A second crash on Queensferry Road on Friday evening involved a Lightways pickup and a Citroen at the entrance to the Parkgrove shops.

The incident took place just before 11pm, with Police Scotland in attendance.

It is not known if there were any injuries.

This was the second crash on the road, albeit at different locations, on the one evening. Read more here.

And it is the third crash on Queensferry Road in a week. A 61-year-old motorcyclist, Ian Harrower, died after a crash involving the driver of a car who has since been arrested and charged. Read more here.

While the senior team faces a testing trip to Ashfield on Friday evening for the second leg of the Scottish Cup, The Monarchs Academy riders will be preparing to get their season under way with a home match at Armadale in the National Development League on Saturday at 7pm, racing against Middlesbrough Tigers.

The Academy had their best results last season with home and away wins against Middlesbrough, the away victory in September being followed by a win over Leicester which was the only defeat suffered by the champions all year.

So the plan is to keep that going with a win, though both teams show changes from last season’s lineups. For the Academy Connor Coles and Dayle Wood are back, expected to be amongst the league’s leading riders, with backup mainly expected from the middle pairing of Sam McGurk and Matt Marson.

The visitors have the Pijper brothers Ace and Stene paired together, plus former Leicester stalwart Tom Spencer leading their attack, and they are captained by ex-Armadale favourite Danny Phillips.

Team manager Scott Wilson believes his side can make an early mark. “We have an opportunity to get off to a good start with two home fixtures to open the season. This week’s will be difficult though as the Middlesbrough team is very much a strength in depth sort of side which can be a tricky type of opponent for a slightly more top heavy team like ours. 

“It will be important that our top 4 win plenty of races and the lower end of the team back them up sufficiently by taking points off of their opposite numbers. A win tonight would be a big result to get us up and running.” 

Saturday’s match will be Live Streamed for those who cannot attend, details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.

SATURDAY’S MATCH:

Saturday 12th April: Edinburgh Monarchs Academy v Middlesbrough Tigers (National Development League), Armadale, 7.00pm

STELLAR MONARCHS ACADEMY: Connor Coles (Capt.), Kyran Lyden, Matt Marson, Sam McGurk, Dayle Wood, Mark Parker, Lee Harrison.

MIDDLESBROUGH HEAT FLOORS TIGERS: Tom Spencer, Jamie Halder, Ace Pijper, Stene Pijper, Danny Phillips (Capt.), Laylan Richardson, Kai Ward.

The next meeting after Saturday’s at Armadale is the Championship Knockout Cup 1st leg match between Stellar Monarchs and Workington Comets on Friday 18th April at 7.30pm. The return is the following day.

Scots are invited to nominate their favourite traditions to be included on an official living heritage list.

These will be the traditional practices which go to make up our culture and identity and will encompass everything from Hogmanay to Highland dancing, haggis hurling and Up Helly Aa. The UK Government under the previous administration issued a response to a consultation on what the inventory will include, and it sets out how all governments in the UK will create lists of living heritage. Submissions for the list are encouraged from all sectors of society, and include people who have brought traditions from overseas to the UK.

Suggestions for Scotland could include traditions like taking part in a Loony Dook, the Burry Man in South Queensferry, Common Ridings, dancing the Slosh or taking part in a scramble at weddings. High tea, stovies and tablet are some of the food suggestions on the list which has been started by Museums Galleries Scotland on this site here, where anyone can already make suggestions to be included.

Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray, said: “This is a chance for community groups across Scotland to really have some fun and think about how we celebrate being Scottish through our food, culture, practices and celebrations. We want to include the things that represent our uniqueness, our sense of humour and our pride in our country. A respect for our age-old traditions will be covered, but so too should what’s important to us in modern Scottish life.

“It all ties in with our commitment to Brand Scotland – celebrating everything about Scottish life and promoting Scotland globally.

I’d like to urge community groups from the Western Isles to Wester Hailes and Kirkwall to Coldstream to contribute when nominations open in summer.”

The move to accumulate suggestions follows the 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage which the UK ratified only last year. Each member state must now compile a list of their traditions and folklore, performance, customs and craft which tell the national story. Nominations are expected to open later this year.

DCMS ran a public consultation from January to February 2024 to inform the development of an Inventory of Living Heritage in the UK. This included 16 roundtables, which sought the views of those interested in recognising living heritage, such as grassroots organisations, non-governmental organisations, museums and academics as well as government representatives from across the UK.

Following this engagement, it has been agreed that nominations will be accepted under seven categories, which are:

•     Oral expressions, which could include poetry and storytelling
•      Performing Arts
•     Social Practices, which could include festivals and customs
•      Nature, Land and Spirituality, which could include land practices and living heritage knowledge and practice relating to nature and the environment
•      Crafts
•      Sports and Games
•      Culinary Practices

Further information about how to nominate traditions and crafts to be included on the inventories, including gaining support and consent from the community will be available when the call for submissions opens

Emergency services are currently at the scene of a crash on Queensferry Road.

Officers have imposed road closures at Orchard Road and the junction with Queensferry Terrace.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes.

No details have been released regarding any vehicles involved.

Police Scotland have been approached for comment.

More details to follow.

Hearts will attempt to play as they did against Dundee United last weekend. Confirmation came from the club’s head coach, Neil Critchley, at his pre-match media briefing at Riccarton.

The former Blackpool boss said their preparation has been as normal for this key William Hill Premiership clash and he believes that if the Jambos can play at a similar level with more quality and intelligence in front of goal then his men will get the result they want.

Victory would secure a top six slot after the split and Critchley (pictured) said: “The full focus from everybody is on the top six or the split, because it’s the last game before that happens.

“You’ve got to remember that there are another five games to go after that, so it’s not like the end of the season.

“It sort of feels like that because it’s coming to a bit of a crescendo this weekend.”

Motherwell have won six of their past eight home matches against Hearts but a draw between the clubs would open the door for St Mirren to claim a spot in the top six. They entertain Ross County at Paisley.

Defeat at Fir Park would pitch the Jambos into the relegation zone where safety is not guaranteed and he said: “We understand the importance of the game. It’s in our hands.”

Hearts have 39 points from 32 games and are sixth with St Mirren seventh on on 38 points and Motherwell in the eighth position also with 38 points but an inferior goal difference of minus 19 against The Buddies goals against as minus ten.

Critchley also confirmed that Hearts will not be taking up the option to make Gerald Taylor’s deal permanent. He has struggled with injuries and will return to his parent club.

However, the coach said their first summer signing, Christian Borchgrevink, is somebody they have been analysing for some time.

He added: “We want a competitive squad and we want to try and always improve the team. We think Christian, at the age of 25, has got the best years in front of him.”

Edinburgh Futures Institute created from the former Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh has been officially opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. 

Academics, students and industry partners from the Edinburgh Futures Institute met The Princess Royal, the University of Edinburgh Chancellor, at an event on Friday along with some of the specialist tradespeople who renovated the former hospital.

