.  All buses currently operating the service 30 have been fitted (though not all have the branding yet).  The 40 uses a mix of new (ergo current emission standard) buses and some retrofits – again these have been converted already but are waiting for the vinyls to be applied.  The kit is a relatively straightforward fit to our single-decker buses as they have engines in line with the aisle of the bus and therefore have a fair amount of space underneath, whereas the double-decks have transverse engines and almost no space.  Fortunately our technology partner has just completed a retrofit kit for double-decks and so we have one trial fitment in place just now and will assess how this performs over the summer before committing to any further conversions.

 

“Our greener buses, which include the SCRT retrofits, our diesel-electric hybrid buses, and our newest conventional diesels, are targeted to areas of our operation where we feel that a) modal shift has the greatest opportunity and b) local air quality management areas where their reduced emissions levels will be of greatest benefit.  In considering point b we also take cognisance of potential forthcoming problems so that issues can be addressed before they develop further.  East Lothian for example currently does not have any air quality management areas but we are aware that NOx levels on Musselburgh High Street are being monitored therefore initiatives like this can help.  We work closely with the relevant LA with this planning, so while the final decision on route allocation is ours, greener buses are always placed as carefully as possible.”

 

First Bus said:

 

"Our Musselburgh depot is currently receiving refurbished buses from one of our sister Company's [sic] that are much improving the Euro Emissions of the fleet."

In The Air And Everywhere

Our discovery of the serious potential air pollution problem in Musselburgh town centre has prompted lots of press coverage.

In the East Lothian Courier...

In the Evening News...

By the paper's columnist Martin Hannan...

And in the Musselburgh News...

See our earlier blog post for details and do let us know what you think. You can post comments here or via Facebook and Twitter or drop us an email: info@elothiangreens.org.
 

SERIOUS MUSSELBURGH AIR POLLUTION EXPOSED BY GREENS

East Lothian Greens are raising concerns that people in the county’s biggest town are being exposed to potentially dangerous levels of air pollution.

Using Freedom of Information (FoI) requests Musselburgh-based Green campaigner Jason Rose has discovered that pollution from vehicles in the town’s High Street is so bad that experts have warned East Lothian Council to prepare to declare the county’s only Air Quality Management Area.

The FoI requests reveal a report prepared for the council by consultants AEA in June last year suggested that levels of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant from vehicle exhausts known to increase the chance of respiratory problems, have breached World Health Organisation guidelines on the High Street and on Bridge Street.

The FoI requests also reveal a report by Environmental Protection Officers (EPO) prepared for the council last November stated a progress report was due by April this year but in response to Mr Rose’s enquiries the council have confirmed that this report is still being prepared and won’t be available for some months yet.

All this comes as a consultation on proposed improvements to Musselburgh town centre closes (31 July), and East Lothian Greens are concerned that the proposals do not include adequate measures to tackle the serious air pollution situation.

East Lothian Greens campaigner Jason Rose said:

“The fact that the public has not been made aware of this serious problem is alarming. This sort of pollution is hard to see but it’s a real risk, especially for children, the elderly or those with conditions such as asthma.

“It’s worrying that the results of last year’s additional monitoring still aren’t available. This sort of delay is unacceptable, and suggests East Lothian Council are not making this issue the priority it should be.

“Many of the council’s proposals to improve Musselburgh town centre have merit but it’s a real concern that very little is proposed to improve the poor quality of the air we’re breathing in. The authority appears to be putting great faith in revised traffic light sequences and possibly relocating a bus stop or two. They need to be bolder and they need to involve the community.”

You can download the AEA report here and the EPO report here.

Highlights from the AEA report include:

The “objective” is to avoid NO2 levels greater than 40 ug/m3. Modelling suggests this has happened on High St and Bridge St.

ELC are looking at altering traffic light sequences to reduce congestion and location of bus stops.

AEA recommended ELC declare an AQMA if monitoring from 2012 confirmed modelling. Monitoring results were expected by May 2013.

AEA recommended installation of additional motoring.

AEA recommended local traffic surveys to understand flows and composition.

The A199 is a busy trunk road and there are “street canyons” that trap polluted air.

Musselburgh High Street average daily flow of vehicles was 17,500 in 2010; 17,800 in 2011.

Concentrations of pollutants were modelled at a height of 1.5m to reflect adult inhalation.

Pollution is likely to have exceeded guidelines at 15 locations.

There is a hotspot on Bridge St outside the library, and on High St at bus stops, shops and at the junction with Newbigging.

Monitoring sites are at 15 Bridge St, 167 High St, 137 High St, 69 High St, 86 High St.

There are up to 500 buses a day on the High St.

The results of monitoring at 147 High St from 2011 show it exceeded guidelines for every month of the year with a high point of 66 ug/m3 in March.

