Neil Critchley stressed the importance of how Hearts play, not the opposition, when Cypriot combine, Omonoia, visit Tynecastle in the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday night (kick-off 5.45pm).

The Gorgie club’s new head coach is mindful that Manchester United only beat them 1-0 at Old Trafford on Matchday Four of Six in the Europa League group stage on October 13, 2022, after United won 3-2 in Cyprus on October 6.

Critchley has watched a tape of Omonoia’s 1-0 home defeat by lowly Paralimni last weekend and he warned Hearts success-hungry fans not to be fooled by that result.

The Men in Maroon have some bumps and bruises but nothing serious and Critchley argued that the Cypriots are a very good team and, nine times out of ten, they would have won the game against Paralimni on Saturday.

However, they lost it 1-0 leaving them sixth in the Cypriot First Division with 12 points from seven starts. Paralimni are in 11^th position with six points from seven games.

The 46-year-old newcomer, who guided the Jambos to a 4-0 home victory over St Mirren in the William Hill Premiership on Saturday, told a pre-match briefing at Tynecastle that he does not get too carried away with a win and does not to get too down if he loses.

The Crewe-born coach admitted: “It was a nice feeling for the players, a home victory, which is really important, scoring a few goals, keeping a clean sheet, and it was a brilliant day for the supporters, but we were in on Sunday, got absolutely soaked, and we have had a couple of days preparing for a really exciting game (on Thursday).”

Hearts, he added, have to try to keep improving even from Saturday, but Critchley stressed: “This is a real test. They (the Cypriot team) lost on Saturday, they are a strong team, and we know the task we have in front of us, but we are off the back of a good win, a good win away in Europe as well, and we are at home.

“I know, from watching them (Omonoia), that they have got some good players. I know they have some really exciting, attacking players, and, if you look at the background of some of the players, and what they have achieved, then we give full respect to who they are.

“We concentrate on us, how do we improve, how do we get better, how do we respect the opponent, and, on Thursday, it will be down to us and how we play.”

TOP TABLE: Neil Critchley (right) speaks to the media with Phil Turnbull, head of media and marketing at Tynecastle, in the chair. Picture Nigel Duncan

Edinburgh’s Liberal Democrats have been accused of using “deceptive” campaigning tactics in the run up to a council by-election.

A leaflet distributed to voters in Colinton/Fairmilehead said the Lib Dems “are challenging the SNP” alongside a bar chart showing the party in second place to the SNP. Smaller text at the bottom of the chart explains it shows the current political make-up of the council.

But opponents claim is has been designed to mislead voters about the result in the ward in 2022, presenting the Lib Dems as contenders to win the seat when they came fourth behind Labour, Conservatives and the SNP with just over 12 per cent of first preference votes.

Jason Rust, Conservative councillor for Colinton/Fairmilehead, said: “This is really desperate by the Liberal Democrats.”

In response Kevin Lang, Lib Dem leader in the City Chambers, said the criticism “shows just how rattled they are by the energetic and positive campaign being run by our candidate and local resident Louise Spence”.

Cllr Rust said: “The Liberal Democrats finished a poor fourth in the ward last time with only 12 per cent of the vote and their campaigning is to say the least disingenuous.

“They were not only behind the SNP, but had fewer than half the first preference votes of the Conservatives and are seeking to replace a Labour not SNP councillor.  It’s no surprise residents are turned off politics by such cynical campaigning and negativity. This is a new low.”

Meanwhile on X, formerly Twitter, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, election agent for Labour’s candidate – and the favourite to win – Sheila Gilmore, said: “We have obviously now reached peak Lib Dem deception in Colinton/Fairmilehead.

“Don’t be conned into supporting them in this crucial by-election.”

Cllr Lang commented: “Labour in particular seem prepared to do anything and everything they can to divert attention away from their disastrous decision to parachute in a candidate who lives miles away from Colinton/Fairmilehead and who has no apparent connection to the area.

“What a contrast with Louise Spence who lives locally in the ward with her family.”

The Lib Dem group leader has just returned from Detroit where he was campaigning for Kamala Harris ahead of the US election next month.

In a further jibe, Cllr Rust said some in the party “would rather spend time in the States campaigning for Kamala than in Colinton Fairmilehead,” adding: “Many here would see their local tactics as positively Trumpian.”

The by-election was called after Labour’s Scott Arthur stepped down from the council to focus on his new role as MP for Edinburgh South West. Voters living in the ward will go to the polls on November 14 and there will be 12 candidates on the ballot.

Labour organisers told activists recently the vote “is crucial to allowing us to keep control of the council”. The Lib Dems already have one more councillor than the 12-strong administration.

The Lib Dem leaflet stated the election will have “big implications for the make-up of Edinburgh Council”.

It said: “The SNP are currently the biggest group on Edinburgh Council, with the Liberal Democrats in second. Labour are 3rd and the Conservatives are way back in 5th.

“By voting for local resident Louise Spence, you can get the local councillor your community deserves. But you can also stop the SNP and their attempts to control Edinburgh Council.”

The candidates standing for election are:

• Bonnie Prince Bob, Independent
• Mev Brown, Independent
• Mairianna Clyde, Scottish National Party (SNP)
• Neil Cuthbert, Scottish Conservative and Unionist
• Sheila Gilmore, Scottish Labour Party
• David Ian Henry, Independent
• Tam Laird, Scottish Libertarian Party
• Grant Lidster, Reform UK
• Richard Crewe Lucas, Scottish Family Party
• Daniel Aleksanteri Milligan, Scottish Greens
• Louise Spence, Scottish Liberal Democrats
• Marc Wilkinson, Independent
• By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

West Lothian Council has agreed to make a £1,000 donation to a charity set up in the name of Jo Cox, the MP who was murdered by an extremist. 

The charity aims to highlight the need for civility in public life and promote measures to protect   those elected to public office from abuse, intimidation and violence. 

Lib Dem councillor for Linlithgow Sally Pattle congratulated the council for supporting the charity and called for a suggested £500 donation to be doubled. 

Councillor Pattle told fellow members of the council’s Executive that they had to do everything they could to tackle the growing intolerance in public life. 

All local authorities have been asked to contribute to the fledgling charity which has been formed off the back of the Jo Cox Civility Commission which was set up at the start of the year to tackle the abuse and intimidation of elected representatives. 

Councillor Pattle told the meeting she was delighted to see the paper coming before councillors and added: “We have all taken the responsibility for representing our communities. That gives us a responsibility to use our language well. 

“We should be paying reference to the fact that if people hear us use derogatory or inflammatory language in this chamber then those terms will become normalised, and we will hear them in our communities. 

“We also run the risk of becoming targets both online and offline abuse. No-one can deny the fact that the temperature is rising both in political discourse and beyond. The UK has had riots in the summer, and we can see what’s happening now in the US.” 

Councillor Pattle added: “I have received letters accusing me of being a Quisling [an abusive term taken from the name of a Nazi collaborator in the 1940s Norwegian government] or a traitor.” 

 She said that the growth of social media meant that on-one was immune to violent language, threats or intimidation, and said the days of contacting the local newspaper editor and asking them to “dial down” inflammatory coverage had disappeared because of social media.  This represents a threat to local democracy  

 The councillor told members: “I think, if we are going to attract good candidates to represent us in public life, particularly women, then we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. 

“I think we should be giving more money because the work they are doing is so important and beneficial to our political discourse.” 