The Institute was supported by £55 million from the UK Government and £2 million from The Scottish Government as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal’s Data Driven Innovation programme.

Now an innovation hub driving interdisciplinary research, teaching and entrepreneurship, the historic building brings together students, researchers, partners and the public to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

During the opening, Her Royal Highness was welcomed by Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, and toured the building’s flexible spaces designed to encourage collaboration. The Rt Hon Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth MSP and Melanie Ward MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy were also in attendance.

The creation of a new ten-pin bowling alley at the former Debenhams store at The Centre, Livingston, has taken another step forward. 

The proposed Hollywood Bowl development involves converting the former shop unit into an e-go-kart track and a ten-pin bowling alley. 

An agent for the developer promised a venue designed for family fun. 

The ground floor will be occupied by the bowling alley, while the first and second floor units will be occupied by the e-go-kart track. 

Food and drink uses are also proposed for each unit. The applicant is L C P Retail Properties Ltd. The owners estimate that the development will bring 35 full time jobs to Livingston. 

Hollywood Bowl is well established in Scotland with venues in Coatbridge and Stirling and new venues opening up north, in Inverness. 

The Debenhams unit has now been vacant since March 2021 and the West Lothian Licensing Board heard an application from the owners for a Provisional Premises Licence earlier today. The Board granted their application. 

A Provisional Premises Licence in Scotland allows businesses to apply for a premises licence while the building is still under construction or conversion. This licence is a two-stage process, allowing the licence to be considered in principle before the premises are completed. The licence needs to be confirmed within a certain timeframe. 

Premises that are granted a provisional premises licence cannot be used for the sale of alcohol until such time as the work to the premises has been completed, and the licence holder has been “confirmed” by the Licensing Board. 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

The King has today announced political peerages in former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s resignation list.

The number of life peerages include former Levelling Up Minister, Michael Gove, who since resigned from Westminster and is now editor of The Spectator magazine, former cabinet ministers, Mark Harper, Simon Hart and Victoria Prentis. Stephen Massey and Eleanor Shawcross who led the policy unit for Mr Sunak at number 10, become peers.

The former Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack is elevated to the House of Lords.

There is a life spperage announced for Amanda Spielman who is the former HM Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills.

A selection of sports people and politicians have also been awarded knighthoods, including former Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, James Anderson the cricketer, former foreign secretary James Cleverly, the former MP who was involved in Plebgate, Andrew Mitchell, Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, Stephen Massey chief executive and donor to the Conservative Party.

Greens criticism

In light of the news that former Tory Ministers Michael Gove and Alister Jack are to be given peerages and jobs for life the Scottish Greens say this underlines why we urgently need to scrap the House of Lords.

The Party’s co-leader, Lorna Slater, said: “The House of Lords is an archaic and embarrassing relic of an institution. Its very existence is an affront to democracy.

“It has no legitimacy whatsoever and is already stuffed full of donors, cronies and former politicians.

“Michael Gove and Alister Jack both supported and implemented policies that did a huge amount of damage, from a Brexit that has cost jobs and hiked up prices to the hostile environment policies that punished refugees and a series of cuts that fell on people with the least.

“The problem is much bigger than any individual. It is the system that has allowed unelected peers to have so much influence for so long. It is ridiculous for us to be ruled by people that we have no way to remove.

“One of the many advantages of independence would be the chance to finally abolish the undemocratic House of Lords.”

A garden nursery has been given a boost in its bid to reduce its dependence on the National Grid by up to 60% with its own solar panels.

Smeaton Nursery and Tearoom, at East Linton, in East Lothian has been granted planning permission to install more than 300 panels in an old section of its walled garden area to increase its independence.

The application from the nursery said it was keen to reduce its reliance on ‘bought in power’ and the panels would create more electricity than needed by the nursery.

It said by using battery storage and hot water switches to manage additional power it could see around 55% of energy generated used by its tea room business alone.

It said by utilising all the options available including an electric car the panels could allow the business to “possibly achieve 55-60% reduction of grid energy dependence”.

The site of the new solar panels will require the demolition of long glasshouse beside the walled gardens on the estate.

The application argued that the black panels proposed would not look very different to the glasshouse when seen from the surrounding countryside.

It said: “The applicant is mindful of the setting and has given serious thought to the positioning of solar panels .

“It could be argued that the appearance of the existing glass house has many similar characteristics to that of a solar array and when viewed from any vantage points in the wider landscape the appearance will not alter dramatically from what persons looking inward to that pint would be seeing
over distance.

“Also the existing glass will give off a glare on certain days and with light travelling at the glass and reflecting. This will cease as solar PV panels are manufactured with anti reflective coatings to the glass.”

Planners approved the application saying there had been no objections lodged and acknowledging the similarity between the panels impact and the existing glasshouse.

They said: “As the applicant’s agent alludes within their Design and Access Statement, there is a likeness between the solar panels proposed on their racks to the existing glazed greenhouse.

“The solar panels would be positioned some 58m southwest of Smeaton Farmhouse and this property forms as the applicant’s dwellinghouse. Proposals would not therefore harm the residential amenity of any neighbouring residential properties.

“Therefore, of the views into the site from the south, there would therefore be a negligible visual impact on the open countryside to the south as a result of the proposed the proposed solar panels.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Hibs head coach David Gray expects a tough test against Dundee on Sunday because Tony Docherty’s side are in a relegation battle with St Johnstone at the foot of the table. 

Gray spoke to Hibs TV ahead of the final pre-split fixture as his side go into the game with a top-six spot already secured, and the battle for European qualification firmly in the balance. 

Hibs are currently unbeaten in their last 16 league fixtures – a run of form that has launched them off the bottom of the table and up into third. 

Gray said: “It is another massive game, we’re clearly on a fantastic run of form but the full attention has to be to try and finish with three points before we go into the split.  

“We know it will be a really difficult game. 

“When we think back to the reverse fixture (November 2024), that was the lowest point of our season to date – we are a completely different animal from when we were then to where we are now.  

“We need to make sure that we finish this period with three points and that will be the full focus.” 

Hibs go into this one off the back of a memorable 2-0 win away Ibrox their first victory in Govan in seven years. 

“The group is really positive,” Gray added. 

“The extra day to prepare for the game has been beneficial because we were able to give the boys the day off earlier on in the week, which was great. 

“We needed to get a bit of freshness into the players and when you’re winning games of football everybody feels good about themselves and the bumps and bruises don’t feel as sore.  

“Everyone has been positive and training has been good as a result of that.  

“Everyone is in a really good place and we just want the games to keep coming.” 

The visitors, Dundee, currently sit 11th in the William Hill Premiership, however, they have proved tricky opponents for David Gray’s side this season.  

Hibs have only taken one point off Tony Docherty’s side this season which was back in August 2024 in a 2-2 draw. 

