Media speculation has linked Alex Neil to the vacant head coach position at Heart of Midlothian FC, but a number of other high profile names have also been mentioned in reports in the national press.

Neil, a former Hamilton, Norwich and Stoke City boss is said to be the early favourite with bookmakers, and he has been out of a job for nine months after being sacked by The Potters.

Stephen Robinson (pictured), the current manager of St Mirren, who beat Hearts 2-1 on Saturday in Paisley, and Kilmarnock manager, Derek McInnes, who steered the Rugby Park side into fourth spot last term but has signed a contract extension until 2027, are highly quoted by bookies.

Of course, the Tynecastle club are talking to Brighton chairman Tony Bloom over a £10m investment and the 54-year-old sports bettor, poker player and entrepreneur, has an analytics company and they could be involved in the search for a replacement.

Sources indicate that Hearts could be looking overseas for a replacement and Arnar Gunnlaugsson, currently with Icelandic club, Vikingur, has also been mentioned in reports.

He has worked in Scotland before, at Dundee United, and there is no indication yet from Hearts’ board if they intend making a quick appointment ahead of Saturday’s home clash in the William Hill Premiership with Ross County.

The Staggies are in eighth position in the 12-strong table and Hearts prop up the league with one point from six matches. They desperately need a win to boost confidence.

Liam Fox, the club’s B team boss, is the interim manager, and quoted by McBookies as fourth favourite at 6/1 for the permanent job, with Dundee boss Tony Docherty in at 8/1.

Peter Leven, the first team coach at Aberdeen, is 10/1, Scot Gemmill, head coach for the Scotland under-21 side, also 10/1, and three names are quoted at 12/1, Damien Duff, the manager of League of Ireland club Shelbourne, Gary Rowett, recently interim manager of EFL League One side, Birmingham City, and Falkirk boss John McGlynn whose side received praise for their performance against Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup on Sunday despite losing 5-2.

However, the ambitious club are reported to have received a number of applications for the job and they could wait until after next week’s trip to Dinamo Minsk in the UEFA Conference League (October 3), followed by a visit to Pittodrie to face high-flying Aberdeen a few days later (October 6, 15.00), before naming their new man.

A temporary library is to be set up in Edinburgh to maintain services after the main building was closed over concerns about crumbling concrete.

This month marks one year since Blackhall Library was shut following the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the roof. The dangerous material which experts say can collapse without warning has also been found in several other council buildings, with repairs set to cost millions.

While the capital’s eight schools caught up in the UK-wide concrete crisis have been able to remain open, with some sections closed off, RAAC panels have deteriorated to such an extent at the Hillhouse Road library that maintaining services there is not possible, according to a new report.

While the future of the library is considered, councillors have agreed to open a temporary facility in a modular building outside Davidson’s Mains Primary School nearby.

The report said: “From an overall project perspective, the delivery of the temporary accommodation should be progressed as quickly as possible.

“Quotes have therefore been received from modular building contractors for the provision of a temporary library facility. The best value option is for the facility to be purchased rather than rented.

“This option allows the most flexibility in terms of the time taken to deliver the permanent solution as the one-off cost is known compared to rental fees which increase the longer it takes to deliver the permanent replacement library.

“The cost of the temporary facility will be in the region of £1m and can be funded from the RAAC capital budget allocated in the 2024 budget setting process.”

Options put on the table for Blackhall Library include replacing all the RAAC, or demolishing it and building it again – which is understood would be the cheaper solution – either on the existing site or at Davidson’s Mains Primary.

Meanwhile the work to remove RAAC from Edinburgh’s schools has been hit by a setback after the council’s contractor went into administration.

Crawford McGhie, the council’s head of strategic asset planning, said at Trinity and Cramond repairs were “nearing completion” and officials were working with the main sub-contractor “to see if we can take on the responsibility for those works”.

However rectifications at Colinton Primary and Pentland are yet to begin and a retendering process to find a new contractor could delay works being progressed by two to three months, officials said.

“I would imagine two to three months for a re-tendering process would be the delay at least in those circumstances. That’s a rough guess at the moment,” Mr McGhie said.

Peter Watton, head of property and facilities management, added: “Unfortunately these circumstances, whilst they are not new, they do create a problem and we have to address that as soon as we can in order to get the buildings finished.

“We’ve bolstered resources in that area to make sure we keep delays to a minimum and do it as quickly as possible.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

Every community in Scotland will have identifiable local officers as part of an ambitious new vision for Police Scotland. 

Chief Constable Jo Farrell made the pledge as the Service unveiled key plans which outline how policing will evolve to meet existing and new challenges. 

A 2030 vision for policing sets key ambitions of safer communities, less crime, supported victims, and a thriving workforce. 

A three-year business plan outlines over 130 milestones Police Scotland aims to achieve by March 2027. 

Other milestones include:  A new cyber and fraud division to tackle the growing demand of online crime, a refreshed commitment to what contact the public can expect from officers after reporting a crime, strengthened vetting and misconduct regulations to safeguard standards and integrity, a greater role for police staff in jobs that don’t need policing powers and improving efficiency in back offices through greater use of AI and technology to automate paperwork. 

Chief Constable Jo Farrell said: “The reform of policing in Scotland removed £200m from the annual cost base compared to legacy arrangements while improving service to the public. 

“To strengthen the frontline, reconnect with communities, and respond to emerging threats when the outlook for public finances is challenging, we must progress the next phase of police reform. 

“Our vision and values set the guiding principles and ambitions for policing and our business plan details the steps we are taking to deliver for our communities and our workforce, relentlessly prioritising frontline services. 

“This is a positive and ambitious vision and plan for policing and, while we outline milestones taking us to 2027, our approach will remain flexible and subject to funding. 

“I’ve asked Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors to take strategic oversight of this vital work and she had established Operation Evolve to drive the changes necessary to deliver safer communities, less crime, supported victims, and a thriving workforce. 

“We will continue to share further information on individual workstreams as progress is made.” 

Steven Naismith has admitted his disappointment at being relieved of his duties at Hearts, but said: “My biggest hope is that from my time at the football club, I have helped make people better, whether that was on the pitch or off it.”

The axe fell after a disastrous start to the new season, but the former head coach reminded fans that during his first year he was able to bring a level of success including European football, the most league wins in nearly 20 years, the most away wins in 32 years and some good individual performances and results.

The former Scotland international forward (pictured by David Mollison) parted company with the Tynecastle club after eight years and said in a statement: “From my first day, I formed a strong connection with the club and all who work there.

“I knew, understood and appreciated the standards and demands of HMFC and this was something I constantly tried to uphold as a player and manager.

“The board put faith in me and gave me the opportunity to become a leader of the club and I am truly grateful for that.

“I fully believe that the board are the right people to guide the club. I also believe the club is very near to taking the next step and progressing to the next level, continuing on the trajectory it has been on.

“In my opinion, the squad of players has lots of potential, even though this season, at times, we have struggled to get going. I have confidence that they will fulfil their potential.

“The challenge to play at a big club and deal with the pressure associated is tough at times but, once you understand it, and learn to deal with it, it is a great attribute to have.”

He added: “The fans are a huge part of the football club and their work to secure control of the club is special. Hearts have many great people who follow the club every week, the desire for success is clear to see.

“I really do hope you get some special moments in the near future. Keep following and backing the players.”  

Edinburgh’s Deepti Vijayakumar, 16, won both the girls under-19 singles and doubles at the Yonex National Badminton Championships in Glasgow.

In the singles final Deepti, who was claiming her second title in this age-group, defeated Jaagruti Mannem while her doubles partner was Qing Yang Xiao.

They overcame the challenge of Gemma Foulis and Shannon Leslie.

Deepti, a pupil at St George’s School, is pictured on the right alongside runner up Jaagruti Mannem and senior Scotland internationalist Ciara Torrance who presented the prizes.

Fast rising Edinburgh tennis star Jacob Fearnley is expected to have to go up a level, adding to his laurels when he returns to the ATP Challenger tour at the Co’met Orleans Open in France this week.

