Edinburgh Festival Fringe be afraid, be very afraid, and then be prepared to raid those sneaky Airbnb minibars dooming you yet further into fiscal penury forever and beyond.

Those Brummie blighters, Parky Players are back in Auld Reekie with ridiculous, cheeky life relevant, poignant revels.

With more Bond spoof and kiss me dead kitsch-and-tell parody puns a punter can bear – what’s not to like? You expect to giggle? No! Mister, Misses, Miss (insert preferred pronoun here) You can expect to DIE! (See what we did there?) laughing.

Yet again, Director, co-writer, Rachel Green (self proclaimed august angel emcee from t’north Drama Queen) and the Parky Players have hijacked the Bond gestalt with gristly vengeance. 

The Parky Players are a disarming, disparate cohort of so soul cool alt.luvvie-shy Thesps with Parkinson’s (PWPs) together with people who support PWPs(PUPs) who are passionate about raising awareness of the condition through comedy, music and the arts. 

The show’s cocky pun on Bond’s cocktail of preference resonates with ironic relish. Meanwhile, at some point early in the convoluted narrative it appears that his go-to-licenced-to-kill Walther PPK weapon of choice is substituted for a banana. A slip-up? Peels of laughter? You will know them by their fruits.

The Bond meme is manipulated, gesticulated, masticated, expostulated and elevated to plunging new depths even more unfathomable than how come a villain’s lair can be built in a dormant volcano -WITH OUT ANYONE NOTICING!

Bond is out of shape and a worryingly jungle-dressed khaki dominatrix needs to get him in back in shape, fit-to-kill villains. There’s also a trio of pesky spies on loan direct from central casting. Dr No goes up to eleven with his literal take on his eponymous name. Stroking his pantomime cat he’s comfy in his script zone demands: answering every question with a ’NO’. Simples. Forgot that insinuating Blankety-Blank jingle? Try again not to!

Mischievous misunderstandings, stun-gun stereotypes and sadnesses are woven into the show’s naughty nonsense fabric with sometimes nuance, sometimes sledgehammer subtlety. Without labouring the point, the cast convey their consistent concern with getting their ‘time critical meds’. Don’t even talk about being refused a drink in a pub because looking drunk or a bit ‘weird’. There’s even a rousing ‘The Road’ sing-a-long coda to close the show. What were once prejudices are shaken, heart and souls stirred.

This is a show you will never want to forget. Because a time may come there isn’t the option to.

Ratings? They’re all Stars!

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/shaken-not-stirred

#Unleash Your Fringe – Navigating the 3,317 shows at this year’s Fringe can be daunting, but I’ve got you covered.

After countless hours of research, I’ve curated a list of 185 must-see shows in my annual Fringe recommendations.

As a dedicated Fringe enthusiast with 16 years of experience, I used to share my list for free, but due to popular demand, I’m now charging a small fee to reflect the effort involved. 

My selections are based on thorough research, trusted PR tips, and my reviews from previous years. You’ll find a diverse array of shows, many of which are free or affordable, including those in the PBH Free Fringe. I’ve also included numerous offers to help you get the most out of your Fringe experience.

DISCLAIMER: I haven’t seen all the shows, so I can’t guarantee you’ll love every recommendation. Fringe is all about taking risks and discovering the unexpected. If you see a show from my list, I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop me a message on Facebook and let me know how it went.

There are two versions of the spreadsheet – a 1-pager (a summary of the 185 curated shows) and a fuller version, which gives the summary and individual sheets by genres.  This version also contains a list of offers, which can potentially mean you get more money for your buck!

CLICK HERE FOR THE LISTS

WHALE Arts have appointed Kate Griffin as their new Chief Executive, replacing Leah Black, who leaves in July 2024 after six years at the arts body.

A spokesperson for WHALE in Wester Hailes said: “Kate brings a wealth of experience and insight to the role, having held the posts of Interim Chief Executive since August 2022 and Head of Programmes prior to that. She has worked for more than twenty years across the creative sector, with a focus on national arts programmes and creative education”.

Dr Andrew McNiven, Chair of Trustees, WHALE Arts said: “Kate’s expertise in the challenging and exciting field of community arts, her excellent interpersonal, management and strategic skills, and her deep understanding of Wester Hailes, allied to her ability to advocate for this community at regional and national level ,will, we feel sure, enable her to provide excellent opportunities for our participants and our community. On behalf of the WHALE Board, our members, participants and staff team, we wish her all the best in her new role.

“We would like to thank Leah Black, our outgoing Chief Executive, for her excellent work as WHALE Chief Executive since 2018, and especially during the pandemic. WHALE Arts ability to adapt and work in supporting our communities during this difficult period was outstanding and widely recognised. We wish Leah good luck in her new exciting role leading Foundation Scotland’s Regenerative Futures Fund.”

Kate Griffin, CEO, WHALE Arts said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be appointed as WHALE Arts’ CEO. I’m looking forward to working with the team, participants, members, volunteers and Board at WHALE Arts to continue our award-winning work as the creative heart of our community.”

An old lady sees two women shoplifting. She bravely reports them to the shop’s security guard, who finds the stolen items in their bags. Justice is done.

But Dot isn’t quite the guardian of moral values that she may seem. She’s just better at shoplifting than the people she’s shopped.  And off she trots home, her own swag safely concealed in her old lady shopping bag,

In Russell Jones’ new novel Bucket List Dot is a lonely Edinburgh widow who fills her life with visits to the garden centre café, weekly fish suppers from Mister Fish – and stealing. She doesn’t have much money, but that’s not really why she does it,

And Dot’s shoplifting isn’t a random affair; her wish list has just two subsections; plants and Christmas centrepieces. She’s building a Christmas community in her sitting room, and if the people of Christmas Town need a candy cane factory or a skating rink, well, they’re jolly well going to have one.

So Dot leads her insular life, eking out her pension in her cold and lifeless house. She goes for her walks, watches bored teenagers drinking in a playground, mentally criticises a sour-looking dog walker. Gets her kicks from lifting the odd peace lily or plastic snowman. But even the shoplifting’s starting to be more of a worry than a pleasure; she knows she’ll be caught in the end.

Jones then takes us back to Dot’s youth; she’s 22 and about to marry Charles, the love of her life. She’s 10 years old and her much adored Dad is taking her to the fair. These little scenes are so important, because they remind us that every old person was a young person once. They had fun, they took risks, they loved life. And in Old Lady Dot we catch glimpses of the girl she once was. Until, that is, something terrible happens to her, destroying her confidence and almost making her a prisoner in her own home.

But then, through a series of coincidences, Dot starts living again. For Dot meets Max, another lonely soul; he’s on the Young Offenders programme and in a group charged with clearing up the park. Max has his own problems, but he and Dot form an unlikely friendship. On a whim, Dot decides to use Max’s shirt number for her final ball in the lottery.

And she wins.

How Dot’s win affects her, though, is only part of this story. Max persuades her to write a bucket list, and together they work through it, enjoying everything from afternoon tea at a thinly-disguised Dome in George Street to drag racing, carriage rides and dancing to a flash mob. They have a lot of fun, but Dot soon begins to realise that there’s more satisfaction to be gained by giving than getting, by connecting with her local community, reaching out to other lonely people – and finally rebuilding a very important bridge.

Dot and Max’s story (but no, they are not a couple – this is not, thank goodness, Harold and Maude) illustrates just how damaging isolation and loneliness can be., Alone and sad, Dot is starting to become embittered and depressed. She doesn’t want to fall into the curmudgeonly pensioner trap, but she’s heading that way. Life has taught Max that the world’s a bad place, and that no-one (apart from his Mum) can be relied upon; he’s grown up resentful and defensive. When Jones reveals a particular scene from Max’s childhood, our hearts break for the trusting little boy who’s been so badly let down. 

And in the end it’s not Dot’s money that helps both of them rediscover joy (though they certainly have a great time spending it!), it’s the connections they learn to make with the community around them. It’s finding out that when people – even the most unlikely people – are brought together, they do care more than we ever imagined. Dot doesn’t need Christmas Town any more; she’s found a real one, and it’s so much better.