Council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said that all local authorities in Scotland had been asked for a contribution to the charity of between £500 to £1,000. CoSLA, the local authorities’ umbrella organisation, had also agreed to support the Foundation. He proposed adding another £500 to the suggested donation, which was seconded by Councillor Pattle. 

Jo Cox. was a Labour MP for Batley and Spen in Yorkshire when was murdered by a white supremacist outside a building where she was about to hold a constituency surgery in 2016.  

In a letter to the council Su Moore from the Jo Cox Foundation said: “In January 2024 we launched our call to action with 28 recommendations for how this growing threat to our democracy can be addressed.  

“Since then, we have worked tirelessly with key partners, including the Electoral Commission, COSLA and the Police to ensure our recommendations are adopted.  

“In particular, the Home Office commitment to expand the dedicated resources in each police force to support elected representatives, and to include, for the first time, within this provision for local councillors, responds directly to one of our recommendations.  

“We are a small charity, so anything that you can commit in terms of financial support will make a real difference in ensuring that we at The Jo Cox Foundation can build on our work to date and make a lasting difference in tackling abuse and intimidation of elected representatives.” 

By Stuart Sommerville Local Democracy Reporter 

Councillors in Edinburgh are to be offered personal safety alarms amid fears over attacks and abuse.

It comes as the council seeks to implement recommendations from the Jo Cox Civility Commission aimed at tackling abuse and intimidation towards elected representatives.

The council recently signed a five-year contract for safety alarms, initially intended for council employees in lone working situations. But now the offer will be extended to councillors who can face threats both online and in-person.

Council leader Cammy Day said there was “further work” needed on councillor safety and added his colleague had an experience which the police had get involved with.

The Commission, established by the Jo Cox foundation in honour of the Batley and Spen MP who was murdered in 2016 outside a library where she was about to hold a constituency surgery, has proposed a range of recommendations across different sectors aimed at tacking abuse and intimidation towards elected representatives.

It’s recommendations to councils were to improve risk planning for abuse at council meetings and other events, pass motions affirming principles to address abuse and model good behaviour, and ensure security and well-being resources are available.

A report by the Jo Cox Foundation published earlier this year warned abuse and intimidation of politicians had become a “significant threat to democracy”. It said there was a direct correlation between the rise of social media and how easy it has become to abuse representatives.

Edinburgh Council said the nature of the constituency and local ward work undertaken by elected members, which often takes place outside of council-owned venues whilst being alone, “means that no set of processes or mitigations can fully remove the risk of attack upon individuals”.

Therefore, officials added in a report tabled at the policy and sustainability committee on Tuesday, October 22, elected members “should continue to be vigilant, ensure that they have read the guidance and information available, and report any concerns they have to officers for further assessment and action where this is feasible”.

Personal alarms for all 63 city councillors this would cost up to £6,000 a year depending on the type of device.

At the meeting, Greens councillor June Bandel said: “It would be useful for the council to explore if we could get some of that training to make us feel more equipped to deal with situations when emotions run high.

“Some councillors are already organising their surgeries around whether there is staff or other groups and organisations present at the time and place the surgery is held. It would be good to get guidance.”

Council leader Cammy Day said: “I think there needs to be further work done, all of us hold local surgeries in different parts of our communities, to make sure that we’re safe.

“One of my colleagues has had experiences in the east of the city where she’s had to have the police involved.”

The report said: “In April 2024, the council entered into a five-year contract for lone-working alarms that could be provided to individuals.

“Whilst the purpose of the contract was aimed predominantly at council employees who find themselves in a lone working situation, the technology could be utilised for elected members.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

The future of an East Lothian recycling centre will be decided behind closed doors next week as councillors are asked to shut it down for good.

Macmerry Recycling Centre has been mothballed since October last year in a cost-cutting measure by cash-strapped East Lothian Council.

Now plans to permanently shut it will be presented to a meeting of elected members with officers arguing it is surplus to requirement.

Nearly 2,000 people signed a petition calling for the centre to be reopened, which was rejected by the local authority’s petitions committee at a hearing last month.

Raised by Conservative South Scotland MSP Craig Hoy, a meeting of the committee saw council leader Norman Hampshire, who is on record as saying the county needs a new additional recycling centre, accuse the former Haddington councillor Mr Hoy of launching the petition for “political purposes”.

Mr Hoy denied the accusation saying he acted after being approached by many local residents concerned by the loss of the facility and increase in fly tipping in the area.

The petitions committee rejected the call to reopen the centre insisting it should remain closed.

Now a meeting of all councillors will be asked to back officers recommendation to close it permanently.

Discussion over the proposal will be held in private due, the council says, to ‘commercially sensitive’ information surrounding the disposal of the site.

Craig Hoy MSP said: “I am concerned by the news that East Lothian Council is moving forward with plans to permanently close the Macmerry Recycling Centre. Despite significant public support and in spite of the rejection of my petition to reopen the site, this decision marks the final nail in the coffin for the facility.

“It is disappointing to see the SNP and Labour pressing ahead with this closure, ignoring the clear wishes from the community to retain a popular recycling service in the area. To make matters worse, this decision is being made behind closed doors, because of the ‘commercially sensitive’ nature of the decision. This approach stinks and simply erodes the public’s trust in the process.

“The Conservative group on East Lothian Council proposed alternative budget plans that could have kept the site open. This was a missed opportunity by Labour and the SNP to show that the council is listening to residents’ needs.”

However a council spokesperson confirmed the proposal being put to councillors is a permanent closure of the centre.

They said: “On reviewing operational requirements and associated costs for the site at Macmerry, officers are recommending its permanent closure and that it is declared surplus to requirements. A decision will be for elected members to take.

“In a challenging financial environment in which it is likely that there will be a requirement for East Lothian Council to continue making savings, the closure would result in a one-off saving of £53,000 and a recurring annual saving of £62,000.”

The council added it continues to operate recycling sites at North Berwick and Dunbar, as well as its modern centre Kinwegar at Musselburgh seven days a week as well as continuing to offer a bulky waste uplift to residents.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Handelsbanken has strengthened its position in Edinburgh as it moves to new branch premises in the city’s west end. The move supports the bank’s continued growth in the city, and follows recent appointments to the local team.

The new state-of-the-art office is located at 40 Torphichen Street. Demand has led to the bank outgrowing its previous west end home of ten years at Haymarket Terrace. Staffing numbers at Handelsbanken Edinburgh West End have more than doubled in the past decade to currently sit at 14. The new facility extends to 3,684 square feet of space and it is 40% larger than the previous office.

Handelsbanken, which was founded in Sweden in 1871, opened its first branch in Scotland’s capital in 2009. It has been a fully-licenced UK bank since 2018, and has firm foundations to support continued growth in Edinburgh and beyond.

Iain Henderson, Edinburgh West End Branch Manager, said: “Not only has our team of expert colleagues grown to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers, we also wanted a bright, modern, environmentally-friendly space to reflect our ambitious sustainability targets.

“We wanted to take the time to find the right location, and we couldn’t be happier to be moving into 40 Torphichen St. It not only places us in the heart of the West End, it also means we have the capacity to grow further as our offering develops.”

Housing the corporate, private banking and wealth management colleagues, the expanded Edinburgh West End base is one of two branches in the city and will act as a hub branch for the wider Scotland and Cumbria district, hosting training, leadership and development courses.

Mr Henderson said: “We are now able to offer a comfortable space for customers and colleagues alike, together with more meeting and social space enabling us to host more events, such as facilitating networking and presenting business and economic insights.