At Newbigging levels exceeded guidelines for half the year, and at 183 High St and 150 North High St they exceeded for more than half the year.

Highlights from the EPO report include:

A progress report is due for submission by the end of April 2013.

The major source of pollution is road traffic.

Under “proposed actions” the report copies part of the conclusion of the AEA report from June, mentioning the recommendation to set up an AQMA if the results from 2012 agree with the modelling. But there is no mention of AEA’s recommendations on additional monitoring or traffic surveys.

World Health Organisation advice:

There is evidence that long-term exposure to NO2 at concentrations above 40 µg/m3 can decrease lung function and increase the risk of respiratory problems.

The main effect of breathing in raised levels of nitrogen dioxide is the increased likelihood of respiratory problems. Nitrogen dioxide inflames the lining of the lungs, and it can reduce immunity to lung infections. This can cause problems such as wheezing, coughing, colds, flu and bronchitis.
Increased levels of nitrogen dioxide can have significant impacts on people with asthma because it can cause more frequent and more intense attacks. Children with asthma and older people with heart disease are most at risk.

NOx react with ammonia, moisture, and other compounds to form small particles. These small particles penetrate deeply into sensitive parts of the lungs and can cause or worsen respiratory disease, such as emphysema and bronchitis, and can aggravate existing heart disease, leading to increased hospital admissions and premature death.

SPEAK UP FOR MUSSELBURGH IMPROVEMENTS

Alison with Musselburgh architect Paul Lambie

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, is backing plans to revive Musselburgh town centre, and is urging the public to have their say on long-awaited proposals from East Lothian Council.

The strategy was drawn up following comments from 1,200 members of the community two years ago. It aims to make the High Street and surrounding areas more vibrant, attracting businesses, creating public spaces including a town square, and making more of the Honest Toun's historic features.

Alison said:

"Last summer during a visit to Musselburgh I spoke with local activists and planners about these exciting proposals. It's a shame it's taken so long for them to come forward for public comment, and I'd urge everyone to take a look and make their views known.

"Musselburgh is far too often overlooked yet it has huge potential. It's regrettable that planning permission was given for a 24 hour supermarket on the doorstep of the High Street and its effect is plain to see. The priority for our town centres should be local, independent shops and community spaces so that people enjoy a walk down the High Street and spend money in a way that genuinely benefits local people and businesses.

"Vehicle congestion and air pollution are big issues. It's appalling at peak times with half the traffic simply passing through. If we want Musselburgh town centre to be a pleasant place to spend time, walk and cycle around we should be looking at ways to reduce the traffic."

Green Vision At Yes Musselburgh Launch

It was great to meet lots of independence supporters at last night's launch of Yes Musselburgh. Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, spoke about the distinct Green vision for Scotland where wealth is more fairly shared, where we move towards sustainable living and get rid of abominations like Trident.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone with SNP MSP Colin Beattie

We look forward to taking our message to undecided voters throughout East Lothian over the coming sixteen months. Meantime, if you've any questions about Green reasons for supporting independence please read this. You can email us if you'd like to know more or would like to support our efforts.

COCKENZIE SHUTDOWN: COMMUNITY MUST HAVE SAY IN FUTURE OF SITE

East Lothian Greens are calling for the local authority and the Scottish Government to help communities around Cockenzie shape their future following Friday's shutdown of the coal power station.

East Lothian Greens spoke at a packed public meeting three years ago, warning that local communities were being presented with a false choice and that the plant didn't have to be replaced by another fossil fuel generator.

Sadly Cockenzie remains listed in the Scottish Government's national planning framework as a site for power generation, and in December last year East Lothian councillors agreed to support this position.

Eurig Scandrett, Co-convener of East Lothian Greens, said:

"Many people have been looking forward to the coal plant's closure for years. Council leaders and others who support the idea of building a gas plant are conning future generations who would have to deal its effects.

"The future of Scotland is in renewable energy which is already providing high quality jobs without wrecking the environment that we rely on. Rather than meekly waiting to hear what Scottish Power owners Iberdrola decide we should be empowering local people to put forward ideas for the site."

Hitting The High Streets For Yes

This coming weekend East Lothian should see a flurry, not of snow (we hope!) but of activity in support of the Yes campaign.

In case you're wondering why Scottish Greens support independence read this handy briefing note.

There'll be stalls on the High Streets in Dunbar on Friday 25th, Musselburgh on Saturday 26th, and there'll be the regular Yes stall at Haddington farmers' market that day too. And look out for a presence in North Berwick on Sunday 27th.

You can find out more by visiting the Yes Scotland events website.

East Lothian Greens look forward to speaking to folk from around the county this weekend, finding out what people are thinking ahead of the referendum and explaining how a Yes vote in autumn 2014 could turn our vision for a better nation into reality.