The winner of Aldi’s Supermarket Sweep in Edinburgh’s Gorgie store has raised an amazing £729.32 for a local foodbank, while picking up over £350 in Aldi favourites for herself.
After a year hiatus, Aldi’s hugely popular Supermarket Sweep returned to Scotland and lucky shopper Hanna Brown, who was chosen as the winner of an in-store competition, took part in the five-minute trolley dash for charity on Friday 22nd October.
As well as taking home a trolley full of goodies, Hanna successfully found the three Scottish products on her shopping list, so Aldi doubled the total value of her haul and donated the lump sum to her nominated foodbank, Edinburgh North East Foodbank.
Aldi Supermarket Sweep winner, Hanna, said: “I had an amazing time at the Supermarket Sweep. The staff at Aldi were so warm and welcoming – just what I needed to help my pre-sweep nerves.
“It also helped that I had my mum cheering alongside. To have been able to support the food bank brings me so much happiness. It was a great opportunity to have had, and one which I am so very grateful for.”
Edinburgh North East Foodbank Manager, Alison Roxburgh, said: “A big thank you to all the staff at the Gorgie store and to Hanna for helping to raise such a fantastic amount of money!
“This will help to continue the much needed support we give to those in need in our community.”
Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director for Scotland, said:“The Aldi Supermarket Sweep is a firm favourite across the country, and we are so pleased to be able to bring it back after a year hiatus.
“Congratulations to Hanna who managed to raise an incredible £729.32 for Edinburgh North East Foodbank and take home a trolley full of Aldi goodies for herself.”
The Supermarket Sweep was run in line with current COVID-19 guidelines and all safety precautions, including social distancing, were adhered to.
This year two Dispersal Zones are being set up in North West Edinburgh to combat antisocial behaviour and disorder over the bonfire period. The zones will be in operation between 2pm and midnight from Thursday 4th to Saturday 6th November.
Under the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004, police have a Power of Dispersal within the designated zones authorised by Superintendent David Robertson.
This means that Police can instruct any people in groups of two or more who are congregating and behaving in an antisocial manner to disperse, and if they do not live there to leave the zones, and then not to return for up to 24 hours.
If they do return, they can be arrested.
Nine dispersal zones will be set up across the city in known ‘hot spots’. As well as West Pilton and Muirhouse, zones will be established in Portobello, Loganlea, Gilmerton, Moredun, Southhouse, Gorgie and Saughton.
News of the establishment of Dispersal Zones will come as no surprise to local residents – the real surprise is that these dispersal zones will be in place over one weekend only.
After a year hiatus, Aldi’s hugely popular Supermarket Sweep has returned and customers in one of our Edinburgh are now being given the opportunity to ‘go wild in the aisles’ and raise as much money as possible for a local foodbank.
One lucky shopper will be chosen to do a five-minute trolley dash in store and take home all the products they can grab in that time, with Aldi donating the cash value of the trolley to a local foodbank. Run in accordance with current COVID-19 safety guidelines, the shopper will also be given a list of three Scottish products they need to find. If successful, Aldi will double the cash donation to the foodbank, and the savvy shopper will get to pick a Specialbuy item of their choice*.
One of the most enjoyable ways to get in your weekly shop, local residents can apply by filling out an online application form accessed via a QR code, which will be displayed in the Gorgie Park Road store from Monday 20th to Sunday 26th September.
Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director for Scotland, said:“The Supermarket Sweep is a hugely popular event in the Aldi calendar, and we are thrilled to bring the competition back this year and offer one local Edinburgh resident the chance to win a shopping experience like no other.
“We know how much foodbanks have struggled during the pandemic, and because we had to pause Supermarket Sweep last year, we thought we’d offer to double the cash donation if contestants can find certain Scottish products during their dash around the store.
“From Elgin to Ayr and Inverness to Hawick, we hope to give as many people across Scotland as possible a chance to take part this year and raise as much money as we can for local foodbanks in the process.”
The Supermarket Sweep will be run in line with current COVID-19 guidelines and all safety precautions, including social distancing, will be adhered to. Shoppers will be asked to nominate their chosen foodbank when applying to take part.
Entrants must be over 18 years old to take part and alcohol products are not included in the sweep.
Before the sweep, the winner will be given a shopping list of three products and if they are successfully found, they will get to select a Specialbuy item of their choice. Aldi will also double the value of their trolley and donate it to the chosen local foodbank.
Entry for the competition is free and applications open from Monday 20th – Sunday 26th September.
One lucky shopper will be selected and invited to take part in the event at the Gorgie Park Road store before Sunday 10th October. Entrants must be available to take part in the sweep after 10pm on their chosen date.
*Supermarket Sweep winner can select a Specialbuy item up to the value of £50
Road policing officers in Edinburgh are appealing for information following a crash involving an electric scooter and a car, which took place on Gorgie Road.
The incident happened around 8.20pm last night (Saturday, 18 September) at the junction with Stenhouse Drive. The male rider of the electric scooter was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.
The car involved failed to stop at the scene and officers are appealing for witnesses or any information to help trace it. It is described as being blue or silver in colour.
Constable Neill Sage, from the Edinburgh Road Policing Unit, said: “We are carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this incident and are keen to trace the driver of the car involved.
“If you witnessed the crash, or have any possible dashcam footage from the Gorgie Road area last night, please call police on 101, quoting incident 3709 of 18 September.”
Nine men have been arrested and charged in connection with a disturbance that occurred on McLeod Street, outside Tynecastle Stadium at around 6pm on Saturday, 31 July, 2021.
The men, aged between 17 and 36, have been released on undertaking to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.
Chief Inspector Scott Richardson, Area Commander for Edinburgh South West, said: “While we have made a number of arrests in relation to this incident, our investigation is ongoing to identify those involved in the disorder.”
LOVE Gorgie Farm and People Know How will operate community facilities
S1 Developments has submitted a planning application for an ‘exciting new student residential development’ at the former Tynecastle High School site.
The developers say ‘this high-quality student development will regenerate a site that has lain vacant for over a decade and fallen into a state of disrepair. The careful restoration of the original Category B-listed school building, designed by John Alexander Carfrae, forms an integral part of the proposals. The development will far exceed amenity standards for similar student developments and has sustainability at its heart.’
Charities LOVE Gorgie Farm and People Know How have also been revealed as preferred operators for community facilities on the site should planning permission be granted.
The highly popular urban farm will operate an extensive community garden while People Know How, which already works with Tynecastle High School, will operate a community facility within the building.
The original school hall will be repurposed as a central amenity hub, sitting within a collegiate-style courtyard space and providing high quality shared facilities for student residents. The landscaping proposals increase green space across the site by more than 40 per cent, helping to increase biodiversity within the local area.
The development has been designed to be highly sustainable with zero parking, 100 per cent cycle parking, the employment of low carbon technologies and no use of fossil fuels.
Council guidance points to the benefits of purpose-built student accommodation in freeing up traditional housing stock for families with children and it has been estimated that a development such as this could release up to 180 properties back into the housing market. Local businesses will also benefit through increased spending from student residents.
People Know How will operate a community facility, with the option for other local community groups to use space. The charity supports children, young people and their families in Edinburgh transition from primary to high school; helps individuals access the digital world and assists communities to shape their areas through community consultation and empowerment.
A large number of students volunteer to work with the charity and this enables a positive relationship with students in the building to be established. Not only does this support the charity in its work, but also benefits the volunteers and engages them in the local area.
LOVE Gorgie Farm will seek to engage children and young people in its environmental programmes through a community garden, on the western edge of the site, which will include planting beds, a shelter, storage space and greenhouses. The farm’s Earth School project, for example will stimulate interest in nature, encouraging new generations in creating a brighter and eco-friendly future.
Dan Teague, Director at S1 Developments, said:“We’re delighted to be submitting a planning application for this exciting development, and to also highlight our involvement with two charities who do such valuable work in local communities.
“As S1 Developments we develop sites to suit the location and have delivered hundreds of homes, including affordable homes across the city. Following our careful assessment of this site, we feel that student development is the most appropriate use given the constraints.
“This will not only secure the redevelopment of the Old Tynecastle High School, and provide a boost to the local economy, but also allows us to develop the site in manner which is compatible with neighbouring uses.
“The original school building has fallen into a sorry state since it ceased being a school over a decade ago. Whilst the redevelopment is challenging, we are hopeful that the proposed use brings with it an opportunity to save and renovate the original school building and continue its educational use, benefitting the local community.”
Julie O’Donnell, Head of LOVE Gorgie Farm, said:“We’re very exciting about the prospect of operating the community garden should the scheme receive consent.
“With the environment and climate change such topical issues the garden will complement superbly what we do at the farm in the terms of educating our children and young people on nature and the delivery of an eco-friendly future.”
Glenn Liddall, Chief Executive of People Know How, commented:“It is great to be offered this facility, allowing us to increase our activity with the local community. While we will operate it, we are also keen that other groups and organisations be able to make use of it.
“As a large number of students routinely work with us by way of volunteering, internships and placements, this is a win-win for us. It not only allows us to establish a positive relationship with students in the building who can support us in our work but benefits and engages them in the local area.”
Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian football clubs have been granted dispensation by the Council to welcome back full capacity crowds at their upcoming home matches in the next few weeks.
The move follows the easing of Scottish Government Covid19 public health guidance.
Council Leader Adam McVey said: “We’ve been working very closely and productively with both clubs on over the last few weeks and months to help ensure fans can safely attend home games within the parameters of the public safety guidance.
“It’s great that we’re now in a position to have both stadiums back at full capacity as Covid restrictions ease. I’m sure fans of both teams will be hugely looking forward to hearing the roar of their home crowds after such a long time and it’s bound to give a real boost to the players themselves too.
Depute Council Leader Cammy Day said: “This is great news for Hearts and Hibs fans who can get back to enjoying the football they love.
“Fans’ safety remains our number one priority and we’re delighted that with the easing of restrictions it’s now possible to welcome back the crowds at Easter Road and Tynecastle once again. We’ll keep things under review, as you’d expect, given the unpredictable nature of this pandemic, but for now we wish both clubs all the best with their return to capacity attendance.
Ben Kensell, Hibernian Football Club Chief Executive, said: “We are all really delighted to be able to welcome back our supporters. It is what everyone has been waiting for.
“While those fans who have attended our recent games have created a terrific atmosphere to spur the team on, we are looking forward to hearing what a full stadium can do. We would like to thank City of Edinburgh Council for their support throughout these challenging times.
Andrew McKinlay, Heart of Midlothian Football Club Chief Executive, said:We are thrilled that full capacity has been restored and would like to thank the City of Edinburgh Council for their support.
“We really can’t wait to welcome our fantastic supporters back in numbers for the visit of Aberdeen on August 21st and look forward to hearing Tynecastle Park at full voice for the first time in 17 months.”