Bucket List by Russell Jones is published by Polygon, an imprint of Edinburgh-based publisher Birlinn Ltd.

Nursery staff have come under fire for describing children as ‘kicking off’ and being ‘riled up’ during a visit from Care Inspectors.

Hopefield Castle Nursery, in Bonnyrigg, received two ‘weak’ grades following the visit for its leadership and care of youngsters as well as being ordered to introduce changes.

During the unannounced visit to the nursery the inspector raised concerns about medication, including prescribed creams, being stored in a cabinet “without clear reasons” as well as outdated plans.

And they said a high number of children attending the nursery were aged four and five but some were being cared for in a room designed for the younger two and three-year-old children with no changes made to resources to meet their needs.

They said despite staff being told to allow parents to come into the nursery at drop off and collection times they continued to make them wait at the entrance.

Speaking about the medicine cabinet, the inspector said: “Staff were unsure about its purpose. Instructions for medication were unclear, and for one prescribed cream, there were no instructions at all.

The inspector said that while ‘some staff’ showed nurture and kindness, a requirement from a previous inspection that interactions promoted individual development had not been met.

The report said: “Some staff placed an excessive emphasis on children
sharing, causing confusion and frustration among children who were still developing their understanding of ownership and empathy.

“Some staff used language such as ‘kicking off’ and ‘riled up’ when describing
children, indicating the necessity for staff to adopt a more empathetic approach to supporting children’s emotional resilience and wellbeing.”

It revealed the nursery had attempted to introduce gardening to the children’s experience but it said: “potatoes grew in an area inaccessible to children, as staff expressed concerns about potential damage. Lettuce and tomatoes in the dragon room were neglected on a paint drying unit.”

And it said while staff believed parents were happy with the arrangements to collect their children at the door, feedback from families revealed a different story.

It said: “Parents expressed a strong desire to enter the playroom, highlighting that feedback at the door was rushed, lacked detail, and raised concerns about confidentiality due to the presence of other parents at the door.”

The inspector noted that the nursery had been taken over by a new company last year and was ‘in a transitional phase’.

A spokesperson said: “Whilst there were positive things noted by the inspectors sadly, they also identified areas below the standards and practice that we accept in our nurseries.  The outcome of the inspection is a hugely disappointing result however following the inspection we have put a Development Plan in place to address the points raised in the report.”

Yvonne Smillie, Managing Director for Busy Bees in Scotland said, “A new management team is bringing energy and professionalism to the nursery and parents have already commented on the improvements this has delivered. We are in regular contact with all the parents and are keeping them informed of changes and improvements we are making and I believe this is much appreciated.

“We continue to provide training and upskilling where appropriate for the staff team and their enthusiasm, commitment and growing confidence is making a real difference. This is reflected in their interactions with the children and is positively impacting upon the children’s engagement and learning in nursery.

“We now have a much better foundation to ensure that we are moving forward in a positive way and are enormously grateful for the support of parents as we make these changes and we are committed to continuing to work together as partners in their child’s learning. I am sure that when the Care Inspectorate return they will find a very different nursery and we look forward to demonstrating our continued commitment and progress.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Guillemots have become the latest species to suffer a dramatic decline on one of Scotland’s most important island seabird havens, with numbers down by nearly a third this year.

Counts of guillemots on the cliffs of the Isle of May, in the Firth of Forth, show numbers on the colony have dropped from 22,113 birds at the last count in 2023 to 15,506 this year. Of these, it is estimated there are 6,686 nesting pairs.

The 30% decline in guillemots follows an 81% crash in the number of shags on the island, with both species thought to have been affected by climate issues.

David Steel, NatureScot’s reserve manager on the Isle of May, said: “This is a worrying drop in the population and it mirrors problems we saw and were reported last August when a starvation event was occurring with the species. Birds were seen close inshore, which is unusual, often swimming in shallow water and struggling to feed, leading to high mortality.

“As well as this the picture is complex as birds can also take a year off breeding and therefore not be counted as part of the population counts.

“If birds are not in good enough physical condition at the start of the breeding season due to various winter stresses — lack of food and poor body condition — then birds will not breed.

“As they are long living — guillemots can live beyond 25 years — those which survived will hopefully be back next season.”

Each spring, the Isle of May becomes home to up to 200,000 breeding seabirds including guillemots, puffins, razorbills and shags.

Guillemots breed in high density colonies, with nesting pairs often in bodily contact with their neighbours.

They make no nest as such and their single egg is incubated on a bare rock ledge on a cliff face. After the breeding season the birds spend the rest of the year at sea.

Reform UK is to mount a challenge for its first Scottish council seat next month.  

David McLennan, who contested the Livingston constituency in the General Election two weeks ago, will stand in the Armadale and Blackridge ward on 22 August. 

Mr McLennan, 64, originally from West Calder, is one of seven candidates who will contest the Armadale and Blackridge seat on West Lothian Council. 

A retired police officer and property investor Mr McLennan polled 3,977 votes in the 4 July vote, beating the Conservatives. He stood for Reform because he admired “common sense” proposals of the newly formed party. 

In is candidate’s statement for the General election he gave his reasons for standing as a Reform candidate: “My attention was initially drawn to the Housing segment of the Reform Contract with the public. 

“The concept of reverting to 2017 tax thresholds, which would incentivise landlords to invest in additional properties, contrasts with the current SNP/Green legislation, pushing us toward the abyss and compelling many to sell against their wishes. 

“I then read more of the Contract and was impressed by the amount of common sense proposals it promotes. And so, I joined.” 

Polling will take place between the hours of 7am and 10pm on Thursday, 22 August for the election of one councillor to ward 9, the Armadale and Blackridge Ward (Ward 9). 

The new councillor will replace Stuart Borrowman who served the ward from 2003 until his death at the age of 71 in May. There are two other council seats in the ward – one held by the SNP’s Lynda Kenna, the other by Independent Andrew McGuire.  

Scottish Labour, the SNP and the Conservatives will be joined on the ballot paper by the Liberal Democrats, Greens, Reform and an independent. 

Those entitled to vote at this election are those who are aged 16 years old or over on 22 August and who are registered to vote in the Armadale and Blackridge Ward of West Lothian Council.   

The full list of candidates is: 

Barclay, Keith  Alan: SNP 

Butler, Douglas Thomas: LIberal Democrats 

Hannah, John: Independence for Scotland Party 

Manion, Susan: Scottish Labour Party 

McLennan, David: Reform UK 

Rafferty, Adam William, Scottish Greens 

Smith, Douglas: Scottish Conservative and Unionist 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Trusted developer steps in to complete site “in limbo”

A residential development in Shawfair, south of Edinburgh has been rescued from collapsed developer, Stewart Milne, to be successfully delivered by independent property developer, Dundas Estates.

Dundas has recently completed the purchase of a site on the well-established Shawfair development six miles south of the city, which boasts excellent road and rail links into the heart of the capital, as well accessibility to the airport and nearby motorway network.

Construction will shortly commence to build 59 homes, the properties will consist of a mix of 3 to 6 bed homes. By stepping into the project, Dundas has committed to delivering high-spec homes that exceed industry standards – with the aim of delivering the first homes by late autumn 2024.

As a new neighbourhood on the edge of the city, Shawfair offers a mix of local retail and community health facilities, as well as 3km of cycle paths that easily connect homeowners to the train station, schools and Park & Ride.

Craig Fairfoull, Sales & Marketing Director at Dundas, said: “We appreciate there may have been unexpected challenges and uncertainties faced by prospective homeowners engaged with the previous developer.

“However, our primary goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible, and we urge those who had reservations with Stewart Milne for one of these plots to contact us immediately.

“We aim to deliver these much-needed homes in the coming months, allowing prospective buyers to finally move into the homes they have been looking forward to.”

The development will see Dundas complete various house types that remain similar in style and specification to the previous developer, including terraced, semi and larger detached homes.

Dundas was supported through the acquisition of the site by solicitors Anderson Strathern.

Dundas Estates are an award-winning and independent Scottish homebuilder, prides itself on crafting homes that enhance the well-being of its valued customers. It emphasises creating inclusive communities and strives to simplify, enrich, and add enjoyment to the home-buying experience.

