Police are appealing for information to help trace a missing boy. Ahmad Bader, 15, was last seen in the Granton Medway area of the city on the morning of Monday, 27 October, 2025.
Ahmad is described as being around 5ft 11in tall, of medium build, with black hair and brown eyes.
When last seen he was wearing black jogging bottoms with white stripes and text, a black hoodie and puffer gilet, black trainers and carrying a black cross body bag.
Ahmad is believed to be in the Wester Hailes area of Edinburgh and has links throughout the west of Edinburgh area. He uses buses to travel around the city.
Sergeant James Palmer said: “It is out of character for Ahmad to be away from home for this long and as time passes concerns are growing.
“Our enquiries are ongoing and I am appealing for anyone who has seen Ahmed or who has any information on his whereabouts to contact us.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 2546 of Thursday, 6 November, 2025.
Open at Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh, EH14 2SW
Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm
51 hours of Post Office service per week
Branch now open on Saturday afternoons
Experienced postmasters
Dr Scott Arthur MP for Edinburgh South West “cut the ribbon” (17/10) to mark the official opening of Wester Hailes Post Office at its new location – Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh, EH14 2SW.
Experienced postmasters are father and son, Mohammed and Aamir Arshad have run Plaza News, a hardware and convenience store, since 2016. Previously they ran Whitecraig Post Office and off-licence store in Musselburgh for six years.
Dr Scott Arthur MP said: “I want to thank Mohammed and Aamir Arshad for taking on Wester Hailes Post Office inside their well-established store, close to the previous branch, meaning customers are already familiar with the shopping centre, parking and bus routes.
”This Post Office fits in well with the store design. The layout is spacious and accessible, and with Mohammed and Aamir’s experience running a previous Post Office, they’ve hit the ground running.”
Wester Hailes Post Office had been directly managed by Post Office. As part of Post Office’s wider commitment to deliver a “New Deal for Postmasters” with increased remuneration, the Post Office is franchising all remaining 108 Directly Managed Branches which will create a long-term, sustainable future for post offices across the UK.
This branch in Wester Hailes is the first of the 108 to relocate. It remains within the same shopping centre. There is a car park at the shopping center with dedicated disabled parking bays on upper level where the new branch is located.
Wester Hailes Post Office has two open plan serving positions, neatly added to the line of retail counters. The store has wide aisles, designed to make it easier for people with mobility scooters, wheelchairs, walking frames, pushchairs or prams to manoeuvre.
Postmaster Aamir Arshad said: “Our existing customers were really pleased that we were taking on Wester Hailes Post Office under one roof. We have had lots of people saying that they are very grateful that the branch is here and we have also had thank you cards.
“People are happy with the spacious layout in the aisles, so there is room for someone in a wheelchair and a pushchair to pass side by side.
“We are also seeing lots of new customers who we had not seen before, who have also been impressed with our existing retail offer in our hardware and convenience store, so those sales have increased too.
“We are giving everyone a warm welcome. People are surprised to hear about my previous experience of running a branch. I was only young when I started with my Dad. Now my 20-year-old brother Adam, has just joined us too, so he is about my age when I started. He’s taken to it really well.
“Extra staff are also being Post Office trained ready for the really busy Christmas period.”
Opening hours are: Monday – Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm. This is an extra 5 hours and 30 minutes of Post Office service a week including Saturday afternoon and earlier opening on a Tuesday morning, making it more convenient for customers to visit.
The same range of Post Office services are available, including an internal ATM. Customers have the choice of Royal Mail, Parcelforce, DPD and Evri services to buy in branch, drop offs and collections. It’s very easy for people to do their personal and business banking, bill payment and a full range of currencies on demand.
There is passport check and send, vehicle tax ID verification services and Western Union international money transfers.
Opens at Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh, EH14 2SW
Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm
51 hours of Post Office service per week
Branch now open Saturday afternoons
Experienced father & son postmasters
One of UK’s first new-look Post Offices
Wester Hailes Post Office opened yesterday (7/10) at a new location – Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh.
Wester Hailes Post Office, which had been directly managed by Post Office, has new franchise owners – father and son, Mohammed and Aamir Arshad.
The branch is still within Westside Plaza. It has however moved to Plaza News, a hardware and convenience store, based in this shopping centre since 2016.
Previously, Mohammed and Aamir ran Whitecraig Post Office and off-licence store in Musselburgh for six years.
Post Office Limited recently announced it is moving to a fully franchised network, as part of our wider commitment to deliver a “New Deal for Postmasters”.
Over 99% of the Post Office network is already successfully operated on a franchise basis by carefully selected retail partners. We are confident this would create a long-term, sustainable future for post offices in communities across the UK, including Wester Hailes.
Wester Hailes Post Office is one of the first branches in the country using new colours and format for a new look and feel for today’s modern world. There is more internal signage which informs customers of the three key services we perform: Banking, Mails and Travel.
Wester Hailes Post Office has two open plan serving positions at the retail counter. The same full range of services are still available, including an internal ATM.
The opening hours are Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm. This is an extra 5 hours and 30 minutes of Post Office service a week including Saturday afternoon and earlier opening on a Tuesday morning than previously offered for the convenience of customers.
The shopping centre car park has dedicated disabled parking bays on upper level where the new branch is located.
POLICE are appealing for information which could help trace a missing 14-year-old girl from Edinburgh.
Aisika Arnautu who is from the Wester Hailes area of the city, was reported missing on Saturday, 27 September.
Enquiries so far have established that she has been in Aberdeen from around Friday, 19 September and subsequently travelled to Glasgow city centre on Saturday, 27 September.
She may have been travelling using public transport and enquiries are ongoing to establish her exact movements.
Aisika is described as being white, 5ft 4in tall with long brown hair. It isn’t known what she would be wearing but she is thought to wear large hoop style earrings.
Chief Inspector Ran Macdonald said: “We are concerned for Aisika’s welfare and would urge anyone who may have information to come forward.
“She is thought to have travelled extensively in the past few weeks across Scotland so I would urge anyone who thinks they may have seen her or spoken to her to get in touch.
“If you can help, you can call 101 quoting reference 3254 of 27 September, 2025.”
Something exciting is coming! Keep your eyes peeled for more information!
FILM HUB SCOTLAND are proud to support LOCAL RESISTANCE, a programme of local film screenings curated by – and for – communities in Wester Hailes, Muirhouse, Craigmillar and Leith.
Move to Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza
Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm
51 hours of Post Office service per week
Branch would open on Saturday afternoons
Experienced postmasters
Post Office has agreed to relocate Wester Hailes Post Office in October to a new location – Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh, EH14 2SW.
Wester Hailes Post Office, which is currently directly managed by Post Office, will be run by our new retail franchise partner at the new location within the same shopping centre.
Father and son, Mohammed and Aamir Arshad have run Plaza News, a hardware and convenience store, since 2016. Previously they ran Whitecraig Post Office and off-licence store in Musselburgh for six years.
The current branch at 14A Westside Plaza will close on Monday 6 October at 5.30pm, with the new branch opening, at Plaza News on Tuesday 7 October at 1pm.
Post Office Limited recently announced it is moving to a fully franchised network, as part of our wider commitment to deliver a “New Deal for Postmasters”.
Over 99% of the Post Office network is already successfully operated on a franchise basis by carefully selected retail partners. We are confident this would create a long-term, sustainable future for post offices in communities across the UK, including Wester Hailes.
After careful consideration of the feedback received during consultation, we remain confident that the layout and location of the new branch will continue to meet customer needs and deliver an excellent service, whilst securing the long-term viability of Post Office services in the local community.
The same range of services will still be available, including an internal ATM.
The opening hours will be Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm. This will be an extra 5 hours and 30 minutes of Post Office service a week including Saturday afternoon and earlier opening on a Tuesday morning than currently for the convenience of customers.
Wester Hailes Post Office will have two open plan serving positions at the retail counter.
There is a car park at the shopping center with dedicated disabled parking bays on upper level where the new branch will be located.
Current Post Office employees have the opportunity to TUPE across to continue to work at the relocated branch.
Two people have been arrested in connection with drugs offences in Edinburgh.
Around 11.30am on Friday, 8 August, 2025, officers stopped and searched a 21-year-old man in Hailesland Grove, who was found in possession of cannabis.
Further enquiries led officers to a car parked nearby where officers recovered quantities of Cocaine and Heroin. The estimated value of the drugs is more than £74,000.
Officers also searched two addresses in the Wester Hailes and Pilton areas of Edinburgh with a quantity of cash being recovered from one of the addresses.
A man and woman, both aged 21, have been arrested and charged in connection with drugs offences.
They are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 11 August, 2025.
Detective Sergeant John Dunn said: “We work tirelessly to remove illegal drugs from communities every day and remain committed to disrupting the activities of those who supply drugs.
“We cannot tackle this issue alone and would urge the public to continue supporting us in building intelligence about the possession and supply of drugs by contacting Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
WORK is well underway on the Wester Hailes development, marking a key step forward in the Council’s long-term vision to transform the area.
Located at the former Wester Hailes Health Centre site at 7 Murrayburn Gate, the Council has appointed CCG (Scotland) Ltd to deliver 73 net-zero carbon homes.
The development will offer a mix of one, two and three-bedroom flats – all affordable housing, with five properties designed to be wheelchair accessible.
It will also include a central recreational space with play facilities, a rain garden, structured landscaping, private gardens and terraces, and excellent access to pedestrian and cycle routes.
As part of a wider regeneration initiative, the project aims to support the creation of a model 20-minute neighbourhood – where residents can access work, education, shops, and services within a short walk or cycle from their homes.
Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Lezley Marion Cameron said: “I am delighted to see the work progressing on our ambitious plans to transform Wester Hailes into one of Edinburgh’s 20-minute neighbourhoods.
“I also warmly welcome the direct benefits to local people which this development will deliver in terms of employment and training opportunities.
“These new homes at Murrayburn Gate will deliver much-needed high-quality, net-zero carbon housing and provide improved access to green spaces and community services – all essential attributes of thriving and inclusive local communities, and reflective of our efforts to address Edinburgh’s ongoing Housing Emergency.”
CCG Managing Director, David Wylie, said: “We are delighted to have commenced construction at Murrayburn Gate – another example of how the City of Edinburgh Council and CCG are working together to address localised housing needs and demand across the city region.
“The development is set to have a positive impact on the Wester Hailes community, not only through the delivery of high-quality, highly energy efficient homes, but also by job creation, various training opportunities, and localised charitable investment . I look forward to seeing how the development progresses over months ahead, as we work towards full completion in late-2026.”
As part of the project, CCG will deliver a broad programme of community benefits throughout the EH14 postcode area and beyond, in partnership with the Council. These include employment and training opportunities, as well as support for local initiatives during the construction phase.
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