NEXT MEETING CANCELLED
Our next meeting, which was scheduled for Monday 29 June, has been cancelled due to a number of Community Councillors being away on holiday.
July is usually a meeting-free month, so we will be back after the summer break in August.
So our next meeting will be on Monday 31 August, 6.30pm at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.
Local residents are welcome to join us in person or online, or submit their questions by email.
Leading national charity Poppyscotland will be a noticeable presence at various events across the country this Armed Forces Day.
Taking place on Saturday, 27th June the day celebrates the Armed Forces community: from currently serving personnel to Service families, veterans and cadets. It marks the culmination of a week of celebrations, which began on Monday 22nd June.
Poppyscotland provide lifelong support, expert guidance and ongoing care for current and former members of the Armed Forces as well as their families when its needed most.
Last year alone, the charity responded to almost 800 individuals and families with advice and practical help on a number of issues including financial support, interventions and advice for people and families living with dementia, practical assistance and advice dealing with mobility issues, housing, mental health support, employment issues and much more.
This Armed Forces Week, the charity is reminding the public why their work matters and how they support the Armed Forces community all year round.
One such beneficiary, is serving soldier Timoci Waqanibau and his wife Titilia who contacted Poppyscotland for help, to reunite them with their children after nearly two years apart.
After Timoci joined the British Army in 2019, the family made the heartbreaking decision to leave their nine-year-old son and six-year-old daughter in Fiji while they built a new life in Scotland, staying connected only through daily video calls and the promise of one day being together again.
When Titilia reached out to Poppyscotland for help, everything changed. Within weeks, the charity arranged everything: visas, flights, and full travel support to bring their children home to Scotland, and to finally meet their baby sister. The reunion in October was everything they’d hoped for.
“The children were so excited, screaming. We all cried,” Timoci said. “All we wanted was our babies all together, and thanks to Poppyscotland that dream has finally come true.”
Leanne Bonner, Head of Scotland at Poppyscotland, said: “Families like Timoci’s are at the heart of everything we do. No family should have to face challenges like these alone and with Poppyscotland’s support, they don’t have to.”
For more information on Poppyscotland and how they can help, please visit:
Ahead of Scotland’s first World Cup appearance since 1998, a squad of recognisable names took to the pitch in Edinburgh for a one-off match against the Scotmid Brazil squad.
To celebrate Scotland’s return to the World Cup, Scotmid staff, customers, suppliers, family and friends came together to make up a Scotland and a Brazil team.
Those playing for Scotland bore more than just a passion for the game – many of them shared a surname with the squad preparing to take on Brazil on 24 June.
Taking to the pitch were Gunn, McGinn, Ferguson, Ralston, Christie, Stewart, Robertson, Tierney and McKenna, who came together from across the country, united by their passion for football – and a desire to win.
Friends and family cheered from the stands as the match got underway and were treated to a energetic and exciting 90 minutes, which ended in an 11-9 victory for Scotland. Each player received a medal and a goodie bag packed with a range of Scottish favourites, with the winning team lifting the prestigious Champions Trophy.
The event celebrated Scotland’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, giving customers a day to remember through a celebration of community pride and national excitement.
Lauren Rafferty, Commercial Development Coordinator at Scotmid, said: “Scotland reaching the World Cup is a huge moment. We wanted to mark it in a way that would bring people together and give our customers their own moment on the pitch.
“It’s a bit of fun but it also reflects what Scotmid is all about: community, local pride and creating moments that people can enjoy together.”
While the result on the pitch may still be up for debate among those involved, the success of the event was clear, exciting the players for Scotland’s campaign – and a hope that their result is a foreshadow of Scotland’s World Cup success!
With a red weather warning issued for many parts of England, and a red heat health alert in some regions warning of a threat to life for even healthy people, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and Children’s Burns Trust (CBT) are warning of the growing dangers of heatwaves.
Research showed 51 people died from excessive natural heat in the UK between 2014 and 2023, alongside more than 1,800 hospital admissions in England over the past decade. This includes 16 fatalities during 2022, the last year a red warning was in place.
The organisations said the risks are rising as the UK experiences more frequent and intense periods of hot weather, with children particularly vulnerable.
Data shared by Children’s Burns Trust shows severe child sunburn injuries increased sharply in 2025, when 252 sunburn cases in children were recorded (admission to a Specialist Burns Unit), a 46.5% rise from 172 cases in 2024.
Heatwaves place strain on the body and can quickly lead to serious harm, including heat exhaustion, dehydration and burns from prolonged sun exposure. Children are especially at risk because their skin burns more easily and they may not recognise early warning signs.
Meteorologists warn that extreme heat is becoming more common in the UK, increasing the likelihood of preventable injuries and deaths if basic safety advice is not followed. Both organisations say many incidents could be avoided through simple precautions, particularly during peak sunlight hours.
The two leading charities are urging families to act early during hot weather by protecting children from the sun, keeping them cool and well hydrated, and recognising the signs of heat‑related illness.
Steve Cole, Director of Policy and Impact at RoSPA, said: “Heatwaves are no longer rare events, and the consequences are becoming clearer year on year.
“These deaths and hospital admissions are not inevitable. By following straightforward advice on sun safety, hydration and cooling down, people can dramatically reduce the risk to themselves and their families.”
Ken Dunn BSc FRCS(Lond) FRCS(plast) FRCS(ed), Consultant Burns and Plastic Surgeon (retired) and Vice Chair at Children’s Burns Trust, said: “We are seeing a worrying rise in children experiencing sunburn, which is painful, distressing and entirely preventable.
“Simple steps like keeping children out of direct sun, covering up exposed skin and reapplying sunscreen regularly can make a real difference.”
The organisations are advising the public to take extra care during hot weather, particularly between late morning and mid‑afternoon when the sun is strongest.
FIRST AID
Children’s Burns Trust helps to promote the vital message of the importance of good first aid if a burn or scald does occur:
COOL for 20 minutes under cool running water,
CALL 999 OR 111 or your GP for advice,
COVER the burn loosely with cling film.
All statistics released by Children’s Burns Trust have been provided by the International Burn Injury Database (iBID), incorporating data collected from all NHS Burn Services in England and Wales, they do not include the minor burns and scalds that are treated by Accident and Emergency Departments.
For more information: info@cbtrust.org.uk, https://cbtrust.org.uk/
To mark the 10-year anniversary of Brexit, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Alex Cole-Hamilton has today highlighted their party’s plans to rejoin the single market and boost defence ties with the EU.
The Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP warned that Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson’s Brexit experiment has failed.
Estimates suggest that Brexit costs the country £90 billion in lost tax revenue every year.
Liberal Democrats have unveiled plans for a new Growth and Defence Partnership with the EU. This would mean:
Alex Cole-Hamilton also said that Reform UK should use their voice in parliament to explain how they would fill the £90 billion blackhole without backing Liberal Democrat proposals.
Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: “Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson are the authors of the failed Brexit experiment. They have cost our country £90 billion every year.
“This is money which is being taken away from nurses, doctors, teachers, patients and pupils all across Edinburgh.
“Liberal Democrats have announced bold new plans for a Growth and Defence Partnership with the EU. It’s how we can cut bills for local people, give our children a better future and help keep everyone in Edinburgh safe.
“Our plans would stop the chaos and end the crisis. If Reform don’t like them, they should use the voice they now have in parliament to explain what they would do instead.”
Plans to plant more trees and increase woodlands across an area home to around half of Scotland’s population has received almost £1 million in new funding.
The Clyde, Fife, Lothians and Forth ‘Climate Forests’ target investment in communities with the fewest trees and greatest climate vulnerability across central Scotland – expanding tree canopy cover by protecting existing woods and planting more.
Established in 2021, Climate Forests are working with local councils, community groups and landowners on projects to plant 35 million trees by 2035.
Backed so far with almost £13 million in Scottish Government funding, around 5 million trees have been planted in this area to capture carbon, protect the environment, increase biodiversity, improve access to nature, and support local communities to become more climate resilient.
Speaking ahead of a parliamentary debate this week on Climate Change, Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin said: “This latest investment builds on and expands the benefits of Climate Forests to help increase canopy cover in urban and rural areas.
“We want to create greener, healthier, more resilient places where people can live well and connect with nature – offering spaces for people to rest, exercise, and improve their physical and mental health.
“Trees and woodlands do so much for us – from absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and providing habitats for wildlife to helping protect communities from flooding and extreme heat. Increasing tree canopy cover across Scotland’s towns, cities and rural communities will deliver all of these benefits for generations to come.
“This programme will help contribute towards our national woodland creation targets and, indeed, is central to Scotland meeting its climate targets.
2It is also about fairness and we are targeting investment in the communities with the fewest trees and the greatest vulnerability to a changing climate, because everyone deserves to live in a place that is greener, healthier, and more resilient.”
Douglas Worrall, Director Forth Climate Forest said: “The Climate Forests are delighted to receive this Scottish Government funding. As well as creating healthy, liveable communities, both urban and rural, trees are essential in helping to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change.
“Over the coming year we will use the Scottish Government funding to deliver projects across Central Scotland with local people. We will be planting trees in areas where the need is greatest, connecting habitats, and providing multiple benefits for people and wildlife.”
Martin Willcocks, Calais Woods Community Group, Dunfermline said: “Duloch Park was just a blank lifeless canvas of grass sitting there for 20 years whilst development was hurriedly increasing all around. Our community group formed to bring life into the park and support the well-loved ancient woodland next to it.
“The tree planting we have done has been extensive and rewarding, bringing important habitat for nature and biodiversity and creating an attractive and natural setting which will now develop into a prime space where nature and human recreation will coexist in harmony.”
On Tuesday, 23 June, 2026, at the High Court in Edinburgh, Peter Murrell was sentenced to five years and three months in prison.
This follows the 61-year-old’s conviction, on 25 May, 2026, of embezzling funds in excess of £400,000 from the Scottish National Party.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston had oversight of Police Scotland’s investigation into the embezzlement, Operation Branchform.
ACC Houston said: “Today’s sentencing of Peter Murrell – and a sentence of such duration – is proof that those who flout the law, who break the trust of those around them, and who embezzle vast sums of money will not escape justice, regardless of how high a profile or role they may hold.
“Operation Branchform has been an extremely detailed, complex and intricate enquiry, carried out over a protracted period of time in order to ensure a thorough investigation which fully exposed the extent of this wrongdoing, committed over a sustained period of time.
“Murrell occupied a significant position of privilege and power in public life in Scotland, entrusted to oversee the day-to-day operations of the country’s governing political party. His undeniably deliberate and calculated actions to mislead and steal for his own personal gain has proved his disregard for those who placed their trust in him.
“People came forward and told us of their sense and experiences of things not being right, and they are to be publicly commended – their statements, combined with our investigations, have led to the outcome we see today.
“Through ongoing close work with key criminal justice partners, including the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, this enquiry resulted in the compilation of such a robust case that an early admission of guilt was secured, enabling proceedings to conclude sooner rather than later.
“My sincere thanks go to the officers and staff of Police Scotland, who have committed their specialist knowledge, professionalism, commitment and expertise to this matter from start to finish, and without whom we would not have been able to achieve justice.
“Work remains to be undertaken in regards to the Proceeds of Crime Act relating to this case by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Police Scotland, and in particular the Cyber and Fraud Unit, will assist in this process and in any further investigations which may be required.”
Two decades after Edinburgh became the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, a new report has set out to measure the impact of literature in the city today.
The independent study, commissioned by Edinburgh City of Literature Trust and carried out by BOP Consulting, finds that literature contributes £50.9m a year to Edinburgh’s economy. Publishing alone accounts for £19.3m, supporting a concentration of literary businesses that mark the city out as an engine of publishing in the UK.
The report also highlights the wider role literature plays across the city, both in its international profile and in everyday life.
Edinburgh is home to a dense network of writers, publishers, booksellers and festivals. More than 140 million books by contemporary Edinburgh-based authors have been sold worldwide, rising to over 650 million when the global phenomenon of Harry Potter is included.
Alongside this international reach, literary activity remains closely rooted in the city itself. Each year, Edinburgh’s public libraries welcome more than 1.6 million visits, while the city’s literary landscape is sustained by a dense network of organisations, events and activity taking place throughout the year.
More than 50 book launches and “meet the author” events take place each month, alongside a programme of festivals that together welcome over 250,000 audiences annually.
The report identifies this activity as part of a wider literary ecosystem that supports participation, learning and shared cultural life.
It highlights the role of libraries, festivals, publishers, bookshops and grassroots organisations in creating opportunities for engagement at all levels, from large-scale international events to local, community-based activity.
It also finds that 59% of Edinburgh residents believe arts and culture make a positive difference to their lives – significantly higher than the Scottish average of 47%.
And similarly, 63% of Edinburgh respondents agree that culture and the arts make a positive difference to their local community (versus 51% Scottish average).
Literature also plays a role in the city’s appeal to visitors. The report notes that 61% of visitors cite culture and history as a key motivation for coming to Edinburgh, with literary tourism contributing to the broader visitor economy through festivals, heritage sites and wider cultural activity.
The study describes Edinburgh’s literary sector as a dense and interconnected network spanning major institutions, independent publishers, festivals, libraries and grassroots organisations.
It highlights the concentration of activity across the city, with the majority of Scotland’s publishers based in or operating from Edinburgh, alongside a mix of large-scale organisations such as Scottish Book Trust and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, and a wide network of smaller businesses and freelance practitioners.
This infrastructure supports activity across the full lifecycle of literature, from education and research through to publishing, live events and retail.
The report notes that Edinburgh hosts more than 50 university courses in literature and creative writing, alongside an active programme of events and opportunities for writers and audiences at all stages.
Alongside these strengths, the study identifies a number of external pressures affecting the sector.
These include rising operating costs, a contracting funding environment, and challenges around ensuring participation extends beyond established audiences.
It also points to opportunities to improve coordination and visibility across the city’s literary offer, including the potential for a more centralised approach to information-sharing and sector collaboration.
In response, Edinburgh City of Literature Trust is developing a programme of activity focused on strengthening connections across the sector, broadening participation and improving access to literary opportunities.
This includes
Dr Harriet MacMillan, Director of Edinburgh City of Literature Trust, said:
“Literature is fundamental to Edinburgh. It is not a ‘nice to have’ – it is central to how we understand, imagine and shape our city.
“We are fortunate to have extraordinary cultural assets, and we should celebrate our thriving, vibrant literary ecosystem – but we cannot take it for granted. There are real challenges ahead; meeting those challenges will require greater investment and stronger collaboration across the sector.
“Since becoming the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004, we have led internationally – but leadership demands that we keep evolving. Our focus now must be on expanding opportunity and ensuring that literature is not only protected, but experienced and enjoyed by everyone who lives, works in, and visits Edinburgh.”
Harnessing Edinburgh Makar Michael Pedersen’s Be more, Edinburgh, his poem marking 20 years as UNESCO City of Literature, the organisation wants to hear from anyone keen to get involved in helping Edinburgh’s stories to continue to inspire, connect and flourish.
You can find othe report here: https://cityofliterature.com/new-report-evaluating-the-impact-of-literature-in-edinburgh-published-today/
SCOTLAND fans are being helped through another late night of football as Specsavers, the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner of the Scottish FA, equip supporters with free eye drops and a pre-written sick note.
Steve Clarke’s Scotland side continue their World Cup campaign with an 11pm kick-off against Brazil on Wednesday night.
Following on from 2am and 11pm starts against Haiti and Morocco, it’ll be another late night for bleary eyed Scotland fans hoping the team can make it through the group stage for the first time.
However, this time, much to Susanna Reid and Ed Balls’ delight, there is no bank holiday scheduled for the day after to help Scotland fans support their team to the fullest.
Thankfully, Specsavers have stepped up to the plate to help, specially producing eye drops that fans can pick up for free from any of their 86 Scottish stores – helping to keep their eyes in tip-top condition for an evening of staring at the TV and, hopefully, partying.
And if Scotland were to do enough to make it through and the celebrations go on a little longer than expected, Specsavers have also produced a sick note for people looking to avoid work on Thursday morning.
Fans can access the sick note on Specsavers’ social media channels so they can inform their boss of their ‘very important eye test’ which means they won’t be back in work until after lunch.
Specsavers Scottish Divisional Chair, Laura Baird, says: ‘Nobody in Scotland will want to miss the Brazil match as we look to make history with our first successful major tournament group stage.
‘With the finals taking place across the pond, managing the time difference has been a challenge for fans watching at home, but luckily Specsavers are here to help.
‘We hope Scotland fans are watching on with joy and fresh eyes, with the option of a Thursday morning lie in up their sleeves as well!’
Specsavers renewed its sponsorship deal with the Scottish FA in 2024, becoming the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner and extending one of the longest-running partnerships in sport.
Around 6.50am on Tuesday, 23 June, 2026 police received a report of a man having taken unwell whilst on a bicycle within St Marks Park, Warriston Road.
Emergency services attended and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post mortem examination will take place in due course to establish the exact cause of death which police are not treating as suspicious.
Officers would like to speak to anyone who was within the park at this time, especially the two passers-by who assisted until paramedics arrived, to contact them on telephone number 101 quoting incident number 0556 of 23 June, 2026.