Dundas is asking potential buyers who may have reserved a plot with the previous developer to contact them at sales@dundas.co.uk to speak to a member of the sales team to discuss their options.

Towns and villages across West Lothian face losing vital community centres as budget cuts force the council to look to transfer ownership of buildings to user groups. 

Management groups at all 38 of the county’s community centres are being told they will have to consider taking over their buildings or taking on a lease. 

One volunteer in Livingston told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that she was “having sleepless nights” at the proposals. 

The transfer, which they volunteers fear would be hugely disruptive, would shave £1m from the council’s increasingly stretched budgets.  

West Lothian’s Voluntary Sector Gateway has warned community groups, staffed by volunteers would face an “impossible task” of becoming owners of commercial operations. 

Council officers met with management committees last month. The council proposes transfers or the introductions of leasing by the start of the next financial year, with decisions in place by the turn of the year. 

Outlining the plans on the council’s website Ralph Bell, the council’s Customer & Community Service Manager said: “No final decision has been made on the future of these facilities,but given the severity of the financial position that all councils find themselves in, it is absolutely necessary to review and change how services are provided. We simply cannot afford to continue to deliver the same level of services.”   

He added: “Currently, individual management committees receive the income generated via community centres and village hall lets. West Lothian Council does not receive any income from lets, but does incur all of the costs for staffing, heating and electricity, maintenance and upkeep of the facilities. 

“This financial model is no longer affordable, nor is it sustainable.”  

Mr Bell stressed: “Our key objective will be to work with management committees to help ensure that facilities remain open under new operating arrangements.” 

A spokesperson for the VSG said: “All community centres have been given three options: 
1 – take ownership through Community Asset Transfer 
2 – take a full repairing and insuring lease 
3 – accept all charges being billed from the council 

An increasing number of small, local community groups have raised concerns about the proposals to close and re-purpose community centres and partnership centres, particularly those that operate from within these centres.  

The VSG spokesperson added: “They face the impossible task of taking on the running costs of operating these facilities with limited knowledge of how to do so and no money.  Many groups have indicated they will simply be unable to take on these roles. 

“A lot of the groups run multi-purpose events and host groups that meet regularly, for example art groups, activity classes, Girl Guides etc.  These groups are often the life-blood of communities and without anywhere to go, many individuals and groups will be left isolated and disconnected. 

“It feels like responsibility is being forced onto inexperienced committees with very little time, limited support or information and no fallback position. Centres that do survive will need to become commercially viable. Community groups and charities will not be able to afford commercial market rents. 

“Where centres do not survive, community groups and charities based in the centres will lose their base. Many of those charities, on which the Council relies to support those in need, will struggle to survive.” 

Julie Henderson from the Mosswood Community Centre in Knightsridge  told the LDRS: “Over the last few years since the start of Covid, Mosswood community centres have stayed open throughout. Creating a warm space and opening the food shop two days a week. All of which couldn’t be possible without volunteers.  

“These volunteers are also the management committee who give their free time. The biggest decision we are asked to make is when are we having the pensioners Christmas lunch?  

“Now we are being asked to take ownership of a building, which now has to make enough money to at least break even.  

“The majority of groups in community centres are council groups. The let would no longer be free for these groups. If the centres close, where would the groups go? This would have a serious impact on the most disadvantaged groups of people. 

“I’m having sleepless nights worrying about the staff who would lose their jobs. The groups that would stop and the kids that would miss out, if we couldn’t come up with some miraculous idea to raise £100k each year.” 

In Addiewell  the villagers rely on the community centre to provide a home to sports and youth clubs. Even the adjoining school uses the community centre for its sports. 

Avril Finlayson from the centre management committee fears that charging higher rates would prompt clubs to look elsewhere to gather or would deter teenagers from coming to the youth club. 

 She pointed to the relatively low rates of youth disturbance and malicious fire raising in the village – suggesting an obvious link being the variety of clubs and sports available to teens.  

Money raised through the clubs in the community centre is ploughed back into the community in paying for bus trips and other community treats for children. 

The management committee at the Addiewell centre quickly realised that if they were to take it on as a commercial operation they would need a full time staff member to run the venue and to promote it for bookings. Just now individual groups manage their own use through the council’s ownership and booking systems.  

That would be on top of paying commercialised bills for repair and maintenance and utilities. 

Avril Finlayson also questioned reliance on volunteers giving their time to community centre activities. “You wouldn’t have the same numbers of people helping out if it was commercialised.” 

Council officers will continue to meet with community groups and the proposals will come back to council committees for further debate before final decisions are made 

The principal option from the council is Asset Transfer.  Rules on Asset Transfer where user groups assume ownership of the council assets have been modified, but in the years since Asset Transfer was first introduced only three council assets have been approved as having the financial wherewithal to be sustained by user groups. 

Community Centres clearly act not only as council venues and bases, they are the lifeblood of all the communities they serve.  In  Knightsridge and Addiewell, and across the 36 other sites, the centres help to sustain the community. The big question in the next few months is whether there is enough money in the communities to help sustain the centres. 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Edinburgh bowling greens are set to be turned into allotments and community gardens amid a shortage of growing space in the city. 

It comes after Edinburgh Leisure returned two greens to the council’s ownership due to being underused. 

Now following engagement with the public on re-purposing the spaces at Victoria Park and St Margaret’s Park plans are set to be progressed to “breathe life into these historically important spaces”. 

Survey results showed “strong support” for proposed redesigns, which include social gathering areas and sensory gardens alongside the new space to plant fruit and vegetables. 

Over 6,000 people are on Edinburgh Council’s allotment waiting list – which makes the current expected waiting time around 50 years. 

A consultation on how Corstorphine’s St Margaret’s Park bowling green should be used found the most popular ideas were introducing “urban growing areas, natural play space, a garden, and nature-friendly interventions”. 

A separate engagement process on the disused bowling venue at Victoria Park was met with support for creating allotments so locals can “cultivate their own fruits, vegetables, and flowers”. However respondents said the individual growing spaces should be “balanced with community gardens to benefit a broader range of residents and ensure inclusivity”. 

Revamping the Leith park’s bowling green could also see the pavilion turned into a café, public toilets, and community space, while proposals for the space have been updated to include a community growing area, multi-use gathering space with sensory planting, seating, and swales to address flooding. 

The next steps will involve developing more detailed designs for the bowling greens and submitting planning applications to change their use.

A report said: “A funding plan will be created, and collaboration with local stakeholders will continue throughout the process. 

“High-level cost estimates have been made for the scheme, with a mix of external grant funding, repayable finance, and council budget allocations anticipated to fund the project.”

Meanwhile the council is exploring including two other unused greens in the initiative – at Prestonfield and Regent Road. 

It says bowling greens “have held a special place in the heart of Edinburgh’s communities for generations”. 

“They have been centres for socialising, friendly competition, and a reflection of the city’s rich heritage. 

“As we look to the future, we see these spaces changing so that they meet the needs of our present population and planet. We aim to create spaces that welcome people of all ages and interests. 

“From revitalized greens for leisurely games on sunny afternoons to modern pavilions hosting community events and educational programs, the potential for these spaces is as vast as the history they hold. 

“Our team is excited to embark on this journey of renewal, ensuring that the Bowling Greens of Edinburgh once again become integral parts of our city’s social fabric.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

The number of short term lets in North Berwick went up by nearly 30 per cent last year despite new legislation tightening controls.

An independent report commissioned by North Berwick Environment and Heritage Trust has said there were 445 active listings for the holiday lets in the town and surrounding area in May this year, compared to 339 last July.

And it says the numbers are going up each year along with the daily charges as the industry continues to thrive adding: “Not only has the peak number been increasing each year but the peak is being reached earlier each year.”

Despite the increase in numbers, however, the report has found that the holiday flats have less Gross Value Added (GVA) impact on the local economy than residential homes,

It also raises questions about previous estimations used by East Lothian Council to support the case for short term lets as part of the county’s tourist trade.

Previously the council has estimated a holiday let which has four people has an economic boost of around £90,000.

The new research by MKA Economics however estimates the GVA for a two bedroom property, which would house four people, at just £11,592, while adding a residential two bedroom property had a GVA of £17, 580.

And it said larger homes still brought in more value if they were residential with a five bedroom home having a GVA of £43,664, while one used as a short term let had a GVA of £24, 773.

The report noted that there was a slight advantage in short term lets with the number of jobs created.

However it said: “The analysis shows that the gross valued added (GVA) effects are greater for residential uses than short-term lets across all property types.

“Although it is noted that the employment effects are greater for short-term lets in all cases, and although tourism jobs are valuable, they are not
as valuable in GVA terms as other economic activity in the local area.”

The report took the data on the number of short term holiday lets from AirDNA which has North Berwick as a sub region.

It said nearly half of all short term lets listed in the area were two bedroom flats with 23 per cent one bedroom and 22 per cent three bedroom, the rest were larger homes.

Occupancy ranged from 53 per cent of the year to 65 per cent of the year and daily rates had increased year on year with a two bedroom flat commanding £190 on average each day.

The report said: “Overall, it can be concluded that short term lets are a significant and increasing component of the visitor infrastructure in East Lothian and North Berwick.

“They do support the local area by enticing people to stay overnight. However, they are highly seasonal and their continued growth, and future growth expectations, are considerable.

“The sustained continued growth has had impacts on housing supply and is likely to continue into the future. With significant variations in occupancy rates, it is apparent that many short term let properties are not let for noticeable periods of the year.

“The increased daily charge, however, has generated increased and sizeable financial gains for owners.”

It added: “The evidence is that short term are less economically valuable than residential uses for the local economy.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

An online scam offering Highland cows for sale has been exposed after potential buyers appeared at a popular country park.

Rangers at Muiravonside Country Park near Linlithgow were alerted after people turned up to examine the shaggy long-horned cows and other livestock in person.

Trading standards investigated and found the scammers were using the park’s address and postcode to appear credible to unsuspecting buyers. They found that the bogus website had also been used for scam puppy sales.
Claire Martin, Countryside Ranger at 170-acre Muiravonside, assured visitors that its five Highland cows – Kyla, Haggis, Beth, Mona and Caity – are going nowhere.

She added: “It is disappointing to see someone using the park to con the public potentially. Our cattle are not for sale, however we do have five very lovely Highland coos that the public are more than welcome to visit at the park.”

Michael McGuiness, Falkirk Council’s Head of Growth, Planning, Sport & Culture, said the attempted con was “deeply concerning”.

He added: “We urge everyone to exercise caution when making purchases online, especially from unfamiliar websites. Our priority is to protect consumers and ensure that fraudulent activities like these are dealt with quickly by the right authorities.”

Trading Standards officers alerted Nominet, the organisation responsible for managing domain names in the UK, to take down the fraudulent website, which is no longer available to view online.

Edinburgh’s online community radio station EHFM have opened Ground Floor, a new café in Leith, which will also host EHFM’s brand new, public-facing studio.

After six years of broadcasting from multi-arts venue Summerhall, EHFM will move their operations to a unit on Great Junction Street, previously Spilt Milk, under the new name Ground Floor.

The café is situated above a complex of rehearsal spaces, recording studios and retailer Drum Central and will be operated by EHFM, with all the profits going towards funding EHFM.

Ground Floor will also accommodate EHFM’s new custom-built, soundproofed studio where the station’s broadcasts will come from. There will also be podcast recording facilities from Thursday 1 August. Situated inside the café, the new studio allows the public to watch the radio station in action as they enjoy a coffee. 

Ground Floor opens today for sit-in and takeaway. It will be open seven days a week, serving specialty coffee, pastries and an exclusive topped focaccia offering provided by local restaurant Alby’s. 

EHFM will begin broadcasting from their new studio on Thursday 1 August. 

EHFM co-founder and Director, Jamie Pettinger, said: “After six years of broadcasting from Summerhall, this feels like a new chapter for the station. We hope that the move will allow our listeners to engage with us more in the real world, and the cafe can provide a stable source of income in these financially uncertain times. 

“We’re so excited to situate ourselves in the creative community of Leith, an area in which many of our presenters are already very active. It feels like such a natural move for us!” 

Ground Floor and EHFM 125 Great Junction Street, Edinburgh, EH6 5JB

Listen live to EHFM: www.ehfm.live

Professor Sue Rigby currently Vice-Chancellor of Bath Spa University has been appointed Principal and Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University to succeed Professor Andrea Nolan.

The new incumbent will take up post in January 2025 when Professor Nolan, who has held the post for 11 years, retires.

The new Principal is a palaeontologist with a proven track record in her previous role in Bath where student numbers grew, turnover doubled and the university became financially sustainable with diversified income sources. Previously Professor Rigby was Deputy Vice Chancellor at University of Lincoln and held earlier positions at the universities of Cambridge, Leicester and Edinburgh, where she moved into senior management, first as Assistant Principal and then Vice Principal. She is also an HEA Principal Fellow and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

June Boyle, Chair of Edinburgh Napier University Court, said: “Professor Rigby is an outstanding appointment. Her breadth of experience, her values, and her commitment to quality higher education, widening access, inclusion and to an excellent student experience mean that she is the ideal person to take forward the ENU vision as a home of difference makers. We look forward to welcoming Sue at the beginning of the new year and I am confident that all at the University will enjoy working with her as we write the next chapter of the Edinburgh Napier story.”

Professor Rigby said: “’I am delighted to be joining Edinburgh Napier University. I have watched its progress with interest and huge respect over the past 10 years. It is a community of learners and leaders that I will be very proud to join, and I will do my best to make sure that it can continue to thrive and grow in all aspects of university life.”

Edinburgh Napier has just been named Higher Educational Institution of the Year at the Herald Higher Education Awards and top university in Edinburgh for student satisfaction for the fifth year in a row in the National Student Survey and top modern university in Scotland according to the prestigious Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Unite the union has rejected the latest pay offer from local government body COSLA, meaning bin strikes will be inevitable in Edinburgh during the festivals unless any new deal is put forward.

Unite said that the latest offer does not add any extra cash to the deal which stands at a 3.2 % increase for one year from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. The union says that COSLA has taken two months to make a new offer since the last which was rejected on 24 May.

The union compares the deal on offer with the one put to workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the National Joint Council (NJC), which equates to a rise of 67 pence an hour, with the Scottish offer of an increase of 41 pence per hour.

The union claims that the pay offer difference means a Scottish council worker would have to earn more than £40,000 to match the offer being made to council workers elsewhere in the UK. The union says this means “the lowest paid council workers in Scotland are being disproportionately hit by COSLA’s offer”.  

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “COSLA has taken months to put a new offer to our local government membership, and it’s one that does absolutely nothing to address more than a decade of deep cuts to pay and services.

“Unless COSLA and the Scottish government move quickly to make an acceptable offer then mountains of rubbish will pile up across the nation’s streets. The politicians have a choice, and one more chance, to resolve this pay dispute before strike action.”

Unite has the largest union membership on the verge of participating in a first wave of strike action involving waste workers, street cleaners, and recycling centre operators.

The union has strike action mandates involving thousands of its members across 16 councils, and it is in the process of re-balloting workers in 5 other councils (see notes to editor).

Graham McNab, Unite industrial officer, added: “COSLA’s latest pay offer doesn’t add any extra cash. It continues to grossly undervalue Scotland’s council workers compared with the offer made to their counterparts across the UK.

“A stinking Scottish summer looms unless COSLA and the Scottish government quickly sort this out by injecting more cash into a new offer. Any offer will need to value the lowest paid council workers, at least, on similar terms as the offer made to other UK council workers.

“The Scottish government can no longer sit idly by, we are on the brink of nationwide strike action which could last for months.”

The 16 council areas where Unite has mandates for strike action include Edinburgh, Aberdeen City Council; Angus Council; Dumfries & Galloway Council; Dundee City Council; East Ayrshire Council; East Renfrewshire Council; Fife Council; Glasgow City Council; Inverclyde Council; North Ayrshire Council; North Lanarkshire Council; Renfrewshire Council; South Ayrshire Council; The Highland Council and West Lothian Council. 

Scotland’s under-21 women can look forward to the World Cup next year after edging Ukraine 1-0 in the EuroHockey Championship II-B in Turkey, another step in Scottish Hockey’s Pathway which they hope will lead to more golden moments.