Fearnley, winner of three Challenger titles since June and up to world No 129 after a meteoric climb of 400 places in three months, finds himself in the draw alongside the likes of Richard Gasquet, 37, a 16 times ATP tour winner and successful in over 600 professional matches. He has been as high as world No 7.

Also taking part will be Denis Shapovalov, the 25-year-old Canadian who is a former world No 10 but like Gasquet has slipped down the rankings though he did help his country qualify for the Davis Cup finals in Manchester earlier this month.

Shapovalov is seeded second behind Quentin Halys, a Frenchman beaten by Fearnley in the final at Rennes last time out.

Fearnley is seeded eighth and is due to open against a qualifier. If successful another ranking boost could beckon and he goes into action with words of encouragement ringing in his ears from GB Davis Cup coach Leon Smith who was quoted in “The National” newspaper saying: “He’s gone (up) really quickly. It’s really impressive the way he is going. He’ll be part of our squad in future for sure.

“It’s one thing going up the rankings but you also see his quality. You look at the players he has been beating.

“He’s had to beat five (French players in France) in a row.

“That’s also a sign if you are going to be a Davis Cup player. You have to be able to handle these sort of things.”

Angry objectors confronted councillors after they delayed a decision over a church being used as a wedding venue at the request of the applicant.

Nearly a dozen local residents attended the meeting of Midlothian Council’s Local Review Body in its chambers this morning where the application for West Church, in Dalkeith, was due to be heard.

But they were left frustrated after officers told the meeting a decision had been taken to delay making a decision on the case as the applicant, who had initially agreed to written submission, had requested an opportunity to speak at a hearing.

After exchanges with members of the public with the microphones off in the chamber, one resident was give the chance to make a statement on behalf of those attending.

He told the committee objectors had followed the planning process and did not believe the case should be delayed.

He said: “Earlier in the week the officers report on this application was issued and as far as we were concerned that was the line in the sand for any further discussions.

“We’ve turned up at the meeting today to find it has been deferred. I am at a loss to know how that is justified. We have followed all the procedures and the rules and now it seems to have changed with no communication to us to say we are also entitled to further representation.”

The meeting heard that as the councillors had agreed to defer the case they had not visited the site yet so could not make a decision on it.

Councillor Peter Smaill, chairing the meeting, told members of the public attending the hearing: “I apologise for the disappointment.”

The appeal was against planning officers refusal to change a condition attached to the church when it was given the go ahead to be turned into a cabinetmakers that stopped it being used for other business.

The applicants said they wanted to use it as a wedding venue with a marquee in the grounds, however it received more than 40 objections along with four letters of support.

Planning officers rejected the application saying it had not been proved that the change “would not have a serious and significant adverse impact on the amenity of surrounding residential properties as a result of noise and disturbance”.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

An independent Edinburgh art gallery has announced details of a new solo exhibition of work from Scottish artist Gordon Mitchell RSA RSW RGI. 

‘Sight-Seer’ will be Mitchell’s second solo exhibition at Morningside Gallery, comprising a collection of more than 40 new paintings which promise to be perceptive and uplifting, with more than a little humour. 

Born in Edinburgh in 1952, Gordon drew and painted from early childhood, with a pictorial, photographic memory even as a youth. The ability to see an object in his mind and then draw or paint it with accuracy was a skill he developed early on. 

Gordon studied at Edinburgh College of Art, embarking upon a career in teaching until becoming a full-time painter in 1989. He is an elected Member of the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour (1997), the Royal Glasgow Institute (1998) and the Royal Scottish Academy (2005). 

There is more than meets the eye in a Gordon Mitchell exhibition. Always thought-provoking, Gordon’s work draws upon traditional iconography, news stories and visual puns, to create unexpected juxtapositions and perceptive visual commentaries. Gordon has a distaste for the ‘taken for granted’, and he enjoys looking beyond logic and everyday reasoning. He invites us into his iconic painterly world, rich with meaning and intrigue, but his humour ensures that we stop just short of taking it and ourselves too seriously. 

Eileadh Swan, director of Morningside Gallery said,  
“We’re really looking forward to welcoming Gordon back to the gallery and to launching the exhibition with a Private View on Friday 27th September.  Irreverent, warm, and self-effacing, Gordon’s company is as enjoyable as his paintings. Crowds of collectors, friends, family and former students joined us for his exhibition last year, and we’re expecting this to be another very popular show. 

Based at Church Hill in Morningside, the gallery will display over 40 new paintings for the exhibition, which can also be viewed online and toured as a virtual exhibition will be available for anyone who can’t make it to Edinburgh. 

The exhibition will run in the gallery from Saturday 28th September – 12th October, and is open to the public.  A virtual exhibition will be available online at morningsidegallery.co.uk where all of the paintings are available to browse or buy. 

Opponents to an Edinburgh low traffic scheme have raised £5,000 in just 24 hours as they prepare to mount a legal challenge against the council.

It comes after transport officials backed making Corstophine’s low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) permanent, following an 18-month trial which has proved controversial in the community.

Councillors had been expected to make a final decision at the traffic regulation orders sub-committee on Tuesday, September 24. However it has now emerged that report was pulled just hours before the meeting over concerns objections “weren’t clearly being articulated in the report,” according to transport convener Stephen Jenkinson.

Ahead of the meeting Accessible Corstorphine for Everyone (ACE) has launched a crowd funder to continue their fight against the measures introduced, which include traffic restrictions to stop drivers taking short cuts through residential streets.

After being set up last week a fundraising target of £5,000 was reached in one day, and donations are continuing to be collected.

ACE said the money will go toward obtaining legal expertise on the LTN and whether a court challenge against the local authority could be successful. Anything raised above the target “will be used either for further legal action/advice or donated to Corstorphine Community Centre,” it said.

Soon after the pilot commenced in June last year anti-LTN campaigners told the Local Democracy Reporting Service they were looking at “going down a legal route to see if the council has done this illegally and if there’s a legal fight to be had”.

The plan is not without precedent in the city. In 2021 East Craigs locals raised thousands to fund research and legal advice, which found use of certain traffic orders for the area’s LTN would be unlawful, and the scheme was scrapped.

Having since lost a further three costly judicial reviews, which challenged the local authority’s regulation of strip clubs and short-term lets, council chiefs will be looking to avoid any more legal battles that could undermine their authority or drain resources.

As well as shutting three roads to through traffic, the trial in Corstorphine – which sought to address long-running concerns over the level of non-residential traffic passing through the area – has introduced wider pavements, bollards, new crossings, and temporary traffic restrictions around schools at drop off and pick up times.

The most contested feature has been a ‘bus gate’ at the end of Manse Road, which bans general traffic from turning onto St John’s Road at peak times. A camera set up to watch the junction and fine rule-breakers has been cut down three times.

Monitoring of the LTN showed that during operational hours of the bus gate the volume of traffic on Manse Road fell by 956 vehicles, while an increase of 1,875 vehicles was recorded in the whole project area.

Over the 18-months overall traffic increased across the LTN and its boundary roads by 6.5 per cent – which is similar to the average rise in car journeys in the whole of western Edinburgh over the same period – but the streets around Corstorphine Primary saw a 9.2 per cent decrease.

Critics have argued the results demonstrate the scheme has not been a success and that, with 556 people objecting to it out of a total 776 who responded to consultations, it lacks local support and should now be scrapped.

However the council suggested more were in favour than against, after market research indicated that “50 per cent of residents support the project and 24 per cent oppose”.

It also said the overall increase in traffic in the area “are beyond what could reasonably be attributed solely to traffic rerouteing due to the traffic management measures introduced by the project”.

Pupils walking, wheeling or cycling to school rose in the LTN by three per cent, it added, while those being driven fell by seven per cent. “It appears the that the traffic reduction measures around Corstorphine Primary School have been most effective in assisting cycling and scooting whilst potentially also encouraging more park and stride and less driving,” a report stated.

Officials have recommended making the measures permanent but reducing operational hours of the bus gate to align with the start and end of school days.

The council has not yet said when the sub-committee responsible for deciding the future of the scheme will be rescheduled for.

