Body identified – Holyrood – Sainsburys Portobello – Edinburgh Castle – Streets Ahead

Lothian and Borders police can now confirm the identity of the body found in Dechmont, West Lothian as missing woman Heather McKay.

The body of Ms McKay, 51, was found at around 1.30pm yesterday in dense woodland between the A89 just South of Dechmont and the M8 motorway at Livingston by Lothian and Borders Police search teams and Borders Search and Rescue.

There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

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First Minister Alex Salmond unveiled the Scottish Government’s programme for the new Parliamentary year yesterday with a pledge to create ‘a better Scotland’ for future generations.

Salmond introduced his government’s plans as follows:-“I have written five times to ask the Prime Minister to provide additional funding for shovel- ready capital projects across the country. Those are projects that could improve our long-term productivity while helping to promote economic recovery now. No extra funding has been forthcoming, despite the fact that the first letter to the Prime Minister—in March—was written at his specific request.

The weekend papers seemed to suggest something of a rethink by the coalition about the importance of capital spending, so let me repeat: whatever plans there are for the future and whatever infrastructure might be built, the minimum that is required, right now, this year, is £5 billion for the UK and £400 million for Scotland. There has never been an economic recovery without a recovery in the construction sector. ”

Today at Holyrood the Economy Energy and Tourism Committee are convening and will hear evidence from Ray McCowan, Director: Curriculum Strategy and Academic Planning, Jewel and Esk College among others.

City Centre MSP Marco Biagi has a question lodged this afternoon in the Chamber:-” To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on NUS Scotland’s report, Unlocking Scotland’s Potential.”

Gordon MacDonald MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands has lodged this question:-“To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of pupils left education in 2012 with standard grades at level 7 only.”

Jim Eadie MSP for Edinburgh Southern has lodged a topical question:-“To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Napier University regarding the future of the Craighouse Campus.” We have written about this in our article here.

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The Portobello Traders are inviting everyone to a meeting to discuss the news about Sainsbury’s moving into Woodwares on Portobello High Street. They invite you to come along and have your say this evening, Wednesday 5 September at 7.30pm in St James Church Hall, Rosefield Place. This is an open invitation to everyone who has a view, against or in favour.

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Edinburgh Castle is trying hard to stay number 1 in the competition run by the British Travel Awards, according to The Edinburgh Evening News. All you have to do is go on their site and vote for them. Probably fair to say that not too many locals go tot visit the castle regularly except when you have visitors here, but it is an impressive historical site.

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All of this week there is a Streets Ahead safety event organised by The City of Edinburgh Council along with Lothian and Borders Police, the AA, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service at the Corn Exchange which is expected to  attract 3,000 Sixth year pupils from schools across Edinburgh to learn about safe driving, and also about the choice you make in being a passenger in a car. The aim is to reduce the number of 17-25 year olds involved in road incidents. We have audio, photos and video which we are processing now. And despite their best attempts to persuade us The Reporter declined Lothian and Borders Police’s kind invitation to try out the Seatbelt Simulator!  More on this soon.

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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.