“It will be a real difficult game. With the results last weekend, Dundee are very much a team that will be fighting for their lives, so there’s no easy games and we know that. 

“Everyone is at different stages of the season have different things to play for, but as of right now we have everything to play for and so do they.  

“They have scored a lot of goals, I think they’ve scored the same number of goals as us which is the third highest in the league. 

“So we know they are a constant threat, they force you to defend a lot, they have a lot of high energy players that pass forward and run forward which will make you defend. 

“The flip side of that is we know we need to be good defensively. On the other we need to be clinical and make sure we start the game well because Dundee are a team that notoriously start games well – so we need to be ready for that.” 

An upsurge in rats in West Lothian has seen the council receive over 300 requests for pest control treatments last year. 

There are concerns the rise in reports around Livingston and other West Lothian towns may be the tip of the iceberg, as the council doesn’t have records of calls to private pest control companies. 

There are also fears that growing fly-tipping and rubbish dumping are fuelling the spread of vermin despite the efforts of litter pickers to clear up.  

Changes in the way we live and eat have added to the problems. The growth of vermin has come on the back of the spread of fast food and selfish littering – with at least 250 million pieces of litter thrown away each year, according to Zero Waste Scotland. 

And as summer nears there are fears that rat numbers will grow. Home-owners and tenants across Livingston have complained of growing problems from rat infestation. 

West Lothian Council stressed this week it can help tenants.  

SNP councillor Maria MacAulay raised questions about rat infestation at the recent meeting of the full council after Dedridge residents had faced growing problems. 

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I know there have been issues in Bathgate too, so Dedridge is sadly not an isolated incident. I am aware that the removal of bins and increase in fly tipping hasn’t helped, however Dedridge Litter Pickers do an amazing job in Dedridge to deter this and frequently post the vast amounts picked up.” 

Now, her SNP colleague in northern Livingston, Councillor Andrew Miller has been asked to raise the issue again following complaints of rat infestation as work goes on to redevelop Deans South. 

Ghost estate campaigner Kerry Macintosh found an infestation of rats attacking the newly built homes within months of moving in last May. 

And while recognising  that the building work may be disturbing nests Kerry Macintosh has also blamed the human element.  

Kerry first discovered rats had invaded her garden when she moved bikes in her garden. At first, she thought moles had invaded before realising that rats were digging under her garden fence. 

 She actually caught the vermin invaders on camera as she began tackling around a dozen holes dug under the fence which is adjacent to a footpath on the newly built estate.  The new homes are surrounded by building work, but elsewhere rubbish is piled in gardens in black bags.   

She has filled in the rat holes and laid rat bait, but the rats continue to burrow, and she fears they will eventually destabilise the fence. 

She told the LDRS: “Whether it’s Dedridge or Knightsridge or Deans, rats are a big problem. It’s wonderful what the litter pickers are doing, but there are some people who don’t give a toss and just leave food and rubbish out in their gardens or in bin stores. That’s what’s encouraging rats.”  

She called for those who deliberately rubbish their neighbourhoods to be charged by the council.  Kerry, who is an active member of her local litter picking group, told the LDRS: “There’s no excuse for folk who deliberately dump their rubbish on the streets or in gardens. It’s disrespectful to their neighbours and people in the community.” 

But Kerry also called on the council to show “a bit of leeway” to those who were struggling and couldn’t pay for bulky rubbish uplifts, or those  who amass rubbish in their gardens. 

“The council does need to show a bit of leeway and help people who are clearly struggling. It needs to offer support if folk cannot afford bulky uplift charges or people are piling up rubbish in their gardens,” she added. 

Kerry also called for more dog waste bins as fouling has become another obvious problem on the newly rebuilt streets of Deans South. 

A spokesperson for West Lothian Council said: “It is widely reported that societal changes, such as an increase in fast food litter, food packaging being littered, building development, habitat and climate change have always played a part in pest control, and there is no one issue that contributes to the issues being felt across the country. 

“Food litter is one issue that contributes towards an increase in pest control services. Keep Scotland Beautiful declared a litter emergency in 2022 and Zero Waste Scotland estimate that every year, 250 million items of litter are discarded across Scotland. This equates to 15,000 tonnes of litter collected annually, or nearly 50 pieces of litter for every person in Scotland. At least £60 million of public money is spent annually to clean up litter, money that could be better spent on other services.” 

The spokesperson added: “That is in addition to the work of community volunteers who play such an important role. Keep Scotland Beautiful found that the majority of litter in Scotland is a result of pedestrian activity, in other words, a personal choice not to dispose of litter by an individual appropriately.  

“These behaviours increase the burden on local authorities and volunteers in managing the cleanliness of streets in Scotland.  

“Rats are only one pest that our pest control service deal with. There are often too many factors likely to have supported rat activity at a location and numbers can fluctuate for various reasons. 

“The responsibility to address any issues with rats will rest with the owner or occupier of land affected. That includes owners and occupiers of domestic and commercial property. The pest control team will assist owners and occupiers with treatment and advice if requested.” 

They continued: “West Lothian Council offers a pest control service for council tenants and non-council tenants and our prices are generally below average when compared to the many private operators. Given the cost of living increases over recent years, it is not surprising that there has been an increase in demand for our service which receives very good customer reviews and is part of the Trusted Trader initiative.” 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

A former caretaker’s flat in a community football club’s building is to be turned into a dog parlour.

The Tartan Pooch Parlour has been given permission to open on the first floor of the Bonnyrigg Rose Community Centre building which is also home to a facilities for the adjacent community pitch.

An application for a change of use from the football club use to the grooming business said the first floor which had previously been used as a residence has lain empty for five years.

And they revealed the new dog parlour has a ‘no barking policy’ as they made their case for the business on the site.

Applying for the change of use, representatives of the applicant Claire Wraight Robertson said: “The client operates a policy of no barking in the parlour and has staff members who assist the dogs in managing this.

“The recreation ground adjacent to the parlour, allows for dogs to walk through at any time of day. Additionally a local football club utilises the playing fields and 4g astro-turf pitch at the weekends and weekday evenings.

“As such the level of noise pollution from the proposed premises will be no greater than that which already exists on the site.”

The parlour will operate from Tuesdays to Saturdays between 8am and 5pm with all visitors by appointment only.

Giving the change of use the go ahead planners said it would bring a vacant part of the building into use and would not restrict or block access to the wider community facilities.

They said there had been no objections lodged to the proposals adding: “The proposed use will not conflict with the overall objectives of open space policy, nor will it affect the operation of the community pitch. The principle of the building being used as a dog groomer is acceptable.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Police in West Lothian have arrested and charged a 19-year-old man following the recovery of cocaine and cannabis in Livingston.

Around 4.30pm on Thursday, 10 April, 2025, police executed warrants at a premises in Nairn Road in the Deans area of Livingston as part of an intelligence-led operation.