Chris Duncan, women’s national team head coach and programme lead, was in Konya with the under-21 squad, coached by Jimmy Culnane, and said the players coped admirably both on and off the pitch in challenging circumstances.

The girls faced a long flight from Edinburgh to the Turkish resort of Antalya, a five-hour bus ride over the mountains, a heat which rose to over 35c, the culture and the food and the pressure of playing in their first European final yet they enjoyed a 100 per cent record in the tough tournament.

The Scots opened with a 3-1 victory over Ukraine, edged Poland 2-1, thrashed the hosts 4-0 and then found a way, despite being down to nine players for a short time, to beat Ukraine again, this time 1-0, and take the gold medal to preserve their 100 per cent record.

Duncan explained that he and Culnane operate as a team. Culnane is senior assistant to the senior women and leads the under-21 squad, and he is senior head coach and an assistant coach to the under-21 side.

He added: “It’s another example of how we link up our Pathway and try to deliver a co-ordinated methodology.

Duncan added that the girls progressed as a squad during the event and played their best hockey in the final but failed to take their chances, but it is the first time since 2005 that a Scotland under-21 women’s side has qualified for a World Cup.

The venue has yet to be decided, but the planning has started and Edinburgh-based Duncan said the players can undoubtedly build on this achievement which is also significant for Scottish Hockey.

The organisation is building a Pathway programme, channelling young talent through from age-group teams to eventually the senior squad.

Duncan said: “It’s 20 years since we had an under-21 team in the World Cup and this result was significant. To achieve success as senior level we need talented young players coming through an that is where the Pathway strategy comes in.

“Playing against international teams in major competitions, playing in the A Division, which our senior women did last year in Germany, is giving our athletes exposure at a high level, playing against top teams with different styles and coping with that and the pressure of being in high level competitions at different venues.

“That is vitally important for our athletes and playing at the top level means there is no room for dropping off, even for a second, or you will be punished. You have to be on you’re A Game all the time from the first whistle to the last whistle and this is both physically and mentally hard, but it is something the athletes must learn and get used to.

“However, we want them to compete at the highest standard possible and be used to doing that against quality opposition. Undoubtedly, the gold medal in Turkey was a significant achievement and another step on our Pathway.

“The under-21 team had to cope with the journey, the culture change, the food and the heat which was over 35c on occasions, and playing opposition with different styles, styles that they may not be used to, and that is not easy to do in a few days.

“They overcame those hurdles to be unbeaten in the tournament and the girls can hold their heads high and move forward from this. Playing against quality opposition consistently will help them develop as a unit and individually and, significantly, they progressed as a unit during the competition.

“They played their best hockey in the final but, unfortunately, they did not convert their chances, but that is history now. They won 1-0 and won the tournament and all that has gone on is in a learning curve.

“Hats off to them, the girls managed the game well despite being down two players deep into the final, and they achieved their objective, gold medal and promotion and a place in the Junior World Cup. They can be so proud of that.”   

PICTURE: Scotland’s under-21 girls and the staff celebrate after winning gold in Turkey. Pictures courtesy of @IFSportsImages and Ian Foster @IanhF

GOLDEN GOAL: Zara Kennedy slots home to secure a 1-0 win over Ukraine

GOLDEN MOMENT: Two of the squad celebrate after being handed their medals in Turkey

SUCCESS IS SWEET: The Scotland under-21 squad enjoy the moment in Turkey

Hearts’ head coach, Steven Naismith, looked back at their closed-doors challenge against English side Burnley and declared: “It was really good. We are in a good place.”

They played two 75 minute matches at Barnfield against the EFL Championship side and Naismith added that it showed the quality and competition for places that exists in the group.

The coach (pictured) told Hearts TV: “The two elevens played at the same time and and we played for 75 minutes and so everybody got more minutes on the pitch.

“When you play big clubs in England there are lways so many aspects  to it that are positive. You come down and you see the conditions, you see the level of player you are up against and that provides a challenge, can we be brave enough on the ball, can we press and trap them and win the ball back and can we take chances.

“There were good bits. There were bits when I would like to see us being more bold and believe in ourselves individually, but, on the whole it has been really good. Really good performances, really tight games and, like Spurs, you need to accept that you will not have the ball.

“It is about how do we work out an opportunity to get it back and both games were really close.”  

Hibs midfielder Dylan Levitt blamed “sloppy mistakes in some key areas” for Hibs disappointing defeat to Kelty Hearts on Saturday afternoon. 

Hibs  fell to a 1-0 defeat at New Central Park with Kelty defender Callum Flatman scoring the only goal of the game. 

Hibs created numerous chances against the Fife side but were unable to score. 

Speaking to Hibs TV after the match, Levitt shared his thoughts on the performance. 

“It is very disappointing and a really bad result. I thought we didn’t move the ball quick enough, we made some sloppy mistakes in some key areas and we got punished from a set-piece, which we knew would be one of their main threats. 

“I don’t remember Smudge (Jordan Smith) having a save to make. Overall, it’s not a good look, especially for the new signings coming in and we need to be performing a lot better than that. 

“We hit the post three times in the first half, and if those go in then it’s a completely different game. 

“But we got a sucker-punch in the second half and we were always chasing the game after that.  

“They slowed the game down and managed the game. We got into some good positions but we just weren’t clinical enough. 

“We will go over this game on Monday and review it, look at the key areas that we need to be better in and hopefully, we can turn that around – starting on Wednesday.” 

Applications are now being taken for free guided tours of the Forth Road Bridge deck and anchorage, hosted by Transport Scotland’s operating company BEAR Scotland.

The tours will take place on Saturday 28 September as part of Doors Open Days, Scotland’s largest free festival that celebrates places and stories. Up to 300 places will be available, allocated via a random ballot.

Members of the public can enter the ballot by visiting www.bearscot.com/doorsopenday. The ballot will close on 1 August and successful applicants will be notified over the following days.

Guided minibus tours will depart every 15 minutes on 28 September from the bridge office in South Queensferry. Tours will last one hour, stopping at points of interest along the deck before visiting one of the anchorage chambers on the north side of the bridge, where the main cables are anchored into the rock. Commentary will be provided by experienced members of staff from BEAR Scotland.

There will be no charge for the tours, however donations to charity will be welcomed. All money raised will go to BEAR Scotland’s national charity partner Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Forth Bridges exhibition at Transport Scotland’s Contact and Education Centre will also be open to the public from 9am until 5pm, featuring special exhibits and educational activities. Advance booking is not necessary for the exhibition, or to take a walk across the bridge.

Everyone who attends either a bridge tour or the exhibition will have the chance to enter a charity prize draw for a once-in-a-lifetime trip for two to the top of the Queensferry Crossing’s main towers.

The minibus tours are in addition to 60 tower top trips that will take place to celebrate the bridge’s 60^th anniversary – details of how to apply for these will be published over the next few weeks.

Andy Thompson, BEAR Scotland’s Operating Company Representative for South East Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to welcome visitors back to the Forth Road Bridge on Doors Open Day for the third year running, and to be raising money for a great cause in Macmillan Cancer Support.

“Our guided minibus tours give the public a rare chance to visit parts of the bridge normally hidden from view, and to hear from experienced members of staff.

“In response to feedback, we’re allocating places this year via a random ballot to give everyone an equal chance.

“Look out in local media over the next few weeks for other exciting events to celebrate the Forth Road Bridge’s 60^th anniversary, including a competition for tower top trips.”

Keeping tabs on your local politicians

If you want to keep up with what your local politicians are saying then sign up to They Work For You which will send you an email every time someone speaks in parliament. This covers both MPs and MSPs and you can just enter your postcode to find out who to follow.

Click here.

What to book in the Fringe?

If you are mesmerised by the choice of what to go and see in the Fringe then our Kerry has it covered.

She has produced #Unleash Your Fringe.

Kerry said: “Navigating the 3,317 shows at this year’s Fringe can be daunting, but I’ve got you covered. After countless hours of research, I’ve curated a list of 185 must-see shows in my annual Fringe recommendations. As a dedicated Fringe enthusiast with 16 years of experience, I used to share my list for free, but due to popular demand, I’m now charging a small fee to reflect the effort involved. 