Commenting on the move to pull the report at the eleventh hour, Cllr Jenkinson said: “I had a concern that all objections weren’t clearly being articulated in the report being considered by the sub committee on Tuesday and therefore I agreed with officers that this report should be pulled.

“This is obviously very disappointing for everyone with an interest in this project. I won’t apologise for setting a high bar for officer reports and I expect a new report to be presented at the very next meeting of the sub committee.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

The number of short term holiday lets (STLs) allowed to operate in an East Lothian town will need to be decided in the near future, a councillor has warned.

Councillor Jeremy Findlay was speaking as a meeting of the council’s Local Review Body rejected appeals over a decision to refuse a change of use to two flats used as STLs in North Berwick last week.

A report on one flat’s application said “There is an increasing number of overnight stays in East Lothian for work purposes (which is expected to increase over the next 10-15 years) such that the loss of short term accommodation is likely to have a significant negative impact on the local tourist economy in monetary and reputational terms.”

Mr Findlay, who supported the change of use of the flat, on Forth Street, questioned the view of officers that a holiday let which shared a communal stairwell with residential properties led to noise from suitcases being moved up and down stairs regularly.

And he said the time was coming when the council would have to make a decision on how many holiday lets could operate in the coastal town.

He said: “We know North Berwick has a thriving tourism industry. I note the comment in the officers report that the reduction in STLs will at some point have an impact on the vitality of the area.

“At some point we are going to have to make a decision about how many STLs we have in North Berwick. At some point it is going to affect the vitality. It is something we as a planning authority and a council are going to have to start taking into account very soon.”

Fellow review body member Councillor John McMillan, who voted against the appeal, said: “As economic development spokesperson I agree with Councillor Findlay and we are about a year into this legislation and I do think we are going to need to review it and give feedback to Scottish Government about its potential effect on tourism.”

The change of use applications have been coming into the council since new legislations called for STLs to be licensed to operate, which in many cases requires planning permission to be in place.

There is no current policy in place within the council about STLs but in the majority of cases where they share a stairwell or entrance with other residential properties planners have tended to refuse permission.

Both the flat on Fort Street, and another flat on East Road, lost appeals against the refusal of a change of use over use as holiday lets.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

The Edinburgh Green party have selected Daniel Milligan as their candidate in the upcoming Colinton – Fairmilehead by-election.

He hopes to join the 10 Green Councillors in Edinburgh and is campaigning on a message of taking serious action for climate justice, fair housing and local democracy. He has lived in Oxgangs, and attended primary school there for a year in the mid-90’s. He moved back to South Edinburgh two years ago, has a degree in environmental microbiology. He currently works in healthcare logistics. In his free time he enjoys photography and the outdoors.

Daniel said: “In November, residents of Colinton-Fairmilehead will have a chance to vote like their future depends on it by supporting me as the Scottish Green candidate in the upcoming by-election. This is the first time I’m standing for election, and I think I will be a good councillor because of my strong sense of social justice and wide range of interests, from languages and culture to accessibility and mental health. I’m really looking forward to meeting more people over the coming months to hear about their experiences of living in the area and how public services have been holding up under Council cuts.

“We’re at a critical point for action on climate change, where we urgently need the talk of emissions targets over the last decades to turn into real progress towards net zero. To reach this goal, we are calling for a just transition that safeguards the rights and well-being of working people. This has got to be a transformative process at every level of our society, which is why local authorities and communities are so important in bringing about the changes that are needed.”

Improving the routes for people to travel sustainably in the Colinton-Fairmilehead will be one of Daniel’s priorities for the campaign.

He said: “For a few years now I’ve been taking part in campaigns for better active-travel provision in the city, particularly for cycling. This is how I generally get about, and while it is liberating, I realise we need better on-road provisions to make it safer for children getting to school, delivery riders who depend on cycling to make a living, and for anybody that finds off-road paths intimidating as well. Neighbouring wards have seen some progress on protecting bicycle lanes such as on Lanark Road, where local groups have mobilised effectively to persuade the Council to retain them. But in Colinton-Fairmilehead we are missing basic cycle lanes on the major roads, and there are no bike storage hangers anywhere in the ward. We need the Council to be much better at rolling out the cycle network which has been promised, to ensure that residents further away from the city centre aren’t excluded.

“Cycling is just one part of developing a well-connected city, as people should be able to access what they need daily by walking or wheeling as well, which means we need to improve our paths and pavements. The ward hosts a wealth of green spaces, but  depending on which part of it you live in, not everyone is able to enjoy them. This is why local voices need to be amplified, and Green Councillors have been working on ensuring the council is listening – they’ve secured funding for a Community Climate Action Coordinator that will support local action on climate, and they are pushing for progress on giving Community Councils more powers.”

Housing will likely play a key part in this election, with the Council having declared a housing emergency, and homelessness levels in the city soaring. Daniel is keen to continue the actions of Green representatives in Councils and the Scottish Parliament.

He said: “As regulations on rents and conditions are improved thanks to Green MSPs, we need to ensure folk are aware of their rights which can be the difference in keeping a roof over their head and not having to make a choice between heating and eating. In one of the richest cities in the world, Greens find it completely abhorrent and unacceptable that basic human rights are not being met and our classist society means there are massive disparities in how different people are able to advocate and organise for themselves. Green Councillors in Edinburgh have been promoting the role of housing co-operatives and the work of the tenants’ union Living Rent to achieve this.

“In a society where the prevailing message is that you can only rely on yourself, the Scottish Greens want to rebuild trust between people, and send the message that we can rely on each other! In acting locally while thinking globally, we also want to make sure that – as a city steeped in the legacy of colonialism – we’re dismantling unjust structures and extending solidarity to oppressed people around the world. This is why Green Councillors in the past year have been keeping Palestine on the agenda at Edinburgh City Chambers, and have sought assurances that council representatives do not engage with companies with links to slavery of the Uyghur Chinese people.”

BY-ELECTION

On Thursday 26 September the formal Notice of Election will be published and the Election Timetable, Election Notices and Nomination Papers will all be accessible from the City of Edinburgh Council website.

The Returning Officer, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, Paul Lawrence said:

Following his election as Member of Parliament for the Edinburgh South West constituency in the UK Parliament, Professor Scott Arthur has formally resigned as a member of the City of Edinburgh Council and I wish him well in the future.

Voters in the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward now have a chance to make their voices heard again to elect a councillor to take his place to represent them on the city of Edinburgh Council.

Candidates will be confirmed when nominations close at 4pm on Monday 14 October.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 14 November.

The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system where voters can rank candidates in order of preference rather than using a single cross. Voters can give a rank to as many or as few candidates as they like.

Find out more about elections in Edinburgh and how to register to vote on the Council website.

Hibs lost out to Glasgow City at Petershill Park on Sunday despite a battling defensive display.  

Emily Whelan netted inside the first minute from range, but the Edinburgh side managed to compose themselves and settle to keep the game within reach until half-time. 

An improved second half followed until late strikes from Sophia Maatta and Rammie Noel sealed all three points for City as Hibs pushed bodies forward in search of another late comeback.

After the final whistle Head Coach Grant Scott told Hibs TV that he offered “no excuses” on his side’s performance after failing to turn the game around after the extremely early setback. 

“I’m struggling to reflect today. Once again it is disappointing that I don’t think we have got to our performance levels. Now, we can give credit to Glasgow City for that. They were very purposeful in their work today. But I’m disappointed we didn’t get to those levels. 

“It’s an opportunity for us to come here and play against a good team. We’ve not done that and let ourselves down a little bit today. It’s one of those moments. We will reflect on it, take learnings from it and move on very quickly. 

“We know the venue, it’s not changed all that much. But sometimes you come up against an opponent who is very dominant on the day. We just couldn’t fight our way into the match as we would’ve liked to. No excuses.” 

Whelan found the net inside the first minute after slack play in defence allowed the attacker clear sight at goal from range. 

“The timing of the goal is ridiculous,” said Scott on the deflating opener. “It’s a mistake, I don’t have to go off at the players because they know they should do better in those moments. 

