An 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old male youth have been arrested in connection with wilful fireraisings in Edinburgh.
Both have been arrested in connection with an incident which took place in Hay Drive on Friday, 4 April, 2024.
The 18-year-old has also been arrested in connection with a wilful fire at a premises in Albert Street on Thursday, 6 March, 2025 and the wilful fire of a vehicle in the Parrotshot area on Sunday, 2 March, 2025.
Enquiries are ongoing into the incidents, which are linked to the recent discharge of firearms and other fire-raising incidents in the city.
A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
A 24-year-old man was earlier arrested and charged in relation to two wilful fireraisings. He was due to appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 8 April.
Detective Superintendent Paul Grainger said: “I want to reassure the community that extensive enquiries are ongoing into this investigation and arrests will continue over the coming weeks.
“If you have any information that can assist our investigation, please get in touch.”
Forever Edinburgh has launched a brand-new Edinburgh: Accessible Highlights Guide in partnership with award-winning Edinburgh-based disabled access charity, Euan’s Guide.
The guide highlights Edinburgh’s leading attractions, experiences and travel tips that provide facilities, products and services for people’s differing accessibility requirements. It supports Forever Edinburgh’s work to promote the city’s kaleidoscope of experiences and offerings as an ideal holiday location for everyone. Forever Edinburgh has worked closely with Euan’s Guide, a leading UK charity that helps disabled people find accessible venues.
The new guidebook reinforces the historical city’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility to allow everyone to enjoy its heritage status. Designed to help disabled visitors enjoy everything the city has to offer, it covers all 11 neighbourhoods of Edinburgh and showcases accessible experiences for all tastes – including Edinburgh’s cultural events and year-round festivals, heritage experiences, museums and galleries, sports and outdoor activities and places to stay, eat and drink.
It also provides essential practical information, such as:
Details on relaxed sessions and dementia-friendly spaces.
Venues with ground-level access and flat floors for wheelchair users.
Location of accessible toilets.
Audio-described shows and sensory-friendly experiences.
Links to full AccessAble Guides for applicable attractions.
Cllr Jane Meagher, leader of the City of Edinburgh Council said: “We really want everyone to enjoy our city and to feel safe and included. That’s why I’m pleased to see this joint work with Euan’s Guide, which is a welcome move towards ensuring all visitors can fully experience the joy of our capital.
“The latest estimates indicate 16.1 million people in the UK have a disability, which is around one in four people. We also know that 21.4% of Scots have a long-term illness, disease, or condition. These figures emphasise the importance of accessibility initiatives like this, to ensure inclusivity for all.
“Plus, by enabling those with disabilities to book a stay in Edinburgh more easily and confidently, local businesses will also benefit. Tourism in Scotland by those with an impairment raises a significant £1.69 billion.” *sources: The Department for Work and Pensions’ Family Resources Survey In Scotland; the 2022 Census; VisitScotland.
These figures underscore the importance of accessibility initiatives to ensure inclusivity for all. Additionally, by enabling those with disabilities to book a stay in Edinburgh more easily and confidently, local businesses will reap the financial benefits of a large number of potential visitors.
The National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.
Antonia Lee-Bapty, CEO of Euan’s Guidesaid: “Our community regularly tells us that they continue to be excluded from everyday activities, like going for a simple cup of coffee with friends, because of poor or non-existent disabled access information.
“Insights from our 2024 Access Survey report that 78% of disabled people don’t feel confident about visiting new places when it comes to accessibility.
“Businesses don’t appreciate the importance of sharing disabled access information and are undervaluing disabled people in terms of both social inclusion and spending power by neglecting their accessible toilets and parking facilities. That’s why we encourage them to list on EuansGuide.com for free to reach tens of thousands of disabled people looking for great places to go.
“Equally, we want to encourage disabled people to review the Edinburgh places they visit on EuansGuide.com and use our website to find first-hand experiences of disabled access across the city.
“We’re delighted to partner with Forever Edinburgh on this guide, which will allow disabled people to find accurate disabled access information for great places to go in Edinburgh, the city we’re proud to call home.”