“My selections are based on thorough research, trusted PR tips, and my reviews from previous years. You’ll find a diverse array of shows, many of which are free or affordable, including those in the PBH Free Fringe. I’ve also included numerous offers to help you get the most out of your Fringe experience.

“DISCLAIMER: I haven’t seen all the shows, so I can’t guarantee you’ll love every recommendation. Fringe is all about taking risks and discovering the unexpected. If you see a show from my list, I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop me a message on Facebook and let me know how it went.

“There are two versions of the spreadsheet – a 1-pager (a summary of the 185 curated shows) and a fuller version, which gives the summary and individual sheets by genres.  This version also contains a list of offers, which can potentially mean you get more money for your buck.”

And if all else fails then just book the show that is closest to you when you are in town. It may be really good…or not!

Click here to access the full list.

Dylan concerts in Edinburgh are “sold out”

Bob Dylan will play Usher Hall in November and tickets went on sale on Friday. It is not true to say that the concert is sold out – rather to say that the remaining tickets are outside the reach of many fans. The Ticketmaster site is showing the worst of dynamic pricing with two seats together in the stalls for a heady £5,903 each.

So if that is a bit steep then head for When Judas Met John at the Fringe where Irish duo Brothers Broke will compare, adapt and perform a unique interpretation of songs by Bob Dylan and The Beatles. “This casual and engaging 45-minute show compares the like-minded and socially conscious lyrics of Dylan and Lennon. The duo modify and present the songs in a blues/folk style with tight sibling harmonies, around a story of the influence, jealousy, parody and respect that each artist had for the other.”

Support local independent journalism

Please support us and buy a monthly newspaper or book your advertising with us. Click on the image below. Our August issue – with loads of recommendations about the Fringe – will be out next week. Make sure of your copy by subscribing.

Lothian Buses looking for a new Charity of Choice partner

Lothian is looking for a new charity to support and any applications must be made to them by Sunday 28 July.

The company asks their 2,500 staff to choose the charity and then highlights the charitable causes and focuses fundraising efforts on them during the year. Currently the charity which the bus company supports is VOCAL – Voice of Carers across Lothian.

Apply here.

Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, has made his maiden speech in the House of Commons during the debate on the King’s Speech.

The tradition is that the first speech made by an MP is used to give other members of the House a flavour of the constituency represented, and Dr Arthur mentioned Lothian Buses, WHALE Arts, Oxgangs, Redford Barracks and the late Alastair Darling.

Dr Arthur told us how he felt addressing the Chamber for the first time. He said: “It’s a strange system, I was notified at 7pm on the preceding evening that my request to deliver my Maiden Speech had been accepted. 

“I was told I would be taken between 9.30am and 2.30pm, with the expectation that I would remain in the Chamber from the start of the debate until I was taken (requests for toilet breaks are permitted). 

“I was slightly nervous, not least because the day started with important updates on Gaza and the Covid Inquiry. 

“My nervousness intensified when our Whip let me know “you’re next”. Now, however,  I feel much more relaxed about contributing to proceedings – completing the speech means that one of the last steps to becoming a fully fledged MP is complete.

“More importantly, the speech was also a chance to tell the world about just how fantastic my constituency is, and about the key challenges i want to address.”

You may watch the whole speech by clicking the link here.

The new MP said: “I am obliged to you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to make my maiden speech. I would like to start by thanking Martin Vickers for a fantastic speech, but I fear that he has made my job only a little more difficult. I have to say that it is a delight to give my maiden speech in a debate led by our fantastic Deputy Prime Minister.

“It is an honour and a privilege to stand before this House as the representative for Edinburgh South West. I am deeply grateful to my constituents for placing their trust in me and also to my church for praying for me, although I know that they prayed more after I won the election than before it. I am committed to serving them all with dedication and integrity.

“Before I address the subject matter of the King’s Speech, I would like to pay tribute to my immediate predecessor, Joanna Cherry, KC, who represented the constituency for nine years. I had many dealings with her office in my role as a councillor, and I aways found her team to be utterly professional. I wish them all well. Joanna Cherry herself was a formidable parliamentarian.

“Members will recall that, during the Brexit crisis, she worked hard to ensure that Government decision making remained transparent and subject to parliamentary scrutiny. We all owe her a huge debt for that. I must also say that, although I disagree with her on many issues, I am happy to stand in complete solidarity with her in the face of the threats that she has faced. It pains me that, since coming here, so many others have spoken about threats and intimidation as well. This is an issue that we must take seriously. I must, however, tell the House that the campaign for Edinburgh South West between Joanna Cherry and myself was conducted entirely on the issues that matter to local people there, which is perhaps why I am so proud to be here to address the House today.

“I must also pay tribute to my predecessor’s predecessor. Alistair Darling was one of the greatest public servants of my lifetime. He sat here from 1987 to 2015. Like me, he was a councillor in Edinburgh, and convener of the city’s transport committee before he went on to serve as MP for Edinburgh South West. The similarities may end there. Indeed, we must all hope that I am never called on, as he was, to save the Bank of England. I know that Alistair is still much missed and I am proud to follow in his footsteps—indeed, without his help I doubt that I would have been elected as a councillor in 2017.

“Before I address myself to the debate, I would like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to my constituency, its institutions and its people. At this point, Members may need a map. Edinburgh South West is the best part of the greatest city in the world. It stretches from the west end of Princes Street to the East Cairn hill, some 18 km to the south-west. Along its length, the constituency moves from dense urban communities—places such as Gorgie, the home of Hearts football club, Dalry, Parkhead, Wester Hailes, Sighthill and Oxgangs—to suburban settlements such as Colinton, Craiglockhart, Swanston and Baberton Mains, and to the semi-rural Water of Leith villages of Currie, Juniper Green and Balerno.

“Of all those, Oxgangs is perhaps the place I know and love most. Many people there struggle in temporary and overcrowded accommodation; that is why it has been so important today to hear about the Deputy Prime Minister’s ambition to build affordable homes. In Edinburgh, we have worked with the whole city and set aside land for 37,000 new homes. The land is there and the planning is there, but the barrier to building those new homes is the lack of funding from the Scottish Government. I hope that they can now follow what we are doing here, and show more ambition on affordable housing in Scotland.

“When it comes to natural beauty, the Pentland hills and the Water of Leith dominate my constituency, and the habitats along the Union canal should not be forgotten. But of course it is the people who make my constituency so special, such as those who volunteer at the Water of Leith Conservation Trust or who converted a disused railway tunnel into Scotland’s largest historical mural—the Colinton tunnel; please google it later. I must also mention Tiphereth, a unique charity that delivers residential and day services for people with learning difficulties. It really is unique.

“The Edinburgh campus of Heriot-Watt University is perhaps the biggest employer in my constituency. It supported and developed me every day from when I started working there in 1996 until I was elected to this place. I shall miss my civil engineering colleagues and the many students it welcomes to Scotland from around the world. I hope to use some of my time here to support higher education, particularly the wellbeing of students. Mental health support in Scotland is failing its young people and acting as a barrier to many of them reaching their full potential. I will work with anyone and everyone to address that and the many other challenges facing students across the UK.

“Other large employers in my constituency include Lothian Buses, a bus company owned by the people of Edinburgh that defines the city just as much as the castle. I should stress that the Castle is not in my constituency. If some Members question municipal ownership of public transport, or the importance of collaborative working between trade unions and management, they should speak to some of the 2 million passengers that Lothian Buses carries every week without any subsidy. Big businesses are also important in my constituency, but it is the small ones that define it. They are at the heart of many of the neighbourhoods. Many have high hopes that the UK and Scottish Governments will now work together to support them more.

“I am also proud to say that there are two infantry barracks in my constituency: Dreghorn and Redford. Both are valued by local residents as real assets, and they never caused me a problem as a councillor. The proposal in the King’s Speech for an armed forces commissioner will be supported by many in my constituency, particularly if it helps improve the living quarters for our service personnel and supports spouses at the point of relationship breakdown, particularly when domestic abuse has been an issue.

“Elections are a reminder that we are all equal in this country, but it pained me that many constituents felt that they were less equal than others during the election campaign. That is why local groups in my constituency such as Soul Food Oxgangs, Best Bib n Tucker and WHALE Arts must be mentioned in my speech, as they all work hard to ensure that people feel included and valued.

“That is our job too, of course—indeed, all of us here have a duty to keep on listening to voters now that the election is over. The first-past-the-post system means that I was elected on just 40.9% of the vote—I still cannot believe it, to be honest—and I know that some of those voters still want to be reassured that they did the right thing. I am here only because I promised to work with other parties where possible, and to listen to everybody in my constituency, no matter their sex, gender, background, faith, age or birthplace. I will keep listening to people, even if they voted for my opponents or did not vote at all.

“We know, of course, that the people who need our help most did not vote for us. Among them are the 3,000 children in my constituency who are living in poverty. That number has grown across the whole UK since Labour last sat on the Government Benches, and that should shame us all. I know the costed measures in the King’s Speech are our best chance of changing those lives.

“Measures such as GB Energy, building more homes, a new deal for working people and our plans for sustainable economic growth will not just get our country back on track and help us to meet our climate targets, but give parents hope again of a better future for their children. The child poverty taskforce is an opportunity to maximise the benefits of those policies by integrating their delivery. That is the change our country needs and voted for, and we must now work together across this Chamber to deliver it.”

UPDATE – David Turner, 68, reported missing from the Adamslaw Place area of Edinburgh, has been traced safe and well.

Police are appealing for the help of the public to trace a 68-year-old man reported missing in Edinburgh.

David Turner was last seen around 11.30am on Sunday, 21 July, in the Adamslaw Place area of the city. He was walking his two Cocker Spaniels, one brown and white and the other black and white.

David often visits the Inch or Portobello areas of Edinburgh, or Musselburgh in East Lothian.

He has very short white hair and glasses. When last seen he was wearing a black jacket, black joggers and black trainers.

Inspector Steph Garnett at Craigmillar said: “Concerns are growing for David’s welfare and we want to make sure he is safe and well.

“We are asking anyone who has seen him or knows where he is to get in touch.”

Anyone who can help is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2550 of Sunday, 21 July, 202

An attack was carried out at Sighthill Primary School on Saturday leaving a door and window damaged in an apparent act of vandalism.

The council say the school building has now been secured and that they are looking to address repairs to the damage.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Enquiries are ongoing after the report of vandalism to a school building in Calder Park, Edinburgh shortly after 4am on Saturday, 20 July 2024.

“Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 0650 of 20 July 2024.”

Lothians duo Jock Kettles and Mike Connet qualified for the final of the Fastmail Pairs, formerly the Scierra Pairs, one of Britain’s leading fly fishing events, after a challenging day at Glencorse Reservoir in The Pentland Hills.

Kettles from Lasswade, Midlothian, and Connet from Edinburgh hooked their eight fish which totalled 31lb 01oz in just over five hours. With time bonuses the total rose to 34lb 8oz.

They were beaten by Dunfermline pair, Ross and Nicola Carnegie, who landed eight fish for 29lb 01oz which rose to 37lb 1oz with time bonuses, the team arriving back at the harbour four minutes under three hours after the match started at 9am.

Third were another Fife pair, William ‘Fally’ Cowan, aged 81, from Glenrothes, and 70-year-old Brian Abel from Cardenden, who call themselves the ‘Pensioner Pair’. Their bag weighed 31lb and 11oz and rose to 34lb 3oz with time bonuses.

Kettles and Connet were quick to praise the winners who practised on the water on Saturday. Nicola blanked on the day and Ross tempted four and they agreed on their tactics over a coffee as they relaxed at home.

Ross, a joiner, and Nicola, a carer, caught six fish in under two hours during the competition and had to wait for the next two as they anxiously looked at the clock in the hope of adding major time bonus points.

They have qualified for the final twice and two years ago they were 21^st with 66 boats in the water. At Glencorse, the last heat and their last chance to qualify this year, one used a floating line with two dry flies and the other a Di5 with lures.

Ross admitted: “We decided to make for the top of the water (towards Loganlea) and we should have been back in harbour by 10.30, but we dropped a number of fish. At 11am it became cooler but the sun came out again and we found the two fish we needed to come back to harbour. It was, however, a challenging day.”

It was also a long wait to see if their impressive total would be beaten.

Kettles and Connet are regular anglers at Glencorse and were considered a major threat as they know the water so well, but even they struggled and the experienced pair did not arrive back at the harbour until 14.12. They still accrued time bonuses.

Overall, their best finish in the final was eighth and they travel south to Grafham near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, England’s third largest reservoir, on Sunday, September 15, fully aware that some of the heavyweights in British fly fishing await them.

One fished a mini rabbit and the other a booby and three cormorants and they persevered throughout the match in The Pentland Hills. They made drifts towards the margins but admitted that fishing was tough even with their experience at Glencorse. They also missed fish and Connet was snapped by a big fish early on.

Cowan hooked his first fish five minutes after the start and another at 9.30 but they dried up and the pair did not dock until 14.49. They still collected a time bonus which left them clear of the rest.

They fished a red head damsel, FAB and a small snake on a Di3 line and Cowan, a former Scotland international, who won a gold medal in his debut at a water in Kent, said their biggest fish was around 6.5lb.

Other Lothians anglers were also in the field including Eck Moffat from Bonnyrigg and Andy Hamlyn from Roslin and they had six fish for 24lb 08oz.

The full results were: 1, Nicola Carnegie and Ross Carnegie, eight fish, 29lb 1oz plus 8lb in time bonuses for 37lb 1oz; 2, Jock Kettles and Mike Connet, eight fish, 31lb, plus 3lb 8oz in time bonuses for 34lb 8oz; 3, Brian Abel and William Cowan, eight fish, 31lb 11oz, 2lb 8oz in time bonuses for 34lb 3oz; 4, David Wright and Keith Renton, seven fish, 26lb 4oz; 5, Eck Moffat and Andy Hamlyn, six fish, 24lb 8oz; 6, Dave Moody and Jeff McIntosh, six fish, 21lb 8oz; 7, Simon Thurwell and Derek Marklow, four fish for 19lb; 8, Colin Fairgrieve and Douglas Scott, five fish for 18lb 8oz; 9, Colin Moffat and Willie Jacobsen, four fish for 14lb 14oz; 10, George Amour and Jamie McLery, one fish for 3lb 8oz; 11, Andrew Glasgow and Mark Partizio one fish for 3lb 4oz.

PICTURE: Friendly rivalry at the weigh-in (left to right): Mike Connet, Jock Kettles, Ross Carnegie, Nicola Caregie and Kenny Knox, the fishery manager at Glencorse. Picture by Nigel Duncan

PENSIONER PAIR: “Brian Abel (left) and William ‘Fally’ Cowan who were third. Picture Nigel Duncan

WAITING GAME: Anglers line-up awaiting the results at Glencorse. Picture Nigel Duncan

HAND OVER: Jack Kettles (right) congratulates the winners, Nicola and Ross Carnegie, on winning the heat. Picture Nigel Duncan

The Council Leader has instructed the Chief Executive to convene a meeting on Monday to review the incident involving visiting football fans and cricketers in Roseburn Park near Murrayfield Stadium this weekend.

Cllr Cammy Day said that the Chief Executive, Paul Lawrence, will invite representatives from Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland, the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and other organisations involved in Saturday’s football match at Murrayfield to attend. He is adamant that a meeting will discuss what happened, what went wrong and whether the council will “support any of these types of events going forward”.

Cllr Day said: “The way that a minority of fans have behaved is an absolute disgrace. The language which has allegedly been used is both homophobic and racist. This is unacceptable in Edinburgh, and we will not tolerate it. And if that means bringing an end to these games then that is what we will be doing. We will work with the police and the SRU, and after investigation, then we may expect public apologies from the football teams and the SRU.

“But if that is how these fans behave then we don’t want them.”

On Saturday a cricket match being played in Roseburn Park between Murrayfield DAFS and Stewart’s Melville was abandoned as football fans going to the Rangers FC v Manchester United match at Scottish Gas Murrayfield allegedly verbally abused the cricketers.

There are also allegations of physical assault against the cricketers, and we are advised that Police Scotland is now investigating all of these claims as a matter of urgency today.

Murrayfield DAFS Cricket Club have also advised that damage was caused to the pitch after they had to abandon a match there on Saturday.

The damage was caused to the astro turf surface as is seen in the photo below.

Hibs youngster Malik Zaid has joined Annan Athletic on loan for the duration of 2024/25 season. 

This will be the 19-year-old’s second loan spell away from Hibs after a successful six-months at Edinburgh City last season.  
  
During his time at Meadowbank, Zaid made 19 appearances and contributed to four goals in League One. 
  
Zaid will now join up with Wullie Gibson’s Annan side as they prepare for their William Hill League 1 campaign. 
  
Hibernian FC Sporting Director Malky Mackay commented: “This is a great opportunity for Malik to continue playing senior games at a really competitive level. 
  
“He performed well at Edinburgh City last season and hopefully further exposure in League 1 will aid his development. We look forward to seeing how he progresses.” 

Soup bags and £570 worth of groceries have been given to the local food bank by the owners of a Fife holiday park.

As part of its fortieth anniversary celebrations, Pettycur Bay Holiday Park, stars of Life on the Bay on BBC, has donated 40 soup bags, together with £570 worth of groceries, to the Burntisland & Kinghorn Food Bank.

James McKay, Head Chef at Horizons, the 100 seater all day restaurant within the holiday park, chopped a selection of seasonal vegetables – which were themselves donated from Horizons supplier, Malcolm Wood of Fresh Express – added stock, and then bagged the mixture into 40 bags, with each bag enough to make a delicious portion of fresh homemade soup for a hungry local person or family.

The bags, together with the groceries, were recently handed over to the Food Bank.

James said: “We are very grateful to Malcolm for donating the vegetables for the soup bags.

“Along with donating badly needed groceries and supplies, we thought we would donate these soup bags, as it’s nice to give a food bank something fresh as well. We’ve made it as easy as possible to make the soup – just add water to the mixture and simmer.”

It was on 19 July 1984 that the Wallace family – Dad Thomas, Mum Magdalene, and sons Tommy and Alan formed a partnership and bought what was then a humble 47 acre camping and caravan park.

Over the years they have built up the business, notable for its sweeping views across the Firth of Forth, and it has become a multi-million-pound, award winning concern. It is still very much the location for caravan holiday homes – albeit far more sophisticated luxury models than were around in 1984 – from some of the UK’s top manufacturers, including Atlas and Carnaby. Over 600 in total are situated on the hills and inclines of the park, either owned by a happy community of owners, or are part of the park’s holiday rental fleet.

Tommy Wallace said: “Along with this food bank donation as a community contribution to mark our forty years of ownership, we held a special Charity Race Night at Pettycur Bay on Friday 19 July – our anniversary day – raising the great total of £2,175 for our three nominated charities – the RNLI, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and the Wolf-Hirschhorn Trust.

“We are delighted to say that we attracted strong levels of sponsorship from local businesses and individuals who got involved in this night,” added Tommy. “I’d like to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of them for their support – we really appreciate it.

“The night was a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together here at Pettycur Bay as it has done many times over the past four decades.”

On behalf of Burntisland & Kinghorn Foodbank, Pat Gibson said: “Our sincere thanks to Pettycur Bay for this incredible donation of both soup bags and groceries which will be very well used in the local community by those still in need of our help.”

The Murrayfield DAFS 4th XI playing against Stewart’s Melville at Roseburn on Saturday was forced to abandon the match because of incidents of alleged abuse and physical assault by football supporters headed to Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

The Rangers v Manchester United football friendly was played at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday afternoon with kick off initially due to take place at 4.00pm. Play began at the delayed time of 4.15 to allow fans to “enter the ground safely” according to Rangers FC.

As the fans passed the cricket pitch in the public park, which DAFS rent from Edinburgh Leisure on behalf of The City of Edinburgh Council, the club alleges there were incidents of sexist, homophobic and racist abuse made against the cricketers. On X the club also said that police standing only 50 yards away did nothing to assist – and refused to help. As a result the club abandoned the match and players left the field.

A spokesman for the cricket club told The Edinburgh Reporter that the matter has been reported to Police Scotland.

A Police Scotland spokesperson told us: “Officers are carrying out enquiries after reports of abuse being directed towards players during a cricket match at Roseburn Park, Edinburgh on Saturday, 20 July 2024.”

Stewart’s Melville Cricket Club said that they were very disappointed about the experience of their 4th team at Roseburn Park.

A spokesperson for Stewart’s Melville said: “The treatment suffered by both teams in our 4th XI match against Murrayfield DAFs at Roseburn Park was completely unacceptable. All the players involved deserve credit for the manner in which they handled the situation. The club will be happy to assist the relevant authorities with anything required”. 

All other organisations with an interest in the matter including local politicians have been contacted for comment.

Edinburgh Live reported on Saturday that “balaclava wearing football fans” caused police to halt traffic on Slateford Road around 3pm.

Rangers FC reported that 56,574 people attended the match at Murrayfield – less than the 73,000 strong audience who came to the ground to see megastar Taylor Swift last month. The match could not be played at Ibrox due to work being carried out there this summer meaning it will be unavailable for around two months while 600 extra seats are added. Many other Rangers pre-season fixtures will be played in England.

At the time Scottish Rugby’s Director of Stadium and Development Operations, Mark Laidlaw, said that the Taylor Swift concert “was a huge achievement” and evidenced the cross organisation work involved in staging events at Murrayfield.

He continued: “Not just for everyone from Scottish Rugby who worked on making this event happen, but also for all partners that we have worked with since the tour was announced last year. We work closely with Edinburgh City Council, the emergency services and local travel providers for all of our events and I would like to thank them all for their support, both for the recent concerts and for other such events.”

Police Scotland Air Support Unit launched their drone in South Queensferry last week as part of an operation tackling antisocial vehicle use in the Hawes Pier area.  

Specially trained police officers deploy the drones and have all received Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved training and operate according to strict criteria governed by the CAA. 

Drones can be used for a variety of purposes, including searches across large areas for missing people that could otherwise take officers days to complete.

They are a low cost, effective and very visible asset that can support the force’s existing helicopter. 

Community officers were also joined by Councillor Lewis Younie and assisted by colleagues from the Roads Policing Team to raise awareness of the issue and engage with those involved. 

Hibs Head Coach David Gray was left frustrated after his side fell to a 1-0 defeat to Kelty Hearts in the Premier Sports Cup yesterday. 

Despite creating plenty of chances, Hibs were made to pay for our missed opportunities and Kelty claimed all three points thanks to Callum Flatman’s second-half header.  

Speaking to Hibs TV after the match, Gray shared his frustration with the result.  

“It’s extremely disappointing, and frustrating. We’ve let the fans down especially, who all came here in their numbers.  

“It has been really positive the last two weeks, but this just shows you that you need to be at your level every single time you pull on the jersey. There is an expectation that playing for such a big Club that needs to be there.  

“We created enough chances to win the game, but if you don’t show that composure and quality in the final third and you don’t score when you are on top – then it gives the opposition a lift.  

“We switched off at a corner, we didn’t set up quickly enough and they showed more desire to get their head on the ball than we did and we lose a goal.  

“We never got back into the game after that. Credit to Kelty, they threw their bodies on the line.  

“They did everything they could to hold onto the advantage that they had, but we certainly didn’t do enough in the end.” 

Gray admits his side were not clinical enough in the final third and highlighted the importance of making sure we bounce back quickly from this setback.  

“We had a lot of clear-cut chances – we hit the woodwork several times as well, but the longer the game goes on – the more they take from that, they throw bodies on the lines, their keeper made a number of saves and it became a very frustrating day. 

“We made changes today, it was our third game in a week so it was an opportunity to pull on the jersey and go out and impress. 

“ Unfortunately, I think our standards dropped, not just the changes but for the whole team – that is something that we need to definitely be better at.  

“That’s the beauty of football, we have the opportunity to try and change it straight up.  

“We will be back in on Monday morning to rectify the areas that we let ourselves down in today.”