“Against that quality of opponent, it gives you a real task to get back into the game — you’re then chasing and they can control the tempo a bit better.” 

While Scott was disappointed by certain aspects of the match, he admits there was not too much wrong with the team’s structure and that the a positive result remained in reach until the latter stages. 

“I didn’t feel that we were under a massive amount of pressure. Territorially, the ball was in our half more certainly. But we didn’t get cut open too much. 

“The game was competitive and I felt we were in it for long spells.” 

Hibs midfielder Ciara Grant added: “Conceding an early goal was not the ideal start but these things happen.”  

“We held out to half-time and we knew we were not having a good game. We had a good chat and played a bit better in the second half. But we concede sloppy goals. 

“That’s a few sloppy goals we’ve given away in the last few games, so there are things we need to work on. 

“The league is getting more competitive and teams are getting better; the top five or six teams are so competitive now that if you make a mistake in the backline teams are going to punish you. 

“I’m just really disappointed with how we conceded today.” 

Hibs head to Ochilview to take on Queen’s Park in the Sky Sports Cup. 

Grant continued: “It’s a cup game, so it’s a nice break from the league maybe. For us, it’s about reflecting on this game here. 

“We conceded against Queen’s Park last week too, which just shows if you make a mistake across the league you will concede.” 

Police are appealing for information following a fatal collision involving a pedestrian and a van in East Lothian. 

Around 10.40am on Sunday, 22 September, 2024, officers were called to a report of a collision in a car park at Seton Sands Caravan Park, in Port Seton. 

Emergency services attended and the 86-year-old female pedestrian was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where she later died. 

Her family are aware. 

The 45-year-old male driver of the white Vauxhall Combo van was not injured. 

Sergeant Dominic Doyle said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman who has died. 

“Enquiries are ongoing and I would like to speak to any residents or holidaymakers who were in the area around this time and may have seen what happened. 

“I am also appealing for anyone with relevant dash-cam or any other footage to get in touch on 101, quoting incident 1226 of Sunday, 22 September, 2024.” 

Police have arrested and charged a 37-year-old man in connection with an assault on High School Wynd, Edinburgh which took place on Friday 20 September 2024. 

This followed an altercation between a 34-year-old cyclist and the occupants of a vehicle. 

A video of the incident was widely shared on social media and viewed around six million times. 

Officers say that the accused man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today Monday 23rd September 2024.

A police spokesperson said: “A 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged with the alleged assault of a 34-year-old male cyclist on High School Wynd, Edinburgh, on Friday, 20 September 2024. 

“He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 23 September 2024.” 

Fife Flyers lost 8-5 at Kirkcaldy to Scottish rivals Glasgow Clan in the Fife Ice Arena in a Challenge Cup clash in which the home side were outshot 54-33.

Only 24-hours earlier, head coach Tom Coolen (pictured) saw his squad beaten 5-1 at Cardiff Devils in the Elite League.

Clan scored after only eight seconds, through Cole Ully and the Braehead club slipped in No 2 after 8min 11sec when Steven Seigo netted on a power play with Flyers’ forward Drake Pilon called for slashing.

A minute later and Ully was on the mark for his second and Clan’s third, but Flyers hit back after 16 minutes when Michael Cichy netted on the power play with Phelix Martineau setting-up the chance.

And they cut the deficit further when Martineau scored unassisted just over two minutes later, but Clan refused to buckle and Ully scored his third with 18 seconds left of the first session for a 4-2 interval lead.

It became 5-2 after 3min 13sec of period two when Gary Haden, who loves scoring against Fife, found the net before Lucas Chiodo pulled one back after 28 minutes with Nikolai Shulga and Noah Delmas involved in the build-up.

However, Clan were in no mood to surrender their lead and they fired their sixth after 43 minutes when Joe Hazeldine netted unassisted and short-handed with team-mate Mitchell Heard in the sin bin on an interference call.

The goal was given after a video review.

And it got worse for the home side when Cade Neilson, son of Clan coach, Corey, scored the seventh with less than 13 minutes remaining, but Flyers stuck to their task and scored their fourth in the 50^th minute through Tyler Heidt, unassisted, for 7-4.

Flyers closed the gap to two after 52 minutes when Pilon netted unassisted and Clan had a goal ruled off two minutes later following a coach’s challenge for goaltender interference before Flyers withdrew their netminder, Shane Owen, to give them six skaters with less than three minutes left on the clock.

The gamble backfired with Deven Sideroff scored after being fed by Heard with less than two minutes remaining.

Dundee Stars, beaten 5-4 by Manchester Storm on Tayside on Saturday in the Elite League where shutout 5-0 by Belfast Giants in the Challenge Cup on Sunday.

Police are appealing for information following a serious crash in Midlothian. 

The crash, involving a silver Volkswagen Passat Estate and a blue Vauxhall Grandland, happened on the A7 near to Tynehead around 10.15pm on Friday, 20 September, 2024. 

The occupants of the Vauxhall, an 80-year-old man and a 79-year-old woman, were taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with serious injuries. 

The driver of the Volkswagen, a 69-year-old man, attended Borders General Hospital with a serious injury. 

Constable Stewart Logan said: “Our enquiries into the crash are ongoing. I would ask anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or who may have dash-cam footage, and has not yet spoken to or provided this information to officers, to contact us as soon as possible. 

“We would like to speak to the driver of a heavy goods vehicle who was travelling behind the Vauxhall prior to the collision. If that was you, please get in touch.” 

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101, quoting reference 4452 of 20 September, 2024. 

Work to remove dangerous crumbling concrete from school roofs in Edinburgh has been hit by a setback after the council’s contractor went into administration.

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) was found in eight of the city’s schools following investigations, costing the authority up to £50m in repairs.

Used up to the 1980s, the cheap, bubbly material has a lifespan of around 30 years and is now liable to suddenly collapsing. Concerns over the risk to pupils sparked the closure or part closure of hundreds of schools across the UK last year as emergency remedial works were commissioned.

Hadden Construction, which was carrying out RAAC removal projects at four Edinburgh schools, announced last week it had gone into administration, resulting in 66 job losses.

It means works have now been put on hold at Trinity, Cramond, Pentland and Colinton primary schools.

Council bosses said they have “bolstered resources” to ensure delays are kept to a minimum.

Crawford McGhie, the council’s head of strategic asset planning, said at Trinity and Cramond repairs were “nearing completion” and officials were working with the main sub-contractor “to see if we can take on the responsibility for those works”.

However rectifications at Colinton Primary and Pentland are yet to begin and a retendering process to find a new contractor could delay works being progressed by two to three months, officials said. 

Initial mitigation measures at Colinton Primary were “minimal and implemented quickly” with no impact on school operations, with the roof replacement costing around £2m. At Pentland Primary, the presence of RAAC has rendered its kitchen and part of a corridor not capable of being used safely, however additional classroom space has been available and school meals have been delivered.

Mr McGhie said: “At Trinity which is the one nearest completion there are ongoing surveys to look at the detail of the work that’s actually been completed and whether that aligns with the contractor that’s gone into administration, what they were claiming had been done.

“We’ll look to get an indication of the programme to completion . . . the classrooms there were due to be handed over already so we’re at least looking at a delay until the end of October.”

“For the other two, Pentland and Colinton, the works hadn’t really been started so the likeihood is that they will be retendered.

“I would imagine two to three months for a re-tendering process would be the delay at least in those circumstances. That’s a rough guess at the moment.”

Peter Watton, head of property and facilities management, added: “Whilst we can’t give anything definitive I’d like to give committee the assurance that we’re giving it the utmost priority in terms of finding a solution.

“Unfortunately these circumstances, whilst they are not new, they do create a problem and we have to address that as soon as we can in order to get the buildings finished.

“We’ve bolstered resources in that area to make sure we keep delays to a minimum and do it as quickly as possible.”

Meanwhile councillors have agreed to set up a temporary library facility in a modular building outside Davidson’s Mains Primary School while Blackhall Library remains closed following the discovery of RAAC.

