Edinburgh Council is losing a senior officer in the transport team as Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH) announce the appointment of Hannah Ross as its new Chief Executive.

Ms Ross is currently Head of Major Projects and Commissioning at The City of Edinburgh Council, and she will join SRH on 30 September.

Ms Ross has been the lead on the Trams to Newhaven project since 2018, securing business case approval and successfully delivering the construction, testing, and commissioning of the project prior to the opening of the extension to the line in June last year. She was recently recognised for this work with an ‘Outstanding Contribution to Transport’ award at the Scottish Transport Awards last month.

She will lead the arm’s length company SRH which was set up and is owned by The Scottish Government. It has responsibility for the ownership and oversight of both ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper, following their transfer into public ownership in April 2022 and June 2023 respectively.

Ms Ross is a qualified lawyer and already works closely with Edinburgh’s public transport companies, collaborating on policy, delivery, and governance.

As well as Chief Executive of Scottish Rail Holdings, Ms Ross will also chair the boards of ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper.

Richard Cairns, Scottish Rail Holdings Chairperson, said: “Hannah brings a wealth of experience to the role of Chief Executive, having successfully led a number of major projects, most recently overseeing the introduction of trams to Newhaven.

“From the outset of the recruitment process, it was clear that Hannah has the knowledge, experience, and leadership skills and was the outstanding candidate for this role. Her focus on how best to deliver for passengers is something that impressed me and will be vital in helping to deliver for ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper.”

Hannah Ross, incoming Scottish Rail Holdings Chief Executive, said: “The railway in Scotland is a vital part of our economy and society, connecting people to work, education, entertainment, and family and friends. I look forward to leading the team at Scottish Rail Holdings and working closely with colleagues across the rail industry, particularly ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper, to deliver the best possible service to customers.

“I’m passionate about growing public transport given the positive impact it can have on economic growth and opportunities for communities, and crucially, the part it plays in our drive to net zero.”

Transport and Environment Convener, Cllr Scott Arthur MP said: “I’d like to congratulate Hannah on her new position as Chief Executive for Scottish Rail Holdings – a great opportunity that she simply couldn’t pass up.

“With over a decade of service to the Council, we’re all extremely grateful to Hannah for her expertise, dedication and professionalism. Amongst her many achievements, she played a leading role in delivering the multi award-winning Trams to Newhaven project, which has proved to be a great success for our city and its residents.

“She leaves with our very best wishes for the future.”

Police are renewing their appeal to trace 14-year-old Julia Gradecka who was last seen in the Waterfall Walk area of Dalkeith around 7am on Saturday, 13 July, 2024.

Enquiries carried out now show she was seen on CCTV in Princes Street, Edinburgh at 11.20 pm on Tuesday, 16 July, 2024 in the company of Daniel Carroll, aged 15, who is also missing from the Bellshill area.

Julia is described as being around 5ft 9in in height, of medium build with long brown hair. When last seen she was wearing a purple and white jumper, black leggings and white crocs.  Julia is known to frequent the Bellshill area of North Lanarkshire. 

Inspector Watson from Dalkeith Police Station said: “As time passes we are becoming increasingly concerned for Julia’s welfare and would urge anyone who may have seen her, or has any information on her whereabouts, to contact police.

“Likewise, if Julia sees or hears about this appeal, please call us, so we know you are safe and well.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 3389 of 13 July, 2024.

The Co-op is to open a store on the forecourt of a new petrol station services on the A1 next month as part of a new nationwide franchise.

The convenience store chain says the store is one of seven new branches which will be launched across the UK as part of the new deal with petrol forecourt business EG On The Move.

The new Macmerry Services has already confirmed the arrival of McDonalds on the land at the Gladsmuir junction, which was once home to Raceland.

A planning application for new signage planned for the services has added the Co-op to the names moving in as well as Subway, Starbucks and Greggs.

Thrill-seekers paradise Raceland closed its doors six years ago and the land was taken on by Euro Garage Ltd.

Following the closure of the go kart track it became a target for fly-tippers and fire bugs before the main building was demolished.

Work on the site, which has planning permission for a petrol station, McDonald’s drive thru,  and retail units along with a builders yard and two trade warehouses, began last year.

A spokesperson for Co-op, said: “The whole team is delighted to be preparing to launch the new Co-op store.

“It is also very exciting to be opening the brand new store which combines Co-op’s convenience expertise with EG On The Move’s petrol forecourt business.

“We are looking forward to welcoming our members and customers into their Co-op.

“Our aim is to operate at the heart of local life and we have worked to develop the range, choice and added services to create a compelling offer to serve our community, conveniently.”

Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer-owned co-operatives. Its member-owners own the business and play an intrinsic part in the governance of the organisation, enjoying a wide number of benefits including member-only price savings across everyday essentials, and personalised offers via the Co-op Membership App.

Zuber Issa, CEO, EG On The Move, said: “EG On The Move is an acknowledged petrol forecourt and convenience retail destination operator, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with Co-op to roll out their new convenience store formats.

“Following on from this seven store trial, we look forward to working with Co-op to consider other locations across the network.

“Co-op is a well-established convenience operator, respected in the market and a recognised consumer brand, and this partnership not only promises to enhance our convenience store offer but it will also ensure our customers have access to exceptional fuel retail services including EV charging, a wide choice of essential and premium grocery and merchandise along with an enjoyable food service experience.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

An Edinburgh community hub is to be adorned with a vibrant new mural celebrating the restoration of oyster populations in the Firth of Forth.

Plans to paint a side of the Heart of Newhaven building with sea life and stories of the area’s fishing history have been given the go ahead.

It comes after local residents and schoolchildren were invited to help create the design, which features species local to Newhaven such as horsetail kelp, coral weed and Atlantic herring.

The mural, funded by Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Gardens, is based around the Restoration Forth Project which is working to bring back over 40 hectares of coastal habitat by 2030.

Last year the major marine restoration programme deployed the first European flat oysters into the Firth of Forth in 100 years, and it’s estimated by the end of this year 30,000 oysters and 40,000 square metres of seagrass will have been restored.

The artwork will look to highlight “local biodiversity, to the importance of the
restoration project, and to reflect how this ties into local cultural histories and current activity”.

Community engagement sessions asked people how the mural could honour the historical importance of oysters for jobs, diet and local culture “in a
way that also makes space for oysters to have a different kind of significance for the Forth in the future”.

The final concept which emerged shows oyster shells decorated with depictions of fishwives cleaning and selling oysters, fishing boats, swimmers and other historic cultural activities. Around these are different local species of animal, seagrass and seaweed weaved through to “combine human
stories and local nature”.

Plans stated: “The mural looks to draw attention to the biodiversity of the Firth of Forth and to Newhaven’s current and historical connections to this.

“The Designs were developed through community engagement sessions, through research into the project and through considering the
building and local surroundings.”

A council report said: “The proposals would have no adverse impact on the character of the listed building or on the character and appearance of the conservation Area and are acceptable.

“The proposed painting will have a neutral impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

Hibs keeper Jojo Wollacott has joined English League One side Crawley Town permanently. 

Wollacott joined Hibs in June 2023, making his debut in the Europa Conference League qualifiers last summer. 

The shot-stopper went on to make eight  appearances (all comps) during his time at the Club. 

The 27-year-old now returns to England to join Scott Lindsey’s Crawley Town who play their football in Sky Bet League One. 

Upon Wollacott’s departure, Hibernian FC Sporting Director Malky Mackay commented: “First of all I would like to thank Jojo for his efforts during his time with us. 

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t guarantee Jojo as much game time as he would like, we agreed it was best for him to continue his career down south, in a league that he knows well. 

“Everyone at the Club wishes Jojo the best of luck for the future.” 

A teenager has been arrested after a woman was struck by a stolen car being driven on Princes Street last night Wednesday 17 July 2024. 

Around 7.50pm officers spotted a stolen vehicle being driven in the West Port area of Edinburgh. 

The vehicle failed to stop, and a short pursuit took place on Lady Lawson Street towards Lothian Road where it was cancelled for safety reasons. 

