Police in West Lothian have arrested and charged a 32-year-old man following the recovery of drugs worth up to £200,000 in Livingston.

Officers executed a warrant at a property on Park Place around 10am on Tuesday, 1 April, 2025.

A quantity of herbal cannabis with an estimated street value between £160,000 and £200,000 was recovered.

The man is due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court on Friday, 9 May, 2025.

Detective Sergeant John Irvine said: “Drugs cause misery in our communities and officers continue to work to bring those responsible for the production and sale of illegal substances to justice.

“The public has an important role to assist with this and we ask anyone with information or concerns about drugs to report them via 101, or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) has launched a ten year vision to work with global partners for the conservation of the world’s plants.

The RBGE holds one of the world’s richest botanical collections in its four gardens across Scotland, including its flagship in the capital.

With more than 40% of the world’s plants thought to be in danger of extinction, the new “Living Collection Policy” details practical solutions for managing botanical collections, written “with collaboration in mind”.

A key player in a global network of botanic gardens united in their determination to mitigate the twin challenges of the biodiversity crisis and climate emergency, RBGE is active in around 50 countries worldwide, working in partnership with local agencies and individuals.

Its vision is to help create “a positive future for plants, people and the planet”.

Launching the “conservation roadmap” in Edinburgh, experts said the opportunity to save fragile habitats was looking brighter.

Simon Milne, Regius Keeper of the RBGE, highlighted the benefits of transcending political boundaries and collaborating globally.

He said: “It is estimated that there are 3000 botanic gardens worldwide, each offering a unique contribution at the international, national, or community level.

“This institute stands as one of the oldest and we are very proud of our expertise and leadership in plant science, conservation horticulture educational programmes and public engagement.

“There are countless opportunities for us to further develop collaborations, bringing together skills, passion, and expertise, to tackle one of the most urgent challenges of our time — the rapid decline of plant and fungal diversity, upon which all known life on Earth depends.”

Botanic gardens play a vital role in conservation by safeguarding species and working with partners around the world to restore and reverse the decline of in-situ plants in their natural habitats.

Raoul Curtis-Machin, RBGE’s Director of Horticulture and Visitor Experience, said there was an urgent need for transferable guidelines.

He said: “While we continue to scientifically describe new species, there is still a lot to learn about the plants we already know. Worldwide we need to accelerate and scale-up the work to fight species loss.

“Factors such as pests and pathogens and extreme weather events are challenging us to look after our trees and shrubs in new ways.

“We need to learn efficient methods of intervention to benefit the plants and people being impacted by climate change.

“None of this can be done in isolation and updating our Living Collection Policy equips us and others around the world to step up to the plate to meet the biodiversity crisis head-on.”

RBGE, whose stated mission is “to explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future”, holds 13,521 different species from 152 countries in its living collection.

The five pillars of the policy — compliance, curation, cultivation, conservation, and communication — are accompanied by practical graphic appendices. These set out key regulatory and naming protocols to ensure that work done meets international regulations on the collection and cultivation of plant material for scientific research purposes and the benefit of humanity.

Guidance is also provided on the communication and education required to engage and excite future generations to create a sustainable world.

The plan comes just weeks after a research paper led by Cambridge University Botanic Garden revealed the quality of living collections around the world is gradually deteriorating, but also cited work emitting from RBGE as bucking trends in conservation partnerships.

Mr Milne added: “Each botanic garden has its own unique contribution — from our leadership in genomics and taxonomy, to Karoo Desert’s conservation work, Singapore’s orchid expertise and Tromsø’s alpine specialisations. Even smaller community gardens, such as one in the Sundarbans in the Ganges delta, play a crucial role in supporting health and ecology while preserving valuable knowledge.

“This diversity speaks to one fundamental truth: while major institutions often lead in plant science, conservation and education, we must recognise the collective power of the entire network and ensure we all share knowledge and resources for the greater good.

“This policy is a tool for collaboration, providing a framework to care for living collections worldwide.”

More than 300 reported rapes involving children aged 15 and under were reported in just nine months last year.

Police Scotland data shows that 302 young people reported being raped between April and December, accounting for almost 15% of all serious sexual assaults reported during the period.

Scottish Conservative shadow minister for victims and community safety, Sharon Dowey MSP, described the scale of rapes and sexual assaults carried out on children as “truly sickening” and said they inflicted “life-long emotional scars”.

She said: “We owe it to vulnerable youngsters to ensure that predatory adults who ruin lives are punished appropriately and that no rapist escapes prison because of the SNP’s relentless weakening of the justice system, which includes their indefensible under-25s sentencing guidelines.

“SNP ministers cannot turn a blind eye to this issue and must provide Police Scotland with the resources they need to closely monitor predatory offenders in our communities to help keep young people safe.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson, Liam McArthur, said: “There is major work still to be done to get justice for victims of sexual crimes. That is especially acute in the case of horrendous crimes being perpetrated against children and young people.

“One of the key factors will be to drive down court backlogs so that people do not fear their case will drag on for years.

“Police officers and staff work tirelessly to keep our communities safe but it’s clear that a lack of resources and the loss of valuable civilian expertise has had a significant impact. Victims must have confidence that their cases will be dealt with swiftly and sensitively.”

Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children First, Scotland’s national children’s charity, said the “heartbreaking reality” is that the figures “only tell part of the story”.

She said: “We know that one in three children who are sexually abused don’t tell an adult at the time. Children need to know that when they speak out, they will get the help they need to recover and see justice is done.

“Children First introduced Scotland’s first Bairns Hoose to provide world-leading support to help children who have been abused and we welcome Police Scotland’s acknowledgement that Bairns Hoose provides the best support for recovery.

“Children can’t protect themselves. They need adults to look out for them.”

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson acknowledges children and young people under 16 are “potentially one of the most vulnerable communities that Police Scotland serve”.

In a deep dive analysis of rape and sexual crime, he said: “In 2019, the Scottish Child Interview Model (SCIM) for joint investigative interviews was introduced, which is a trauma informed, best practice model which seeks to secure best evidence for court processes and to inform assessment of risk to the child and other children.

“Children and young people are interviewed by officers and social workers that have the specialist training and knowledge for forensic interviewing of children and who can contribute to the ongoing support and aftercare of the child.”

Bairns Hoose

ACC Johnson said work on 11 Bairns’ Hoose sites across Scotland got underway in January. They are designed to ensure children and young people who have been victims and witnesses of abuse or violence receive appropriate assessment, treatment and support from the moment they disclose abuse, or abuse is suspected or alleged.

He said: “The model connects services and Police Scotland, along with local partnerships, are building their Bairns’ Hooses to support our commitment to tacking rape and sexual crime in the best way for our children.”

The number of rapes overall have reached a record high accounting for almost 20% of all sex crimes. Data shows rapes involving female and male victims have surged with 2056 incidents reported between April and December, up 286 crimes compared to the previous year representing an increase of around 20%.

A force report says: “Recorded rape is at the highest level over the six year period and accounts for almost one fifth of overall sexual crime. Rape crimes continue to rise and recorded figures are at the highest level since comparable figures began.”

The majority of incidents involved a female victim with 70.2% of all rapes committed against women aged over 16 – a 41.8% increase from 1018 crimes in 2019/20 to 1,444 in 2024/25.

Data shows that incidents involving male victims over the age of 16 also reached record levels with 61 crimes being reported.

Police Scotland says this is “the highest volume of crimes recorded for this crime classification”, while the number of rapes involving girls aged 13-15 have also risen compared to the previous year.

Detective Chief Superintendent Sarah Taylor said: “Rape and serious sexual crime remains under-reported and I want to assure victims of such crimes that they will be supported and listened to by specialist officers.

“We will always take a victim centred approach to all reports of sexual offences.

“Every report is thoroughly investigated, with sensitivity and professionalism, by specially trained liaison officers who will support victims and signpost to appropriate support.

“If someone doesn’t feel ready to report the crime to the police, the national self-referral protocol for victims of rape and sexual crime gives people access to appropriate support and healthcare services, as well as allowing for the collection of potential evidence. When people do feel ready to report we are here to listen and investigate every report.”

Musselburgh Racecourse launches its exciting 2025 Flat season today (2 April) with 16 high-quality meetings scheduled through to November, and featuring enhanced prize money with an ambitious programme which will appeal to both racing enthusiasts and those looking for a great day out.

The opening raceday is followed by two major April fixtures during the Easter holidays which gets the East Lothian course off to a flying start. First up is the prestigious Sky Bet Sunday Series Raceday on Sunday, 13 April, with £200,000 in prize money across seven races, all televised live on ITV.

This is swiftly followed by the Virgin Bet Easter Saturday Raceday on 19 April, featuring a card worth nearly £300,000, headlined by the £100,000 Queen’s Cup and supported by the Scottish Sprint Cup.

Musselburgh Racecourse Director, Bill Farnsworth, said: “April’s going to be busy with two cracking racedays, hopefully with some nice spring weather. Both the 13th and 19th of April fixtures fall during the Easter holidays, offering two great opportunities for people to come racing.”

The calendar builds toward the Edinburgh Cup, in partnership with Edinburgh Gin, on Saturday, 7 June, where the two feature races – the Edinburgh Cup and the Queen of Scots Listed race – each offer £50,000 in prize money.

“It’s a high-quality card, with horses that will be heading for Royal Ascot a couple of weeks later,” said Farnsworth. “Last year, Pilgrim won our sprint handicap for three year olds and went on to claim victory in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes at Royal Ascot.”

The summer season continues with the increasingly popular The 90s Friday Night at the Races on 1 August. “We’ll be giving a nod to Oasis, who are playing in Edinburgh the following week, but we’ll also be featuring lots of other great tunes from that period. It’s a good party night that attracts more popular every year as people come down after work for an evening at the races,” Farnsworth explained.

The summer season peaks with Ladies Day, sponsored by Pommery Champagne, which Farnsworth anticipates “will be another amazing spectacle and the 20^th consecutive year as a sell-out event.”

Musselburgh moves into late summer with Oktoberfest, which was launched last year and returns bigger and better after proving extremely popular with racegoers. This themed weekend includes the two-and-a-quarter-mile Musselburgh Gold Cup on Saturday, 13 September – the longest flat race in Scotland – followed by the Students Raceday on Sunday 14 September.

The Scottish Flat Season Finale concludes the flat racing season in Scotland on Wednesday 6 November, with Musselburgh switching to jumps racing over the winter on Friday, 28 November.

While many racecourses across the UK have struggled with attendance since the pandemic, Musselburgh is happily exceeding pre-COVID attendance levels.

Bill Farnsworth added: “Nationally, attendances are slowly recovering from the  COVID pandemic, whereas Musselburgh is without doubt bucking the trend and we’re above and beyond pre-COVID levels.

“Despite wider challenges facing the racing industry, including rising costs and the impact of new gambling legislation, Musselburgh is continuing to stage bigger and better racing events providing an exceptional experience.

“The part of the business that’s in our control is delivering superb race days, and that’s what we will continue to do. Our priority above everything else is giving people a great experience when they visit the racecourse.”

The full fixture list is available at www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk

Breakfast for free (for some)

Edinburgh’s newest brunch spot, Pantry, is opening its second location in Bruntsfield. To celebrate the owners are offering 50 free breakfasts split between Wednesday, 2 April and Thursday, 3 April.

Pantry is bringing its renowned breakfast, brunch, and lunch offerings to the former site of Honeycomb & Co. serving up fresh, locally sourced ingredients. It has become a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts, with its viral Pantry Waffles which feature homemade Belgian waffles with blueberry compote, fresh blueberries and 100% Canadian maple syrup, and Pantry Fry which includes posh pork sausages, streaky smoked bacon, Stornoway black pudding, Cambell’s prime haggis, smoked paprika grill tomato, baked beans, confit mushroom, crispy hash browns and free range poached egg.

Peter Borgen-Nielsen, Pantry’s co-owner, said: “Bruntsfield has always been on our radar as a neighbourhood that values great food, a warm atmosphere, and community spirit. We’re incredibly excited to bring Pantry’s signature dishes and welcoming environment to the area, and what better way to celebrate than by treating 50 customers to a delicious breakfast?”

https://www.thepantryedinburgh.co.uk

Spring Statement

Rachel Reeves will appear at a Treasury Committee session on last week’s Spring Statement later today. The link is here. The beginning of this discussion was of course last Wednesday when the UK Chancellor presented the statement. But also the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) answered questions on its economic and fiscal forecast, at 10.00am on Tuesday 1 April. MPs then gathered the views of leading economists later that day at 2/05pm on Tuesday 1 April.

The Treasury Committee will question the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon. Rachel Reeves MP, on her Spring Statement at 2.30pm on Wednesday 2 April.

Leith Central Community Council

The inaugural meeting of the newly elected Leith Central Community Council, and immediately following that the ordinary monthly meeting of Leith Central Community Council will take place on Tuesday, 22 April 2025 at 7pm.

The agenda of the inaugural meeting of the newly elected Leith Central Community Council is below:

Agenda for the inaugural meeting of the newly elected Leith Central Community Council 22 April 2022 chaired by the Returning Officer

1. Welcome and introductions
2. Apologies
3. Declarations of interest

4. Confirmation of Community Council Name

5. Declaration of Election Result
6. Appointment of Office Bearers: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Engagement and Inclusion Officer

7. Community Council Representatives to attend induction event on 26 April 2025 or online sessions on 28 and 29 April
2025
6. Handover to newly elected Chair

The statutory agenda of the ordinary monthly meeting is below (to be ratified at the beginning of the meeting).

Agenda for the ordinary monthly LCCC Meeting 22 April 2025

1. Welcome, introductions, attendance, apologies, declarations of interest
2. Approval of Minutes of previous meeting
3. Matters Arising
4. Policing Matters
5. Planning
6. Transport & Clean Streets
7. LCCC Governance
8. Parks & Green Spaces
9. Licensing
10. Open Forum for Local Residents and Businesses
11. Bulletin
12. Future Meetings and planned meeting topics/presentations

Detailed meeting papers will be posted in the cloud at http://bit.ly/LCCCpapers (past papers back to 2014).

The meeting papers will also be on LCCC’s website (meetings page: http://leithcentralcc.co.uk/reports) in due course

The Wee Bike Library

The Wee Bike Library is a programme based in Edinburgh run by The Bike Station which allows families to borrow children’s bikes for free and exchange those bikes for the next size up as their offspring grow. It has been operating since August 2023.
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The aim is to remove barriers that families face when trying to access bikes for their children, such as not being able to purchase a new bike every year or so. It is also aimed at encouraging cycling from an early age in order to promote active travel and change behaviour around transport methods.
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When using the Wee Bike Library, customers can also borrow a set of lights, lock and helmet to use with their bike. Borrowed bikes can also be repaired for free during the loan period.

The Bike Station has now announced that it has moved to new premises at 141 Lauriston Place EH3 9JN – formerly the home of the Cargo Bike Movement and Farr Out. A spokesperson said: “This marks an exciting new chapter for our work in sustainable inclusive, community driven cycling. While we are sad to see Cargo Bike Movement wind up as custodians of their vision and mission we will continue to promote how cargo bikes are an essential part of the future of sustainable transport offering practical low-carbon solutions for individuals, families and businesses. As we settle into our new home we are eager to share how subject to funding we can further integrate cargo bikes into our work – alongside projects like the Wee Bike Library and Shifting Gears – to make cycling more accessible to all. The move to Lauriston Place is more than just a change of location, it’s an opportunity to reimagine how cycling can serve our communities. This space will allow us to continue to refurbish bikes, reducing waste and reinvesting in people and places all while championing cargo bikes as a key part of Edinburgh’s sustainable future.

“We are grateful for the support of our community as we take this step forward. While we don’t yet have an official opening date we anticipate welcoming you to the new space in late spring to early summer 2025. Stay connected with us on social media and via our website for updates.”

https://www.thebikestation.org.uk

Solas festival fundraiser

Solas Festival is a midsummer celebration of the arts, ideas, and wellbeing, returning on 20-22 June to Errol Park in Perthshire – and they need your help to keep the magic alive.

A spokesperson for the festival explained to The Edinburgh Reporter: “For 16 years, we’ve created a vibrant temporary community where people from all walks of life can come together to experience diverse art forms, engage in meaningful conversations, and foster a sense of unity. Our mission is to inspire change, spark conversations, and create a space where everyone belongs. As a not-for-profit charity, Solas Festival is dedicated to fostering creativity, inclusivity, and community.”

The Festival has begun a fundraiser to ensure it can continue although arrangements have already been made for this year. The festival faces rising costs and funding challenges like many other Scottish festivals. If you can contribute then click here.

Bonus item

A gorse fire at Hillend yesterday was tackled by three fire appliances.

Read more here.

It’s a fresh Spring night in the city centre and an eclectic group of fans file into the elegant splendour of the Usher Hall. With no support, Van Morrison walks on stage at 7.55 pm looking slim in a neat light blue suit and white Panama hat.

He takes up his saxophone for an idiosyncratic but enjoyable rendition of The Skye Boat Song. Sunglasses are removed only once to read some lyrics during the entire performance. Backing singer Dana Masters is impressive as always but especially during Did Ye Get Healed? and Have I Told You Lately. There were some real gems in the set-list for hardcore Vanatics including Dweller On The Threshold. Morrison will turn 80 in August with no signs of his voice diminishing.

Many of his contemporaries continue to tour long after the muse has vanquished but with his 47th long-player Down To Joy in the pipeline Morrison’s shows no sign of diminishing. There’s an arresting version of Star of the County Down. Van’s sax adds an early rock n’ roll flavour spliced with Celtic soul to the Irish standard he recorded in 1988 with The Chieftains for their collaboration Irish Heartbeat. The Belfast-born singer is in fine form and even delivers a few chuckles, one noticeable when introducing the band.

There’s no mistaking the infectious smile of Sticky Wicket on washboard. Dave Keary’s Gibson 335 rings out some sweet tones throughout the night, but there’s no mistaking the grittier sound as Gloria’s opening chords ring out across the hall. When Morrison gives the harmonica a blast the atmosphere ramps up another level during this storming set-closer.

After Morrison says goodnight he’s off but the band plays on to rapturous applause, and the audience is on their feet in appreciation.

Scotland Women’s Under-23 squad will head to Pinatar this week to take part in a friendly tournament along with 12 other European nations. 

The young team will open the competition against Denmark on Thursday, 3 April and will face either France or Portugal three days later.  

Hibs quartet Tegan Bowie, Erin Clachers, Michaela McAlonie  and Kathleen McGovern are joined in the squad by Bayley Hutchison, Kayla Jardine, Rachael Johnstone and Eilidh Shore from Hearts. 

The Under-19s are also in action with Round 2 of UEFA European qualifiers. They face off against Czechia, Spain and Switzerland in a mini tournament hosted in Scotland. 

There are 3 games that stand between the Under-19s and this summer’s finals in Poland and they will be played on 2, 5 ad 8 April respectively. 

Three Hearts players are in the squad, Olivia Chomczuk who is on loan to Spartans, Brodie Greenwood and Ashley Robertson who are both on loan to Dundee Utd. 

Scotland Women’s Under-23s 

Eilidh Austin                    Rangers (on loan to Motherwell) 

Tegan Bowie                    Hibernian 

Louisa Boyes                  Motherwell 

Jasmine Bull                    Portsmouth 

Erin Clachers                  Hibernian 

Morgan Cross                 Celtic 

Bayley Hutchison          Heart of Midlothian 

Kayla Jardine                   Heart of Midlothian 

Rachael Johnstone       Heart of Midlothian 

Paige McAllister             Arna-Bjornar 

Michaela McAlonie       Hibernian 

Maria McAneny              Celtic 

Kathleen McGovern      Hibernian 

Shannon McGregor       Celtic 

Jodi McLeary                   Rangers 

Jamie Lee Napier           Bristol City 

Eilidh Shore                     Heart of Midlothian 

Charlotte Wardlaw        Newcastle United 

Chloe Warrington          Glasgow City 

Megan Wearing              Ipswich Town 

Scotland Women’s Under-19s 

Aimee Black                    Aberdeen 

Lucy Barclay                   Celtic (on loan to Motherwell) 

Laura Berry                      Rangers 

Lucie Burns                     Kilmarnock 

Olivia Chomczuk           Hearts (on loan to Spartans) 

Mason Clark                   Motherwell 

Fallon Connolly-Jackson Sheffield United 

Ava Easdon                     Glasgow City 

Maddie Finnie               Aberdeen 

Lisa Forrest                     Glasgow City 

Georgia Gray                   Partick Thistle 

Brodie Greenwood        Hearts (on loan to Dundee Utd) 

Lisa Maher-Rodgers      Celtic 

Eloise Morran                 Norwich City 

Amelia Oldroyd              Manchester United (on loan to Burnley) 

Ashley Robertson          Hearts (on loan to Dundee Utd) 

Sophie Townsley            Rangers (on loan to Hamilton) 

Ella West                          Sunderland 

The SPFL Board has approved a new policy which will allow William Hill Premiership clubs to postpone one specific league match next season to enhance preparations for UEFA Play-Off round qualifiers.

The move allows clubs to postpone their William Hill Premiership fixture in matchday three, which is scheduled to take place on the weekend of 23/24 August, between the first and second legs of the UEFA Play-Off round fixtures in the 2025/26 season.

The SPFL’s Competitions Working Group had been exploring how the league could best support clubs aiming to reach the league phase of UEFA competitions amid an extremely congested fixture calendar, due to the additional dates required for UEFA club competitions from this season.

The Competitions Working Group – which includes a number of top flight clubs – has now unanimously made a recommendation to the SPFL Board to introduce a policy allowing any club participating in a match in a UEFA Club Competition Play-Off round to apply to the SPFL for a postponement of its William Hill Premiership round 3 match without the consent of its opponent. To date, any such postponement would have required the agreement of the opposing club and the league.

The new policy, which has the support of the SPFL’s broadcast partners, has been approved by the SPFL Board for season 2025/26.

Calum Beattie, SPFL chief operating officer, said: “We are understandably very keen to support our clubs in qualifying for the league phase of UEFA competitions. There are huge benefits in having our clubs in the latter stages of European football. Not only does it help Scotland’s UEFA coefficient ranking and the reputation of our league, but there are clear commercial benefits for the competing clubs, as well as important solidarity payments for our non-participating clubs.

“It is possible we will have a number of clubs participating in the play-off round for UEFA competitions in season 2025/26 but due to the extremely congested nature of our fixture calendar, our options to support clubs are unfortunately very limited.

“This new policy has received extremely positive feedback from our clubs on the SPFL Competitions Working Group, which believe it will be beneficial in their aims of reaching the league phase of UEFA competitions, and we’re pleased to be introducing it for next season.”

In season 2025/26, William Hill Premiership winners will enter the Champions League in the Play-Off round, while Premiership runners-up will enter in qualifying round 2. The team in third place will enter at Europa League qualifying round 2, and the fourth placed team will enter the Conference League in qualifying round 2. The Scottish Cup winners – or the club which finishes third, if the Scottish Cup is won by the William Hill Premiership winners – will enter the Europa League play-off round.

Coffee drinking, as a mass participation activity, is relatively new in the UK. Costa may have started in 1971 but it was only after it was acquired by Whitbread in 1995 that it became the behemoth it is today. The arrival of ‘indy chain’ Blank Street coffee in Edinburgh is representative of coffee’s seemingly inexorable growth.

Growing costs 

One thing that might put a break on this seemingly inexorable growth is cost. £3.64 is currently the average price for espresso-based drinks in the UK. In Edinburgh, the price of a flat white is creeping up to 4 quid. Part of this is due to the cost of raw materials. The price of beans is on the rise, with supply affected by many factors, including climate change. In Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producing nation, droughts have severely affected recent harvests. In Vietnam, typhoons and heat waves have resulted in diminished crops. 

However, despite the average price of a cup of coffee rising, we are buying more of it! According to Allegra World Coffee Portal’s  report, more than 6 billion pounds was spent in UK coffee shops in 2024. More than 500 coffee shops opened in the UK last year and it is predicted another 2000 will open by 2030! Clearly we are nowhere near ‘peak coffee’!

Social polarisation? 

The arrival of new ‘posh’ coffee places doesn’t meet with universal approval. The differing responses are a microcosm of wider disputes about our changing city, feeding into a sense of social polarisation. When entering  such coffee places, there’s little doubt that the customers represent a specific slice of Edinburgh. The customers are younger than average, often students and ‘knowledge workers’, able to take their slim laptops anywhere, as they work in a hybrid or remote fashion. 

These tensions have been illustrated by the arrival of ‘indy chain’ Blank Street coffee in Edinburgh, at two locations – Victoria Street and Princes Street. Founded in 2020 in Brooklyn, Blank Street opened their first British store in the UK, in London, in 2022.

A mixed reaction

Some of the disquiet raised online connects to wider concerns about the changing character of the city.

Some of this feeds into wider debates about cultural change. The political scientists Pippa Norris and Ronald Inglehart have talked about the discombobulating character of rapid social and cultural change. This is, some people feel, uprooting things they value. As Norris put it, ‘many people felt that the things which they took for granted, the things which they regarded as important for themselves in their community and their country, those things were being lost.’ Some see the seemingly irreversible decline of our high streets and closure of much loved shops as evidence of a form of cultural erasure. 

Further, the rise of ‘posh’ coffee places can be seen as an implicit critique of mass tastes. Their favourite places, whether chain or an old fashioned local cafe, seen as offering an inferior product. Their  customers are, as Norris puts it, ‘sort of culturally dismissed’. That, in short, the quality of coffee you drink (and where you drink it) says something about you as a person. 

Too many coffee places?

One consistent theme in the online reaction was the notion that Edinburgh surely already has enough cafes. ’Did we really need another overpriced coffee shop?’ As noted, there are far more than in the past, ranging from greasy spoons (a declining number), the ‘multi-unit operators’ (the chains), and independents . A new coffee force are  ‘Indy chains’, such as 200 Degrees and Blank Street, which emulate aesthetic aspects of the specialty coffee scene, and its focus on quality. This is part of a ‘premiumisation’ of coffee, of treating it more like fine wine, not just as a fuel. But, too many?

In contrast to many other European nations, the UK remains well behind. Edinburgh has often been described as the ‘Athens of the North’, but the modern Greek capital has far more cafes (per head), especially in residential areas, where you will find many basic ‘kafenio’ serving the older generations.

The argument that we have too many cafes overlooks that the vast majority I visit or pass are busy. As an illustration, I passed Blank Street’s Victoria Street branch on five consecutive days. On each day, the place was packed, with substantial queues outside.

Purely a tourist city?

The counter would be to wonder who these people were; were they locals? Victoria Street is one of Edinburgh’s most ‘instagramable’ streets. It’s also close to the National Library-I suspect that a number of those filling Blank Street were tourists and students. This connects to the idea that the city is increasingly being run for the benefit of these groups, with Council Tax payers treated as second class citizens. As one person put it, ‘turning into purely a tourist city, which we could all see was happening’. Concerns about ‘yet more student housing’ ranks just below complaints about potholes among the recurrent themes in online ‘discourse’ about the city. The perception that there are far too many coffee shops is also regularly expressed. 

One of those commenting on Blank Street’s arrival talked of the city centre increasingly dominated by ‘student accommodation, hotels, residential areas for rich people, and coffee Shops’. This feeds into the sense of the city changing its character, no longer focused on its long-term residents. Coffee is clearly fuelling much more than just our working days. This includes some of the debate about the future of the city. 

Action is needed to help new build housing estates where pavements, playparks or basic infrastructure have not been completed years after residents moved in, a councillor has said.

Among the areas reported to have issues is the south of Edinburgh, where several new, expansive estates have been built on previously open land in recent years.

Now, Labour councillor James Dalgleish, the convener of the Planning Committee, has put forward a motion calling for the council to explore forcing developers to complete infrastructure works in a ‘timely manner’.

The motion reads: “The frustration of residents across Edinburgh who are living with unfinished aspects of newly constructed developments, such as roads, pavements and cycle routes is still evident.

“That work is not required to be complete such as infrastructure related to travel that can cause serious disruption to people’s daily lives in the vicinity of the development.

“There are active cases where disruption from uncompleted works has continued for several years after properties have been occupied in developments.”

Councillor Dalgleish said: “A number of residents across Edinburgh in new build homes have spoken to me about their frustration that despite moving into their new home several years ago, their street lighting, pavements and roads are still not complete.

“These delays cause serious disruption to people’s daily lives and builders have a responsibility to do these works promptly.

“I hope by passing this motion we can focus on how the Council can support home owners – and builders – to make sure that all essential infrastructure work is completed in a timely manner, and that residents know where to go when they need assistance.”

Ian Murray, the Labour MP for Edinburgh South, has run a petition for over three years calling for action on the issue, pulling in over 3,000 signatures.

He says that some blame lies with the Scottish Government, for overruling Edinburgh Council denials of permission to build new estates.

He said: “I’ve heard from countless residents forced to live with unfinished roads, pavements, playparks, and basic infrastructure. This is simply not acceptable.

“That’s why I’m pleased that Councillor James Dalgleish has listened to residents and is now taking this issue forward at the Council.

“James has worked constructively with me to push for change and to start holding developers to account. His motion to the Planning Committee is an important and welcome step towards greater transparency and enforcement at a local level.

“But let’s be clear — the responsibility doesn’t stop at the City Chambers. For too long, the Scottish Government has failed to act. It has allowed developers to run riot without proper oversight, leaving residents stuck in the middle.”

By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter

Parents are being told to stop texting or calling their children during class time at schools across Midlothian.

Secondary schools across the county have introduced bans on mobile phones being used when pupils are in lessons but a meeting of Midlothian councillors heard it was not just youngsters who needed to curb their habits.

Elected members heard parents also had to stop contacting their youngsters during the day on their mobile devices instead being told ‘in an emergency’ to call the school office to get a message to them.

A report presented to councillors said head teachers at all six of Midlothian’s secondary schools had worked together to set out guidelines for mobile phone use.

And it revealed plans were now underway to produce similar guidance for primary schools which will be brought in from August this year.

The report said that while secondary schools approaches differed – with pupils either being asked to put mobile devices in ‘pockets’ set up in the classroom before sitting at their desks, or to keep them in their bags – the guiding principles of supporting a “focused and engaging learning environment, free from the distractions of mobile phone use” were shared.

It said general policy for schools was that mobile phones must be switched off and out of sight during class time; phones should be stored in bags, designated storage pouches, or secure locations; phones cannot be kept in students’ pockets or placed on desks during lessons; phones may only be used during break and lunchtime unless a teacher instructs otherwise for educational purposes and persistent non-compliance will result in the phone being held centrally during class time, with parental notification.

However it added that while there were exemptions for medical or wellbeing issues, the policy also extended to parents and carers adding they could support schools by “refraining from texting or calling students during class times”.

Councillor Ellen Scott, the administration spokesperson for education, said she had visited schools to see the policy in action and she said cracking down on mobile phone use also helped prepare pupils for future jobs.

She said: “The head teachers and staff are on it and have very good policies in place.

“The pupils are getting a break from their phones for seven periods, they are in the pockets or in their bags but I think one of the most important things we took away is that the schools are getting pupils into good behaviour with their phones.

“When they go into the workplace they know the cannot be looking at their phones all the time because employers are saying that students are coming out of school addicted to their phones.”

And Councillor Scott said parents needed to learn from the guidelines as well.

She said: “One of the things though is that parents actually phone their children quite a lot during the day. This policy and guidance is for parents as well. If there is an emergency phone the school office don’t just phone their (the child’s) phone.”

The report to councillors on mobile phone policy was for noting.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Detectives in West Lothian are appealing for information after two cars were stolen in Uphall.

The incident happened between 12am and 6am on Tuesday, 1 April, 2025 outside a property on South Middleton.

A black Volkswagen Golf GTI and a black Volkswagen Passat were taken.

Detective Sergeant Derek Smith said: “Enquiries are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone who saw anything suspicious to contact us.

“We also ask anyone with private CCTV or dashcam footage of the area at the time to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 0514 of Tuesday, 1 April, 2025.

Councillors have voiced their anger at being unable to act after 100-year-old oak trees were removed at the site of a proposed new entrance to a field before planning permission was granted.

Michael Scott, whose family own a free range egg farm in East Lothian,  applied for permission to erect an agricultural building on land behind his home in Boggs Holdings, near Pencaitland, as well as creating a new entrance from the road into it.

However a meeting of East Lothian planning committee heard seven objections had been raised by local residents in the tiny community, with concerns that work appeared to have already begun on the entrance, and the loss of the trees, among those raised.

Councillor Colin McGinn, a local ward member, questioned whether permission had been needed to remove the oak trees at the site after Mr Scott told the meeting one of the trees had been brought down across the road itself during storms.

However Councillor McGinn was told there was no need for the owners of the land to seek permission before taking down the trees, which were at the space now proposed as the entrance into the field.

Mr McGinn told the committee: “I am astonished you don’t need permission for this kind of tree felling and I am surprised even though you don’t need permission you’d think there would be some environmental conscience  before felling two 100-year-old oak trees. Just because you don’t need a licence doesn’t make it right. I am disappointed.”

Councillor Shona McIntosh urged the council’s biodiversity officers to ensure any permission for the entrance included actions to mitigate for the loss of trees on the site.

But she said: “You cannot make up for the loss of a 100-year-old tree.”

Mr Scott applied for permission to put an agricultural building on land he owns behind his home and access ot from the B road running past it.

Objectors said the new access would add to road safety issues on an already ‘dangerous’ road which saw speed reduced from 60 mph to 40mph in recent years to deal with local concerns about accidents.

Some of the objectors were concerned the new building would see hens being brought to the site because of the applicants’ family business East Lothian Eggs, however they were assured the barn would be for storing equipment linked to the business and occasion ‘overwintering’ of some livestock but no hens.

Mr Scott said he had been unable to find land to build a home at Howden, where the business is based and had no intention of bringing any hens to the Boggs Holdings site which he said was for storage and may be used for livestock during lambing season or  for ‘overwintering’.

While concerns were raised about the trees being felled and work appearing to have started on the access ahead of permission being granted, the planning committee approved the application with only Councillor McGinn objecting to the plans.

.By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Community groups have spoken out against an ultra-modern house planned for a New Town street, warning that it would ruin one of the only views of Calton Hill from the west.

Sited at 12 Blenheim Place, the proposed home would sit beside the historic Greenside Parish Church, designed by famed Scottish architect James Gillespie Graham.

Planning permission  was rejected in October last year, but the developers have since lodged an appeal, which is set to be considered by councillors this week.

The two-storey home would have a largely flat roof and be of sandstone construction, appearing as a single-storey home from street level.

The New Town and Broughton Community Council objected to the original application, and say they still stand by their concerns.

The community council says that the house would not respect the historical setback line designed by urban planner William Playfair, which other buildings in the area respect.

And it said the structure would block one of the ‘few views of Calton Hill’ from the west.

They further said that the plot of land should be considered as woodland, as until a 2017 tree removal by the council it was a rare piece of ‘urban woodland’.

Edinburgh World Heritage, a charity which works to maintain the UNESCO world heritage site over the city, also spoke out against the original application.

In a submission to the council, it said: “The nature of changing a historically landscape setting that contributes to numerous heritage values to a low building would unavoidably have a negative heritage impact.”

The group pointed to the impact it would have on the presentation of Greenside Parish Church, and also discussed the negative impact it would have on views of Calton Hill.

Further, it said that the ‘public benefits’ of building a single home on the plot of land were limited.

However, not everyone is opposed to the development. One local, Jasmine Gilham, said: “I’m not too sure. I think it fits well with some of the other buildings. When I’ve walked around Calton Hill, I feel like it would fit in. I’m a fan.”

Historic Environment Scotland had objected to earlier development plans on the site which involved building two three-storey homes, but did not object to the current plans.

According to them, the low-rising nature of the planned structure – while still impacting the setting of the church – did not bring them the same level of concern as the previous plans.

However, they did suggest that the developers consider amending the design so that it falls behind the setback line developed by Playfair.

Officers have recommended that councillors reject the appeal due to its impact on the conservation area overlaying New Town and the world heritage site.

By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter

The East Retail Crime Task Force was recently launched in response to an increase in offending against retailers in the area. 

As part of ongoing efforts to address this issue, two women, both aged 42, have been arrested in connection with separate incidents in central Edinburgh.  

They are facing a combined total of 25 charges, which include theft, police assault, breach of bail conditions, and offences against retail workers.  

Both women are due to appear in court. 

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “The task force remains committed to ensuring community safety and protecting local businesses from criminal activity.  

“We encourage retailers to continue reporting incidents promptly so we can take swift and appropriate action.” 

I had a fabulous city break to Madrid where I indulged in what might be my favourite holiday pastime – letting someone else do all the planning.

Devour Tours guided our small group of six through a delicious three-hour adventure, walking in the footsteps of our local guide Liliana from neighbourhood cafés to traditional markets and everything in between.

We visited decades-old establishments that form the backbone of Madrid’s city centre – the places that make the Spanish capital what it is. The tour featured everything from melt-in-your-mouth jamón ibérico to only-in-Madrid specialties like a fried calamari sandwich, and of course, those heavenly churros dipped in decadent chocolate.

Yes, it might have been cheaper to organise it myself, but I’ve found that exploring with a local offers insights you simply won’t get from a guidebook. Plus, it’s a wonderful way to meet fellow travellers with similar interests.

The experience got me thinking—why wait for a foreign holiday when Edinburgh has its own myriad of food and drink experiences waiting on our doorstep?

Here are some of my favorites that might inspire your next staycation adventure.

The Chocolatarium

This award-winning tour is one I return to time and time again. I’ve done it with god-children and friends, and every visit delivers something different while always being educational and fun.

Their Tour of Chocolate (£25) lets you discover the magic of where chocolate comes from, see and smell how it’s made, sample over 40 flavours in the Tasting Room, and create your very own dream chocolate bar to take home. I’ve just spotted they also offer a more grown-up Chocolate and Wine pairing (£44) right up my street!

https://www.chocolatarium.co.uk/

Edinburgh Gin Tours

Nestled in the historic arches of Edinburgh’s Old Town, the recently opened Edinburgh Gin Distillery offers an immersive experience where innovation, craft, and flavour converge.

They have several enticing options from their Classic Tour and Tasting (£28) to their Mix & Muddle Cocktail Class (£50). My personal favourite is their Decadent Duo: Chocolate and Gin (£35). This 90-minute sensory journey begins with an immersive distillery tour and finishes with a tasting of their finest gins, expertly matched with hand-selected chocolates from COCO Chocolatier.

Why not reward yourself with a bracing walk up Calton Hill on a beautiful day to enjoy the views, then finish with a tour at Edinburgh Gin and a cocktail or two? Their bar, with views out to Calton Hill, is open to the public and offers fabulous creations from their talented mixologists.

https://www.edinburghgin.com/

Johnnie Walker Experience

Johnnie Walker on Princes Street offers several whisky-focused tours. Their Luxury Whisky & Artisanal Chocolate Pairing (£65) takes you on a unique journey to expertly nose and taste exceptional whiskies, each paired with a luxury Scottish chocolate truffle created by award-winning Highland Chocolatier Iain Burnett.

A highlight is their introduction to Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ice Chalet (43% ABV), a brand-new innovation launched in October 2024. With notes of blood oranges, red berries, sweet wood spice, and hints of smoked meat and salt, it’s inspired by the beauty of winter and Après Ski with friends.

For a more affordable option, their 1.5-hour Journey of Flavour (£30) includes a personalized flavour quiz and three delicious whisky cocktails tailored to your taste profile. Afterward, treat yourself to a visit to their 1820 rooftop bar, which commands wonderful views toward Edinburgh Castle—booking recommended!

https://www.johnniewalker.com

Swirl Sip Socialise

For a luxury tasting tour personalised just for you and a group of friends, I highly recommend Joanne Frette, DipWSET, who runs Swirl Sip Socialise. Whether you’re a beginner or connoisseur, her unique approach makes wine and whisky tasting accessible and exciting.

She offers curated tastings, food and wine pairing dinners, private or small group restaurant tours in Edinburgh, and even virtual tasting events that bring friends together, no matter where they are.

https://swirlsipsocialise.com/

Breaking the Rules: Molton Brown and Wine Experience

One of the first rules taught on wine courses is never to wear fragrance during tastings. However, sometimes it’s fun to challenge convention! On April 24th, Wine Events Scotland’s Diana Thompson and Genna from Molton Brown are hosting a sensory experience.

After learning about Molton Brown’s Flora Luminaire fragrance, you’ll taste four wines and compare how the Eau de Parfum pairs with each. Will it enhance or detract from the experience? Will everyone have the same reaction? You’ll also take home a fabulous Molton Brown goodie bag worth £20.

https://wineeventsscotland.co.uk/events/fragrance-wine-experience-flora-luminaire/

I’ve barely scratched the surface of the wonderful food and drink tours available in Edinburgh. So, if you can’t afford a city break just now, why not organise your own staycation? Be a tourist in your own backyard and explore what our magnificent capital has to offer.

Your taste buds will thank you.

A fire has taken hold at Hillend on Tuesday morning.

Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) are in attendance.

The Edinburgh Reporter understands that all activities on the hill have been suspended meantime. Hillend has posted a message on Twitter saying: “Due to the Fire Services tackling a gorse fire very close to the Centre we are closed at present. We will keep you updated when we have more information. This is not an April Fool’s joke.”

SFRS issued an update on their website at the beginning of last month to urge the public to be aware of wildfire risk this Spring as “figures show almost 80% of large outdoor fires since 2010 were recorded between March and May”. Read more here.

All of the planning applications made to the council’s planning team this week are shown on the list below.

Any property owner seeking to build, improve or alter their home or commercial premises must have the correct consents. This begins with a planning application and usually progresses all the way to a completion certificate.

Some applications for large developments such as purpose built student accommodation have been referred to the government Reporter after refusal by the council. Alterations to some buildings may also need listed building consent which is dealt with simultaneously.

There is a class of alterations which are considered “permitted developments” and will not need any planning permission. There is more guidance here.

Planning Weekly List

The list below is in order of the 17 council wards in Edinburgh – which extends from Portobello to South Queensferry. The list includes a number of applications for consent, including retrospective consent, to change the use of premises to short term let accommodation.

These are just some of those which we think worthy of noting:

Fringe

The Edinburgh University Students Association has lodged an application to install performance venues bars and other moveable structures on the temporary festival venue 30 metres west of Bristo Square and also at a venue 30 metres east of 60 Pleasance for the Fringe . 25/01495/FUL

NHS at Ellen’s Glen House

The proposal is to provide 14 new car parking spaces within the grounds of NHS Ellen’s Glen House. The plans include 2 wheelchair accessible spaces to be located closer to the building
entrance than the existing provision. 10 existing parking bays are also to be upgraded to allow for electric vehicle charging. A further space will be created by re-delineating the existing layout.
at 72 Carnbee Avenue Hyvots Bank. 25/01565/FUL

Blackhall Library

The library was closed as Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was discovered in the building. The council are now of the view that it will be cheaper to build a new library. Meanwhile the council is applying for permission to erect a temporary building at Davidson’s Mains Primary School on 27a Corbiehill Road. 25/01476/FUL

Currie flats

An application to build 10 flats with car parking at 158A Lanark Road West in Currie has been lodged on behalf of Firstcall Trade Services.This is the former bank building which will have to be demolished to make way for the new homes. 25/01216/FUL

Car parking space on Inverleith Place

Plans have been lodged to alter a house at 76 Inverleith Place by adding a rear extension but also to form a new off street parking space. 25/01443/FUL

Dog grooming on Corstorphine Road

A change of use application has been made for the premises at 50 Corstorphine Road to convert the use from office to a dog grooming academy. 25/01070/FUL

Ford’s Road

An application has been made for 11 new homes to be built on Ford’s Road near Saughton Park for LAR Housing Trust. 25/01373/FUL

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Hibs have been nominated for three Women’s Football Awards. 

The WFAs recognises the people, organisations and brands with a track record of promoting the sport across all levels of the game. 

Supporters can now vote for the Club, as well as other organisations and individuals across numerous categories, on the WFA website.

The first nomination comes in the ‘Best Club’ category; which celebrates professional football clubs who have shown commitment and application to improving the landscape of football for women while investing and working to improve participation and improve inclusion in the game over the last year.  

Best Club of the Year 

The nominees for this award are:  

Arsenal 

Birmingham City  

Brighton & Hove Albion  

Chelsea  

Glasgow City  

Hibernian 

Liverpool 

London City Lionesses 

Manchester City 

Manchester United 

Tottenham Hotspur 

West Ham 

The Club’s second nomination comes in the ‘Best Fan Engagement’ category; which is for the club that engages best with its fans. The judging panel will be looking for examples of innovation and creativity in how clubs interact and get fans of the women’s game better involved.  

Best Fan Engagement 

The nominees for this award are:  

Aston Villa Women 

Birmingham City Women 

Brighton & Hove Albion Women FC 

Chelsea Women 

DAZN 

Hibernian Women FC 

Just Eat Takeaway.com 

Liverpool FC Women 

Manchester United Women 

Panini 

Pixel FC Academy 

Sky Sports 

Hibs’ final nomination comes in the form of the ‘Manager or Coach Award’ category; which recognises a manager or coach who has delivered excellence both on and off the pitch over the last 12 months.  

The winner will be a major advocate for women’s football who continuously supports the beautiful game. 

Manager or Coach of the Year 

The nominees for this award are:  

Amy Merricks 

Dario Vidošić 

Grant Scott 

Leanne Ross 

Jo Potter 

Jocelyn Prêcheur 

Karen Hills 

Marc Skinner 

Nick Cushing 

Robert Vilahamn 

Sarina Wiegman 

Sonia Bompastor

The 2025 Women’s Football Awards will be presented by Gabby Logan, Jamie Carragher and Eni Aluko on Thursday 1 May in London, England.  

The planning convener, Cllr James Dalgleish, is keen to ensure that all builders of new homes are clear on their responsibility to finish infrastructure in the developments they create.

He has highlighted that too many new home owners have been left wondering when the road or pavement outside their new front door would be finished, and is raising the matter as an official motion at this week’s planning committee.

Cllr Dalgleish said: “A number of residents across Edinburgh in new build homes have spoken to me about their frustration that despite moving into their new home several years ago, their street lighting, pavements and roads are still not complete. These delays cause serious disruption to people’s daily lives and builders have a responsibility to do these works promptly.

“I hope by passing this motion we can focus on how the Council can support home owners – and builders – to make sure that all essential infrastructure work is completed in a timely manner, and that residents know where to go when they need assistance. Alongside our new Code of Conduct for Responsible Construction that will affect new and future developments, I am keen to make sure that residents who are currently facing issues are not left behind.”

Ian Murray, MP for Edinburgh South, said: “Over 3,000 residents have now backed my Build Better Places petition, sending a clear message that the people of South Edinburgh are fed up with being left in limbo by developers who fail to finish the job. Across Edinburgh South, I’ve heard from countless residents forced to live with unfinished roads, pavements, playparks, and basic infrastructure. This is simply not acceptable.

“That’s why I’m pleased that Councillor James Dalgleish has listened to residents and is now taking this issue forward at the Council. James has worked constructively with me to push for change and to start holding developers to account. His motion to the Planning Committee is an important and welcome step towards greater transparency and enforcement at a local level.

“But let’s be clear — the responsibility doesn’t stop at the City Chambers. For too long, the Scottish Government has failed to act. It has allowed developers to run riot without proper oversight, leaving residents stuck in the middle. Communities should not be forced to campaign just to get the basic infrastructure they were promised.

“I’ll continue working alongside James, local MSPs and Councillors, and local residents to demand better from developers, and to press the Scottish Government to stop turning a blind eye to this problem.”

THE MOTION READS

12.2
By Councillor Dalgleish – Delayed Infrastructure Works in New Developments
s

“Planning Committee Notes:
1) The extensive work undertaken by Officers and Elected Members in arriving at the recommendations summarised in the Responsible Construction Report, specifically the range of measures proposed as next steps to support developers in better mitigating impacts of development on local communities and the implementation of a Code of Conduct for Responsible Construction.
2) That in light of the report recommendations the frustration of residents across Edinburgh who are living with unfinished aspects of a newly constructed developments, such as roads, pavements and cycle routes is still evident.
3) That work is not required to be complete such as infrastructure related to travel that can cause serious disruption to people’s daily lives in the vicinity of the development.
4) There are active cases where disruption from uncompleted works has continued for several years after properties have been occupied in developments.

Committee therefore requests:
5) An update within one cycle via the Planning Committee Business Bulletin setting out what powers Edinburgh Council has as a Planning Authority to mandate developers to complete infrastructure works including the provision of roads and footpaths in residential developments that may have a direct impact on residents in a timely manner. This update should also include consideration of the role, and appropriateness of planning conditions to secure delivery of infrastructure works including the provision of roads and footpaths to serve residential developments.
6) That while this update is being prepared, work is undertaken to assess what assistance can be provided to residents in terms of information and advice, for those dealing with delayed completion of essential infrastructure works, and that this advice be shared on Edinburgh Council’s communication platforms.”

The papers for this week’s Planning Committee meeting are here with details of how to watch live online or as a recording.

Hibs have announced that over 10,000 Season Tickets have been purchased in the initial sales phase 

The Club said that they would like to thank all their supporters for their continued support this season and as Hibs approach their milestone 150th Anniversary year. 

2025/26 Season Tickets have now been taken off sale to allow the Ticket Office to complete all seat move requests.  

Once all the seat move requests have been fulfilled, the Club will provide advance notice as to when all remaining Season Tickets will go on General Sale.  

A spokesperson said: “The Club are also currently working through a large number of hospitality renewals in our Pioneers, Tornadoes, Edinburgh Club, Albion Bar and Behind The Goals spaces.  

“If you have emailed the Club about your renewal, a member of our team will be in touch soon. 

“Please note, the Club are currently working through a large volume of renewal requests, so we thank you for your patience at this time.”

Tickets are on sale for this year’s Silver Saturday family day out featuring seven community rugby finals. 

The popular event takes place on 19 April 2025 at Scottish Gas Murrayfield and Hive Stadium. 

Contested on the day will be the Scottish Cup, Sarah Beaney Cup, Women’s Plate final, Men’s National League Cup final, Men’s and Women’s Shield finals, and the Men’s National Bowl final. 

The first matches will kick off at 10am, with the last match – the Sarah Beaney Cup – kicking off at 6.30pm. 

Along with the family-friendly activities on Silver Saturday, the Guinness Women’s Six Nations match between Scotland and England will be played on the big screens in the President’s Suite. 