“Designed with Handelsbanken’s ‘Branch of the Future’ concept in mind, we hope this will provide a comfortable home for years to come.”

The design work for the new premises was completed by Simon Laird Associates, whilst Edinburgh firm Yule and Yule Interior Solutions completed the high-spec fit out. The move means the West End branch is now a similar scale to the bank’s East End premises in Waverley Gate, meaning Handelsbanken has a significant presence in the capital.

Henderson said: “Edinburgh is a key part of the bank’s offering in Scotland given the city’s importance to the banking and financial services sectors. This is an exciting time for Handelsbanken in Edinburgh, and we are looking forward to settling in to our new premises and continuing to deliver the highly-personalised, tailored banking services that our customers know us for.”

A formal opening event will take place next month.

A tourist tax could be introduced in East Lothian after early results of a new survey revealed two thirds of visitors were happy to pay.

Councillors will be asked to give officers the go ahead to develop a Visitor Levy scheme at a meeting next week which could mean guests are charged an extra fee per night for staying in the county’s hotels, hostels and other holiday accommodation.

A report due to go before elected members has revealed early results from a public survey suggest visitors are happy to pay the addition fee.

It said that while a regular visitors survey was still ongoing, online responses relating to a question about the levy had been analysed and revealed 62 per cent of guests supported the additional charge,

The report said when people were asked if they would support in knowing the money raised would be spent on improving services and facilities for tourists, the number backing it rose to 76 per cent.

Officers said: “Most visitors stated that the implementation of a Levy would make no difference to their decision to visit East Lothian again in the future (68 per cent) and 15 per cent didn’t know. 14 per cent stated that they would be less likely to visit while three per cent would be more likely to visit .”

New laws passed by the Scottish Parliament in May this year give local authorities the power to introduce a Levy that is charged on the purchase of overnight accommodation at a percentage rate.

Councillors are being asked to agree a proposal for an East Lothian Visitor Levy Scheme should be developed with proposals to bring it back to council for further approval and public consultation in the future.

The report set out a timeline which would see  a proposal brought back to council by October next year and, if approved, a 12 week public consultation.

It said: “Adoption of a Visitor Levy would result in the collection of a local tax based on the occupancy of visitor accommodation in East Lothian.

“Visitor Levy proposals will be developed and reported to Council in line with the indicative timeline.

“Following a decision to implement a Visitor Levy Scheme there is a statutory 18-month implementation period before the first date a Levy would be chargeable.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Hidden Door is taking over the Paper Factory at Maybury next year for their festival, but first they are holding a two night launch with live music, visual art and other performances.

New names have been announced including: Paige Kennedy a singer/producer who will join the line up alongside avant-electropop Jane Weaver on Friday 22 November.

On 23 November Black feminist punk band Big Joanie are joint headliners with alt rock trio HotWax, and support from doom-punk quartet Witch Fever and Edinburgh duo Sarah/Shaun.

Artworks created by more than 20 artists will be on display as well as sculpture, dance, performance, installation, painting, printmaking and large-scale works.

The size of the 15.5 acre venue is simply vast in comparison with previous locations, and this will allow the artists creativity to run wild. Jo Fleming Smith will evolve her work Flood from last year into a large-scale installation.

Beth Shaper and Fraser Taylor will bring back their collaborative textile banners first shown at Granton in 2021. James Epps’ sculptural installations, including cardboard and paper, create a material connection to the industrial history of the site.

Bringing together emerging and established artists, the Paper Factory will allow the artists to use the space to amplify their visions, offering viewers an immersive experience that blurs boundaries and invites them into histories both real and imagined.

The artists invited to present site-specific work include Aimee Finlay, Jo Fleming Smith, Beth Shapeero & Fraser Taylor, Sian Landau, James Epps, Marly Merle, Justine Watt, Rachel Bride Ashton, Christian Sloan, Martin Elden & Morwenna Kearsley plus Projector Club and Ross Blair / Trenchone.

An art sale will take place when visitors will have an opportunity to take home unique pieces.

More artists will be revealed soon.

Tickets are now available at hiddendoorarts.org/tickets

Berwick Bandits have unveiled their second signing for 2025, Danyon Hume joining Drew Kemp in returning for a second season at Shielfield Park.

The 28-year-old from Buckinghamshire endeared himself to the Borders’ fans by beating track specialist Craig Cook in his opening ride following a close-season switch from Redcar Bears.

Indeed, the popular ex-Glasgow and Ipswich man made a habit of silencing the big guns in heat one with victories over Richard Lawson, Kyle Howarth and Josh Pickering.

Hume said: “It’s a fair trek up from Buckinghamshire every week, but Berwick proved last year that we are a real family club and one that sticks together even when things are not going so well.

“The fans and promotion were awesome in 2024 and it didn’t take long for me to say yes when Stewart (team manager Dickson) and Jamie (club owner Courtney) approached me with an offer for next season.”

He added: “I love the club and love riding at Shielfield although one of the aims for 2025 is to pick up a few more points on the road.

“We were top of the table at one point until Lewi Kerr, Rory Schlein and Bastian Borke were injured, so I believe we were better than our final position and that the management has its sights set on a much better season in 2025 and I’m delighted to be part of that.”

IN THE SADDLE: Danyon Hume back for Berwick. Picture courtesy of Berwick Bandits and taken by Taz McDougall

Press release 250 landed in my inbox yesterday by lunchtime, another promo for the launch of a cook book. It seems to be the season for them, perhaps Christmas is just around the corner.

Anyway, this one prompted a second look as I was keen to cook something different for tea and I was intrigued by the fact that the author has progressed from working in his father’s Scottish takeaway at the age of 16 to become a chef-proprietor of a number of successful restaurants, including one in the Capital.

Jimmy’s Smoking Wok! Is the title. The author is Jimmy Lee, apparently a “60-second, stir-fry sensation” on TikTok.

The PR blurb said: “Put your takeaway menus away and get your wok on.”

Along with the PR came several recipes. I put my wok on and tried one. Hong Kong sweet and sour chicken, one of the most popular of Chinese takeaway meals. Cooking time ten minutes. Fabulous. Restaurant quality.

Jimmy has a strong CV. He has enjoyed award-winning success with his Glasgow restaurant Lychee Oriental and he has three sites including Salt & Chilli Oriental and Edinburgh’s Leith Woks in the Bonnie & Wild food hall.

The Glasgow native has appeared on ITVs This Morning and STV2’s Live at Fife and is a winner of the Chef Personality of the Year in 2018.

The book delivers 80 recipes plus stories about Jimmy’s rise and it claims to bring the “authentic taste” of Cantonese, Sichuan and British-Chinese classics into your home kitchen. It certainly did to mine.

Bring on the next recipe, chow mein perhaps – three minute cooking time – or Beijing sticky pork ribs or even king prawn with pak choi, cooking time five minutes.

PICTURE: Jimmy Lee in the kitchen 

East of Scotland Tennis have agreed a new partnership with Olium Financial Management which will see them added to a sponsorship portfolio supporting the sport in the area for the coming year.

The partnership will assist the administration of the Olium Financial Summer Leagues and support East of Scotland Tennis’ wider goal of providing a performance pathway for juniors and seniors to develop current and future talent in the area.

The Summer Leagues run each year from July to September and see teams of four from clubs across the East of Scotland compete in men’s, women’s and mixed doubles matches.

Viki Mendelssohn, chair of the East of Scotland LTA said: “We’re delighted to be able to partner with an organisation like Olium Financial. They’re a great company who understand tennis and wanted to do more to back the sport locally.”