The vehicle then struck a female pedestrian on Princes Street, before continuing onto South Saint David Street where it crashed into another vehicle. 

Following a short foot chase a A 17-year-old male was arrested on Market Street. 

He has been charged in connection with road traffic offences and released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date. 

Emergency services attended, and the female pedestrian was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment. The driver of the other vehicle wasn’t injured. 

One lane of Princes Street was closed near the Scott Monument for around three hours as enquiries were carried out, which caused some disruption to public transport. 

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 7.50pm on Wednesday, 17 July, 2024, officers observed a stolen vehicle being driven in the West Port area of Edinburgh. 

“It failed to stop, and a short pursuit took place on Lady Lawson Street towards Lothian Road where it was cancelled for safety reasons. 

“Shortly afterwards, the same vehicle then struck a female pedestrian on Princes Street, before continuing onto South Saint David Street where it crashed into another vehicle. 

“A 17-year-old male was arrested on Market Street by officers following a short foot chase. He has been charged in connection with road traffic offences and released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date. 

“We would like to thank members of the public who assisted officers in tracing the male.” 

The premiere of the virtual reality musical, Non-Player Character, an interactive VR musical experience created and performed by American actor, writer and director Brendan Bradley, is being hosted at YOTEL Edinburgh.

Twenty four performances take place at the city centre hotel as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 2-26 August.

This unique show showcases YOTEL Edinburgh’s state-of-the-art Imaginex screening room, offering 360° skyline panoramic projection surrounding the audience, the only one of its kind in Scotland.

The show consists of four audience members joining a live actor and a live musician “on stage” as if they are players of a video game, where seated spectators can watch the on-stage performance and see the virtual experience projected on a large format screen.

As one of the first its kind at the Festival Fringe, the show utilises playful improvision and audience participation around the structured story and songs.

YOTEL are offering Fringe benefits for guests staying during August including its “Fringe it up” add-on overnight stay package with tickets to Non Player Character, and a survival kit comprising everything you need to make the most of your stay during the Festival, such as a poncho, mini suncream, city map, Irn Bru, Shortbread and can of Edinburgh G&T, plus breakfast.

Guests can also add tickets for Non Player Character during their stay for £15 per person, valid for the first night of their stay.

YOTEL Edinburgh is located in Queen Street and has an atmospheric bar and lounge ideal for a pre- or post-show refreshment, as well as a 24/7 gym and multi-functional events spaces.

Tickets for Non Player Character performances are available here. Rooms at YOTEL Edinburgh are priced from £113 per night, room only.

School attendance figures in West Lothian have started to rise again after being hit by the Covid pandemic. 

Two years after the end of lockdown it is only now that the council is starting to see attendance figures inching back to pre-2020 levels. 

Councillors heard that this has been down to specialist intervention and work with pupils and families to push the message of the benefits of regular school attendance. 

It’s a programme which is now being copied by other local authorities. 

Many parents have applied for home schooling believing that schools were offering lessons in the way they did during lockdown. 

A meeting of the Education Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel heard that falling school attendance has become a national problem post-Covid. 

Councillor Moira McKee Shemilt  asked: “What are the reasons for non-attendance. Is illness a reason. I was going to ask if there was a Covid spin-off?  

Laura Quilter, an Education Quality Improvement Officer for attendance replied: “We did some work with schools around what the reasons were.  What we found there was a significant anxiety, particularly around those who were adversely affected during the period of lockdown through transition, our currents S3 and S4 pupils. 

“We are working very hard with our educational psychology colleagues to develop support for schools around emotional-based school avoidance because we do know that there are a number of young people who are unable to come into school because of the anxiety that presents to them. 

“Schools are working very very hard to find alternative approaches to engage with young people who are not able to physically come into the building and they are doing that very successfully towards the end of this session.” 

Mrs Quilter told the meeting: “The development of a West Lothian approach to improving attendance and engagement in schools was identified as a priority to seek to improve attendance universally as well as for targeted groups following a significant decline in school attendance in 22/23 to 89.48%. This was compared to pre-pandemic levels of 92.48 % in 2018/19. 

She added that a “self-evaluation toolkit” has been developed to help schools develop inclusion and equality policies. 

Schools have also been encouraged to be more flexible with timetabling. The council’s education service has also developed more targeted strategies to work with families to overcome issues facing non-attendance. 

Currently 51 primaries and seven high schools have seen improvements in  attendance this school year. 

Councillor McKeen Shemilt said: “I read that nationally there has been a 20% increase in parents asking for home schooling. 

And SNP colleague, the group’s depute leader, Councillor Pauline Stafford asked: “Does West Lothian reflect the rise in applications for home schooling. Are we similar to the national trend? 

Kristyna MacSween, the Additional School Needs (ASN) manager replied: “There has been an increase in applications.  What we are finding is that parents are putting an application in but  they are seeing it as the home learning that was happening through Covid and are potentially still expecting schools to provide that curriculum for them, which is totally different to home schooling. 

“We are not seeing huge differences in the numbers that are actually being home educated but we are seeing increases in applications, because there’s a perception of a difference there.” 

Andrew McGuire, chair of the committee, asked if there had been a change in attitude around parents: “thinking I’m in the house anyway so it’s ok to take one or two days off sick because it’s easier than trying to wrestle them to school?” 

Mrs Quilter said: “That is something we have experienced but schools are working very hard to help parents understand the impact of  non attendance at school and the benefits of educational attainment.” 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Alan Stubbs returns to Easter Road this summer to kick-start Hibs brand-new ‘Audience With’ series 

Following the summer renovation of the Famous Five Stand, a new range of events will be taking place at Easter Road over the course of the 2024/25 campaign. 

And the club are kicking off in style, with legendary Hibs boss Alan Stubbs returning to Easter Road for an evening of reflections, stories, laughs and entertainment. 

‘Stubbsy’ managed the Hibees for 100 games in total, taking over in summer 2014 and steering the Club to that historic Scottish Cup triumph at Hampden Park in his final game in charge. 

The Scottish Cup winning Manager will be joined by several special guests to look back on that day in May and discuss tales from years gone by.  

Full details on each special guest will be announced in the lead up to the event. 

Hosted by Grant Stott, the event takes place on Monday 12 August, in the newly refurbished Famous Five Stand. 

Ticket prices start from £54.95 per person and includes: 

Two-course meal from Club caterer Elior with picturesque views of the Easter Road pitch 

The opportunity to contribute to the discussion on stage with a Q&A 

Card bar serving a range of draught beers, chilled wines, selection of local spirits and soft drinks 

Chance to win special prizes throughout the evening 

Doors open from 6pm.

VIP packages are also available for the evening, which includes a private meet and greet with Alan Stubbs and the panel in our Chairman’s Club, a premium table and arrival drink.

Doors open at 5:45pm for VIP guests and tickets are on sale now for £84.95 per person. 

Tickets can be booked via the Hibernian FC website.

Craig Cook, a former Edinburgh Monarchs captain, returns to Armadale on Friday, spearheading SGB Championship newcomers Workington Comets, tapes-up 7.30pm.

Comets are Cook’s local side and Workington have proved a great addition to the league at their new venue. They have been out of the shale sport since 2018 and they bidding for one of the play-off places.

Workington’s strength is in their top five in which ex-Grand Prix racer Troy Batchelor, former Monarchs star Claus Vissing and newcomers Antti Vuolas (Finland) and young Aussie Tate Zischke have provided strong backing for Cook.

Zischke was injured recently but his absence will be covered, probably by rider replacement. All riders, except Cook, are entitled to an extra ride. Otherwise, both teams are at full-strength.

Alex Harkess, Monarchs’ team manager, is acutely aware of the threat posed by Cook and his colleagues and he said: “Workington have a very strong top two.

“We know what Craig is capable of and he has been doing very well this year, so full marks to him. Hopefully, our top two will compete with their top two and we’ll be OK.”

Friday’s match will be live streamed on the British Speedway Network and details are on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.

STELLAR MONARCHS: Josh Pickering, Kye Thomson, Lasse Fredriksen, Paco Castagna (captain), Justin Sedgmen, Max James, Connor Coles.