As a result, a significant quantity of cocaine and cannabis was recovered, with an estimated street value of around £250,000.

The man is expected to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court on Friday, 11 April and enquiries are ongoing.

Constable David Smith said: “Drugs cause misery in our communities and we are committed to bringing those responsible for the supply and sale of illegal substances to justice.

“The public has a vital part in helping us to target and trace those involved and we encourage anyone with information or concerns to contact us via 101, or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

A former caretaker’s flat in a community football club’s building can be turned into a dog parlour.

The Tartan Pooch Parlour has been given permission to open on the first floor of the Bonnyrigg Rose Community Centre building which is also home to a facilities for the adjacent community pitch.

An application for a change of use from the football club use to the grooming business said the first floor which had previously been used as a residence has lain empty for five years.

And they revealed the new dog parlour has a ‘no barking policy’ as they made their case for the business on the site.

Applying for the change of use, representatives of the applicant Claire Wraight Robertson said: “The client operates a policy of no barking in the parlour and has staff members who assist the dogs in managing this.

“The recreation ground adjacent to the parlour, allows for dogs to walk through at any time of day. Additionally a local football club utilises the playing fields and 4g astro-turf pitch at the weekends and weekday evenings.

“As such the level of noise pollution from the proposed premises will be no greater than that which already exists on the site.”

The parlour will operate from Tuesdays to Saturdays between 8am and 5pm with all visitors by appointment only.

Giving the change of use the go ahead planners said it would bring a vacant part of the building into use and would not restrict or block access to the wider community facilities.

They said there had been no objections lodged to the proposals adding: “The proposed use will not conflict with the overall objectives of open space policy, nor will it affect the operation of the community pitch. The principle of the building being used as a dog groomer is acceptable.”

by Marie Sharp, Local Democracy Reporter.

Police Scotland Road Policing officers have renewed their appeal for information following a fatal crash on the A90 Queensferry Road, Edinburgh.

Around 11.15pm on Tuesday, 8 April, 2025, officers were made aware of a crash involving a Kawasaki  motorcycle and a Peugeot 306.

Emergency services attended and the 61-year-old motorcyclist, Ian Harrower from Rosyth, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 31-year-old male driver of the car has now been arrested and charged in connection with road traffic offences. Further enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.

Ian’s family have issued the following statement through Police Scotland: “Ian was a much loved son to Elizabeth, brother to Elaine and dad to Lewis, Kim and Owen. 

“He was a loving husband to Norah and stepdad to Gavin and will be very much missed grandad to Brooke and Taylor. 

“He was a true and loyal friend to many and will always be in our hearts never to be forgotten.”

Sergeant Paul Ewing added: “We would like to thank the public for their assistance with our investigation and our thoughts remain with the family of Mr Harrower.

“Anyone with any further information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 4274 of 8 April, 2025.”

A nursery in East Lothian has been given approval to install its own solar panels to produce around 60% of its own electricity.

Smeaton Nursery and Tearoom, at East Linton has been granted planning permission to install more than 300 panels in an old section of its walled garden area to increase its independence.

The application from the nursery said it was keen to reduce its reliance on ‘bought in power’ and the panels would create more electricity than needed by the nursery.

It said by using battery storage and hot water switches to manage additional power it could see around 55% of energy generated used by its tea room business alone.

It said by utilising all the options available including an electric car the panels could allow the business to “possibly achieve 55-60% reduction of grid energy dependence”.

The site of the new solar panels will require the demolition of long glasshouse beside the walled gardens on the estate.

The application argued that the black panels proposed would not look very different to the glasshouse when seen from the surrounding countryside.

It said: “The applicant is mindful of the setting and has given serious thought to the positioning of solar panels .

“It could be argued that the appearance of the existing glass house has many similar characteristics to that of a solar array and when viewed from any vantage points in the wider landscape the appearance will not alter dramatically from what persons looking inward to that pint would be seeing
over distance.

“Also the existing glass will give off a glare on certain days and with light travelling at the glass and reflecting. This will cease as solar PV panels are manufactured with anti reflective coatings to the glass.”

Planners approved the application saying there had been no objections lodged and acknowledging the similarity between the panels impact and the existing glasshouse.

They said: “As the applicant’s agent alludes within their Design and Access Statement, there is a likeness between the solar panels proposed on their racks to the existing glazed greenhouse.

“The solar panels would be positioned some 58m southwest of Smeaton Farmhouse and this property forms as the applicant’s dwellinghouse. Proposals would not therefore harm the residential amenity of any neighbouring residential properties.

“Therefore, of the views into the site from the south, there would therefore be a negligible visual impact on the open countryside to the south as a result of the proposed the proposed solar panels.”

by Marie Sharp, Local Democracy Reporter.

Police Scotland continue to investigate a series of wilful fire-raisings in the country.

These began in Edinburgh and have happened more recently in Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

Detectives have visited more than 100 addresses as part of extensive door-to-door enquiries and seized almost 700 hours of CCTV footage.

Intelligence is being gathered, with one stolen vehicle been recovered so far. A dedicated team of officers are being supported by specialist resources as enquiries continue.

One week on from the first incident in the west of Scotland, officers continue to appeal for information after a house was deliberately set on fire in Cortmalaw Gardens, Glasgow on Thursday, 3 April, 2025.

Extensive enquiries are also ongoing into wilful fire-raisings at four other properties across the city. 

•         Premises in Milton Road, Kirkintilloch on Friday, 4 April, 2025

•         Properties in Gala Street and Ashgill Road, Glasgow on Monday, 7 April, 2025

•         Property in Meadow Court, Stepps, on Monday, 7 April, 2025

•         Premises in Wellington Road, Bishopbriggs on Tuesday, 8 April, 2025

Edinburgh and the east of Scotland

A team of detectives are investigating these incidents and a number of reports of discharges of firearms and fire-raising in the East of the country, which are all being treated as potentially linked at this time.

Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry, Specialist Crime Division, said: “It is vital that we trace whoever is responsible for these reckless acts as soon as possible. 

“While we believe these to be targeted attacks, the consequences could have been far more serious and I want to make it clear this behaviour will not be tolerated. 

“I would urge anyone with information about any of these incidents to please get in touch.

“We would also be keen to speak to anyone with dash-cam, doorbell footage or personal footage, from the areas where these incidents have taken place.

“Significant enquiries are ongoing in relation to all of these incidents, and we are utilising all available resources to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”

A number of arrests have been made in the East and a number of warrants have been executed in the city.

Arrests

On Thursday, 10 April, 2025, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old male youth were arrested in connection with wilful fire-raisings in Edinburgh.

The 18-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with an incident which took place in Hay Drive on Friday, 4 April, 2025, a wilful fire at a premises in Albert Street on Thursday, 6 March, 2025 and the wilful fire of a vehicle in the Parrotshot area on Sunday, 2 March, 2025.

He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today, Friday, 11 April, 2025.

The 17-year-old male youth has been released pending further enquiries.

A number of items relevant to the investigation, including weapons, have been seized, along with drugs and cash during the execution of warrants in the past few weeks.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ferry added: “A number of arrests have already been made in connection with incidents in the East and arrests will continue across the country over the coming weeks.

“I want to reassure the communities in the East and West of Scotland that we have a team of detectives working on this investigation and our continued action in recent weeks demonstrates our commitment to tackling this type of crime.

“We will continue to carry out additional high-visibility patrols and disruption activity and I would encourage anyone with any concerns to approach these officers, so we can take action. 

“If anyone has information that can help with our enquiries then please contact us immediately.”  

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0562 of Friday, 21 March, 2025. 

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.

Defender Christian Borchgrevink has put pen to paper for Hearts, singing a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee, and he will make the move when the transfer window opens in June.

The 25-year-old right-back is captain of Valerenga in Norway and is a product of the Oslo side’s youth system.

Borchgrevink was part of the team which secured European qualification and played in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Of course, the Norway under-21 cap will join countryman, Sander Kartum, at Gorgie.

Neil Critchley, Hearts’ head coach (pictured), said: “He is a strong, athletic, talented player and a leader on the pitch. He has played at a high level in Norway and we feel we can provide an environment where he can improve.”

Local producers are invited to sign up for the new Steading Rosewell Farmers Market which will begin this spring.

Anyone selling high quality produce can apply to join in the Rosewell Development Trust’s new venture which will meet for the first time in May. SHS Events are collaborating on the venture which they believe will support independent producers and promote quality over quantity. The market will have fully covered stalls ready for the Scottish weather.

Rosewell Development Trust are beginning the market as part of a wider mission to bring new energy and opportunity to the village.

Stewart Ferguson, Manager of The Steading said: “We’re passionate about championing small businesses and creating a space for people to connect, shop fresh, and enjoy something a little different.

“We’re committed to creating a premium, quality-driven market, and we’re keen to hear from producers who share that vision – whether it’s artisan bakery, fresh produce, small-batch preserves, or eco-conscious goods.”

Anyone interested in trading at the market is encouraged to get in touch as soon as possible, as space is limited.

To apply or find out more, email info@shsevents.co.uk or visit www.shsevents.co.uk.

Rosewell Farmers Market 2025 Dates
The Steading, Rosewell EH24 9AA
10am–4pm

• Sunday 4th May
• Sunday 1st June
• Sunday 6th July
• Sunday 3rd August

Community councils

Community council elections were held earlier this year, but in eight areas there have not been sufficient nominations to form a. new council. Nominations are being run again and are open until 17 April in these areas: Craigmillar, Davidson’s Mains and Silverknowes, Firrhill, Hutchison and Chesser, Muirhouse and Salvesen, Old Town, Portobello, West Pilton and West Granton. If you would like to become a community councillor then you are invited to play a part in local democracy. Their business covers all kinds of things – but includes being a statutory consult on planning matters. These are voluntary organisations set up by statute by The City of Edinburgh Council.

There is more information here.

Apply now to establish one of Penguin’s Little Book Stops

Penguin Books is going to celebrate its 90th birthday on 30 July – and they are celebrating by supporting 90 Little Book Stops in the UK. Teaming up with the Little Free Library, an American movement to offer book exchanges in the local neighbourhood, Penguin are asking for 90 applicants to set up their own Little Book Stop.

The 90 Little Book Stops will feature a bespoke Penguin design and be installed with an initial curation of children’s and adult books, specially selected to celebrate 90 years of Penguin books.

After that the concept is simple: take a book, share a book.

Each Little Book Stop has a steward that looks after them and they are open 24/7 so you can always find your next read. The steward will be responsible for registering with Little Free Library which will give them access to a support network and resources.

A spokesperson said: “Our Little Book Stops aim to celebrate the joy of reading and the people who make reading happen for their communities. We believe in the power of books to create connections between us and that each day, all over the UK, there are people who champion reading. Librarians, teachers, community leaders, parent groups, book sellers, youth workers, carers – the list goes on! Maybe it’s even your neighbour who is always recommending your next read.

“If you’d like to celebrate a local reading champion or bring the joy of books to your local community, apply for one of our 90 Little Book Stops today.”

It’s quick and easy to apply online before 1 May. There are four key questions to understand the potential impact of a Little Book Stop in your community and to ensure its success.

• Why is access to books important at this location?
• How might a Little Book Stop change this community?
• Does this Little Book Stop aim to celebrate a local individual or organisation that champions reading?
• How do you plan to look after the Little Book Stop as a steward?

Penguin will select a range of locations all over the UK.

Apply here

Pomegranates Festival begins soon

Celebrating Traditional Dance on Screen on Friday 25 April, 6.30pm at Scottish Storytelling Centre.
The opening night of this year’s Pomegranates Festival of international traditional dance (25-30 April), begins with a packed programme of ten short films celebrating traditional dance on screen. 

More information here – and a reminder that last month we featured Pomegranates on the front page. Click on the image to read our March paper. Remember that we publish a print issue each month and are always looking for stories and photos to feature in that. Email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk

Edinbrick

The charity Edinburgh LEGO® Model Show takes place at Meadowbank Sports Centre on 10 and 11 May.

The centrepiece will be the giant eight metre long working model of the Forth Bridge built by a dedicated team of builders who specialise in trains. The model includes two working train tracks and trains from different eras will travel round the display all weekend.

Tickets here

Art and a spritzer

Combine the fun of painting along with some cicchetti, which is a kind of Italian tapas, and a spritzer or non-alcoholic drink of your choice at Marriott Holyrood.

Our editor was invited to try it out along with Edinburgh influencers. She said: “It was amazingly good fun and led by local artist Rachele Cavina who was a great help for novices like me. I attended a Paolozzi Pop Inspired event and did end up with something which looked a bit like pop art. I love Paolozzi and all his work so this made it even more of a pleasure. I had to remind myself to eat the food as I got so involved in my masterpiece, but it is clear that the rebranding of the hotel under the Marriott name has really changed this hotel. It is lighter and brighter – and the food choice was extensive and delicious – my favourite was the salt and chilli squid.”

Guests and locals are invited to enjoy a painting session inspired by vibrant Italian heritage and Paolozzi’s inspired themes, all while sipping on a Paolozzi Spritz and indulging in delicious cicchetti curated by the restaurant Head Chef. 

Whether you’re looking to express yourself, unwind, or simply try something new, this immersive experience offers it all. All painting materials are provided, plus receive a special gift from Edinburgh Beer Factory and 20% off at Arti & Alba’s new restaurant menu. 

Each Month consist of different themes. Discover them here. 