A report said options include replacing all the library’s RAAC, or knocking it down and building a new one on the same site or on the Davidson’s Mains Primary School site.

“Because there is the opportunity for the replacement library to be in a different location, it is proposed that detailed community engagement to discuss and consider these options is progressed over the next six months.” the report said.

“The best value option is for the facility to be purchased rather than rented. This option allows the most flexibility in terms of the time taken to deliver the permanent solution as the one-off cost is known compared to rental fees which increase the longer it takes to deliver the permanent replacement library.

“The cost of the temporary facility will be in the region of £1m and can be funded from the RAAC capital budget allocated in the 2024 budget setting process.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

This article is the third part in our mini series about Low Traffic Neighbourhood measures introduced in Corstorphine.

The Improve Corstorphine Group focuses on matters that they believe the whole community can get behind, gathering evidence  and feeding that evidence back to the council. 

The group is made up of ordinary residents in Corstorphine who are not involved in any existing campaigning groups or committees. Having such a group allows membership of the Community Reference Group for the Corstorphine Connections project. They have provided evidence and challenged assertions over the past year in relation to this Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN). The emphasis is on the residents of Corstorphine working together and where they disagree, doing so respectfully. They are if you will the middle ground – and not often heard.

Here they explain what they do and what they would like to happen when the sub-committee meets on Tuesday to decide if the LTN measures should become permanent.

Corstorphine Connections

The Corstorphine Connections objectives are to:

• improve the safety of routes to schools in the area
• understand and address issues with speed and volume of traffic in residential streets
• improve walking and cycling routes and access in the area
• improve local air quality
• create a more attractive environment with new public realm spaces.

The City of Edinburgh Council received Scottish Government funding to be specifically spent on the project. No money was diverted from pothole fixing or the many other things that need done. LTNs were supported over the years by all political parties as a way of improving neighbourhoods, although recently that stance has changed.

In Corstorphine there is a long history of traffic issues and measures such as the closure of South Gyle Road to through traffic has had wide community support. 

More unites the residents of Corstorphine than divides them. 

All groups broadly agree with the widening of pavements and installation of crossing points making life easier for families, the disabled and the elderly. 

Everyone wants safe routes to school for children and encouragement of active travel. But that approach has to be inclusive – for instance, Improve Corstorphine has been arguing for better parking for parents who live near the airport and have a stressful morning school run by car. They have also asked for small bus route diversions once a day to allow children to travel to the Primary School, as happens in other council areas.

Consultation and communication was originally ineffective

The council changes coupled with ineffective consultation have set resident against resident with frustration and anger about disruption to daily lives and the apparent poor value for money when so much needs fixed. The council’s project manager is committed to communication and has attended nearly every Community Council meeting over the last four years. He also runs a Community Reference Group.

Communication with residents has improved over the project with leaflet drops to every household. Despite that many people leading busy lives say they have never heard of the community council, have not seen the leaflets and did not know about the Community Reference Groups – so their input has been missed.

Lack of school improvements in the project area

Pupils in the project area attend five different schools, but only routes to two have been considered and even then Corstorphine Connections misses the majority of pupils at one. No improvements at all have been made for Gylemuir Primary, Forrester High School, or St Augustine’s nor has the full catchment area for Corstorphine Primary been considered for improvements with hundreds of pupils travelling long distances without safety improvements.

Using census data Improve Corstorphine have asked council officials why there have been no improvements at all for hundreds of young people. They have also asked officials to look at resident journeys – how do they get to the chemist or post office when roads are closed and no cycleways are present?

Featherhall, Station Road and the bus gate

Featherhall and Station Road feedback is pretty negative as the residents in these areas suffer daily frustrations. Correspondents from these areas say that consultation was poor and the implementation does not meet residents’ needs .

The signage for the bus gate continues to be ineffective at alerting people from outside the area of what a bus gate is, and that they will be fined. The council’s own figures show that 92% of drivers fined are from outside the project area which indicates the signage is still an issue.

Local people regularly stop cars and the School Crossing lady says she stops six cars an afternoon being fined.

More than 400 potholes have been reported and made safe

Improve Corstorphine try to live up to their name and more than 400 potholes have been made safe across the area after members reported them to the council uniting car drivers , cyclists and pedestrians in positive action. 

Map showing over 400 potholes reported:

Other initiatives include installation of litter bins, the repair of pavements after liaising with a local disability group, graffiti removal and collecting evidence on other council consultations such as St Margaret’s Park Bowling Green and the realignment of community council boundaries.

Streets identified by Improve Corstorphine for cleaning and the result:

New litter bin installed after Improve Corstorphine provide evidence to the council

The Council need to learn lessons and apply them going forward

One of the sad aspects to this project is that it has polarised opinion and led to the harassment of individuals on both sides of the debate. People from each side are giving up their spare time to help build a better Corstorphine but with passions running high no local organisation has taken a stance for or against the changes. Meetings are all online preventing a building of relationships and continuing a feeling of exclusion.

A decision will be taken on Tuesday 24 September at the meeting of the new sub-committee. Whatever happens we need to ensure the wider community has a chance to input to measures going forward and allow debate between all residents in Corstorphine. There are many people who are now engaged and  we can harness that community energy to Improve Corstorphine. 

Police in Edinburgh say they are following a ‘positive line of enquiry’ in connection with a reported assault in High School Wynd. 

The incident took place following an altercation between a 34-year-old male cyclist and the driver of a vehicle around 6.25pm on Friday 20 September 2024. 

A video posted online shows the cyclist initially speaking to a female in front of the vehicle before the male driver emerges from the driver’s side and throws the cyclist to the ground. 

The clip has so far been viewed almost six million times, and clearly shows the identity of the alleged assailant, his partner and the registration number of the car. We are unable to report any of these details as a police investigation is underway.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 6.25pm on Friday, 20 September, 2024, we received a report of a male cyclist being assaulted during an altercation with the male driver of a car in High School Wynd, Edinburgh. 

“The 34-year-old victim was taken to hospital to be checked over and officers are following positive lines of enquiry in relation to the incident.” 

Robbie Neilson was sacked as manager of Hearts in April 2023 after a 2-0 home defeat by St Mirren after almost three years in charge and following five straight defeats.

His replacement, Steven Naismith, parted company with the Tynecastle team less than 24-hours after their 2-1 reverse to The Buddies at the SMiSA Stadium on Saturday.

Naismith, Gordon Forrest and Frankie McAvoy (pictured in the Tynecastle dugout) were recently handed contract extensions to 2026 but Liam Fox takes over as interim manager assisted by Angus Beith and Lee Wallace. Beith is involved with the B Team and Wallace the under-18 side.

A statement on the club’s website said Liam, the B Team head coach, will temporarily oversee first team affairs while the board undergoes the process of appointing a new management team.

Andrew McKinlay, the club’s chief executive officer, confirmed that the board met on Sunday to agree a way forward and the process of identifying and hiring a new management team has started.

He stressed that updated would be provided in due course and urged fans to continue to back the team.

Earlier, McKinlay confirmed the departure of head coach Naismith and his assistants Forrest and McAvoy in a statement which said: “Steven, Gordon and Frankie leave Hearts following a 17-month spell in the Tynecastle dugout as the club’s management team.”

McKinlay added: “I’d like to firstly thank Steven, Gordon and Frankie for all their efforts over the past year and a half. They worked tirelessly in their roles and without them we would not have enjoyed the successes of last season.

“However, things can change quickly, particularly in football, and it has been clear for all to see that things are not working this season. Results and performances have fallen below the standards expected at this football club and, unfortunately, there is little evidence of any potential upturn in fortunes.

“With our UEFA Conference League campaign about to commence, and the spotlight on our league position, we cannot afford to stand still.

“That is why we, as a Board of Directors, have made the difficult decision to part ways with the management team who go with our thanks and best wishes.

“We will update supporters shortly about next steps in both the short and long term but, for now, the club shall be making no further comment.”