GT TYRES COMETS: Craig Cook (captain), rider replacement for Tate Zischke, Antti Vuolas, Claus Vissing, Troy Batchelor, Celina Liebmann, Sam McGurk.

The Championship match will be followed by a Northern Junior League fixture between Armadale Angels and Workington Meteors.

PICTURE: Flashback to Craig Cook v Leon Flint

Scotland’s under-21 women booked a place in the final of EuroHockey Championship II after a 2-1 victory over combined with other results in A Pool in Konya, Turkey.

The Tartan Hearts play the hosts in their final pool game on Friday and are keen to keep momentum going and maintain their 100 per cent record ahead of the final.

Scotland coach Jimmy Culnane’s side dominated the early exchanges, but Poland broke forward and Hanna Wochna opened the scoring by rounding the keeper and slotting home.

One minute later and Scotland were level. A penalty corner strike by Durham University player Ava Wadsworth was deflected into the net by Mhairi Low (Loughborough University) to make it 1-1.

Scotland then went in front at the start of the second quarter. A flowing move involving Katie Brett (The University of Edinburgh), Caterina Nelli (Uddingston) and Ava Findlay (The University of Edinburgh) was finished off by Findlay with a powerful low shot for 2-1.

Scotland dominated the second half and looked comfortable with The University of Edinburgh player, Neave Halliday, strong in defence. She also moved the ball well and Zara Kennedy (The University of Edinburgh) and Ava Smith (The University of Edinburgh) delivered multiple ball wins to keep Scotland where they wanted to be, in the attacking areas.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s under-21 men scored two goals in the final quarter to draw 3-3 with Wales in their EuroHockey Challenge II B clash in Lausanne, Switzerland.

PICTURE: Jimmy Culnane pictured during a recent Scotland women’s training session at Peffermill. Picture Nigel Duncan

Police are appealing for information following a fatal crash between Dirleton and Drem.

Around 7.30am on Wednesday, 17 July, 2024, officers were called to reports of a two-vehicle crash on the B1345, around 1.5miles north of Drem.
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The crash involved a red Scania tanker and a green Kawasaki ZX 900E1.
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The driver of the motorcycle, a 21-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.
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The driver of the tanker was uninjured.
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The road was closed to allow for collision investigators to conduct enquiries.
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Sergeant Barry Sommerville said: “Our enquiries are continuing into the circumstances of this collision in which a man sadly died, and our thoughts are with his family at this time.
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“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.”
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Anyone with information is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 0665 of 17 July, 2024.

From today at the Pavilion at The Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston there will be luxury goods on sale with discounts of anything from 70% to 80% of the price.

The sales begin today for three days and will then resume on 23 and 24 July.

Use the links below to book free tickets for slots at each event – the links also have more specific information for each of the luxury brands.

Mulberry: https://www.showcase.co/event/mulberry-edi-jul-24/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=pavilionpr&utm_campaign=mulberry-edn-jul24

Reiss: https://www.showcase.co/event/reiss-edi-jul-24/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=pavilionpr&utm_campaign=reiss-edn-jul24

Sophia Webster: https://www.showcase.co/event/sophia-webster-edi-jul-24/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=pavilionpr&utm_campaign=sophia-webster-edn-jul24

Nadine Merabi: https://www.showcase.co/event/nadine-merabi-edi-jul-24/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=pavilionpr&utm_campaign=nadine-merabi-edn-jul24

Aspinal of London: https://www.showcase.co/event/aspinal-of-london-edi-jul-24/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=pavilionpr&utm_campaign=aspinal-of-london-edn-jul24

The Royal Highland Centre is accessible by tram with a short walk from the Park and Ride or bus, and there is also ample parking.

At Granton Hub

Extra tickets have been released for a heritage event at Granton Hub being held later today. The programme will include an evening of talks and discussion celebrating th part women have played in the history of the area.

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Art at the Gasholder

A piece of public art will be commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council as part of the development of Granton gasholder park. In February the Council invited locally-based artists and creative practitioners to develop ideas for the new artwork to be co-created with the local community.

Locals and visitors to Granton Waterfront will be given a preview of six shortlisted designs for the new piece which are exhibited at Granton Station from Thursday 18 – Saturday 20 July.

Ideas for the selected pieces have been taken from community interests and themes connected to Granton and all of the artists have provided opportunities for the local community to participate in the design process.

Read more here

Transformation

The Royal Highland Centre is a versatile space – and to prove it they have published a video showing how the largest cattle hall in Europe was transformed into a space for the election count (where there was only a whiff of disinfectant in the air…)

Now the show ground will be transformed again for Truckfest Scotland which takes place from 3 to 4 August. Audiences can look forward to revelling in car-crushing Monster Truck Action which sees the return of fan favourites Swamp Thing and Slingshot; The UK’s top-ranked freestyle motocross riders take flight in Broke FMX, with heart-stopping tricks the likes of which are usually only seen on TV; and those brave enough can even become part of the action by taking a ride in the real Slingshot truck.  

In addition, Truckfest continues to offer one of the most diverse and wide-ranging looks at the haulage and trucking industry, exhibiting incredible trucks of all shapes and sizes including American rigs, customised trucks, emergency vehicles & vintage trucks. 2024 tickets are now on sale: https://www.truckfest.co.uk/truckfest-scotland/

Love Your Business on the beach

Networking organisation Love Your Business will be meeting on Gullane Beach on 9 August for their summer networking session from 10am to 12 noon. If you would like to join in then email michelle@michellebrownpr.com for details.

And yes you can bring your own food – and swimming costume!

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North American airline JetBlue is benefitting from fed-up Scots keen to escape a wetter than normal summer with it’s Edinburgh to New York route proving a popular getaway option.

At just under seven-and-a-half hours flying time and arriving on the Big Apple’s doorstep at John F. Kennedy International Airport, thousands of Scots have taken advantage of the daily seasonal route which runs until 30 September.

It seems the city that never sleeps is an appealing alternative for holidaymakers awake to the glamour of a Stateside vacation over traditional European destinations including, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece.

JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando and San Juan. Known for its low fares and great service, the airline carries customers to more than 100 destinations throughout the United States, Latin America, Caribbean, Canada, the United Kingdom and France.

When JetBlue launched its first Scottish route in May, expanding its transatlantic offerings with a new, daily nonstop flight between Edinburgh and JFK, company president Marty St George said the company had “redefined transatlantic travel by introducing low fares and great service in markets dominated by high fare legacy carriers”.

Serving the United Kingdom’s second most popular tourism destination, the service is only the second direct offering from JFK to Edinburgh, providing much needed competition for customers traveling in and out of New York.

For those willing to push the budget, JetBlue’s business class product, Mint, is indeed minted. When travelling Mint, passengers have access to a dedicated check-in queue and fast track security lane, while priority boarding means you are first on and off the plane.

Passengers can luxuriate in a private “suite” – a pod with an automated seat which converts to lie-flat bed if beauty sleep is needed. Wi-fi is available throughout the trip and a wide selection of the latest movies can be viewed on a tilting 17” tv screen.

Attentive cabin crew take care of drinks on demand, serving a range of cocktails, beer, wines and soft drinks. There are snacks aplenty and a generous hot dinner consisting of four small plates is served – it varies but on my flight tomato cucumber salad, lasagne, chicken Milanese and Flat Iron steak were options, followed by a healthy portion of gelato and chocolate cake. If that is not enough, as we reached the final stage of the journey, a cheese plate and scone with butter and jam appeared.

JetBlue has a partnership with leading hotel group YOTEL which benefits all members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue® loyalty programme. Members of all levels can earn TrueBlue points on stays at YOTEL locations around the world, will be eligible for exclusive discounted room rates, and receive a complimentary amenity on arrival, while TrueBlue Mosaic® members benefit even more with complimentary room upgrades and late check-out.

Christopher Buckner, Vice President of Loyalty and Partnerships, JetBlue, said: “JetBlue is proud to partner with YOTEL, a company that also values maximum comfort at a lower price, to give our TrueBlue members an elevated experience when traveling to our top domestic and international destinations.”

After a few whirlwind days in a city that indeed never sleeps, it was a breeze navigating myself through departures at Terminal 5 – JetBlue’s dedicated terminal at JFK.

I was glad of the extra leg room and comfort offered in JetBlue’s standard Core seats on the return flight, where Wi-Fi is also available during the flight. For those looking for some shut-eye on the overnight journey, a warm blanket was provided and complimentary drinks and snacks were provided throughout, with earphones offered to those wanting to watch a movie.

On landing back in Scotland, the super-quick disembarkation process meant that, unusually for Edinburgh, I was through passport control in no time.

For more information and the best fares, visit www.jetblue.com

YOTEL.com has a dedicated booking page for JetBlue customers – to find their travel inspiration and book stays with points and receive perks. Visit:  www.yotel.com/jetblue

*Stephen Rafferty travelled courtesy of JetBlue and YOTEL. Limited roundtrip fares from Edinburgh to New York start at £399 and $499 in Core and £1,999 and $2,999 in Mint. Rates for YOTEL Times Square start from $139 in low season and $249 in high season.

The scoreline read Hearts 1, Tottenham Hotspur 5. Four of the Spurs goals came in the second-half when Ange Postecoglou gave his bench some valuable pitch time.

So did Steven Naismith, but Hearts head coach conceded that the London side’s bench was far stronger than his and the gulf was too big.

Naismith, however, believes that this was a worthwhile exercise in preparing for the visit of Rangers on Saturday, August 3, the Tynecastle club’s opening game in the William Hill Premier League.

And the 15, 646 fans, which included a sizable contingent from Spurs, saw Lawrence Shankland do what Lawrence Shankland does consistently, find the net.

New signing Yan Dahanda provided the feed and the Glasgow-born striker, who only returned to training on Monday after being in the Scotland squad during Euro 2024, swivelled and fired low into the bottom corner. He had been on the pitch less than a minute having come on as a half-time substitute.

Yes, it was a hard night for Hearts against a slick, powerful and talented visiting squad who moved the ball at real pace, finding their men in pockets with neat football. They never stopped running, a trait of Postecoglou teams.

Earlier, Spurs, who dominated possession, took the lead on 38 minutes when busy England international, James Maddison, who was left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024, squared the ball from the by line for Brennan Johnson to drive the ball home from close range.

Minutes earlier, Hearts’ evergreen goalkeeper, Craig Gordon, kept the scoreline blank by producing a quality stop from point blank range to deny quicksilver Tottenham skipper, Heung-Min Son’s left foot strike after some speedy build-up play involving several men.

It was not all one-way traffic, however, and the patient Jambos carved out several clear cut chances. Kyosuke Tagawa fed Yan Dhanda and his low cross found Cammy Devlin who side-footed the ball home from a central position just inside the penalty box.

Frankie Kent, who came up the pitch for a corner, then nodded the ball into the danger area and Yutaro Oda re-directed it towards goal, but Spurs’ goalkeeper Brandon Austin dived to his left to produce a fine save and palm the ball over the bar.

And positive play from impressive new defender Gerald Taylor down the right wing ended with a cross into the box and Tagawa sent his volley just wide.

Shankland’s goal put Hearts back in the game but only for ten minutes as the visitors powered forward, again dominating possession, and one of their half-time substitutes, William Lankshear, cooly slid the ball home past Zander Clark who had come on for Gordon at the break. Time 55 minutes.

Mikey Moore added No 3 after 65 minutes after a pass from lively Lucas Bergvall cut open the Hearts’ rearguard, and it was not long before the forth arrived, German-born Timo Werner, once of Chelsea, raced down the left wing and crossed for Djed Spence to prod home at the post. Ashley Phillips added a fifth after 84 minutes, following up on a rebound after a brilliant parry from Clark.

Naismith told the media that his squad will take a lot of information from the game and he also told Hearts TV: “Yes, the scoreline is disappointing when you look at it, but in the goals that we lost it is mabey one small detail that is wrong, but the level you are playing against you get punished at every opportunity.

“That was shown in the goals we conceded but I felt, especially in the first half, we carried a threat and we had as many chances as they did. A lot of what we have been working on in the structure of the team was really good.

“That is the pleasing part. We were patient at times but, if you go toe-to-toe with a team like Spurs, they will pick you off and that is probably what happened later in the game. Our younger players are just stating out in the game. They (Spurs) are bringing on younger players who have two or three years of experience.

“That is what the young players need to understand and take away from what is a great experience, but I was really pleased with a lot of aspects of the game.”       

PICTURE: Hearts stars of yesteryear including Gary Mackay, John Robertson and Donald Ford, on parade at Tynecastle before the pre-season challenge with Spurs. LNER were the game sponsors. Picture Nigel Duncan

The council is commissioning a new piece of public art for the park created next to the Granton gasholder which is central to the regeneration of the area.

One artist will be chosen by a panel of experts from the City of Edinburgh and West Lothian Councils as well as creative and cultural charitable organisations. The winner will be announced later this month and when it is open, the artwork will be one of the focal points in the new iconic Granton gasholder park. The shortlisted art work is on display this weekend from Thursday 18 July to 20 July at Granton Station.

The Granton Gasholder and surrounding area has an important position within the £1.3bn Granton Waterfront regeneration, with active travel routes and green space connecting Waterfront Broadway and the coastal park.

The space within the restored gasholder is to have multi-sensory play zones, a dedicated area for permanent and temporary public art and one for relaxation, outdoor trails, and tracks for exercise as well as a large outdoor space for sports, markets, seasonal events, community use, festivals, performance arts, exhibitions, and play. Work will also be carried out to plant trees, shrubs and wildflowers improving biodiversity and local habitat in the area.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “The gasholder plays such an important role in the £1.3bn regeneration of Granton Waterfront. The structure itself is currently being refurbished allowing it to become a place where the local community and other visitors will come together to enjoy outdoor space as well as other cultural activities. It is really important that they are involved in this project which is why local people have been working with all of the artists to help to produce each final design.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the exhibition and very excited to see which design is taken forward to be an engaging artwork in the new park.”

Natalie Taylor

The concept for flutterby garden is to represent some of the species currently surrounding the Gas Tower and the wider Scottish environment in nectar rich borders. The proposal features a biodiverse garden with Scottish wildflowers and plants, selected to attract and sustain pollinators. It will also provide a beautiful area to sit and enjoy the surroundings. Design elements will honour the gas tower’s industrial history, including a laser-cut steel trellis featuring artwork by local people. The garden will form a bridge between the human and non-human world, pointing out the relationship between our food system and pollinating insects.

Kevin Dagg

The Mossy Bothy, a 9metre by 4metre building, aims to create a living monument that honours the legacy of factory workers and their families while capturing  a snapshot of the natural regeneration in North Edinburgh. With sustainability at its core, the Bothy is designed to grow with the community, evolving with the passage of time and changing seasons. The building will be constructed from recycled brick with horizontal surfaces to harbour sedums.  Gradually over time as the sedum secures a footing it will start to colonise the structure, which has the potential to harbour 120sqm of biodiversity.

Bespoke Atelier/Iglu Studios

The proposal is for a playful composition of forms which inspire users to interact, perch, play and sit. The proposed artwork is inspired by the vessels of the Scottish Marine Station in Granton and wave sculptures surrounding the boat signify the coast and water. The surfaces will be tactile, inviting people to touch the patterns and feel the connection to their natural environment. The low carbon approach to materials will be complemented by a series of planting areas around the edge of the art space.

Maja Quille/Julian Stocks

The artwork will be ia geometric steel sculpture, utilising squares, circles and triangles, inspired by the historic links to lighthouses in the area and the gasholder itself. A steel cube balanced on its point, the shape references the trestle-like frame of the Granton lighthouse windows as well as the gasholder cross-beams, creating interesting sight-lines through the structure, which will frame the work when seen from different angles. Each side will be covered in a unique pattern, developed in collaboration with different community groups and abstracted through a kaleidoscope.

Aeneas Wilder

Aeneas is proposing a monumental structure made from the stacked assembly of granite stone blocks, which is an abstract geometric structure echoing the construction and engineering of the Gasholder frame itself. The design also has within it a number of symbolic references and indicators of the culture, heritage and history of the Gasholder site, the greater Granton area and the communities that live there. The proposed structure has seven peaks, which roots the design in Edinburgh, with its reference to the seven hills on which the city is built. These peaks could also be viewed as chimney stacks setting off a chain of reference, including coal, heating, energy sources and sustainability.

Svetlana Kondakova Muir

This design celebrates the local natural environment by portraying one of the Firth of Forth’s most special visitors. A copper and bronze life-sized head of a humpback whale will appear to be emerging from underwater vertically, an awe-inspiring shape, allowing visitors to experience the full might of this incredible creature. It will be made in a contemporary polygonal style which will complement the gasholder structure, the faceted form relating to the idea that the humpback whale is the ‘jewel’ of local wildlife. . It will incorporate bronze artworks created by local school children and college students, including an oyster reef, barnacles and other wildlife as well as tactile panels created by pupils of Oaklands School with complex support needs.

Exhibition opening times:

Thursday, 18 July, 9am-5pm

Friday, 19 July, 9am – 5pm

Saturday, 20 July, 10am – 3pm

Location: Granton Station, 1 Granton Station Square, EH5 1FU

The fire service has been called to the part of Ocean Terminal which is under demolition on Wednesday afternoon.

In these photos there are six fire appliances and according to reports it is the metal which was being cut that may have caused the fire. But apart from causing a traffic jam for cars and trams there are no reports of any injuries.

Thanks to Paul Johnston for the video and photos.

Hibs midfielder Ewan Henderson has joined Belgium Pro League club K. Beerschot V.A. on a permanent transfer, subject to work permit approval. 

The terms of the 24-year-old’s transfer will remain undisclosed, however, the Club received a six-figure fee and a sell-on. 

Henderson joined Hibs in January 2022 from Celtic on loan before the move was made permanent.  

The attacking midfielder made 56 appearances for the Hibees, scoring five goals. 

On his departure, Hibernian FC Head Coach David Gray commented: “I wish Hendo all the best for the future. 

“He showed last season that the style of football in Belgium really suits him and shows off some of his best attributes. I think he will relish a new environment and kick on in his career.” 

Hibernian FC Sporting Director Malky Mackay added: “This deal makes complete sense for both the Club and for Ewan. He performed well in Belgium last season, which has earnt him this move and the opportunity to progress in his career. 

“I’ve known him for a number of years and I wish him nothing but the best for the future.” 

Timorous Beasties, the internationally acclaimed and multi-award-winning studio renowned for its unique maximalist designs, star power brand collaborations, and global fan base, will open a major new retail showroom in Edinburgh on Thursday morning.

Located at 35 Northumberland Street in the New Town, the two-storey showroom, spanning 2,500 sq. ft. will open to the public at 10am on 18 July.

The entire Timorous Beasties collection will be on display – a portfolio of more than 500 original designs. The complete collection will include the luxury wallpapers, fabrics and home accessories that the firm is known for, as well as smaller gift items for the home – each distinctly edgy design embodying the covetable elegance, chic irreverence and cult status of Timorous Beasties.

These are some of the highlights of their collection so far:

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND BANK NOTES

Illustrating new bank notes for Scotland was one of the biggest public design projects of its kind ever undertaken. ‘The People’s Money’ campaign by the Royal Bank of Scotland saw Timorous Beasties’ incredible illustrations roll out across the pioneering ‘Fabric of Nature’ series of bank notes. Considered to be pocket size works of art, the unique campaign sees notes that are full of meaning and part of a monetary family celebrating the people, achievements and nature of Scotland. In keeping with the unmistakable world of Timorous Beasties – where plants, animals and society are visually inextricable – the studio’s illustrative work can be seen across otters, mackerel, red squirrels, and of course, midges!

SCOTTISH NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery, designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, is one of Edinburgh’s most outstanding buildings. And so, when in 2011 the gallery re-opened following a period of dramatic renovation, Timorous Beasties was commissioned to create a collection of home accessories inspired by some of the gallery’s most iconic portraits. To help mark the union of old and new, Timorous Beasties included Robert Burns, Bonnie Prince Charlie, Queen Anne, Mary Queen of Scots, and James VI across the studio’s striking project.
Timorous Beasties is counting down to the reveal of a new Panoramic Mural wallpaper at 35 Northumberland Street; a remarkable design which will scale out across future spaces and places to spectacular effect.

NETJETS

Timorous Beasties’ global presence went sky high – literally – when, in 2015, private aviation company, NetJets, commissioned the studio to create a tail-wrap for its signature Challenger 350 jet. Following NetJets’ red, white and blue signature stripe, Timorous Beasties replaced the stripes with a design championing the ‘unsung heroes’ of the insect world: moths. Applied in a striking geometric arrangement on the tail of the jet, a fleet of moths complemented the notion of air travel. The artful collaboration took two months to design, ten hours to apply, and made its debut at Art Basel, Switzerland – the world’s leading art fair – to significant acclaim.

The final touches are being added ahead of the Edinburgh showroom opening to the public on Thursday the 18th of July at 10am.

The showroom experiences’ visitors will enjoy as they journey throughout 35 Northumberland Street include a showcase of Timorous Beasties’ new Stucco collection of elegant wallcoverings and fabrics, and lifestyle vignettes guaranteed to excite and inspire. The Timorous Beasties team will be on hand to offer a Design Consultation service with sample books available to browse, as well as a dedicated meeting space for trade clients.

Alistair McAuley, co-founder of Timorous Beasties, said: “We are delighted to be opening this new showroom in Edinburgh, our second retail space in Scotland, and the home city of many of our loyal and longstanding customers. This destination two-storey space on Northumberland Street, in the vibrant and creative heart of the capital’s New Town neighbourhood, will allow us to showcase the full depth and breadth of Timorous Beasties’ collections.

“In addition to selecting our unique products for home interiors, and receiving personalised one-to-one design and colour advice from our expert and passionate team, we hope our customers will enjoy the experience the new showroom will offer. With over 30 years of Timorous Beasties’ pattern and print heritage on display, this is a wonderful and timely opportunity for the public to view the studio’s body of work in its entirety for the first time, and have the opportunity to purchase their favourite Timorous Beasties designs.”

• Timorous Beasties
• 35 Northumberland Street
• EH3 6LR
• Opening Hours
• Monday: By appointment
• Tuesday – Saturday: 9.45am – 5.15pm 

His Majesty King Charles delivered the King’s Speech today at the state opening of Parliament. The speech contains almost 40 pieces of legislation which will be debated during this parliamentary session.

Largely, the content mirrors many of the policies set out in the Labour manifestos prepared ahead of the election, and there are few surprises.

It is also not surprising that the Secretary of State for Scotland, The Rt Hon Ian Murray, was complimentary about it, since he is a member of the Cabinet which approved it. Mr Murray said: “This is a King’s Speech which will deliver the change our country needs. It will deliver for all four nations of the UK and all four corners of Scotland. 

“We have a bold and ambitious legislative programme which will ensure we deliver on our mandate. 

“Our plans will deliver growth and jobs for our economy. It will establish GB Energy, a publicly owned energy generation company which will create jobs and cut bills for good, and establish a National Wealth Fund to invest in the industries and jobs of the future.

“The King’s Speech also delivers the biggest transfer of power towards working people in a generation, with new rights on sick pay and redundancy, and better pay. It will ban exploitative zero hour contracts and increase the minimum wage to a real living wage. A better deal for working people, with less insecurity and more money in their pockets, is the first step towards reducing poverty in Scotland and across the UK. 

“We have been clear that we want to reset our relationship with the Scottish Government, and to work together to deliver better outcomes for people. Our rail ownership bill will ensure that ScotRail is kept in public hands, and we want to work with the Scottish Government to pass laws that will reduce the availability of addictive vapes to young people.

“We promised change. This King’s speech demonstrates we are rolling up our sleeves and delivering that change.”

Bills which will apply in Scotland:

1. Renters Rights Bill [only in respect of discrimination against tenants on benefits or with children]
2. National Wealth Fund Bill
3. Pensions Schemes Bill
4. Planning and Infrastructure Bill [some measures]
5. Employment Rights Bill
6. Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill
7. Railways Bill 
8. Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill
9. Product Safety and Metrology Bill
10. Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill 
11. Armed Forces Commissioner Bill 
12. Digital Information and Smart Data Bill 
13. Draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill
14. Great British Energy Bill
15. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Revenue support Mechanism) Bill 
16. Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill [Reintroduced] 
17. Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill 
18. Tobacco and Vapes Bill [Reintroduced] 
19. House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill
20. Cyber Security and Resilience Bill 
21. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill
22. Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill
23. Budget Responsibility Bill
24. Hillsborough Law [Public Candour] Bill [TBC – territorial extent to be determined]

Scots are avoiding alcohol-fuelled evenings with friends in favour of afternoon tea and coffee dates, as research shows that people are slowing down and prioritising meaningful interactions in place of blurry nights and partying.

New research from Scottish shortbread company, Walker’s Shortbread, has shown that in Edinburgh, almost half of people are drinking less alcohol now than they did previously. And half of people in Scotland’s capital admitted they prefer to meet friends or family at a café over going to the pub.

The survey of 2,000 UK consumers found that when it comes to socialising, a coffee or afternoon tea date was voted as the favourite option for people in Edinburgh, with the past time scoring highest out of all the cities in the UK, followed by a dinner or lunch booking.

Going to a nightclub was voted the least popular way to spend time with friends by those in Edinburgh, as 40% said they prefer to make plans earlier in the day so that they have time to relax in the evening, without paying for it with a hangover the next day.

With matinee bookings and midday dates on the rise, the survey found that a growing trend of daytime hangouts is being fuelled by British Gen-Z and millennials across the UK, with 30% of British 25-34-year-olds agreeing the afternoon is their favourite time to socialise, rising to a third among those aged 18-24.

The survey was commissioned ahead of the launch of Walker’s Shortbread ‘Midday Happy Hour’ event, in partnership with the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh. This alcohol-free take on the traditional Happy Hour embraces the new way Scots are socialising, with unlimited tea and coffee, iced tea and a variety of shortbread treats.

Launching on 30 July, the International Day of Friendship, the Walker’s Shortbread x The Sheraton Midday Happy Hour event celebrates the roll out of Walker’s redesigned packaging, which embraces the 125-year-old brand’s heritage with its iconic tartan, but with a sleek, modern twist for today’s consumer.

Nicholas Durham, Director of Food & Beverage at Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh, said: “The dining trends we’re seeing across One Square Bar and Brasserie, only echo Walker’s research here; guests are catching up with friends at a range of different times through the day. We are proud of our strong afternoon tea offering at One Square that is reliant on those midday opportunities to relax and recharge through dining experiences.

“This partnership with Walker’s allows us to not only acknowledge this trend but celebrate it with a fantastic kick-off event surrounding International Friendship Day.”

Nicky Walker, Managing Director at Walker’s Shortbread, said: “The time we spend with friends and family brings us so much joy, but it can be hard to make time while juggling busy schedules.

“There’s a reason why catching up over a cuppa and a finger of shortbread has been a treasured past time for generations, and taking the time to slow down has never been more important given the demands of modern life. That’s why we’re thrilled to be partnering with Sheraton to host the new way to catch up with friends – the Midday Happy Hour and we hope it’s something that people in Edinburgh will enjoy this summer, be they locals or tourists.”

Walker’s Shortbread’s new packaging will be rolled out across the Walker’s ‘Core’ range which includes 24 of the brand’s shortbread cartons and snackable mini bags, as well as its ‘Food Service’ range which is available worldwide.

https://www.walkersshortbread.com

More information and how to book the Midday Happy Hour experience can be found here.

New partnerships between local businesses and high schools are aiming to improve positive destinations for all school leavers. 

Councillors learned about extra work being done on hearing that 94.1% of the more than 2,000 who left school in June 2023 had gone into positive destinations by October last year. 

Across most West Lothian High schools around 30 to 50% go on to higher education, with others going into further education and employment. And while the numbers outwith these three categories remain small, developments aim to shrink that number further. 

Details of a range of projects designed to improve chances for school leavers were revealed at a meeting of the Education Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel shortly before the summer holidays. 

They include new funding to enable each school to appoint a Developing the Young Workforce Coordinator with responsibility for improving links between the school and locally based employers, continuing to help influence the curriculum and link it to the world of work. 

The figures come from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and provide an overview ofwhat happened to last year’s school leavers in West Lothian. 

Education for work officer Stuart McKay who delivered the report said the figures were designed to give a headline overview of the leaver results. 

There were 2,132 school leavers from West Lothian secondary schools in the 2022/23 dataset. This was a drop of 53 leavers compared to the previous year. 

Of these, 94.1% of school leavers went into a positive destination as recorded in October 2023. This was 0.5% less than in 2021/22 and 1.8% less than the Scottish average.    

The lack of details around the age range of leavers and balance between education work outcomes prompted Councillor Moira McKee Shemilt to suggest  that the figures raised more questions than answers. 

She said: “It would be useful to know who’s leaving at the end of fourth year and who’s leaving at the end of sixth year.” 

Depute chief executive responsible for education Dr Elaine Cook assured councillors that statistics around   destinations could be gleaned from the data if required.    “We don’t actually hold that data, we get it from Skills Development Scotland but we do have information on gender or a variety of details. We would be happy to provide that.” she added. 

Council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick asked: “Has there been any attempt by the Scottish Government or employers to seek to increase apprenticeships. 

 Avril Mclean, an education quality improvement officer, told the meeting that new links had been forged with local industry: “ There’s work just now with the West Lothian manufacturing group to try to increase the apprenticeship offer within West Lothian. 

“We do now have some foundation apprenticeships in conjunction with West Lothian college but we are looking to expand the modern and graduate apprenticeship offer within West Lothian.” 

Links have also been forged with Heriot Watt university. 

 Councillor Fitzpatrick asked: “Do we have any data on numbers that’s important.  As regards our links in terms of basic skills in terms bricklaying, plumbing, electrical etc.  We really have a massive shortage of these skills, not only in the building industry.   As a councillor I constantly hear that people have difficulty in getting people like these. I wonder what guidance has been given to colleges to expand this area? 

 Ms McLean outlined partnerships in construction training with school college partnerships West Calder High actually runs its own construction course in school and there are links to the West Lothian Construction forum which is supporting schools to  help pupils understand what a career in the construction industry can look like. 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

More than £22 million worth of drugs have been removed from Scotland’s streets so far this year.

This follows a number of significant seizures across the country.

In January, officers recovered cannabis valued at £3,600,000 in Greenock and £2,250,000 in Dundee.

Cannabis worth £1,700,000 was recovered in Falkirk in February, and £2,300,000 worth was located in Galashiels in March.

In Glasgow, cocaine worth £1,800,000 was seized in June.

There were also large recoveries in Ayrshire, Aberdeen, Dumfries and Galloway, Lothian and Borders, Fife and Lanarkshire.

Arrests have been made in connection with the majority and enquiries remain ongoing into the other cases.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “These seizures highlight our dedication to tackling drug crime in Scotland.

“Controlled substances are dangerous and cause real harm to individuals, families and communities. They are illegal for that very reason.

“Working closely with our partners, we remain focused on targeting individuals and organised crime groups, who selfishly exploit vulnerable people solely for their own financial gain.

“This shows our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.

“Results like these rely on the public and anyone with information or concerns about drugs should contact Police Scotland on 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Police are appealing for help to trace a 14-year-old missing from Dalkeith. 

Julia Gradecka was last seen in the Waterfall Walk area of Dalkeith around 7am on Saturday, 13 July, 2024. 

She is described as being around 5ft 9in in height, of medium build with long brown hair. 

When last seen she was wearing a purple and white jumper, black leggings and white crocs.

Julia is known to frequent the Bellshill area of North Lanarkshire. 

Inspector Watson from Dalkeith Police Station said: “As time passes we are becoming increasingly concerned for Julia’s welfare and would urge anyone who may have seen her, or has any information on her whereabouts, to contact police.

“Likewise, if Julia sees or hears about this appeal, please call us, so we know you are safe and well.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 3389 of 13 July, 2024.

Meeting short term holiday let guests in stairwells has an impact on the ‘perceived security and amenity’ of fellow residents, a flat owner has been told.

The owner of the second floor property on Haddington High Street had appealed to Scottish Ministers after East Lothian Council’s planners refused to allow it to continue being let out lawfully.

An application for a Certificate of Lawfulness, which means there is no need for planning permission to operate, was rejected by officers who ruled it was a ‘change of use’.

Now the Scottish Government Reporter has backed planners telling the owner of the flat that the impact of short term guests coming and going in the communal stairway in the building was not the same as if it was a residential home.

Rejecting the appeal the Reporter said: “The short term let use could
have effects on the perceived security and amenity of residents as a result of meeting transient visitors within the stairwell and at the communal access to the building.

“The frequent arrival and departure of guests, the associated cleaning and servicing by a third party as well as the potentially more frequent movements and activity within communal areas later in the evenings differs from a typical domestic use.”

And they added: “The appellant has drawn my attention to various controls in place in relation to how the property is managed. Nevertheless, as the appellant does not reside at the property, they do not have complete control over the behaviour of guests and cannot prevent noise and disturbance from occurring.”

Agents for the owner of the flat had argued that a certificate could be issued because no ‘material change of use’ had taken place.

They described the changes from residential to short term holiday let use as “mininal’ as they urged the Reporter to uphold the appeal.

However the Reporter said: “Having assessed the evidence before me, I find that, on the balance of probability, the use of this property for short-term letting accommodation entails a materially different pattern of use than that associated with its occupation on a normal domestic basis.

“I conclude that it amounts to a material change of use which requires planning permission. As no planning permission has been granted, I find that use is not established and is not lawful.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

The northbound carriageway of the M9 will be closed for bridge joint replacement works between Junctions 1 and 1A from 20:30 until 06:00 on the night of Friday 19 July.

Lane closures with traffic running on the hard shoulder will also be in place between 20:30 and 06:00 on the nights of Monday 22 to Friday 26 July and Monday 29 July to Friday 2 August.

This is the latest stage of a major project being carried out by Transport Scotland’s operating company BEAR Scotland to refurbish and waterproof the deck of the bridge carrying the M9 motorway over the River Almond.

A signed diversion route will be in place during the overnight closure on 19 July, with northbound traffic directed to leave the M9 at Junction 1, Newbridge Roundabout. Traffic intending to join the M90 will be directed to follow the A8, A902 and A90 to M90 Junction 1, Scotstoun. Traffic intending to travel on the M9 beyond Junction 1A will be directed via the same route and then onto the A904 from M90 Junction 1A, Queensferry, to M9 Junction 2, Philpstoun.

During the weeknight lane closures from 22 July, northbound traffic on the M9 will be directed to exit at Junction 1 onto Newbridge Roundabout and then take the third exit back onto the M9 northbound, directly into the hard shoulder.

Dave Bishop, BEAR Scotland’s South East Unit Bridges Manager, said: “These refurbishment works are required to safeguard the structural integrity of this bridge and improve safety and comfort for users of the M9 motorway that it carries.

“It is essential for the safety of road users and our workforce that we implement these traffic management measures. To minimise disruption, we have planned the works to take place overnight.

“We thank motorists and the local community in advance for their patience and understanding.”

Consultation has been carried out with emergency services and relevant stakeholders to share information about the works in advance.

Live traffic information is available on the Traffic Scotland website www.traffic.gov.scot or on X at @trafficscotland.

Councillors in West Lothian have slated a Scottish Government review on public transport as “fluff with no substance” 

Labour veteran Tom Conn blasted the recently published Fair Fares Review, saying it offered nothing on ways to improve bus services. 

And Conservative Alison Adamson said it treated rural counties like West Lothian as “country bumpkins” and contained nothing to help communities. 

Transport Scotland said all communities had been consulted, not only urban centres, to prepare the review. 

The county has faced major disruption to its bus services over the last two years with many outlying communities losing what little transport links they had to population hubs such as Bathgate and Livingston.  

Last year McGill’s gave up all services in the county potentially leaving the district without a large-scale operator. Lothian Country have since expanded their operations into West Lothian to fill the gap. 

The Fair Fares Review promised short term solutions, but crucially it did not suggest ways of investing in bus services in the way the government has by cutting peak rail fares. 

A summary of the review was delivered by Keith Muirhead, Interim Passenger Transport Manager. 

On buses the review goes little beyond acknowledging the issues. 

It says: “With bus operator income dependent on patronage levels and passengers fares in a reduced market with the unreliability and vulnerability of services, there needs to be a more comprehensive system change. 

“The bus network in many parts of the country faces serious challenges with operators prioritising their investment in more commercially viable routes and services in order to ensure a sustainable operating model and with Councils increasingly unable to restore socially necessary services which reduces the benefit of free bus travel. 

“The new bus powers to run services, develop bus improvement partnerships and develop franchises can and will provide alternative models but the challenge of public finance subsidy is likely to remain regardless of the system.” 

The review said: “We will develop a proposal for a bus flat fares pilot for an area-based scheme to provide flat fares on bus travel, or reduced fares on zonal integrated travel for consideration in future budgets.” 

 Councillor Conn, chairing a meeting of the Environment and Sustainability  Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel, said the review did nothing to improve the standing of buses in public transport while it continued to support  subsidised rail services. 

He suggested that the impression councils had been given during the review was that it would address the disparities. “In any discussions we have had with government ministers we were always told to wait for the Fair Fares Review.” 

He said that disparity needs to be addressed. “Most people in West Lothian need access to a bus service to get somewhere else, including to a railway station.  

“I have to say I am extremely disappointed with the Fair Fares Review because it doesn’t give us an indication if there would be any support to try and develop a better integrated bus and rail service within West Lothian. It’s a document with fluff but no substance. 

Councillor Conn pointed out that the council spends £2.1m a year on subsidised bus services. This is not statutory for councils, but it does so to sustain and protect communities.  

 “We really need others to step up and support communities which need public transport,” he added. 

Councillor Diane Calder said the committee was forgetting free travel for young people and over sixties the government had introduced. She pointed out that when some parts of her ward in Uphall and Broxburn lost bus services she was told that   private companies paid for buses, not the council. 

Councillor Conn said: “There’s no point in having Under 22 concessionary travel if there’s no buses. We all know what the solution is but we are not working the same route to get there.”  

Councillor Adamson said: “The whole point is that in West Lothian we are treated as the country bumpkins. We don’t have the same kind of transport facilities available in cities. I prefer to use trains but, as the chair pointed out, people need to get to the stations.  

“Because we don’t have sufficient funding  to provide the sort of bus services people want to have, it’s impossible  for people to jump on a bus to jump on a train.”  

A spokesperson said for Transport Scotland said: “The Fair Fares Review sets out a range of recommendations and actions to be taken to ensure a sustainable and integrated approach to public transport fares that supports the future long-term viability of a public transport system that is more accessible, available, and affordable for people throughout Scotland. 

“The Review was informed by the views of stakeholders with lived experience from urban, rural and island communities and includes recommendations for improved integration between bus, rail and ferry. It includes the development of options for the introduction of a national or regional public transport ticket that is valid across all modes of public transport.” 

By Stuart Sommerville Local Democracy Reporter 

Hibs Head Coach David Gray singled out the contribution of 18-year-old Rudi Molotnikov who scored his first senior goal, on his first start for the Club at Easter Road last night. 

The 5-1 win sees Hibs go top of Group C in the Premier Sports Cup – with six points from six, scoring 10 goals in the process 

Waren O’Hora also scored his first Hibs goal with a powerful header before Martin Boyle doubled Hibs advantage with a sensational overhead kick. 

Molotnikov’s goal came just before the break then substitute Dylan Levitt added a fourth before Boyle completed his double. 

The Spiders scored a late consolation goal in injury time. 

Speaking after the game, Gray told Hibs TV: “Rudi was excellent again, he was great against Elgin City at the weekend and he is doing really well at the moment.  

“He needs to keep working hard, he is someone that has taken his opportunity in pre-season – he was around the First Team a lot last season – and he has come back in great condition. 

“He wants to push himself all the time, he needs to keep doing that and work on the areas that he can improve on but we saw tonight the quality he has got. 

“I am delighted with that to be honest. Everything we asked the players to do, they delivered. 

“The pleasing thing for me was the intensity, every time we lost the ball we had a reaction and a real appetite and effort to go and score goals – it was great to see. 

“Early goals always help, going ahead in the game is always really important. The pressure was on us to make sure we started the game well and to play with intensity.  

“We knew if we did that, then we would make it difficult for them. 

“It is great to have goals coming from different areas on the pitch. We are clearly a threat from set-pieces, Warren (O’Hora) did well with his header tonight and Marv scored from a set-piece at the weekend so we are a threat.  

“Going forward it will be a benefit to have these boys who want to attack the ball in both boxes. 

“Dylan Vente had good opportunities to add to his tally, which he will have been disappointed not to take but at least he is getting into these positions, which is pleasing. 

“We’re disappointed to lose that goal at the end, but all in all I am delighted with the performance and the result.” 

At Westminster today

The King’s Speech will be read in parliament today by His Majesty the King sitting in the House of Lords. The speech is prepared by the government at the beginning of the parliamentary term and today there will be an amount of pomp and ceremony attached to proceedings.

The government uses the speech to outline what it intends to legislate on in the coming months and today the government will outline plans to nationalise the railways.

In the first State Opening of Parliament under this government, The King’s Speech is expected to unveil over 35 bills and draft bills which will support delivery of the government’s first steps and missions to rebuild Britain. 

The package of bills will focus on growing the economy through better transport, more jobs and turbocharging building of houses and infrastructure – helping to make every part of the country better off.  

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Now is the time to take the brakes off Britain. For too long people have been held back, their paths determined by where they came from – not their talents and hard work. 

“I am determined to create wealth for people up and down the country. It is the only way our country can progress, and my government is focussed on supporting that aspiration. 

“Today’s new laws will take back control and lay the foundations of real change that this country is crying out for, creating wealth in every community and making people better off – supporting their ambitions, hopes and dreams.”

The State Opening of Parliament begins with the  Monarch’s procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. The  King will  arrive at the Sovereign’s Entrance to Parliament and subsequently leads the Royal Procession to the chamber of the House of Lords. 

A senior officer in the House of Lords called Black Rod will then summon members of the House of Commons into the Lord’s Chamber to listen to the speech. 

Before entering the Commons chamber, the door is shut in Black Rod’s face and the official will strike the door three times before it is opened. This practice dates back to the Civil War and symbolises the Commons’ independence from the monarchy. 

When the  King leaves the chamber, a new parliamentary session begins and members of both the House of Commons and House of Lords will then debate the content of the speech for a number of days before the speech is voted on. Presumably after that the Prime Minister will declare a recess to allow MPs to regroup over the summer before a new parliamentary session begins.

Scottish Greens say they would like climate justice to be at the heart of the UK Government’s vision.

Three Edinburgh charities win big on the National Lottery

An award of £19,513 for Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trust means it can run a sustainable food project to recycle food to produce jars of preserves which they will sell to the community and to farmers’ markets.

Rob Hoon, Chief Executive, Out of the Blue, said: “The ‘Preserves’ project is a new and exciting adventure for us, and this funding will allow us to process at least 4,000kg of ingredients per annum to make quality products that extend the shelf life of that food for up to 12 months.

“We will achieve this by producing small batch jams, pickles and preserves embracing traditional methods of preservation.  We will work with people and community groups to support them to make their traditional preserves and gain new cooking skills.  

The Grassmarket Community Project will run a programme of weekly digital skills workshops for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness after an award of £19,763.

Helene Van des Ploeg, Chief Executive Officer, Grassmarket Community Project, said: “Digital skills are so vitally important for all of us, whether it just be for connecting with friends or family through social media, writing a CV and applying for jobs or developing skills to open opportunities for employment through accredited learning.  

“We will offer a high-quality service in which members can access new IT skills at any level and tailor the learning to match the needs of the individual and support them to work at their own pace, achieving their goals.  We really appreciate the support that this funding will give us to go ahead with this vital project that will enable our members to flourish in the future.” 

Thanks to an award of £63,189, Space at the Broomhouse will be able to extend their opening hours on Saturdays and provide more activities on offer. 

Neil, Hay, CEO, Space at the Broomhouse, said: “We know that costs have risen significantly for all charities and community groups in the past few years and wanted to find a way to assist.

“Room hire, especially for smaller groups who do not have their own premises, is a big part of their costs, so we approached The National Lottery Community Fund to see if they could help.

“Thanks to their support we are in a position to offer a whole raft of help to the community, including free use of the halls at Space well into 2025.”

Art and technology

Art Fund are bringing new technology to the National Galleries of Scotland on 25 and 26 July which will allow people to see the impact that art has on their brains.

The tech will be available to try in the new Scottish galleries between 10am and 1pm on Thursday 25th July and 10am and 5pm on Friday 26th July. By showing the way the brain reacts Art Fund how to encourage people to visit museums and galleries with a National Art Pass. This gives free entry to hundreds of museums, art galleries and historic houses along with a 50% discount to some of the exhibitions, shops and cafés. While it is free to go to the National Galleries the Art Pass gives half price discount to ticketed shows such as Lavery on Location which will open on 20 July.

Art Fund Director, Jenny Waldman, said: “This technology shows how art can improve our wellbeing and emotions. Audiences love seeing the visualisation of their brainwaves when they look at different paintings and objects in museums, so we are thrilled to take this technology on tour. We hope that by bringing the experience to Edinburgh, we can inspire more people to visit the amazing museums and galleries we have on our doorsteps, such as the National Galleries of Scotland.”

Anne Lyden, Director-General at the National Galleries of Scotland, said, “It is a real pleasure to be able to host this world-first technology here in the new Scottish galleries at the National, and it is fascinating to see the impact that art can have on us all. National Galleries of Scotland carried out research recently which showed that around 86% of our visitors felt that visiting the Galleries had a positive impact on their wellbeing, and we can’t wait to see this reflected in brainwaves. We’re looking forward to welcoming local residents to the gallery to test out this exciting technology, and to see the incredible art that belongs to the people of Scotland.”

Get your phone out in the loo

A call to action from Caitlin Cook who is staging a show at Pleasance Dome from 14 to 25 August.

Do you often find yourself reading the graffiti on bathroom walls? Do you smile at the witty bon mots that adorn the stalls of the public toilets of Edinburgh?

Well now is your chance to become part of an artistic project by comedian and songwriter Caitlin Cook.

Comedy infiltrates every corner of the city during the Fringe Festival – and bathroom walls are no exception. Caitlin’s show The Writing on the Stall explores the humour, beauty and human nature behind the often ignored scrawls of strangers on the inside of the cubicle. You might have seen her viral instagram videos turning crowdsourced graffiti into songs. 

The Writing on the Stall sold out its 2023 Off-Broadway debut and was a New York Times Critic’s Pick – the accompanying studio album has over 25M+ streams. 

The Writing on the Stall is coming to the Edinburgh Festival in August and Caitlin is calling on anyone with a keen eye for comedy, pathos, or witticisms to snap the best, funniest and most thought-provoking restroom scriptures they can find in public bathrooms across Edinburgh.

Those who think they’ve snapped a winning image should email the submissions to Caitlin at thewritingonthestallshow@gmail.com and she will create an original song using the images, releasing it on social media ahead of the show. There are free tickets on offer.

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