Scotland’s under-21 women go into Saturday’s EuroHockey Championship II final on Saturday against Ukraine in buoyant mood after thrashing hosts Turkey 4-0 in their final Pool A game.

The Tartan Harts dominated the game early on but failed to turn territory into goals, Lexie McMillan (Uddingston) coming closest, only denied by a goal line clearance, and it was not until the third quarter that Scotland counted.

And it was Ava Wadsworth, who plays for The University of Durham, who found the net from a rebound following a penalty corner.

Scotland added three more in the final quarter, Ava Smith (The University of Edinburgh), claimed No 2 after a flowing move involving several players, Mhairi Low (Loughborough University) added a third from a cutback and Keira Foster (Loughborough University) completed the scoring.

The target for Scotland now is to win the final which would guarantee a place in the Junior World Cup and coach Jimmy Culnane (pictured centre by Nigel Duncan) guided the Scots to a 3-1 victory over Ukraine in their opening game in the competition in Konya.

Scotland topped the pool with nine points with Ukraine second on four and the Scots had a goal difference of plus seven against plus one for Ukraine.

Poland were third in the pool and they face Turkey in the third and fourth place play-off. The hosts have failed to score a point so far.

Former Monarchs captain Craig Cook powered to 17 points to top score for Workington Comets in this Cab Direct Championship clash, but the under-strength Cumbrian side lost on the night but still collected the aggregate bonus point in a 55-35 defeat at Armadale.

In-form Cook (pictured before the meeting by Nigel Duncan), won five of his six races and he only dropped a point when Josh Pickering won Heat 13 with Cook in second position.

The 37-year-old former British Champion and a Scottish Open winner, who rode for Monarchs from 2011 to 2015 and again in 2023, was backed up by 36-year-old, former Grand Prix rider Troy Batchelor, as Comets took the aggregate score to 96-84.

What’s more, Stellar Monarchs suffered an injury blow to popular Aussie Justin Sedgmen who withdrew from the meeting after a spectacular four-man pile-up coming out of the first bend in Heat Four.

Comets rider Sam McGurk picked up drive on the inside and was in collision with Monarchs duo, Connor Coles, and then the unlucky Sedgmen. All four riders ended up of the track.

Sedgmen was lifted from the track by a stretcher and was given treatment trackside.

Overall, Monarchs top racer was Josh Pickering with 13 points and skipper Paco Castagna was the next best on 12 with Finnish racer Lasse Fredriksen on 11.

The home side recorded back-to-back 5-1 scorelines in Heats Two and Three to ease to a 13-5 lead but the 61-29 first leg deficit from the Northside Stadium in mid-May hung heavy even if two of Comets regular riders – ex-Monarchs rider, Claus Vissing, stranded in Denmark, and Celina Liebmann, stuck in Germany – were absent because of the IT chaos at airports around Europe.

Another home 5-1 in Heat Nine moved the scoreline to 33-21 in favour of Monarchs and another heat maximum in the next race made it 38-22 before  4-2 in the penultimate heat saw the home side move 20 points in front.

The home side who drew the final race with Cook again coming home in front with Pickering second and Castagna third.

Monarchs: Josh Pickering 13, Kye Thomson 8, Lasse Fredriksen 11, Paco Castagna 12, Justin Sedgmen 0, Max James 4, Connor Coles 7.

Comets: Craig Cook 17, rider replacement for Tate Zischke, Antti Vuolas 5, Laylan Richardson 1, Troy Batchelor 9, Mason Watson 0, Sam McGurk 3

David Gray says that Hibs will likely be without Elie Youan and Chris Cadden for the game against Kelty Hearts tomorrow their third Premier Sports Cup group game 

Both picked up slight injuries in the club’s opening fixtures. 

But Harry McKirdy could return for the game. 

Gray told Hibs TV: “It’s a bit disappointing with Cadds, he has been for a scan and has a little niggle in there – so that will be another week or so. At this stage of the season, we’re not going to take any risks. 

“Elie is in a similar situation. We all saw the collision that he went into at the end of the Queen’s Park game. We need to assess that one further and not take any risks.” 

The good news is that Harry McKirdy could return this weekend.  

“On a positive note, Harry McKirdy has trained the last couple of days and is looking really good. 

“We’ve managed him through the last 10 days or so, just to manage his load. He’s been really bright and positive so he comes into the squad which is positive.” 

A former Edinburgh police chief’s thrilling account of the “first modern murder” has premiered on a hugely popular crime podcast produced by Emmy Award winning actress Yeardley Smith.

The podcast examines the horrific murder and dismemberment of two women at the hands of Dr Buck Ruxton and is based on the book Beyond Recognition: The Ruxton Murders by former Deputy Chief Constable of Lothian & Borders Police Tom Wood.

It premiered today on the award-winning true crime podcast Small Town Dicks, which is co-hosted by Yeardley Smith, the actress, novelist, and playwright who has appeared on television, film and Broadway, and has been the voice of Lisa Simpson on the hit television show The Simpsons since 1987.

Yeardley co-founded media company Paperclip Ltd with Ben Cornwell in 2014, with the goal of fostering distinctive ideas in entertainment at their earliest stages, across mediums.

The series delves into the 1935 disappearance of a glamorous young mother Isabella Buxton and her dutiful Leith-born maid, Mary Rogerson, whose deaths resulted in one of the most important investigations the world had ever seen at that time.

Ruxton used his medical knowledge to dismember his victims and later discarded the body parts 100 miles away from the crime scene in a tranquil part of the Scottish Borders.

Only the brilliance of Scottish scientists and determined police officers brought Ruxton to trial and led him to the gallows in a case which established many ground-breaking forensic techniques which are still in common use today in criminal investigations.

“Beyond Recognition: The Ruxton Murders” will unfold over six riveting episodes, releasing weekly on Fridays and will be available on the Small Town Dicks podcast feed and other podcast channels.

Yeardley Smith said: “I’m fascinated by people who take a leap of faith and do something in a new and different way. For me, that’s the crux of the Ruxton case. The team of investigators tasked with solving the murders decides to save all the bits and pieces from the body dump. We take this for granted now, but this kind of collection and preservation was brand new back then.

“One of my favorite ah-ha moments in the case is when one of the detectives decides to track down the origin of a special newspaper insert that was used to wrap up one of the body parts. That inquiry leads to a short list of people who had the special insert delivered to them at home, and that list includes the name of the murderer. Though this case happened 90 years ago, I think it’s just as gripping and relevant today.

“Tom Wood is a master storyteller and with Ruxton he’s deftly made the history of modern forensics read like a true-crime thriller. I can’t wait for audiences to hear the podcast.”

Now retired, Tom Wood has written three true crime books including, Ruxton: The First Modern Murder, which draws upon previously classified documents to build a detailed, engaging story about criminal investigation and justice. Wood is also well-known for his regular column “Inside Justice” in The Scotsman, and for his lecturing across the country.

You can listen to a trailer of the podcast here.

Kevin Stewart, General Manager at Luci’s Italian Restaurant in Lasswade says the monthly “Boozy Brunches” which combine his restaurant’s delicious food with live saxophone music and interaction with a DJ have been very successful.

He said: “Since we launched this a few months ago, the Boozy Brunches, held 12 noon til 4pm on the last Saturday of every month,  and costing £40pp, have been really popular indeed, selling out almost instantly.  We have a waiting list for the September event, and would say to prospective customers of this event to keep an eye on our social media channels.”

Along with a main course choice of dishes such as Eggs Benedict, Brioche French Toast, Croque Monsieur, or freshly made pancakes, washed down with a wide choice of fizz, cocktails or wine,  guests can enjoy listening to both a DJ and a saxophonist as they eat and drink.

“The Boozy Brunch is an ideal event to kick off hen night celebrations, for a birthday, or just for group of ladies getting together. As a venue, we work hard to create a fantastic atmosphere. This, together with our quality food and drink, is what’s making them so sought after!”

Kevin finished by saying that Luci’s was delighted to have become known as  “the home of fresh pasta.”

“Our chefs skilfully prepare around 40kg of fresh pasta a week -it’s so much better than dried, and is a real USP for the restaurant .”

To register interest for a forthcoming Boozy Brunch call Luci’s on 0131 663 0961.

www.lucis-lasswade.co.uk

The Scottish Gas Scottish Cup format and key dates for the 2024/2025 season have been revealed, with the finals of the men’s and women’s competitions taking place at the National Stadium, on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th May 2025 respectively. 

The Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup kicks off with the first Preliminary Round on Saturday, 10th August, while the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup begins a week later with Preliminary Round One on Sunday, 18th August. 

A double draw will take place at 7:30pm on Monday, 22nd July to confirm the ties for the first and second Preliminary Rounds in both competitions.  

Celtic are the holders of the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup, having triumphed 1-0 with a late Adam Idah goal against rivals Rangers in last season’s final.  

Rangers got their hands on the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup, however, with Rachel McLauchlan and Lizzie Arnot on target in 2-0 win against Hearts in the final. 

Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup 

Preliminary Round One: weekend of Saturday, 10 August 2024 

Preliminary Round Two: weekend of Saturday, 31 August 2024 

First Round: weekend of Saturday, 28 September 2024 

Second Round: weekend of Saturday, 26 October 2024 

Third Round: weekend of Saturday, 30 November 2024 

Fourth Round: weekend of Saturday, 18 January 2025 

Fifth Round: weekend of Saturday, 8 February 2025 

Quarter-Finals: weekend of Saturday, 8 March 2025 

Semi-Finals: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 April 2025 

Final: Saturday, 24 May 2025 

Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup 

Preliminary Round 1: weekend of Sunday, 18 August 2024 

Preliminary Round 2: weekend of Sunday, 8 September 2024 

First Round: weekend of Sunday, 6 October 2024 

Second Round: weekend of Sunday, 3 November 2024 

Third Round: weekend of Sunday, 8 December 2024 

Fourth Round: weekend of Sunday, 2 February 2025 

Quarter-Finals: weekend of Sunday, 9 March 2025 

Semi-Finals: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April 2025 

Final: Sunday, 25 May 2025 

An Edinburgh council-run care home has been rated as ‘weak’ by inspectors, who said residents are “bored and lonely” and staff feel “overwhelmed”.

A watchdog ordered a slew of improvements to be made at Inch View care home in a damning report published on Thursday, July 18.

A recent unannounced inspection of the 60-bed facility in Gilmerton by the Care Inspectorate found there was a “lack of daily activities” for many residents.

Among other problems highlighted were a lack of “accessible snacks and drinks for people to help themselves to” and staff being “overwhelmed with paperwork”.

Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership said it was “disappointed by the findings” and would ensure the necessary recommendations were implemented.

The Care Inspectorate gave Inch View three ‘weak’ ratings – for supporting people’s well-being, leadership, and staff – while the home’s setting was rated ‘good’ and the care and support planning ‘adequate’.

The report said a range of activities and outings were organised, however one to one activity was limited and people described being bored and feeling lonely.

“We observed people walking around corridors, sleeping in the communal areas and spending lengthy times in their bedrooms isolated from others,” it said.

“One relative commented, ‘there’s nothing else to do, people sit and sleep in the dining room’. This meant that people were not getting the most out of life.”

Inspectors said while there were “some” leadership strengths identified, these were “compromised by significant weaknesses”.

The report said: “There was a lack of quality assurances processes in place related to people’s health and well-being and people’s experience of the service. Staff described feeling overwhelmed with paperwork.

“They described not having time to ensure that quality assurances activities were consistently completed.”

It said people in the home felt “confident in giving feedback and raising concerns,” however added they “had stopped doing so as nothing changed”.

Staff generally worked well together, inspectors said, but there were “large numbers” of temporary agency staff being used who “needed a great deal of direction to complete tasks” and some “lacked motivation or competency”.

The report said: “People, relatives and staff all commented that the service was short staffed and was only providing basic care.”

The facility was said to have a “warm and friendly atmosphere when entering the reception area” and cleaning and maintenance were “well managed”.

A spokesperson for the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “We take all feedback from the Care Inspectorate seriously and we are disappointed by the findings at Inch View Care Home.

“The home is being supported to implement a detailed plan that will ensure improvements across all areas of weakness identified in the report.

“We are pleased the report highlighted that we provide a positive setting with good facilities and an environment that is clean.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

Developers behind new Edinburgh student flats have had their plans passed on the second attempt, after the council previously raised concerns the building would ‘overdevelop’ the site.

Planners gave the green light for purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) on Dunedin Street following revisions which reduced the number of bed spaces from 73 to 65.

But neighbours were left up in arms after they claimed the council didn’t notify them about the new application.

The site, home to a vacant car rental garage now set for demolition, sits beside another soon-to-be student halls with 155 beds, which was granted planning permission last September.

Developers Dunedin Street (Edinburgh) LLP’s original bid for 73 studio flats was refused around the same time due to it being too big and having insufficient outdoor space, amounting to “an over development of the site,” the council ruled.

After going back to the drawing board they re-submitted plans in March this year.

While the height of the six-storey block was not reduced, the building was reduced in size and changed from being irregular shaped to L-shaped. The revised smaller block will instead have 41 studio flats and 24 shared ‘cluster’ flats, sleeping 65 altogether.

Plans stated: “The proposed development at Dunedin Street will replace an existing light industrial building with new student housing in a landscape that will improve the public realm streetscape and offer some new open space where residents and neighbours can socialise

“At ground level, an open landscape contiguous with the neighbouring development at Beaverhall Estate will provide socially and environmentally valuable spaces and a connection to Beaverhall Estate’s ‘Makers Yard’ and Logie Mill beyond.

“A courtyard to the rear of the building will provide a more private social space for the students as well as planting to improve the local microclimates, support biodiversity and also some sustainable urban drainage

“The roof terrace will provide a ‘back garden’ amenity for the residents, with some areas that can be planted and tended by residents if they wish. Planting on the roof will help create a sense of shelter for residents and also seasonal resources for local wildlife.”

However some locals continued to object after the new proposals emerged, with one saying the development would have an “unacceptable effect on daylight in our building”.

Another wrote: “The massing of the development is not justified and does not reflect local priorities in terms of affordable housing or proximity to education sites.

“The roof terrace will only be usable in the summer and will cause noise pollution to the surrounding neighbours.”

Neighbours also complained they were not sufficiently notified of the new application in line with planning regulations.

“Due process was ignored in the fact that the residents of 21 Dunedin Street were not provided with neighbourhood notification despite being opposite the proposed development site,” one said.

Despite the concerns city planners gave the go ahead on Thursday, July 18 and said work must commence within three years.

The council said the new proposal provided a “sufficient quantity of usable outdoor open space for the future occupants of the building”.

They added: “The proposal would not amount to an over development of the site and would be keeping with the established urban grain and the character and amenity of the area.

“Therefore, the proposal complies with the development plan.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

East Lothian Council has been accused of behaving like the ‘bin police’ after putting stickers on large family bins warning they will be taken away if misused.

The local authority moved its household waste collection from fortnightly to every three weeks earlier this year sparking a wave of protests on social media from residents who say it is not often enough.

Now it has been revealed that large bins, which are available for households with six or more residents who can show they use recycling services as well, come with a red warning.

An image of the sticker which is being put on the bins was shared by a resident on Facebook. It says “Please note:  If any recyclable items are found in this 360L bin. The bin will be removed and replaced with a standard 240L bin”.

Reacting to the sticker on the East Lothian Residents against 3 Weekly Bin Collection Facebook page, which has more than 1,600 members, one member said: “That’s kind of a form of bullying and they shouldn’t be putting that on bins.”

Another user asked: “Could they not just put “do not put recyclable materials in this bin” instead of telling you what theyr (sic) gonna do to you, that is shocking !!!”

While a third said: “I see ELC aren’t spending any money on charm school for their employees”

There was even criticism of the grammar used in the warning which has a full stop in the middle of it.

East Lothian Council said the warning was meant to remind people of the correct use for the bigger bin adding crews would not be checking them to see if they had recycling material in them.

A spokesperson said: “A condition of receiving a larger-sized bin is that residents should fully participate in available recycling services to reduce their waste volume.

“If they continue to struggle with capacity after receiving the larger bin we would work with them to investigate the reasons behind this and find solutions. The sticker is a reminder to recycle where they can; crews will not check bin contents.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

The Hibs ticket hub has been affected by the ongoing major worldwide IT outage. 

This has resulted in a delay in the sale of tickets for the opening league game away to St Mirren. 

The outage has caused chaos around the world, with major banks, media outlets airlines, healthcare and shops affected. 

Many flights have been grounded, with queues and delays at airports, while shops and communications have also been hit. 

Cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike says a “defect” in one of its software updates hit Windows operating systems. 

A Statement on the club’s website said: “The major worldwide IT outage is currently affecting the Easter Road Ticket Hub and online ticketing site. 

“As a result of this, the general sale of tickets for St Mirren (A) has been delayed because of this. 

“We’ll provide a further update as soon as possible.” 

A statement from George Kurtz, the CEO of Crowdstrike reads: “Crowdstrike is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts. 

“Mac and Linux hosts are not impacted. This is not a security incident or cyberattack. 

“The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed. 

“We refer customers to the support portal for the latest updates and will continue to provide complete and continuous updates on our website. 

“We further recommend organisations ensure they’re communicating with Crowdstrike representatives through official channels. 

“Our team is fully mobilised to ensure the security and stability of Crowdstrike customers.” 

Strolling round the flower gardens at Saughton on a sunny summer’s day made me feel that my little part of the world was at peace with itself.

The divisions of the general election are over. We have agreed on a new government and it has set out its programme for the next five years. The “brakes are off,” the prime minister says, and we are trundling towards a growth economy and national regeneration.  

Saughton Park has undergone several regenerations, from a private estate on the western fringe of Edinburgh to the site of the Great Scottish Exhibition of 1908 – complete with a “Palace of Industries”, its own railway station, water chute, Senegalese village and 3.5 million visitors. More recently it’s had an £8m makeover, giving it a new flower garden, reconditioned bandstand, a new café area and skate park. The theme now is transition towards a better environment –it even has its own hydro scheme on the Water of Leith.  

This sort of civic energy is obviously what the new Labour government is hoping to release as Sir Keir Starmer unveiled his plan to regenerate Britain. Of the 39 Bills announced in the King’s Speech on Wednesday, 24 of them apply – at least in part to Scotland.  The most exciting is Great British Energy, a new state-owned company, to be based somewhere in Scotland, with £8.3bn to invest in the transition to renewables.

It’s all that’s left of Labour’s original plan to spend £28bn on the green economy and it illustrates the “caution of office” which runs through the rest of the legislative programme. Looking through the list of Bills – strengthening employee rights, protecting tenants, a national wealth fund (raised from windfall taxes), rail nationalisation, border security, cyber resilience – all are  measures that will only extend existing laws and all will take time to come into effect.  But it’s a start, and gives the impression of a new vigour in government.   

All this excitement leaves the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives feeling a little left out and lost.  The Conservatives are cast into a leadership election – in Scotland as well as Britain – with the party north of the border considering whether to break with the UK Tories and form an independent Scottish Conservative Party.

As for the SNP, there is an awkward squad – Jim Sillars, Alex Neil among them – who are calling for a change of leadership, saying John Swinney is too tainted with the mistakes of the past. He won’t be helped by the first findings of the Covid Inquiry under Baroness Hallett. She concluded that the Scottish government let its citizens down by accepting without question the decisions of the UK government, resulting in many wrong measures being taken during the pandemic.

Not much wonder then that the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey’s latest report found that trust in the Scottish government has dropped from 61 per cent to 47 per cent of those questioned.

Two news stories this week do little to contradict that finding. Kate Forbes, the Deputy first minister, reminded people of the “ferries fiasco” at Ferguson’s shipyard on the Clyde when she announced that the contract for seven small electric ferries would go out to open tender rather than be awarded to Ferguson’s.  Instead she offered the state-owned yard around £17million to modernise and prepare for other contracts.  It’s not great news for the 300 strong workforce, at a time when unemployment in Scotland is on the rise at 4.9 percent.

The second story involves the death of a 17 year-old boy. Jonathan Beadle died in Polmont Young Offenders Institution, a suspected suicide, weeks after parliament passed a law to end the imprisonment of children, and two years after the government vowed not to do so.  Jonathan is not the only young person to die in prison in recent years, there have been three other cases. You wonder what the Prison Service and the justice secretary, Angela Constance, have been doing. 

Another sad story we had this week is the stranding of 77 pilot whales on a beach in Orkney. It’s thought to be the biggest stranding in Britain for over 100 years.  Experts were called in to try to establish the cause but so far it remains a mystery.  The image of so many black bodies lying in a line along that beautiful isolated beach will haunt me for ever.

As I write, the world’s best golfers are struggling against the wind and rain on another shoreline, Royal Troon in Ayrshire.   It’s been staging the British Open since 1923.  Over the four days of competition half a million people are expected to attend, every one of them with an umbrella.  Golf fans have only just recovered from the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Course at North Berwick – won by our own Robert MacIntyre. 

It’s all part of a magical summer of sport which began with the European football championships, then tennis at Wimbledon and now the Olympic Games which start in Paris on Friday.

Among the 300 strong British team will be a goodly quota of Scots across the  25 sports. In athletics for instance we have 9 Scots in the 64 strong GB team, including our running stars Laura Muir, Eilish McColgan, Laura Muir and Josh Kerr.  They will be literally following in the fast footsteps of Eric Liddell, who at the Paris Olympics a hundred years ago, won the 400 metre gold, having refused to run in his best event, the 100 metres, because the heats were  scheduled on a Sunday.  That puts the “religion” of sport in its place. 

A man has been arrested following a fatal road crash which resulted in the death of a 70-year-old female pedestrian. 

The crash occurred in Stevenson Drive in the Balgreen area of the city around 3.30pm on Saturday, 26 August, 2023.  

A 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with road traffic offences.  

Police said that he was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday Thursday, 18 July, 2024. 

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A man has been arrested following a fatal road crash in Edinburgh in 2023. 

“The incident occurred in Stevenson Drive in the Balgreen area of the city around 3.30pm on Saturday, 26 August, 2023. A 70-year-old female pedestrian died in the incident. 

“A 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with road traffic offences.  

“He was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, 18 July, 2024.” 

A bid to build a block of flats on a new development which has already reached capacity has been approved after planners said it would be a ‘landmark building’ for the estate.

Cruden Homes applied to build the three storey block of nine flats at the edge of the Longniddry South development which has seen 450 new homes built at the East Lothian village.

And despite planners admitting the site has already reached the approved number of housing units, they said the flats would not have enough of an impact on the surrounding infrastructure to refuse them.

Instead they said the new building would fit in to the surrounding estate while acknowledging another nine homes could also be added with another application outstanding.

Longniddry Community Council had expressed its ‘dismay’ at the addition of the flat building to the development.

In an objection to the proposal they gave a string of reasons why it should not be given the go ahead, many surrounding areas of infrastructure work which they alleged had not been carried out or was causing concern, including flood risks and dropped kerbs.

And a report by planning officers said the community council had expressed “dismay at the number of three storey flatted buildings featured in the proposals, which would not be in keeping with the area in general.”

However planners granted permission for the new flats which will be across the road from a similar block already given the go ahead.

Planners said: “In its location and seen as it would be alongside another flatted building of similar height, massing and form, the proposed three storey flatted building would not be out of keeping with the heights of the buildings already approved.

“The proposed flatted building would be a landmark building at a corner location of the housing development. It would sit comfortably alongside the other houses and flatted buildings of this part of the Longniddry South housing development.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Road users in Edinburgh are being asked to consider how safe they are as part of an initiative by road policing officers in the city.

Police Scotland is working with a number of partners, including Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Lothian Buses, Road Safety Scotland, Edinburgh City Council and David Philp Commercials, to encourage everyone to be more aware.

There will be a number of vehicles on Castle Street on Friday, 19 July, 2024 between 8.30am and 1pm demonstrating blind spots for cyclists and pedestrians.

As part of ongoing operational work, it is aimed at helping all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians, and is focused on thinking about distances, blind spots and visibility.

Sergeant Grant Hastie of Police Scotland’s Road Policing Team in Edinburgh, said: “We are encouraging everyone to think about how visible and safe they are. I believe that many people are unaware just how much the driver of a large vehicle, such as a lorry or a bus, cannot see because of blind spots. Even a small vehicle has blind spots.”

“Visibility is very important in terms of making our roads safer and I would like everyone, including pedestrians, to think about how they are seen, especially if a street is poorly lit after dark. From the cab of a lorry visibility is very different to that of a bus, car, motorbike or cycle.

“I cannot emphasise enough the need for all road users to look out for each other and give each other space. Unfortunately, when a collision happens it is often a pedestrian, cyclist or motorcyclist who come off worse.”

Willie Hamilton, Operations Director, Lothian Buses, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Police Scotland and other key stakeholders to help raise awareness around cyclist visibility and potential blind spots on our roads. With a network of over 70 routes across Edinburgh and the Lothians, we invest heavily in our driver training programme which covers all aspects of road safety including awareness of cyclists, pedestrians and other road users.”

Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Watch Commander Finn van Barneveld, said: “The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service welcomes the opportunity to support this initiative and work with partners to improve the safety of all road users in the Edinburgh area. By working to improve awareness and encouraging everyone to think about safe distances, blind spots, visibility when on or around our roads we can make our roads safer for everyone

All reactions:

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US airline JetBlue has been announced as the airline sponsor of the 2024 Fringe Festival.

JetBlue’s daily transatlantic flight between New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport and Edinburgh Airport makes it even easier for Fringe artists and audiences to come to Scotland’s capital this August.

Each year, hundreds of American artists flock to the Fringe, with audiences accounting for the festival’s biggest international market. 

Many Fringe shows have transferred from Edinburgh stages to the bright lights of Broadway, and the partnership will further connect the two vibrant and culturally diverse cities like never before.

To kick off the partnership on August 16, JetBlue will welcome Fringe festival goers at Edinburgh Airport to celebrate with snacks, music and photo opportunities by the famous EDINBURGH sign.

On Saturday, August 17, JetBlue’s activation tent on The Mound will delight attendees with snacks offered on JetBlue flights, a photo booth featuring scenes from the airline’s popular destinations in the U.S. and a chance to win JetBlue prizes.

JetBlue is also supporting the Keep it Fringe US fund, with a target of raising $350,000, which will be awarded in grants of $4,500 to help at least 50 US artists bring work to the festival in 2025.

Successful recipients will also receive a support package to aid audience and career development, with a specific focus on marketing, screen development and industry networking opportunities.

Jayne O’Brien, head of marketing and customer support, said: “JetBlue is committed to supporting the communities where we work, live and fly, which is why we wanted to partner with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

“Our newest transatlantic route that connects Edinburgh to New York and beyond has already been successful in offering a better experience at a more affordable fare. We aim to continue fostering a relationship with our UK flyers at Fringe with surprise-and-delight activations that provide a space for attendees to relax just as they would during a JetBlue flight.”

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with JetBlue, whose value offering for transatlantic travellers will hopefully make it easier and more affordable for US artists and performing arts pioneers to visit Edinburgh this August.

“We are also enormously grateful to JetBlue’s support with our recently launched Keep it Fringe US fund. We are excited to welcome the team to Edinburgh this August.”

Hibernian Community Foundation has announced a remarkable fundraising initiative spearheaded by dedicated Hibs supporter, Cameron Coull.  

Cameron will embark on an ambitious challenge to cycle to every Hibernian Ladies away game during the 2024/25 season, aiming to cover a total distance of up to 1500 kilometeres! 

The incredible effort will see Cameron raise substantial funds for the Hibernian Community Foundation, a charity that has become close to his heart following his love for Hibernian F.C.  

Initially, football was just a casual interest for Cameron, maintained through updates from his father. However, this changed significantly after the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“When I attended Hibs vs St. Johnstone in 2022, which was also the first VAR match, my casual interest transformed into a dedicated support. Since then, I have become a regular supporter at both home and away matches,” he explained. 

Cameron’s dedication extended quickly to the Hibernian Women’s team with this growing interest aligning perfectly with his upcoming fundraising efforts. 

Driven by a desire to give back, Cameron has been actively involved with the Hibernian Community Foundation, contributing to their impactful programs. 

“Over the past few months, I have been helping out at some of the Foundation’s Lunch Clubs, which provide meals and companionship to those in need,” he noted. 

This engagement further fuelled his commitment to support the foundation through his cycling challenge. 

His cycling journey to each away game is not only a fundraiser but also a personal fitness challenge. 

“As a personal desire to get fitter and really challenge myself, I have decided to cycle to every away match of the Hibernian Women’s team.  

“Covering a possible 1500km over the year, my aim is to beat the team bus to each ground, and in doing so, I hope to raise money for the Hibernian Community Foundation.” he exclaimed. 

Hibernian Community Foundation is immensely grateful for Cameron’s dedication and looks forward to the success of this unique and inspiring fundraiser. 

 Supporters are encouraged to follow his journey and contribute to the cause, helping to enhance the foundation’s ability to provide vital services to the community. 

Summer road closures in the city centre

This week some streets in the Old Town are being closed for the rest of the summer to accommodate pedestrian traffic which increases so much during the Festival. Others are then closed or pedestrian and vehicle access may be altered from the end of the month.

These are the streets affected:

High Street, St Giles Street (in part), Parliament Squares and Cockburn Street – Edinburgh Fringe and Tattoo from 31 July to 25 August

• High Street, St Giles’ Street and Cockburn Street – closed to vehicles between 10.30am and midnight (Monday to Saturday) and 10.30am to 9pm on Sundays.
• Loading and unloading permitted from midnight until 10.30am. No waiting permitted at any time.
• St Giles Street has an area restricted to allow loading 10.30am to 7pm in the east-west section (accessed from Bank Street/North Bank Street).
• Cockburn Street waiting, loading and unloading permitted from midnight until 10.30am.

Blair Street – Edinburgh Fringe from 5 August to 26 August

• Closed to vehicles from South Bridge for 30 metres westwards.
• Normal one-way is rescinded and there is an area restricted to allow loading and turning at the northern end of the north-south section.

Lawnmarket (Castlehill to George IV Bridge) – Summer Streets – 15 July to 30 September

• One way eastbound from Johnston Terrace for bus, coach, taxis and cycles only between 10.30am to 6.30pm daily.
• Access for servicing, loading and unloading 6.30pm – 10.30am (access via Johnston Terrace).
• Advisory 5mph speed limit.

Tattoo – 31 July to 24 August

• Closed to vehicles from 4pm, 5pm or 5.30pm to midnight for the Tattoo (see
• 5pm on 31 July and 1 August, 5.30pm weekdays (except 9 August)
• 4pm on 3, 9, 10, 17 and 24 August.
• General vehicle access, one way eastbound, midnight until 10.30am

Additional vehicle restrictions will be in place from 30 September to the end of July 2025 to allow the council to carry out major road repairs. More information will be provided at a later date.

Johnston Terrace – Summer Streets – 15 July to 30 September

• Access for all vehicles from 15 July to 30 September.
• No access into Lawnmarket except buses, taxis and cycles 10.30am – 6.30pm

Tattoo – 31 July to 24 August

• Closed to vehicles from 4pm, 5pm or 5.30pm to midnight for the Tattoo
• 5pm on 31 July and 1 August, 5.30pm weekdays (except 9 August)
• 4pm on 3, 9, 10, 17 and 24 August.

Car boot sale this weekend

This weekend (and every weekend) there is an indoor car boot sale at Edinburgh College.

Cultural news

The new exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy which opens on Saturday is of Glasgow Boy, Sir John Lavery’s, art. It is refreshing to see the art displayed by National Galleries Scotland in a huge space with room for all the lovely works to breathe.

Read more here.

Vintage Vibes

Edinburgh-based charity project, Vintage Vibes has launched its new Wellbeing Prize Draw, encouraging Edinburgh locals to donate and enter the draw to win prizes that support their wellbeing while helping the charity project to tackle loneliness among older people in the city.

The multi award-winning charitable partnership brings people together through friendship matches, groups, and events to tackle social isolation and loneliness in the over the 60s across Edinburgh.

Prize draw tickets are now available online at Vintagevibes.org.uk, with local businesses supporting the cause by donating a wide range of fabulous prizes to encourage wellbeing and fun.

From tickets to shows at The Edinburgh Playhouse and The Cameo Picturehouse, to feel good treatments for your hair, body, mind and soul, a family photography session, and experiences such as a family day out at Edinburgh Zoo, or a meal at The Port of Leith Distillery Bar.

Gemma Wright, Fundraising and Communications lead at Vintage Vibes, said: “All proceeds from the prize draw go to supporting lonely and isolated older people in Edinburgh, which is one of the loneliest cities in the UK for older people. By supporting our new Wellbeing Prize Draw you could not only win a fabulous prize to improve your own happiness and wellbeing but know that you are in turn helping to improve the life of a lonely local older person too.”

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One of Musselburgh Racecourse’s most popular family events returns on Tuesday with the Luca’s Ice Cream Family Raceday.

On the turf seven competitive Flat races will keep the adults on their toes but off the track a whole host of fun activities will entertain younger family members.

Gates open at noon and one hour before the first race (provisionally scheduled for 2.15pm) the next generation of jockeys will compete in pony races, while a dedicated Clip Clop zone offers free fairground rides for all ages and free face painting.

Hosted with support of Honest Toun ice cream producer Luca, each child will receive a free ice cream – more than 1,200 were handed out last year. The day will also feature the Mini Queen’s Cup which will see 5 year olds take to the track on happy hopper inflatables.

Musselburgh Racecourse’s Head of Marketing, Aisling Johnston, said: “We know the kids love to dance so we have organised a kid’s disco which will take place in between the racing throughout the day. For the pony loving children or those youngsters who want to try their hand at horse riding, we will also have free pony rides.”

Two of Australia’s favourite furry TV pups will also make a popular return to the East Lothian track to say “g’day” to young racegoers.

Aisling added: “Luca’s Ice Cream have kindly donated one free ice cream per child, and with free entry for children aged 17 years and under when accompanied by an adult, it really is the perfect day out for all the family.”

Gates open at noon on Tuesday, 23 July, first race is scheduled for 2.15pm and the last race at 5.20pm. A courtesy bus from Wallyford and Newcraighall rail stations will take racegoers to and from the racecourse.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk

Teenage Edinburgh drag queen, Sam Carlin, is to play the lead role in Forth Children’s Theatre’s 2024 Fringe production “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – Teen Edition”.

The original hit West End musical is based on the true story of Jamie Campbell, famously featured in the BBC Three documentary “Jamie: Drag Queen at 16”.

Uncertain about his future, Jamie knows one thing for sure – he’s going to be a sensation -and instead of pursuing a traditional career, he pursues his dream of becoming a drag queen.

Sam Carlin, better known as Cherry West, is one of Scotland’s youngest drag queens and his flamboyant career as a drag artist began after stumbling across the drag scene while on holiday with his parents Sam and Karen in Lanzarote.

He immediately connected with the joy of performing on stage as a woman, and before taking to the stage he perfected his act at home and was cheered on by his supportive family.

Sam said: “I really wanted to be in this FCT production of Jamie. As a young drag queen, I fell in love with the story, I related to it and I wanted to show how I would do Jamie if I was cast. This musical has always had such a special place in my heart so to be able to play the lead role with an incredible cast and team is insane.”

FCT’s Creative Advisor, Lewis C. Baird, said: “Forth Children’s Theatre has always taken pride in commissioning shows which not only give a fun experience to our cast but also delivers a brilliant show to our audiences.

“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is such an exciting show for us to be bringing to the Fringe, with a superb creative team and a stellar cast, this is going to be one of the best productions in the company’s history.

“After last year’s critically acclaimed and sold out run of ‘The Addam’s Family’, Forth Children’s Theatre are ecstatic to be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe with this brilliant true story of strength in the face of adversity.”

The cast features some of the most talented performers in Edinburgh. Joining Sam is a band of enthusiastic and diverse performers – Maia Baxter as Margaret New, Mysha Parasar as Pritti Pasha, Corin Wake as Hugo, Eva Sutherland as Ray, Ollie Perren as Wayne, Harry Aspinall as Dean, Mhairi Smith as Miss Hedge, Sam Hunter as Sandra Bollock, Olly Freeman Ferguson as Tray Sophisticay and Sean Tomassi as Laika Virgin.

Production director, Debs Anderson, added: “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is such an important story, and it’s only right it’s told by the young people that it resonates with so strongly. This fantastic cast are working hard to bring a bright, hopeful and fun production to the Fringe this year. You don’t want to miss it.”

Venue – Broughton High School, Sat 3-10 August (except Monday 5 Aug),

Tickets – https://www.forthchildrenstheatre.org/upcoming-shows

Lavery on Location has gathered some of the important Irish artist’s most notable paintings in Edinburgh, and the range of work shows the extent of his travels in Europe and America.

Around 20 of the art works have been sourced from private collections and so are not always on public view. The National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) say that these 20 paintings by the Glasgow Boy will be exclusively on display at the Royal Scottish Academy. This is the third leg of a tour which is being arranged in partnership with the National Gallery of Ireland and National Museums NI in Belfast.

Lavery was born in Belfast where his father ran a small wine and spirits shop. But at the age of three Lavery was orphaned and then went to live first with his uncle at Moira before moving at the age of ten to live with a distant relative in Saltcoats where he was educated. And then he ran away to Glasgow at 15 where he hoped to work on the railways but could not compute the timetables. He enrolled at the Haldane Academy and finished his training at the Académie Julian in Paris.

Lavery was born in Belfast where his father ran a small wine and spirits shop. But at the age of three Lavery was orphaned and then went to live first with his uncle at Moira before moving at the age of ten to live with a distant relative in Saltcoats in Ayrshire where he was educated. And then he ran away to Glasgow at age 15 where he hoped to work on the railways – but could not compute the timetables. He enrolled at the Haldane Academy, later the Glasgow School of Art, and finished his training at the Académie Julian in Paris. He particularly enjoyed living in Glasgow which he found to be a vibrant city.

There are paintings in the exhibition of beautiful seascapes from Tangiers (where Lavery lived with his second wife Hazel for 20 years) loaned by the Ulster Museum, and portraits such as Idonia in Morocco from Glasgow Museums and Hazel in Black and Gold from the Laing Art Gallery. Move through the exhibition to experience the glamour of a lost era, with visits to the races, tennis matches and the golf course or simply relaxing on warm days with his family and friends.

Lavery learned his craft along with a number of his fellow Scottish students at the colony of Grez-sur-Loing, near Fontainebleau, which is the focus of the first room, showing how important his stay there was.

The staging of this exhibition is a very peaceful one extending to all the rooms at the RSA and gives every painting room to breathe and be appreciated.

Do take note of the oil sketches for the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1888 – which is when Lavery was asked to paint the State Visit of Queen Victoria. He painted the scenes from photographs and also asked the people in them to come to his studio where he painted individual portraits to ensure they were correctly depicted.

He was the Official War Artist and there are scenes from hospitals, submarine pens and air raids during the First World War. His devotion to recording everyday life takes viewers back to a bygone time.

His wife Hazel Martin, was an important muse featuring in the painting below. She was herself a talented artist and a model. She helped him to integrate into the upper echelons of society – particularly as she was a really good hostess and welcoming of all their guests.

The exhibition runs from 20 July to 27 October 2024 at National Galleries of Scotland’s summer exhibition in the Royal Scottish Academy building.

An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location

National Galleries of Scotland exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy

20 July–27 October 2024

Admission £5 – £19

An Irish Impressionist | Lavery on Location | National Galleries of Scotland

A pedestrian who died following a road crash in Blackburn has been named.

The incident happened around 7.15pm on Friday, 12 July, on Bathgate Road and involved a motorbike and an 81-year-old pedestrian with a walking frame.

The rider left the motorbike and made off from the scene.

Emergency services attended and the pedestrian was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he died on Tuesday, 16 July, 2024.

He has been named as William Brown from Blackburn.

In a statement his family said: “We as a family are totally devastated at the loss of William Brown (Bill) 81, former Janitor at St Kentigern’s Academy.

“William (Bill) was a loving family man who was a well known and respected member of the local community.”

Sergeant Jen Niven from Road Policing said: “Our thoughts are with Bill’s family and friends at this difficult time.

“While we are following a positive line of enquiry, I am reappealing to anyone with information who has not yet spoken to police to please come forward.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland through 101 with reference number 3159 of 12 July.”
​

Hibs have announced the signing of new goalkeeper Jordan Smith to replace Jojo Wollacott who earlier today signed for Crawley Town. 

The 29-year-old has joined the Club on a permanent basis, pending international clearance – signing a two-year deal until 2026. 

The shot-stopper has made over 150 appearances during his career so far, spending the majority of his time with current English Premier League side, Nottingham Forest. 

Smith has featured predominantly in the English Championship – making 47 league appearances for Forest whilst also spending time out on loan at Barnsley, Mansfield Town and Huddersfield Town before joining Stockport County in July 2023. 

Upon Smith’s arrival, Hibernian FC Head Coach David Gray commented: “We are excited to welcome Jordan to Hibernian FC. 

“He is a player with good experience playing at a high level in the English Championship and has strong pedigree and high standards having spent over 20 years at Nottingham Forest. 

“He will provide healthy competition with Joe (Bursik) and Max (Boruc) in the goalkeeping department and we are all excited to work with him.” 

Hibernian FC Sporting Director, Malky Mackay added: “With Jojo Wollacott departing, it was important that we acted quickly to bring in a new goalkeeper to provide competition for the number one jersey. 

“Jordan is an experienced player, a good character and above all an excellent professional. We are all excited to see watch him progress here at Hibs.” 

Police Scotland welcomed 255 new officers as they took their oath of office at ceremonies across the country today, Thursday 18 July.

The officers were sworn in at regional training centres in the communities they will deploy to after their training.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell said: “Taking the oath of office is a significant moment for our latest recruits.

“They are signing up to a hugely rewarding and demanding career where people will turn to them for help, often in the most critical and vulnerable circumstances.

“Taking on the responsibilities and duties of a police officer is a deeply considered decision and I thank every one of them for stepping forward to help safeguard Scotland’s communities.

“When they do deploy to our communities, they must follow Police Scotland’s values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights at all times.”

The officers will be ready to deploy to communities on 4 November 2024.

In a first for Police Scotland, non-residential training is being trialled to facilitate officers with caring demands and responsibilities, allowing them to return home each day.

The opportunity to complete the majority of training in a non-residential setting can provide real benefit for those who would otherwise have been unable to consider a role in policing.

The trial will be evaluated for future delivery of Police Scotland’s ongoing recruitment drive.

Police are treating the death of a 37-year-old man who was found unresponsive on a Fauldhouse street yesterday Wednesday 17 July 2024 as unexplained. 

Emergency services were called to Lanrigg Road around 11am following a report of a man being found on the side of the road.  

The man was pronounced dead at the scene and at this stage there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances involved.  

The road was closed for a short time with buses being diverted. 

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 11.10am on Wednesday, 17 July, 2024, we were called to a report of a man found unresponsive in Lanrigg Road in Fauldhouse, West Lothian. 

“Emergency services attended, and a 37-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.  

“The death is being treated as unexplained however there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances at this time. 

“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”  

Edinburgh East and Musselburgh’s new MP says ‘around 10,000 conversations’ he had with constituents during his campaign will shape his agenda for the next five years.

It’s been just two weeks since Chris Murray overturned the SNP’s 10,000 vote-majority to become the first Labour MP to represent the area in almost 10 years.

But already his attention is turning to the next general election – and how he can keep the many who “lent me their vote” on side by delivering for them.

“Maybe they were thinking of voting Green, or they actually support independence or they’ve traditionally voted Tory, and different people for different reasons decided they could trust me and the Labour Party this time. So in five years’ time I want to be able to go back to people who lent me their votes under contract and say I’ve fulfilled the terms on which you did that for me,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. 

“The huge value of a year’s campaigning is we spoke to 17,000 people in total and I think personally I got 10,000 of those.

“It was a real opportunity to have in-depth conversations with people about what they care about, what they want, and what their fears and hopes are.

“I really want to say to people I’m thinking about those conversations a lot – and I’m really clear with myself that I’m going to keep doing that.”

Many of these doorstep chats, he said, focused on one of three things: cost of living, the NHS and climate change.

“People who are struggling at the moment are finding it very very difficult – but even middle class communities are saying they have huge challenges paying their mortgages,” he said.

While acknowledging health issues are devolved to Holyrood, he said it was vital MPs are “strong advocates for the local community”. Among the issues he plans to try and tackle are better GP services in Musselburgh and funding to replace the outdated Edinburgh Eye Pavilion.

He added: “Climate change was brought up so much by people on the doorstep and there’s a real understanding in this community. I don’t think every MP had this experience across the UK but I certainly did – people want to see action.”

As the son of former Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran, and a former assistant to Labour’s Harriet Harman, Murray is no stranger to politics; however this is his first rodeo in elected office.

And one of the key challenges will be ensuring everyone in the constituency, which stretches from Lothian Road and the Old Town all the way to Portobello – and now part of Musselburgh following the latest boundary changes – is represented equally.

He described it as the “best part of the world” with “all the raw materials” to drive economic growth – Labour’s number one priority in government.

“Whether it’s universities and the skills sector or financial services, technology, the green transition, energy and even things like video games – we’re really well placed on all of them.

“The challenge is can we build enough houses to support the population growth, can we manage the cultural, historical, hospitality backbone of the economy, will local people still enjoy and profit from that?

“Get that right and the prize is huge. But get it wrong and a lot of people’s lives will be as good as they could be.

“The variable is the policy choices the government makes, and I’ve actually been really frustrated as someone living in Edinburgh that I don’t think anybody’s been thinking about those questions in any kind of depth in the Scottish or UK Governments.

“But now we’ve got an opportunity.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

Plans to demolish a scout hut next to a popular camp and build two houses have been withdrawn after attracting 65 objections.

The proposal to build two three bedroom houses on the land next to Borthwick Scout Campsite, beside Borthwick Castle, Midlothian, drew objections from the community council and an elected councillor amid concerns they were not compatible.

Moorfoot Community Council said it was aware of considerable opposition from Borthwick residents to the plans.

They said: “Having considered the application and read the various comments
we strongly object.

“Borthwick has long been classed as a conservation area and an area of great
landscape value. As such with respect to any buildings, special attention should be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of an area.

“These houses are modern in appearance and design, are two storeys
high and do not conform to the council’s general policy for rural housing – they
are contrary to conservation standards.

“The proximity of the houses to the long-established scout camp is likely to lead to neighbour issues for both parties concerning privacy and noise. The houses will overlook an area where young people are sleeping and taking part in activities.”

Councillor Peter Smaill recused himself from his role as an elected member and disclosed he was a partner of Borthwick Scout Campsite LLP, who own the land next to the proposed housing, as he lodged an objection as a private resident.

He said the council had signed a minute of agreement with the applicants when they were allowed to build a farmhouse on the neighbouring land in 2010 which set out that the remaining land around the house would be retains for agriculture.

And he said approving the new housing would require a ‘significant relaxation’ of the council’s policy when 14 years earlier.

However two letters of support received by Midlothian planners claimed the campsite itself was not well used and welcomed the houses.

One said: “I am shocked to read the nonsense that has been written about the scouts.

“I counted barely a dozen camps last year and several of those were not overnight stays. Those that were appeared to be from other parts of the country. The local scouts seem to have given up bothering about the place.”

The application, which was due to be considered at Midlothian planning committee in September,  was withdrawn by the applicant this week with a request to planners for more details on the design issues ahead of a resubmission.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

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