Hearts, of course, entertain eighth-placed Ross County at Tynecastle on Saturday, September 28 (15.00) then travel to face Dinamo Minsk on Thursday, October 3 in the Mehdi Huseynzade Stadium (kick off 17.45) in Azerbaijan in the UEFA Conference League.

Then they jet direct to Aberdeen where they face the second-placed Dons at Pittodrie Stadium on Sunday, October 6 (15.00). Aberdeen under new manager Jimmy Thelin are on 15 points, the same at leaders Celtic.

Looking back, Naismith, a former Scotland international who played for Everton (103 appearances) and Norwich City (44) in England as well as Kilmarnock (102 appearances), Rangers (98), ended his playing career at Hearts and took over the club’s B team.

The 38-year-old, Irvine-born, ex-player was promoted when Neilson was sacked and was handed the head coach job on an interim basis in June last year. The club finished a clear third in the 12-strong table and ended the season on a high with a 3-3 draw against Rangers at Tynecastle.

Pressure has, however, been building after a disastrous run of eight straight defeats and fans were deeply unhappy with the performance of their favourites who started the current league campaign with an encouraging 0-0 draw at home to Rangers.

Naismith remained bullish after the defeat in Paisley which leaves the club propping up the 12-strong table with only one point after six games.

He said he was “up for the fight” and felt he could rediscover the form which took them into third last term. The board thought otherwise.

Officers from South West Edinburgh have been carrying out proactive patrols over the weekend as part of Operation Sheath. 

Operation Sheath is an initiative aimed at reducing knife related crime in SW Edinburgh.  

Last night Saturday 21^st September 2024 officers stopped numerous individuals and vehicles. 

As a result of this action two people were reporter for road traffic offences. 

One person was reported for drug driving. 

Three people were reported for drug offences and one person was arrested after being found in possession of a knife. 

Operation Sheath will run throughout September and October with further dedicated patrols and days of action planned. 

This is the most up to date list of roadworks and events leading to road closures or diversions for traffic in Edinburgh for the next week or so.

If you see anything on the roads which is not on the list then let the travel team know on Twitter @EdinTravel or otherwise you can check on the Scottish Roadworks register which is a comprehensive list of places to avoid.

Updated versions of the listings are posted to the website most weekday afternoons, these can be found by going to https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/edintravel

Any new works or events are marked in blue.

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Craig Halkett scored with a header in a losing cause at St Mirren in the William Hill Premiership on Saturday, a rare moment of joy in a difficult season for Hearts and after a mentally tough spell on the sidelines through injury.

The Scotland under-19 international defender had, only two days previously, appeared at a media briefing where he articulated his lengthy comeback which culminated with restoration of Halkett into first team duty.

The 29-year-old made his long-awaited comeback after nearly two years and he stressed that the injury and stop-start recovery period had been a difficult period in his career.

He has enjoyed a full pre-season and Campsie-born Halkett, who joined Hearts as a free agent from Livingston in July 2019 on a three-year deal after 144 appearances for the West Lothian club, admitted: “I knew the start of the season was going to be difficult as I knew how well the boys did last year. I have bided my time waiting to come in and I have done that. The results have not gone our way, but it is good to get back and try to do what I can to help.”

The former Livi Lions skipper, who came through the youth system at Rangers, and had loan spells at Clyde and Berwick Rangers, said: “You can train and do as much as you can off the pitch, but it is really hard to get match fitness back (after being out so long) and match sharpness can only come with games. It is not so much fitness, it is about the wee things that happen in games, the game reactions mentally and positions, and I am getting there.”

Looking at the squad in general, Halkett said that confidence is not as high as it would be if Hearts were winning games and picking up points but he added: “It is something we are really working hard on and we all want the same goal, players, coaches and fans, we all want the same at the club.”

Part of the recovery process is re-watching past games and putting them under a microscope to view things that they are doing right and issues the club can improve on.

Halkett said: “As a group, collectively, we all know what the goal is and we want to win games of football. We have not been doing that but, when you are at Hearts you have pressure every single game, no matter if you are winning or losing. We all know what the situation is but we are all confident we have got the quality of squad in the changing room.

“In general, Hearts are one of the biggest clubs in Scotland and clubs are going to give you a little more respect, but, off the back of last year and how well we did, it is up to us to break teams down and to make sure we get the win.”

The big defender said: “There are moments in games which are not falling our way at the moment, a scrappy goal or referees decision, but it is up to us to doing what we are doing on the training pitch and to keep working on it and put that work into place on a Saturday. We all know that if we are doing the right things then results will come.”

Halkett stressed that the Tynecastle club “have a great group down there” and added: “We are all working as hard as we can every day and training has been really good most weeks. Come a Saturday, we are just coming up a little bit short and I am sure if we keep doing what we are doing then results will come.”

There has been criticism of Hearts during their poor run and Halkett said: “You don’t want to ignore what everyone is saying, but it is up to us to block it out (criticism from fans) and do what we have been working on and it is just getting that first win and taking it from there.”

Charlie Jack comes from sound, hockey-playing stock. His Jedburgh-born mother, Janet, a former Great Britain and Scotland player, has captained Scotland’s women Over 55s in the Masters World Cup and has been a stalwart for Fjordhus Reivers Hockey, the largest hockey club in the Borders.

No surprise then that Charlie has followed in his famous mum’s prodigious footsteps and his carving a career for himself in the sport north of the Border.

He is big in stature and a huge influence for Edinburgh club side Inverleith who are endeavouring to carve a niche for themselves in the men’s Premiership and, at the same time, develop  raw, teenage talent, a difficult scenario.

However, the Purple have a sound track record in bringing through young players and, on Saturday, they had eight under-18 players in their line-up against Watsonians who have started the season well, collecting back-to-back wins (7-0 over Dundee Wanderers and 3-1 against Inverleith) to top the 12-strong table on goal difference from Western Wildcats and defending champions Grange.

Charlie patrolled the back line for most of the game against Watsonians and was vociferous on the pitch. He was particularly vocal at the end of each quarter, and at half-time, exhorting his team-mates to up their game.  

They listened and clawed their way back to 2-1 after going 2-0 down following two penalty corner strikes after 14 and 20 minutes by Watsonians. That goal after 23 minutes provided a platform and a foothold in a game in which Watsonians had dominated possession, but, sadly, the euphoria lasted for around 60 seconds as the men in maroon, carrying the colours of George Watson’s College, the school which Charlie’s mum attended, struck a third which proved decisive in an entertaining game in a depressing drizzle at The Mary Erskine School.

Post-match, Charlie was philosophical about the result and preferred to focus on the long-term journey for the Capital club. He may only be 21, but the employee of Musselburgh-based Loretto School has much to offer and admitted: “Yes, we have a very young side. There is a lot we need to work on.”

Inverleith did not attract new blood over the close season but Charlie said: “We have youth talent and boys who will be with us for the next two years, at least.”

The spirited performance in the defeat, which was a step-up from the disappointment of a 7-1 thrashing at Uddingston in their Premiership opener, augurs well for the future and the Scotland under-21 player underlined the club’s desire to blood new, young players despite playing the elite of men’s hockey in Scotland.

The Purple are currently pointless and second-bottom of the table, bracketed with Erskine Stewart’s Melville, newly-promoted Dunfermline Carnegie, and bottom-club Dundee Wanderers, but it is early in the season.

However, setbacks and understanding how to hang in there and dig out points is all part of a learning process for the squad and Charlie said: “We have a history of youth development at this club and we have a number of really talented young players in our system. Some will aspire to reach the higher echelons of hockey and others just want to play the sport.”

The job of coaches within the club is to develop those players to give of their best and the youngsters, bolstered by some experienced men, showed bags of desire and also snapshots of their talent against a strong, well-organised Watsonians outfit coached by former Great Britain squad player, and Scotland international, Dan Coultas.

Jedburgh-born Charlie conceded that it was a body blow to surrender a goal to Watsonians seconds after getting back in the game at 2-1 with a well-constructed, breakaway strike down the right, but that is part of the steep learning curve that many of the Inverleith players are now on.

He conceded: “We spoke (in the huddle) about the minutes after scoring being so important and how we must focus and also about conceding from penalty corners. We want to compete against these teams and we have to learn to do those elements better if we want to make an impact.”

Wise words from a young man who appears to be going places in hockey and who has a cool head on extremely broad shoulders.

Leicester Cubs roared to the National Development League title, but they were stopped in their tracks by Stellar Monarchs Academy at Armadale.

Prior to their visit to West Lothian, Cubs were unbeaten with an unblemished record of nine wins from nine meetings.

Stellar Monarchs Academy produced their A game and a determined display saw the septet emerge with a 47-42 victory to bring the season at Armadale down on a high note.

Mitchell Davey, the stand-in team manager for the night as Scott Wilson was unavailable, praised his squad and said: “Sensational effort, all the boys were up for it.

“They really wanted to put their stamp on it to show that they were a competitive team, and they all worked really well together. It was awesome.”

Dayle Wood (pictured by James Kenny, courtesy of Edinburgh Moanrchs) was a 14-point hero, but the whole side showed a determination and belief despite the visitors taking 4-2 results in the first two heats won by Joe Thompson and Arran Butcher,.

Wood won heat 3 impressively and Monarchs racer Sam McGurk took a point even though he started off 15 meters after missing the two minutes warning hooter.

Cubs suffered a blow in Heat 4 when Butcher fell while leading, then team-mate Vinnie Foord fell in the same spot in the re-run, handing a 5-0 to the Academy to give them the lead.

That inspired the home side who went on a run of six successive race wins, with Wood, Connor Coles and Max Perry all victorious against visiting top men Thompson, Foord and Max James.

Guest Harry McGurk won Heat 8 then his brother Sam passed Vinnie Foord to join Wood for a 5-1 in Heat 9 and, by adding a further 4-2 in Heat 10, the Academy held a 35-24 lead.

Leicester hit back with a 4-2 followed by a 5-1 after a machine failure for Sam McGurk in Heat 12, cutting the gap to five going into Heat 13 and Max James earned his first race won beating Wood in the second last race.

That set up a last heat decider, with Leicester requiring a 5-1 to win, but another determined gate by Wood and Coles ensured that did not happen.

Academy signed off the season with two victories in two nights having won 46-44 at Middlesbrough Tigers on Friday, but it will be next spring before there is more speedway action at Armadale.

Edinburgh Monarchs Academy (47): Connor Coles 9+0, Harry McGurk 7+0, Sam McGurk 3+1, Dayle Wood 14+0, Max Perry 9+1, Mark Parker 2+0, Kyran Lyden 3+1

Leicester Lion Cubs (42): Joe Thompson 11+0, Sonny Springer 5+1, Tom Spencer 4+1, Max James 11+0, Vinnie Foord 3+0, Lee Harrison 1+0, Arran Butcher 7+2

The Eye Pavilion will close for six months for repairs from the end of October.

Urgent repair work will have to be carried out at the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion at the end of October.

Extensive work is required on the plumbing system, and all patient appointments which were scheduled to take place from 28 October will be moved to other NHS Lothian facilities. The health board says this move is needed to ensure the safety of staff and patients.

Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Lothian, said: “We are very sorry for the inconvenience this will cause our patients and it is not a decision we have taken lightly.  

“Whilst patients and staff are not at risk, the work is essential and the advice we have received from our contractors is that this can be done more speedily and safely if the building is temporarily vacated. 

“Patient and staff safety are always our chief consideration. Our teams are working hard to minimise disruption and to ensure patients continue to be seen and treated throughout this period.”

Those who already have appointments booked for dates from Monday October 28 will be contacted by letter, text or both in good time to arrange their new appointments, starting with patients who have appointments in the week beginning October 28.  

Parliamentary discussion

The matter was raised at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday in The Scottish Parliament by Lothians MSP, Miles Briggs.

Miles Briggs said: “NHS has announced that urgent major repair works will have to be undertaken at the Princess Alexandra eye pavilion. All patient appointments that are scheduled to take place from 28 October will be moved, and it is expected to be six months before the hospital can reopen. In 2014, the current eye pavilion was declared not fit for purpose. There is now real anger about the latest situation, which demonstrates, yet again, the need for a new eye hospital.

Ministers need to take responsibility. They have cancelled the new hospital on two occasions. Will the First Minister personally meet campaigners and cross-party MSPs to get the replacement hospital back on track?

The First Minister, John Swinney, replied: “I appreciate the anxiety that will be felt because of the issues relating to the eye pavilion in Edinburgh. As we would expect it to, the health board is working to ensure that there is no diminution of the service and support that are available to patients, so that they can have their needs met.

“Obviously, the Government is wrestling with capital funding pressures. Mr Briggs will be familiar with the statements that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government has made about the reduction in our capital budget. That, combined with the significant increase in construction costs that has arisen because of sky-high inflation, has had a consequential effect on our ability to afford projects. Those are the realities that we are wrestling with.

“I assure Mr Briggs that the Government is doing everything that we can to deliver that capital programme, but we cannot deliver it as timeously as we would like to because of the effect of inflation and the cuts to our capital budget. I assure him that the Government is focused on finding solutions to those challenging issues.”

Fife Flyers made the 450-mile trip to Cardiff Devils and Tom Coolen’s men ended up being beaten 5-1 in the Elite League.

The Kirkcaldy club, however, kept it tight until the final session which the home side won 3-1.

Zach O’Brien scored in the first period, Sam Duggan in the second, and O’Brien added his second and Cardiff’s third early in the final stanza before Lucas Chiodo netted for Fife after 50 minutes but Josh MacDonald and Tyler Busch added to the home side’s total before the final whistle.

On Tayside, Dundee were edged 5-4 by Manchester Storm also in the Elite League with Jake Durflinger scoring the game-winner after 37 minutes for the visitors.

Elite League: Cardiff Devils 5, Fife Flyers 1; Dundee Stars 4, Manchester Storm 5

Fixtures for Sunday: Challenge Cup: Dundee v Belfast (17.00); Fife v Glasgow Clan (17.15).

PICTURE: Tom Coolen on the bench. Courtesy of the Elite League

Steven Naismith, Hearts’ head coach, was in defiant mood after his hand-picked side skidded to their eighth straight defeat when they were edged 2-1 at St Mirren in the William Hill Premiership.

Undoubtedly, the pressure is mounting on the former Scotland international but he still believes he can arrest the depressing slide which leaves the ambitious Tynecastle side rooted at the foot of the 12-strong table.

A Gerald Taylor headed into his own goal to break the deadlock after eight minutes but Craig Halkett, restored to the team recently after a frustrating spell on the sidelines through injury, levelled eight minutes later, heading home a cross from Blair Spittal.

But a strike from Toyosi Olusanya set up by Killian Phillips during a period of St Mirren pressure after 34 minutes proved the game-winner at the SMiSA Stadium in a contest watched by over 7,000 fans, many of them from the East of Scotland.

Sadly, the visitors failed to put St Mirren under real pressure during the second 45 minutes and Hearts have only one point from six fixtures with Kilmarnock second-bottom a point ahead after five games.

St Mirren are tenth with four points from six games and Hibs are ninth with five points from the same number of fixtures.

Naismith lead Hearts to third place in the league last term and he told BBC Sport Scotland that he can snap the bad run. He said: “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. Small parts of the game are costing us, but I’m up for the fight.”

PICTURE: Craig Halkett on the mark for Hearts at St Mirren. Picture Nigel Duncan

Watsonians saw off a spirited and enthusiastic Inverleith side to claim their second straight win of the new campaign and take their total goal tally to ten with only one in reply, an impressive start.

The 3-1 victory over their Capital neighbours at The Mary Erskine School, who had eight under-18 players in their 17-strong squad, was also achieved without player/coach Dan Coultas, a former Great Britain squad player, and Tom Swarbrick, one of their long-standing players.

Two of their goals came following penalty corner awards and the other from open play and the platform was a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes, a period in which they enjoyed the major share of possession.

