Five things you need to know today
Serious assault in Craigmillar – Musselburgh Links – Lothian Buses going pink! – Advocates shortlisted for award – Crocodiles in St Andrew Square
Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses after a man was stabbed in the Craigmillar area of the Capital.
The incident happened in Magdalene Gardens around 7pm on Saturday (September 28).
The 30-year-old victim was stabbed in the stomach, within the stairwell of a block of flats. The assault followed an altercation that had occurred in the street between a group of around five men wielding various weapons, including knives and a baseball bat.
Following the stabbing the victim was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.
Detective Sergeant Todd Rutherford, from Police Scotland, said: “The victim has suffered a serious injury for which he has undergone surgery, however he is in a stable condition.
“At this time we believe this to be an isolated incident, but we are keen for any information that can help us identify the suspects.
“Anyone who was in the area of Magdalene Gardens around 7pm on Saturday, who witnessed the incident leading to the stabbing or who noticed any suspicious activity, should contact police.
“Anyone else with any information that can assist our inquiries should also get in touch.”
Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, or make an anonymous report through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, is expressing concern that long-established plans to turn Levenhall Links at Musselburgh into a Local Nature Reserve remain in limbo.
In a response to the MSP an official at East Lothian Council says the local authority is in “protracted dialogue” with Scottish Power, who own much of the site. The power company has not responded to a letter Alison Johnstone sent a month ago.
The links include the world’s oldest golf course, Musselburgh’s famous racetrack, and partially landscaped areas built up from ash waste generated by Cockenzie coal power station. It is an SSSI, part of the Firth of Forth Special Protection Area, and is one of Scotland’s top birdwatching sites.
Alison said:
“Now that the coal power station at Cockenzie has been switched off and the ash lagoons have reached the end of their working life, we need to know what’s going on. Local Nature Reserve status would help protect the area from inappropriate development.
“I have visited the site and it is an incredibly valuable green space on the doorstep on East Lothian’s biggest town. In my view Scottish Power and East Lothian Council are failing to keep people informed and clearly don’t regard it as the priority it should be.
“I fully support local residents and users of the site in their push for answers and progress.”
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Edinburgh locals and tourists will be treated to the rare sight of a pink double decker bus touring Scotland’s Capital this October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Lothian Buses is painting one of its buses pink in support of Breakthrough Breast Cancer to help raise awareness and funds for the charity.
As part of the campaign, Lothian Buses will be running a ‘spot the bus’ competition on its social media channels. People will be able to take part by sending their photos of the pink bus for the chance to win a week’s free travel.
Lothian Buses will also be taking part in a number of other fund-raising activities for the awareness month, including a colleague sky dive, bake sale, raffles and a five aside football competition, all in the hope of raising money for the cancer charity.
Ian Craig, CEO of Lothian Buses, said: “We are very excited to support Breakthrough Breast Cancer for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. I have no doubt that the pink bus will turn a few heads as it tours the city, so hopefully it also raise some much-needed funds in the process. Everyone at Lothian Buses will be participating in the campaign in some way or other, so I’m sure we’ll be able to make a good contribution to a great cause.”
All employees including drivers will also be taking part in ‘Wear Pink for the day’ where they will make a donation to wear pink on October 4.
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The stable of Westwater Advocates, who work here in Edinburgh at the High Court and Court of Session, has been ‘highly commended’ by The Legal 500 and shortlisted for ‘Chambers of the Year’ in the Regional and Scottish category which covers chambers throughout Britain outside London. The winner will be announced on 2 October 2013.
Stable Director Calum MacNeill QC said:- “I am thrilled that The Legal 500 has recognised the strength of our stable by awarding us their prestigious ‘highly commended’ status and shortlisting us for Chambers of the Year outside London. This acknowledgement of the excellence of our members and clerks is particularly gratifying given the challenges the Scottish Bar has faced over the past year. In the latest edition of The Legal 500 the stable received 20 recommendations in 9 of its 12 categories. The stable is now into its 23rd year and we are more committed than ever to providing our clients with unparalleled service and advice over an unrivalled range of disciplines.”
For the full list of recommendations in the current edition of The Legal 500 please click here.
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There are crocodiles in St Andrew Square…. Yes there are really!
This is to raise awareness of the exhibition at the National Library of Scotland which runs till the beginning of November. More details here.