One adult male was arrested yesterday Thursday June 27 for allegedly riding an electric motorbike in a dangerous manner within the Meadows.  

He has been charged with a variety of road traffic offences. 

Additionally, two bikes were seized and a further two males have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal for a variety of Road Traffic Offences. 

Operation Slowtime is Police Scotland’s dedicated south-east community policing initiative to combat incidents involving illegal electric motorcycle’s/scooters. 

Sgt Jen Macgregor said: ‘We do take these incidents very seriously, even if we aren’t able to trace the rider at the time, we have means and ways to identify them at a later time so please do report any incidents or information to 101 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111’ #OpSlowtime 

For foodies in Edinburgh, July promises an exciting lineup of events.

First, you’ll need to be quick off the mark to book tickets for my first recommendation, Master Chef finalist Sarah Rankin’s talk at Topping Bookstore on 2nd July at 7.30 pm.

Her new book, Kith: Scottish Seasonal Food for Family and Friends is a delightful collection of traditional and contemporary recipes celebrating Scotland’s versatile larder. I had the pleasure of attending the book launch and sampling some of the dishes, and this event is not to be missed.

Edinburgh Food Festival Hosts British Street Food Awards 2024 (19-28 July)

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Edinburgh Food Festival, running from 19 to 28 July at Assembly George Square Gardens. The festival has teamed up with the British Street Food Awards, organised by Food Mutiny, with the grand final taking place on the first weekend, 20 and 21 July.

This free-to-enter event is perfectly timed just before the Assembly Festival’s Fringe season and coincides with the Jazz Festival, featuring performances in the Spiegel tents. If the weather is kind, it’s the perfect setting to enjoy Scotland’s best food and drink vendors, talks, demonstrations, and hands-on workshops from top chefs and producers. The street food on offer is simply irresistible.

Unfortunately, I’ll miss the British Street Food Awards as I’ll be celebrating my godson’s 21st in Sussex. However, traders will be competing for the People’s Choice Award, and to impress a panel of judges, with winners advancing to the finals in London.
britishstreetfood.co.uk and edfoodfest.com

A Whistlestop Whisky Tour of Edinburgh

Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting two different sets of friends from the south, which gave me the chance to plan an action-packed weekend showcasing Edinburgh’s finest sights and tastes. As a whisky enthusiast and winner of the Reader’s Recipe at Observer Food Monthly’s Food Awards in 2016, I’m always keen to convert whisky sceptics among my friends.

It’s fascinating how just three ingredients—malted barley, spring water, and yeast—can produce such a diverse array of whiskies, influenced by factors like barrel type, ageing time, and geography.

I recommend starting with a tour at Johnnie Walker on Princes Street or the Scotch Whisky Experience, a five-star visitor attraction at the top of the Royal Mile.

The latter has recently undergone a £3m makeover and houses the impressive Diageo Claive Vidiz Scotch Whisky Collection, a collection of 3,384 whisky bottles, and is the jewel in the crown of their tour and tasting experience. For an elevated experience, opt for the gold tour and taste four contrasting regional malts at the end of the tour in the comfort of their Amber restaurant and whisky bar.

Alternatively, visit a local distillery. Choose from The Port of Leith, Scotland’s first vertical distillery, a remarkable new 9-storey building in Edinburgh’s historic whisky district of Leith or the Holyrood Distillery, in Edinburgh’s historic old town, under the shadow of the magnificent Salisbury’s Crag. Whether you are visiting a distillery for the first time or an aficionado, both tours offer a fascinating insight into whisky production.

And if you’re at Holyrood Distillery, don’t miss a trip to the award-winning and one of the best whisky bars in Edinburgh just across the road, Tipsy Midgie, owned by Whisky Guru of the Year, Colin Hinds, with the establishment voted Whisky Bar of the Year 2023 and 2024.

Tipsy Midgie is any whisky enthusiast or novice’s hidden gem, with over 2,500 whiskies to taste. This delightful bar has whisky-based paintings adorning the walls from Colin’s talented partner, Adele Conn aka Tartan Spoon, a fellow food writer and influencer. When distillers visit, they are given the opportunity to sign their own personalised whisky painting. You might also be ‘Colin-ised’ – with a polaroid of you added to the wall joining all those other whisky sceptics that Colin has finally converted to enjoy or appreciate a dram or two.

If you’re planning for August and have Festival visitors, after a day of shows why not book in for one of Colin’s Tipsy Midgie Midnight Treats, pairing special drams with Scottish canapés. It’s an experience not to be missed and highly recommended for booking. You guaranteed an entertaining evening, as I recently experienced, and possibly a wee hangover!

And talking of booking, keep your eyes peeled on The Edinburgh Reporter for my Fringe tips and recommendations, coming soon. Over the past 20 years, I’ve curated a list of my top 75-100 Fringe shows, which has become a go-to for friends and family overwhelmed by the myriad of choices.

In the meantime, Sláinte!

Hibs have announced the signing of centre-back Marvin Ekpiteta

The 28-year-old has penned a three-year deal following the expiration of his contract with English League One side Blackpool.

Standing at 6ft 4’, Ekpiteta rose through the English football pyramid, winning promotion with both Leyton Orient and Blackpool.

Before departing the Seasiders this summer, the Englishman made over 100 appearances in the Championship & League One, won their Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year award in 2022, and captained them regularly in the 2022/23 campaign.

Internationally, Ekpiteta has earned two caps for Nigeria’s Under-20s and also featured for England C.

On the signing Hibernian FC Head Coach David Gray said: “Marvin is someone I look forward to working with. He has great experience at a good level in England and adds extra leadership to the dressing room.

“Physically, he has all the attributes that fit the demands of Scottish football; he’s big, strong, dominant, very athletic, and will be an asset in both boxes. We’re really pleased to bring him to the Club.”

Sporting Director Malky Mackay commented: “I’m delighted to welcome Marvin to Hibernian FC as we continue to improve our squad.

“Like Warren O’Hora, Marvin is another player who has been a captain and a leader within First Team groups. He is a real defender with a lot of experience, and I look forward to seeing him in action.”

Eryk Janik can’t wait to cast a line on his Scotland debut when they Home Nations Shore Angling Championship are held around Montrose and Dundee on July 3 and 4.

The Trinity Academy pupil goes in against the best from England, Wales and Ireland in the two-day event and has spent as much time as he can fishing at Granton and Newhaven in the build-up.

Eryk is the only member of the junior squad from the Lothians and he has already made an impression North of the Border national competitions.

He also fished in the Edinburgh Shore Angling Winter League against men more than twice his age and they all noted his ability and he recently collected his tie and badge after being confirmed in the Scotland pool.

The teenager said: “I fish regularly at Newhaven and pick up tips from experienced local anglers. David Cooper and Stevie Souter have been really helpful and Chris Barrett helped me when I first started by showing me all the basics.

“The guys from the Edinburgh Angling Centre have also helped and it will be a great experience fishing for Scotland.”

His father, Dominik is not an angler but is chuffed with the success of his son who arrived in Scotland as a four-year-old when the family emigrated from Poland in 2013. Dominik said: “He just loves fishing and casts a line whenever he can.”

Joining Erik in the squad are Abie, aged 16, Hollie, aged 15, and Jay, aged ten, all from the Dumfries-based Stoker family – their mum Charlene is in the Scotland ladies team – plus team captain, Calum Strang (Hamilton), and 11-year-old, Harry Keeny (East Kilbride).

Scotland won the bronze medal last year but Lindsay Wilson, the team manager, said they had been practicing twice a month for six months and are determined to move up the rankings.

PICTURE: Eryk collecting a prize from Stewart Falconer after a recent competition win. Contributed by Stewart Falconer

Ian Souza won the Secretary’s Prize at Dalmeny Estate Golf Club, but he was pushed hard, the 15-handicap golfer carding an 82 scratch, but sneaked home thanks to a better inward half.

Andy Allan, handicap seven, went round in 74 scratch but lost out on countback and club secretary, Willie Ruffle, was third. He shot a 77 scratch and, with his handicap of ten, also carded a 67.

Seven-handicap Colin Campbell won the Paul Tennant Trophy with a round of 74 scratch for a nett 67 with Ewan Campbell one shot behind after shooting a 92 minus his 24 handicap. Willie Ruffle was third having scored 84, nett 74.

Finally, Dalmeny Estate beat Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club by three points in the home leg of their annual challenge. The return is later this year.

He has been voted “The Greatest Ever Ranger” by fans of the Glasgow football club – but now Light Blues legend John Greig has revealed he didn’t want to sign for the club because he only wanted to play for Hearts.

Greig, 81, was born and raised in Edinburgh, where he dreamt of playing at Tynecastle every week, for his beloved Hearts.

Speaking in the final episode of BBC Scotland documentary series “Icons of Football” to be shown on Sunday Greig reveals he was snubbed by his idols as a youth and only signed for Rangers after being ordered to by his father.

He said: “It was my ambition to play for Hearts. Hearts had a great side in those days and I was very very disappointed when so many players in my juvenile team were signed for Hearts and they didn’t come to me because they thought I was too small.

“My brother Tam said to me one day ‘there’s a guy to see you, he’s from Rangers Football Club’ and I thought ‘well there’s no harm in speaking to the guy’.

“My father was sitting in the chair reading his Sunday paper and Bob McAuley came in and started giving me the spiel about Rangers.

“After about 20 minutes or so he brought a form out of his pocket and said ‘so just sign there son’,

“I turned to my brother and I said ‘I’m not signing that because I’m a Hearts supporter, I don’t want to sign for Rangers’.

“My father just moved the paper an inch away from his face and said ‘sign that paper’. I had to do as my father told me.”

He added: “Bob McAuley went away out the door and I said to my brother ‘I’ll never forgive you for that, I’m a Hearts supporter’.

“He said ‘I don’t think you’ll ever regret that, you’ve signed for a really good club. They’re playing at Easter Road next Saturday, we’ll go down and see what this team’s like’.

“They beat Hibs 6-1 that day and I thought ‘what a team this is I’ve signed for’. And that was me, I never worried about Hearts again, it was Rangers for me after that.”

Greig made a record 755 appearances for Rangers and later became manager.

Now honorary life president at Ibrox, Greig is best remembered for winning 16 major honours in the club’s colours, including its only European trophy in 1972.

But in the BBC Scotland programme, he reveals how just five years earlier he urged a referee to blow the final whistle as Rangers suffered their most humiliating ever defeat, at the hands of minnows Berwick Rangers.

Greig was captain of the Rangers side that was knocked out of the Scottish Cup in the first round by the part-timers on 28 January 1967.

The Glasgow giants went into the match at Shielfield Park in Berwick Upon Tweed as cup holders. They dominated the match but failed to score, and Sammy Reid’s historic goal for the hosts in the 32nd minute caused one of the biggest upsets in football.

Greig recalls how, with time running out, he told referee Eddie Thomson to blow the whistle and end their misery.

He said: “That was probably one of the worst days of my life. We just couldn’t put the ball in the net.

“We were getting beaten one nothing and we’d missed chance after chance after chance and I said ‘Eddie, how long is there to go?’

“He said ‘it’s nearly time up, John’, so the next time I passed him I said “Eddie, blow the whistle and let us get away out of here, we’ll never score’.

“So he just blew the whistle and we went off. That was probably the worst defeat of my career as a Rangers player.”

Striker Willie Johnston, who was stretchered off in the 65th minute of the defeat, recalls in the programme: “I was in the hospital, I’d broken my ankle and I said to the nurse, ‘could you tell me the score please’.

“She said ‘one-nil to Rangers’. I said ‘that’s alright then’, but she said ‘no, it’s Berwick Rangers’. And this boy jumped up and punched a hole in the window.”

* Icons of Football: John Greig is on the BBC Scotland channel, Sunday, 10.30pm and on the BBC iPlayer.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell paid tribute to response officers during a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority yesterday Thursday 27 June 2024.

Speaking during the National Police Chiefs’ Council Response Policing Week of Action, the Chief thanked response officers for their bravery, compassions and resilience as the first police contact across countless scenarios and times of crisis.

The Chief said senior officers had been visiting response teams across the country to thank them in person and listen to their experiences.

CC Farrell said: “Response officers work around the clock to serve the public with bravery, compassion and resilience across countless scenarios – no two shifts are the same. Response officers are often the first contact the public has with their police service, and often in moments of crisis and criticality.

“I’ve been clear that it is my duty to support frontline policing and my aim is to bring the frontline to its strongest possible position. I want to record my deep gratitude for our response officers and I know senior officers right across the country are taking time to recognise and thank their teams.”

Chief Constable Farrell provided a wide ranging update on how officers and staff are delivering for the public, including securing important convictions in murder and organised crime cases.

Farewell Consul General

Jack Hillmeyer has been an outstanding US Consul General for the last three years, not only promoting America, but also engaging in civic life in Edinburgh. Last night he threw a farewell party which also marked (albeit a week early) US Independence Day.

The First Minister was principal guest and praised the Consul General for his work during the last three years, and for his elegant tartan trews in the US Consulate tartan which was created during his term – and which matched the First Minister’s tie.

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Countdown to the election

Read John Knox’s Letter from Scotland here to recap on all the electioneering and shenanigans from this last week. According to the URL which our site generates this may be the 459th article he has written on all things political. It will be interesting to see what he writes next Friday on the morning after the election.

Critical Mass on Saturday

Margot Summer Fair

The restaurant on Barclay Terrace which is a part of the Left Field family is having a Summer Fair on Sunday featuring their own and other local businesses. What a great idea.

With just days to go till the general election, it looks as though we are about to see one of those great turns of the political tide.

The Conservatives have been in power for 14 weary years and Labour is heading for one of its biggest victories ever. Like shifting sand-dunes, the past will be covered over and a new landscape will be created.

No one knows what this new world will look like, because the Labour Party has not told us. Perhaps they themselves don’t know what they will do, to grow the economy, end child poverty, fix the NHS and fund local councils. They are coming to the beach with two contradictory plans – end austerity but without increasing any of the big taxes. 

The final leaders’ television debate on Thursday exposed the empty bucket of Labour policies. Sir Keir Starmer clung on to credibility with vague promises to create a New Britain of prosperity for all.  Rishi Sunak had plenty of plans for a new, smaller, low-tax Britain. But after 14 years of experiment with this ideology, the people are obviously fed up with “nothing working” and are prepared to trust in “change” of any kind.

It’s been a bumpy campaign, interrupted by changeable weather, the D-Day commemorations, the European football championships, and the various festivals of the summer – Glastonbury, the Taylor Swift tour, the Royal Highland Show.  It’s also taking place against a background of the war in Gaza and in Ukraine – about which we have heard little – and the surprise election in France, where the battle between populism and democracy, now dividing Europe, is being played out.   

We have unwelcome echoes of the battle here, with Nigel Farage and his new  Reform Party beginning to recruit supporters from the gimlet-eyed wing the Conservative Party.  The opinion polls are suggesting Reform has 16 per cent support, though it is much less in Scotland (6 per cent) because its bar-stool policies on immigration, Brexit and climate change do not impress the Scotts. 

There have been gaffs, and embarrassing incidents, for both Labour and the Conservatives during the six weeks of campaigning. Labour wasn’t sure if one of its left-wing champions Dianne Abbot could stand as a candidate or not. Two other candidates were disowned, one for something he never said (Andy Brown in Aberdeenshire North), the other (Kevin Craig) for betting against himself to win in Suffolk.

The Conservatives had only just got over Rishi Sunak’s ill-advised decision to leave the D-Day commemorations early when the betting craze caught up with them. Two candidates (Craig Williams and Laura Sanders) were suspended for betting on the date of the general election – allegedly with inside knowledge of when it would be.

Throughout these debates and scandals, the opinion polls have steadily pointed to a 20 per cent lead for Labour, giving it the largest majority of seats in the House of Commons the party has ever had.  As for the SNP, the latest opinion poll (Savanta for The Scotsman)) puts it equal with Labour on 34 per cent support, with the Conservatives down to 14 per cent. However, the curious way in which the votes fall in the 12 most marginal constituencies, could result in Labour winning as many as 28 seats and the SNP falling to just 18.

The SNP leader John Swinney has rather surprised everyone by the vigour with which he has fought this election.  It’s as if the bank manager had suddenly become William Wallace. The trouble is that Mr Swinney has had to defend 17 years of SNP rule, working within a budget largely determined by Westminster. But he’s also fluffed a few lines, on independence and oil and gas, which has put him back in his bank manager’s suit.  

The Conservative leader in Scotland Douglas Ross also surprised everyone, by announcing his resignation in the middle of the campaign.  This was, he explained, to concentrate on winning the seat of Aberdeenshire North, after he’d elbowed aside the sitting Conservative MP David Duguid who was on sick leave at the time.  Douglas Ross, if he was in his weekend role as a part-time football referee, might have given himself a yellow card.     

As the campaign went on, it grew more stodgy. Figures were contested, no further details were given on how policies would be implemented, messages were repeated over and over.  The television companies and the newspapers tried their best to bring interest and clarity, with their debates and their tours around the constituencies.  There was a conspiracy of silence over Brexit and climate change and a total lack of humour…not a chicken or scarecrow in sight, following the leaders around.  And the people in the street didn’t do too well either, with their cynicism, lack of trust and their selfishness.

So we await the verdict of the people on Thursday.  We will wake up to a New Britain on Friday and start building another house on the sand.  

Detectives at Livingston are appealing for information after a break-in and theft from Dobbies Garden Centre in Uphall on Monday, 24 June, 2024.

Around 11.20pm, two people broke into the store and stole a quantity of alcohol from within. They left on foot and were last seen heading in the direction of the A899.

The first suspect is a man who is described as around 6ft in height and of slim build. He was wearing dark-coloured clothing and carrying a Co-op bag for life.

The second suspect is of slight build and wearing black clothing.

Detective Sergeant Lynn Myles said: “Our enquiries are ongoing to establish more details on this crime and the two people responsible. We would appeal to anyone with information to contact us.

“We are studying CCTV from in and around the local area and we would ask anyone with personal footage or drivers in this area late on Monday night to check their footage and get in touch if it holds anything relevant.

“Anyone with any detail is asked to contact 101 quoting reference number 0055 of 25 June. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 1111, where anonymity can be maintained.”

David Gray has spoken of his pride at being appointed head coach at Hibs. 

And he insists that he understands to demands and expectations of the fans. He has also told his players that when successful Easter Road is a fantastic place play. 

Speaking alongside director of football Malky MacKay at the club’s training centre, the former captain who lifted the Scottish Cup after scoring the winning goal in the 2016 final said: “I fully understand the demands of the football club, the expectations around being a player here.  

“I know what it feels like to be successful. I also understand that when things aren’t going well, that you look at the size of this club and the expectation we’ve got, the facilities and the resources, it needs to be doing better. 

“I am fully aware of that and I take it on board every single day. 

“The message going back to the players will be that if we can get this right, and I firmly believe we will, then it’s a fantastic place to be. 

“We’re lucky to be at such a good club and for me personally to have this opportunity for my first full-time head coach job to lead this football club is a very proud moment and a special one.” 

Mackay added: “What you will see is people on the pitch who are going to sweat for the jersey and staff who are in here from seven in the morning until late at night.  

“Already I’ve seen that people want to work for David Gray and that’s a great starting point. 

“I’ve been in the building now for two or three weeks and there’s a lot of good people here that I think just needed direction. 

“I think that’s what was needed and certainly on the training ground. Direction was needed. 

“We’ve obviously now got our head coach in and there’s a momentum of people who desperately want to work for David for the good of the club and the badge. 

“There’s obviously a harmony within the staff of the football club and a direction that’s communicated towards. That makes people push in the one direction and it’s a big thing for all of us.” 

The number of people using an Edinburgh cycle path named the worst in the world has more than doubled. 

New data showed there were a record daily average of 1,812 bikes on Leith Walk’s infamous cycleway in May, up from 803 during the same month in 2022. 

Earlier this year the zig-zag path built as part of the latest tram extension – which locals have called “moronic” and “an accident waiting to happen” – topped a list of the ’22 worst bike lanes in the world’ compiled by Discerning Cyclist.

The urban cycling site said: “It’s not something you’d expect to deal with when driving a car along the road, so why do cyclists have to put up with this kind of ill-thought-out infrastructure?”

The uptick in users despite continued lampooning of the twisty trail was highlighted at a full council meeting on Thursday, June 27.

Green councillor Susan said: “The council leader will be aware of the statistics published earlier this month which show there’s been a lovely increase in cycle tripe on Leith Walk, following the installation of our infamous cycle path there.

“It still increased cycling by quite a large per cent…if this council actually got active travel right, what could we achieve?”

Council leader Cammy Day said: “We’ve seen reported to the transport and environment committee the huge increase in active travel…and while I accept it’s maybe Leith Walk’s not entirely finished yet, I’m sure my [transport convener] Cllr Arthur will commit to delivering that over the next few months.”

He added: “I think we all need to accept active travel is the way to go, the reduced use of cars across the city and more people using bikes, wheeling and walking will be the future.

“So I will commit to working with you Councillor Rae to make sure we can improve the cycle path across the city and particularly in your ward in Leith.”

Transport officials said last year said they were unable to construct a completely straight cycleway along Leith Walk as they had to design it around loading and parking and bus stops.

They admitted some of its sharp turns did not comply with the council’s own street design guidance and these have since been fixed.

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

Residents in Leith’s Banana Flats say constantly broken lifts are making their lives a misery and leaving disabled people trapped in their own homes.

Over the past two years many living in the block have become stuck in lifts, and as a result are now too scared to use them even when they are working, they said.

A “high number” of families with young children, disabled tenants, children with additional support needs and people with long term health problems live on higher floors and “cannot simply take the stairs,” the Cables Wynd Residents Group said as they made an urgent plea for the council to make improvements.

The group urged councillors to push for repairs – or if necessary full replacements – of the faulty elevators at an all-council meeting at the City Chambers on Thursday, June 27.

Resident Sheri Lich said: “Among us in the 212 flats are residents that are physically disabled, mentally disabled, children and parents with newborns and carriages.

“We are a diverse community united by a common struggle. For years, we have heard our neighbours cries for help, some of which have reached management and council repairs.”

She said in recent engagement with those living in the block made famous by Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting “one issue stood out above all others – the dire need for  functional lifts”.

She added: “Imagine what a parent struggling to carry a newborn up multiple flights of stairs or a disabled person trapped in their home because the lift is broken.

“These are not mere inconveniences, they are unacceptable barriers to living a functional lift.”

While the group welcomed a proposed retrofit of the Banana Flats to address issues such as damp and mould, Ms Lich having functioning lifts was “not just a priority, it’s a necessity”.

She added: “Our ability to lead functional day-to-day lives depend on it. We urge you to hear our voices and act with this urgency this situation demands.”

Hannah Kirby from the Inspiring Leith community organisation said engagement with residents found more than a quarter of “now feel not at all confident about using the lifts”.

She said: “This is because many people have experienced being stuck in a lift or had to rescue others.”

Labour councillor for Leith Katrina Faccenda said those affected had been “let down by the council”.

She said: “The current situation with the lifts is absolutely intolerable and has incredible negative impacts on people’s lives.

“As a council we do have to live up to our responsibilities as a landlords because we wouldn’t accept it from private landlords.

“Whatever financial constraints we’re in, it just is not acceptable.”

A motion tabled by Cllr Faccenda and passed unanimously agreed the finance and resources committee would consider the cost of renewing all lifts as part of the retrofit project.

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

The temperature in the buildings at Edinburgh Airport will be reduced to a moderate 17°C as new owners VINCI officially move into position.

Nicolas Notebaert, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VINCI Concessions and President of VINCI Airports was in Edinburgh on Thursday to meet the press. He said this is one policy through which the company ensures best use of energy in all the airports where it has interests. And, in countries which are a bit warmer than Scotland, where they own airports which require air conditioning, that does not begin to kick in until the temperature rises to 26°C.

Mr Notebaert said: “An airport is a city, and you can be an example for the country.”

He said that this £1.27 billion deal is very much a long term investment and confirmed the company is fully committed to the new deal. He also announced proudly that he and his colleagues have already met with the First Minister and the Lord Provost of Edinburgh.

The ownership of Edinburgh Airport has been formally split in two unequal halves after the acquisition of 50.01% by VINCI Airports from Global Infrastructure Partners was formally concluded earlier this week.

While Mr Notebaert is keen on the existing business plan which Edinburgh has already set out, he noted that there will be much that VINCI HQ can offer in the way of lessons already learned elsewhere but he is happy that the local management is left to get on with the job.

The company has interests in 70 airports worldwide and so the future may involve taking ideas from some of those. He is particularly keen on developing long distance point to point routes and said: “We believe there is even a stronger potential of growth for the future.”

And Mr Notebaert is keen on offering passengers a great experience after security where “they have some time”. VINCI has just made changes at Kansai Airport in Japan where they have introduced luxury shopping for Chinese passengers and he would like VINCI airports to sell more Scotch whisky at the point just before passengers board their planes.

Gordon Dewar, CEO of Edinburgh Airport, said this was a really important investment “which we are all very excited about”.

Mr Dewar continued: “The best sign of our success is our connectivity. That’s what we are fundamentally delivering for Scotland, the ability for people to come here and for Scots to go to the rest of the world effectively, efficiently and directly wherever possible.”

Mr Dewar said that the direction of travel is already set out as management at Edinburgh Airport already know they need more gate space, more stands, to enhance security and to conduct a major refurbishment of the runway, but he hopes that with VINCI on board it “will allow us to build better, more efficiently using new innovative techniques”. He also regards the new investment as the opportunity to “grow faster and better to really put customer service and sustainability at the heart of that”.

Michael McGhee of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) who have owned the airport for the last twelve years said: “We have really enjoyed the way the airport has grown. It has come a long way in terms of facilities, services, innovation, and network connectivity. We know this is low risk, because we did exactly the same at Gatwick on exactly the same basis five years ago.” This partnership took the London airport through Covid and the restrictions of the pandemic and survived.

A pub which sparked police concern after installing a pool table has taken it away in a bid to be more family friendly.

The Railway Hotel, in Haddington, applied to East Lothian Licensing Board to be allowed to change its operating rules to allow children more access.

Restrictions to child access and supervision were introduced when the pub was granted permission to have the pool table downstairs last summer.

However the board today heard from a representative of the pub that new management had taken over and were trying to make it more of a community pub again.

They said: “The new team intends to make if more family friend and the pool table has been removed.

“The Railway Hotel has a large function space, which is the only big function space in the town and it is in demand for events.”

Last year the board heard concerns from Police Scotland about the pool table which they described as an ‘added attraction’.

At the time police said there had been complaints about sectarian singing and noise from the pub from local residents and they voiced additional concerns it had withdrawn from a local pub watch scheme.

Today the board heard the new management were keen to focus on functions and reintroduce a food menu in the pub.

They asked for children to be allowed in the pub until 10pm or the end of functions as well as being given 24-hour access if they are staying at the premises.

Councillor George McGuire, local ward member, who sits on the board said: “I’m a relative newcomer to Haddington, I’ve only been here ten years but everyone can tell you fond memories of The Railway in its past days.

“I’ve only really experienced it with new tenants there and it is great to see it being brought back to what people have described it as being before, as family friendly

“There is not an over abundance of function suites around Haddington and as it grows there will probably be more demand for function there so I would be very happy to grant this application.”

The board unanimously approved the changes.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

A gypsy travellers camp which was closed in 2021 after extensive vandalism will need more than £220,000 to make it safe to live on, a report has revealed.

Midlothian and East Lothian Councils jointly run the camp at Old Dalkeith Colliery bordering the two counties and have a lease from landowners the Buccleuch Estate which runs until 2034.

However a report to Midlothian Council this week said East Lothian’s officers were already seeking an early termination of the lease and want to pursue “alternative gypsy/traveller site options within their own boundary”.

It urged Midlothian councillors to approve similar plans revealing that each local authority currently pays £17,060 a year to lease the site, which is not considered fit for purpose.

The report said both councils invested in bringing the site, which they began leasing in 2013, up to minimum standards required five years ago but had to close it two years later after it was damaged so badly by tenants it was no longer usable.

They continue to pay the annual lease for the site, which had eight pitches and even when open had the lowest occupancy of any local authority site in the south east of Scotland at just 63 per cent.

In December East Lothian Council responded to a Freedom of Information request from the Local Democracy Reporter for copies of any documents relating to their decision not to reopen the site by saying no formal decision or meeting had been held to discuss closing it permanently.

They said: “Options are currently being explored and no formal decision has been made in this regard.”

However the report to Midlothian councillors this week made it clear East Lothian is making efforts to release itself from the lease.

It said their officers were “in the process of seeking authorisation for an early termination of the site lease.”

The report added: “It is recommended that Midlothian Council should similarly authorise an early termination of the site lease and seek alternative Gypsy/Traveller accommodation options which meet current need and demand.”

The report said the damage to the site would require £220,000 to  bring it back to minimum  standards required by the Scottish Government and pointed out local authorities are not required to provide a camp for gypsy/travellers.

Councillors agreed to the recommendations but told officers that if the early termination of the lease came with a cost it would have to be brought back before elected members for approval.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Stellar Monarchs look to continue their improved good form against Scunthorpe Scorpions in England on Friday (tapes-up 7pm).

A solid team performance spearheaded by paid maximums for Josh Pickering and Justin Sedgmen (pictured) secured a 56-34 victory over the Lincolnshire team at Armadale last week.

Monarchs still prop up the nine-strong Cab Direct Championship table with four points from six matches, having won two and lost four, but the squad take feel good factor into the return match against a side sitting fourth in the table.

Scorpions have ten points from their matches having won four and lost three from seven fixtures, but the Armadale club’s co-promoter, John Campbell, said: “Friday’s trip to Scunthorpe will be a different kettle of fish (from last week), but we will go there determined to bring something back.”

Monarchs’ next home fixture is on Friday, July 5 against Redcar Bears but, before that, Edinburgh travel to Plymouth Gladiators on July 2 and Poole Pirates on July 3.

Meanwhile, Scunthorpe Stags entertain Stellar Monarchs Academy at around 8.45pm in the WSRA National Development League at Scunthorpe on Friday as part of a double-header.

Police are asking for help to trace an 18-year-old woman reported missing from the Linlithgow area.

Megan Docherty was last seen on the morning of Tuesday, 25 June, at Woodcockdale on the A706 south west of the town.

She is described as around 5ft 5ins, of slim build, with long, light brown hair. She wears glasses. When last seen she was wearing a white t-shirt with a unicorn motif and pink leggings.

Megan may be travelling with an older woman in a blue Kia Sportage, registration SK73 DYM.

Inspector Richard Homewood said: “Concerns are growing for Megan’s welfare and it is important we trace her to make sure she is safe and well.

“We are asking anyone who has seen Megan or knows where she might be to get in touch with us.

“We are also keen to trace the car she may be travelling in.”

Anyone who can help is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3698 of Tuesday, 25 June, 2024.

Harmeny Athletic Club’s men’s and women’s under-17 3 x 800 metre teams brought back medals from the Scottish Athletics 4J Studios National Track Relay Championships at Riverside Sports Arena, Ayr.

The men, represented by, left to right, Dair Alexander, Matthew Holden and Kieran Hardie took gold from Giffnock North and Edinburgh AC.

Harmeny women, represented by, left to right, Nancy Corrie, Lara Brechin and Natsai Nyabadza earned a silver medal for finishing ahead of East Kilbride but behind Giffnock North.

A 34-year-old man has been jailed for multiple violent offences against women and girls.

John McKechnie was sentenced to a total of 8 years at the Sheriff Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, 27 June, 2024. His sentencing includes two years already served in prison.

The offences included rape, domestic offending, and possession of incident images of children.

His offending took place between 2015 and 2022 and took place in the West Lothian area.

He had previously been convicted of the offences following a trial on Wednesday, 22 May, 2024.

Detective Inspector Adrian Ure, National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “John McKechnie is a violent and predatory individual who will now face the consequences of his despicable actions.

“I commend the strength of the victims for coming forward and hope the sentence will bring some comfort as they try to move forward.

“Sexual abuse of any kind has no place in our society and any reports made to Police Scotland will be robustly investigated.

“We encourage anyone with concerns about a child at risk of abuse, or a potential victim, to contact police immediately.”

West Lothian Council is set to raise almost £5m from the sale of a site in Livingston for housing.

Councillors on the Executive agreed to the sale to Cruden on the land near the Toll roundabout in the north- west of the new town.

Up to 77 homes could be built on the site of which 19 would be affordable homes to let.

In a report to the Executive  David Baird the Property and Estates manager said: “The council owns 7 acres (2.88 hectares) of land east of the Toll Roundabout in the Kirkton area of Livingston.

 “The site is an allocated residential development site in the adopted West Lothian Local Development Plan and it has been programmed by officers from Property Services for disposal during the 2024/25 financial year as part of the council’s capital receipts programme.

“In accordance with the council’s approved Surplus Property Procedure, officers openly marketed the site during the spring of 2024 and invited offers to purchase to a closing date on 23 May 2024. 

“A number of commercial offers were received at that closing date. There were no offers or expressions of interest received from the community at the closing date and no community asset transfer requests have been received by the council for this site. 

“The offers received have been fully appraised by officers and the offer received from Cruden Homes Limited (CHL) for £4.90 million is considered to represent the best terms reasonably obtainable by the council.” 

The site falls within the catchment area for Peel Primary School, Howden St. Andrew’s Primary School, Inveralmond Community High School and St Margaret’s Academy. However any future development on the site would be subject to planning permission being sought and approved, and this takes into account important factors such as available school capacity.

The report added: “Subject to future planning approval being sought and agreed, CHL are proposing a development of seventy seven units, nineteen of which would be affordable housing. CHL have confirmed that if they are not able to secure planning permission for their projected seventy seven units, then they would seek to reduce their original offer on a pro-rata basis.”

A council spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that  the Council uses the proceeds from the sale of unused land to help to fund future investment in infrastructure/capital projects, such as schools, parks, roads and care services. 

 They added: “The sale of unused assets is therefore an important funding stream that allows the council to continue to invest in services. Without that funding, less money would be available to improve local services.”

Over £273m will be invested in maintaining and improving local services through the council’s Capital Investment programme. This does not include housing, as that is funded separately. 

 What  Capital Investment programme spending does cover is Property improvements – over £162m. Roads, footways, street lighting and bridges – over £60m. Open spaces, children’s play areas and sports facilities – over £27m and  IT (including school infrastructure) – over £22m.

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter

Police in Edinburgh are conducting regular patrols in the Meadows and surrounding areas following community concerns about dirt e-bikes, associated dangerous riding, anti-social behaviour and criminality. 

Uniformed and plain clothes officers will be in the area to provide reassurance and to identify those responsible for this kind of offending.  

This will include education and enforcement where necessary. 

Unregistered e-motorcycles, e-scooters and non-compliant e-bikes can only be used on private land with the owner’s permission.  

They are subject to the same legal requirements as many other motor vehicles, meaning that they must be insured and drivers must have a valid driving licence. 

Sergeant Mark Barry of the St Leonard’s Community Policing Team, said: “We are aware of concerns and complaints relating to the anti-social driving of dirt e-bikes which are often not road legal.  

“Road safety is a priority for Police Scotland and all road-users need to take responsibility and make sure their vehicles are roadworthy and legal. Illegal vehicles are a major hazard for riders and the general public.  

“Anyone purchasing an e-motorcycle, e-scooter or an e-bike should be aware of the law and the implications of using one in a public place. 

“When it comes to anti-social behaviour involving these type of vehicles we will not hesitate to take action. 

“I would encourage anyone with information or concerns about potentially illegal e-bikes of all types or e-scooters to speak to officers on patrol, contact Police Scotland on 101, or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.” 

Players from Warrender and Portobello comprise almost half the Scotland under-16 boys water polo squad who travel to Bolton this weekend to compete in the Swim England Regional Championships (Division Two).

They have been drawn in a tough group playing against London and East Midlands on Saturday with play-offs against other hopefuls North-East, Wales and East Regions on Sunday to determine the winner.

The squad has been together since December and has held regular training get-togethers in preparation for this weekend.

Team manager Peter Wilson said “The final squad of 13 has been selected from a national training squad of 25 that has been training hard all year. The boys are ready for the tough challenge ahead and have high hopes. Despite being drawn from clubs across Scotland they have developed a real bond and strong work ethic”.
Scotland squad: Zachary Johnstone (Warrender), Fraser Vandermeulen (Stirling), Brady Shaw (Menzieshill Whitehall), John Wilson (Dunfermline), Elliott Duncanson (Stirling), George Bickerton (Menzieshill Whitehall), Dominic Moodie (Portobello), Alexander Scott-Watson (Portobello), Josh Ruddy (Stirling), Bram Stenhouse (Warrender), Charlie Grey (Warrender), Frank Bacik (Menzieshill Whitehall), Michael Moodie (Portobello).

The boss of a company owned by Edinburgh City Council has been given a bonus of almost £52,000 while the authority prepares to implement £109m of cuts.

Marshall Dallas, of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), was handed the sum on top of his £169,056 salary – which was also raised by £10k.

He was the only chief executive from the councils arms-length companies, which include Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses, to enjoy a bonus in 2023-24, annual accounts revealed.

Chas Booth, co-convener of the city’s Green councillors group, said: “This is extremely disappointing news.

“At a time when vital services are facing disastrous underfunding from the council and government, it’s right to question whether massive bonus payouts like this are acceptable.”

The council is set to make £30m of cuts to public services next year – with the budget gap growing to £109m in the next five years, a report to this week’s finance committee showed.

On top of this cuts of £5.2m to the city’s cash-strapped schools and £4.2m to leisure centres are set to be made.

Dallas was previously criticised after getting a £72k bonus for 2022-23  – the highest awarded by any council in the UK in that year – and a total remuneration package of £230,991.

EICC – which is owned by the local authority but operates commercially as an arms-length organisation (ALEO) – said this related to the development of its new 350-bed hotel and hotel school being built at Haymarket as well as “the operating performance of the conference centre”.

Documents revealing he enjoyed another substantial £51,904 bonus again last year said: “The bonus received by M Dallas covers both the operational and hotel elements of the EICC.”

An EICC spokesperson said: “The bonus is based on the delivery of key criteria and the operating performance of the business, which had a record year in 2023.”

Mr Dallas said: “We kept our sales team intact throughout the pandemic, which in retrospect was integral to our revenue performance last year because we were able to hit the ground running post-pandemic.”

Responding to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the company highlighted it reported record revenue of £12.8 million for the year to 31st December 2023, along with record profits of £2.6 million.

It claimed the total economic impact to the city since the conference centre opened in 1995 was around £850 million.

Council leader Cammy Day said previously while pay awards were “a matter for EICC’s board” he did “not agree with bonuses like this in arms’ length companies”.

He added: “As a council we have publicly discussed and strongly urge restraint amongst these companies with regard to bonuses.”

Cllr Booth said: “We’re pleased that the council is undertaking a review of how arms-length organisations like EICC are managed and have pushed for guidance on whether bonuses should be included in this.

“Greens believe that organisations which are wholly or partly owned by the council should be bound by the council’s own policies on issues like pay, equal opportunities and climate targets, and should exist to best serve the people of Edinburgh, not line the pockets of executives with bumper bonuses.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

Neighbours in a Livingston street have raised a petition demanding action against speeding drivers after a series of incidents culminated in a pet dog being killed.

The dog’s owner Roddy Hill told councillors at a meeting of West Lothian Council’s Executive the driver had  stopped after hitting the dog and shouted at him before speeding off.

And he said he feared for the safety of youngsters who played in the area:

“I don’t want to see a hearse with a wee coffin in it,” he said,.

Mr Hill and  his neighbour Evie Johnston  presented a petition to the council asking for  safety measures in Glen Crescent in Deans, Livingston, a narrow  residential road clearly marked at each with  green-ringed 20mph signs.

The death of Mr Hill’s dog, Milo, in April came after a series of incidents where neighbours had their cars shunted by passing motorists, as they  tried to reverse out of their driveways. Another has had her garden wall demolished twice by a  speeding vehicle.

 Miss Johnston  told the Executive that many young families now lived in the area with children of nursery and primary age going to nearby  schools. The street has also become far busier  with the growing use of delivery vans.

Glen Road has speed bumps on it and drivers avoid them by driving around Glen  Crescent. 

Ms Johnston told  councillors: “Glen Crescent is a rat run.” 

 Mr Hill told  councillors  Milo had been trained to stop at the kerb.  Mr Hill had been getting out of his own car when another sped along the road.  Mr Hill  said “heard  the thump”  and realised Milo  had been struck.

 “As we got to the dog the driver stopped his car, got out  and shouted at me to keep my dog on a leash before driving off, we were tending to the dog. I never saw the number plate, but we reported it to the police.

“Our worry is that it could easily have been a child  running out to collect a ball and being hit by a car.”

The petition to the council said: “Despite there being a clear 20mph speed limit, these vehicles constantly race across the crescent.”

“This resulted very recently in the tragic, completely unnecessary, death of a much-loved pet dog.

“Glen Crescent is a strong community and this incident powerfully reinforced how much the street has changed in recent years.

“Where once we were an ‘older’ group of residents, we now have numerous households with nursery, primary and secondary age children and have to acknowledge the risk to us all.

“The installation of traffic calming measures at both ends of Glen Crescent has become imperative.”

Councillors expressed their sympathies for the loss of the pet.

Roads Network Manager Gordon Brown revealed a list  of projects which have had spending agreed for this financial year.

He faced  questions from councillors around the chamber as to why anecdotal and neighbours’ evidence  on speeding couldn’t be considered when  considering spending on road safety.

 Mr Brown said that  the council had to rely on  strict rules  laid down by  Transport Scotland  and only accident data reported to the police could be used  to “ score” the need for  road safety works at  sites where there had been serious or fatal accidents.

Damage to property or pets killed by speeding drivers  would not be considered .

 He added that a full survey of hazard potential would need to be carried out  in Glen Crescent before any action could be taken.

 Mr Hill and Miss Johnston had been accompanied to the meeting by local ward Conservative councillor  Alison Adamson, who does not serve on the Executive. 

Councillor Adamson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the  that she shared the fears of  Glen Crescent residents and added: “ Milo was quite a local celebrity, and a firm favourite with the local kids.”

 Fellow ward member Labour’s Anne McMillan, who sits on the Executive, asked if  Glen Crescent  and the surrounding area could be considered in a future road safety analysis.

Councillors agreed and asked for a survey of the Glen Crescent and Glen Road area to be carried out to be potentially included in  future works planned for 2025/26.

The safety works  at five sites across the county include resurfacing with anti-skid material, new warning signs  and traffic islands. Councillor gave the go ahead  for work to start.

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter

Boroughmuir Rugby and Community Sports Club will continue to receive sponsorship from telecommunications firm and internet service provider Commsworld after the long standing deal which has put more than £300,000 into Meggetland coffers was extended.

Commsworld mark their 30^th anniversary this year and one of their funding principles has been to actively invest in the local communities in which it works.

For more than a decade the company has been a sponsor of the semi-professional Super 6 Bears team, amateur first and second XV’s  and Boroughmuir Youth Academy.

Now it has signed on for a further two seasons with the Boroughmuir first team and the Academy for another four seasons.

Also, from August, for the first time, Commsworld will be sponsoring the Boroughmuir Banshees, the under-14 to 18 girls section, for two seasons.

The new sponsorship deals are a huge boost to Boroughmuir as it continues to support rugby for all ages with playing opportunities and player pathways.

Stevie Douglas, President of Boroughmuir RFC, said: “Commsworld’s continued support is great news for Boroughmuir. From our youngest players to the First XV it will help develop teams across all divisions of the club and we’re particularly thrilled to have dedicated support for the Banshees, one of our newest divisions but one that continues to grow as female rugby increases in popularity.

“Having Commsworld onboard as a key sponsor will help us continue our mission to provide access to rugby across our community and we really value their partnership.”

Denise McDonnell, Commsworld HR Director, said: “Commsworld is proud to be extending its extremely successful sponsorship of Boroughmuir in this special anniversary year. We were a founding sponsor of the youth academy in 2017 and have supported it ever since – contributing more than £300,000 to date to the club.

“Thanks to that investment coupled with Boroughmuir’s focus on rugby development there has been a huge upturn in the popularity of rugby among young people in the area. This in turn has allowed Boroughmuir to grow its player base so it now coaches more than 400 young players, aged from five to 18, every week and supports more than 1,000 young people across three high schools and 14 primary schools every year.

“Excitingly the new agreement includes the Banshees – a fantastic new team which promotes rugby for teenage girls, further supporting our commitment to the community. We hope, with our support, Boroughmuir will continue to thrive, and we’ll see the senior team return to the top tier of club rugby where it belongs.”

Handelsbanken, the local relationship bank, has expanded its corporate management team in Edinburgh with the appointment of Brian Gorey to its West End branch.

Originally from Co. Kilkenny in Ireland, Gorey brings to the role over two decades of experience in the sector having moved to Scotland from Dublin in 2003 to help establish Allied Irish Bank’s new corporate office in the capital.

He was most recently with Barclays, where he spent four years as head of credit analysis for Scotland and the North East prior to becoming Relationship Director for Real Estate. He joins what is already an experienced corporate management team including deputy branch manager Tom Oliver and fellow-corporate banking managers Chris Rawson and Graeme McNaughton.

“The role is an ideal fit for me having worked in relationship banking for the past 20 years and I am excited to join a team with a strong track record and real growth aspirations,” said Mr Gorey, whose recruitment comes after the recent appointment of Kevin Hulse as the bank’s first Corporate Manager – Business Development for Edinburgh.

“The unique Handelsbanken model epitomises relationship banking. The fact they approach this through a local lens really appealed – as does the autonomy given to branches to make on-the-ground decisions based on their own, in-depth knowledge of the local economy. Having a close-knit team with that knowledge and focus adds to the strength of how best to support customers. With a team of experienced personal and corporate bankers, this means all aspects of the customer relationship can be supported and nurtured in person.”

The 150-year-old bank, which was founded in Sweden, first opened in the UK in 1982. Its extensive network of branches includes nine in Scotland and north Cumbria, with an Edinburgh presence since 2009.

It is the only AA-rated bank in the UK (source: Fitch, April 2, 2024) and has been rated rated top for satisfaction 15 years running in an independent satisfaction survey for personal and business banking customers (EPSI Rating Group, 2009-2023). The bank has also been named as the most recommended provider for relationship / account management for SMEs by the Competition and Markets Authority’s Independent Service Quality Survey (February 2024).

Welcoming the appointment, Handelsbanken Edinburgh West End branch manager Iain Henderson said: “Our key focus remains on the customer relationship and we needed to bring in extra resource to support our growth. Brian is an experienced hire with good market contacts following his time with Allied Irish Bank and Barclays and is an ideal fit for us.

“His arrival will help us support existing customers and new ones we are onboarding as we grow our lending, deposit and wealth management books. We have enjoyed successful growth over the last decade and as we continue to meet the demand, we will support the local market in the best way possible. It’s an exciting period for us and it’s encouraging to be able to expand our corporate team. It’s a material change for the team here and gives us capacity within an experienced team to support the ongoing growth of the branch.”

TV and radio personality, Rylan Clark, will be the star entertainment for the crowds at one of Scotland’s most glamorous summer events.

At Festival Theatre on Thursday Gray O’Brien was announced as the actor who will play the part of Rebus in the new play, Rebus: A Game Called Malice written by Ian Rankin and Simon Meade.

The play centres around a “splendid dinner party in an Edinburgh stately home  which concludes with a murder mystery game created by the hostess. A murder needs to be solved. But the guests have secrets of their own, threatened by the very game they are playing. And among them is Inspector John Rebus. True crime is his calling. Is he playing an alternative game, one to which only he knows the rules?” 

The play will be staged at Festival Theatre from 10 to 14 September 2024. Tickets are on sale now with £25 on the day tickets available in September.

Hearts entertain Rangers on the opening day of the 2024/25 William Hill Premiership. The date is Saturday, August 3 with a 12.30pm kick-off as the mouth-watering attraction is live on Sky Sports.

Head coach Steven Naismith (pictured in the dugout at Tynecastle) then takes his men to Tayside to face Dundee on Saturday, August 8, a match to be broadcast live on Premier Sports (5.30pm).

Easter Road hosts the first Edinburgh derby of the season on October 26 before a Boxing Day derby at Tynecastle which will be shown live on Sky Sports. The final Capital clash is on March 1.

Fans are reminded that all games are subject to date and kick-off time changes due to television.

And Hearts’ participation in Europe means many of the domestic Saturday fixtures will change to Sunday. They will not be confirmed until the UEFA draws are made.

Meanwhile, Yan Dhanda is now officially a Jambo and he posted on the club’s social media that Hearts are in his family.

The midfielder said: “My grandad and my uncle have a season ticket here, so I know how passionate the supporters are. Since I’ve been seven-year-old, I’ve been around it and I know how much this club means to them and the fans.”

Dhanda has signed a three-year-deal and arrives from Ross County and he is the sixth summer signing by Naismith. Another newcomer is forward Musa Drammeh who joins from Sevilla in La Liga.

The player said: “I had a lot of offers when I was with Sevilla but, after talking with the coach, he explained to me the project here.”