A lady browses the stalls at Edinburgh’s Christmas Market.
Neil Christison, VisitScotland Regional Director, said: “Inclusive tourism is a hugely valuable market and a key part of VisitScotland’s responsible tourism activity.More than that, it is vitally important tourism, and events are accessible and inclusive, so that we can be sure to extend the same warm welcome to all visitors and help them create special memories.
“The latest Scotland Visitor Survey shows that while many visitors with access requirements find it very easy to get around Scotland there are clear areas for improvement. A simple and effective way our industry can engage with disabled customers is providing clear, detailed, and easy to access information, such as this new Edinburgh: Accessible Highlights Guide.”
The new guide forms part of Forever Edinburgh’s wider efforts to promote sustainable tourism and ensure Edinburgh is a truly welcoming destination for all. The Forever Edinburgh team continues to upskill through training courses to strengthen its approach to inclusive destination marketing.
This is the first version of Edinburgh: Accessible Highlights Guide, which will be regularly updated. Forever Edinburgh encourages people to send in any feedback or comments they may have to help shape future updates via an online form (see link below) or via email to visit@edinburgh.gov.uk
Alongside the guidebook, visitors can now filter businesses based on accessibility needs via The Official Guide to Edinburgh website edinburgh.org, which also integrates disability-inclusive content across its blogs, listicles, newsletters, and wider destination marketing resources.
The British Veterinary Association is warning pet owners to keep traditional goodies – such as chocolate eggs and hot cross buns – out of reach of their animals to avoid emergency vet visits this April.
The warning comes as statistics from the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS), which provides emergency advice to veterinary professionals about poisoning cases and runs Animal PoisonLine for owners, reveal that it received over 100 enquiries about animals eating chocolate last Easter.
Half of all enquiries it receives about pets ingesting hot cross buns, which contain vine fruits that are poisonous to many animals, also unsurprisingly come at Easter.
Although 80 per cent of enquiries related to chocolate ingestion involve dogs, it’s not just cheeky canines who bite off more than they can chew: the VPIS reports 15 per cent of enquiries about chocolate ingestion relate to cats and 3 per cent to rabbits.
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can be dangerous for all pets. Dogs, however, are particularly susceptible to poisoning due to a chemical called theobromine, which is found naturally in cocoa beans.
Theobromine takes a long time to be broken down inside a dog’s digestive system, which means that even small amounts of chocolate can potentially result in toxic levels, especially for smaller dogs and puppies. Although white chocolate is usually safer for dogs if ingested accidentally, milk and dark chocolate can cause poisoning, so it’s better to err on the side of caution and keep all types of chocolate away.
Raisins and sultanas, found in hot cross buns and simnel cakes, and xylitol (found in sugar-free treats) can also be dangerous for dogs if ingested.
British Veterinary Association Junior Vice President Rob Williams said: “Chocolate eggs and hot cross buns are just a few of the treats which spring onto the shelves at this time of year.
“While they are delicious for us, the VPIS statistics show they are also tempting – but toxic – to our pets. Many of us will know the dangers that chocolate presents to dogs, but other pets such as cats and rabbits can also become seriously unwell if they eat it, while hot cross buns also contain vine fruits which is particularly toxic too.
“It’s best to make sure that all sweet treats and tempting titbits are kept out of reach of your pets to avoid emergency vet visits, but if you think your pet has eaten something they shouldn’t, it’s really important that you speak to your vet – it could save their life.”
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and can last for up to three days. Initially, pets are likely to experience excessive thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea and restlessness.
These can develop into symptoms of hyperactivity, tremors, increased heart rate, hyperthermia and rapid breathing. Severe cases may result in fits and heartbeat irregularities, and even coma and death. If you notice these symptoms in your dog and suspect chocolate ingestion, seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.
A 31-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with road traffic offences following a fatal hit and run crash on the A90 Queensferry Road.
Around 11.15pm on Tuesday, 8 April, 2025, officers were made aware of a crash involving a Kawasaki KLE650 motorcycle and an unknown car.
Emergency services attended and the 61-year-old male rider was pronounced dead at the scene.
The car has since been traced and the 31-year-old man arrested and charged in connection with road traffic offences. Further enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.
Sergeant Paul Ewing said: “We would like to thank the public for their assistance with our investigation and our thoughts remain with the family of the man who died.
“Anyone with any further information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 4274 of 8 April, 2025.”
Following recent enforcement action in the West Pilton and Crewe areas, officers have been carrying out patrols and a letter drop with information on how to contact us or CrimeStoppers.
Tackling crime is a joint effort and relies on the support and confidence of the communities we work with day-in, day-out.
If you have concerns about something in your community, speak to officers or you can log it on the CrimeStoppers website completely anonymously at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
Heriot-Watt University today announced a major boost to its mission of advancing global dialogue on economic and social progress through a renewed partnership with Baillie Gifford, supporting a series of programmes based at Panmure House – the final remaining home of Adam Smith.
The ‘Baillie Gifford Panmure House Partnership II Gift’ will power a new phase of activity at Panmure House, designed to revitalise the spirit of the Scottish Enlightenment for the 21st century. It will enhance programmes that convene world-leading thinkers, foster groundbreaking research, and support rigorous debate on the pressing challenges facing economies and societies around the globe.
Professor Adam Dixon, Adam Smith Chair in Sustainable Capitalism at Panmure House, said: “Our mission is to provide world-influencing social and economic debate and research, that will help promote a world in which businesses and governments serve the long-term common good; where policies and public discourse are inclusive, well-reasoned and founded on research.
“We are grateful to Baillie Gifford for this gift that will help continue to revitalize the Scottish Enlightenment for the 21st century and foster rigorous debate and research that addresses the critical economic and societal issues of our time. With this generous support, we will expand our initiatives and continue to champion the values that Adam Smith embodied”.
The partnership supports a range of existing and new initiatives, including an expanded Adam Smith Lecture Series, bringing Nobel Laureates and world-renowned thinkers to Edinburgh for public and scholarly engagement; the Panmure House Prize, supporting pioneering research into long-term innovation; and the Scholars-in-Residence Programme, establishing Panmure House as a dynamic, global hub for academic collaboration and debate.
This renewed support builds on a longstanding relationship between Baillie Gifford and Heriot-Watt University. Their initial contribution included the Panmure House Prize which recognises and rewards innovative research aligned with Smith’s enduring principles of long-term thinking and public value as well as the Adam Smith Lecture Series.
Furthermore, the gift will form part of Heriot-Watt University’s Shaping Futures campaign, an ambitious initiative to raise over £80 million in support of student support, research excellence, and global impact.
Tom Coutts, a Partner at Baillie Gifford, commented: “Panmure House stands as a beacon of independent thinking.
“We are proud to support Heriot-Watt’s vision to keep that light burning brightly, inspiring new generations of researchers, policymakers, and leaders to engage thoughtfully with the big questions of our time.”
Panmure House was built in 1691 and was the home of Scottish Enlightenment economist Adam Smith from 1778 to his death in 1790. It is now part of Edinburgh Business School, the business school of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.
Panmure House continues to reassert its position as a globally relevant centre for impactful scholarship – bringing together academia, business, and policy to chart a more inclusive and innovative future.
To mark 65 years since the passing of NHS founder Nye Bevan, arts and activism collective Hive Mind Speaks has begun an ambitious UK-wide campaign.
In just 6 days, the group will visit 65 locations, asking the public 3 powerful questions about the future of the NHS — gathering real opinions from real people.
The aim is to provide a platform for the general public to have their say on the future of the NHS,
At the heart of the tour is a striking satirical short film, played on a large mobile screen, drawing crowds and sparking conversation.
The campaign culminates on Saturday 12 April at a Citizens’ Jury hosted at South Bank University, where key figures will respond to the public’s views.
Results will be presented to current Health Minister, Wes Streeting and submitted to the Change NHS 10 year Health Plan for England.
NHS65 is a nationwide arts activism initiative dedicated to providing a platform for the general public to have an impact on the future of the NHS. The showcase will take place across 65 locations in 6 days, via an LED van playing a powerful satirical video on the threat to the future of the NHS.
The project will culminate in a Citizens’ Jury on Saturday 12 April 2025 at London South Bank University (LSBU) in London, England, a leading university for Nursing and Midwifery in the UK. Expert speakers will include Aneira Thomas- the first ever baby born under the NHS, Professor Gwyn Bevan from the London School of Economics and Dr. Bob Gill, producer of the documentary The Great NHS Heist.
EDINBURGH LOCATIONS TODAY:
City Centre 2.30pm
Holyrood 3pm
NHS Scotland 3.30pm
Queen Margaret University 4pm
Murrayfield 5.30pm
Stockbridge 7pm
On the road, 3 key questions will be posed to the general public based on key findings from the recently commissioned Lord Darzi Report, which outlines a proposed 10-year plan for healthcare in the UK:
1) Ensuring adequate funding for the NHS
Should the NHS spending be legally protected with a minimum percentage of GDP?
2) The Long-Term Sustainability of the NHS
Should NHS funding priorities be decided by an independent health body rather than by politicians to ensure long-term stability and prevent short term political influence?
3) Privatisation vs Public ownership
Should the NHS renew or cancel all current privatisation contracts when they next come up for renewal?
From these three, the public will determine the most important issue and question for deliberation at the citizens jury.
How Does the Citizen’s Jury Work?
A diverse, representative panel of jurors will hear from expert speakers on the current state of the NHS. The expert speakers will include Aneira Thomas- the first ever baby born under the NHS, Professor Gwyn Bevan- Emeritus Professor of Policy Analysis at London School of Economics, Dr. Bob Gill- current practicing GP and producer of the documentary The Great NHS Heist. Observers and members of the public are encouraged to attend, ask questions and take part in discussions.
The results of citizens jury deliberation will be fed into the NHS’ very own Change campaign. A campaign to canvas public opinion over the next 10 years for implementing change as part of the 10 year health plan, resulting from the current government’s Lord Darzi report commission.
Hive Mind Speaks will ensure the findings are presented to current Health Minister, Wes Streeting, and the results will be made available on the Hive Mind Speaks platform, as well as being archived at the British Library. Additionally, the results will be presented on the LED van across significant locations in London on Monday 14 April.
The Red Jay NHS Story
A Lifelong Bond with the NHS: A Story of Care, Resilience and Gratitude
Joshua was born on April 12th, 1982, at the Whittington Hospital, North London, arriving into the world with an extremely rare, genetic musculoskeletal condition called Larsen’s Syndrome, a condition so uncommon that, at the time of his birth, only around 500 cases had been documented in the UK. It was a moment filled with uncertainty for his parents, who had no indication of any complications before his arrival and also for the doctors, who had rarely, if ever, encountered anything like this before.
But what could have been an overwhelming ordeal for any family was met with the steadfast hands and compassionate hearts of the NHS. In those early days, as his parents Christine and Terry navigated the fear of the unknown, the doctors, nurses and specialists of the NHS became more than just medical professionals, they became guardians, problem-solvers and beacons of hope.
Among them, a South African doctor, Dr. Patent, affectionately nicknamed “Dr. Pavement” by a young Joshua, who would become a guiding force in his early medical journey. With a calm presence and a determined strategy, Dr. Patent led the way in understanding and addressing the complex web of muscle and tendon abnormalities that accompanied Joshua’s condition.
The first two surgeries on Joshua’s thighs were purely exploratory, a leap into the unknown, guided only by expertise and an unwavering commitment to care.
From there, the next three operations on his legs and left hip took place before he was even six months old, carefully correcting what was discovered. The NHS didn’t just offer treatment, it offered trust, patience and reassurance to a family learning to navigate a condition they had never expected.
At 14 years old, Joshua’s journey with the NHS continued after a sledging accident resulted in another two surgeries, this time due to the unique structural challenges of Larsen’s Syndrome. Though these operations left him with a leg length discrepancy, they were a testament to the NHS’s ongoing commitment to ensuring he could lead as full and active a life as possible.
Throughout his childhood, Joshua was acutely aware that his nose was different, the result of missing nasal cartilage, a depressed nasal bridge and a prominent forehead. He remembers sitting with NHS doctors, flipping through a book of noses, contemplating facial reconstruction surgery. Though advised to wait until adulthood, he carried the thought with him for years.
At UCL Hospital in 2013, he finally underwent a LaFort II Osteotomy, a groundbreaking facial reconstruction procedure that realigned his upper jaw. This was combined with a rhinoplasty procedure, where they took Joshua’s lower right-hand rib to replace the missing nasal cartilage.
For the NHS, it was complex but routine surgery. For Joshua, it was transformational. It gave him ownership over his face, removing a lifetime of self-consciousness and allowing him to walk through the world without shielding himself from it.
The Future and Family Planning
Most recently, Joshua’s journey with the NHS came full circle through genome sequencing at Great Ormond Street Hospital, revealing that he had a 50% chance of passing Larsen’s Syndrome to future offspring. While this news carried its own emotional weight, the NHS was there once again, not just as a provider of answers, but as a partner in finding solutions. It opened the doors to NHS funded IVF treatment, offering the possibility of building a future family without the fear of passing on his condition.
A New Diagnosis and a Disturbing Reality
In 2024, Joshua received another life-altering piece of news, one that shifted his perspective on the NHS and deepened his urgency to take action.
Concerned about memory loss, he underwent a brain scan, which revealed atrophy of the cerebellar vermis, a degenerative condition with a life expectancy often cutting short in the 50s or 60s. The news was deeply troubling, a future he had never considered was suddenly placed in front of him.
Yet, in the midst of grappling with this deeply concerning revelation, Joshua was given a one-year wait to see an NHS neurologist. The NHS, the very institution that had always been his safety net was now buckling under strain.
Faced with this uncertainty and while abroad in Canada, where he holds dual citizenship, Joshua made the difficult decision to seek a private consultation to gain some reassurance. There, a specialist was able to put his mind at ease, stating that this was not an actively degenerative condition, but something he was born with. Had it been a new, progressive disorder, the reality would have been vastly different.
The experience shook Joshua, not just because of his personal health scare, but because it highlighted, in the most painful way possible, the crisis the NHS is facing.
For the first time in his life, he had to use a private doctor. He described it as feeling like he was cheating on the NHS. But it felt he did it not out of choice, but out of necessity.
Why This Project Matters
This moment became a key driver in Joshua realising we can no longer all just be supporters of the NHS, we had to actively fight for its future.
The NHS isn’t failing by accident, it’s being failed and Joshua, through NHS65, is putting the future of the NHS on trial.
From the very moment of his birth to the milestones of surgery, transformation and family planning, Joshua’s life has been woven into the fabric of the NHS. It is not just an institution, it is a lifeline, a source of unwavering support and a testament to the best of humanity.
His story is one of gratitude, resilience and love for a service that has given so much to so many. A service that must not be left to collapse.
The City of Edinburgh Council is now accepting applications for its Community Grants Fund (CGF), offering grants of up to £5,000 to support community work in neighbourhoods across Edinburgh.
The Community Grants Fund (CGF) is a small grants scheme designed to empower local communities and support grassroots initiatives. Grants of up to £5,000 are available to constituted groups for community-based activities, with 13 local funds corresponding to different areas of the city.
If you are part of a community group with a project in mind, you may be eligible to apply to your local fund.
The CGF has previously supported a variety of important projects, including the Grassmarket Community Cinema Project, bespoke driven bikes for North Edinburgh Dementia Care and a a community orchard group at Lauriston Farm – and your project could be next!
Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “Community-driven projects have the power to transform neighbourhoods and improve lives. Our communities are the lifeblood of our city, and we are committed to ensuring they have the resources they need to turn their ideas into reality.
“The Community Grant Fund offers a valuable opportunity to make a meaningful impact. I’m excited to see the incredible projects that will emerge from this round of applications.”
The deadline for applications is midnight on Wednesday, 30th April 2025.
All applications will be reviewed in June, and successful applicants will be notified soon after.
Quotes from past participants:
North Edinburgh Dementia Care (Craigentinny Duddingston)
Project: To trial a project getting older isolated people with a diagnosis of dementia out and about in the community using bespoke driven bikes.
Quote: “The grant has enabled us to work in partnership with Joy Rides to deliver an outdoor bike program to our service users, who have a diagnosis of dementia. Service users enjoyed a ride on a trishaw which is a customised electric bike with a driver cycling from behind.
“Promoting their health & wellbeing and reducing isolation being outdoors in the fresh air, making them visible in their own community.
“The project enabled people who were no longer able to cycle independently to feel the wind in their hair and the exhilaration of the travelling on a bike through beautiful areas, in a safe, secure and supported environment.” (quote from participant)
Grassmarket Community Project (City Centre)
Project: Funding to hire a cinema director and two projectionists part-time to continue their valuable work curating and delivering a weekly film programme for the Community Picture House.
Quotes: “In summary, the Grassmarket Community Picture House played a pivotal role in enhancing the lives of its attendees by providing social interaction, cultural enrichment, and access to support services. This initiative promoted positive social engagement, reduced isolation, and empowered individuals to build connections and grow within a supportive community environment.” (quote from participant)
Edinburgh Agroecology- Lauriston Farm (Almond)
Project: to develop a community orchard group
Quote: “The Orchard project is beneficial to the community on many levels. Not only is it an investment in future fruit production, it is also where the wider community, especially children, can learn so much about natural food sources and the splendid variety of fruits.
‘For the group directly involved, the orchard is a joyful space for creativity and learning about simple, natural and organic technologies. The collaboration and commitment of stalwart Orchard Group Members combined with dedication of the directors of Lauriston Farm is second to none.” (quote from participant)
Whoop, yelp and clap your way through this block-busting adventure
Level up your experience of A Minecraft Movie with Cineworld’s “Chicken Jockey Screenings” – exclusively in 4DX. This special one-day event will be taking place in Cineworld 4DX screens nationwide on Sunday, April 13th.
For these screenings, Cineworld is encouraging fans to dress up, whoop, yelp and clap their way through this block-busting adventure, because every scene in 4DX deserves a standing ovation.
4DX is an extreme cinema experience which is only available at Cineworld, and features motion seats, wind blasts, water spray, aromatic scents, fog, bubbles and more. It pairs perfectly with the raucous experience that fans are demanding – a chance for likeminded Minecrafters to fully immerse themselves in the mayhem with 4DX effects elevating the experience to the next level.
The motion seats will have you bouncing like a baby zombie on a chicken – a ride you’ll never forget.
Casey Cohen, Head of Marketing at Cineworldsaid: “We’ve launched these Chicken Jockey screenings in 4DX for fans who’ve been demanding a more interactive experience – where the action on screen and the energy in the room collide like a TNT explosion.
“This is an immersive, ground-shaking, chicken-bouncing, multisensory rollercoaster ride … with popcorn! Minecrafters will feel every buck, sway and water blast in unison, while whooping and cheering together from the comfort of their moving seats. It’s hands down, the most fun you’ll ever have in a cinema – and probably the only time you’ll ever cheer for a chicken jockey.”
A note from Cineworld (and Steve):
Hey hey hey, blockheads!
We know you’re excited. We’re excited. The whole Overworld is excited! Watching Minecraft on the big screen is meant to be a blast – a cinematic diamond pickaxe to the brain! But even in a world made of blocks, there are some rules we don’t break.
So here’s the deal:
Build excitement? Absolutely. LOL with friends till you’re rolling in the aisles? Totally. But please don’t go full Creeper in the auditorium.
You cannot film anything that’s on the screen – that’s piracy, folks, and unlike lava, we will come after you for it. And remember to leave the cinema looking like a well-built base, not like it got griefed by a bunch of Endermen. No mess please, just good clean fun.
Book your tickets now for A Minecraft Movie – they’ll sell out faster than you can say “CHICKEN JOCKEYYYYY!”
Participating locations for screenings on Sunday, April 13th are listed below:
Aberdeen Union Square, Glasgow Renfrew Street, Greenwich O2, Hull, Newport Spytty Park, Wembley – 3.20pm
CWU:’This is the full privatisation of the Post Office via the back door’
POST OFFICE PROMISES ‘NEW DEAL FOR POSTMASTERS’
The Post Office has today (8 April) announced that following a Board decision it is moving to a fully franchised network as part of its commitment to deliver a ‘New Deal for Postmasters.’
Subject to Government funding, the last 108 Directly Managed Branches which are operated by the Post Office will be franchised by the autumn. This means that those communities that currently have a Directly Managed Branch in their area will continue to be able to access Post Office services either at, or near to, the same location.
In November 2024, the Post Office announced its five-year Transformation Plan to deliver a ‘New Deal for Postmasters’. Subject to Government funding to enable the Post Office to deliver its plan, Postmaster remuneration will increase by an additional £250 million a year by 2030.
The Post Office confirmed in November that the future of its Directly Managed Branch network would be under review. Directly Managed Branches generate a fully allocated loss (including central and support costs) of over £40 million each year.
Following consultation with unions and reviewing options with the Postmaster Consultative Council, a decision was taken by the Post Office Board to move to a fully franchised network in order to help fund increases in the remuneration Postmasters receive.
Nigel Railton, Post Office Chair, said:“Moving to a fully franchised network is one part of enabling the Post Office to deliver a ‘New Deal for Postmasters’, helping to create a long-term, sustainable future for the Post Office.
“By franchising these branches, we are protecting access to our services for communities right across the UK and realising £40 million worth of savings that will enable us to uplift postmasters’ remuneration by up to 10%.
“Over the coming months, we will continue to work with our unions to ensure that we treat our staff working in these 108 branches with care and respect through this transition, consulting with them on proposed changes.
“The 108 Post Offices will either stay in the same location where possible or be located close to the existing location, meaning customers will continue to have access to a full suite of products and services.”
The Post Office remains committed to meeting the current requirement to have a minimum of 11,500 branches across the UK and to meet the six Access Criteria set by Government.
Post Office will work with franchise partners with a clear track record of successfully running Post Office services or similar customer-focused retail to ensure communities in these 108 locations will continue to receive a high quality of service once their Directly Managed branch is franchised.
Further details on proposals will be shared with local communities and stakeholders for individual branches in the coming weeks.
NINE branches in Scotland are at risk of closing, including two in Edinburgh:
Edinburgh City
Glasgow
Haddington
Inverness
Kirkwall
Saltcoats
Springburn Way
Stornoway
Wester Hailes
Responding to announcement of the franchising of the remaining 108 Crown Post Offices, CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said: “The Horizon Scandal and the damage it did to thousands of individuals and the reputation of the Post Office should have been a wake up moment for the whole company. It should have delivered a complete shift in approach, ethos and engagement with frontline workers.
“The news today that the Post Office will push ahead with the closure of 108 Crown Offices with a loss of 1,000 jobs shows they have learned absolutely nothing from the scandal.
“The Post Office’s claim that these community services will be maintained by their failed franchising model is laughable to anyone who has seen their local Post Office services reduced to the back of a shop. The sell-off of WHSmith last week shows just how fragile and ill thought out this model is.
“This is the full privatisation of the Post Office via the back door.
“The role of the government must also be examined. This is a continuation of the hands-off role played by the Tories. We call on Labour to immediately intervene and examine alternative options. Now more than ever, we need to seriously look at creating a joint venture between Royal Mail and the Post Office – two businesses that should never have been separated.
This is a major test for this government ahead of introduction of the employment rights bill. It is inevitable that the news today will lead to further scrutiny of our relationship with the Labour Party.
“Our members and Branches will see this as a crucial moment ahead that will truly test the link between Labour and the trade unions who created the Party.”
Labour MP Rebeccah Long-Bailey said: “The news that all remaining Crown Post Offices will be franchised is a devastating blow to communities like Salford, and I am extremely angry and disappointed that this has been allowed to happen.
“It is a deal done behind closed doors with no community engagement.”
