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.”

Hibs will begin their 2024/25 William Hill Premiership campaign away at St Mirren on Sunday 4 August – with a 3pm kick-off.  

The match has been scheduled for the Sunday due to St Mirren competing in Europe. 

Hibs first home game at Easter Road will take place the following week, when they host Celtic on Sunday 11 August.  

That match has been selected for live broadcast on Sky Sports with a 12:30pm kick-off.

The first Edinburgh Derby will take place at Easter Road on Saturday 26 October, with Hibs making the trip to Tynecastle on Boxing Day, and the two sides also meeting on Saturday 1 March, 2025. 

Over the festive period, the club will play three games in the space of a week – starting with the Edinburgh Derby on Boxing Day at Tynecastle.  

That match has been selected for broadcast on Sky Sports, kick-off at 12:30pm on Thursday 26 December. 

The final game of the year will see Hibs  host Kilmarnock on Sunday 29 December, with David Gray’s men kicking off the New Year away to St Johnstone on Thursday 2 January, 2025. 

In a change to previous years, there will be no Winter Break for the 2024/25 campaign, with fixtures scheduled all the way through January until the end of the season. 

Our final match before the split is against Dundee at Easter Road on Saturday 12 April. 

Supporters should bear in mind that this is a provisional fixture list, with all fixtures subject to change and broadcast selections to be made throughout the season. 

The only confirmed broadcast fixtures so far are: 

Sunday 11 August, 2024 – Hibernian vs Celtic (12:30 kick-off) 

Thursday 26 December, 2025 – Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian (12:30 kick-off) 

The full fixture list is available on the club’s website. 

An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding a man falling from a window in Barn Park. 

Emergency services were called to the scene around 3am this morning Thursday 27 June 2024. 

The man was taken to hospital where his condition is being treated as critical. 

Officers say that their enquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing. 

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 3am on Thursday, 27 June, 2024, police received a report of a man fallen from a window in the Barn Park area of Edinburgh. 

“He was conveyed to hospital, where his condition is being treated as critical. Enquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing.” 

With the Olympics fast approaching, three local care homes are limbering up for their own sporting tournaments.

Care UK’s Cairdean House, on Redford Road, Lauder Lodge, on Wakefield Avenue, and Murrayside, on South Beechwood, will be bringing Paris to Edinburgh as they open their doors for local people to enjoy their own version of the Games.

The events comes as Cairdean House, Lauder Lodge and Murrayside join The Big Care UK Sports Day, which sees over 130 Care UK homes across the UK host sports days for the local community and showcase what life in a care home is really like.

At Cairdean House, on Friday 26^th July, from 1pm-5pm, guests can soak up the sporting atmosphere and, for those daring to compete, have the chance to win their own gold medals with an afternoon of fun and games, including egg-and-spoon and obstacle course races and tug of war.

While at Lauder Lodge, on Tuesday 30^th July, from 11am-4.30pm, there will be badminton and tennis tournaments, tug of war, and a three-legged race. For lunch, guests can enjoy a French themed menu, followed by an awards ceremony, where they’ll be live entertainment from performer Sarah Laing – sure to get the party started.

At Murrayside, on Friday 26^th July, from 2pm-4pm, visitors can participate in darts, balloon tennis, badminton, and a paper plane competition. There will also be an obstacle course and team members will be performing a synchronised swimming routine in the paddling pools.

Kat Barnwell, Home Manager at Cairdean House, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming the local community to join our own sporting celebrations.

“We are part of a strong community here in Edinburgh, and days like this are a fantastic way of bringing us all together for a little healthy competition and to celebrate this year’s summer of sport, all while showcasing exactly what life is like here at Cairdean House.”

Anees Riaz, Home Manager at Lauder Lodge, said: “The day not only promises a lot of laughter and enjoyment for all involved, but also is an excellent way for residents to meet and mingle with lots of new faces – and some familiar ones – while keeping active. We can’t wait until kick-off!”

Suzanne Welsh, Home Manager at Murrayside, added: “The Olympics has brought about a fantastic opportunity to rediscover residents’ own sporting history and passion – and we’re keen to share this sporting fever with the local community.

“At Murrayside, we encourage residents to live fulfilling lives through regular activities that improve their physical and mental wellbeing, which is why we can’t wait to host our very own sports day.

“We have some very competitive residents here, and I’m sure there will be quite a few close calls in the hunt for medals. We’re looking forward to crowning the winners this July!”

To find out more about The Big Care UK Sports Day, please visit: careuk.com/care-uk-sports-day

Murrayside, Lauder Lodge and Cairdean House have been specially designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence.

Leith School of Art is opening a superb new campus which will be the base for its acclaimed Foundation Course.

The one-year course is recognised by students as the passport to art degree programmes of their choice.
LSA is also renowned for its outreach in areas of multiple deprivation and the opportunities it offers people with artistic talent who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access art courses and tuition.

The spacious new Albion Road Campus will be ready for this September’s intake of Art and Design Foundation Diploma students and will also host an expanded One Day Painting Course.

LSA is also working with the SQA to credit rate the School’s Art and Design Foundation Course at an SCQF Level 7 from September 2024.
This advanced level is equivalent to completion of the first year of a Scottish university degree, enabling LSA students to progress directly into the second year of their chosen art and design degree.

Nick Devison, The School’s Principal, said: “This is a landmark moment for Leith School of Art – the new campus will be an amazing place to study art, as a student on our Foundation Course, or any of the other courses which will be taught there.
“We are also celebrating lots of other good news – something that’s really welcome as art education generally is going through such tough times.
“It’s brilliant for students that they can take our Foundation Course and earn the credit points they need for progression into the second year of a degree course.
“And we are already in the position that our Foundation Course is so highly rated that 95% of graduates get into the university art degree course of their choice.
“All this underlines our commitment to offering the very best of art education to the people of Edinburgh.”

Located in a 19th-century former printworks at 66 Albion Road, the new campus provides a superbly lit 3,000 square foot studio and other facilities.
With the major works close to completion, a £30,000 fundraising appeal is underway to cover the costs of fully fitting out the building.
A campus launch event is taking place on Thursday featuring an exhibition of work by students on LSA’s Mentoring Course, which enables artists to further develop their work.

Val McLean, LSA Course Leader and Tutor, said: “We are delighted to be hosting our prestigious Mentoring Course end-of-year exhibition in this remarkable new space, as part of our campus launch celebrations.
“It’s a fantastic platform to showcase the outstanding work and artistic growth of our talented students. And I’m thrilled about our upcoming move to the new campus. With a larger cohort of students we have tremendous opportunities ahead.
“We can nurture the artistic development of more aspiring artists, collaborate on innovative teaching approaches, and craft a truly dynamic and enriching learning experience.”

An exhibition of work by the most recent intake of Foundation Course and year-long course students has also been taking place at LSA’s North Junction Street Campus, a former Norwegian Seamen’s Church.

Inès Ross, a Foundation Course graduate who is going to Falmouth University to study Fine Art, said: “I have had the experience of a lifetime, LSA has helped with my development as an artist and I’ve met so many amazing people this year, teachers, pupils and beyond.”

The School is currently working to increase the level of outreach work it does with secondary schools – mostly in areas of multiple deprivation through the LSA Schools Programme. One aim is to work with teachers to identify talented children at an early age and nurture them through to the stage where they are ready for university.

What students say about the Foundation Course

The Art and Design Foundation Diploma stands out for many reasons, including the excellent staff/student ratio, the emphasis on both arts practice and theory and the large amount of time students get to spend with tutors and in the studio. It is also closely tailored to the individual needs and interests of each student.

Sula Reid who went to LSA straight from school said: “Leith offered more than I could have hoped. I made friends for life and discovered so much about myself and my artistic capacity. Leith offers a space where you can truly be yourself. The guidance and dedication of the tutors is remarkable, they put so much love into their work.”

Erin Gibbons said: “LSA was so supportive and gave me the time to figure out exactly what I wanted to do. I would absolutely recommend LSA to everyone.”

Laura Bullock, a mature student who has been accepted to the Master’s programme at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Dundee said: “The dedicated support of the amazing team of experienced tutors and support staff was invaluable. Leith School of Art is such a special place to study, and the Foundation Course sits firmly in its heart and mine.”

Kathryn Adkins said: “The course has been incredible. I learned so much about a variety of art media and techniques. LSA provides a wonderful, safe and supportive environment.”

James Sinclair said: “The course pushed me out of my comfort zone and enabled me to expand my skills. Being part of a creative community has been inspirational.”

Shona McIntosh, a former Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist: “The Leith School of Art Foundation Year changed my life completely. After further studies I now practice as a conceptual artist, exhibit and sell my work and had a two-month residency on the Galápagos Islands. I could never have achieved this without LSA’s Foundation Course.”

Applications are still open for the 2024-25 Foundation Course. Information can be found here.
LSA offers bursaries and concessionary rates for students unable to afford the fees. See here.

• Launch event refreshments were sponsored by local companies, Moonwake Beer Co and Lind and Lime Gin Distillery, the event showcased a sample of Leith’s thriving independent business and art and culture scene; consolidating Leith’s reputation for being one of the UK’s coolest neighbourhoods.

Donations to Leith School of Art will be welcome here.

Love the Fringe

At this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe a new subscription service, Love the Fringe, is being introduced to allow audience members to double the value of their tickets. The way this works is that subscribers will pay one of five tiers, each of which is designed to enhance the festival experience. The scheme is open to anyone involved with the Fringe and the income it will raise will to directly to artists and venues presenting shows at the festival.

More details here.

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Airport officially has a new owner

VINCI Airports has officially completed on the deal to buy half of Edinburgh Airport in a similar deal to that entered into for Gatwick. The company now owns the majority shareholding (50.01%) which it bought for £1.27 billion. The existing owners Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) retain the balance of 49.99%. Edinburgh is the sixth biggest airport in the UK and largest in Scotland.

All the shareholdings have now been transferred and a press conference is being held later to celebrate the deal.

AI at Leith Walk police box

Join University of Edinburgh Informatics team who will be at the police box on Thursday to discuss all the ways that artificial intelligence could make a difference to the neighbourhood.

Council meeting today

There is a full council meeting today – the last until August as councillors enjoy recess in July.

Councillors take this opportunity to formally ask questions of each Convener and receive written replies.

The questions and answers for this month are numerous – there are 29 of them. You can read them all at this link here.

One reply is a matter raised during election campaigning – particularly by Labour candidates as the party proposes putting VAT on private school fees. As a quarter of all children in Edinburgh are educated at private schools there could be some who will have to change to state schools if the fees become unaffordable for their parents.

The Education Convener has confirmed that there are around 10,000 places available at all schools in Edinburgh at present, but a steering group is already in place to discuss the implications of any new VAT policy.

One of the replies has listed 20 cultural or leisure organisations which have received the highest amount of funding from the council.

Edinburgh Leisure top the list receiving £11.15 million with a huge gap then to the next body, the Edinburgh International Festival which received £1.9 million this year.

Several SNP councillors have asked questions of the Transport and Environment Convener about a lack of refuse collections and received a fairly terse reply saying that it would have been more helpful to residents if they had spoken to council officers or the Convener direct rather than using this “formal and much slower approach”.

A notable run by three Edinburgh AC members at the Scottish Relay Championships in Ayr is expected to be ratified as a Scottish all-comers and championship record after claims to a national best had to be discounted.

Beth Ansell, Margo Wywroll and Kirsty Walker ran 6 mins 43.21 for the 3 x 800 metres to surpass the achievement of a City of Glasgow trio (6:46:71) at Meadowbank in 1992.

However, it later emerged that since one of the trio is German and another English a Scottish native record couldn’t stand.

Nevertheless, there is still much to be proud of for the Capital club representatives.

Police are appealing for the assistance of the public in tracing 79-year-old Michael Connolly who is missing from Seton Sands Holiday Park. 

Michael, who is from Lochore was last seen at the park around 6pm on Wednesday, 26 June, 2024. 

He is described as around 5ft 8ins in height and of slim build with grey hair which is balding and stubble. When he was last seen he was wearing a blue jumper and blue t-shirt with black trousers and walking shoes. 

Inspector Kenny McKenzie said: “We are extremely concerned for Michael’s safety and wellbeing. 

“Searches and enquiries are ongoing to trace him as soon as possible to ensure that he is safe and well. 

“I would urge anyone who has seen him or has any information regarding his whereabouts to contact us as soon as possible on 101 quoting reference number 3275 of 26 June.” 

A wildlife charity has urged people in the Lothians to take part in the world’s largest annual butterfly survey next month.

The Big Butterfly Count helps to assess the health of the environment by recording the number and type of butterflies and some day-flying moths spotted around the UK.

The citizen science event, organised by the charity Butterfly Conservation, will run from 12 July to 4 August.

Members of the public will spend 15 minutes in an outdoor space counting the butterflies they see.

The results are used to help map how the insects are faring and where conservation efforts should be targeted in the future. Increases or declines calculated on the average number per count.

Dr Zoe Randle, senior surveys officer at Butterfly Conservation, said: “Butterflies and moths are fundamental to a thriving ecosystem.

“They are important pollinators, a critical part of the food web, and indicate the wider health of the environment. If butterflies and moths are doing well, so is the environment.

“By taking part in the Big Butterfly Count you can play a direct part in helping us monitor their wellbeing.”

Last summer, 3295 people across Scotland took part, conducting 5087 counts in gardens, parks, school grounds and the countryside, recording more than 28,000 butterflies and day-flying moths.

The Small White was the most spotted butterfly, followed by the Large White, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown.

The Red Admiral, Green-veined White, Ringlet, Scotch Argus and Speckled Wood made up the top ten.

On average, people in Scotland spotted six individual butterflies per count.

Dr Randle added: “Our scientists have shown that data collected in the annual count really does reflect butterfly and moth population and distribution trends.

“It makes a huge contribution to our vital work to protect butterflies and moths.”

Several Fringe producers have collaborated on the new Love the Fringe subscription service which is hoped will be good for audiences and performers.

Subscribers will be able to double the value of their tickets by signing up and the proceeds will go directly to artists, producers and venues involved with the Fringe – as their strapline says “Making your Fringe pound go further”.

The scheme will raise awareness and also much needed finance for the event and those who put on shows or perform in them. It has been developed by EdFest (Assembly, C ARTS, Gilded Balloon, Just the Tonic, Pleasance, theSpaceUK, Underbelly and ZOO) and the 50 members of Fringe Alliance in a large consortium but is open to any organisation or artist working at the Fringe.

Anthony Alderson, Director of the Pleasance and representative of the Fringe Alliance stated: “Love the Fringe is more than just a subscription scheme; it’s a unifying initiative to align the interests of the diverse organisations and individuals that make the festival happen. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe remains the world’s most prominent festival, open to anyone with the determination to participate. With over 50,000 people contributing to the shows, we want to celebrate this extraordinary event and ensure access remains open to all that wish to take part.  We want to see Love for the Fringe across the whole city. “

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Edinburgh’s festivals continue to command the world’s attention each and every year – but we can’t be complacent. That’s why I’m excited to see some of our best-known festival producers coming together to launch Love the Fringe.

“Any scheme that supports, encourages and enhances our fantastic festivals programme is to be welcomed, not least when the income it generates goes directly into the pockets of the artists, venues, and producers.

“I’d encourage all festival lovers – whether you’re a resident, visitor or business – to support and sign up to Love the Fringe.”

Love the Fringe subscriptions come in five tiers, each designed to enhance the festival experience. Benefits include free tickets to participating performances, discounts at bars and local businesses across the city. Love the Fringe also includes access to exclusive Fringe performance discounts and discounted access to the Scotsman online for the month of August. Detailed information on all the benefits and subscription tiers is available on the Love the Fringe website, www.lovethefringe.com

Shows which take part will commit 2% of their ticket allocation. Love the Fringe hopes to generate sales of around £500,000, which could mean as much as £400,000 going directly to performers and others.

Local businesses can take part by buying a corporate membership or by offering discounts through Love the Fringe.

Love the Fringe membership starts at £20 and is available to buy online at www.lovethefringe.com

Edinburgh Trams has confirmed it will continue to provide free fares for under 22-year-olds despite the Scottish Government refusing to stump up funding to cover the cost. 

The concessionary scheme started in 2022 at the same time free bus travel for youngsters was introduced Scotland-wide. 

Initially funded by the city council, it later said it could no longer afford the £300k-a-year bill and councillors cut support in 2023. 

Edinburgh Trams has continued to allow under-22s to ride free of charge on an interim basis while other options were explored, meeting the cost within its own budget. 

However in March the Scottish Government ruled-out subsidising fares on both Edinburgh Trams and the Glasgow subway as part of its  Fair Fares Review, which was set up to make Scotland’s public transport system more accessible, available, and affordable. 

It argued this was “not considered a good use of resources compared with other options” as the two cities already have “strong bus systems”. 

Now Edinburgh Trams have opted to continue funding the scheme rather than see it scrapped. 

The decision was made “on the basis that the board, mindful of their responsibilities as a publicly owned company, consider that there would be a detrimental impact on both Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses if they did not offer free travel on the same terms as Lothian Buses now offer it,” a report to the transport committee on Thursday, June 20 said. 

Board members also had concerns there could be a “risk to their front line staff to remove the benefit”. 

Transport convener Scott Arthur previously said the Scottish Government not treating concessionary travel on bus and tram on an equal basis “will only make it harder for Edinburgh to meet the Scottish Government’s own climate and traffic reduction targets”. 

He said in March Edinburgh Trams continuing to cover the cost was “neither sustainable nor acceptable”. 

Cllr Arthur was approached for comment following the latest development. 

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter 

The first image showing what a proposed new Craigshill primary school will look like has been released. 

An artist’s impression of the new school was revealed to councillors at this month’s meeting of the Education Executive.  

The planned £24m state of the art campus will replace two of the oldest school buildings in Livingston, dating back to the birth of the new town 60 years ago. 

Councillors approved the new name of Craigshill and the catchment area, taking in the current catchments of Riverside and Letham primaries – built in the 1960s. 

The new non-denominational school will be built on the site of Riverside Primary School, with pupils and staff from Riverside and Letham moving in for the start of the academic term in August 2027. 

Greg Welsh, the council’s Head of Education said: “The project will provide the opportunity to bring together two existing schools in a well-established community and act as a catalyst for regeneration of the Craigshill community, providing a central, focal point for children and families. 

“Secondly, the delivery of a state-of-the-art school will aim to support the educational priorities and inspire the young people who attend.” 

West Lothian Council is funding 50% of the project, with the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP), a joint scheme between Scottish and local government, providing the remaining 50%. The project will also provide a focal point for families and young people in the area. 

A formal consultation is required for any proposal to establish a new school, the catchment area for a new school or closure of a school, and also gives the local community a chance to voice their opinions on the proposed development. 

The Education Executive was presented with the findings of the consultation,  described as extremely positive. The Executive also agreed the catchment area for the school. 

The proposed new school will have a capacity of 462, with 80 nursery places, to ensure there is sufficient capacity for the area. 

 Local Councillor Veronica Smith: “It was really good to see the community involvement . There was a lot of people attended. There were lots of good questions. It’s really good to see that and also going forward there’s a big interest in the town and in the village.”  

 Chair of the Executive, Councillor Andrew McGuire said: “It’s wonderful that we have come this far. It looked for a while that we perhaps would not get the funding that we wanted for Craigshill   thank goodness were here. 

“Craigshill is the oldest locale in Livingston, first built when the new town was created and the schools in particular were starting to show their age. Think it’s fantastic that we have got to this stage.  It’s really exciting for Craigshill, That came across how in excited the community were. Hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here on in.” 

The new school is subject to planning permission being obtained and final designs being agreed.  

A meeting of the Council Executive agreed a demolition contract for the summer ahead of the construction of the new school on the site of Riverside. The children were decanted to the former Beatlie Campus and the nursery to Letham Primary School in August 2023 after RAAC panels were identified as problematic on the building. 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

A 34-year-old man has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal following reports of photographs being taken of females within cubicles at Dalry Swimming Pool. 

The incidents are said to have taken place over the past month. 

Officers launched an investigation and earlier today confirmed the outcome. 

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Response Officers in Edinburgh investigated reports of a male taking photos of females within cubicles at Dalry Swimming Pool over the past month. 
 
“As a result of their inquiries the male was reported to the Procurator Fiscal this weekend.” 

Edinburgh-based legal firm Ralph Sayer has launched an expansion of its estate agency division with the appointment of Tzana Webster to head up property sales.

Formerly with Warners and VMH Solicitors in the capital, Ms Webster joins as Head of Estate Agency after three years in a similar role at Watermans.

Originally from Texas in the United States, she brings significant experience to the position having worked in the Edinburgh estate agency business for 15 years.

Her recruitment is a significant move for the firm which was set up in October 2022 and chief executive Ivan Ralph said: “We have always dealt with large numbers of conveyancing transactions but I have always been keen to grow the estate agency side of the business.

“Tzana has come in tasked with growing this area. She is very well known in the industry, knows the business inside out and has some excellent contacts.

“Given the volumes of transactions we have been dealing with, we have always been legal work heavy but bringing in Tzana is part of the drive to build up the estate agency to the next level.

“She will heighten our estate agency profile and I’m confident she will generate a lot of new business. She is the ideal person to take on this role and I look forward to seeing our estate agency division grow with Tzana leading from the front.

“Part of her role will be business development while ensuring we are providing as good a service to clients as we can.”

Commenting on her appointment, Tzana said: “There is a real family feel about the business and it’s clear they genuinely care not only about each other but the product and client’s experience and that is so refreshing.

“Ivan actually gave me my first job in property at McEwan Fraser Legal when I moved to Scotland from Texas in 2009 so I have known him for some years.

“He had spoken to me about expanding his estate agency and explained this role is much more than just being a valuer with a busy diary: he was looking for someone to help grow the team, look at the systems and processes and streamline everything the company was doing so it was a case of working smarter not harder.

“The business development angle really appealed and I’m looking forward to enhancing what we already do well. We have a good team, a good product and aim to elevate it to the next level.”

Hibs have announced the signing of central defender Warren O’Hora

The 25-year-old has put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal and joins the Hibees following the expiration of his contract at English League Two side MK Dons.

Making almost 200 career appearances to date, O’Hora made his professional debut aged 18 at Bohemians before making a switch to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.

He was named the Seagulls’ Young (Academy) Player of the Year in 2020 before gaining senior football with MK Dons. He became a regular with the Milton Keynes outfit, signed permanently and went on to make over 150 appearances for them, alongside captaining them on occasion.

Internationally, O’Hora has been capped by the Republic of Ireland’s Under-18s and Under-19s.

On the signing, Hibernian FC Head Coach David Gray said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to bring Warren to the Club. 

“As a defender, he’s a brave, aggressive organiser, with great leadership qualities. He’s very comfortable on the ball and confident playing out from the back. We look forward to working with him.”

Sporting Director Malky Mackay added: “It’s great to be able to welcome Warren to Hibernian FC. 

“When I came to the Club, it was clear that we needed to strengthen at centre-half and introduce more leaders into the First Team group.

“Warren is a strong modern-day defender, a top professional, and is another good person to add to the dressing room. We look forward to seeing him in action.”

Edinburgh residents are facing another £30 million in cuts as preparations for next year’s budget get underway.

The capital’s public services are set to be slashed further as council chiefs attempt to balance the books once again – with schools and leisure centres set to be hit.

The looming financial black hole, which was revealed in a “sobering” report to councillors this week, is forecast to grow to an eye-watering £109m by 2028.

Approval was given to officials to explore “savings and efficiency initiatives, strategic investment opportunities and service transformation” to achieve £29.9m of cuts to the city’s 2025-26 budget at the finance and resources committee on Tuesday, June 25. 

However trade union Unite said there was “no amount of jiggery-pokery that can be done with the finances” as the council had already been “cut to the ribbons”.

The report said councillors would have to take “difficult decisions, such as prioritising statutory essential services which provide the greatest outcomes for the most vulnerable in our community” and “reducing levels of service where there is a lower impact on the groups in greatest need”.

Neil Ross, Lib Dems, said it made for “sobering” reading.

He added: “And that hasn’t even given us all the detail that’s going to come forward in detailed proposals, so it’s going to be even more sobering in future.

“Clearly we’re facing a situation where over the next few years we have to realistically assess where we are and where we’re going.”

Finance chief Richard Lloyd-Bithell told councillors at the meeting doing nothing was “not an option”.

He said an increasing number of asylum seekers being placed in temporary accommodation due to UK-wide dispersal policy changes have resulted in additional pressure on homelessness services of over £6m. 

 “Demand has exponentially risen over the previous three years,” he said. 

“This is a real, significant financial risk for the council that we need to take corrective action and investment and other mitigating actions to make sure this doesn’t become out of control.”

The funding shortfall does not include cuts of £5.2m to the city’s cash-strapped schools and £4.2m to leisure centres which were pencilled in for 2025-26 at this year’s budget meeting in February.

Mr Lloyd-Bithell said: “I think the approach we are outlining in the recommended option is the right one; taking a targeted risk and outcomes-based approach to how we deliver our services, either looking at best value and immediate, tactical plans to maintain service delivery to the best possible and provide the best outcomes that we can in the short-term is absolutely right.”

However Unite’s City of Edinburgh Council Branch, which represents 1,500 local authority workers, said the actions proposed were “simply euphemisms for cuts”.

Branch convener Graeme Smith said: “There is no amount of jiggery-pokery that can be done with the finances, there’s no amount of redesign that can be done.

“We’re at the point where any cut is going to harm workers and communities and the only way around that is by Holyrood properly funding local government.”

He called on all councillors to “put as much pressure as they can on Holyrood for proper funding”.

He added: “The reality is there perhaps are several savings that can be made, to which we have called for a workers’ forum where we can take ideas from the shop floor to have these investigated.

“These include things like the council purchasing resources that aren’t even used, the council purchasing incorrect resources.

“So there are very minuscule savings that can be made and the only way they’re going to made properly is through hearing the voices from the shop floor.

“However they’re going to be a drop in the ocean compared to the amount of money that needs to be put into the council which has to come through Holyrood.”

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

A rare Scottish oil painting by “matchstick” figure artist L.S. Lowry has fetched nearly £200,000 at auction.

The English artist famed for his matchstick figures in industrial and urban landscapes painted “Old Building, Edinburgh” in 1937 when he was holidaying in Scotland.

Lowry’s only known oil painting of Edinburgh is believed to show the Royal Mile with Arthur’s Seat in the background, and an imaginary tower in the centre of the scene.

The signed and dated picture, kept in a private collection for over 25 years, went under the hammer in Bonhams’ Modern British and Irish Art sale in London.

Exhibited in Edinburgh for the first time ever ahead of the sale, the painting attracted the attention of collectors around the world before fetching £190,900.

Ingram Reid, Bonhams’ Head of Sale for Modern British and Irish Art, said: “Lowry would have been on a visit to Edinburgh, quite possibly to see some of his own works hanging at the Royal Scottish Academy.

“He would observe with a sketchbook and these sketches would be worked up back in his studio in Manchester.

“Lowry had a fondness for Scotland. However, this is his only known Edinburgh painting.

“We are delighted that following the work being exhibited in both Bonhams Edinburgh and London to the delight of many admirers, the work sold to a private UK buyer.”

Lowry, who lived from 1887-1976, toured the British Isles extensively, and visited Scotland several times.

He painted “Old Building, Edinburgh” the same year he produced important pictures depicting Wick and Thurso in Caithness.

The figures in the picture include a mother and her children walking their dog and a man leaning on his cane, who appears frequently in the artist’s work.

On the left of the picture are two young females in green knee length skirts, which may be kilts.

Mr Reid: “In this picture, Lowry depicts Edinburgh in a fashion typical of the artist at a time when he had had early success and was really finding his stride.

“We believe it shows the bottom end of the Royal Mile, with Arthur’s Seat in the far background. But Lowry often leaned on a compositional device of a single upright building in the centre of his work and the main, central, building in this picture is probably plucked from his imagination.

“It is a scene witnessed in Edinburgh and then moulded to suit his whim.”

School bosses have vowed to review evacuation procedures after pupils were left out on a playing field for up to two hours in baking heat earlier this week.

Parents took to social media to vent their anger after a suspected chemical leak saw students sent out of Dunbar Grammar School on Monday.

Some said their children had been left exposed in soaring temperatures with no water or shelter as emergency services went into the building to investigate the danger.

East Lothian Council said that it would be looking for ‘learning points’ from the incident to ensure future evacuations are as effective as possible.

The incident occurred just before lunch time on Monday at the school with all students sent to the astro turf which is the assembly point for any evacuation.

As temperatures rose to 24 degrees on the sunny day, pupils who had been told to leave their bags in classrooms as is standard in an emergency evacuation,  remained on the pitch for around two hours.

Pictures of emergency service vehicles at the school began emerging on social media shortly after the alarm was raised sparking concern from parents unable to get in touch with their children.

And there was anger later when they discovered youngsters had been out in the sun for hours with one parent saying their son called them to say they had no water and had been told they could not leave the pitch.

Head teacher Claire Sowther said in a letter sent to parents and carers after the event that pupils were ‘exemplary’ as they followed the procedures in place for an emergency.

She said that as it became clear the incident was stretching into the afternoon senior students were sent home and a GroupCall made to parents and carers alerting them to the situation.

She said: “Water was sourced for S2/3 students and this coincided with us having limited access to a part of the building so we could take the S2/3 students back inside.”

Primary 7 pupils transitioning to the new S1 year at the school were not in attendance during the incident.

East Lothian Council said it was looking at what happened on Monday.

A spokesperson said: “We are keen to identify any learning points from the response to ensure evacuation procedures are as effective as possible.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Lochend Football Academy under 15s made sporting history on becoming the club’s first team to win a Scottish Cup.

They achieved the feat by beating Westdyke Community Club, from Aberdeen, 3-0 at Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie.

Coach Declan Fergus said: “I was absolutely delighted with the performance and result; the boys are a joy to work with and a credit to themselves.

“We’ve worked so hard to achieve this and finally it came to fruition.. I see first hand the effort, application and hard work that goes into every training session, every week and as I always say working hard is a talent and we are now champions of our country. 

“Lochend is one of the smallest clubs in Scotland with only about 150 players at our club. To bring back the Scottish Cup to the local community is rewarding.

“As a team we’ve won five trophies in the last two seasons –  a treble last season and a double this season. We’ve won our national cup and regional cup along the way.

“This is a result of high level coaching, extremely receptive and hard working players and a high performance environment.”

Squad –  Ioannis Tselios, Ru Hay, Max Pollacchi, Stephen Thomson, Declan MacDonald, Jamie Storey, JD Sinclair, Aaron Moncrieff, Massine Bekkout, McKenzie Falls, Ross Mathieson, Evan Whitely, Nathan Atkinson, Rob Gleeson, Jude Stanley, James McCallum, Connor Scott, Michael Fairweather.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has unveiled analysis by his party showing that The Scottish Government’s flagship fuel poverty scheme could take almost a hundred years to reach all eligible households.

Speaking at a campaign event at Edinburgh Zoo, he said that one in six species is in danger of becoming extinct due to global warming.

He also set out Scottish Liberal Democrat manifesto plans for a ten-year emergency upgrade programme to cut bills and emissions and warned that unless urgent action is taken our planet’s animals will suffer.

In response to a parliamentary question, the Scottish Government revealed that Warmer Homes Scotland, the Scottish Government’s fuel poverty scheme, has helped just 37,902 households since it launched nine years ago.

On average 4,566 households were helped in each year of the scheme (excluding partial year figures). That means if progress continues at the same rate, it will take around 95 years for the scheme to help the 433,000 households who are estimated to be eligible for support during phase 2.

The Scottish Government’s own estimates suggest that as of October 2022, 860,000 households were in fuel poverty.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “One in six British species are at risk of going extinct and a big part of that is down to our warming climate.

“Here in Scotland, housing is one of our biggest sources of emissions because it is cold, leaky and relies on fossil fuels.

“Improving home insulation and switching to green heating systems can be a win-win, cutting emissions and bringing down bills.

“However, the Scottish Government support scheme is a complete failure. A programme that will take almost 100 years to get the job done is failing the planet and everyone struggling with high energy bills. SNP ministers have missed climate targets year after year, but they seem content to plod along.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have set out ambitious plans to turn things around. We want to give everyone a fair deal, cutting emissions and ending fuel poverty with an emergency programme of home insulation and heat pumps.”

A councillor reprimanded for eating on camera during a meeting has apologised claiming low blood sugar was behind the incident. 

Councillor Bryan Pottinger was taken to task at last month’s meeting of Midlothian Council by Provost Debbi McColl for apparently ‘licking out his bowl’ after being asked to turn off his camera while eating. 

A furious Councillor McColl told him his behaviour was ‘absolutely inexcusable’ as she demanded he switch off his computer camera after he attended the meeting remotely. 

Councillor Pottinger, who was last year cleared of a complaint about alleged inappropriate comments about a female councillor’s underwear by the Standards Commission, told a meeting of fellow elected members he did not mean to offend anyone during his appearance. 

Speaking at yesterday’s meeting Mr Pottinger, again attending remotely, said: “I would like to apologise for the error I made that I was seen eating while I was still on camera. 

“I felt it was necessary at that time to have some sustenance as my blood sugar levels were getting low and I did consume a scone along with a hot beverage. 

“When Councillor Virgo alerted me to the fact that my camera was on in his usual humorous manner I did not mean to upset anybody, or to offend anybody with my actions.  

“I did move to put my camera off but obviously I did not move fast enough with the small buttons we have here in front of me. 

“I had explained my actions to some others previously and apologised accordingly, and I am sorry that was done. 

“I now want to express my apologies to Councillor Virgo and the whole meeting. It was never done in any deliberate attempt to offend or upset anybody and I hope the meeting can accept my apologies.” 

Councillor Debbi McColl told the elected member: “Thank you Councillor Pottinger I think we are quite happy to accept your apologies and say no more about it.” 

The row broke out during a debate on a paper about the council’s Capital Prioritisation Plan, when Councillor Virgo was speaking to the meeting and was distracted by Councillor Pottinger eating on the remote screen saying “Bryan eating his cereal there…delightful.” 

Provost Councillor McColl then reacted angrily to his response telling him: “That was really inappropriate Councillor Pottinger. I just put a message in the group to say could you turn your camera off, we don’t want to see you eating and then you looked like you were licking out your bowl.  

“That is absolutely inexcusable. I do not expect behaviour like that from any councillor, please turn your camera off.” 

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Vital improvements to health facilities in East Calder should be funded by cash from housing developers, West Lothian’s Integration Joint Board have said. 

The Board, which oversees shared primary and social care provision with NHS Lothian in the county, has already written to government ministers regarding the poor state of repair at East Calder’s medical practice. 

And now they have agreed to lobby planners on West Lothian council to use funds set aside for infrastructure such as roads to improve health Care. 

At this month’s meeting of the IJB local councillor Damian Doran-Timson said:  “I’m tempted to use the word lobby, but I’ll use the word demand. Chair, could  the IJB demand to our colleagues in planning that any future Section 75 funding  goes towards the medical practice as opposed to other areas. 

“Can we look at asking developers to put funding into the medical practice at East Calder.   I think everyone knows how serious the  the situation is.” 

Chairing the meeting councillor Tom Conn said: “I’m not quite sure we can demand but we certainly make representations to them.” 

He said planners were looking at changes for the forthcoming local development plan. 

As highlighted last week by the Local Democracy Reporting Service planning officers on the council are currently working with NHS Lothian to look at ways of securing future funding for health care infrastructure development. 

A council spokesman told the LDRS: “The council continues to work with NHS Lothian to demonstrate a robust evidence base to secure developer funding for primary care infrastructure investment. Currently there is no mechanism to allow the council to seek developer contributions for health services.” 

Such contributions could come on top of the existing Section 75 contributions which pay for education facilities and roads infrastructure on the back of new housing development.  

Yvonne Lawton, Head of Service told the meeting that developers could not be expected to fully fund primary health care facilities. 

Councillor Doran-Timson agreed but added: “Any funding we could secure would be welcome. We are getting nowhere at the moment.” 

Board member John Innes said: “ I agree. I think we should be finding any way we can to got over this problem.” 

Chairing the meeting  Councillor Tom Conn said: “I’m happy to make representations to the planners if committee agrees to that.” 

Local campaigners have been battling for almost 20 years to get improvements to the 1970s health centre. 

The building was built i to support 5,000 patients. The current patient list is almost 15,000 and the forecast is that the numbers will grow by a further 5,000 by 2028.  

Earlier this year the campaigners thought they were on the cusp of seeing a business plan for improvements when the Scottish Government announced a two-year ban on capital projects for the NHS in Scotland. 

This rules out even basic design work on plans for a new build or improved primary care facilities in West Lothian 

At a recent meeting of the IJB cross party councillors and voting members backed a letter to the Scottish Government ministers calling for action. 

This month Neil Ferguson, General Manager for Primary Care and Community Services gave an update on the Primary Care Improvement Plan. 

 He told the Board that challenges revolve around service demand, recruitment and finances. 

 He did highlight successes in developing training and retention programmes for staff and the development of a Pharmacy Hub in Stoneyburn which has continued to develop its role supporting practices by diverting pharmacy work away from individual practices. 

Referring to East Calder Mr Ferguson’s report said: “The Scottish Government freeze on Capital Planning projects has halted the progress of the Business Case for the new East Calder Medical Practice. 

“Ongoing joint working with the practice and estates colleagues continues to maximise available capacity and progress relevant maintenance or repairs to improve the state of the existing accommodation. Longer term challenges will be seen by other practices in line for capital funding consideration.” 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter