POLICE are appealing for information following a robbery at a post office in Edinburgh which took place yesterday (Sunday, 24 September).
Around 7.20am a man entered Milton Road West Post Office, threatened a male member of staff and demanded he hand over money.
The suspect then left the premises with a two-figure sum of cash before making off in the direction of Duddingston Park and heading north towards the crossroads of Duddingston Road.
The member of staff was not injured during the incident.
The suspect is described as a white male, late teens to early 20’s, 5’7” to 5’8” and of slim to medium build.
He was wearing a two-tone black and grey hooded zipper top, light blue Nike Joggers with a white motif on the left thigh, black and white Nike trainers, and was carrying a cross-body black ‘man bag’.
Detective Inspector Kevin Tait from Edinburgh Division CID said: “The member of staff has been left badly shaken by this incident and it is vital that we trace the person involved.
“We are appealing for anyone who may have seen the suspect in the surrounding area before or after the robbery this morning to please get in touch.
“We would also urge any motorists with dash-cams who were nearby to check their footage in case they have captured anything which could be of significance to our enquiries.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 0788 of Sunday, 24 September, 2023. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
+++ UPDATE +++
A 19-year-old man has been arrested and charged following a robbery in Edinburgh. The incident happened around 7.20am on Sunday, 24 September, 2023, at a Post Office on Milton Road.
The man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 26 September, 2023.
Detective Inspector Kevin Tait said: “We would like to thank the public for their assistance with our enquiries.
“There has been increased police patrols in the area to provide reassurance to the local community.”
Forty-five treasured institutions across the United Kingdom given funding to safeguard future
Pubs, museums and sports clubs across the United Kingdom have been given vital funding from Government to secure their future for generations to come.
Forty-five treasured spaces in our villages, towns and cities will receive more than £12.3m in funding so they can be run by the community, for the community.
Thanks to the latest funding from the government’s Community Ownership Fund, these institutions will be owned and run by hardworking community groups.
£1 million will rebuild a historic Yorkshire railway bridge in urgent need of repair, which carries the railway line over Bridgehouse Beck between Keighley and Oxenhope.
The funding will protect a tourist rail line which is used by more than 250,000 passengers a year, and will improve transport infrastructure in the region so that the local economy can continue to thrive.
The original bridge was built in 1867, and the railway line has featured in dozens of films and TV shows over the years including The Railway Children in 1970.
David Pearson, Co-ordinator for External Finance & Resources at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society, said: We’re overjoyed to have received this funding, which will be going towards the complete rebuilding of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s bridge 27 in the middle of the railway at Haworth and in the middle of Haworth village.
“It means that the long term survival of train services on the railway is ensured and means everything to our railway, our villages and our people.”
An educational aerospace discovery centre in Kinross will be created with £300,000 from the fund, offering interactive learning opportunities and exhibitions which will inspire future generations to pursue STEM careers.
And the Vale of Aeron pub in Ystrad Aeron, Wales, (above) which was known as a favourite haunt of the legendary poet Dylan Thomas, has been given £300,000 for renovations to keep it open and make it accessible to the whole community.
Jacob Young, Minister for Levelling Up, said: “Our priority is to support communities and deliver opportunities right across the country, which is why we’re investing £12.3m to secure the future of cherished community institutions.
“These places – from pubs to historic railway lines – are the golden thread which run through our social fabric, and keeping them going is vital for supporting communities.”
Other projects which have received funding include:
Lordsfield Swimming Club in Hampshire, a volunteer-run facility which will be sustained for the future with an £835,400 grant so it can provide low-cost swimming to local schools and the wider community.
£1.2 million to secure the future of four pubs, including the Vale of Aeron, so they can continue to pull pints for locals.
Knutsford Market Hall in Cheshire received £560,000 to ensure it continues to host and support a number of small businesses.
Sterts Theatre in Cornwall will be restored with £300,000 so that it can resume its community and professional performances.
The Margate School in Kent will be able to undertake essential repairs with £400,000 that will secure a long-term future for the not-for-profit art school.
Dartford Gym and Youth Club will undergo essential refurbishment with £244,920 to restore it as a space for local schools, clubs and community organisations to engage in sport and social activities.
The Community Ownership Fund has now given £49.3 million for 195 projects across the UK. This includes almost £8 million for thirty-three pubs so that local people can still go to their beloved local, and £14.6 million for sixty six community centres so they can continue to play an important role in people’s lives.
The latest round of allocations includes £770,057 for three projects in Wales, £992,825 for four projects in Scotland and more than £1m for four projects in Northern Ireland.
Changes which came into effect for this round of bids also meant that all projects could bid for up to £1 million in funding, not just sports clubs, and the amount organisations needed to match fund decreased to only 20%, to allow more places to benefit.
The George pub in Kent previously benefited from a £250,000 grant from the fund, which allowed it to reopen in May 2023. The pub shut during the Covid-19 pandemic and the owners decided to sell up and retire, but locals were able to get the doors open again because of the funding and are now planning for the future.
Local resident Alex Withington said: “We’re going to have a café that opens during the day too. When we did a survey, a lot of people said they wanted somewhere during day to use as well.
“We’re also looking to have a petanque area and a community library in the pub. We’re just so happy to have helped restore The George to the heart of Bethersden for our community.”
A new aerospace discovery centre is one of four Scottish projects set to receive thousands in government funding following a successful bidding round.
Almost £1m will be granted to the four projects – including £300,000 for the aerospace centre – to help level up local opportunities for generations to come.
Through interactive learning and exhibitions, the new centre will inspire young people to pursue aerospace-related jobs in science, tech, engineering and maths. It will be based at the Aero Space Scientific Education Trust’s Station House in Kinross, which was officially opened by Princess Anne in 1985.
Other new projects awarded in Scotland include:
£256,793 to create a Community Net-Zero hub in Glasgow, boosting low-carbon learning and training in the city and urban nature-based wellbeing activities for residents.
£253,032 to bring an existing shop building in Stirling into community ownership, creating a commercially sustainable village shop which supports the diversity of its community and visitors.
£183,000 for Aberdeenshire to redevelop Laurencekirk Community Centre into a larger community hub. This will help host more local events and advisory services, lunch and chat clubs for elderly and lonely people and clubs for school holidays, youths, mums and toddlers.
UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said: “It’s great news that a further four Scottish projects are sharing almost £1 million (£992,825) from the UK Government Community Ownership Fund.
“Through the fund we are now supporting 28 community groups across Scotland to breathe new life into the places where they live, work and play to the tune of almost £6.2 million (£6,161,420).
“In total we are directly investing more than £2.4 billion in hundreds of projects across Scotland as we help grow our economy and level up the country.”
The Community Ownership Fund helps towns and cities across the UK to create and restore treasured institutions like museums, pubs and sports clubs, so that they can be run by the community, for the community.
The fund has now given £6.2 million for 28 projects in Scotland – part of 195 projects now being supported across the UK.
Changes which came into effect for this round of bids also meant that all projects could bid for up to £1 million in funding, not just sports clubs, and the amount organisations needed to match fund decreased to 20%.
This also marks the first time that applicants applying to support projects such as the Community Net-Zero hub, have been able to benefit from support with the development of their application and business case through the Community Ownership Fund development support provider, led by Locality.
The Community Ownership Fund is currently open again for bids and will close on 11 October 2023 and groups are being urged to apply for up to £2m in funding for the very first time.
Following news fuel prices are expected to rise once again, motorists have been told to avoid common costly mistakes when heading to the pumps.
Motor insurance comparison experts at Quotezone.co.uk have revealed eight errors which could be contributing to over consumption of fuel and have costly consequences for drivers.
Credit: Pexels
This comes after it was revealed around 150,000 Brits put the wrong fuel in their car every year.*
Misfuelling is one of the most expensive mistakes motorists make. Pumping petrol fuel into a diesel engined car can lead to engine failure, leaving motorists to pick up the repair costs.
Rule 97 of the Highway Code states before drivers set off, they should ensure they have ‘sufficient fuel or charge for your journey, especially if it includes motorway driving’.**
Careless or dangerous driving caused by low fuel will see motorists face fines of up to £100 and three points on their license.
Greg Wilson, CEO and price comparison expert at Quotezone.co.uk, said: “It can be frustrating to feel like you are spending more and more on fuel each time you fill up. With the inconsistency in pricing and news about fuel prices reaching news highs, we wanted to share our fuel saving suggestions to help drivers save as much as possible.
“Small mistakes at the petrol pump can lead to serious costs. Misfuelling is expensive, and more common than you think. However, even simple things like making sure the car is in good working order with tyres topped up and excess weight removed, can help reduce the amount of fuel it consumes.”
Quotezone.co.uk compiled some of the biggest mistakes drivers make when filling up:
1.Misfuelling
Misfuelling and pumping your diesel car with petrol fuel can be a very costly mistake. Although there may not be any noticeable changes to your car initially, as the petrol makes its way to the fuel system you will have serious consequences. Depending on how far thepetrol has circulated through the fuel system and engine, the cost of repairs can vary from a simple drain and flush to some very expensive component replacements.
2.Check your tyres
Low tyre pressure will cause your tyres to drag on the ground and consume more fuel than fully pumped-up tyres.
3.Letting your fuel run on empty
Letting your car run on low fuel isn’t a crime, but any careless or dangerous driving caused by the lack of fuel could see you punished by law. You could face a £100 fine and three points on your licence if you are forced to stop in the road and cause an obstruction to other motorists.
4.Overfilling your tank
While overfilling the tank can be tempting and seem like a way to save additional trips back to the pump, you will actually end up paying more for your fuel. Filling the tank beyond maximum capacity can cause the fuel to overflow and waste money. Overflowing fuel can also fall to the ground which causes a potential fire hazard and you will still be charged for the waste.
5.Filling up during peak hours
Petrol station prices can vary throughout the day, with costs at their highest during peak hours around midday and 5pm. In order to find the lowest prices, head to a petrol station early in the morning or later in the evening.
From Ancient Rome to Astronomy, and Fashion to Crime Fiction, there is something to tantalise the taste buds of anyone wishing to learn something new with Interest Groups Online.
The u3a movement is for those no longer in full-time work who have time to spare, a desire to learn and would like to make new social connections.
Interest Groups Online is the online learning service of the organisation and from 2nd to 6th of October, there will be a series of free sessions open to non-members to try out the wealth of fascinating groups available.
Stephen, from Edinburgh, is in several groups, including Slow French. He says: “Interest Groups Online is excellent for languages, whether you’re learning, improving, or keeping your existing skills alive.
“C’est parfait pour mour, (it’s perfect for me) and my late in life ambition to be bilingual.”
Stephen is one of five members who talk about their positive experience of Interest Groups Online in this short film.
Members can join as a complementary service to their local in-person u3a membership or as a standalone membership. From October, Interest Groups Online membership is just £6 for 6 months and members will have access to over 75 different groups across a wide range of topics.
Following the temporary closure of Blackhall Library due to the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), we can now confirm that there will be a mobile library vehicle situated in the car park of Davidson Mains Church.
The service will be available from tomorrow – Monday 25 September – to provide customers with the opportunity to collect reservations, return loans and borrow a limited selection of books, apply for bus passes, collect hearing aid batteries, free period products and buy food waste bags.
The mobile library will be available on the following dates:
Monday 25 September from 2.30 to 7pm Tuesday 26 September from 10.30am to 3pm Wednesday 27 September from 2.30 to 7pm Thursday 28 September from 10.30am to 3pm Friday 29 September from 10.30am to 3pm
Please see www.edinburgh.gov.uk/raacupdates for more information.
A SCOTTISH camping and glamping site is officially one of the best in the country after being awarded a five-star rating.
Drummohr Camping and Glamping Site near Edinburgh was given the top rating by VisitScotland during its most recent assessment, with inspectors praising the quality of the facilities and describing the park and its grounds as ‘spotless’.
The rating makes Drummohr one of only 33 five-star camping and caravan parks sites across Scotland and one of four five-star sites in East Lothian.
Drummohr, which is close to Musselburgh on the shores of the Firth of Forth, has undergone significant investment during the past two years since changing ownership, resulting in a range of improvements across the site such as the refurbishment of holiday lodges with hot tubs; the opening of a licensed shop selling local produce; larger touring and tent pitches; upgrading of its amenity blocks; a new indoor campers’ kitchen; improved gardens and landscaping; a new children’s playground; and high speed free WiFi. The team have also personalised glamping pods to provide themed family accommodation.
Angie Purves, who is the site manager at Drummohr, said: “We are over the moon to have received the five-star rating. It’s something the whole team has been working towards for a long time and the feeling when we opened the email to find out we’d achieved it was just amazing.
“We always aim to go that extra mile for our guests to ensure that their holiday experience is a home away from home. From complementary welcome baskets in the lodges on arrival, party packs available to celebrate special occasions, to towels for drying off wet dogs after a walk, it’s the little things that make all the difference.
“Our guests seem to really appreciate everything we do because many of them come back year after year to stay with us and regularly post great guest reviews thanking the team.”
In order to achieve a five-star rating from VisitScotland, camping and caravan parks must reach an overall percentage score of 87% to 100% across areas including park facilities, cleanliness, toilet and washing facilities, and reception services among others.
Neil Christison, VisitScotland Regional Director, congratulated Drummhor on achieving its five-star Quality Assurance grading. He said: “Recent research has shown that camping and staying in a caravan are popular choices for families holidaying in Scotland this year, so it is a fantastic achievement for this business.
“VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme can help us drive up standards across the industry. It represents world class excellence – helping businesses shine, enabling visitors to make informed choices and driving up investment in quality.”
Accommodation at Drummohr includes self-catering and luxury lodges with hot tubs, glamping pods and en-suite bothies, and both grass and hard-standing pitches for touring and tents, all with electric.
The family-friendly campsite also has themed wizard, adventure and fairy glamping pods, as well as family bothies and a large playground. Dogs are welcome on the site which has its own scenic dog walk and dog-friendly accommodation, with up to two dogs welcomed on its tent and touring pitches free of charge.
The site’s newly refurbished amenity blocks include underfloor heating, free hot showers, family friendly accessible bathrooms with baths, and indoor campers’ kitchen and laundry.
Open all year round, Drummohr is eight miles from Edinburgh, close to the beaches of East Lothian and Scotland’s golf coast and is near the John Muir Way for walkers and cyclists. The site has excellent public transport links into Edinburgh, with the bus stop a five-minute walk and the train station a 15-minute walk. There is also a large park and ride nearby.
Drummohr is part of the WCF employee-owned family of businesses which operates across the UK in the leisure, retail and logistics sectors. The site is one of three camping and glamping businesses operated by WCF, with sister sites at Herding Hill Farm close to the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site, and Longnor Wood in the heart of the Peak District.
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is tantalising tastebuds this Christmas with its great-value family dining experiences in its Edinburgh store, including a magical Santa’s Breakfast and its much-loved Festive Afternoon Tea.
Santa’s Breakfast is a great way to enjoy some magical time with Santa and fuel up for the festivities. It’s a chance for children aged 3 to 10 to take part in activities, get into the Christmas spirit, sing along to Christmas classics and receive a gift to take home and put under the tree.
Families in Edinburgh can expect festive entertainment from Santa and his elves and a hearty breakfast. Children can choose from a traditional breakfast of pork or Quorn sausage, scrambled eggs, hash brown and baked beans, or opt for a breakfast roll. All breakfasts are served with a choice of apple juice, orange juice or water.
Adults will also get a choice of breakfast options, including a traditional breakfast, vegetarian breakfast or three item breakfast roll, each served with a hot beverage.
Indulge this Christmas with Dobbies’ Festive Afternoon Tea offering, great for couples, friends and families alike. Enjoy this classic British tradition and tuck into three tiers of seasonal bites to jingle the tastebuds.
Expect all the favourite elements of an afternoon tea with a festive twist. Indulge in salmon, cream cheese and chive, and honey roast ham and mustard finger sandwiches in a mix of white and grain bread. Savour each mouthful of Cornish clotted cream and jam scones and tuck into a delicious selection of sweet treats, including blackberry delice, fruit and cream tart, carrot cake and a mini macaroon.
Children can also enjoy a mix of finger sandwiches, filled with ham, jam and tuna. In addition to Dobbies’ famous scones, kids will munch on Rudolph’s favourite snacks – carrot and cucumber sticks.
Adults will get the choice of unlimited tea and coffee refills, and children will receive a fruit juice. There will be additional extras for customers looking to wrap themselves in all the festivities, including prawn marie rose vol au vents, savoury cheese vol au vents and pigs in blankets with gravy and cranberry sauce. Drinks can also be upgraded for speciality coffees and teas, and if you fancy popping a bottle, there is an upgrade option for Prosecco.
Sarah Murray, who develops Dobbies’ festive line up, wants to make this year one for customers in Edinburgh to remember. She said: “Restaurant experiences at Dobbies are a chance to spend time with the family in a relaxed setting that involves zero cooking.
“Our Santa’s Breakfast and Festive Afternoon Tea events in Edinburgh are a great way to feel festive as Christmas approaches. The restaurant team thoroughly enjoy hosting these events and can’t wait to welcome customers.”
Santa’s Breakfast runs from 25 November through to 24 December and is priced from £9 per adult and £13.99 per child.
Festive Afternoon Tea experiences run from 1 November and is priced at £8.50 per child and £13.50 per adult.
For more information about Dobbies’ festive culinary experiences and to make a booking, visit dobbies.com/events
Leading industry charity, Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland is encouraging applications from Scottish hospitality workers and students for its 2024 scholarship programme.
2024 will see the charity celebrate its 30th anniversary and award its 7000th scholarship – it awards over 200 scholarships annually. A HIT Scotland scholarship is a learning experience designed to provide new skills and knowledge, stimulate best practice and fresh ways of thinking. Scholarships vary year to year depending on what the industry is looking for – this year, it will offer a mix of scholarships across three categories: business, operational and inspirational.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary milestone, the charity is presenting three new bespoke inspirational scholarships – these will expand on their usual inspirational scholarships, offering a bigger and more prestigious experience for the recipients.
This year also sees HIT Scotland honouring the memory of great service to the industry with the new Lisa Wishart scholarship. Presented to someone in the licensed trade, this development opportunity has been kindly funded by donations from the recent Scottish Bar & Pub Awards, and will be awarded to someone who shows the same passion for the industry as Lisa did.
HIT Scotland is also spearheading the inaugural Müller Milk & Ingredients scholarships, which are recognising the huge talent within the Scottish council catering services.
Applications close midnight on Sunday 19th November 2023, with applicants invited to choose one scholarship that will help aid their personal development within their hospitality role. Anyone working in or studying towards a career in Scottish hospitality can apply.
David Cochrane, HIT Scotland Chief Executive, commented: “We want applicants to really show us their passion for our industry and demonstrate how the experience will help them. For many years now, our scholarships have been empowering inspirational development in Scottish hospitality, helping both individuals and the sector at large grow.
“I’d like to thank our sponsors for their continued support of the fundraising events that allow us to keep providing these development opportunities for the industry. Thanks also go to The Savoy Educational Trust, The Crerar Trust, The MacRobert Trust, Diageo Learning for Life, and Hickory for their generous support of our scholarship programme.”
Angela Vickers, chair of HIT Scotland and CEO of Apex Hotels, added:“It is exciting to be offering three inspirational scholarships to celebrate HIT Scotland’s 30th year – these will offer a one-of-a-kind learning opportunity for the recipients.
“We cannot wait to hear from the ambitious, passionate individuals working and learning in Scottish hospitality and help them achieve their goals.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay has announced measures to tackle aortic dissection, a heart condition that kills 2,000 people every year
Aortic dissection takes the lives of 2,000 people a year in Britain
Government and NHS England to look at ways to tackle condition
Health Secretary pledges to build on strong work already being done
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, has unveiled measures to tackle aortic dissection, a life-threatening heart condition that kills 2,000 people every year.
Speaking at a research event to mark Aortic Dissection Awareness Day, the Health Secretary announced the formation of an NHS working group that will bring together clinical experts and charities, to improve diagnosis and treatment of the condition.
The group will review the whole patient experience when it comes to aortic dissections, and pinpoint opportunities for future improvement, including the potential benefits of genetic testing.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay said: “Aortic dissection can be a devastating condition and every year it takes the lives of more people than die on our roads, yet awareness is low. Changing that will save lives.
“Developing a holistic approach, from identifying those potentially at risk to providing first class follow-up care, will be life-changing for patients and I’m delighted to be able to build on the good work we’re already doing in this area.
“I also want to pay tribute to the tireless work of my colleague Pauline Latham whose campaigning to improve aortic dissection care has kept this issue on the agenda.”
The Health Secretary has asked for the working group to report back with options within six months, and aortic dissection charities will input into the work.
Pauline Latham MP, who tragically lost her son to an undiagnosed aortic dissection in 2018, has been a leading voice in campaigning to improve the lives of sufferers and their families, and met with the Secretary of State earlier this year to discuss ways to improve aortic dissection care.
Pauline Latham MP said: “In the wake of losing my son Ben to a missed diagnosis of aortic dissection, I couldn’t sit back and let other families suffer the way we have. That’s why Graham Cooper, Catherine Fowler and I started The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust.
“We’ve been pushing hard – asking tough questions in Parliament, meeting with health ministers, and I’m thrilled to say, we have NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care on board.
“This will bring in standardised care, genetic screening, and specialised nurses to not only save lives but improve quality of life for everyone affected by this condition. It’s our heartfelt mission to turn tragedy into a safer future for all.”
The announcement builds on the progress made on aortic dissection in recent years. NHS England adjusted 111 and 999’s triage systems to better recognise chest pains caused by aortic dissections and is rolling out the Aortic Dissection Acute Toolkit across the regions to speed up diagnosis and improve patient outcomes, while The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has also published a best-practice guide to improve diagnosis in emergency departments.
The Department of Health and Social Care is also funding dedicated research into aortic dissection through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, as part of an annual £50 million investment in cardiovascular disease research.
Researchers are developing a tool to help people at genetic risk of aortic dissection decide if they want screening and, if necessary, preventative treatment and this is just one of the many exciting research projects under way across the country.
The remit of the working group will be to:
continue to monitor and support the implementation of the acute Aortic Dissection toolkit which has already been produced by NHS England and is currently being rolled out to NHS providers
review the whole aortic dissection patient pathway and identify areas for improvement including the elective pathway
explore the evidence and options for genetic screening including potential cohorts for screening
scope the clinical skills and workforce requirements to support aortic dissection pathway improvement
