'Take in your bins and clear the streets': Capital braces for Fireworks Night disorder
Plus: Police appeal over Cowgate death video sharing; and East Lothian to introduce its own 'tourist tax'
Police ask for public help after officer injured in renewed fireworks violence
Police are asking city residents to take wheelie bins and other objects that can be easily set alight off the streets after violence once again flared in the Capital in the run-up to Bonfire Night.
A 17-year-old has been charged in connection with significant disorder in Hay Drive, Craigmillar, where petrol bombs were thrown at officers in organised violence last year.
Police have been using their powers to disperse groups gathering on the streets after several violent attacks on officers and buses travelling through the area on the night of Halloween. One police officer was injured after a brick smashed the window of the vehicle she was in.
By simply taking bins or other easy to light objects off the street, you could prevent unnecessary call outs to the emergency services, who will be dealing with higher than normal call volumes.
Police and the fire brigade are braced for more violence tonight and tomorrow and asking for public help to prepare to minimise the opportunities for trouble. They said simple precautions such as taking in wheelie bins and anything else that could be easily set alight will help minimise call-outs to bin fires when they are likely to be stretched dealing with bigger incidents.
‘Tell us what you know’: The Capital’s police commander Chief Superintendent David Robertson urged the public to call 101 with “any information about any disorder which has already taken place, or which they may be aware of being planned for the coming days.”
Dispersal powers: Police have powers to disperse groups of two or more people and order those who don’t live within a series of specially designated control zones to leave the area. The disperal zones are in force until midnight tomorrow in Gorgie, Saughton, Oxgangs, Liberton, Gilmerton, Gracemount, Portobello, Niddrie, Moredun, Muirhouse, Craigentinny, Pilton and the city centre.
‘Someone may be killed’: City council leader Cammy Day fears fireworks related violence in the Capital is so serious it may end up costing someone’s life. It is likely “only a matter of time before someone is more seriously hurt or worse”, he said, and called for a complete ban on the public sale of fireworks.
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
COWGATE DEATH VIDEOS: Police are appealing to people to report videos circulating on social media which appear to show the aftermath of a fatal crash in the Cowgate on Saturday night. A 74-year-old man was killed after being hit by the driver of a single decker bus shortly before 7.30pm. The exact circumstances surrounding the collision are not yet clear. Anyone seeing the videos is being urged to report them to the social media platforms they appear on, as police said their circulation is proving distressing for the man’s family and people inadvertently seeing them.
TORCHLIGHT RETURN: The popular torchlight procession will return to kick-off four days of Hogmanay celebrations in the Capital. Around 20,000 participants are expected to join ‘Vikings’ from Shetland’s Up Helly Aa’ fire festival for the parade on 29 December, which will follow a route from the Meadows to Castle Terrace.
MURRAY’S STRIKE MOVE: Scottish Secretary Ian Murray reportedly pulled out of a reception with business leaders at his department’s Dover House headquarters in London to avoid undermining striking staff. The Edinburgh South MP had been expected to attend an event with the Confederation of British Business. Security guards belonging to the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are striking in a dispute over their terms of employment.
FRINGE CASH FIGHT: The Fringe Society says its lawyers have warned them that they cannot hand over hundreds of thousands of pounds in box office takings owed to artists who performed at Summerhall this summer. The money has been frozen in the venue’s accounts or Fringe accounts on behalf of Summerhall, as HMRC pursues a winding up order over a disputed tax bill, The Stage reports. Artists fear the cash may be used to pay HMRC or other debts ahead of them if the winding up order succeeds.
FATAL STABBING: A 17-year-old has plead guilty to murdering a woman by repeatedly stabbing her in broad daylight in Constitution Street, Leith. The youth - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was masked and dressed in black when he drove up to 33-year-old Danielle Davidson on an e-scooter, before attacking her and fleeing to a nearby supermarket last May. The teenager has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing for the attack which was recorded on CCTV.
DEAR DEER: Edinburgh Zoo is celebrating the birth of an adorable endangered Visayan spotted deer. Keepers at the wildlife conservation charity say the tiny youngster, born to parents Lyra and Pablo, is doing well and will be named soon. It is estimated that there are as few as 700 remaining in the wild, and they have already suffered some regional extinction in their native Philippines. We suggest “Precious” might be a good choice.
PUPPY LOVE: Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has launched its “Warm Hearts, Warming Our Home” Corporate Winter Appeal, calling on businesses, organisations, and community groups to help towards the soaring costs of keeping their animals warm this winter.
WOOLIES TO CARE HOME: The site of the former Woolworths store on the corner of St John’s Road and Manse Road in Corstorphine is to be converted into a 60-bed care home, after £15m development plans were granted planning permission.
THE BUSINESS
“Tax and Spend” budget to slow cut in interest rate
Businesses are anticipating a cut in interest rates when the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee meet on Thursday. A cut from its current 5% is expected to come down to 4.75%.
However, concerns that higher business costs resulting from Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ “tax and spend” budget will increase inflation has fuelled speculation that the bank will return to a more cautious approach next year.
Pundits are anticipating a slower rate of reduction in interest rates in 2025 than had been previously anticipated. Last month official figures showed inflation down to 1.7%, it’s lowest level since April 2021.
TOURIST TAX BACKED: East Lothian councillors have backed a draft scheme to initiate a visitor levy – or tourist tax – for the area. Officers have been asked to bring forward plans that are not onerous for local tourism businesses, most of them SMEs. Work designing a draft scheme would take a year before it is put out for public consultation, likely to last at least 18 months.
BUSINESS HOOKED: Linlithgow-based Scottish meat and fish supplier Campbell’s Prime Meat has been acquired by food service provider Sysco GB. The business currently employs 325 people at its site, after more than a century in business. The company, which last year had a turnover of £69 million, will continue to operate as a stand alone firm.
APPETITE FOR CHANGE: Scotland Food & Drink has announced the appointment of two Non-Executive Directors to its board, one of whom is Edinburgh International Conference Centre Non Executive Director John Dalley who has long food and drink experience with Scottish & Newcastle International and Scotmid. The other is Stuart McCallum, currently a Partner with RSM based in Glasgow.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
BOB DYLAN: He might be 82, but Bob Dylan is capping off “one of the strongest stretches of (his) live career”, according to Mojo magazine. If you are one of the lucky ones to have tickets for his sold out Rough and Rowdy Ways tour dates at the Usher Hall tomorrow and Wednesday, you’re clearly in for a treat.
LOVELY JUBBLY: Talking of legends, national comedy treasure Paul Whitehouse puts his fishing rod aside to star as Grandad in Only Fools and Horses The Musical when it comes to the Playhouse from tomorrow until Saturday.
PHOTO PORTRAITS: Jackie Kay, The Proclaimers and David Tennant are among the subjects on show at Celebrating 40 years of Scotland’s Photography Collection at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Explore some of the highlights from the nation’s world-class collection of more than 55,000 photographs, until 16 March, 2025.
QUICK BITES
SPICY NEWS: Two Edinburgh restaurants have made the final of the UK Asian Curry Awards 2024. Tuk Tuk at Leven Street and Ignite at Morrison Street were chosen from a shortlist of more than 200. The winners will be announced on November 17 in London.
FOOD SAFARI: Nigerian inspired food is on the menu at the chef’s table in Virgin Hotel’s Commons Club restaurant in Edinburgh this month. Chef de Cuisine Emma Hanley is partnering Chef Tunde ‘Abi’ Abifarin, Edinburgh’s Nigerian food entrepreneur. The Chef’s Table takes place every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday through November.