The deal sees Olium Financial become the official sponsor of the East of Scotland Tennis Summer Leagues and their logos will appear on the caps of the region’s youth teams.

Ross Wilson, founder of Olium Financial, whose company logo will appear on the caps of the East youth teams, said: “I’m delighted to be working with East of Scotland Tennis to support players in the region. I’ve always had a deep passion for the sport and it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to give something back to this wonderful game.

Olium Financial provides comprehensive financial planning through the provision of face-to-face advice, designed to focus on the unique circumstances of each client.

They join VMH Solicitors and Dunlop as official partners of East of Scotland Tennis.

There will be a full house at Easter Road on Sunday 27 October, 2024 for the Edinburgh Derby that kicks off at 12 noon. 

Ticket exchange is now open for Hibs fans which allows Season Ticket Holders who can’t attend the game a chance to earn money off their 2025/26 Season Ticket.

Once the released seat has been purchased by another supporter, then the Season Ticket Holder will receive an online account credit of £18 that can be used against their Season Ticket renewal for the 2025/26 campaign.

Released seats are then sold at a fixed price of £36 and as this is a Category A fixture, supporters will be identified by a previous purchasing history for eligibility to purchase tickets.  

This has changed from the previous 12-month purchase history criteria. 

This is an online only process and tickets cannot be released or purchased through the Ticket Office for ticket exchange.  

The Edinburgh Club, Albion Bar, Tornadoes and Pioneers hospitality suites are all sold out for this fixture – however limited spaces are still available in the matchday sports bar – ‘Behind The Goals’ and new hospitality offering, The Famous Five Experience, 

The Famous Five Experience will open for the first time for the Edinburgh Derby and includes a complimentary bar, breakfast rolls and a two-course lunch post-match. 

The Season Ticket Holders ‘Behind The Goals’ bolt-on is now sold-out for this fixture. 

For Non Season Ticket Holder, a small number of GA+ tickets and Famous Five Executive seats are still available.  

These include either an executive seat in the West Upper or Famous Five Upper Tiers and access to ‘Behind The Goals’ both pre and post-match for £60. 

Next month the French Film Festival will run in Edinburgh from 8 to 20 November. As a taster everyone is invited to the French Institute on George IV Bridge this afternoon

Next month the French Film Festival will run in Edinburgh from 8 to 20 November. As a taster everyone is invited to the French Institute on George IV Bridge later this afternoon to an event run by UK French Film Festival director, Richard Mowe.

Firework Control Zones will be in place from 1 to 10 November

Following disturbances in certain areas of the city last year and unruly behaviour, with attacks on emergency services, the council has taken action. 

Councillors agreed that this year there will be Firework Control Zones (FCZ) in these areas:

• Balerno
• Calton Hill
• Niddrie
• Seafield.

The Firework Control Zones will be for a set period between 1 November to 10 November 2024 only. 

You can download the decision report which is being published as required by Section 29 Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.

When the decision was made in August, Culture and Communities Convener, Val Walker, said: “The Culture and Communities Committee endorsed the recommended actions, which allows us to implement the Firework Control Zones in the four areas from 1 – 10 November, following the 60-day lay period.
“This is just the first year, and will provide us with tangible evidence of its effectiveness and help guide implementation in years to come, along with extensive community consultation in 2025.
“Community safety, the protection of our emergency services personnel and animal welfare are among our top priorities when it comes to this decision.
“Bonfire Night and broader fireworks use in the city can be an opportunity for communities to come together to celebrate and spend time together, and we hope that these zones will allow the community to celebrate safely.
“The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 gives councils power to introduce Firework Control Zones (FCZ). We will use FCZs along with other measures to support the safe use of fireworks.

Currently the council tackle issues involving fireworks by

• raising awareness within local communities
• by carrying out effective early intervention and prevention with families
  engaging with young people in schools, through a local partnership approach with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and Police Scotland.
  engaging with young people using diversionary activities
  working with Police Scotland who carry out enforcement activities

The police may also use Dispersal Zones to help prevent anti-social behaviour in November. This means police officers can order groups of two people or more to go home if police have reasonable grounds to believe they are causing alarm or distress to the public. Anyone who does not live in the area can also be ordered to go home and police can ban them from returning for 24 hours. Last year twelve dispersal zones were in effect in Edinburgh for three days.

Incident on cycle path

A scary incident on the cycle path in North Edinburgh on Sunday has led to the council saying they will review the exits and will possibly install bollards where necessary. A blue BMW 5 series was driven at speed along the path hitting a dog and causing it serious injury.

The police are still looking for the car and its driver.

Read more here.

Michael is swimming for Epilepsy Scotland

Michael Sturrock has almost finished swimming 70km to raise funds for the 70th anniversary of charity, Epilepsy Scotland. He has swum 7km every day and today is his final day.

If you would like to donate to his cause then follow the link here.

Granton Youth Christmas Fair

If you are organising an event then please feel free to tell us about it in case we can include it here.

Ten teams took to the ice at Curl Edinburgh to mark Oatridge Curling Club’s 40th Anniversary with a bonspiel eventually won by the hosts’ 2^nds with 28 points.

Mid Calder were runners up with 26 points while Kinross-based Abercorn were third on 24 points.

Three clubs from West Lothian with links to Oatridge CC took part along with other guests. There were some late changes to the teams due to illness and injury.

President Ian Keron gave a history of the Oatridge club and its achievements before presenting prizes to the winning team comprising, left to right, Paul Davis, Fraser Ewen, Stuart Milne and Heather Davis.

The bonspiel was followed by a meal after which John Irvine, of Linlithgow Curling Club, proposed a vote of thanks.

Following on from the successful bonspiel the club are marking their milestone with a dinner at the Oatridge Hotel, Uphall, on 4 November.

Following a scary incident on Sunday on a cycle path in North Edinburgh, resulting in a dog being injured, the council says it will look at installing bollards at some exits from the path if possible.

On Sunday afternoon around 4.20pm, a blue BMW car was driven along the cycle path between South Trinity Road and Wardie Road. Michele Bernardini who was walking on the path, filmed the car travelling at speed, and published it on his Instagram feed. He said in his social media post that there was a family with children and a dog behind him – and that unfortunately the dog was hit and injured.

Despite police officers following the car, according to Mr Bernardini the driver, possibly with a passenger, got away.

Diana De Rosa who was walking with her two children and five-year-old rescue dog Daisy, which was injured, said to The Edinburgh Reporter that it will take around eight weeks for the dog to recover – and even then full recovery is in doubt.

She said: “The real problem is that the tendons on Daisy’s leg have been completely destroyed. At the moment the PDSA cannot tell me whether to expect full recovery or not.

“I’ve already contacted a physiotherapist in Edinburgh as recommended by the vet, because as soon as she is able to then we need to start physio to allow the muscle and the nerve to reconnect in some way. They don’t really know what to tell me. She has been prescribed medication and will have weekly check ups. But her movements will be restricted for around eight weeks. She will only have short walks around the house for now.

“But this is more than just about me. It is about a place where you think you are completely safe. I thought my kids – who are 8 and 10 – were completely safe there even though they were playing in the bushes or running and finding their independence.

“I try to teach them responsibility and on the cycle path you think this is going to be good in a nice safe environment. That car just hit my dog. It would have killed me or my kids. That is why I don’t sleep at night. I am glad she is still alive and my kids are traumatised but we will work it out. I just cannot work out where this car could have entered. I came from Italy to have a better life here. Now we just have this memory.”