The Women’s National Bowl final is also part of Scottish Rugby’s national finals, though it will be played on Murrayfield’s back pitches on Sunday 13 April at 12pm, ahead of the Scotland versus Italy Guinness Women’s Six Nations match at Hive Stadium. 

Club Rugby Board vice president Hazel Swankie said Silver Saturday provides a platform like no other for club rugby in Scotland. 

“Silver Saturday is always a shining highlight on the club calendar. I can’t wait to welcome all 14 teams and their many supporters on April 19. 

“I wish everyone the best of luck in their qualifying, and to those who reach finals, a great day out awaits for all players, win or lose.” 

Gates will open at 9.15am for spectators, with a range of food and drink options available throughout the day.  

Fixtures: 

• Men’s Bowl, Hive, 10am KO 

• Women’s Shield, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, 10am KO 

• Men’s Shield, Hive, 12.45pm KO 

• Men’s National League Cup, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, 12.45pm KO 

• Women’s Plate, Hive, 3.30pm KO 

• Scottish Cup, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, 3.30pm KO 

• Sarah Beaney Cup, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, 6.30pm KO 

A Scottish Rugby spokesperson said: “Once you purchase a matchday ticket, you can watch all seven community rugby finals across both Hive Stadium and Scottish Gas Murrayfield. 

“If you intend on watching your team only, please wait until your team is confirmed to be in the final and playing at Silver Saturday before purchasing tickets.” 

Tickets are non-refundable. 

Adult: £10 / Matchday £15 
Senior (60+): £5 / Matchday £10 
Under-18: £5 / Matchday £5 
*Please note there will be a £1.50 booking fee applied to each ticket. 

You will receive your tickets through Scottish Rugby’s ticketing app. 

More than seven council employees in Edinburgh were paid at least £200,000 in the financial year 2023/24 according to figures collated by Tax Payers Alliance in its latest report.

The largest bonus paid by The City of Edinburgh Council was to the chief executive of Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), a subsidiary of City of Edinburgh, Marshall Dallas, who received a payment of £51,904 in 2023-24. He was handed a £72,000 bonus on top of his £159,000 salary in 2022-23, which with pension benefits made him the highest paid public sector employee in Edinburgh with a total package of £231,000. Mr Dallas announced his resignation in November 2024.

The EICC hosted more than 132,000 delegates and visitors in 2023, up from 72,000 the year before, which drove revenues up from £11.8 million in 2022 to a record £12.8 million in 2023, while profits rose from £699,000 in 2022 to £2.6 million in 2023.

The Town Hall Rich List for 2025 shows that council executive pay has broken all records with 3,906 officials in councils in the UK were paid more than £100,000 and of those 1,092 received more than £150,000.

This is the 19th publication of the list which also features 262 people who receive more than £200,000. The prime minister is paid £172,153 and 238 council employees in the UK are paid more than this.

The highest paid was the chief executive at Glasgow City Council, Annemarie O’Donnell, received £567,317 in total remuneration. This included £209,472 in salary and £357,845 in pension contributions. For the second year Glasgow is the local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2023-24 was Glasgow, with 42, the same as last year.

A spokesperson for the Tax Payers Alliance which produces the Town Hall Rich List said: “Despite consistent calls about stretched budgets and struggling services, there has been a surge in the number of senior officials receiving six-figure remuneration packages at the same time that councils have seen boosts in revenues through council tax rises and increased funding from central government. This includes a 3.5 per cent real terms increase for councils in England announced in December. Recent TPA research also revealed that almost half of councils increased their usable reserves in the latest financial year. The TPA also recently revealed that one in ten councils are considering reducing bin collection services.”

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:“It’s a record breaking year in many respects for taxpayers as the country hurtles towards a record tax burden, all while the public sector continues to feather its nest.

“As our latest town hall rich list demonstrates, the number of council staff with six-figure remuneration packages has surged at the same time that services are being slashed and council tax is being hiked above inflation. 

“Local residents can look up their own authority in our list and judge the quality of services and their council tax bill against the pay packets of their council bosses.” 

Get the inside scoop on the Edinburgh International Festival

Over the weekend hundreds of people got the scoop on the Edinburgh International Festival, enjoying ice cream flavours from S Luca inspired by the Festival’s music, dance, theatre and opera programme which is now on sale. 

To find out more visit: www.eif.co.uk

Grow Your Own Grant Scheme

Community groups in Edinburgh are being invited to apply for funding from a £50,000 pilot scheme by the City of Edinburgh Council to establish new food growing projects.

The “Grow Your Own” community grant initiative will welcome applications from projects aimed at establishing new community growing projects. Applications for funding are invited to help the creation of new growing spaces, supporting the establishment of growing groups, and promoting education around urban food production.

Grants of up to £5,000 will be awarded to constituted voluntary and community groups across the city. With projects running for up to 12 months.

To apply, groups must meet the Council’s Standard Conditions of Grants. Full details can be found on the City of Edinburgh website. The application process will be administered through the City of Edinburgh Council’s Your Voice platform, designed to ensure a simple and efficient application experience.

The deadline for applications is noon on 12 May.

Podcast from Library of Mistakes

The Library of Mistakes has published the latest episode of its podcast.

This is what you can expect to listen to: “In the second of our monthly ‘behind the scenes’ episodes, we meet Liam Rees. Liam has created a new play inspired by historical conman Gregor McGregor – the man who sold bonds to a country that didn’t exist. It just happens that we have one of these phony bonds in our collection, so it was a delight to welcome Liam to the library this month for a chat. We’ve also included a clip from the subsequent panel discussion about narrative economics, where Liam is joined by Robbie Mochrie (Associate Professor Heriot Watt University), Andrew Milligan (Former Head of Global Strategy, Standard Life Investments) and our very own Keeper, Professor Russell Napier.

“We also hear from Didasko’s CEO, David Clarke, who has been on tour with the library to our annual Hay Festival event this month. And we’ll catch up with Leonie Griffin and Catriona Scott from ‘Leaver’s Money Skills’, chat to our new intern Alona, and get an insight to the collection from our librarian Helen Williams.”

Listen here.

The Edinburgh Reporter April issue

Our April issue is now well and truly published. Our subscribers received their copies in the middle of last week and our lovely cargo bike delivery service CADi have distributed the rest.

You may read for free online here.

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You’ll need to be quick to get tickets for this event at the Usher Hall

Motorsport stars Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard will renew their partnership for a public tour, when they will talk about the 2025 season so far, recount stories from their careers, relive their time at McLaren, their on-track rivalry and memories of racing during the same era as legends Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.   

The two drivers will steer audiences through their careers, both as drivers and pundits.

Initially rivals competing for Team Lotus and Williams, the pair became teammates who overcame the ebb and flow of inter-team rivalry and tensions to power McLaren to the 1998 FIA Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship – the last time the famous Woking-based squad would win the title until last year.

This unfiltered show will explore how, after years of rivalry and team partnership, their relationship evolved into an enduring friendship, tempered on the racetrack and forged through mutual respect.

Together, they’ll dissect the defining moments from their careers, from the 32 Grand Prix victories they brought McLaren, the sometimes-controversial team orders and even those moments when on-track clashes added to the tension of competing at the pinnacle of world motorsport. They will also share their thoughts on the 2025 season, McLaren’s strong start to the year, the formidable partnership of Lewis Hamilton with Ferrari, Max Verstappen’s title defence at Red Bull Racing and Mercedes’ hopes led by Britain’s George Russell.

“I’m very much looking forward to this as it gives Mika and I the chance to have a very relaxing chat with the audience about Formula 1 today, our time racing in the sport and of course which one of us was actually the fastest!” said David Coulthard. “We are both still very active in Formula 1 and this season is already shaping up to being one of the most competitive yet, so there will be no shortage of things to discuss! It will be rather more personal than talking into a camera lens.”

“DC and I have been rivals, teammates and colleagues in Formula 1 for over 30 years, which seems incredible, so this tour will give us the chance to talk to fans about how much the sport has changed and why we think it’s in such good shape in 2025,” said Mika Häkkinen. “We do not get as much opportunity to meet the fans as we used to when racing, so this is a great chance for us to talk to them directly and hopefully answer any questions – no matter how challenging!  At a time when McLaren is back on top, it feels a good moment to tell stories from an earlier era.”

Tickets here.

Merchiston Community Council (MCC) say that the traffic and pedestrian data for the mini roundabout at Polwarth show that this is the busiest neighbourhood junction in this part of the city.

It also appears that it is also one of the junctions which has been analysed and examined more often than many others in recent times.

And, MCC say, the current layout of the junction still “demands a serious rethink”.

The council commissioned a survey last year which showed that traffic numbers are “considerable”. In August the previous year the community council celebrated that the local authority was “considering all options” for the junction despite the fact that they had suggested a signalised junction – also the most expensive. (In 2024, the council suggested that there could be a signalised junction installed at Polwarth Gardens/Crescent in the Business Bulletin section of papers for the June 2024 Transport Committee as part of a new Local Traffic Improvement programme). MCC say that this is not a serious option and is not being considered for this version of the redesign.

MCC Report

This is the latest in a long-running story. In 2023 MCC produced its own vision for the roundabout – which is a three way junction at Polwarth Gardens, Polwarth Crescent and Granville Terrace – following a campaign to make it safer and greener. This was funded by a grant received from the council in spring 2022. Over 12 months the community council conducted traffic surveys, assessed and analysed pedestrian safety and public amenity.

In July 2023 MCC produced a report (reproduced below) with a plan for the rearrangement of the junction to “improve safety. increase space for pavement users, reduce vehicle volume and speed and introduce some much-needed facilities for cyclists and ‘green’ the environment”. The community council engaged with the council who established a Local Traffic Improvement Plan, allocated £100,000 to design work for the area with the actual work on the ground to be carried out in 2026.

Resurfacing the pavements

Muddying the waters somewhat, the council then resurfaced the pavements at the junction of Polwarth Gardens and Yeaman Place in June 2024 without incorporating any of the proposals from the community council. The then Transport Convener, Scott Arthur, denied this would be a waste of money as the new pavements would be incorporated in any redesign.

The community council asked the council to delay incurring this expense while considering the layout further. In MCC’s view this work – which took 26 weeks – did not improve anything for pedestrians or cyclists who the council say are at the top of their agenda. The railings were reinstated which the community council pointed out was a 50 year old design which only encourages drivers to speed and does little for pedestrian safety.

MCC said that the resurfacing has “effectively entrenched the 1970s layout” and runs counter to the council’s design guidance.

MCC informally collected views from the public only last month, finding that most members of the public they spoke to were unhappy with the way the roundabout currently operates. The campaigners are keen to keep engaging with the council and show them that change is needed, while the council has continued to survey the junction measuring every last detail of the streets and pavements.

March 2025 – publishing the data

The data just published which dates from November 2024 shows that:

the number of vehicles passing in one week along Polwarth Crescent was 42,515 which is an average of 6,500 per day. Of these, 37% are vans or commercial vehicles.

On Polwarth Gardens the number of vehicles is 37,782 and on Merchiston Avenue it is 23,956. The community council produced this graphic.

Speeding has been reported as part of this exercise with 73% of all vehicles exceeding the 20mph limit and 34% travelling at more than 24mph.

Again MCC produced a graphic of vehicle speeds:

What happens now?

MCC say that the council is “making good progress in redesigning the roundabout” and they expect the design plans within weeks.

The community council continue to hope that their proposals will be included in the plans produced by the council’s road safety team. After that there will be a consultation with local businesses and the community council will share these plans on their website. Everyone is encouraged to sign up for updates here.

In MCC’s view the redesign must balance these priorities:

• Making crossing safer for pedestrians, especially children
• Supporting local businesses’ needs for loading and customer access
• Addressing speeding concerns
• Maintaining necessary traffic flow while discouraging cut-through traffic

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The swim school, Puddle Ducks, is making a splash with the launch of its lessons in Edinburgh.

Launching at Nuffield Health New Mart Road and Nuffield Health Edinburgh Fountain Park, local children will be able access Puddle Ducks’ child-led programme on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays and Sundays.

Owner of Puddle Ducks Edinburgh Ellie Cawdell, recognised an opportunity to expand her existing business into Scotland. Ellie, who also runs successful Puddle Ducks franchises in York and Cambridge commented: “Edinburgh is such a beautiful, family friendly city, I wanted to be able to offer the Puddle Ducks programme to families across this amazing location.

“Our swimming lessons are well loved in York and Cambridge, and I wanted to bring this to Edinburgh. I’m excited to welcome lots of local families through our doors.”

With plans to expand into more pools in the area, Ellie is hoping her business will become part of the local community and has hired two swim teachers from the area. Libby and Isla, both from Edinburgh will be leading the classes and are excited to see the children develop and thrive in the water.

Libby said: “Being from the local area myself, it’s really exciting to see such a recognised, well established and much-loved brand arriving in our community. I’m delighted to join the team and provide the life-saving skill of swimming to local children; it’s such an honour!.”

Founded in 2002, Puddle Ducks is a multi-award-winning baby and child swimming school and the only 100% child-led swim school in the UK, offering classes for children up to 10 years of age. All teachers are STA qualified.

Puddle Ducks Edinburgh is looking for more pools across the area to run classes, as well as having upcoming opportunities for more teachers and assistants to join their growing team.

https://www.puddleducks.com/local-teams/edinburgh 

A crash took place on Monday morning on Hanover Street, where a transporter, which had been carrying a dumper truck, ran into the Boston Bar.

An eye-witness said the lorry jack-knifed and crossed the pavement, striking the railings and demolishing the relatively new Boston Bar sign. It appears that the dump truck had already been offloaded before the incident happened.

No-one was injured but a man has been charged in relation to the incident. (Although the police statement says the crash happened at 10.25am, our photos were taken just after 10am.)

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 10.25am on Monday, 31 March, 2025, we received a report of a lorry having earlier collided with a building on Hanover Street in Edinburgh. 

“Officers attended and there were no reports of injuries. 

“The 62-year-old male driver of the lorry was charged and will be reported in connection with a road traffic offence.” 

The dump truck was later loaded onto another transporter and removed from the scene.

Planning applications made to the council’s planning team are listed below.

Any property owner seeking to improve or alter their home or commercial premises, must have the correct consents. This begins with a planning application and usually progresses all the way to a completion certificate. Some of the applications for purpose built student accommodation have been referred to the government Reporter after refusal by the council. Alterations to some buildings may also need listed building consent which is dealt with simultaneously.

There is a class of alterations which are considered “permitted developments” and will not need any planning permission. There is more guidance here.

Planning Weekly List

The list below is in order of the 17 council wards in Edinburgh – which extends from Portobello to South Queensferry.

These are just two of the many applications in the list which is reproduced below:

George Street and Frederick Street

The property at 38 to 40 Frederick Street and the A-listed premises at 71 George Street owned by RRH Investments have been vacant for some time. The two properties are to be altered to combine the commercial units into one space. The plans include external alterations to the entrance and to windows.

This is where the Nationwide Building Society used to be (and before them the occupiers were Scottish Amicable) with an entrance on the corner, and the premises on Frederick Street used to be a Post Office. The developers intend to create a “premium commercial unit on the prominent corner site”.

The description of the B-listed former Post Office is that “The facade is made from a pink polished ashlar sandstone with polished Peterhead granite piers dividing up the ground level frontage of the 3-bay post office with timber pilasters dividing up windows and a secondary set-back panelled door to right; 2-leaf panelled door giving access to upper floors to right”. It is the property which has two large post boxes in front and a hotel above.

The floors above the ground floor site at 71 George Street are occupied by the RÌGH RESIDENCES apart hotels, and above ground floor at 38-40 Frederick street is the Frederick House Hotel.

The two basement areas underneath are separate. The basement underneath 71 George Street is part of the hotel above, but the basement at 38-40 George Street will be part of the new larger commercial unit to be created.

The existing use class of both sets of premises is 1A which could allow the space to become a restaurant.

Gorgie Road

At 93-101 Gorgie Road an application has been made to demolish the existing building and replace it with 28 serviced apartments – for holiday lets.

This is a private hire company office at present with offices and a warehouse/garage space. The railway line lies to the rear of the property.

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Detectives are appealing for information following a hit and run in Dalkeith on Sunday, 30 March, 2025.

Around 9.55pm police received a report of a crash involving an the rider of an electric motorcycle and the driver of a car on South Street.

The car, described as a silver estate, left the scene prior to emergency services arriving.

The 18-year-old male rider of the motorcycle was taken to hospital for treatment and later released.

South Street was closed to allow for investigations to be carried out and has since re-opened.

Detective Sergeant John Lumsden said: “Extensive enquiries into this incident are ongoing including speaking to witnesses and reviewing CCTV.

“We know from enquiries that a member of the public may have witnessed the crash and that a small white hatchback car was also seen passing shortly after the crash. I would ask them both to contact officers as they may have information which could assist us.

“I would also appeal for anyone else who witnessed the crash, who may have dash-cam footage which could assist or who saw a car matching this description in the area around the time and who have not already spoken to officers to get in touch.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 3402 of 30 March, 2025.