• 14th of May 2025 – Paolozzi Pop Art Inspired 
• 11th of June 2025 – Mosaic Style Vase 
• 9th of July 2025 – Pop Art Summer Table 
• 13th of August 2025 – Pop Art Summer Table 
• 10th of September 2025 – Abstract Landscape
• 7th of October 2025 – Pop Art Tartan Pattern

We’ve had a week of gloriously sunny weather. But the air outside has been disappointingly cold. This has given us two ways of looking upon life.  We are  cheerful looking out of the window but miserable once outside. 

And so it has been with the news – lots of troubles, but when the sun shines they don’t look so bad.  We Scots like to moan, but compared with the rest of the world, we’ve had a good week.

The dry sunny days have been wonderful.  But they have caused some 90 wildfires in several parts of the country.  Glen Rosa on the Island of Arran suffered a major fire.  Campers in the Galloway Forest Park had to be rescued by helicopter.  Fires broke out at Morar along the Harry-Potter train line between Fort William and Malaig.  Firefighters were out tackling a fire at Inverpolly Forest north of Ullapool and on the Isle of Skye a mile-long fire at Glendale took several hours to bring under control.   But all this is nothing compared to what has happened in California, or Spain or Crete.

If this is climate change, then we doing little about it. The government has scrapped its annual emissions target, after failing to reach it for years. The phasing out of petrol-driven vehicles has been postponed till 2035 and the legal requirement to stop the installation of home gas boilers has been abandoned.  Not much wonder that figures out this week show there’s been a 15 per cent bounce-back in emissions since 2021 and the Covid pandemic.

But looking out of the sunny window, our renewables capacity grew in the last year from 15GWs to 16GWs and the pollution from the Grangemouth refinery is to end with its closure in the summer.

The decline of the health and social care services have been brought into sharp focus this week by a report from the government’s own Fiscal Commission. It warns that, unless there are big changes, spending will have to rise from 40 per cent to 55 per cent of the entire Scottish government budget over the next 25 years as the number of old people increases. It points out that the average health care spending for someone over 70 is £6,000 a year and for someone over 80 it rises to £8,000.  It says such expenditure is not sustainable and it argues for a radical switch to preventive measures and a healthier lifestyle.

But again, compared to the rest of the world, we are lucky to have a national health service at all. We just need to learn to pay for it through higher taxes or a retirement levy.   

The financial troubles afflicting our 18 universities have been in the news again this week.  Chronic under-funding from the government over the last 10 years (down by nearly 40 per cent) has led to universities relying on high-fees from foreign students. It doesn’t quite cover the shortfall and, in any case, the number of foreign students is dwindling.  Scottish students, of course, do not have to pay tuition fees but the “free university” pledge by the SNP government is now coming into question.

Edinburgh university staff are being balloted on strike action in protest at plans to cut £140m or 20 per cent from its annual budget. There have already been 15 days of strike action at Dundee University over its plans to cut over 600 jobs.  An emergency grant of £22m has been provided to keep the university afloat.  At Robert Gordon’s University in Aberdeen 135 jobs are at risk.  It’s thought over half of Scotland’s universities are running a deficit.  

It’s all led to a national debate over what universities are for and how they should be funded.  The debate also extends to our 24 technical colleges which have suffered a similar cut in funding.  We are now wondering where the next generation of tradesmen and women, engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers and artists are to come from. And it sure is a funny way to promote economic growth, which is supposed to be the government’s top priority.  

It’s also a funny way to promote research and imagine a new world.  Take the discovery of penicillin for example, being celebrated this week in Sir Alexander Fleming’s home town of Darvel in Ayrshire.  A large mural, by the Glasgow artist “Roque One” has appeared on a building in the town showing Fleming holding up a slide to the light and noticing a strange fungus attacking the bacteria there.  It was the beginning of the antibiotic revolution which has saved millions of lives across the world.

If this younger son of an Ayrshire farmer had not had a good school in Darvel and Kilmarnock, a place at a polytechnic in London and eventually a university lab, he might never have made his great discovery. Such breakthroughs give us hope that science may come to our aid.

To do that we need to be much braver about raising tax and facing up to the worrying news we’ve had this week.

The story of home-owners who were trapped for almost 20 years in Livingston homes built of crumbling concrete has now been told in a new programme produced by Radio Scotland. 

In the  programme presenter Mark Stephen hears from three of those who fought or almost two decades for a new home after the Deans South estate was cleared of tenants in the early 2000’s. 

The programme features quotes recorded by Isabel Baxter remembering her husband Joe, who died just weeks before he could move into the new home built by Springfield Homes for the family last May. 

The programme has broadcast as the problems of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete or RAAC have spread far beyond the new town estate built by Livingston Development Corporation in the late 1960s. 

RAAC has also been discovered in council housing across West Lothian in council homes and across Scotland, prompting a National campaign of which one of the Deans South householders, Kerry Macintosh is a vice- chair. 

Kerry told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that listening to the radio programme, which also features contributions from her and neighbour Phil Cavan, “took us all right back to the start of this.” 

She added: “It’s been really emotional for us all. I’ve cried every time I’ve listened to it, thinking about what we all had to go through.” 

Kerry said she was pleased that the also programme  remembered Joe Baxter and his wife, who had joined her and Phil in the Grampian for a house for house. “It’s important that Joe was heard”, said Kerry  

A national petition has been created demanding a public inquiry be held at Holyrood on the the RAAC scandal and it effects on householders. In the programme Phil tells presenter Mark Stephen that” there has to be a government solution.” 

Kerry described it as shocking the troubles that home-owners across the country were finding as their homes are identified as having the same roofing materials as was identified in Deans South. 

More public protests outside the Scottish Parliament are planned. 

The Deans South story can be heard on BBC Sounds at :- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0029h2t 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Hibs head coach David Gray has provided a fitness update ahead of this weekend’s William Hill Premiership game against Dundee. 

Sunday’s match will be Hibs final game before the split as the players look to stretch their unbeaten league run to 17.  

When looking ahead to the match, Gray confirmed that he expects to have a similar squad available to the one that beat Rangers last week. 

“Everyone came through the Rangers game well and we won’t have anyone returning either, so Joe (Newell) and Elie (Youan) will still be absent. 

“Kwon is still nursing a bit of an ankle injury and Rudi (Molotnikov) picked up a little bit of a groin issue last week that we’re still monitoring.  

“We don’t want to take too many chances with that because we don’t want it to develop into anything too sinister. 

“Apart from that everyone is feeling good and we are really looking forward to the game now.” 

Plans to spend visitor levy income on advertising Edinburgh to tourists have drawn criticism from a councillor and a tenant’s union.

According to a contract tender published by the city, it appeared that the council was looking to spend an estimated £320,000 on graphic design services for its destination marketing service, Forever Edinburgh. However the council has now clarified that the framework can be used by a variety of council services which include Forever Edinburgh.

The final cost of the contract will not be any more than the figure quoted – and could be less. (The council confirmed to The Edinburgh Reporter that it is expected to be less) and final approval for the spending will need to come from councillors.

A council spokesperson said: “The framework is open to all council services and no set spend is agreed at this stage. The use of any visitor levy funds towards the framework for destination marketing would be subject to relevant committee approval, in the usual way.”

It is understood that some or all of the money might come from the transient visitor levy or tourist tax – but the council says that not all of the spending will fall within the destination marketing or tourism sphere.

The advert mentions Forever Edinburgh and tourism, so it is not immediately clear from the advert itself what the design will relate to – other than the city’s tourism offer.

Description of the procurement

• Forever Edinburgh is the Destination Marketing organisation for Edinburgh, based within The City of Edinburgh council. Forever Edinburgh is tasked with promoting the City on a national and international stage. Working closely with private tourism businesses, public agencies and the City of Edinburgh Council, they work to ensure that visitors experience the very best of Edinburgh and the city utilises its outstanding tourism assets in a sustainable way.
• They:
• Promote Edinburgh around the world to build awareness of and demand for the city to prospective inbound leisure visitors;
• Provide information and inspiration to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a stay in Edinburgh;
• Support industry on the delivery of the Edinburgh 2030 Tourism Strategy;
• Engage Edinburgh’s residents and communities in the positive promotion of their city;
• Lead our partners in steering city promotional activity;
• Support industry partners on the delivery of quality assurance initiatives; and
• Provide advice to visitors and industry partners to ensure local tourism businesses strive to exceed visitors’ expectations.
• In order to fulfil its remit, Forever Edinburgh is required to produce a large volume and variety of promotional materials.
• The City of Edinburgh Council require a Framework Agreement of Graphic Designers to create these promotional assets and aid with campaign and brand rollout and delivery. The Council requires small, nimble designers/creative studios who can deliver quick rollout of variety of smaller design assets across web, social, paid digital advertising and print channels.

Comment from Cllr Cameron

Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron said: “As Scotland’s capital city it’s right that we promote Edinburgh to the world and Forever Edinburgh is an integral part of our city’s marketing strategy. 

“Its website promotes events, activities, venues, attractions, businesses, seasonal features and travel information to Edinburgh residents, visitors, and businesses alike. Edinburgh and Lothian residents are also able to access exclusive offers including high value monthly rewards and special resident prices at various attractions via the Residents Rewards feature of Forever Edinburgh, enabling residents to enjoy more of Edinburgh at lesser expense to them.

“It is also important to note that this procurement notice is at an initial stage and is intended to cover a wide framework of creative support.”

SNP comment

SNP councillor Kate Campbell said (before clarification by the council): “Residents will be disappointed, after the budget cuts forced through by the Labour administration, that the council is choosing to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on marketing the city to tourists when most people recognise that Edinburgh already suffers from over-tourism.

“The SNP proposals for the Visitor Levy, which were rejected by Labour and their unionist coalition partners, would have invested almost a billion pounds more in council housing.

“Instead, they’ve made it very clear where their priorities lie. During a cost of living crisis this is a shameful use of public funds.”

Tourist tax

The visitor levy, set to come into effect from July 2026, places a 5% charge on overnight accommodation stays in the city. It is expected to bring in around £50 million per year for the council.

The government legislation behind the visitor levy includes an annual percentage spend on “destination and visitor management”. Since the demise of Marketing Edinburgh some of these functions are undertaken by Forever Edinburgh.

After administrative costs are taken out, as well as several areas of spending priority, 10% of whatever remains would be spent on the area.

The contract would run for two years, with an option to extend it for a further two years in the future. The £320,000 cost estimate was for a hypothetical four year contract.

Forever Edinburgh markets the city to potential tourists and new residents, with the contract tender looking to draw in graphic design firms with experience in tourism advertising.

Living Rent

Eilidh Keay, chair of Living Rent Edinburgh said: “The city does not need more tourism, it needs everyone living here to have access to a safe, secure, affordable home.

“Spending approximately £300k on marketing to tourists when people are being hit hard by a housing crisis, benefit cuts and council tax increases suggests that the council is blind to the experiences of its constituents. 

“Edinburgh council is spending £5m of the £35m tourist tax funds to go towards affordable housing, but this is not enough. For years, tourism has seen short term lets rip through our city, pushing people out of their communities due to high rents and a lack of housing.

“Funds generated from the tourist tax should go into improving the lives of people who live and work in Edinburgh, not lining the pockets of landlords who see our city as nothing more than a holiday destination.”

(This article has been amended to clarify various points after comment from the council as provided to The Edinburgh Reporter by the council on Thursday evening.)

By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter with additional reporting by Phyllis Stephen.

A private hospital has been given the go ahead to build a new eight-bed ward on its west wing to support inpatient demand.

The Spire Shawfair Hospital plans to create the new extension on land currently used as a service yard with eight individual bedrooms with ensuite facilities.

The new modular ward, which includes a plant room, will be linked to the existing main building with a new link corridor.

Planners approved the extension saying it was an addition to a ‘valuable asset’ in the area.

Spire Hospital opened at Shawfair Park nearly 15 years ago. Its design statement said the new ward would help it meet demand on its inpatient services.

They said the new ward would “improve the services available at the Spire and cater for the increasing demand for the services to provide a more efficient healthcare offering.”

Previous permissions for extensions to the hospital have been approved in the past and planners said the latest development fitted with the use of the land although it was not ‘strictly’ business/general use.

They said: “The development is for an extension of an existing hospital that is a valued asset to the area. Whilst not strictly a Class 4 use (business/ general industry), the planning history of the site has approved a private hospital as part of the acceptable mix of uses in Shawfair Park.

“Taking the hospital as an accepted and valued use in Shawfair Park, the proposed development …does not result in adverse amenity impacts and is compatible with neighbouring uses.”

Planners granted permission for the new extension and some surrounding landscaping work to provide screening for it.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

A fresh bid to build new homes next to a former mill lade on a slope in Penicuik has been rejected by planners.

Craig Meikle applied for permission to build three split level homes on land at Craigbank Road, Penicuik, two years after Midlothian Council rejected a similar proposal over safety concerns.

But despite reducing the number of houses involved and addressing concerns about access to the mill lade with plans to fill it in, planners ruled it was not acceptable.

Refusing permission they said the houses were too big, out of character and did not provide enough amenity for residents whose gardens would be overlooked by their neighbours.

And they said a request for an assessment of the impact on protected trees and hedgerow on the site had not been provided.

Mr Meikle had previously applied for permission to build four houses on the site with plans to retain the former mill lade and build footbridges over it as part of the gardens of the new homes.

The initial proposals were rejected and at an appeal hearing at the council’s Local Review Body, further concerns were raised about emergency access to existing homes on the private street during construction and the garden design.

One councillor said the sloping gardens with a bridge at the bottom felt ‘unsafe’.

The revised application proposed filling in the mill lade which the applicant said had “ceased to exist in all but torrential downpours of rain” which they said would open up the whole garden space for beneficial use for residential amenity.

However planners rejected the proposal saying the fact the houses overlooked each other meant the garden space was still not acceptable.

They said: “This does not provide adequate private garden ground as each proposed house would overlook the garden ground of the adjacent house and so have a detrimental impact on the amenity of these occupants.”

And they said the size and scale of the new homes would have a “significant detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, adjacent special landscape area and landscape character of the surrounding area.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Growers at a community garden in West Lothian are supercharging the soil with natural forces in a bid to boost vegetable and fruit production, and fight climate change.  

The project will test the effectiveness of electro culture, a re-emerging concept which harnesses the energy of atmospheric electricity, polar magnetism and natural minerals. The off-grid method channels earth and sky to support plant vitality. 

Project leader Helen Triplett said: “Some of the old ideas are the best,” as she described the experiment sponsored by a local climate action team. 

Pyramid organites, with copper wire or other conductive materials are inserted into the soil around plants so that atmospheric electricity is captured as” free” energy that sustainably enhances plant growth.    

Helen has made the organites she will use on the experiment but similar organites, which blend crystal with natural conductors and are widely commercially available. 

With climate change impacting food systems, it’s hoped the cutting-edge approach to horticulture can offer the potential to increase harvests, improve soil health and boost biodiversity, while reducing environmental impact.  

The pilot project is taking place in four raised beds at Strathbrock Community Garden, Broxburn, which has about ten volunteers cultivating 60 beds in total.  

Helen Triplett became interested in the idea when advancing her studies in soil science.  

The effect of natural energy has long been observed in lightning-hit crops, which tend to grow faster and larger. The intense, sudden heat of a lightning strike causes nitrogen to bond with the oxygen; creating nitrogen oxides that mix with the rain and water plants with nitrate-rich rainfall speeding up the natural absorption and growth rate. 

Once a fringe interest, electro culture is now being revived by eco-minded growers like Helen, who qualified in horticulture with plantsmanship from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and is now working in her honours project with the SRUC. 

Helen described the live experiment over this year’s main growing season. Each of the beds will be filled with the same mix of soil. They will then receive a prescribed growing mix of peas, broad beans, onions, lettuce and beetroot. 

“They will have no fertiliser, none of the magic that goes into the other beds,” said Helen. “We use the energy that’s in the atmosphere to create a vortex to direct the energy to the soil.”  

The direction of spirals is dependent on the northern or southern hemisphere. The first bed will place the spirals at different heights, the second will use organites: pyramid structures that combine the metal spirals with crystals. In the third bed, the system will be placed under the soil to measure its influence. The fourth bed is a control.  

“As long as we get the vortex through the soil, we’re expecting good things,” said Helen.  

Helen has noted in her own garden the improvements to plants by placing organites near them, with healthier, larger and more productive plants compared with the same species growing nearby.  

Helen hopes the project will build a template for future applications of electro-culture that can be demonstrated by holding community workshops on the technique. The experimental plots will also encourage the community to get involved through practical demonstration. The garden is well established in local food growing and working with school children. 

The project has been supported by West Lothian Climate Action Network (WLCAN). Broxburn and Uphall Development Group was awarded money from WLCAN, one of Scotland’s regional climate hubs, which supports local projects to tackle climate change. The growers have used the award for materials to get their project off to a start.  

It was one of 14 projects given part of WLCAN’s eco development funding, which is supported by the Scottish Government.  

Helen added: “What makes this project special is its spirit: a blend of community, ecology and innovation. It’s not just about growing food – it’s about growing understanding, engaging minds and nurturing a deeper relationship with the soil beneath our feet. We’re incredibly grateful for the support that makes this work possible.  

“This will be a way we can get bigger plants by using what’s available to us. Could we grow more by using less? Some of the old ideas are the best.” 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Edinburgh Rugby today confirmed hooker Dave Cherry and scrum-half Ali Price will depart the club at the end of the season to take up playing opportunities abroad. 

Both players will be out of contract at the end of the current campaign. 

Scotland international Cherry, 34, who joined the club in 2018, has amassed over 100 appearances for the capital side.  

He reached his century milestone in front of over 40,000 fans at December’s memorable 1872 Cup victory over Glasgow Warriors at Scottish Gas Murrayfield. 

Price, 31, arrived at Edinburgh Rugby in November 2023 from Glasgow Warriors. Since then, he has made 34 appearances for the club, bringing experience and leadership to the squad. 

Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach, Sean Everitt, said: “Dave and Ali have both made significant contributions to Edinburgh Rugby and we thank them for their dedication and commitment to the club. 

“Dave has given a lot during his time at the club, but it is a position we are well stocked with good young Scottish talent and, therefore, we have decided not to continue his deal, and wish him the very best in his next steps. 

“Dave’s journey to becoming a centurion is a testament to his hard work and resilience, while Ali’s experience and leadership have been invaluable to the team. 

“There is still a lot of rugby to be played this season, and I know both Dave and Ali will continue to play a key role in our run-in. We wish them all the best for their future endeavours and thank them for their service to Edinburgh Rugby.” 

Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner are currently seeking views on the potential use of live facial recognition (LFR) by Police Scotland. 

Officers point put that this is not a consultation to determine whether Police Scotland will use live facial recognition, it is an exploratory conversation to determine the Scottish public’s views on this technology and its potential use in policing.  

If Police Scotland decide to explore further any implementation of live facial recognition, there will be a separate public engagement on this matter before any decision is made. 

A spokesperson said: “We recognise that specific detail regarding any potential future use is limited at this stage, however, the three bodies felt it appropriate to discuss with the public and key stakeholders to assess support or otherwise for the technology. 

“ Police Scotland will decide on the basis of responses whether to commit more resources to exploring LFR in detail and then fully consulting on specific detail in the future. 

“Should you require these questions in another format, please contact SPAStrategyandPerformance@spa.police.uk 

To take part in the survey click here

Detectives investigating recent gang feud activity in and around Edinburgh have arrested two teenagers.

Officers said that an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old male youth were arrested in connection with wilful fireraisings which took place in Hay Drive on Friday, 4 April, 2024.

The 18-year-old has also been arrested in connection with a wilful fire at a premises in Albert Street on Thursday, 6 March, 2025 and the wilful fire of a vehicle in the Parrotshot area on Sunday, 2 March, 2025.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Enquiries are ongoing into the incidents, which are linked to the recent discharge of firearms and other fire-raising incidents in the city.

“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

“A 24-year-old man was earlier arrested and charged in relation to two wilful fireraisings.

“He was due to appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 8 April, 2025.”

Detective Superintendent Paul Grainger added: “I want to reassure the community that extensive enquiries are ongoing into this investigation and arrests will continue over the coming weeks.

“If you have any information that can assist our investigation, please get in touch.”