Plucky Inverleith pulled a goal back after 23 minutes from a breakaway down the right, but they were undone when Watsonians claimed their third a minute later, a goal which deflated the developing young team.

They, however, struck admirably to their task and Swarbrick, who has a hamstring injury, sportingly praised their opposition and said: “Yes, we are happy with the win and six points, but we have to sharpen up our finishing.”

Euan Burgess celebrated hugely, arms aloft, after opening the scoring in 14 minutes from a penalty corner and Danny Cain added No 2, also from a penalty corner, six minutes later, but Inverleith, with hard-working, Scotland under-21 international, Charlie Jack, heavily involved, hit back through Thomas Temperley who neatly finished off a darting move down the right to get The Purple back into the game.

Their joy was short lived when Mathew Leiper netted from open play, deflecting the ball home following a ball driven down the middle of the pitch from just outside the 23 from Craig Yelland, for No 3.

Scottish international, Duncan Riddell, restored to the side after missing the opening fixture due to a family wedding, hit a post from close in and Watsonians had other chances including one which Ronan Kingsbury put wide from close in, underlining Swarbrick’s point.

Stuart Neave, one of Inverleith’s backroom staff, said this was a much-improved performance from their opening game which they lost 7-1 at Uddingston, and he added: “We competed well against a good, well-organised Watsonians team.

“We know where we are. We are a young squad with eight, under-18 players, and we have some players injured. We are going in the right direction and we know we conceded goals from penalty corners. Things to work on.  

Dundee Wanderers, thrashed 7-0 at Watsonians on opening day, lost 4-0 at home to Western Wildcats and Dunfermline Carnegie, beaten 3-0 at champions, Grange, lost 3-1 at home to Hillhead 2 while FSEG Clydesdale edged Uddingston 1-0 in Glasgow. The University of Edinburgh were held 1-1 at Grove Menzieshill. 

Grange got out of jail after scoring twice in the final five minutes to down Capital rivals Erskine Stewart’s Melville (ESM) 3-2 at Inverleith in a tight match in which the visitors created more clear-cut changes.

The champions went ahead after 12 minutes through Scottish international David Nairn but Will Kelly levelled 15 minutes later and Jack Collister converted a penalty stroke to put ESM 2-1 in front after 46 minutes.

It looked bleak for Grange but they battled back and Nairn’s second levelled at 2-2 and Dylan Bean stunned the home side with the game-winner with less than ten seconds left.

Watsonians top the table on goal difference as they have six points as do second-placed Western and Grange who are third.

PICTURE: Euan Burgess celebrates opening the scoring for Watsonians v Inverleith at The Mary Erskine School. Picture Nigel Duncan 

Edinburgh Council is facing “serious questions” after it emerged it is breaking the law “on an industrial scale” by placing homeless people in 30 unlicensed houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) across the city.

The authority’s top legal expert has warned the practice “cannot continue” and that the cost of finding alternative temporary accommodation “could be substantial”.

Homeless charity Shelter called on the council to clarify what its plans are for anyone who might be forced to move out of unlicensed HMOs and said forcing residents on to the streets “simply should not be an option”.

Councillor Jane Meagher, convener of housing, homeless and fair work committee, admitted the situation was “unsustainable” but said a “guillotine approach” would be “inhumane” and could lead to an increase in rough sleeping.

A new report written by Nick Smith, Edinburgh City Council’s monitoring officer, said that during the pandemic when urgent action was taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19 homeless accommodation was “procured at short notice”.

This included using B&B-type accommodation which did not comply with the council’s own regulations requiring HMOs – properties occupied by three or more people who are not from the same household – to be licensed to ensure residents are kept safe and afforded suitable living conditions.

Mr Smith said the decision was taken “on a balance of risk, considering the public health requirements at the time, as well the need for the landlord to be (or become) registered”.

However the council’s reliance on unlicensed HMOs has continued long beyond the end of the pandemic. The number of households in temporary accommodation across the capital has risen to over 5,000 from 3,570 at the start of the first lockdown in 2020.

This has been driven in part by increasing numbers of asylum seekers and refugees presenting as homeless, and various policy changes by the UK and Scottish Governments including the removal of local connection, the early prison release scheme, changes to the welcome accommodation policy for Ukrainian Displaced People (UDPs) and accelerated asylum decisions.

Further enquiries by the Local Democracy Reporting Service confirmed 30 illegal HMOs are still being used by Edinburgh Council, with around 700 rooms currently occupied in non-compliant shared houses.

Inspections of all properties have been undertaken prior to placing any people within them, according to the report.

The council wrote to  landlords “to request that they register for an HMO licence to resolve the position,” Mr Smith wrote. “Many did so or have undertaken to do so, but others have refused or taken no action.

“The council therefore remains in breach of its HMO licensing duty by maintaining the support of homeless persons and households in some unlicensed HMO properties.

“Operating an unlicensed HMO is a criminal offence. The council is empowered to take appropriate enforcement action against any unlicensed HMO properties and their landlords.

“The normal enforcement response would be to serve a rent penalty notice and consider reporting the offending landlord to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal for potential criminal prosecution in circumstances where they do not apply for a licence and continue to operate the HMO property.”

The report, which will be discussed at a full council meeting next week, added this “potentially undermines” the council’s crackdown on unlicensed landlords, amounted to illegality and maladministration “and cannot continue”.

Edinburgh Council now spends around £50m a year on temporary housing, up from £16.7m in 2019-20. As demand has risen, the council has been forced to place hundreds of households in B&B-type provision, which the Scottish Government classes as ‘unsuitable’ and says should only be used as a last resort and for a maximum of seven days.

However amid a housing emergency in Edinburgh and increasing rates of homelessness, the local authority regularly fails to meet this target.

Finding alternative accommodation for people currently staying in the 30 unlicensed HMOs is likely to drive costs up even higher. “Whilst the cost of finding alternative temporary accommodation for homeless persons of households in Edinburgh could be substantial,”Mr Smith wrote, “it is not possible for the council to remain legally non-compliant.”

A report to the housing, homelessness and fair work committee on Tuesday, October 1 recommends councillors to instruct officials to “take immediate steps to secure safe transition to compliant temporary accommodation from all unlicensed HMO accommodation for all homeless households affected”.

It said: “Ongoing efforts have been made with providers to achieve licensed status. Seven operators who require an HMO and are currently unlicensed, and have no application in process, are undertaking renovations and have indicated they will apply once these renovations are complete. The majority of these providers are on ‘spot purchase’ contracts, requiring no notice period.”

Alison Watson, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “This report raises serious questions which need answers quickly.

“Most pressingly, we need to know what plans are in place for anyone who might be forced to move out of their temporary accommodation; forcing residents on to the streets simply should not be an option.

“Edinburgh’s homelessness system is failing, the council is breaking the law on homelessness on an industrial scale, and it’s devastating lives.

“When the capital declared a housing emergency we made clear that every part of the council had to work together to tackle it, but it was also a call to action for every level of government.

“This is another stark reminder of why that action is so urgently needed.”

Cllr Meagher said: “The broad situation is that we are under phenomenal pressure to provide accommodation for people.

“On the one hand we have a legal obligation to provide accommodation for people and on the other hand we have a severe shortage of accommodation.

“These are the kinds of dilemmas we are caught in. We have to prevent people from being at the worst end of homelessness which is being on the streets – rough sleeping.”

The housing convener said while some HMOs were not licensed all were subject to fire safety gas and electricity checks.

She said: “Some of the premises are in the process of being licensed.

“It’s not just a question of filling in a form and submitting it, it’s about much more complicated and costly things than that. For example, it might include having to install kitchens or having to make alterations to the building which would be costly.”

“We do understand this situation is not sustainable, but we also understand we can’t have a situation where it would be the owners of the unlicensed HMOs would be locking the doors.

“A guillotine approach would be inhumane and in my view completely unacceptable, but also would potentially lead to a significant number of people rough sleeping.

“We can’t continue forever with this situation. It’s not a situation where you can just say ‘we’re going to stop now’. Because we’re talking about human beings and responsibility for them and their welfare, as well as the welfare of the wider city.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter