Three teenagers have been arrested and charged in connection with the serious assault of a 14-year-old boy in Edinburgh.

Around 8pm on Monday, 2 December, 2024, a 14-year-old boy sustained serious injuries when he was assaulted by a group of youths at Slateford Green.

The group of youths involved seven males and three females, aged in their mid to late teens.

The boy was taken to the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, where he remains in a stable condition.

Following enquiries, two 15-year-old boys and a 17-year-old female youth have been arrested and charged in connection with serious assault. They will each be reported to the relevant authorities.

Detective Inspector Gordon Couper said: “Extensive enquiries are ongoing to trace all those involved in this unprovoked attack.

“I’d like to reassure the public that we have increased high visibility patrols in the area and these will continue over the coming days as enquiries progress.

“I encourage anyone with information or concerns to speak to these officers.

“I would also ask anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident and may have dashcam or private CCTV footage to contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident 2315 of 2 December, 2024.

Willie Murray, left, and Keith Anderson received their trophy for winning Postal Bowling Club’s senior pairs at the annual prize giving.

In the final Willie and Keith lived dangerously and where two shots down going into the last end against David Proudfoot and Colin Turnbull.

However, with the last bowl Willie drew a third shot to clinch victory by the narrowest of margins.

“Remember, you are citizens of Edinburgh, city of Hume and Boswell. You are Europeans, not dowdy provincials.” 

Channeling my best Jean Brodie, whether in my prime or not, I think Muriel Spark put it best.  Where Glasgow might have been the Second City of the Empire, Edinburgh has always been a European city of learning and enlightenment.

In the 2016 EU referendum, Edinburgh voted 74.4% to remain within the EU. Like much of Scotland, there was little debate, more a general consensus that EU membership suited us, felt comfortable and didn’t need changed.

It was changed anyway, and the last few years have seen the City, Scotland and the UK get poorer to the tune of billions of lost revenue, increased costs and untold heartache and inconvenience for tens of thousands of New Scots, folks who have paid Scotland the supreme compliment of making us their home but had to go through a humiliating process of securing their legal right to stay. 

Many decided not to and took their talent and enthusiasm elsewhere.

We in the European Movement in Scotland are a diverse bunch, from all politics and none, united around the idea that Scotland (and the UK if it comes to it) need to rejoin the EU.  Not because of any passing events like the Trump Presidency (though it has certainly concentrated some minds) but because we believe countries should work together, share ideas and work in concert to beat common challenges like the energy transition and climate crisis. 

Scotland has many constitutional futures to choose from and that will rightly remain a lively debate, but EU membership transcends this and we will continue to press the argument. 

Come and join us! https://euromovescotland.org.uk/join-us/

Alyn Smith is a former SNP MEP and MP.

Fort Kinnaird is calling on customers to help spread festive cheer in the community this Christmas.

The centre has teamed up with Cyrenians, an Edinburgh-based charity that tackles the causes and consequences of homelessness, to launch a ‘Letters of Hope’ initiative, as part of the charity’s winter appeal to combat social isolation.

The local community are being asked to write their warm wishes in a Christmas card or letter and post without an envelope in its ‘Letters of Hope’ mailbox free of charge. The initiative will then see these heartfelt Christmas cards distributed to those at risk of homelessness in and around Edinburgh.

There will also be a contactless donation point where shoppers can tap to donate £3, £5 or £10 as well as a QR code displayed on the side of the post box where visitors will be able to tap to make donations and support the charity’s vital work in the city.

The initiative is part of Cyrenians’ Winter Appeal which launched earlier this week to support the charity’s services to stop homelessness in its tracks. The city is facing significant housing challenges, and the funds raised will help Cyrienians reach more people this winter, while providing a little light through initiatives like the Letters of Hope mailbox.

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “While Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for many of us, we know that the winter months, and especially the festive season, can be challenging for those experiencing homelessness.

“It’s our visitors who make Christmas so special for us here at Fort Kinnaird, so we know we can count on them to spread some cheer to those who need it most.

“We hope our ‘Letters of Hope’ initiative, and the fundraising support for Cyrenians, will help to bring a few more smiles over the seasonal period.”

Sophie Bell, Fundraising Manager at Cyrenians, said: “Winter is dark enough, so we are delighted to be partnering with Fort Kinnaird this season to bring a little light to those who need it most.

“Cyrenians works across the community to break the cycle of homelessness. With services across addiction recovery, family mediation, supported housing, food distribution and more, we will provide vital support to many people who are struggling this Christmas. Thanks to Fort Kinnaird and their customers, we can work to tackle homelessness together.”

Letters and cards can be posted into the special post box – located outside ODEON Cinema –from now until 20th December when they will be distributed by Cyrenians in plenty of time for Christmas.

https://www.fortkinnaird.com/

https://cyrenians.scot/

New European style Café-Bar & Brasserie and cocktail lounge now open in Edinburgh

Liberté Café-Bar & Brasserie and Bar 1819, has opened at Apex Waterloo Place Hotel at the east end.

The restaurant is designed to be a refined, yet relaxing place to gather, eat or drink with a menu celebrating the best of Scottish produce. The venue is the centrepiece of a £2 million ground floor renovation of Apex Waterloo Place, owned by Norman Springford’s Apex Hotels.

With an eye-catching design delivered by ISA, one of Edinburgh’s leading architectural and design firms, the new day/night venue oozes European style with stunning Georgian interiors inspired by the Palm Courts of the 1800s. 

The new venue also benefitted from expert input from one of the UK’s top hospitality specialist Stuart McCluskey, former co-owner of the Bon Vivant, current owner of ‘Paz’ and recently opened ‘Little Capo’ and Ian McLaren – former Bacardi digital director and owner of drink marketing consultancy Neoteric Spirit.

The bar sits next to a brasserie restaurant and private dining area – La Belle with its range of banquettes, booths and cosy corners.

Bar 1819 is an elegant cocktail bar and lounge with a wide range of drinks and signature cocktails curated by Stuart and Ian, each with big flavours to sip and savour. 

The new menus showcase the very best from Scotland’s larder, using European influences and modern cooking techniques.

Liberté has a day to night menu packed with locally sourced ingredients hand-picked for quality and provenance. Guests can dine from dawn to dusk, with fresh, locally sourced coffee and pastries available in 1819 for those morning meetings, to all day dining as well as a range of tasty snacks, shares and nibbles in the restaurant. Liberté’s seasonal festive fare includes a Christmas day menu and a bespoke private dining menu at La Belle.

Highlights from the menu include Balvenie smoked salmon, lemon creme fraiche and herring roe to start, Ox cheek in a red wine sauce, served with potato puree, bacon and gremolata for main and finishing off with Matcha Tea creme brûlée.

Bar 1819 and cocktail lounge will serve a wide range of drinks from specially crafted cocktails to hand selected single malts. Highlights include the Dubbel Malted Old Fashioned a mix of brewing, distilling and blending traditions – dark and malty Dubbel Trappist Ale Syrup mixed with Angostura Bitters and Homemade Whisky from Woven, the award-winning Leith whisky blender. 

Other dishes to delight include ‘Negroni au Chocolat’ balancing rich chocolate with bitter orange and berry flavours and the velvety ‘Praline Espresso’ a heady mix of almonds, hazelnut, honey and espresso shaken to foaming perfection and served with freshly grated chocolate.

The 1819 menu offers small plates to nibbles and sharing boards. Don’t miss the charcuterie with terrine, remoulade, balsamic onions, cornichons and mustard or the rump fillet tataki with ponzu, cucumber, spring onion and crispy garlic. 

Provenance is a mantra of Liberté and 1819, with the restaurant partnering with some of the finest suppliers across Scotland – these range from oak smoked salmon from Campbells & Co, exquisite fresh mussels from the Shetland Islands to delicious, cured meats from East Coast Cured. Drinks partners include Newbarns Brewery, Royal Mile Whiskies, Liberty Wines and Mothership’s Lucky Liqueurs and Affinity brands. 

Liberte opens for lunch at 12.00 noon, serving food until 22.00. 1819 opens at 8.00am until 1.00am Monday to Saturday and 8.00am until 11.00pm on Sundays.

Stuart McCluskey said: “It has been exciting to work with the team at Apex. Their enthusiasm for delivering this project has been infectious. Ian, Will and I have relished developing a beverage programme fit for such a beautiful setting, focusing on working with quality products and local suppliers.”

Book on the Liberté website

An Edinburgh journalist and a national news photographer have teamed up to give would-be travel writers a platform to hone their writing and photography skills.

The Rabbie Burns inspired weekend in January could be the perfect Christmas present which kick-starts new writing careers, says established travel writer Jean West.

On Assignment – a writing and photography retreat held at the Ness Walk Hotel in Inverness – includes three nights accommodation, dinner and a Burns Supper at the five-star establishment.

Daily workshops which unveil a toolbox of professional media tips will revolve around the life of Scotland’s national Bard and the stunning historical attractions of the Highland Capital.

The workshop is tagged for those who want to have a go at travel writing – and there will be plenty of colour to draw on from the natural world and ancient and historic Inverness. But the pair are also excited to encourage those keen to establish a blog or who simply want to create a professional diary of their hobbies.

Photographer Colin Macpherson has spent three decades documenting the nation’s biggest news and feature stories for Scottish and international newspapers and magazines while West is an established travel journalist whose work is published in leading publications.

Jean West said: “We have deliberately chosen Burns weekend for this exploration of how to create written and visual stories with confidence. Whilst we will discuss the writer’s legacy during the weekend and celebrate with a colourful Burns Supper at Ness Walk, our broader teachings will be about capturing and representing this magnificent Scottish Highland capital city as you find it today.

“From the elegantly placed hotel on the banks of the majestic River Ness we are presented with a rich opportunity for source material. The city boasts an ancient cathedral and castle, vibrant art galleries and museums, and a thriving music scene and its colourful past and present draw thousands of international visitors each year.

“We will help guests distill the stories harvested during the weekend course into exciting copy animated by stunning visuals and they will leave with a practical toolbox of tricks that will serve long after departure.”

“We want to pass on our skills, expertise and confidence so that participants feel they can produce content they feel more than happy to share,” says McPherson, who has had work displayed in the National Galleries of Scotland.

“Past workshop participants have loved to travel and take a camera or notebook to record their experiences. We want to tool them up with the courage to share with friends and family, on a blog or even attempt publication.”

On Assignment Burns Night Photography and Writing Retreat at the Ness Walk Hotel, Inverness runs from 24-27 January. For more details and to book, visit here.

Founder Mark Glasgow has said he is very proud of his company, Edinburgh Boiler Company (EBC), being named Building Services Contractor of the Year at the H&V News Awards 2024.

The Dalkeith business landed the prestigious national honour after impressing the judges with its growth over the past year following a successful transition into renewables.

The last 12 months has seen the firm more than double its staff to 50, using the nearby Energy Training Academy to upskill gas engineers into heat pumps and electricians into solar battery storage as part of a complete rebrand of the company. Turnover is also on course to hit record levels due to the ongoing demand.

The H&V News Awards are the biggest and most respected event for the sector and to come out on top in the Contractor of the Year category, is a real milestone for the company which launched in 2015.

“One of the key objectives we set at the at the start of the year was winning an H&V News award and it goes without saying how happy we are. Being recognised in this way when up against some of the UK’s largest contractors is a special achievement for us,” said Mark.

“We knew we had to adapt to the changes in the sector. Transitioning into renewables was never going to be easy and the team deserves enormous credit for what they have done.

“I put a lot of faith in Dougie Bell when making him managing director and he has taken the business to another level while fostering a terrific spirit within the staff and delivering an enhanced customer service.

“In terms of recognition, it has to be my proudest moment since starting the business. We lifted the Small Company Achievement of the Year award in 2021 but this is the big one we wanted.

“Congratulations to all the other winners.”

Dougie Bell took on the MD role in January this year as Mark stepped into the chairman role and reflecting on this latest honour, he said: “Being nominated was a big thing for us but to actually win contractor of the year is incredible.

“I was stunned when I heard us called out as the winners and there was a bit of disbelief to be honest! It’s still not really sunk in that we have been recognised in the industry as the best contractor in the UK.

“None of this would have been possible without our amazing staff, from those in the office to everyone out in the field. It’s been a real team effort and credit to everyone – this award is for all of them as they have all flourished over the past year.

“It was a big decision to move into the renewable space and we carried out a full rebrand of the business to reflect that. If we hadn’t made that transition, we wouldn’t have seen that exceptional growth in the past 12 months.”

On a memorable night in London for EBC, it was also highly commended in the low carbon impact category.

Neil Merrett, editor of emap’s H&V News said: “It is a pleasure to be part of the continued recognition of innovative thinking across the HVAC and building engineering sector. The winners in 2024 demonstrate some of the most transformational technologies, products and services being developed to tackle notable challenges in the supply of lower cost and lower carbon heat for a range of users.

“They also serve as important case studies for the wider industry to demonstrate the different approaches to efficiency and decarbonisation.”

https://theedinburghboilercompany.com/

Heart of Midlothian Innovation Centre has partnered with Stellar Omada to launch a Cyber Security Escape Room initiative for Edinburgh schools.  

The educational programme, which follows a successful pilot, is aimed at raising awareness around online safety and it is expected that over 200 pupils from secondary schools across Edinburgh will take part in the sessions between December 9 and 11.  

The initiative will see small groups of pupils work together to tackle simulated cyber security scenarios with guidance from the Stellar Omada and Innovation Centre teams. 

Colin Frame, the company’s founder and managing director, said: “I am continually alarmed at the spread of cyber crime and its impact not only on the business world, but also how it impacts society and young people in particular.  We hope this initiative with Hearts can provide a blueprint for further activity in this important area.” 

Ann Park, director of community and partnership at Hearts, said: “The Innovation Centre works with over 2,000 young people every year from a broad range of socio-economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds. We deliver free courses across a range of STEM and STEAM disciplines including coding, app development, and robotics.

“We are acutely aware of the increasing dangers faced online by young people and welcome this forward-thinking initiative.”

PICTURE: Pupils involved in the project

Santa Claus is coming to Edinburgh soon, thanks to the UK’s leading Smart PAYG energy supplier

Energy supplier, Utilita, will provide a different kind of energy this winter, transforming Utilita’s Energy Hub, located in Newkirkgate Shopping Centre into a grotto on Saturday, 7 December. All children who attend will be given a gift completely free of charge and there will also be a festive family photo opportunity.

In the spirit of giving, Utilita is asking every family to bring a non-perishable food item with them if they can. These will be distributed to local food banks across the UK. ­

Gifts are aimed at young children up to the age of 10, but anyone is welcome to meet and take a photo with Santa Claus. There will be one gift per child, free of charge, while stocks last.

Natasha Baillie, Manager at the Leith Hub, said she is hoping the grotto will spread some festive cheer: “We’re looking forward to welcoming families and children to our Energy Hub on 7 December. Excited tots will get an opportunity to take photos with Santa Claus and receive a free gift between 11.30am and 3pm.

“There’s plenty on offer for visiting adults too – you will be offered a cuppa as well as free and simple energy advice to help make your energy spend go further this winter. Visitors are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item – if they can – which will be distributed to our local Food Bank.”

Utilita Head of Energy Hubs, Helen Kyne, added: “We began the roll out of our Energy Hubs in 2018 across the UK to provide a personal touch to our customer service, helping people to better control their energy usage, as well as supporting various community initiatives. 

“Unfortunately, we know that another tough winter lies ahead for many and that’s why all visits to our grottos will be completely free. During this time of festive giving, we are also collecting items for local food banks, which play such an incredible and vital role in our local communities.”

Utilita’s high street hubs make it super simple to manage your energy – no phone lines or online dashboards, just a friendly face to speak to. Whether you’re looking for account support, help to manage your spend or energy-saving advice, Utilita’s Energy Experts are on hand to help.

The European Movement in Scotland (EMiS) has said that The Scottish Government must lobby the UK Government to scrap the controversial UK Internal Market Act.

The call comes as EMiS lodges its response to a Holyrood committee examining how effectively The Scottish Government is at aligning new Scottish laws with EU regulations. 

The Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee has invited interested parties to submit views on how the Scottish Government is responding to its promise to align Scottish legislation with EU law, whenever possible. 

David Clarke, chair of EMiS said: “Prior to Brexit we had seamless trade with the world’s biggest free market for goods and services. That was possible only because UK and Scottish legislation was fully aligned with EU regulations. The introduction of the UK Internal Market Act was motivated for narrow political reasons. It gets in the way of rebuilding our trading ties with the EU.

“Keir Starmer has said he wants to reset the UK’s relations with the EU. Abolishing the Internal Market Act would send a signal to Europe that the UK is serious about that. The Act is a symbol of the narrowness and insularity of the Brexit project. It would not be missed.” 

EMiS argues that the existence of the Internal Market Act, which was introduced by the Conservative government in 2020, makes divergence from EU trading standards and regulations more likely, at a time when the need for closer alignment with the EU is urgent and economically imperative. 

The UK Office of Budget Responsibility has reported that the UK’s long-term productivity will reduce by 4% because of Brexit. It forecasts that imports from and exports to the EU will be 15% lower in the long run. 

The response to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee was made on behalf of The Executive Committee of the European Movement in Scotland and endorsed by its President, former Labour MEP David Martin and Vice-President, former SNP MEP and MP, Alyn Smith.

Aussie racer Kye Thomson will start his fifth season as an Edinburgh Monarchs rider in 2025 and is pleased to be back with the Armadale club.

The 26-year-old eyes silverware next season and said: “I am super excited to say I’ll be back. As you all know, I had some extensive time out with injury (last season) which was not the way I wanted to end the year.

“It has made me super-motivated and I can’t wait to get preparations underway for the new year.”

Thomson burst onto the scene in 2021, averaging a strong 5.46 in his first season. Since then Kye has enjoyed three steady campaigns averaging around 6.50 and knows that next year is a big one for him and the club.

He added: “It’s a fresh start and I’ve got my eyes on some silverware. I can’t wait to meet the new faces in the team.”

Former Hibs star ‘Super’ John McGinn is now only two behind the legendary Lawrie Reilly in the Scotland goal-scoring charts. 

McGinn went into the international double header last month on 18-goals, then grabbed the winner at Hampden against Croatia before opening the scoring against Poland.

The two victories mean that Scotland now move on to a play-off in March to preserve their place in the A division of the Nations League.  

McGinn’s strike in Warsaw saw him overtake former Rangers striker Ally McCoist making him his country’s fifth highest scorer , an incredible achievement for a midfielder. 

Speaking after the final whistle he said: “Aye, it’s mad.  

 “My dad was over it again. He’s not one for emotional messages, but he sent a nice text to say it’s surreal seeing his boy in the top five of all-time scorers for Scotland, which is a bit mad. 

“I’m sure I’ll wind up Ally McCoist the next time he’s commentating on a Villa game, but for us the most important thing was getting the win. 

“We’ve been through a right rough spell, taking a lot of criticism, which has been deserved in the most part. 

“Personally, long goal drought, club and country, but managed to get two in two and back on scoring form and back to winning ways for us.” 

McGinn joined Hibs under Alan Stubbs in July 2015 and helped the club to their famous Scottish Cup win and promotion back to the top flight. During his three-years at Easter Road he played 136 times for Hibs, scoring 18-goals before a move to English Championship side Aston Villa in 2018 for a reported £2.75m. 

He was an instant success south of the border and scored the winning goal in the play off final which secured promotion to the Premier League. 

He is now captain of the team and a huge favourite at Villa Park. 

McGinn received the first of his 73rd caps against Denmark in March 2016 and scored his first goal three years later against Russia in a Euro 2020 qualification match. 

Reilly scored 22 times for Scotland including six goals in seven games against England. 

After scoring a late goal against England at Wembley in 1953 he became known as “Last Minute Reilly”. He was inducted into the SFA Hall of Fame in 2005. 

Sir Kenny Dalglish, Denis Law both scored 30 international goals, and Hughie Gallacher scored 23 times. 

Budget, bikes, pubs and ceilidhs all feature in our round up of what is important to know about in Edinburgh today.

Budget Day

Today Finance Minister, Shona Robison, will deliver the Scottish Budget which she says will focus on delivering progress for the economy. Ahead of that, Ms Robison visited Logan Energy, a leading clean energy technology manufacturer whose products are designed, developed, and manufactured in Scotland.

Ms Robison said: “This will be a Budget that delivers progress for Scotland, by Scotland – laying the foundations for long-term success.

“We will invest in measures to tackle the climate emergency in a way that maximizes opportunities to create jobs and provide new economic opportunities for businesses and communities. Our ambition is for Scotland’s green energy to be central to the decarbonisation of transport and industry at home and abroad, and for our expertise and innovation to be providing climate solutions, like Logan Energy, that are made in Scotland and sold to the world.

“The First Minister has made clear his focus on delivering on people’s priorities –  eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, improving public services like our NHS, and tackling the climate emergency.

“Unlike the UK Government’s Budget which treated Scotland like an afterthought, today we will publish a Budget that puts the people of Scotland first.

“We have listened carefully to the needs and priorities of organisations and businesses, and the people of Scotland. This is a budget that will deliver for them by building on the positive change we’ve delivered for Scotland, creating more jobs, and putting more money in people’s pockets.”

Scottish Labour Finance spokesperson Michael Marra said that his party would rather go to the polls than support a bad budget. He said: “This budget is an opportunity to turn the page on 17 years of SNP failure – anything else will not do.

“Every single institution in Scotland has been left weaker by SNP mismanagement and waste.

“Our NHS is dangerously overstretched, with almost 1 in 6 Scots stuck on an NHS waiting list – but the SNP has no plan to fix this mess.

“Our education system is falling down the international league tables, our justice system is in chaos and trust in public institutions is collapsing.

“More of the same will not cut it – Labour has delivered record levels of funding for Scotland and the SNP must use it to deliver a genuine change in direction.

“Scottish Labour will fight an election before backing a bad budget and subjecting Scots to another year of SNP misery.”

Pubs and restaurants need 100% rates relief

Lothians Conservative MSP, Sue Webber, has urged the SNP government to deliver 100 per cent relief for local pubs and restaurants this week.

Ms Webber’s call comes after it was revealed that pubs in Scotland are closing at a higher rate than anywhere else in the United Kingdom.

Ms Webber said:“Pubs and restaurants across the Lothian Region are really struggling and are desperate for support from the SNP in their Budget this week.

“I am urging SNP ministers to back the Scottish Conservative plan to give pubs and restaurants in the Lothian Region 100 rates relief for the year ahead, meaning they won’t pay any rates relief at all. 

“Pubs and restaurants are closing at a higher rate in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK. I know ones in the Lothian Region have suffered due to the shameful failure of the SNP to pass on rates relief delivered by the UK Conservative government over the last three years.

“Their struggles have now been compounded by the new UK Labour government’s tax-raiding Budget.

“Pubs and restaurants are the lifeblood of the community across the Lothian Region and need a shot in the arm. The Scottish Conservatives are on their side and the ball is in the SNP’s court. If we are to save our local pubs and restaurants, then the SNP must show some common sense and back our plan to avoid pubs and restaurants paying a penny in rates relief in the year ahead.”

“This is a ferociously competitive market for food and drink and giving the owners the relief their counterparts in the South are receiving will give them a better chance to survive and thrive. They are already being thumped with Labour’s National Insurance raid and a healthy hospitality sector is vital for the whole city economy.”

Cycle Hire scheme for Edinburgh

We may get a cycle hire scheme again in the city by next summer, depending on negotiations between the council and likely service providers.

The key aims of the scheme must be to operate within the city centre, operate on a no-cost to the council basis, and the service will be based on e-bikes.

According to the Transport Convener, Stephen Jenkinson, Scotland is the worst area of the UK for cycle hire schemes being targeted by vandals. Certainly that was one of the reasons for the failure of the Just Eat scheme, but the council is keeping an open mind on introducing dockless stations in the capital.

Cllr Jenkinson said: “We want to make it easy and accessible for residents and visitors. Our goals are to increase active travel, reduce emissions, and this is a positive step. I think if we were able to develop a successful e bike scheme, I think that it would be a welcome addition to the public transport network that we’ve got, and this ties in to our goals of increasing active travel.”

The papers for next week’s Transport Committee meeting are published here. Anyone can watch proceedings online or as a recording after the meeting has finished.

Christmas Ceilidh at Dovecot

Dovecot are hosting a ceilidh on Saturday with The Jig Show Band.

The evening’s entertainment will begin at 7pm and “the 4-piece alt folk powerhouse” will have you dancing until 11pm. Book tickets here

Subscribe to our monthly newspaper

Our new paper is out.

You can read it here – but it is not too late to add it to your Christmas list and buy a subscription for yourself or someone else as a gift

Visitors to Thistle Street are promised a joyful day of shopping on Saturday 7 December as traders on the cobbled street transform it into a festive haven for holiday shoppers.

The independent shops are all combining forces to offer exclusive holiday deals.

The Laura Bond store will host seasonal celebrations from 10 am to 5.45pm. 
Shoppers will be able to receive an exclusive 20% discount on all in-store purchases for one day only. 

Complimentary Christmas themed cookies and a glass of fizz whilst browsing the store. 

• Goodie bags, valued at over £100, for the first 15 Laura Bond *paying customers, filled with holiday-themed surprises. 

Other offers available on Thistle Street include:  

• 20% off all coffee-based drinks at Cobbled Roasters 
• 15% off everything at SMI Store 
• A 50% sale rack, along with 10% off the rest of the store at Stoodio 
• 10% off at Black Moon Botanica 

This special shopping event offers an intimate, community-focused experience, perfect for finding one-of-a-kind gifts in a from small local Edinburgh businesses in a warm and festive setting. By choosing to shop local this season, customers can directly contribute to the success of independent retailers who bring craftsmanship and character to Edinburgh’s retail scene.

Laura Bond, Founder and Creative Director at Laura Bond Jewellery said: “This Christmas, I’m encouraging people to embrace the spirit of community by choosing to shop local for those last-minute stocking fillers, rather than turning to large online retailers. After all, local businesses are at the heart of our communities, adding unique character, creating jobs, and supporting a thriving local economy.

“Even buying just a couple of gifts from independent businesses can make a real difference. Now, more than ever, it’s vital to shop small.”

The new Edinburgh Gin Distillery At The Arches will open on 6 December.

The distillery has created “experiences” which are available to book HERE. Led by the brand’s expert Distillery Ambassadors, visitors on each experience will receive a unique glimpse into Edinburgh’s role in the history of gin, and the opportunity to fully immerse their senses by exploring the remarkable flavours, aromas, textures and tastes of the carefully-chosen botanicals that contribute to the brand’s signature gins. 

The distillery will be open from Monday to Sunday 11.00am – 9.00pm.

Tasting Packages and Prices

The Classic Tour & Tasting (1.25hours, £28.00pp)
Step into the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town and the home of Edinburgh Gin for The Classic Tour & Tasting, immersing yourself in a world of craftsmanship and flavour. After a glimpse into Edinburgh’s role in the history of gin, you will explore our remarkable Flavour Arch to experience the aromas, textures and tastes that our carefully chosen botanicals contribute to our signature gins. Learn the secrets of distillation in our Stillhouse before enjoying a curated sampling of our acclaimed expressions with carefully selected mixer and garnish pairings in one of our fabulous Tasting Rooms. 

Decadent Duo: Gin & Chocolate Pairing (1.5hours, £35.00pp)
Explore the realm of flavour pairings with our Decadent Duo: Gin & Chocolate Pairing. Led by our expert Distillery Ambassadors, this sensory journey invites you to elevate your tasting adventure. Begin your experience with an immersive distillery tour, exploring the intricate process behind our renowned spirits. Enjoy a selection of our finest gins, expertly matched with hand-selected chocolates from the artisans at COCO Chocolatier with every step infused with the essence of craftsmanship and indulgence. The perfect choice for any gin-lover, keen to experience their spirits in a considered new way.

Mix & Muddle Cocktail Class (2 hours, £50.00pp)
Join us for a Mix & Muddle Cocktail Class in our Roof Garden Bar, to learn the art of cocktail making using the pioneering flavours of Edinburgh Gin. Explore the world of mixology and classic gin-based cocktails, alongside intriguing new twists on serves as developed by our creative bar team. Enjoy four expertly crafted concoctions, learning about the different techniques, textures and tastes that go in to building the perfectly balanced drink, including the opportunity to make your own. Step into the stories behind each cocktail, uncovering the secrets that have made them enduring favourites.

Gin Making Experience (3 hours, £140.00pp)
Journey to the heart of gin-making by crafting your own bespoke gin. Following an immersive distillery tour to explore the intricate process behind our renowned spirits, you will unleash your inner distiller in The Arches Gin Lab. Here you will select some of the earth’s finest botanicals under the expert guidance of a Distillery Ambassador, fire up one of our small copper stills and indulge in a seasonal tutored tasting featuring gins from our award-winning range with delicious local produce – whilst our slowly simmering stills release the essential oils and flavours from your chosen botanicals. Commemorate the moment with a custom label before raising a tailored G&T in celebration of your creation.  

www.edinburghgin.com

Sephra Popcorn, made by a Kirkcaldy firm is fast finding its way onto more shelves, with an announcement that supermarket chain, Morrisons, will now stock more varieties.

Around 400 UK wide branches of Morrisons now stocking the company’s Real Butter Luxury Toffee flavoured popcorn, and the supermarket will also sell a smaller 70g “Grab & Go” tub of each of Sephra’s staple lines – Sweet, and Salty & Sweet in 800 of its UK Morrison Convenience Stores, which includes some branches of RS McColls.

Callum Bond, Sales & Business Development Manager at Sephra Popcorn which has its HQ in Fife said: “We are delighted to announce to both existing loyal customers of Sephra Popcorn, and to those who will now be discovering it for perhaps the very first time, that Morrisons have increased their range with us.  They are an enthusiastic and supportive stockist who like to keep product lines fresh and exciting by offering their customers our new flavours and sizing options.

“We’d particularly like to thank Morrisons Scottish team for its support. Allowing us to trial Luxury Toffee in key Scottish stores, has proved be a springboard to a UK wide deal.” 

Callum said that while the Real Butter luxury Toffee Popcorn is available all year round “the rich and indulgent experience it provides, makes it particularly appropriate for the fast approaching festive season, when customers are getting cosy with “at home” cinema nights, or pushing the boat out with parties and festive gatherings.

“The new deal with Morrisons is brilliant news for us as we continue to make our mark in the competitive popcorn market as an independent name with a reputation for quality and innovation. We are additionally pleased that Morrison customers can also buy the 70g “Grab & Go” size in our two original classic flavours. This is an impulse product that customers can pick up to enjoy individually as a fun snack, perhaps as an alternative to crisps as part of a lunch.   Morrisons convenience stores are the perfect outlet for this product.  We aim to give our customers as much flexibility as possible when choosing their popcorn options.

“It’s looking fantastic on the shelves and we’re all set for the crucial festive sales period.”

 Alice Yarwood, Buying Manager, In Store Bakery, of Morrisons  said: “We are excited to have expanded our range of Sephra popcorn within Morrisons Supermarkets, Online, as well as our wider Wholesale business. The Luxury Toffee is delicious and worth a try, especially at the great price of £2.”

Sephra Popcorn, instantly recognisable through its distinctive Cinema style foil lined cardboard tub, has been available since 2017 through major UK supermarkets, plus a number of UK wide convenience store chains. The brand, which offers a variety of different flavours, including the classic cinema Sweet, Salted, Sweet & Salty mix, Luxury Toffee, and a new reduced sugar range with up to 40% less sugar, can also be found across the leisure sector, with holiday parks, theatres, independent cinemas, theme parks, football clubs and many more all stocking its lines.

The company also produces a family of delicious seasonal popcorns, including Toffee Apple, Gingerbread and Sticky Toffee Pudding.

www.sephrapopcorn.com

The 25th Anniversary Angus Millar Lecture took place on Monday evening at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, on Queen Street.

The speaker at the RSA Scotland event was the acclaimed Scottish novelist and essayist Andrew O’Hagan. O’Hagan gave an incisive lecture on “Art, Literature and Truth in the Era of Fake News, Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence”, with veteran journalist Magnus Linklater chairing the event.

O’Hagan, author of the recent Caledonian Road: A Novel, spoke about the many dangers our society is facing, in a sometimes bleak narrative. However, his aim was not to engender a sense of hopelessness, but to instil in his audience a clear sighted sense of the reality, from which resistance could be built.

A core theme of the lecture was that artists and writers were at the front line of this resistance, battling for the values of truth and reality in a world of algorithmically derived fake news and disinformation.

Media failures

O’Hagan referred to his coverage of the Grenfell disaster as an example of some of the issues we face in the media. Much of the media coverage was, O’Hagan felt, marked by pre-existing positions. Different elements in the media wanted to tell the story they expected to tell.  O’Hagan talked to about 300 people involved in the disaster. That gave him a much more nuanced picture of the realities, not captured in some of the simplistic coverage. 

The coverage of Grenfell was emblematic of “an ideological war over facts”. Those in the media needed to uphold higher values, while readers needed to be careful of media that feeds their prejudices. We need media that remains truthful in its coverage. In his lecture and his essays (such as those collected in his superb 2008 collection The Atlantic Ocean) he has demonstrated the power and importance of documentary witness.

Alarming algorithms

Central to O’Hagan’s argument was that algorithms merely built on what has existed, leaving out true invention and imagination. That is what the true artist provides; visions of the world beyond what has already been thought and written. He made regular reference to Robert Louis Stevenson, who once lived just across Queen Street Gardens at 17 Heriot Row. From there you could see the lights of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Stevenson’s family of course were deeply involved in the provision of light, creating lighthouses such as that on Inchkeith Island. O’Hagan used this metaphor of spreading light to underscore the power of the imagination in seemingly dark times.

The apparent dark era of the rise of populist autocrats was likely to hold a new cultural renaissance. O’Hagan felt that Scotland was likely to play a leading role in this, given its propensity to resist, its “survivalist instinct”. In this, he echoed recent public utterances by the likes of Richard Demarco. For Demarco, the example of the Edinburgh Festival, born following a period of disastrous conflict, remains an inspiring one.  Demarco argues that Scotland needs to rediscover the values which produced the Enlightenment and the Edinburgh festival in order to counter the political and environmental threats we face. In placing an emphasis on the leading role of art and literature, Demarco and O’Hagan share a great deal.

Apocalyptic miasmas

For O’Hagan, many of the trends that concerned him were evident at the recent Republican Party Convention in Milwaukee. There he had witnessed much intolerance and ignorance praised as “a form of character”. The event was “a dark moment for human subtlety”. What was absent was any discussion of art and culture. There was no place for that among the “apocalyptic miasmas” of the MAGA movement. There, there was no space for uncertainty and nuance. We are in, O’Hagan believes “an immoderate century”. What really concerned him was the way that Trump’s lack of interest in the truth had now become normalised.

For O’Hagan, much of this can be laid at the door of social media and those who control it. Sold as a great opening up of communication, the truth was it had largely been an opening up to “lies and misinformation”, and extreme content. It was driven by the conglomerates in order to “sell you things by creating a new reality”. 

Hollowing out

Rather than promoting genuine connection across boundaries, it had merely “fragmented people into groups” resulting in a public discourse “driven by hatred”. We were now suffering the effects of this “fragmented polity”, with “our conception of we…becoming narrower”. We were witnessing a “hollowing out” of human nature, journalism and literature. At their best, journalism and literature could be an antidote to social media, but this was becoming less evident.

In a powerful section, O’Hagan talked about a young life deformed by social media. The young person had spent too much time “impersonating his own life” rather than actually living it. He had created a “fiasco of life”, in which there was no time for the “non-digital”. Would such people actually grow up?, wondered O’Hagan. 

O’Hagan had found it very difficult to properly communicate with this young man. When the young man told O’Hagan that he had found love with another social media addict, O’Hagan was stuck for a response.  He resorted to Chat GBT to fashion his message. The response to this was that this was “the loveliest message he had received”.

Rage against the dying of the light

O’Hagan took from this the machines “can make us unlike ourselves, make us untrue”. These machines were “inherently fascistic” in that they stripped out humanity. The machines were focused on improvement and efficiency, but knew nothing of the world “beyond profit” or compassion. “compassion is expensive and inefficient”. In contrast, much art and experience was “simply beautiful” not useful in any obvious or financial way.

Because of their crucial role,  artists needed protection in order to “resist that which flashes out the human spirit”. He ended by quoting Dylan Thomas’s famous lines about resisting and raging  “against the dying of the light.”

O’Hagan’s faith in art and literature was the positive thread throughout the lecture. He looked forward to troubled times giving rise to “the flowering of artistic endeavour”. Asked by an audience member about the role scientists could play in this, O’Hagan referred back to the ‘Two Cultures’ debate in the late 1950s/ early 1960s involving people like C.P. Snow and F. R. Leavis. This had focussed on an apparent divide between the scientific and cultural realms, a divide many see as still a major aspect of British intellectual life.  O’Hagan hoped that both sides of this divide would contribute to the resistance. 

Diagnosing the darkness

Given the location, O’Hagan felt like a doctor diagnosing the problems, and providing warnings. Above all, that “the machines are not our friends”. He was confident that there were many people “ready to resist”. As in the past, dark times could come to an end. He looked at the example of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. When writing about the dark realities of Khrushchev’s Soviet Union in the 1970s, he could not have imagined that it was on the verge of collapse. In short, in order to find the light “you have to recognize the darkness”.

O’Hagan did admit that there, on the surface, was some degree of contradiction between his status as a novelist, who is constantly creating something which is untrue, and the seeker of truth. This truth seeking aspect is clearest in O’Hagan’s much praised long form journalism in the London Review of Books and elsewhere.

O’Hagan’s lecture emphasised the role of the literary writer in public debate. His words had a clear impact on the audience, which was hushed and reflective. This was a product of the interesting subject matter but also the writer’s craft evident in his choice of words.

O’Hagan’s lecture was a fine example that the world of literature can have a positive impact on the battle for truth in dark times. 

Among those celebrating at Duddingston golf club’s annual presentation of prizes were the 2023-24 East Edinburgh Winter League winning team.

Pictured are, left to right, Toby Bailey, Ryan Telfer, David Downing, Joe Muzkya, Gus Santana, Jamie Duguid, Sean Mechie and Craig Pirie (horizontal).

Also played in the team but not in the picture – Ross Johnstone, Simon Sumner, Neil Aitken, Steve Smith, Andy McKenzie, Tarn Painter-McArthur and Scott Dickson.

A pedestrian who died following a fatal road crash on Dundee Street, Edinburgh, has been named as local 20-year-old Henry Farron.

The incident took place around 5.30pm on Sunday, 1 December, 2024, and involved a grey Volvo XC60.

Emergency services attended, but Henry was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family have released the following statement: “We are heartbroken by the death of our beloved son and brother Henry. He will be so very much missed by all who knew and loved him.”

The driver of the Volvo car, a 51-year-old man, was arrested and has been released pending further enquiries, which remain ongoing.

Sergeant Dave Waddell said: “Our thoughts remain with Henry’s family and friends, as they come to terms with their tragic loss.

“An investigation into the circumstances of the crash remains ongoing and we continue to ask for any witnesses, or anyone with information, to please come forward.”

Anyone with information should call officers on 101, quoting incident 2556 of 1 December, 2024.

Police are appealing for information following the serious assault of a teenager in Edinburgh.

Around 8pm on Monday, 2 December, 2024, a 14-year-old boy sustained serious injuries when he was assaulted by a group of youths at Slateford Green.

The group of youths involved seven males and three females, aged in their mid to late teens.

The boy was taken to the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, where he remains in a stable condition.

Detective Sergeant Kimberly Tennant said: “This incident saw a teenager sustain serious injuries in an unprovoked attack and it is vital we trace all the individuals responsible.

“Extensive enquiries are ongoing and I am appealing for anyone with any information which may assist us to get in touch.

“We believe one of the suspects involved in the attack has also been injured, and has made his way to Westfield Road, Edinburgh, following the incident. We are appealing to anyone who may have seen this injured male in the Westfield Road area to get in touch with us.

“I would also ask anyone who was in the area at the time and may have dashcam or private CCTV footage to contact us.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident 2315 of 2 December, 2024.

Garvan Stewart has been appointed as Hibs Head of Recruitment. 

The 38-year-old started working with the Club on Monday and will work closely with Sporting Director Malky Mackay on all areas of player identification and recruitment.  

Stewart spent the last 12 years at English Premier League side AFC Bournemouth as Head of Performance Analysis and Head of Recruitment Analysis, holding the latter position for the last two years. 

During his time with the Cherries, he worked closely with Eddie Howe, before moving into the recruitment department with their now Technical Director Simon Francis following Andoni Iraola’s appointment. 

Alongside this, the Irishman has also worked for the Welsh FA, Cardiff City, and Portsmouth. 

An expert in his field, Stewart’s skillset will allow the Club to reap the rewards from Black Knight Football’s scouting and player data resource. 

In his role, he will lead Hibernian FC’s recruitment department, reporting into Mackay, and will continue ongoing work leading into the January Transfer Window, whilst also preparing for the summer. 

Hibernian FC Sporting Director Malky Mackay commented: “It’s great to be able to bring someone of Garvan’s calibre to the Football Club. 

“He’s been part of a highly successful recruitment team at AFC Bournemouth and will add real experience and guile to our player identification department. 

“Garvan’s expertise in data and analysis, and his knowledge of Bournemouth’s and Black Knight’s systems, will be invaluable for us, and will hugely enhance our recruitment process and strategy. I’m looking forward to having him on board.” 

Bringing Garvan Stewart to Hibernian FC further strengthens the strategic and operational connection between Hibs and Bournemouth within Black Knight Football, as the group works collaboratively to improve sporting performance. 

Simon Francis, Technical Director at AFC Bournemouth, added: “During his time at Bournemouth, Garvan demonstrated a great work ethic, professionalism, and the ability to connect player profiles to the needs of the club within the recruitment and data departments. 

“We will continue to work closely with Garvan, as well as Malky and everyone at Hibernian to enhance on-pitch performance.” 

Officers from British Transport Police are investigating threats made at knife point and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. 

At around 1pm on Sunday 10 November, a member of train staff approached a man on a train from Edinburgh Waverley to Aberdeen.  

The man swore at the conductor before producing a knife and threatening to use it. 

The man is described as white, about 5ft11 in his mid to late 20s with black hair and was wearing a navy-blue tracksuit. 

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 322 of 10 November. 

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

A new sports pitch and high-spec changing pavilion has been completed and transferred to council ownership, bringing a health and wellbeing boost to an East Lothian town.

The facilities form part of the Letham Mains development in Haddington and will be made available to the local school, Letham Primary, as well as youth teams and the general public – operated on behalf East Lothian Council by the charitable trust, enjoyleisure.

Conforming to Sport Scotland natural turf pitch requirements, the playing surface and drainage was installed by Penicuik-based sports specialists, SportsMasters.

The pitch can be adapted to be used for a range of different sports, including football, rugby and hockey and is anticipated to be available for full use from the 2025/26 season to allow the grass to take root.

Cala Homes commissioned the work as well as constructing the changing pavilion, which benefits from a PV solar panel array to boost sustainability credentials and lower running costs.

Derek Lawson, Strategic Land Director with Cala Homes (East), said: “The overarching vision at Letham Mains was to create a vibrant and healthy community and expansion to the town.

“This sports facility is emblematic of this – and is a timely boost for the young people who will be able to train and bond through using it.

“We hope it is embraced by the school and youth teams and serves the community for generations to come.”

Councillor Colin McGinn, Cabinet Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing and Sport, Countryside and Leisure, said: “It’s vitally important that new developments bring a broader benefit to our region, whether through investing in infrastructure, or projects like this at Letham Mains. 

“As a result of the creation of this fantastic facility, residents can now benefit and I hope that it encourages more young people to keep an active and healthy lifestyle. 

Bill Axon, Chief Executive of Enjoy Leisure, said, “As East Lothian’s health and wellbeing charity, we’re committed to increasing activity participation levels across all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. With the introduction of this new pitch and pavilion, we’re hopeful that we’ll be a step closer to meeting our mission of creating happier, healthier communities.

“We look forward to working in partnership with East Lothian Council to manage this new facility.”

The completion of works at the sports facility marks the latest milestone at Letham Mains, a masterplan development of 810 homes delivered by a mix of private developers and housing associations.

It includes a new linear park, civic square and Letham Primary School, the first school in East Lothian to be entirely funded by developer contributions.

More than 20,000 native species of trees and hedges have been planted across the site, including birch, oak, hawthorn and willow trees, while a series of footpaths including pedestrian bridges have been completed.

To find out more about using the new Letham sports pitch and pavilion, please contact enjoyleisure at the Aubigny Sports Centre in Haddington.

For more information on CALA’s projects in East Lothian, please visit; https://www.CALA.co.uk/homes-for-sale/scotland/east-lothian/

As part of the Edinburgh 900 celebrations, Bridgend Farmhouse community centre held a traditional Christmas Fair on Sunday 1 December, complete with market stalls, apple-pressing, children’s games and a ceilidh.  

Children from local primary schools – Castle View and Craigour – designed community shields, recalling the days when King David gave Edinburgh its royal charter in 1124.  It’s thought the land at Bridgend has been used as a farm ever since, until the year 2000.  It’s now an independent community centre with its own allotments, still growing fruit and vegetables. 

On Sunday the apple-press was in full operation and bottles of juice were being sold from the market stalls, along with hand-made holly wreaths, wooden Christmas gifts and jam and chutneys. Entertainment in the marquee was provided by the Craigmillar Community Choir. Food made in the Bridgend kitchen was being sold all day.

Meanwhile in the bothy (the old piggery) children were rediscovering traditional farmyard games. And in the exhibition room, the Bridgend creative writing group were reading some of their poems on the theme of farming over the centuries.

They are soon to be printed in a 40–page booklet, along with the group’s own illustrations. In the evening, a traditional farmyard ceilidh was held in the marquee, with a live fiddle band and “stovies” were served at the interval to keep dancers fuelled up.   

In all, over 260 people enjoyed the Bridgend Fair, just one of the many community events supported by the Edinburgh 900 Community Fund to celebrate this special year.

Scotland’s First Minister has been challenged to meet homeowners facing devastating repair bills over the use of ‘crumbling concrete’ in their homes 

Livingston’s Ghost estate campaigner Kerry Macintosh has taken the demands of the national campaign for homeowners affected by crumbling concrete to John Swinney’s door. 

Kerry, who is deputy chair for the UK RAAC Campaign Group, delivered a letter to Holyrood calling on the First Minister to meet homeowners affected. 

And on the eve of the crucial Scottish Government budget she also demanded he finds funds to address what campaigners have branded a growing national crisis. 

Kerry told the Local Democracy Reporting Service this week: “The First Minister must come up with funding to help those with RAAC in their homes. 

“The letter has been hand delivered to Mr Swinney at Holyrood. He knows that he must meet those in Aberdeen, Dundee, Tillicoultrie  and in West Lothian. These homeowners whose lives have been affected by the stress of having RAAC in their homes.”  

“There has to be money in the Scottish budget to help people.” 

In the letter to the First Minister, Wilson Chowdhry who heads the UK RAAC Campaign group referred to Mr Swinney’s St Andrew’s Day speech.  

He wrote: “ In your recent speech, you claimed that ‘every single day, I meet inspirational people from all walks of life – people who are doing their bit to make their community, their business or their country that wee bit better today than it was yesterday.’  

“I find it troubling, then, that despite the gravity of the situation, you have yet to meet with any of the thousands of homeowners across Scotland who are living in homes made dangerous by RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete).  

“These homeowners are facing mounting debts, bankruptcy, and the very real possibility of homelessness, yet they have received no meaningful support from the Scottish Government.” 

Mr Chowdhry added: “Councils across Scotland are offering little more than paltry and often punitive proposals [to homeowners] 

“These were … properties sold to them through government-backed schemes such as the Right to Buy. Many of these homes are now health and safety hazards, and the people who trusted the state to protect them are being left to pay the price for a failure they did not cause.” 

Reiterating his call for a meeting with homeowners Mr Chowdhry added: If you truly want to “roll up your sleeves” as you have stated, this meeting could be a productive step toward understanding the dire situation these families face. I would be happy to introduce you to many of the homeowners directly impacted by RAAC, who would be willing to provide first-hand accounts of how they have been unfairly treated.”  

He added: “There is also a huge opportunity for you to right this wrong. The £3.4 billion budget being offered by the Chancellor could be used to establish a national fund for RAAC homeowners.” 

The Scottish Government has ongoing engagement with multiple stakeholders across the housing sector, including local authorities, housing associations, the Association of British Insurers, UK Finance, the Institution of Structural Engineers and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. This allows for comprehensive and detailed discussion of all relevant issues. 

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We recognise this is a worrying time for homeowners affected by RAAC. The Scottish Government takes RAAC very seriously and we have established regular meetings with public and private sector bodies to ensure best practice is shared across sectors impacted by RAAC. 

“We continue to work closely with local authorities who can provide advice on what support may be available including advice, guidance, and information on potential sources of funding.” 

The spokesperson added that the First Minister has received the letter and will respond in due course. 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Despite two 11-0 victories – against Lanarkshire and West – the Lothians’ under-16 schools badminton team came unstuck in going down 2-9 against Glasgow and North Strathclyde in their inter-area age-group team competition.

Perhaps it was home advantage with the match being played at the Sir Craig Reedie Centre in Glasgow?

Or maybe just the hosts’ ability to capture the crucial points on the day?

Whatever, the Lothian under-16’s failed to emulate their under-18’s in capturing the trophy a few weeks earlier.

It was still a noble Lothians’ effort, though, according to team manager, Douglas Walker, who said:

“The 9-2 victory by Glasgow does not give a true representation of the exciting competitive play with several matches being lost by the narrowest margins – 19-21 in the second game (twice), 20-22 in the third, 21-23 in the second.  Indeed, all of the matches were very closely contested, and played in an excellent spirit.  It was just that, for whatever reasons, Glasgow generally came through the crucial situations more successfully.”

And Douglas stressed: “Those who did not win could come away with a feeling of satisfaction at the way they had played, and the effort they put in.”

Lothian under-16s were represented by: Lucy Degg (North Berwick HS), Chloe Hu (St.George’s), Amy Hunter (Craigmount HS), Sophie Walker (Penicuik HS), Justin Wong (George Watson’s), Josh Ryan (Beeslack HS), Aryan Aniruddhan (Stewart’s-Melville), Dylan Jia (George Watson’s).

The company behind plans for a £22.4million housing project near Straiton have said they are ‘disappointed’ after it was rejected by Scottish Ministers.

Pentland Park Marine Ltd had appealed after Midlothian Council refused permission for a care home and housing alongside a mixed use development on land it said had been designated as countryside.

The firm had argued that the land was ‘disused’ and had lain fallow and unused for 50 years and they pointed to the approval of an Aldi store on the site by the council just months earlier.

However the Scottish Government Reporter has now rejected their appeal after ruling there is sufficient housing land available in Midlothian and that while the project would make a “small, but valuable contribution to the
supply” with an estimated 10 affordable houses included it was not enough to outweigh concerns about losing public space to the site.

The decision brings to an end a two year fight to have the decision by Midlothian Council overturned.

The Reporter said she had visited the site and considered points raised by local community councils who objected to the use of the land for the project as well as other development both in place and proposed on the site and adjoining area.

She added: “I have considered the economic benefits of the scheme. However, I am not persuaded that these benefits are sufficient reason to consent commercial development on an unallocated site.”

Pentland Park Marine Ltd had said the project would create 172 jobs during the construction phase, 133 new direct jobs and 33 indirect jobs on completion.

A spokesman for the applicants said: “We believed this was a fantastic opportunity to enhance the local amenities with community-focused plans, so we are naturally disappointed in the decision to reject what we feel was an excellent opportunity for the Council.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

A community group has been told they will have to foot a bill of almost £90,000 a year to stay in the rooms they occupy following a shake-up to save West Lothian £1m. 

Bathgate Community Centre Management Committee has rejected proposals to lease space in the town ‘s Partnership because its income is only £15,000 a year. 

The committee has to submit proposals for January, but there is no certainty what will happen if agreement cannot be reached by April 2026 – the deadline for the council to reach its £1m budget savings by cutting community centre spending. 

Across the county   volunteer management committees are facing a choice of buying buildings outright or entering new lease agreements with the council. 

Around 30 townspeople attended an on-line meeting on Monday night to hear that the annual bill to cover building and running costs for the 23% of the Bathgate Partnership building the council says the community centre occupies could be as much as £86,853. 

This includes a 10% share of staffing costs- equal to around £40,000 per year – for two members of staff. 

The committee is the latest in West Lothian to flatly reject the council’s ‘take it or leave it’ approach to the future of community centres and village halls, where volunteer management committees are either being asked to take out a lease on the buildings they occupy or buy them outright through community asset transfer.  

The management team said: “We would be open to making an annual financial contribution to the Council, the amount would depend on our yearly income and our commitment to providing affordable space for volunteer groups, charities, and residents.” 

Community Council Treasurer Donald Stavert, chairing the meeting said that council finance officers saw community centres as “low hanging fruit”.  

He added: “This is a service which is non statutory, the council does not legally have to provide it, which is astonishing. Centres have been here for decades. I think they saw this as an easy cut but the reality is when they come and talk to the community it is a completely different matter. We’re looking for a major rethink here.” 

The committee has suggested that some form of community interest company or charitable trust take on the management of community centres.  

At the very least the committee has called on the council to drop the idea of cutting funding by 100% in one go, suggesting gradually cutting back funding to help   a community-based operator gradually take control. 

The management committee said a social enterprise co-operative or charity taking ownership could work with the council adding: “This collaborative approach could lead to more effective management of these vital community assets while relieving individual management committees of unsuitable financial burdens. 

“The council could then gradually reduce its budget contribution to the new organisation over a number of years.” 

Bathgate’s community centre occupies rooms in the Jim Walker Partnership, the council Partnership building in South Bridge Street. The council proposes the centre pays a lease share towards the running costs and staff of the building. 

The space occupied by the community centre  is disputed. Mr Stavert said that the council calculations included the former payment offices in the foyer of the building, space which the community centre has never had access to. 

Those at the meeting overwhelmingly backed the management committee proposals. Tam Lynch representing community groups in Blackburn and Whitburn advised that management committees in Fauldhouse and Blackburn faced similar issues in being asked to pay for space they are occupying council partnership buildings. 

Local SNP councillors Pauline Stafford and Willie Boyle lent support to the management committee, criticising the plans out forward by finance and property officers. 

Councillor Stafford told the meeting there were plenty of alternatives to work in partnership with charity options and social enterprise companies such as childcare.  She said these were worth exploring because the Bathgate facilities are currently underused. 

“That could make a huge difference. I think this is quite a good approach to take,” she added   

Councillor Boyle said community centres had been a great success in opening doors for so many people. 

“There is no evaluation on the social and equality and community impact that this policy decision is going to have on our communities and that is appalling.” 

Another contributor pointed out that any time she was in the building: “The heating is up full blast. She added: “The heating seems to be on 24/7 and the lights are burning all the time. 

“Surely they could be saving money by reducing the power they are using. I don’t heat my house 24/7.” 

Mr Stavert said: “That’s the kind of thing we think the council should be looking at but they have gone for the easy option which is to save by eliminating the budget altogether.” 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Logan Longlegs is a delightful and bouncy one-year-old Lurcher who is full of life and ready to bring joy to a new home. 

 This charming dog loves making friends with everyone he meets and thrives in an environment filled with fun and activity.  

Logan is looking for an adult home or one with children aged 16 and above, and would love a garden of his own for his famous zoomies. 

Logan Longlegs is an affectionate, playful pup who adores being around his people.  

Logan’s absolute favourite pastime? – playing in the water, whether that’s a dip in a puddle or a swim at the beach.  

With an energetic nature, Logan is always up for a game with his toys or a fun walk to explore new places. 

However, Logan’s excitement can get the better of him, especially when meeting new dogs and people—he tends to forget his manners and can be quite bouncy and strong on the lead.  

Logan’s looking for experienced, confident owners who are willing to work on his social skills and training, helping him learn to channel his enthusiasm. Quiet walking areas would be ideal for Logan as he builds these skills. 

Logan travels well in the car and can be left for a couple of hours, though this should be built up gradually as he settles in.  

This high-energy Lurcher will thrive with a family that can provide plenty of mental and physical stimulation, along with lots of love and patience.  

With the right guidance, Logan Longlegs will make an incredibly fun and loyal companion for an active household ready to share their adventures with him. 

If you think you could provide a home for Logan or any of the 40 dogs currently available for rehoming, please contact us on 01506 873459. Dogs Trust West Calder is currently seeking new foster carers across the whole of the Lothians & Scottish Borders.  

If you could open your home to a dog in need, please email [email protected] for more info. 

The rehoming centre is also recruiting volunteers for a variety of roles. Anyone interested should email [email protected] 

Controversial plans to reduce the speed limit on a major East Lothian road so a cycle path could be built have been put on hold.

East Lothian Council had planned to reduce the speed on the A199 from the national limit to 40mph as part of an active freeway project linking communities along its route.

More than 850 people signed a petition opposing the speed change after it was announced in March and there was criticism of the public consultation held ahead of the decision with many complaining they were unaware of the plans.

Now as the local authority announced the start of the first phase of its freeway it has been revealed the plans for the road, which is the former A1, have been set aside.

A council spokesperson said Scottish Government which had been expected to support the freeway and required the change to the speed limit was no longer guaranteed.

They said: “While a 40mph limit was previously a requirement of funding for the active travel scheme being proposed for the A199, the Scottish Government is now reviewing the way it funds Active Travel.

“We are looking out for other opportunities for funding for our proposed wider scheme and will subsequently establish whether a 40mph limit is required on the A199, taking into account funding criteria and feedback received from partners and the community.”

The freeway is part of a larger proposal to create what the council describes as a “high-quality commuter cycling and walking link connecting Dunbar-East Linton-Haddington-Gladsmuir-MacmerryTranent-Musselburgh along the route of A199”.

The council’s Labour administration cabinet unanimously backed the plans to cut the speed on the A199 to 40mph in March this year.

At the time elected members were told funds from the Scottish Government  to support the project but were subject to the reduced speed limit being part of the project.

Its spokesperson said the £350,000 used for the East Linton work which will see a new segregated path created would support its “longer-term ambitions for the A199”.

The A199 has been used as a diversion for vehicles in bad weather after a number of lorries were blown over on a bridge on the A1 between Haddington and Dunbar,  during high winds to avoid further incidents.

Despite the decision to shelve the speed reduction plans work on the first phase of the freeway began this week in East Linton.

The council said the first stage of the “re-purposing of the A199” to create a shared use path was underway with work to take an on-road section of National Cycle Network Route 76, which currently runs along Mill Wynd, in the village,and create a segregated active travel path.

Crossing points will also be improved, including across the A199 between Lauder Place and Brae Heads Loan.

Its spokesperson said the £350,000 used for the East Linton work would support its “longer-term ambitions for the A199”.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter