The club desperately wanted to be in Europe after the Festive break for the first time in 35 years and Petrocub from Moldova were already out of contention for the play-offs. The coach warned against complacency as Petrocub produced a spirited display in their last Euro outing, a 1-0 defeat at home against Spanish side Real Betis last week.

It was important for the home side to impose themselves on the game after three straight defeats in Europe, and they dominated the opening minutes, moving the ball across the field in front of a near full house, forcing the visitors back.

Read the full report here

Hearts hopes of playing European football into the New Year were shattered with a 2-2 draw against Moldova champions Petrocub at Tynecastle.

They looked to be on course when Blair Spittal netted with a header in the second-half but a penalty award proved a body blow to the Tynecastle team who slipped into 25^th position and out of the qualifiers.

Four straight defeats in Europe have proved so costly and boos rang out around Tynecastle after the final whistle.

Earlier, Hearts head coach Neil Critchley made four changes from the side edged 1-0 at Kilmarnock on Sunday in the William Hill Premiership, putting his faith in two teenagers, striker James Wilson and midfielder, Macaulay Tait, for the club’s 100^th game in Europe, match six of six in this year’s league qualification competition.

The club desperately wanted to be in Europe after the Festive break for the first time in 35 years and Petrocub from Moldova were already out of contention for the play-offs, but the coach warned against complacency as Petrocub produced a spirited display in their last Euro outing, a 1-0 defeat at home against Spanish side Real Betis last week.

It was important for the home side to impose themselves on the game after three straight defeats in Europe, and they dominated the opening minutes, moving the ball across the field in front of a near full house, forcing the visitors back.

There were encouraging signs and Yan Dhanda forced a corner on the left which was cleared but, seconds later, Wilson had a sharp chance but was blocked by opposition defenders, then James Penrice burst down the left after being fed by Dhanda but the danger was snuffed out.

Skipper Lawrence Shankland burst onto the scene with a shot which looked to be destined for the back of the net before goalkeeper Silviu Smalenea dived full length to his left to parry for a corner.

It was one-way traffic as Hearts penned the Moldova side into their own half, but the Hearts fans were frustrated as Shankland sent Alan Forrest away down the right and his pass was directed towards an opponent.

At the other end, Craig Halkett had to make a last-gasp challenge as Petrocub broke free, but the home side’s pressure told as Dumitru Demian was booked after 17 minutes as he tried to foil another Hearts raid.

The home side forced a corner and Dhanda found Kye Rowles free in the box six yards out. His header flew agonisingly wide of the right-hand post, a major chance spurned, and Hearts paid a heavy price.

Their rivals broke and exploited a gaping hole in the home defence by visiting skipper Vladimir Ambros. The slick move was finished by Sergiu Platica and the goal stood after a VAR check. Time 21 minutes.

Jambos fans voiced their disapproval, but Hearts kept on probing and Dhanda was fouled by Ambros. Dhanda whipped in a free-kick and the goalkeeper cleared under pressure but clattered into Rowles at the same time. Both continued after medical attention.

Shankland was found by a long ball and he nodded on to Wilson who was wiped out by the goalkeeper but the referee waved play on and the visitors moved up field to threaten again. Home fans were unhappy and let the team know.

But, seconds later Shankland had the ball in the net after a cross from lively Penrice. He challenged the goalkeeper who lost his grip and the skipper bundled the ball home. The referee blew for a foul.

Disappointed Shankland argued the case but his protests were waved away and the skipper then had a shot blocked at the edge of the box as Hearts tried to claw their way back into the game.

Halkett, however, was the next player to go into the referee’s notebook following a challenge near half-way after being caught on the wrong side of an opponent, but the home side kept plugging away and Penrice threatened but, once again, the home side were thwarted by the physical defenders.

At the other end there was real danger and Gordon was short with a ball out to Daniel Oyegoke on the right side of the pitch in injury time. Platica was presented with a chance but fluffed his lines when in a good position.

Hearts responded, putting real pressure on the opposition goalkeeper, but they failed to find a way through before the break.

Spittal was introduced by Critchley for Forrest and Devlin was fouled just outside the penalty box. Dhanda took the free-kick but the danger was cleared only for the ball to be recycled back up field to Shankland who fired for goal. The ball was deflected for a corner but, once again, the ball was cleared.

Hearts lack of pace and penetration was there for all to see but the ball was delivered into the box and Rowles headed wide but paid a price with another clash of heads with a defender.

Oyegoke then danced away from several opposition players and eventually Dhanda fired for goal, but the sting was taken out of his shot by a defender and the goalkeeper gathered.

Spittal then drove into the box and was floored by a clumsy challenge but the referee waved play on. Seconds later 17-year-old ice cool Wilson levelled after a move started inside Hearts half in which Shankland was involved. Time 63 minutes.

It was his third goal for Hearts and it came at just the right time. Petrocub had offered little in the second half as Hearts upped their game and increased the pressure and Rowles had another great chance with his head from close in after a delivery from a Penrice corner.

Critchley made changes with Jorge Grant and Malachi Boateng replacing Tait and Halkett and immediately Hearts were ahead when Spittal headed home from the centre of the penalty box after a ball from Dhanda into the box which was headed out by a defender straight to the former Motherwell man who did the rest. Time 69 minutes.

It had been six minutes between the goals and Tynecastle was buzzing again. Hearts attempted to turn the screw and pressed for a third. Kenneth Vargas was introduced to add to the attacking threat and the visitors also made changes.    

They almost paid off but Gordon made an unbelievable stop and then Penrice stopped a header on the goal line. A VAR check was in operation and the crowd waited. The referee was called to the screen with nine minutes left and a penalty was awarded.

Penrice was yellow carded in the aftermath and Victor Mudrac sent Gordon the wrong way to level at 2-2.

The pressure was back on Hearts in the race for qualification and Vargas fed Shankland only for the ball to be nipped from the toe of the captain. Liam Boyce was sent on with six minutes left for Oyegoke as the Jambos gambled.

Vargas was denied after a nod down by Shankland and Petrocub reshuffled again. Six additional minutes were signalled as Hearts hemmed the visitors in but they were unable to find the goal they needed.

Spittal said: “We got ourselves in front but have to defend better. It is very frustrating and it is a very disappointing night.” 

PICTURE: Forrest floored by a tackle at Tynecastle. Picture Thomas Brown

Landmark development promises to transform international student living

A groundbreaking student accommodation project is looking for a strategic partner to develop up to 200 purpose-built apartments.

The Scottish Institute (The SI), Scotland’s only theatre school accredited by the Council of Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDDT), is spearheading the landmark project in Livingston.

Following the opening of its new campus in September 2023, The SI is now inviting specialised accommodation providers to join in developing a transformative student living environment.

A prime location will be carefully selected for the new development and will be designed to create purpose-built living spaces that will support students from across the world, promising to revolutionise international student living in Scotland’s educational landscape.

“We’re dedicated to creating an environment where students can thrive academically and socially,” said Andy Egan, President and CEO of The Scottish Institute.

“This project represents a unique opportunity for a strategic partner to play a pivotal role in supporting the next generation of performing talent. 

Recognising the growing demand for high-quality student housing, the institute is now actively seeking partners to develop and deliver student apartments that will welcome up to 200 new students from 2026.

With established partnerships with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and the Imperial Society for the Teachers of Dance (ISTD), the development promises to provide world-class facilities that support artistic education and international student experiences.

The chosen partner will be responsible for the full design, development, and management of the apartments, while The SI focuses on educational excellence and student support. This collaborative approach ensures a holistic approach to student living that goes beyond traditional accommodation models.

Andy added: “This is more than a construction project. It’s an opportunity to create a living and learning environment that supports artistic growth and international collaboration.”

The new project will leverage Livingston’s strategic location near Edinburgh and Glasgow, offering international students a modern, supportive living experience.

Interested parties are encouraged to contact Andy Egan for further information on how to participate in this landmark project: a chair@thesi.co.uk

Edinburgh city council has called on the Scottish Government to remove free bus passes from young people guilty of anti-social behaviour on city transport. 

The call comes on the back of growing violence on city buses which saw £1,700 worth of damage in broken bus windows in three days last month and 60 % rise in reports of ASB since the introduction of the passes in 2022. 

The SNP group warned against getting “into a dangerous place” targeting young people as the “obvious culprits” when anti-social behaviour was widespread among adult passengers. 

Labour’s Stephen Jenkinson accepted amendments from the Tories seeking the pursuit of stricter policing of bus passes for those under 22 and the Lib Dems who urged better use of existing laws to control anti-social behaviour on buses. 

All parties agreed that attacks on bus drivers and bus vandalism were unacceptable. 

Councillor Jenkinson said: “This issue has been prominent on buses in Edinburgh where a string of incidents has raised alarms for public safety and the welfare of  of bus staff. 

“The free travel pass scheme introduced in 2022 was designed to provide young people with accessible transport, reducing costs and encouraging sustainable travel. Whilst its benefits cannot be overstated, with 100 million journeys made so far, it has undoubtedly brought unintended consequences. 

“In recent months we have seen heightened reports of vandalism, verbal abuse and physical threats. This violence isn’t isolated. Across Edinburgh anti-social behaviour has escalated police have identified patterns of young individuals misusing passes to travel between areas sometimes to engage in disruptive or even criminal behaviour. 

“It’s crucial to recognise that the majority of young people including my own children use the pass responsibly. Eliminating the scheme entirely would penalise those who rely on for education, for work or family commitments. Instead, measures must focus on accountability. 

“Ideas such as temporarily suspending travel cards for those involved in misconduct have been debated and I know from my discussions with Lothian Buses they would be supported. But we know that technological and logistic hurdles currently remain.” 

He called for community collaboration between transport operators, the public and police to help address the issues as well as work in schools to address anti-social behavioural issues. 

“We must ensure this landmark policy continues to benefit the majority while protecting those who work tirelessly to provide safe and reliable public transport in Edinburgh and Scotland.” 

Councillor Katrina Faccenda said: “Its really important that bus operators step up and guarantee as safe a working environment as possible. We need Police Scotland to get more police actively on buses and the safety within bus stations.” 

Speaking for his amendment the SNP’s Danny Aston said: “We all know there are very real consequences when Lothian Buses withdraw services. It is a minority of people who are causing these problems and unfortunately not limited to young people. The worst incident I have witnessed towards a bus driver was by a fully grown adult man. 

“I do think we need to be clear that bus operators can already restrict access in line with their conditions of carriage and I think there’s a lot of work to be done with operators with trade unions and others to further develop existing powers and what further powers might be needed. 

“But I think we are getting into a dangerous place by making this just about young people. I’m not suggesting that either Councilor Jenkison or Faccenda suggested that, but I read the Tory amendment, and I see they have taken the Labour motion like catnip.  

“ I would ask Labour colleagues to think about punching down on groups like young people. I understand the instinct   to go after who the obvious culprits are but I think we are missing the whole story. 

  “Our amendment seeks to set out the bigger picture here of having properly funded youth work and alleviating poverty which create the context for some of the terrible behaviour we have seen.” 

Councillor Neil Gardiner said: “I think we need to be careful when we exclude young people. The net consequence for young people and for wider society is not good so on the one hand I stand up for drivers but on the other hand I’m worried about the tone of this. I think we do need some good youth work.” 

Youth anti-social behaviour was a cry for help from young people which the council had to answer, he added. 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

The leader of the UK RAAC campaign has claimed that homeowners are being kept in the dark over plans for their future. 

Wilson Chowdhry says his request to join a meeting between West Lothian Council and the Scottish Housing minister was turned down. 

Campaigners from across Scotland, including Livingston’s Ghost estate campaigner Kerry Macintosh, have raised a petition for their case to be heard by the Scottish Parliament. 

Writing in his blog Mr Chowdhry said: “Local councils and government bodies have acknowledged the issue, but there remain critical gaps in transparency and inclusivity in addressing these concerns.” 

 He said that he had been told by the council that the meeting with Housing Minister Paul McLennan was a “political” one between the council and the Scottish Government, which precludes the involvement of third parties. 

 He said that the decision was “puzzling” and a report on the blog added: “his involvement would seem both relevant and beneficial, ensuring the concerns of those most impacted are effectively communicated and addressed.”  

Mr Chowdhry said: “Excluding representatives of affected groups from such critical discussions undermines the principle of collaborative problem-solving and risks leaving key questions unanswered.” 

Mr Chowdhry said it had been suggested he request a meeting with the minister himself, something which has been refused at Holyrood. 

 Mr Chowdhry said: “Homeowners, who are the most affected, should have their voices heard, either directly or through those they trust to represent them.” 

A spokesperson for West Lothian council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service responded: “We have facilitated meetings with West Lothian homeowners who may be affected by RAAC, collated the feedback from homeowners and have ensured that the issues and concerns raised by homeowners have been shared with the housing minister at previous meetings, and this will continue. 

 “The purpose of our meeting with the Government is to put forward the feedback of West Lothian homeowners. It would not be appropriate for a UK wide campaign group to attend a meeting between the Scottish Government and West Lothian Council.  

“The UK RAAC campaign group can request a meeting with the Scottish Government should they wish to do so. 

“We have advised the representative of UK RAAC – who we understand is not a West Lothian resident – to contact the Minister for Housing direct to discuss the full range of issues that are being raised in their capacity as the chairman of the UK RAAC campaign group.” 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Two men have been convicted in connection with a serious assault in Edinburgh in November 2021.

A 32-year-old man was assaulted outside a supermarket on Gracemount Drive and was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

George Baigrie, 42, was found guilty of attempted murder on Wednesday, 18 December, 2024, following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. Kevin Richardson, 24, was also convicted in connection with the incident.

Both men are due to be sentenced at a later date.

Detective Chief Inspector George Calder said: “This was a shocking attack in a public place which left a man with life-changing injuries as a result.

“We will continue to target those involved in this kind of violence as we work to make our communities safer.

“I would like to thank the public for their support and everyone who worked on the investigation.”

Paco Castagna has put pen to paper to return to the Stellar Monarchs following his best season in the sport and he will again skipper the side.

The Italian-born rider proved to be one of the most improved riders in the league with his Cab Direct Championship average increasing from 5.30 points to 7.11 points.

He joins Justin Sedgmen, Victor Palovaara, Jonatan Grahn and Kye Thomson in the blue and gold colours and 2025 will be Castagna’s fourth season with the club.

The 30-year-old said: “I’m super, super happy to be back for my fourth year. It has been three good years with very good people.

“I’m looking forward to being in the team again next year. It looks like it has got lots of potential – some new faces, some old faces – I’m very much looking forward to it.”

The popular racer added: “I am proud to be named captain again and everybody saw how much I loved it this year and how much it improved my game.

“April is just around the corner and I’m looking forward to seeing you all.”

Labour’s minority administration has clung on to power after a two-hour debate in the city Chambers. 

The party, which has been propped up by Conservatives and Liberal Democrats since 2022, faced a challenge following the resignation earlier this month of leader Cammy Day following allegations. 

The SNP and Green Party had put forward coalition plans to take over the council claiming that a continued Labour “super minority” administration would be disastrous. 

But they were defeated, with Labour winning by 32 votes to 28 after a roll call vote – the first in this council where each councillor had to state their position. 

Portobello and Craigmillar Labour councillor Jane Meagher is now the new council leader. 

She joined the meeting remotely, insisting she would look together basis services like waste, cleansing and transport right and invest in a green stable future. 

Many councillors spoke of personal conflict before the vote and some Conservatives had proposed delaying the vote until the New Year. 

Another Conservative Phil Doggert described the vote, including an amendment proposed joint SNP Green administration as voting to ‘defend the indefensible’. 

“I look around the room and I see members across all parties who the capabilities to run committees in a collaborative way… who I have worked with to achieve good outcomes,” he said. 

‘If I support the status quo, I am defending the indefensible…” 

He voted to support the motion backing the administration. 

The former council leader Cammy Day resigned from his role earlier this month following accusations of bombarding Ukrainian refugees on social media with sexual messages. 

He is also facing another unrelated council probe into whether he is renting out homes under his ownership. 

Councillor Day attended the meeting remotely, but without the camera switched on. He spoke only to vote for the motion. 

There were some councillors calling for Cllr Day to remove himself from the meeting, while Green councillor Alys Mumford said it was ‘incredibly offensive’ that Cllr Day’s name on the meeting screens was still displayed as ‘council leader’.  

Tory leader Iain Whyte admitted making the decision now would be difficult for his party, and said: ‘If we do have to come to a decision that is a difficult decision for us to make I am very conscious the allegations against Cllr Day are still being investigated’ 

And he said if the vote went ahead his group would support the labour ‘superminority’ administration continuing. 

Labour Councillor Margaret Graham said she would support a delay on the vote, put forward by Conservative Max Mitchell. 

She told the meeting herself uncomfortable with some of the decisions she’s had to support over last few years but added: “’You do not make the best decision when you are in a situation of turmoil and for some of us trauma’ 

Labour’s Katrina Faccenda won cheers in the chamber when she abstained during roll call. 

The meeting saw a number of heated exchanges and councillors debated who should be the new leader,  

Independent councillor Ross McKenzie – who resigned from the Labour group last year – had put forward a motion to stand for council leader but withdrew it at the meeting as he slammed his former party for their running of the city, and said Cllr Day had ‘none of the skills you would want from an elected representative’. 

Some councillors including Councillor Mitchell argued that the decision on a new leader should be put off until the new year, when a number of by-elections are set to be held.  

Councillor Mandy Watt the depute Labour group leader summed up the debate by saying  councillors should look to the experience of the failed Bute House agreement, a former alliance   between the two in Holyrood when considering the SNP/ Green amendment. 

 She added that a decision had to be made before Christmas recess adding “we don’t want to go away without knowing where we stand.” 

By Stuart Sommerville Local Democracy Reporter 

Police Scotland is urging people to be cautious when buying electric bikes or e-scooters this festive season, as some models may not be permitted for use on public roads.

E-bikes and e-scooters are becoming increasingly common in towns and cities across Scotland, with most being used appropriately and in line with current legal guidelines. However, some vehicles are being modified to exceed speed and power limits, which can reclassify them under motorcycle legislation.

From the beginning of January 2024 and the end of September 2024, officers have made 281 seizures.

Inspector Hugh Niccolls said: “This year officers have seized a growing number of e-bikes and e-scooters being used illegally on roads across Scotland.

“E-bikes can legally be used on public roads if they meet specific requirements, including that the motor should not be able to propel the bike when it is travelling more than 15.5mph and must have a maximum power output of 250 watts. Vehicles that exceed these limits are motor vehicles and are subject to the Road Traffic Act, meaning the rider must hold a full UK driving license, have insurance, and wear an approved helmet. Failure to comply with these legal requirements could face enforcement action under the Road Traffic Act.

“E-scooters, however, are not permitted on public roads, pavements or other public spaces, as they do not meet the necessary legal standards. Their use is only legal on private land with the landowner’s consent.

“Anyone found riding a non-compliant e-bike or e-scooter on a public road will likely have it seized by officers and removed to a contractor’s yard, with a significant cost to the owner. Additionally, using vehicles that do not meet legal requirements poses a serious safety risk, increasing the likelihood of injuries to both riders and other road users, particularly pedestrians.

“If you are buying an e-bike or e-scooter this Christmas, please check its specifications to ensure it complies with legal requirements. If you already own one that does not meet these standards, I urge you to keep it off public roads to avoid penalties and avoid risking the safety of others.”

For further information on the use of electric bikes visit: https://orlo.uk/86uCq

Residents at an Edinburgh care home have spent a Christmassy afternoon with local toddlers and babies.

Residents at Care UK’s Murrayside, on South Beechwood, were joined by parents and their little ones, to celebrate the festive season. The three generations came together for a Christmas carol sing-along, where everyone enjoyed singing and dancing to classics.

The sessions, which run every three months, also include a baby yoga activity. Louise Burchell, from Yoga, Birth & Wellbeing, led a yoga class for the little ones and residents joined in using dolls and teddies to copy. The session brought back many fond memories for residents Pat Wood, aged 82, and Marjory Murch, 99, who are both yogis.

Marjory took up yoga at her local church when she retired, with some of her favourite positions including the warrior and tree pose.

Marjory said: “Oh yes, I very much enjoyed it, yoga was very popular back then! I found it relaxing but also challenging, it was a great way to keep your body moving. It was lovely seeing the babies giving it a go!”

Residents and the Murrayside team are keen to continue to build on the blossoming friendship with the local parents and babies, and plan to work together on more fun activities and initiatives in the new year.

Suzanne Welsh, Home Manager at Murrayside, said: “We love having new parents and their babies visit us at Murrayside. It has been lovely to see everyone interacting and have residents share stories about their own children and chatting about how times have changed since they were new parents.

“Intergenerational activities play a vital role in fostering emotional well-being and physical health in residents. These activities help bridge the gap between generations, promoting connection, empathy, and a sense of purpose for older adults. As Christmas is a time for togetherness, we can’t think of a better way for residents to spend time with the local community!

“We want to thank the new parents and babies for visiting us—it has been brilliant to see new friendships blossoming already!”

careuk.com/murrayside

While Edinburgh Labour have chosen their Housing Convener as their group leader – and also contender for Council Leader – the Green group are keeping a focus on last week’s spat with Shelter over homelessness rights.

Green councillor, Ben Parker, has raised an emergency motion to be discussed at Thursday’s full council meeting in which he reminds the council that Shelter said last week it had “lost confidence” in the council leadership on matters relating to homelessness rights.

He says the intervention by Shelter is “alarming” and asks that the council will in future prioritise a rights based approach to tackling the Housing Emergency declared in November 2023.

Shelter last week asked that the government and the Scottish Housing Regulator would intervene against The  City of Edinburgh Council after the local authority voted “in favour of stripping homeless households of their basic rights”. This view is contested by the council.

The charity said that at a meeting of the city’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee last week, councillors voted in favour of proposals to strip people experiencing homelessness of their right to adequate housing through the provision of suitable temporary and permanent housing.

Councillors had voted 6-5 against the emergency motion which was lodged by Green councillor, Ben Parker. 

This asked that the Housing Convener would do a u-turn on a letter sent previously by the former council leader and the Housing Convener asking the Scottish Government to relax three separate pieces of legislation relating to homelessness rights. 

In the motion, the Green group requested the Convener to write again to the Government confirming that the council did not wish to “downgrade the rights of homeless people” but should instead seek additional funding from the Government in order to “ensure that all homeless people can be treated with dignity and respect, in the way the law intends”.

So, on the face of it, the council voted against protecting people’s rights. However, thanks to an SNP amendment, councillors did agree that if the Government were to agree any relaxation in the rules protecting homeless people, policy changes at a local authority level would need to be agreed at a committee meeting.

This week Cllr Parker told The Edinburgh Reporter: “It’s been unusual to see the Council and third sector organisations disagreeing so robustly and so publicly – especially at a time when the Council is in such flux. What’s clear to me is that all parties need to come together to find a way forward through the housing emergency without compromising on human rights. 

“I remain deeply concerned that the Council’s initial engagement with the Scottish Government on this point has put a rights-based approach in jeopardy, and my Emergency Motion is an invitation for Councillors of all Parties to request absolute clarity on matters at the next Housing committee meeting. 

“I hope that the Housing Convener, whoever it may be after Thursday, will take note of the strength of feeling around this as we head into the New Year.” 

Royal Amateur Boxing Club coach, Junior Burton, has heaped praise on fighters who successfully flew the flag for the club at a show organised by Leith Victoria AAC in Tynecastle Stadium.

Youngsters, pictured left to right, Lee Dobson, 11, James Neri, 10, and Adam Brownlie, 11, all passed their ring tests with distinction.

Also, senior welterweights Craig Ferrier and Mark Mikkelsen enjoyed wins, the former by a first round stoppage and the latter by a unanimous decision.

Burton, who trains his charges at rented premises in Holyrood Business Park assisted by Mikey Wood, says: “James had his first cub bout and although there was no scoring involved he, like his young club-mates, showed real grit and determination.

“Lee won his bout and there were classy touches by Adam in what was deemed an exhibition contest.”

Appointment of a new council leader

The City of Edinburgh Council’s final meeting of the year takes place at 10am this morning. While deputations are usually heard first before any other business, there are only two and one of those is written.

But the most pressing matter before the council of 61 councillors is to elect a new council leader and either a Labour group member to each of the positions vacated by Cllr Cammy Day who has been suspended by Scottish Labour and who can no longer lead the council. There is also the possibility of the council electing a whole new administration – or the matter could be continued until the end of January or beginning of February.

The main part of what will be discussed is in Item 6.1 of the agenda – but also, and perhaps more importantly in the amendments lodged by only some of the political groups.

• Labour have put forward a motion to appoint Cllr Jane Meagher to the position of Council Leader. Cllr Meagher was chosen as Group leader on Sunday. She will be joining the meeting virtually.
• Independent councillor Ross McKenzie has put himself forward to become Council Leader – which probably just gets him more time to speak on Thursday morning but possibly not any more votes.
• The SNP and Green groups are putting forward a proposed coalition. Read more about that here. This would replace the Labour administration which is currently running the council with only 10 councillors.
• The Liberal Democrats and Conservative groups have not put forward any position. While it is likely that the Liberal Democrats will prop up the Labour group, it is difficult to see that the Conservatives would.
• The possibilities are many, and we have explained at least some of them here.

The council meeting begins at 10am and the papers are here.

The Edinburgh Reporter asked Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Alex Cole Hamilton why his 13 councillors in Edinburgh were not stepping up to form an alternative administration and he said that “Labour deserve the opportunity to stay in power” if they can cobble the votes together.

At tomorrow’s council meeting the SNP @SimitaSKumar and Greens @susan4leithwalk @CllrChasBooth have proposed forming a new administration in Edinburgh, Labour want to hang on – and now it seems LibDem leader @agcolehamilton thinks they should have the opportunity to do so pic.twitter.com/WVjobksvYg

— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) December 18, 2024

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Community Wellbeing Collective

In Wester Hailes on Saturday the Wellbeing Collective invite you to celebrate the season with them from noon to 7pm (or any time in between.) There will be a community meal, crafts and an open mic at Westside Plaza. Read more here.

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Bikes For Refugees

The cycling charity has a very simple mission. It would like to provide 100 children & young people with bikes and cycling accessories this Christmas. And everyone is asked to help.

With each bike the charity provides essential accessories as well as some information about free community services.

• £25 will help to get one child cycling
• £35 donation will get one teenager on a bike
• £50 donation will help the charity get one adult on a bike.
• And for £100 the charity can provide bikes to one family.

Read more here.

WICKED

Wicked fans are invited to a special Sing-Along screening at Vue on Boxing Day.

After becoming one of the most ‘popular’ big screen releases of 2024, Vue is excited to announce that an extra special sing-along version of Wicked is heading to the big screen this Boxing Day. 

Based on the award-winning musical by Stephen Schwartz and now nominated for four Golden Globe Awards, Wicked tells the untold story of the wonderful land of Oz, exploring the unlikely friendship forged between green witch Elphaba and the popular Glinda.

Starring Emmy, Grammy and Tony-winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and pop star Ariana Grande as Glinda, fans will now be able to join in as the lyrics appear onscreen to their favourite tunes such as Popular and Defying Gravity, along with follow Ozians.

To add to this musical spectacle, ahead of this special sing-along version of Wicked, stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have recorded a special vocal warm-up video, to get fans all set to join in with all of their favourite tunes.

Ian Chester, General Manager at Vue in Edinburgh Ocean, said: “Wicked has simply enchanted audiences since in launched in November, so we’re thrilled to be able to provide this spell-binding new way for fans to enjoy one of the biggest releases of the year.

“With tickets now on sale, we’re thrilled to invite Ozians and film fans alike to join in with every musical note and magical moment, all from the luxury of our comfortable leather seating and incredible surround sound.

“Of course, those looking to simply enjoy Wicked for the first time or once again, without singing along, we are still screening standard showings of the film for you to enjoy.”   

To find out more, visit www.myvue.com

Young dentists to benefit from specialised training

A new innovative education programme in Scottish dentistry has been unveiled to help meet the demand for practitioners across the country.

Scottish Dental Care, a leading dental provider in Scotland, has introduced ‘Pathways’, a groundbreaking education programme that sets a new standard as the most comprehensive professional development initiative for early-career dentists in the country.

The 16-module programme, spearheaded by John McQueen, Clinical Director of Education and Philip Friel, Co-Founder and Director of Dentistry at Scottish Dental Care, has been designed to help bridge the gap between university training and independent practice, offering young dentists structured guidance as they embark on their careers.

John McQueen said: “The transition from a structured educational based environment through Vocational Training to associate, developing your practice and managing your career, can feel like being thrown into the deep end, with young dentists left to find their own way having.

“Pathways is what I wish I had when I finished my university training.  You don’t know what you don’t know – which is what inspired us to develop this training programme.

“It is incredibly rewarding to be in a position to pass on knowledge to the next generation of dentists, while also learning from their fresh perspectives.

“Pathways will provide an unprecedented level of comprehensive and hands-on training, aimed at empowering emerging dentists to excel in their careers.

“There’s no pressure to specialise or pick one discipline with this programme – this is an opportunity to develop skills and explore practices that you may not otherwise be exposed to.”

Pathways offers a unique blend of hands-on and theoretical training, providing 16 dedicated training days over two years.

The curriculum covers all key areas of dentistry, including treatment planning, oral surgery, implants, prosthodontics, and endodontics, with modules led by Scottish Dental Care Clinical leadership as well as other practitioners prominent in their field. In addition, participants will have opportunities to shadow experienced clinicians and observe real cases in clinic.

John added: “We’ve structured Pathways to push the envelope beyond what’s taught at university.

“It’s not just about developing technical skills, but also about preparing dentists for the personal, physical, and mental challenges of the profession. By including workshops on mental wellbeing and financial planning, we’re helping young dentists build holistic careers.”

The Pathways programme addresses the critical need for dental talent retention in Scotland by focusing specifically on early-career dentists in their first five years of professional practice.

Philip Friel added: “We believe in continuous education and development, offering learning opportunities for associates at every stage of their career.

“The programme delivers an exceptional professional development pathway, offering extensive training courses and opportunities at a significantly subsidised cost.

“We want to set a new standard for professional growth and career satisfaction in the dental industry.”

Commencing in February 2025, training days will be held at Scottish Dental Care’s Glasgow central office, it is open to all early-career dentists, with just 14 spaces available.

Scottish Dental Care has 21 locations across Scotland consisting of 90+ dentists, employing more than 200 dental nurses and practice staff, and serving more than 250,000 patients.

www.scottishdentalcare.co.uk www.advanceddentistryscotland.com

The cost of holding the recent by-election in Colinton/Fairmilehead has now been broken down by the Finance Convener – at least in part.

The councillor elected in November, Liberal Democrat Louise Spence, resigned after just six days in post – and it has been confirmed to us that she did not seek any payment for those six days.

But the cost to the council of holding an election is considerable. There will now have to be a repeat election in January.

Cllr Jason Rust, is the only remaining councillor serving the ward until the new by-election is called. He asked for a breakdown of the costs and the Finance Convener, Mandy Watt, has confirmed that it was a total of £76,758.87.

Cllr Rust asked if the Finance Convener would provide a breakdown, to include:
(a) hire of polling stations
(b) payments to polling station staff
(c) payments to election count staff
(d) production of ballot papers
(e) publication of notice of poll and all advertising
(f) council staff time
(g) any other third-party payments
(g) all other costs.

The answer published in council papers on 18 December is as follows:

(a) £3,427.73
(b) £10,203.05
(c) £406.50
(d) £14,050.35
(e) £468.00
(f) £1,977.33
(g) £46,225.91 (third party and all other costs).

The Edinburgh Reporter has asked Cllr Rust if he has any further comment – and it is open to him to ask further questions at Thursday’s council meeting. That meeting will be webcast from 10am. The papers are here.

Hearts have the chance to progress in the UEFA Europa Conference League if they beat Moldovan side Petrocub at Tynecastle on Thursday, and head coach, Neil Critchley, said: “It’s in our hands.”

The backroom team have looked at the permutations and scenarios surrounding the game but have decided to concentrate on doing their best to win against a side which has already been eliminated.

Critchley (pictured) expects a tough fixture and he said: “There are no give-me’s in European football, they (Petrocub) are there for a reason and, if you look at their recent results, they’ve been in very close games.

“If we’re expecting to turn up and win then it won’t happen. You have to earn everything you get on the pitch and we’ll have to enforce the way we want to play onto them.

“We have to make sure our cause is greater than theirs and that has to be reflected on the pitch.”

The Jambos are desperate to make the later stages of the competition but they come into the fixture on the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Kilmarnock against ten men in the William Hill Premiership.

But the Men in Maroon know that three points could guarantee European football after Christmas and the head coach said: “We’ve obviously reflected on what happened and how we played at the weekend and we need to do a lot better than we did (at Kilmarnock). I’m really looking forward to seeing our response.”

Police have issued a renewed appeal for information to help trace Santra Saju missing from the South Gyle area.

Enquiries have confirmed that the 22-year-old was within Asda at Almondvale, Livingston on Friday, 6 December 2024 between 9.10pm and 9.45pm

She had previously been in the Burnvale area of Livingston around 6.30pm the same evening.

Santra is described as 5ft 6 inches, of Indian ethnicity, slim build, with short black hair and was last seen wearing a black jacket with a fur hood.

Inspector Alison Lawrie from Corstorphine Police Station said: “We now know that Santra picked up a black and white shopper style bag from an address in Burnvale on Friday evening, but she did not have it when she entered the supermarket. The bag is distinctive and someone may remember seeing her carrying it.

“We are continuing to review CCTV footage and have released images of Santra from the supermarket in the hope that someone recognises her.

“Extensive enquiries are being carried out in an effort to trace her. If you have any information please contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 3390 of Sunday, 15 December 2024.”

Scottish school exam league tables have been criticised for being skewed by a “massive industry of private tutors.” 

Recent results showed West Lothian had outperformed other local authorities in high schools’ exams these years. 

But Heather Hughes from the Education Institute of Scotland, told councillors  teachers faced a crippling workload and league tables did nothing to help the poorest close the gap with families who had more. 

“These people in the top deciles in Linlithgow [Academy] and James Young [High School], they have private tutors we cannot compare like for like. It’s not fair and that’s why we need education reform.” 

The best performing schools are in the wealthiest areas, with schools serving poorer catchment areas performing less well. The gap is closing though between rich and poor, Q5 and Q1 on the national index of deprivation. 

Mrs Hughes was speaking at a meeting of the Education Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel which had heard of across-the-board improvements in exam results in fourth, fifth and sixth years, where pupil performance had outstripped that of virtual comparator schools- those from areas across the country with a similar societal make-up. 

A report to the committee by Siobhan McGarty Head of Education (Secondary) detailed key successes: – 

• More West Lothian S4 students are sitting and passing at least five National 5 exams than they were in 2018/19, and sits above the virtual comparator and national level. 

• In S4 and S5, West Lothian pupils are outperforming the virtual comparator in literacy and numeracy at Level 4 and Level 5 . 

• At S4, West Lothian pupils are achieving above the level of the virtual comparator and the national average at SCQF Level 5. 

• At S5, West Lothian pupils are achieving above the level of the virtual comparator and the national average at SCQF Level 3, SCQF Level 4 and SCQF Level 5  

• At S5, West Lothian pupils are achieving significantly above the level of the virtual comparator and the national average at SCQF Level 6. 

• At S6 stage West Lothian pupils are leaving with more qualifications than the virtual comparators and national average at SCQF Level 6. 

• The attainment gap in average total tariff points between Q1(poorest) and Q5 (richest) is less than the national average in S5. 

Mrs Highes told the meeting: “As the secondary EIS rep I’m sure you would all join me congratulating everybody in schools because West Lothian has continued to outperform all of its virtual comparators. 

“My colleagues would not be happy if I was to sit here and wasn’t to say to you that comes at a cost. 

“Our workload is crippling. The average teacher in Scotland works more than 11 hours extra every single week. That cannot go on because that interferes with their family life.  

“If we were to take that 11 hours and multiply it by the number of teachers in Scotland, we’re actually saving the Scottish Government from employing an extra 2,200 teachers. So teachers in West Lothian give their all. 

She added: “Why do they have these league tables? What are they actually useful for, because anyone who is teaching is not interested . We move from school to school and we do the same from one school to another. 

“League tables do not take into account individuals circumstance and they don’t tackle in the massive industry of private tutors These people in the top deciles in Linlithgow and James Young they have tutors they have private tutors we cannot compare like for like. 

“It’s not fair and that’s why we need education reform.” 

She continued: “We need more teachers, the teachers that were promised to us. 

“We should absolutely celebrate this success but please start thinking about all the things that young people achieve that are not reflected in these tables that you are looking at. It is only exams that you are seeing and that is not what education is about.” 

She said education should be about preparing people for life, not just giving them bits of paper, suggesting the best schools had the happiest pupils. 

Depute Provost, Conservative councillor Peter Heggie congratulated schools and pupils for their success but warned that the success was set against the backdrop of continual cuts to the budget by the Scottish Government. 

SNP depute group leader Pauline Stafford showed that Scottish Government policy had been successful in closing the attainment gap between the richest and poorest across the country. 

Chairing the meeting Independent Councillor Andrew McGuire said:  “I find myself agreeing with what Heather Hughes has said. The education profession has been let down by continued promises of reform which never quite materialise and at the same time ever more is placed upon the profession in terms of expectation and that does lead to breaking point with more teachers going off with stress.” 

He said that the reality of teaching was that it was a vocation for many, but the EIS had done a commendable job in highlighting the growing pressures on staff.  

He added: “Schools should be far more than exam factories and I’m confident that our schools are far more than that.  I think we would all wish to extend our thanks to hard working staff in schools and hard working pupils in the last year.” 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Edinburgh’s SNP and Green council groups are combining forces in a bid to take over the leadership of Edinburgh’s council administration.

They are making a move on Thursday to take control of the council which they say will bring “ambition, vision and stability” to the capital.

They say that Edinburgh’s current ruling Labour group has been rocked by sexual harassment and fraud allegations against its outgoing leader, Cammy Day, following two and a half years of “weak, rudderless and incompetent” administration. Cllr Day resigned on 9 December.

The two parties have made an agreement which would enable the SNP’s Simita Kumar become Council Leader, with the Greens’ Susan Rae and Chas Booth becoming joint Depute leaders.

The various committee convenorships would be divided between the two groups and the papers will be published around 5pm today to explain who would fill those posts..

A spokesperson for the SNP and Greens said that they are “acknowledging the fractured nature of Edinburgh’s council representation and seek cross-party agreement on key issues affecting the city by means of a beefed-up leadership forum involving the other groups.

“For the past two and a half years, the council has been led by a Labour group which has shrunk to only 10 members out of 63, propped up by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. They have left the door open to working in administration with “progressive” councillors from other groups, should they come on board later.”

The coalition agreement promises “innovative” action to tackle Edinburgh’s housing emergency, which the two parties say has worsened during Labour’s tenure, with council housing allocations and repairs being suspended until at least January.

The Greens and SNP are also seeking to prioritise action on the climate crisis. They are proposing to help residents insulate their homes and bring down energy bills. They have also promised to invest in ‘transformative’ public transport and active travel projects, such as pursuing tram network expansion.

SNP group leader Cllr Simita Kumar said: “I am proud to put forward this progressive and bold programme for administration, which will restore ambition, vision and stability to our city. I look forward to turning our shared values with the Greens into actions that will improve the lives of Edinburgh’s residents. 

“The positive agreement we are putting forward with the Greens stands in stark contrast to Labour who have been rocked by serious allegations of misconduct and fraud in recent weeks. This follows on from their two and a half years of weak, rudderless and incompetent tenure, where they have been dancing to the tune of the Tories and Lib Dems.

“We will protect our workforce and the vital services they deliver, and we will stand up for all of our communities and residents. We will take the bold and decisive action needed to solve Edinburgh’s housing emergency. And we will use the new Visitor Levy to benefit our city’s communities.

“Public trust in the council is at an all-time low. We will work tirelessly to repair that damage.

“Business as usual simply won’t cut it – the people of this city will not accept that. We know that the SNP and Greens together don’t have a majority in the chamber, so we’re keen to work openly and constructively with all progressive councillors for the good of Edinburgh and its residents.”

Green co-leader Susan Rae said: “Over the past weeks it has become increasingly clear that Labour have lost the democratic and moral mandate to lead Scotland’s capital city. Not only have the shocking allegations against the former council leader raised significant questions about who knew what, but Labour’s new leader has been facing unprecedented criticism from a leading housing charity due to her support for the rolling back of homelessness rights. Despite this, they continue to deny any responsibility and seem to believe their blighted administration has the moral authority to carry the responsibility of running the City they have let down so badly.

“Edinburgh deserves a fresh start to take us in to 2025.

“This means an administration that has the vision and capacity to steer the city through the challenges facing us, from tackling the social care crisis to preparing for future extreme weather events caused by climate change, and nobody else is in a position to step up and offer that leadership. 

“No political party relishes the opportunity to take over from a failing administration in the middle of a Council term, but we are pleased to have continued our constructive working relationship with the SNP and last night received overwhelming endorsement from Edinburgh Green branch members to pursue this course of action. We’re confident that – should other Councillors support our proposal at Full Council – we can provide the stability and vision that the Council is crying out for.”

The council meeting on Thursday is the final meeting of the year. It will begin at 10am and details of all papers and the webcast are here.

Fort Kinnaird has revealed the successful candidate in its search for a new Chief Christmas Officer (CCO) – with six-year-old Ruari from East Lothian appointed in the inaugural role.

Ruari was recruited to try out the wealth of retailers and festive experiences at the centre for free, indulging in tasty seasonal treats and bagging plenty of Christmas goodies to make sure they’re fit for a fun-filled festive season.

Ruari’s application stood out to Fort Kinnaird due to his volunteering efforts from a young age and passion for helping others, that the team felt should be rewarded. Ruari volunteers for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) with his granny, helping to collect cans and support at craft stalls. He has also encouraged his school to take part in fundraising for CHAS at Christmas over the last few years too.

Ruari spent a full day at the centre this week, testing out the diverse range of activities available. From watching seasonal favourite, Home Alone, at ODEON Cinema to reviewing the new festive menu at Frankie & Benny’s.

After sampling the new festive hot chocolate and treats at Hotel Chocolat, Ruari also got to test out this year’s most popular toys and gadgets at Menkind, and even got to take one home.

He said: “When Mummy told me I was going to be Chief Christmas Officer for Fort Kinnaird I felt really excited and happy – it was such a fun visit!”

Mum Sarah added: “Ruari knows being kind is the most important thing you can be and to have his efforts recognised in this way is really special. I’m so grateful to the team at Fort Kinnaird for making the day so much fun.”

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We had some wonderful applications for our Chief Christmas Officer role, and were blown away by the number of entries and everyone’s passion for the job! It was a difficult decision to select just one candidate, but Ruari stood out as a brilliant choice for us and he’s done a great job in putting our festive fun to the test.

“We’re always looking for ways to enhance our visitor experience, and we’d like to thank Ruari for helping us to do just that.”

For more information on the stores available at Fort Kinnaird, please visit https://www.fortkinnaird.com/

Hospitality group Buzzworks has opened its latest venture, Lido, in Musselburgh

The stylish Mediterranean-influenced cafe bar, restaurant and takeaway is now welcoming diners on the High Street for a range of meals from breakfast rolls and cakes to hearty lunches and casual evening meals.

The restaurant features a state-of-the-art, wood-fired pizza oven, bringing authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas to the community, alongside a carefully curated menu of pastas, chargrilled dishes, and indulgent desserts.

Stephen Buchanan, Buzzworks’ New Openings and Project Operations Manager, said: “After months of build-up, hard work and preparation, we can’t wait to finally welcome guests to Lido Musselburgh this weekend. 

“We’re really proud of what we’ve created here at Lido. Everything from our carefully curated menus to our stylish décor and outstanding levels of service are designed to showcase the passion and care that we put into everything we do. 

“We have big plans for the venue, including a brand new ‘to go’ service which will make it easier than ever for guests to enjoy Lido’s fresh flavours at home. It’s set to launch early next year, and we couldn’t be more excited.

“In the meantime, we can’t wait to welcome the first guests through our doors on Saturday to sample a taste of the Mediterranean right here on the east coast.”

The opening of Lido marks Buzzworks’ continued expansion plans, adding to its successful portfolio of venues across Scotland and creating more than 60 new jobs for the local community.

Lido Musselburgh is reopening on Wednesday 18 December from 9am – late daily.

To find out more, and to book a table, click here.  

A 35-year-old man has been jailed for 16 years after subjecting numerous women to violent and sexual abuse.

Luke Ford was sentenced today at the High Court in Edinburgh and will also be placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

He is also the first person to be convicted of ‘stealthing’ in Scotland. He told women he was having sex with that he was using a condom when in fact he was deceiving them.

Luke Ford came to the attention of police in June 2020 after officers attended an address in Edinburgh following a report of an assault.

An investigation was subsequently launched with officers discovering Ford had targeted several other women over an extended period.

Through enquiries, officers meticulously built a case against him, and he was arrested and charged in February 2021.

In May 2023 he was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of numerous offences, including rape, attempted rape, multiple assaults and being in possession of extreme sexual abuse images.

Detective Inspector Steven Gray said: “Ford is a dangerous and manipulative sexual predator. I would like to acknowledge how hard this has been for those involved and to also tell them that their testimonies vastly contributed to Ford being convicted. I hope that knowing he is now behind bars for his crimes helps them continue to move forward with their lives.

“Anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault or abuse should contact us. Please be assured that we will do everything we can to ensure we arrest the perpetrators of such crimes.”

West Lothian Council will see its third by-election since August come the New Year after a senior SNP councillor announced her decision to retire. 

In the last few days before the council break from the Christmas holidays, Broxburn’s Diane Calder announced her decision to stand down. 

Councillor Calder said she had been “overwhelmed by kind sentiments” since announcing her decision on Tuesday afternoon. 

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It has been a great honour and privilege to serve and support the communities of Broxburn, Uphall, Winchburgh, Dechmont and Ecclesmachan and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support over the years. 

“I would also like to take this opportunity to say that I am extremely proud to live within our communities where there are fantastic volunteers who work tirelessly for their towns and villages and for each other and it has been extremely humbling to have been a part of this. 

“I have met many inspirational people and have made many life-long friends in my time over the years in elected office and I do hope to maintain these relationships into the future.” 

Details of the by-election, including dates at which candidates should submit their names will be announced in the next few weeks. 

Councillor Calder has been a long-standing SNP member representing Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh. 

Councillor Calder gained the most votes- 1,990- (29% of the poll)- and was elected in the first round of the single transferable voting system used for the last council election in May 2022. 

She was elected alongside fellow party member Janet Campbell, Angela Doran-Timson for the Conservatives and Ann Davidson for Labour. 

Tony Boyle won a by-election for Labour shortly afterwards following the death of Mrs  Davidson. 

SNP group leader Councillor Janet Campbell, told the LDRS: “Diane has been an SNP councillor and a colleague for over 12 years. She has worked tirelessly for her constituents in Broxburn, Winchburgh, Uphall Dechmont and Ecclesmachan during this time. She will always work to the very best of her abilities to seek answers and to right wrongs. 

 “All in the SNP group will miss her as a team member but also wish her the very best now she has chosen to retire.” 

By-elections took place in August in Armadale ward following the death of Councillor Stuart Borrowman and in Whitburn last month following the election of  Councillor Kirsteen Sullivan as MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow. 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

First images of how a controversial new ‘village’ for older residents in East Lothian will look have been unveiled.

The housing plans for the former Herdmanflat Hospital site in Haddington, will create affordable homes designed to support the county’s ageing population.

However they face opposition from some local families and residents who are angry that the woodland surrounding the old cottage hospital buildings which became a popular walking spot during lockdown, are at risk of being lost.

A campaign to stop the plans was launched and a Haddington Community Woods charity established to work to retain the area but despite this East Lothian councillors approved the plans for the new homes with more than 140 proposed for the overall site and the loss of 211 trees although plans to plant more than 1200 new ones are included.

The site, described by campaigners as the ‘green lung’ of the local community, was sold to the local authority by NHS Scotland after the services at Herdmanflat Hospital moved into the town’s new community hospital with the understanding it would be used for older people.

New housing will be aimed at residents aged 55 and over and designed to allow them to adapt their home as they age, to ensure they can live independently for longer.

Details of the first phase of the plan have been lodged with East Lothian Council planners showing how the first 51 homes planned for the lower end of the site will look.

A council spokesperson said the application followed three years of detailed surveys, initial design work and a three month community consultation period.  They said: “The plans reflect and support the identified, urgent need for
more affordable housing for older people across the county.

“The site will deliver a high quality, adaptable and sustainable housing development, while respecting the existing heritage, landscape character, green space and significantly enhancing access arrangements to and through the site.”

The application can be viewed in the council’s planning portal and a dedicated Herdmanflat web page has been set up on the council website  at www.eastlothian.gov.uk/homepage/10516/redevelopment_of_herdmanflat

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Police Scotland has released images of two more men officers believe might be able to assist with enquiries into an incident on Tuesday, 5 November, at Captains Road, in the Gracemount area of Edinburgh.

The first male is described as a white, between 20 and 22-years-old, 5ft 4ins tall with a slim build. He was wearing a black baggy jumper with the hood up, a black Canada Goose puffer jacket with a logo on the left arm and dark trousers.

The second male is described as a white, between 20 and 25-years-old with fair/blond hair. He was wearing a grey North Face jacket with black sleeves to the elbows, then grey from elbow to wrists, a red hoodie underneath, black Nike trousers and black Nike trainers with white soles

Detective Sergeant Steven Dick said: “We are keen to talk to these males as we believe they may have information which could assist with our enquiries. The males pictured, or anyone who may recognise them, are asked to please contact us.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting Gracemount incident dated 5 November 2024. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Public meeting in South Queensferry on Wednesday evening

On Wednesday night Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Alex Cole Hamilton who is the MSP for Edinburgh Western – the area which includes South Queensferry is holding a second public meeting at Rosebery Hall on the High Street at 7pm.

The purpose is to update his constituents on any progress with dealing with so called boy racers who had in the summer been causing a nuisance to residents and business owners near the Hawes Pier.

He will no doubt explain his recent demand of the government to give the power to local authorities in Scotland to install and operate speed cameras in their areas.

A preliminary meeting was held in September, also called by the Liberal Democrat leader, and he promised then to convene a second before Christmas. Following the September meeting, Mr Cole-Hamilton raised the matter at First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood.

He took advantage of his single question to First Minister, John Swinney, demanding a national task force to address the issue which is said to happen all over the country.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said in parliament: “Presiding Officer, last night I chaired a packed town hall meeting in South Queensferry.

“For four years, my constituents have had their quality of life destroyed by hundreds of high performance, illegally modified cars and motorbikes racing around their beautiful town.

“The drivers of these vehicles will abuse and intimidate anyone who approaches them where they gather, in the car park at the foot of the iconic Forth Bridge. Pets have been killed, hotels have lost trade, nobody is getting any sleep.

“Residents like pensioner Andy Scott are really worried about road safety.

“In fact, just as our meeting was concluding, there was a collision right outside our venue with a motorcyclist rushed to hospital. Police are appealing for information about that.

“The racing and antisocial behaviour is happening in Inverness, parts of Glasgow, Crail, many other areas.

“Will the First Minister meet with me and agree to establish a national taskforce to establish and examine what more can be done to address this criminal behaviour that is blighting so many lives?”

The First Minister replied: “First, I am very sorry to hear of the circumstances in South Queensferry. It is a beautiful part of our country and an iconic location, and I am sorry that members of the public are experiencing what they are experiencing.

“The Government engages substantively on the question of road safety. The Cabinet Secretary for Transport has been briefing Cabinet on her concerns about road fatalities, which are a very serious and current problem, so that issue is very much on the Cabinet’s agenda. I am very happy to have discussions with Mr Cole-Hamilton on the subject and to determine what further action can be taken.

“The incident last night that Alex Cole-Hamilton raised will have involved police interaction, and I am sure that the police will have been involved in other instances of that kind. I am happy to host discussions to see what more can be done to address the situation.

“There may be some legislative issues that may be worth considering. I fear that some of those will not be within our areas of responsibility because they are road traffic issues, but I am happy to explore all possibilities.”

Mr Cole-Hamilton also raised the matter of anti-social behaviour in the Royal Burgh again just last month in Holyrood.

This is what he said then: “I thank all those members who are present for the debate, and all those who have signed the motion. In addition, I thank various national media outlets for their abundant interest in this story, which was—I think—sparked by the question that I asked of John Swinney at First Minister’s question time some weeks ago. I am also grateful to him for his offer of a meeting, which will take place tomorrow; I will say a bit more about that in my remarks.

“Before I get into the substance of the motion, I pay tribute to my constituents in the beautiful town of South Queensferry. It is a town that needs no introduction—it is an iconic United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization world heritage site in the shadow of the three bridges that cross the Forth estuary. However, that community has been blighted, and those resilient and welcoming people are having their lives blighted, too.

“I make it clear from the outset that this is not an assault or an attack on young people or on motor enthusiasts, many of whom will go about their pastimes in a law-abiding way. I think back to when I was 16; my best friend was something of a petrolhead and owned a Honda 50cc. We would tinker around with it in his garage and use it to ride around the fields behind his house. The fastest that we could get it to go was about 30mph—I still have the scar tissue from the falls that I took, and the parental rebuke is still ringing in my ears.

“I understand, therefore, the thrill of acceleration and the draw of any type of engine. However, there is a massive difference between having an interest in cars or bikes, and what is currently going on in many parts of Scotland, nowhere more so than in the town of South Queensferry in my constituency.

“For four years, my constituents have had their quality of life destroyed by hundreds of high-performance cars and motorbikes, some of which have been illegally modified, racing around their beautiful town. The drivers of those vehicles will congregate from all parts of Scotland, and some will even abuse, intimidate and harass anyone who dares to approach them to complain. That is happening in the car park at the foot of the iconic Forth bridge—a UNESCO world heritage site.

“The drivers will often gather and honk their horns throughout the night to assert their presence. They will perform wheel spins in a stationary position, until the whole area is drenched in acrid tyre smoke, before racing off on a circuit that takes in most of the town. The doctored braking systems and exhausts mean that everyone can hear the machine-gun effect of the backfires all over town. Pets have been killed, and hotels have lost trade because their customers cannot sleep—in fact, nobody is getting any sleep.

“In September, I chaired a packed town-hall meeting in Queensferry, where I brought together high-ranking officials from the council, other elected representatives and the new chief inspector of police in Edinburgh’s north-west locality. I am very grateful for their continued interest and activity around the issue. Most importantly, we gathered together to hear about the lived experience of my constituents.

“I say that the meeting was packed—it was absolutely rammed. It was standing room only, and people who arrived slightly late had to turn away because they could not get into the building. These people are practically on their knees from the exhaustion and misery that has been caused by this antisocial racing, which is why I chose to raise the issue with the First Minister in the chamber the very next day.

“I am glad that, since attention has been brought to the issue in South Queensferry, the problem has abated for some time, but there are signs that it is picking up again, so we need solutions. One such solution, which I am calling on the Government to adopt, feels like an easy win. 

“Unlike councils in England, Scottish local authorities do not have the power to install and operate speed cameras in their areas; that is currently the preserve of the police. The Scottish Parliament could, with some speed, change the law to allow councils to have that power. At a stroke, that would allow the City of Edinburgh Council to install cameras along the length of the Queensferry racing circuit. Not only would the fines that would be accrued from the cameras pay for their installation and upkeep; those cameras would generate additional revenue that could be invested in additional road-safety measures.

“We also need a dedicated, named police operation in South Queensferry. I was reflecting earlier on the success of operation Soteria, which—perhaps eight years ago now—successfully curtailed illegal motorbike racing in the north-west of Edinburgh, in particular around Muirhouse and Drylaw. The operation addressed that racing by bringing together, through the stronger north initiative that existed at the time, interested stakeholders such as youth work professionals, elected members and community councillors, until we had created a fabric of intervention that completely addressed the issue.”

After a couple of interventions he said: “I pay tribute to the efforts of the police in my locality, because they do their best to respond to the neighbours. Often, however, when they approach antisocial drivers, those drivers are on their best behaviour and are trying not to exhibit, in any way, behaviour that would involve any kind of offence that can be actioned. We need, therefore, to be proactive and preventative in dealing with the situation.

“Before I finish, I want to recognise that the hard work of the police and of local authorities in tackling such behaviour, in particular antisocial driving, is on-going. This behaviour is not happening in isolation—I was not the first person to identify it, and it would be wrong to suggest otherwise. I also applaud the silent crime campaign for its work in raising awareness of these issues.

“Nevertheless, it is clear that we need to change our approach if we are to win the battle. That starts with cross-party work and a national task force, and with preventative solutions, some of which we will—I hope—hear about tonight.”

As before it is expected that council officers from the transport department, councillors and community councillors, Police Scotland and any interested members of the public will attend.

[The Edinburgh Reporter may take issue with Mr Cole-Hamilton over his praise of national media for their coverage of this issue – we believe that we broke the story first and others followed.. ]

King Creosote at the Usher Hall

If you are quick you might get the last few tickets for King Creosote who is playing the Usher Hall in a postponed gig on 23 December. There are scattered seats available.

The Fifer, Kenny Anderson, known as King Creosote will play tracks from his lates full length album I DES, which is the first release for seven years.

He was supposed to play last month but had to stop the gig due to problems with the sound system. Tickets here.

(And if that is not your bag then Phill Cunningham’s Christmas Songbook is on at Queen’s Hall – with just a few tickets left for dates from 19 to 22 December.)

The Men of Leith Men’s Shed

This is one way to avoid social isolation and get involved. This organisation which operates from the Heart of Newhaven Community is now in its eighth year, and runs workshop activities including the music group, repair shed, cycling group, and the lunch shed. The men’s shed group says that “Research proves that men who connect with other men in the community live happier healthier lives”.

If you are interested in finding out about membership then phone 0751 077 2359 or there are other contact details here.

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New President appointed at Royal Society of Edinburgh

Sir Anton Muscatelli has been appointed to the prestigious role of President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE).

He will take over on 1 April next year, and has previously been Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. His research areas cover monetary economics, central banking, fiscal policy and international trade and finance. He has been a special adviser to the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee on fiscal and monetary policy, and he is currently the Chair of Trustees of the Royal Economic Society and Academic co-Chair of the International Finance Forum.

Sir Anton is Italian born, and he was elected as a Fellow of the RSE in 2003. He is the first Fellow to be elected President to have been born outside the UK.

Other notable Italian Fellows of the RSE include Charles Piazzi Smyth, astronomer and pioneer of early photography; geneticist Guido Pontecorvo; Manhattan Project member Enrico Fermi and Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the electric battery – from whom the term “voltage” is derived.

Sir Anton said: “It is an honour to be elected as President of the RSE. I greatly admire the institution and its mission, and the responsibility of leading it is one I take very seriously.

“Whether through its policy advice work or serving as a forum for having vital conversations about difficult subjects, the RSE has a key role to play in the future of Scotland.

“Through helping Scotland’s academic landscape to thrive through ongoing research funding, or its public engagement work with its Curious festival of knowledge, the RSE is ideally placed to be a benefit to all Scots, and I am relishing the opportunity to be a part of that noble endeavour.”

The role of President of the RSE is a pivotal one. As Scotland’s National Academy, the RSE supports Scotland’s research and academic community and civic society. This is achieved through public engagement, utilising the expertise of its many Fellows to draw up policy advice papers on various aspects of public life, and awarding funding to a wide range of academic researchers.

As President, Sir Anton will have responsibility for ensuring that the RSE continues to direct its resources towards these aims, as well as being a public voice for the RSE as a whole.

Business podcast Edinburgh Business Stories is today celebrating the  release of its 50^th episode with local businessman Ricky Nicol, Co-founder and Vice Chairman of local success story, Commsworld, one of the UK’s leading Next Generation Network Operators. 

Co-hosts Alan Smith and Alex Richards began Edinburgh Business Stories in January 2023 hoping to create a platform where successful business owners in Edinburgh would share the story of their business journey – the ups, the downs and the stuff people don’t know but would like to know. 

Alan Smith said: “Edinburgh is full of amazing businesses and they all have their own unique story but we never really get to hear it because there’s not been a platform, until now”. 

Episodes are released on YouTube and all the usual podcast platforms every two weeks and last for around 45 mins and include stories from the Queen’s funeral director, William Purves, Hibernian FC Chairman, iconic hospitality venues like Tigerlily and Vittoria and the recently opened inland surf resort, Lost Shore – which you can watch below. 

The Palm Court at the Balmoral Hotel reveals their top ten teas after serving guests around 39,000 cups of tea throughout the year, all accompanied by 1,820 hours of live harp music.

The Balmoral say it is Palm Court’s dedication to luxury service and tradition which makes it one of Scotland’s most sought-after destinations for afternoon tea and festive gatherings. The venue also provides the perfect setting for Christmas Day celebrations with its cosy elegance and timeless charm.

Omar Ismail, manager of Palm Court said: “We are so proud to celebrate another extraordinary year at Palm Court, where tradition, luxury, and impeccable service come together to create unforgettable experiences for our guests. From sharing thousands of cups of tea and perfectly paired treats to live harp performances that add a touch of magic to every visit, Palm Court continues to be a cherished destination for festive gatherings and timeless celebrations.”

Spaces are still available for Christmas Day dining at Palm Court.

Here are the top ten teas served:

1. Rare Breakfast Tea

Blended in the style of the original 19th century English Breakfast from only the finest leaf. 

A combination of some of our single-estate black teas to create something even greater than the sum of its parts. A rich and aromatic honey nose with a deep malty finish. It can be enjoyed with or without milk or a twist of lemon zest.

2. Earl Grey Tea

A traditional Earl Grey – hand-crafted black tea with pure bergamot oil from ancient citrus groves in Calabria, Southern Italy. A British classic, full-bodied and rich with heady citrus notes, it is a clean and exceptionally bright infusion. With a malty base and exhilarating citrus notes, it can be enjoyed with or without milk or a twist of lemon.

3. Emperor’s Breakfast Tea

A rare Chinese tea crafted by masters to produce an astonishingly sweet black tea. Made from young and tender spring leaves and golden buds that have been carefully kept whole during hand rolling. A more delicate flavour than a modern breakfast tea. Remarkably smooth with flavours of rich toffee, butterscotch and vanilla. It is best enjoyed without milk.

4. Cloud Tea 

A fragrant black tea from the “Abode of Clouds” – high in the verdant hills between Assam and Darjeeling. Light and floral as a Darjeeling with the rich caramel and malty notes you expect from the best Assam. This harvest has exceptional notes of apricot. It is best enjoyed without milk.

5. Cornish Peppermint 

A rare English Peppermint is grown in the private botanical garden of the Tregothnan Estate. The menthol oils infuse from the dried leaf, providing a brighter and cleaner flavour than that of fresh mint. Powerful and uplifting with a gentle approach, leading to a long finish.

6. Malawi Lemon Verbena 

Grown by smallholder farms in the Thyolo Mountains of Malawi. This pure, whole-leaf verbena reveals complex aromatics. Lemon is the bright top note and beneath lie hints of sage and oregano to give a deeply herbaceous infusion.

7. Hibiscus Flowers 

A delicious herbal infusion made from the beautiful red petals of Hibiscus Sabdarif. These whole hibiscus flowers produce a tea that is raspberry red with the flavour of rich berries and a cranberry sweet finish. 

8. Sikkim Second Flush Muscatel

High in the Indian Himalayas, between Nepal and Bhutan, lies the secret region of Sikkim – not as famous as its Darjeeling neighbours, but making a black tea of such delicious delicacy that it makes the heart soar. The tea has a heady, floral aroma with soft notes of muscatel grapes. Best enjoyed without milk.

9. Oolong Tea

This Chinese Oolong is known as the Iron Goddess of Mercy (Tie Guan Yin). Crafted to an exact point at which the leaves reveal their hidden subtleties. It has rich floral aromas leading to a perfectly balanced mineral finish. The first infusion has a succulent sweetness with later infusions leading to green floral notes. With each infusion, different subtleties are revealed.

10. Nepalese Himalayan Spring

A hand-rolled Nepalese green tea from Jun Chiyabari that truly exemplifies the idea of terroir. This early Spring pick originates from one specific field and one specific harvest. Notes of mango and cooked pineapple, yet low in acidity. 

In a bid to encourage people to bin their rubbish anyone in Edinburgh – visitor or resident – can talk a photo of their rubbish being binned and upload it to the LitterLotto app.

This is a trial project being run with Keep Scotland Beautiful and everyone who takes part will have a chance of winning £100. There are LitterLotto stickers on council bins and participants have to download the app first.

Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee, said: “Our street cleansing teams are committed to keeping Edinburgh looking at its best. They are out tidying up the city 24/7 but we really need residents to help us by binning their litter appropriately when out and about enjoying our stunning Capital city.

“LitterLotto is a new fun initiative we are trialling to help nudge people to bring about positive behaviour change while at the same time some lucky person will win a cash prize every month. It’s easy to enter and so we’re delighted to be teaming up with Keep Scotland Beautiful on this.

“I’d like to thank everyone who already bins their litter appropriately as well as the hundreds of volunteers who help us each year giving up their precious time on various litter picks throughout the city.

“There are also many other ways residents can help us to keep the Capital clean. Always use the correct bins to dispose of household waste and if you have larger items book an appointment at one of our Household Waste Recycling Centres or organise to have a special uplift collection at your home.”

David Landsberg, founder and CEO of LitterLotto, said: “We’re proud to partner with Edinburgh City Council to inspire cleaner public spaces through engaging incentives that make binning litter rewarding. Working together really is making a difference – let’s keep binning and keeping your neighbourhood free of litter.”

Jacqui from south west Edinburgh, winner of the November draw, said: “It wasn’t until lockdown that I really noticed how much litter people drop – perhaps folk don’t realise that those sweetie wrappers or cigarette butts wash down the drain, into the river and out to sea. So, I decided to do something positive and bought myself a litter picker and it went from there. I still head out on my own but each month I join fellow Water of Leith Conservation Trust volunteers trying to prevent plastic pollution travelling downstream – it’s so satisfying knowing that we are making a difference. Winning the random cash prize with the Council and LitterLotto was amazing – I never win anything!”

People can enter as many times as they like, as long as it is different litter each time being deposited into a City of Edinburgh Council street bin.

As well as a monthly Edinburgh cash prize, entrants will be entered into the weekly national £1,000 draw. The winners will be chosen at random by LitterLotto.

Lost Shore Surf Resort opened recently and is Europe’s largest inland surfing destination. It stretches over 60 acres. Make no mistake, it is impressive and the resort claims to offer a surfing experience “for all abilities, experience and ambition”.

The pool is three times the size of Wembley football pitch and the state-of-the-art technology can generate up to 1,000 waves an hour.

It is also claimed to have green credentials as it consumes less energy than a single chairlift at a ski resort.

The website blurb says: “We are ambitious and intend to change the landscape of Scottish tourism by establishing Scotland as the go-to destination for adventure.”

Lost Shore sits on the outskirts of Edinburgh near Ratho, 25 minutes from the centre of Scotland’s Capital, and adjacent to the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena.

The centrepiece pool has two halves and, in each side there are two surfing areas, the bay with whitewater waves for beginners, and the reef with green waves for more advanced surfers.

It also boasts luxury accommodation, a waterfront bar, café and restaurant plus surf schools, a surf shop, The SurfSkate Academy and well-ness treatments.

Bosses also claim that this is a world-class facility and will bring an iconic sport to a new inland home.

Waves can be tailored for everyone and there were a number of hardy surfers riding the waves, some more successfully than others, in the biting west wind which blew across the extensive area which is being landscaped.

Lessons are from £60 (£50 for a child) and were told they last 90 minutes. Surf sessions are from £55 (£45 child) and they are designed to “maximise your experience”.

We preferred to watch from inside the canteen – offering breakfast, lunch and dinner – which serves delicious pizza, yet is was top class, and Mexican, which was not on the menu during our visit.

We plumped for a slice of margherita (marinara, mozzarella, buffalo mozzarella, and basil), wild mushroom (vegan mozzarella, mixed wild mushrooms, truffle oil and basil) and civerinos (double marinara, pepperoni, Italian sausage, rosemary, black pepper, parsley and garlic oil)

The resort has 53 luxury accommodation units from Hilltop Lodges (six fully accessible) and sleeping up to eight people.

Overall, it took my breath away and so did the biting west wind which blew over the site. Certainly worth a visit, even without your wet suit.

Address is 11 South Platt Hill, Newbridge EH28 8AY

MAIN PICTURE: The two ponds at Lost Shore. Picture Nigel Duncan

General view of the Canteen (on the right), some of the accommodation and the pool. Picture Nigel Duncan

CANTEEN VIEW: Eat pizza or Mexican food and watch the action. Picture Nigel Duncan

CLOSE UP: View of the pool-side chalets. Picture by Nigel Duncan