Diana said that the free treatment her dog has received from the charity PDSA has been “amazing”.

COUNCIL TO REVIEW

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “I have no doubt that this was a distressing incident to witness and I’m incredibly conscious of the danger that this sort of reckless driving presents. 

“There are a number of access points on the Ferry Road Path and Hawthornvale Path which we will now review. We’ll arrange for suitable access restrictions, such as bollards, to be installed at accesses that don’t already have measures in place.

“Safety is always a key priority for us and we’ll work alongside Police Scotland to make our paths as secure as possible.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Enquiries are ongoing to trace the driver of a BMW 5 series seen driving dangerously in the Leith and Trinity areas of Edinburgh on the afternoon of Sunday, 20 October, 2024.

“A dog was struck by the car and taken to the vet.”

Specially trained Public Order Officers will again be deployed during Bonfire Night to protect local policing teams from attack.

As part of Police Scotland’s Operation Moonbeam, existing resources across Scotland can be supplemented with public order officers whenever they respond to fireworks offences taking place.

Since Operation Moonbeam was first launched in 2018, the number of criminal incidents involving fireworks has decreased. However, last year officers responding to reports of disorder and antisocial behaviour in certain parts of the country were subjected to unprecedented levels of aggression and violence.

In total, 62 officers sustained a range of injuries after being struck by, or in proximity of, a firework that was thrown towards them.

This year’s Operation Moonbeam was launched at a joint event in Glasgow Green, alongside Crimestoppers and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, who both launched their own initiatives aimed at deterring the criminal and reckless use of fireworks.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam, said: “What we saw last year was an unacceptable level of hostility and violence, which was primarily directed at police officers and, for the most, was instigated by adults linked to organised crime, who provided young people with fireworks and other weapons and encouraged them to attack officers.

“This horrific behaviour jeopardised the safety and wellbeing of those who were trying to keep communities safe. Significant investigation was undertaken in the weeks and months that followed and numerous people were charged in connection with these incidents.

“I want to make it clear that those responsible for endangering the lives of police officers, other emergency service workers, or members of the public will be identified, and they will be brought to justice. In the event you avoid being caught on the night, you can expect a visit from us once we have conducted our inquiries.

“I would ask the public to work alongside us in helping make Bonfire Night a safe and enjoyable occasion and to report any criminality you witness, or any suspicions you may have that others are seeking to do harm within our communities.”

Tennis ace, Jacob Fearnley, is expected to resume his burgeoning tennis career at an ATP Challenger event, the Slovak Open, in Bratislava next week.

It is understood that the Edinburgh player has not yet been confirmed among entries for an event won in the past by the likes of Alexander Bublik, Lukas Rosol and Tallon Griekspoor but heading for Slovakia is definitely under consideration.

Qualifying for last week’s event in Basel – the Swiss Indoors – was a bitter sweet experience for the former Merchiston Tennis Academy student, and one-time Colinton club junior.

In the final qualifying round he did come within a couple of points of defeating Germany’s Daniel Altmaier before going down 5-7 in a deciding set tie-break in which he had to play constant catch up with an opponent whose serve proved unbreakable going down the home straight.

On the upside Jacob acquired sufficient ranking points to move from No 99 to No 92 in the world rankings as he targets a main draw place in January’s Australian Open and more full ATP tour events.

It is also a sign of the growing regard in which Jacob is held that he went into the Basel qualifier as a 1-4 favourite despite his opponent having been close to the top 50 not long ago.

Meanwhile, in another boost for Scottish tennis, Charlie Robertson, born in Dundee and raised in Forfar, finished third in the ITF world junior tour finals in China over the weekend.

Access to Wikipedia could be blocked in Edinburgh’s libraries after it emerged children were able to view inappropriate content.

An IT error meant filters were not enabled on computers accessed with a child’s library card, allowing for pornography and violent videos to be viewed.

The council said the issue had been resolved, but added it was considering whether maintaining access to Wikipedia for library users was “still fit for purpose”.

The free online encyclopaedia is among the most visited websites on the internet and is a key research tool for many around the world. However, its more than six million English articles cover a wide range of topics, including those which may contain explicit language and adult themes related to sex and violence.

After being told pupils had managed to view inappropriate material, a concerned parent tested the filters while logged on at a ‘children-only’ computer in a city library using a child’s library card.

It was discovered porn sites were accessible on the PCs as well as execution videos and Wikipedia articles which ‘may have included inappropriate images and graphics seen by children’ according to a BBC News report.

In response Edinburgh Council reported the breach to CGI, its IT servcies provider, which took computers in libraries offline for a week while the fault was investigated, before restoring access on October 3.

However upon testing to see if the issue had been resolved the parent found the adult content could still be viewed by easily turning ‘safe-search’ off in web browser settings. The computers were temporarily disabled again but are now available for use, as the council carries out a review of security measures. 

The council’s head of digital services Nicola Harvey said: “Residents will still be able to get access to Wikipedia in libraries and that has always been the case, and libraries are considering whether that is still fit for purpose.”

Responding to concerns raised by councillors at the policy and sustainability committee on Tuesday, October 22, she said: “I have to say when we have residents using our public property they have to complete as part of accessing the system our acceptable use policy, but that individual did get access to non-filtered images.

“The moment that digital services were aware of that the system was shut down in libraries until it was investigated and then it was resolved within a six-day period and re-established.”

Simita Kumar, SNP group leader, said it was vital to “protect all of our pupils”.

She said: “The fact somebody was able to access this unfiltered images or whatever it was in a public domain is a huge concern.

“By the time that system was shut down we don’t know how that information was spread, we don’t know how it was used and to me that is a huge concern.”

Council officers dismissed initial reports pornography was accessed by pupils during class time as “not accurate”.

Ms Harvey said: “This issue has got confused with an issue in libraries where it was highlighted that there was an individual who did get access to non-filtered information.”

The Conservatives called for a review of how it was possible “to view pornography on computers used by children” and what measures have been taken to prevent any further such incidences given that this should be a basic requirement of the current contract [with CGI].”

Tory group leader Iain Whyte said: “Despite what was done, a parent went back in and checked and by doing some simple stuff – unclicking safe search – was able to get back into that stuff on a children’s library card.

“My issue . . . is that some of the stuff that was reported as being accessible through library computers shouldn’t be accessible by adults in a public place, let alone by children. So I think we do need to know a bit more about that.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

The Lindsays National Cross County Championships at Cumbernauld was a poignant occasion as the Edinburgh Athletic Club senior women’s team picked up the Marjory Cook Trophy for the first time since their club stalwart passed away in 2021.

Following her death Marjory’s family honoured her memory with silverware.

To do so the Edinburgh AC quartet of Nancy Scott, Beth Answell, Elsa Palmer and Kirsty Walker had to break the seven year stranglehold on the event by Edinburgh University Hare and Hounds, who finished in third place.

Speaking afterwards, Beth said: “We are quite competitive.

“There’s a strong team spirit at the club and among us at the moment and we feel we are well suited for relay events and team events, almost whatever the surface or conditions.”

Kirsty Walker, added: “It was a solid lead the team handed over to me and we’re thrilled to win and end that run from Edinburgh Uni. There were some different orders from teams but we felt we could be strong on all four legs and that showed.”

A £3.6million plan to demolish East Lothian’s main theatre venue will be put to councillors next week after officers said the cost of repairs was ‘unaffordable’.

The future of the Brunton Theatre, in Musselburgh, has been in doubt since it was closed in March last year after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was discovered in the venue.

A report to East Lothian Council next week will ask elected members to agree to mothball the venue, relocating council services to a new location and carrying out work to close off its heating at a cost of up to £1.1million.

And they will be asked to approve a public consultation on the demolition of the building, opened by the late Queen Elizabeth in 1971.

The report says: “Potential remediation of the RAAC at the Brunton Hall is
unaffordable and the preferred option is to demolish the building at a
cost of £3.6m.”

It is understood council staff in the building may be relocated into the town centre offices of Musselburgh Citizens Advice Bureau.

The Brunton Theatre Trust has continued to offer its programme of performances and events at other venues across East Lothian since their main venue closed and this is expected to continue.

The Trust currently has a lease of Haddington Corn Exchange and a public survey was recently carried out on its behalf to gauge how people feel about alternative venues.

The report to councillors says RAAC in the roof panels of the Brunton have been assessed and it is believed the cost of repairs to reopen it are too costly while leaving them are not an option.

It says: “Whilst safety arrangements have been put in place to mitigate the risk
associated with these roof panels, there have been cases of sudden failure
elsewhere in the UK.

“If the roof panels were to fail, there would be a significant risk of disruption to asbestos-containing materials below, with possible release of asbestos fibres into the air. Failure of the roof panels would also be likely to make refurbishment or demolition much more complex and more expensive.”

Councillors will be asked to approve recommendations in the report at a meeting on Tuesday next week.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

After more than four decades of trying to reach the top of the podium at the Lindsay’s National Cross Country races Lasswade Athletic Club finally made the breakthrough at Cumbernauld over the weekend.

In the Young Females race Isla Madhra, Cerys Wright and anchor Bethan Kitchin stormed to first place ahead of Giffnock North and Strathearn Harriers.

The trio, whose winning margin was 23 seconds, are coached by Linda and Kirk Smith and the former said it was a particularly proud occasion.

She said: “The athletes are great to work with. We had to change the team but Bethan came in and had a really strong run as well as Isla and Cerys.

‘Looking back over the years we had a strong team around the time that Sarah Tait and Lauren Dickson were coming through – but the best they managed was fourth, so just missing the podium.

“The athletes are chuffed today and have been rewarded with chips from the van on the course! No, seriously, they work hard and support each other and for a club like ours to have champions at the National XC Relays feels special.”

Civil Service Strollers are hoping to have Mackie Scott back from injury when seeking to emulate last season’s achievement of reaching the third round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup at Irvine Meadow on Saturday.

The star striker has scored five times in his last three games but missed out when Strollers extended an unbeaten run to four games with a Lowland League success at Broxburn last weekend.

Strollers 2023-24 cup run was only ended by League Three side, Stranraer.

In another boost for the Christie Gillies Park-based club Callum Yeats has been awarded “goal of the round” for his effort when Cumbernauld Colts were beaten last time in the Scottish Cup.

Also, Marc Laird has just been included in the Lowland League “team of the month”.

West Lothian Council has agreed almost £40,000 worth contracts to keep buses running over the Christmas and New Year holidays. 

The council has historically provided an additional level of local bus provision on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 1 January and 2 January. 

Around 80% of the bus network is provided by commercial companies who, generally, do not operate on these dates. The subsidised bus network is also reduced leaving gaps in the network. 

The festive service aims to provide a largely two hourly service between 7am and 7pm on Christmas day and New Year’s Day, with a more frequent service being provided on Boxing Day and 2 January to ensure as wide a coverage of the main cross county routes as possible. 

 Services to St John’s Hospital and Livingston Centre are an important part of the service, with access to health care and essential work travel being the main focus.  

The Council Executive approved a £37,350 investment that, alongside the commercial network, would provide services on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and 1 and 2 January. 

Commercial bus services will operate a limited timetable over the festive period, in addition to the subsidised services listed below. 

Tom Conn, the Executive councillor for the Environment and Sustainability said: “West Lothian Council doesn’t operate bus services, but the Festive Bus Services aims to provide support to local people during a time when the main commercial bus service – which accounts for 80% of buses in West Lothian – winds down.  

“The restrictions on our budget mean that we can’t provide services that help everyone in all scenarios, but our festive services have a particular emphasis on ensuring people can access health care, visit friends and family and attend their place of work.” 

The council will fund these services over the festive holidays: – 

X18 Whitburn – Edinburgh via Armadale, Bathgate, Dechmont, Uphall, & Broxburn 

X27 Bathgate – Edinburgh via Deans North, Knightsridge, Craigshill, Livingston Centre, Dedridge East, Mid Calder, East Calder & Wilkieston. 

X28 Bathgate – Edinburgh via Deans North, Knightsridge, Craigshill, Dedridge East, East Calder & Kirknewton. 

X38 Linlithgow – Edinburgh via Winchburgh & Kirkliston 

72 Fauldhouse – Kirkliston via Longridge, Whitburn, Blackburn, Seafield, Eliburn, St John’s Hospital, Howden, Livingston Centre, Pumpherston, Uphall, Broxburn & Winchburgh. 

74 Fauldhouse – Livingston via Bents, Stoneyburn, Loganlea, Addiewell, West Calder, Polbeth and Dedridge West.  

X40 St John’s Hospital – Edinburgh Royal Infirmary via Livingston Centre, Mid Calder, East Calder & Calderwood will operate a special service of 2 return journeys on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day to provide hospital visiting opportunities with a Sunday commercial service operating on 2 January. 

By Stuart Sommerville Local Democracy Reporter 

West Lothian Council has objected to proposed Holyrood election boundary changes which would see Whitburn and Fauldhouse  put into a constituency in with Airdrie – 14 miles west- in North Lanarkshire. 

The same proposed changes would see West Lothian removed from the Lothians’ regional list and put into a Central Scotland list for a choice of MSPs in the 2026 election. 

Boundaries Scotland is undertaking the Second Review of Scottish Parliament boundaries and is consulting on revised constituency proposals. and proposals for regions. 

A motion from Council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said the proposals contravened two of the four rules laid down governing boundary changes. 

He told a meeting of the Executive: “This proposal disregards the boundaries of West Lothian and very strong existing ties with these communities. By splitting two West Lothian Council wards between Airdrie and the other constituencies the proposals conflict with the fact that regard must be had to the boundaries and rule 4 they disregard local identities, links and ties with local communities. 

“I think we all agree Fauldhouse and Whitburn have strong links to the rest of West Lothian. In terms of work education People from these communities are more likely to commute to and work in Livingston, Bathgate and Edinburgh.” 

Children from Longridge and Stoneyburn go to Whitburn Academy or St Kentigern’s in Blackburn. 

Councillor Fitzpatrick said that West Lothian had very strong links to other regions within the Lothians, much more than to communities to the west in North Lanarkshire Council area.  

 The motion was passed without objection. 

If changes are made, to the Provisional Proposals for regions or the Further Proposals for constituencies, another one-month consultation will be held. Boundaries Scotland will submit a report to Scottish Ministers by 1 May 2025. If subsequently approved, the new boundaries will be effective at the next Scottish Parliament election, scheduled for May 2026. 

By Stuart Sommerville Local Democracy Reporter 

Residents at an Edinburgh care home were treated to a Hawaiian-themed charity party, packed with entertainment, delicious food, and also prizes.

Building on the success of last year’s party, the Cramond Residence’s Lifestyle Team created another fun-filled day for residents and their families to enjoy, with all proceeds going to Age Scotland with this year seeing £551 raised.

The annual party has become a firm favourite with residents and their families with each year offering a unique theme for all to enjoy.

Elaine Vallance, Head of the Lifestyle Team at Cramond Residence, said: “This is an event we’ve been running for a few years now and it’s always an exciting time for staff and residents at the home and every year we are looking to see how we can improve upon the last.

“This year we decided we wanted to host a Hawaiian-themed party, and it was incredibly rewarding to see that this was a hit with the residents.

“The Fete is a great opportunity for residents and their families to come together, enjoy good food and music in a safe and relaxed environment.”

Residents enjoyed a day full of Hawaiian BBQ food, live music, various shows, balloon modelling, a raffle, and a tombola.

Elaine said: “We’ve got an exceptional team here who work very hard to create a range of activities and events for the residents to ensure that we are constantly bringing them activities that bring them joy.

“I’d like to thank everyone who was involved with this year’s Fete both in my team and those who attended, it was another incredible day at Cramond Residence and we’re already looking forward to seeing how we can make this even better next year.”

The Hawaiian BBQ menu included BBQ chicken tenders, beef and veggie burgers with BBQ sauce, Hawaiian chicken with mango and avocado slaw, Lomi Lomi (smoked salmon), Hawaiian pizza, and grilled pineapple slices with a selection of salads and dressings.

The raffle offered exciting prizes including a £250 Virgin experience voucher, a £75 John Lewis voucher, and afternoon tea for two at Harvey Nichols.

Cramond Residence prioritises the residents’ needs and offers a tailored activity programme that combines a luxury hotel ambiance with the comfort of home living.

The residence was purpose-built for £8m and opened in October 2018, adopting a small-group living philosophy with a major emphasis on socialisation.

Cramond Residence offers a wide variety of dementia care services within the general home environment or in a specialist area carefully designed for those at a more advanced stage.

The home provides a range of activities specially designed to give those living with dementia a richer and more satisfying life, with specialist facilities and trained staff on hand to provide support and relief.

https://cramondresidence.co.uk/

A care home in Edinburgh is celebrating after being nominated for two national awards.

Care UK’s Murrayside, on South Beechwood, has been shortlisted in the “Management Team of the Year” and “Scotland Care Home of the Year” categories at the Caring UK Awards 2024, after being rated very good by the Care Inspectorate and crowned Best for Nursing Care in the Care Home Awards 2024 earlier this year.

The Caring UK Awards celebrate the best of the best in the care sector, recognising top carers, facilities, and programs across the country.

The team at Murrayside are committed to getting to know residents on a personal level. Before residents move in, team members learn about their hobbies, interests, skills and life history. This includes compiling a ‘playlist of life’ based on residents’ favourite songs from across the decades.

The home also has a Wishing Tree, an initiative that allows residents to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new that they have always wanted to do – no wish is too big or too small. Through this initiative, the team at Murrayside has taken residents to the theatre, to Edinburgh Zoo, and to Oriam to meet the Scotland Rugby squad.

The home’s nomination in the Caring UK Awards 2024 also highlighted the Namaste programme, which was introduced earlier this year to engage residents living with dementia though their senses and emotions, such as by using hand massage techniques and playing soft, relaxing music. “Namaste” a Hindu greeting, meaning “to honour the spirit within”, reflects the person-centred approach at the heart of the scheme. 25 of the team members at Murrayside are now Namaste trained.

All team members are also dementia trained, which has been key to their awards success. This includes creating ‘destination points’ within the home to encourage residents to independently take up hobbies such as birdwatching and DIY.

One relative of a Murrayside resident said: “We visited a number of care homes and chose Murrayside because it had a very nice and friendly atmosphere, was modern, professional and relaxed.” They added: “The team at Murrayside have constantly adapted their approach, getting to know my Mum’s likes and dislikes.”

Another relative said: “Everyone is so friendly and helpful, and nothing is too much trouble… The home is always spotless, and it is evident that the staff are working hard to keep it that way. The café on the top floor is a great place to go with Mum during a visit to see her. A lovely idea. As a family, we are delighted with the care and attention Mum is receiving. The transition period has been seamless – thank you Murrayside.”

Suzanne Welsh, Home Manager at Murrayside, said: “We’re thrilled to be shortlisted for the ‘Management Team of the Year’ and ‘Scotland Care Home of the Year’ awards at the Caring UK Awards 2024, and recognised nationally for all our hard work.

“Whether it’s organising a trip to Oriam to meet the members of the Scotland Rugby Squad, or taking residents to the theatre or zoo, there’s nothing team members won’t do to ensure residents lead happy and fulfilling lives.

“Working alongside such a wonderful team is always such a pleasure – they go above and beyond to support residents. I am really proud of everyone’s dedication, passion and help in making Murrayside a wonderful place to call home.

“We are all keeping our fingers crossed for a win later this year!”

The Caring UK Awards’ evening will be held at the Athena in Leicester on Thursday 5 December 2024.

Murrayside care home, which provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, has been specially designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities, and has its own cinema, hair salon, café and Namaste rooms.

To find out more about Murrayside, contact Customer Relations Manager, Cliona Robertson, on 0131 516 2487, or email cliona.robertson@careuk.com

careuk.com/murrayside

Acclaimed chef, Stuart Ralston, is embarking on a new guest chef series, Shore to Shore, celebrating the rich bounty of the British waters and marking the one-year anniversary of his fine-dining venture, Lyla in Edinburgh.

The series will include some of the UK’s most exciting chefs take part in a four-hands dinner with Stuart, bringing their own take on seafood from Scotland and the wider UK coastline. The first part of the ongoing series will take place in October and November, before the second part next year.

The lineup includes:

Alex Nietosvuori, Hjem –  30 October – Hjem is the Michelin-starred restaurant led by Chef Alex Nietosvuori in Wall, Northumberland. Renowned for its Nordic-inspired cuisine, Hjem offers a unique dining experience that showcases the best of Northumberland’s produce. Alex honed his skills under renowned chefs like Björn Frantzén, Sam Nutter and Victor Wågam (Nima sous-chefs) and gained international experience in South America and Oslo. In London, he went on to work with The Laughing Heart’s kitchen team under chef Tom Anglesea before realising his dream at 26 with the launch of Hjem in partnership with his wife Ally Thompson. Hjem was awarded a Michelin star in 2021 affirming Alex’s early success in the culinary world. @a.nietosvuori @hjemrestaurant

Andy Beynon, BEHIND –  11 November – Andy Beynon spent 15 years working with some of the foremost Michelin starred chefs and restaurants in the country, including Claude Bosi, Phil Howard and Michael Wignall. In 2020, Andy opened his debut restaurant BEHIND, an 18 seater kitchen-table restaurant with a seafood focus. BEHIND offers diners a chance to see ‘behind the scenes’ into the kitchen, with the menu utilising the best of British produce. The restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in 2020, just 20 days after opening. @andybeynon @behindrestaurant 

Johnnie Crowe, Restaurant St Barts – 30 January 2025 – Restaurant St Barts is the culmination of passion and hard work from three long-term friends Johnnie, Luke and Toby – the team behind Nest restaurant in Hackney and Nest Farmhouse in Norfolk. The Experience is a celebration of the world-class seasonal produce found solely in the British Isles. Johnnie and his team serve a tasting menu that uses the very best from small-scale farmers, growers, and conservationists across the Isles. Starting dinner with a series of snacks in the lounge, guests move through to the restaurant’s dining room which overlooks one the oldest churches in London – St Bartholomews the Great. Taking inspiration from the natural materials used to create the historic buildings around us, Restaurant St Barts is built with raw materials such as stone, wood and soft fabric throughout, to bring a feeling of the old Smithfield to the new. @johnniecrowefood  @restaurantstbarts

Joshua Overington, Mýse – 18 February 2025 – Joshua grew up in a market town just outside York, spending summers in France and Europe, immersed in French restaurant culture. Joshua took a gap year that brought him to Sydney, where he took a job at a small restaurant, moving up the ranks from pot wash to prep chef. Back on home turf, Joshua cut his teeth at Yorkshire’s Pipe and Glass Inn, before moving to Paris to gain formal training at the legendary Cordon Bleu. During that time, Joshua became engrossed by the bistronomy movement taking the capital by storm and resolved to open a restaurant of his own with his wife Victoria after a successful season of Chalet hosting together. At the ages of 26, Le Cochon Aveugle came into the couple’s hands, where they ran a set menu celebrating classical French techniques. Following the success of le Cochon Aveugle, the duo moved to pastures new and in 2023 opened Mýse, the restaurant with rooms in Hovingham, which was awarded a Michelin star within seven months of opening. @chefjoshoverington @restaurantmyse

Theo Clench (ex Cycene and Akoko) (was to be held in October but is postponed until 2025) – Theo trained in Brighton before moving to London and working at a host of Michelin-starred restaurants, including development at Clove Club as well as Trinity and Portland, where he held the position of Head Chef. In 2020, Theo took the position of Head Chef at Akoko, Fitzrovia’s West African restaurant, where he learned how to extract optimum flavour from ingredients. In 2022, Clench took up the Head Chef role at Cycene, a restaurant in collaboration with Blue Mountain School in Shoreditch, an interdisciplinary arts hub. Cycene was awarded a Michelin star within five months of opening. Theo left Cycene in 2024 to expand his research and development through consultancy and private chef work before announcing his next project. @cheftheoclench

The evening will begin with snacks in the upstairs drawing room of Stuart’s 26-cover restaurant located in the Georgian townhouse on Royal Terrace, alongside cocktails and champagne from the trolley. Guests will then be invited into the main dining room, where the rest of the menu will be served with four courses from each chef. Each dinner will incorporate signature dishes from Lyla and the guest chefs, alongside dishes celebrating the Scottish larder. 

An optional drinks pairing by Lyla’s award-winning Head Sommelier, Stuart Skea, will accompany the menu, featuring a collection of small-domain wines and sake, celebrating new-age, old-world and a hefty selection of UK-based producers. N25 Caviar will be sponsoring the series alongside Krug Champagne, which will be supporting the collaboration with Theo Clench as part of their Krug x Flower series. 

Opened in October 2023, Lyla is Stuart’s fourth restaurant following Aizle, Noto and Tipo. 

Located on Edinburgh’s Royal Terrace, Lyla is an ode to produce from the Scottish Isles, focusing on ingredients from the coastline and earth, taking over the space previously occupied by the late Paul Kitching’s 21212 restaurant. In 2024, Lyla was recognised as one the Best New Openings 2023 by Condé Nast Traveller in the inaugural edition of the awards, debuted at number 28th on the National Restaurant Awards, has been recognised as one of the most exciting restaurants in the UK by World’s 50 Best and was crowned Restaurant Newcomer at the Food & Travel Awards 2024. 

Address: 3 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh 

www.Lylaedinburgh.co.uk @lylaedinburgh  

Price: Theo Clench & Krug Dinner: £325 for menu including paired wines, plus service and any extras

Hjem:  £165 for the menu 

Behind: £165 for the menu

Sheriff Principal Nigel Ross has made significant recommendations about testing fitness to drive among drivers aged over 70 in a determination of the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of three-year-old Xander Irvine.

The driver, 91-year-old Edith Duncan, who has died since the crash, was found to be suffering from cognitive mental impairment. Her age related dementia was undiagnosed at the time of the incident, but if it had been then the Sheriff Principal said she would not have been driving that day as her licence would have been revoked.

The determination has been published in full today, with details of the crash, Ms Duncan’s medical condition and her detachment afterwards, evidencing her mental condition.

Xander and his mother were looking in a shop window on Morningside Road when Ms Duncan drove her car onto the pavement and struck them. He died from multiple injuries at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Young People shortly afterwards.

The Fatal Accident Inquiry is not conducted to apportion blame, but to establish the circumstances of the death of a person and consider any steps which can be taken to prevent other deaths in similar circumstances.

The Sheriff Principal found that: “Had reasonable precautions been taken, prior to the collision, to assess Edith Duncan’s cognitive ability, these would have identified that she required further assessment of her driving ability. That further assessment would have, in turn, led to the conclusion that she was significantly cognitively impaired and unfit to hold a driving licence. The DVLA would have revoked her licence on that basis.”

He also determined that the current self certification of fitness to drive regime was defective.

Following the publication of the determination, Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said:  “Xander Irvine’s death was a devastating loss for his family. They have my heartfelt sympathy for all they have suffered.

“I welcome the sheriff’s determination which makes significant recommendations in relation to the fitness-to-drive requirements for drivers over 70 and a change to primary legislation.

“This was an incident that the Lord Advocate carefully considered and was satisfied that the circumstances made a compelling case for a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry.

“The procurator fiscal service will continue to keep in contact with the Irvine family and answer any questions they may have about the determination.

“My thoughts remain with the family at this difficult time.”

The full determination can be read here.

Midlothian’s Provost Debbi McCall has said she is ‘absolutely chuffed’ after she was shortlisted for a prestigious national award for her community work.

Councillor McCall, who represents Penicuik ward, is one of five finalists for the Community Champion Award in this year’s Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) national awards.

She is the third Midlothian councillor to be represented at the awards over the last three years with council leader Kelly Parry nominated for an award in 2021 and Councillor Connor McManus winning Young Councillor of the Year in 2022.

Councillor McCall was nominated for Community Champion last year and this year is in the final with the winner announced at a ceremony in Edinburgh next month.

Councillor McCall said: “I am absolutely chuffed to be nominated and particularly proud that Midlothian is represented again in these awards for the third year running.

“As a small council we are definitely punching above our weight in these annual awards but it demonstrates our passion and commitment to our communities and the work we do.

“I didn’t become a local councillor to be provost or go on to bigger things, I did it because I can make a difference as a local councillor and represent our communities.”

Councillor McCall was one of the founding members of Penicuik Ambassadors, a team of volunteers set up during Covid to support vulnerable local residents which continues its work in the town today.

The awards ceremony will be held at the City Chambers in Edinburgh on Thursday, November 14.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

A 26-year-old man has been arrested and charged following an extensive investigation into a series of housebreakings and thefts across the Lothians and Borders.

The incidents took place in Tranent, Prestonpans, Galashiels, Selkirk, Livingston, Gorebridge and Stow, between Friday, 6 September and Thursday, 10 October, 2024.

The man has been charged in connection with a number of offences, including 13 housebreakings, four attempted housebreakings and five vehicle thefts.

He is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 22 October, 2024. Further enquiries remain ongoing.

Detective Inspector Debbie Duncan said: “Crimes of this nature have a serious impact on the victims, causing them to question the safety and security of their own homes, and I would like to commend the work of the officers investigating this crime series.

“I would also like to thank the various local communities for their assistance with our enquiries to date and reassure the public that any reports of criminality will be investigated thoroughly by Police Scotland.”