Evening News - Scotland back issues from January 2009:
Pre-Christmas deals fail to boost sales figures: Fashion brands hit hard as shoppers tighten their belts
Jan 02, 2009; ... THE price-cutting drive in the run-up to Christmas did not leadto the sales boost retailers had been hoping for, new figures havesuggested. Data from accountancy firm BDO Stoy Hayward shows that totalsales dropped by 5.4 per cent in December compared to last year. Fashion ...
Leader: Crumbling schools 'Pupils won't care how the work is paid for'
Jan 02, 2009 ... THE fact the Scottish Government and the city council are intalks about a potential deal to fund at least one new school in theCapital offers a ray of hope to pupils, parents and staff. There have been too many false dawns in this drawn out saga foranyone to get too excited at ...
Raising my hat to the 'mad' hatter
Jan 02, 2009; ... MAD as a hatter? No way. Yvette Jelfs has her head screwed on.She's back retailing in the New Town (but living in Herefordshire).A hat shop in Albany Street, opened a few weeks ago by fashion guruJeff Banks. I wasn't at the red-ribboned ceremony. Secretive in a way, butYvette ...
City Diary
Jan 02, 2009 ... THE following business news is expected next week: * The current state of the retail sector is likely to dominatethe markets with updates during the course of the week expected froma number of the big players including Debenhams. Analysts expectthat several retailers will have to ...
City architect has all the kit to build new homes for GBP 40,000
Jan 02, 2009; ... AN architect is hoping to help homebuyers by offering kit homesin the Lothians for as little as GBP 40,000. Andrew Stoane, 40, of Newhaven, proposes to develop ahousebuilding system to help tackle the shortage and affordabilityof housing. But his ambitious plans have been ...
Bomb victim's joy at surgery success
Jan 02, 2009; ... Mum set to undergo sixth operation to reconstruct her face AN Iraqi bomb survivor has undergone her fifth round of majorreconstructive surgery in three-and-a-half years - and is nowpreparing for her next gruelling operation. Hannan Shihab, 21, underwent the latest in a series ...
'Avalanche' of pets see in new year homeless
Jan 02, 2009; ... Rescue centre pleas for new owners to look after animals AN animal rescue centre in the Capital is bursting at the seamswith unwanted pets facing the prospect of a lonely start to the newyear. It could all be down to consumers, who are tightening their pursestrings, having ...
We're ringing in the new Year with fresh hope
Jan 02, 2009; ... It's been a momentous 12 months for many Capital people, herethree of them tell why they're looking forward to 2009 What adifference a year can make. As 2009 stretches ahead, bringing withit uncertainty for many, there are some looking forward with renewedoptimism. For them, the year ...
Sandra Dick Interviews......Andrew McGonigle
Jan 02, 2009; ... Andrew's Job Is Truly Explosive Edinburgh man tells how he and his remote control helicoptercould be saving thousands of lives IT sounds like the ultimate Boys' Own adventure: climb to the topof a live volcano and fly a remote-control model helicopter over it. But for ...
January Blues: Is today really the worst day of the entire year? Or is it January 21? Sandra Dick tries really hard to find a reason to love January.
Jan 02, 2009; ... SO you've had your Christmas fun, your New Year hangover isnearly cured and the mince pie crumbs have been well and trulymashed into your nice shag pile rug. It was fun while it lasted, butbrace yourself, we're heading for earth with one mighty bump. For the downside to all those ...
2009 Comes In With A Big BAng
Jan 02, 2009; ... Hogmanay festivities scale new heights as 100,000 turn out forstreet party while record number of fireworks light up sky AROUND 100,000 revellers shrugged off sub-zero temperatures toenjoy a record-breaking night at the Capital's Hogmanaycelebrations. The crowds at the world ...
Roseburn tram line report set for spring
Jan 02, 2009 ... CITY leaders have confirmed a report on the under-fire tram line1B between Roseburn and Granton will be presented to the council inthe spring. The GBP 87 million extension to Edinburgh's tram line isconsidered by many as a "non-starter" as tram project costs soar andthe economy ...
Clean-up plea for GBP 7m 'pigeon coop'
Jan 02, 2009; ... DEVELOPERS are being urged to clean up a landmark hotel which hasbeen closed for five years, leaving it to become a GBP 7 million"pigeon coop". Edinburgh Council has asked the owners of the rapidlydeteriorating 113-year-old Barnton Hotel, on Queensferry Road, toput the site in ...
Fall in number of break-ins
Jan 02, 2009 ... POLICE in Newhaven have recorded a drop in housebreaking - butare reminding residents to remain security conscious. Officers were called out to only one incident in November - ashed break-in - in comparison with nine the month before ....
Campaigners protest over empty homes
Jan 02, 2009 ... CALTONGATE campaigners have held a protest about the number ofempty council homes on the Royal Mile. An estimated 18 properties on the Canongate are empty ahead ofdemolition work for the Caltongate project. Members of the Canongate Community Forum say the city council ...
Voting changes put forward
Jan 02, 2009 ... ELECTIONS for the city's community councils are set to take placein October this year instead of May. The shift from the traditional election month of May is part of araft of changes proposed for community councils. Other ...
Quick News: Dawe joins Convention
Jan 02, 2009 ... CITY leader Jenny Dawe is among the council's appointments torepresent Edinburgh at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. The Lib Dem councillor will be joined by the city's Tory leaderIain Whyte, SNP leader Steve Cardownie and the city's environmentleader councillor Robert ...
June's ready to deliver on game show
Jan 02, 2009 ... A DELIVERY driver who has spent the last 20 years dropping offparcels has taken on an unexpected role in a television show. June Dyer, who works for Eagle Couriers, was filmed on theCapital's Watson Street for the T4 game show Relentless which airedon New Year's Eve. She ...
City's GBP 17m to boost service
Jan 02, 2009 ... COUNCIL chiefs are considering plans to spend just under GBP 17mover the next five years on improving its level of customer service. The bulk of the money would be spent on new technology to try toimprove the levels of service given to city residents. This would include ...
Quick News: Festivals going green
Jan 02, 2009 ... THE Capital's festivals are to be asked to come up with evidenceof how they are improving their environmental performance. All 12 of the city's major festivals pledged to try to reducetheir environmental impact. Now officials have been asked to preparea report which outlines the ...
A copper who is worth his weight in gold
Jan 02, 2009; ... Beat officer heads for Downing Street to meet Gordon Brown A POLICE officer who has gone beyond the call of duty in helpinghis community is to be rewarded with a visit to 10 Downing Street. Community beat officer for Broughton, Pc Simon Daley, has beeninvited to meet Prime ...
'Free' city land plan rejected
Jan 02, 2009 ... A BID by the city's Labour party to get the council to offer itsland to developers for free with payments for the land when theeconomy recovers has been defeated. Councillor Norma ...
Around town: Leithers warned to stay vigilant over vandalism
Jan 02, 2009 ... POLICE are asking residents in Leith to stay vigilant forvandalism. There were ten reported cases throughout November and officerswant people to report any sightings of "this antisocial andexpensive behaviour" to prevent any further rise ....
Call for action on child health
Jan 02, 2009 ... THE Scottish Government's New Year's resolution should be toimprove children's health - according to the Liberal Democrats. Ross Finnie MSP, the party's health spokesman said: "Every NewYear, adults across Scotland resolve to stop smoking, go on a dietor get to the gym more. This ...
Around town: Champ on track to meet runners
Jan 02, 2009 ... COMMONWEALTH running champion and Olympic finalist Michael Eastwill give tips and advice to runners later this month. He has been invited to ...
Sister act for Blood Brothers
Jan 02, 2009 ... ONE of The Nolans has landed the much coveted lead role of MrsJohnstone when the musical Blood Brothers returns to the city'sFestival Theatre next month. Maureen Nolan has been carving out a successful solo career sinceher stint with The Nolans, one of Europe's ...
Tons of talent for new play
Jan 02, 2009 ... TELEVISION star Christopher Timothy leads an all-star cast in theCapital in a new production of the theatrical comedy Tons of Money. He will be joined by Caroline Langrishe and Mark Curry in aversion of the famous play. The show hits the King's Theatre from February 2 to 7 ...
Rock legends' gear stuck in wrecked club
Jan 02, 2009; ... Alex Harvey Band left equipment as smoke filled venue THE Sensational Alex Harvey Band have revealed all their quipmentis still trapped in the Capital's fire-damaged Liquid Room. Fans of the 1970s rock band were quickly evacuated from theVictoria Street music venue two weeks ...
Warning over scam Standard Life e-mail
Jan 02, 2009 ... A SCAM e-mail claiming to originate from Standard Lifeheadquarters in Edinburgh has been doing the rounds online. E-mails allegedly sent by "Stewart Barculo, a member of staff ofStandard Life Bank Limited, 30 Lothian Road" have been dropping intoinboxes around the world ....
Talks raise hopes cash can be found for crumbling schools
Jan 02, 2009; ... City in discussions with Holyrood over using Futures Trust HOPES that four of Edinburgh's crumbling schools could be rebuilthave been raised after city leaders revealed they are in talks withthe Scottish Government over new ways of funding the project. Council chiefs are ...
City pleased with target performance
Jan 02, 2009 ... CITY leaders have said they are making good progress on a raft ofperformance targets set by the Scottish Government. The Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) covers a number of aspects ofthe council's performance including education, roads maintenance andhousing. Among the ...
Dance along for burlesque
Jan 02, 2009 ... A NIGHT of "intrigue, debauchery and decadence" will be held inthe Capital on January 30 when the Ministry of Burlesque's HighTease comes to town. Blond Ambition Events is running the event in the Voodoo Rooms,where party-goers are encouraged to dust off their ...
Economic chief sets out vision
Jan 02, 2009 ... THE city's economic leader has spelled out his vision for keepingthe Capital on track in 2009. Councillor Tom Buchanan said the year ahead was not all doom andgloom, with an estimated GBP 6 billion worth of investment comingin. He said: "We have set out a detailed action ...
City to honour famine dead
Jan 02, 2009 ... LORD Provost George Grubb is to write a letter of condolence tothe Ukrainian Consul General to Scotland in memory of the millionswho died in the Ukrainian Famine of 1932. The letter will acknowledge both the national day of remembrancefor ...
I'm A Qualified Success: 65-year-old student Ada honoured for learning dedication
Jan 02, 2009; ... WHEN she left school at 15 with no qualifications, she thoughtshe had left education behind her for good. But now, 50 years later, Ada Pagan has notched up an array ofqualifications, including 17 Highers and six A Levels, and iscurrently studying for a degree. The lifelong ...
First baby of 2009 named after midwife
Jan 02, 2009 ... THE proud parents of Edinburgh's first New Year baby were soimpressed with midwives at the Capital's maternity hospital thatthey decided to name their daughter after one of them. Eliza Janet was born to mother Malogorzata Wojcik, 30, and fatherGregor Podlach, 26, at the Edinburgh ...
Around town: Building society on lookout for worthy causes
Jan 02, 2009 ... A LEADING building society is on the lookout for good causes toshare a range of GBP 1000 donations. The Britannia Building Society gave more than GBP 285,000 tolocal communities in 2008. Chief executive Neville ...
Lothians MSP calls for 'sunset' clause to root out unnecessary laws
Jan 02, 2009 ... A LOTHIANS MSP has called on the Scottish Government to introducea "sunset clause" that would require civil servants to show why lawsshould remain on the statute book. Tory MSP Gavin Brown said the clause would be used five yearsafter the introduction of regulations to show they ...
Around town: Buena Vista guitar star to take the stage
Jan 02, 2009 ... A CUBAN musician who starred in the hit film Buena Vista SocialClub is among a host of names lined up for one of the Capital'snewest music venues. Guitarist Eliades Ochoa, who was among those who shot ...
Capital motorists among the UK's worst for mucky vehicles
Jan 02, 2009 ... MOTORISTS in Edinburgh have some of the dirtiest cars in the UK,according to a new survey. The poll, by Autoglass, found Edinburgh to be the eighth worstcity for car cleaning. Bristol topped the list, with Brighton and London coming secondand third. The cleanest ...
Around town: New cemetery ready to open
Jan 02, 2009 ... THE first new cemetery in Edinburgh for 50 years will open laterthis month. The council had been searching for a ...
Around town: Theatre group set to restart
Jan 02, 2009 ... A THEATRE group for teenagers will start a new term next month. Strange Town Youth Theatre, aimed at 14-18-year-olds, ...
Businesses in city urged to use initiative
Jan 02, 2009 ... BUSINESSES in the Capital have been urged to plan theirenvironmental policies by a government-funded initiative. Envirowise, which was set up to help businesses think aboutresource efficiency, is urging companies to include environmentalplanning in their 2009 financial plans ....
Glasgow hails city campaign
Jan 02, 2009 ... MARKETING leaders in Glasgow have hailed the success of acampaign designed to win Christmas shoppers from Edinburgh. The Glasgow Marketing Bureau spent GBP 270,000 on a multimediacampaign that tried to take advantage of tram construction work topersuade Edinburgh shoppers to go ...
'Human Bone' Found in Bag With Head: Police await test results after second discovery reported
Jan 02, 2009 ... DETECTIVES investigating the discovery of a head found dumped ina plastic bag are believed to have found a human bone sittingalongside it, it emerged today. The discovery adds to the intrigue surrounding the grisly discovery of the "mummified"human head on Christmas Eve ....
Mystery of walker's grim find at footpath
Jan 02, 2009; ... THE old railway line from Leith to South Queensferry is normallya tranquil spot. Dog-walkers and the occasional cyclist are the most regularvisitors to the footpath which follows its route today, althoughlocal residents have always known it had a darker side. Itsisolation has ...
Euro funds to improve skills at businesses
Jan 02, 2009 ... A PROJECT designed to help Midlothian businesses improve theskills of their staff has benefited from more than a quarter of amillion pounds of European funding. Midlothian Council's New Leaf Adult Guidance and DevelopmentService, in partnership with Midlothian Voluntary Action, ...
Car parking barriers put in at hospitals
Jan 02, 2009 ... MEASURES have been put in place in a bid to ensure priorityaccess to patients and visitors at Lothians hospitals following theabolition of parking charges. Concerns have been raised about the impact of unrestrictedparking at NHS Lothian hospitals, especially St John's and ...
Around town
Jan 02, 2009 ... EDINBURGH Castle stewards Nigel Nairne and Donal Ferrie samplethe ...
Business experts warn 'hundreds a month' will go bankrupt in Capital
Jan 02, 2009; ... HUNDREDS of people a month will be declared bankrupt in Edinburghin the coming year, business experts warned today. The number of people affected is expected to reach 2500, a bigincrease on last year. The financial services sector, which employs one in ten of allworkers in ...
Plaque marks line of historic Flooden Wall
Jan 02, 2009 ... A BRONZE plaque marking the line of the Flodden Wall has beenunveiled in Edinburgh. The Old Edinburgh Club commissioned the GBP 1000 plaque afterdiscovering that granite setts laid around Forrest Road which havelain unnoticed for decades represent the line of the 16th ...
Around town: City to host property talks
Jan 02, 2009 ... A RANGE of politicians and housing experts are lined up to speakat a major property conference taking place in the Capital. Finance ...
Fares 'to make you shudder'
Jan 02, 2009 ... RAIL passengers will "shudder and shiver" at the fare rises whichtake effect from today, a customer watchdog body said. Regulated fares, which include annual season tickets, will begoing up by an average of six per cent, well above the current levelof inflation. And unregulated ...
Enterprise firm handed Quay money boost
Jan 02, 2009 ... A SOCIAL enterprise firm set up to provide floating meetingfacilities for companies has received a boost after winning backingfrom a city developer. Re-Union Canal Boats has been given funding for its boat on theUnion Canal by Edinburgh Quay Limited, a joint venture ...
Holyrood's all art with GBP 500,000 collection on display
Jan 02, 2009; ... SCOTTISH Parliament bosses have built up an art collection valuedat more than GBP 500,000. An inventory of the parliament's assets lists 52 works of artwith values ranging from just over GBP 1000 to more than GBP 30,000. Ten are listed as "donated" but most have been bought by ...
Council staff lead drive to cut number of cars in city
Jan 02, 2009; ... Half of employees walk, cycle or take public transport STAFF working for the city council are helping to lead the way inreducing the number of cars on the streets of the Capital. More than half of all council employees are now choosing to walk,cycle or travel by public ...
Thunder God chases burglar out window
Jan 02, 2009 ... A MAN who arrived home from a Hogmanay fancy dress party scaredoff a burglar - dressed as Norse god Thor. Building firm boss Torvald Alexander, 38, was wearing his God ofThunder outfit - which comprised a red cape and silver-winged helmet- when he spotted the burglar rifling ...
Call for tram firm to make 'fresh start'
Jan 02, 2009 ... TRAM bosses should set a New Year's resolution to keep the publicbetter informed of upcoming works, according to a Lothians MSP. Nationalist MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville, a leading critic of theGBP 512 million project, said tram firm TIE needed to make a "freshstart". She ...
SNP quizzed on priorities for transport
Jan 02, 2009 ... THE Scottish Government has been challenged over its transportpriorities after claims that many of the projects are "hanging inthe balance." The Liberal Democrats called on the Government to produce apriority list of projects so communities could check if schemes werelikely to ...
School artist to bag display
Jan 02, 2009 ... A LUCKY artist from a city primary school will soon have theirartwork displayed on a new eco-shopping bag. Youngsters at Tollcross Primary have been coming up with designsto feature on the new environmentally-friendly ...
City woman boosts Water Aid in Africa
Jan 02, 2009 ... AN Edinburgh woman has travelled to Africa to work with a leadingcharity. Claire Chapman, an employee of Scottish Water, spent time inUganda volunteering with the group WaterAid. She spent ten days in the country visiting children in villagesand shanty towns which are ...
Deliver award to your postie
Jan 02, 2009 ... PEOPLE in Edinburgh are being called on to nominate their postmanfor a special award. Royal Mail is looking for "unsung heroes", who have made adifference to their local communities, for its 1st Class PeopleAwards. Everyone who makes a nomination will be ...
Nade: Hearts won't curb aggression after ref row
Jan 02, 2009; ... HEARTS players are determined not to be suppressed by SFAofficialdom against Hibs tomorrow and will show the same levels ofaggression in evidence at Aberdeen last weekend. Despite incurring two red cards at Pittodrie and the subsequentfailure of referee Iain Brines to reconsider ...
Nade's Eager To End Goal Famine
Jan 02, 2009; ... Striker up for challenge as Hearts face a stiff triple-headertest that could define their season If I score on Saturday I willwait for the next game, then I can hopefully score again and again IF HEARTS are to emerge unscathed from potentially their season'smost pivotal period, the ...
Fans' chiefs give their verdict ahead of the derby: Dougan predicts goal fest at Tynecastle
Jan 02, 2009; ... FRANK DOUGAN reckons this weekend's Edinburgh derby is toodifficult to call - but the Hibs fans' chief is certain that therewill be plenty of goals at Tynecastle. Both sides lost at the weekend and Hibs leaked four goals toKilmarnock, despite the Rugby Park outfit being reduced to ...