Ross Chalmers
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Articles by Ross Chalmers
Figures showing drop in number of cars in Edinburgh contested
The Labour-run council’s figures, taken from 117 monitors across the city, showed a 16% drop in car volume in the capital and a 17% reduction in overall traffic volume compared to 2019. These figures, however, contradicted earlier counts from the UK Department for Transport (DfT), which showed that the number of car kilometres driven had almost recovered to the 2019 pre-COVID baseline.
Giant lanterns relaunched in space theme at Edinburgh Zoo
EDINBURGH Zoo has launched its popular winter lantern trail to raise funds for global and local wildlife conservation. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland opened the Giant Lanterns event today, which will run for 60 nights until 21 February 2027. Proceeds from the space-themed trail will directly support the charity’s goal of reversing the decline of at least 50 species by 2030. The event features more than 1,000 lanterns and 15,000 LED lights across the zoo grounds.
Edinburgh Council and emergency services cannot access emails
Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian, and Midlothian Councils have all asked members of the public to get in touch via telephone. Police Scotland confirmed that its online forms, including the contact pages, are offline, though emergency 999 and non-emergency 101 lines remain fully operational. Last night Microsoft reported global connectivity issues caused by an ‘elevated load’ on its infrastructure. Nearly 140,000 reports were flagged on the outage-monitoring website Downdetector at around 6pm.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor to bring Christmas tour to Edinburgh in 2027
The performer who was a star at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay in 2022 will appear at the Usher Hall on 22 November, directly following the opening night at the Glasgow Armadillo. The upcoming Christmas Kitchen Disco Tour features a mix of festive disco tracks and her back-catalogue of hits, culminating at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 15 December. A new studio release, the Christmas Disco album, has also been confirmed to accompany the live dates. Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Photo: © 2022, Martin P.
Council signs up to charter to support armed forces families
The City of Edinburgh Council formally adopted the Forces Children’s Charter during a recent meeting of its Education, Children and Families Committee. Written directly by young people from military families, the document aims to address the unique challenges they face, including frequent school relocations and prolonged parental absences.
Glasgow tech firm announces recruitment drive for 30 new sales staff
GLASGOW-based Synlata Group has announced a recruitment drive to hire up to 30 additional staff members ahead of the Christmas period. The technology marketing and sales firm is expanding its local workforce following a sustained period of commercial and operational growth. Operating the technology-focused brands YourShortlist and Pursuit Marketing, the firm delivers outsourced sales development and lead generation services to clients across the UK and internationally.
Glasgow drug gang members sentenced to 44 years behind bars
SIX men have been sentenced to more than 44 years between them for organized criminality and drug trafficking. The conviction follows a major investigation into a crime group operating across Glasgow, supplying illegal drugs and flaunting their activities on social media. The group boasted of their exploits and social media and lived a lavish lifestyle of supercars, designer watches and excess.
Four children rushed to hospital following West End horror crash
FOUR children and two adults are in hospital following a horror crash in Glasgow’s West End. At around 3.45pm on Tuesday, a driver is thought to have mounted the pavement with his car, before crashing into a bus shelter, hitting scaffolding and coming to a halt on Hyndland Road. Police say a 34-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man suffered serious injuries while a 13-year-old boy, a 12-year-old girl and two 13-year-old girls are in a stable condition.
Seven rushed to hospital after West End horror crash
SEVEN people have been rushed to hospital and eight injured following a horror crash on Glasgow’s Hyndland Road. Unconfirmed reports have suggested that a driver mounted the pavement with his car before crashing into a bus shelter, hitting scaffolding and coming to a halt. Police say the incident, which took place at around 3.45pm in the West End, involved “a number of pedestrians”.
Eight injured after car crashes into “number of pedestrians” in Glasgow
EIGHT people have been injured after a driver crashed their car into a “number of pedestrians” on a busy Glasgow road. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said two were rushed to hospital while another six were treated at the scene. The crash took place at around 3.45pm on Tuesday on Hyndland Road in the West End. Early reports have suggested the car may have mounted the pavement and hit a bus shelter and scaffolding. Police remain on the scene © 2026 Martin McAdam.
Gaelic songwriter to release song about returning home from Glasgow
BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner Josie Duncan wrote An Turas Dhachaigh, translated as The Journey Home, in Glasgow during lockdown when she was separated from her family on the Isle of Lewis. The track is the first to be released from her forthcoming album, which will launch at the Celtic Connections festival in January. Initially written as part of a longer suite of music, the composition has been performed at choir events and concerts prior to its official release as a single.
Edinburgh art exhibition to showcase West Highlands landscapes
AN Edinburgh art gallery has announced details of a new exhibition featuring the latest work of Scottish landscape artist Beth Robertson-Fiddes. The upcoming exhibition, titled Restless Quiet, will open at the Morningside Gallery later this month and consists of 26 new paintings. These newly-created works focus heavily on the coastal and inland waters of the West Highlands, where the artist currently resides and works.
Concerns grown for missing Bathgate woman who may be in Edinburgh
POLICE have launched an urgent public appeal to help trace a woman missing from Bathgate who is believed to have travelled to the Scottish capital. Leigh Groves, 31, was last seen in the West Lothian town at around 3pm on Monday, 9 November 2026. However, investigating officers now believe that she has travelled east to Edinburgh, and she may currently be in the Wester Hailes area of the city.
Edinburgh researchers could “unlock” tidal power with rubber blades
TIDAL turbines fitted with flexible rubber blades could generate cheaper electricity by eliminating the need for expensive and fragile moving parts. Researchers at The University of Edinburgh have developed a new blade design that bends in strong currents to shed excess force, reducing damaging load fluctuations by up to 29%. The technology produces as much energy as advanced conventional models without relying on complex pitch control systems.
Fraud totaling £1.3m identified by Edinburgh Council
Its dedicated fraud team is now working with those who made “genuine errors” and taking action against fraudsters to recover the funds. Customer fraud, including illegal sublets, wrongfully claimed council tax discounts and disabled blue badges, made up the bulk of the missing funds, according to a council report. The council will also look to recover almost £250,000 for nonpayment of Non-Domestic Rates and council tax in 2025/26.
Police hunt armed gang after midnight Coatbridge raid
Three men brandishing bladed weapons forced their way into a home on Southfield Crescent in the North Lanarkshire town at around 12:10am on Sunday, 8 November. The gang of three men successfully made off with a haul of items thought to be worth a four-figure sum of money. Following the violent break-in, the trio of suspects immediately fled the scene of the crime.
Edinburgh social enterprise raises £12,000 in 24 hours after van theft
Oi Musica is a social enterprise specialising in music education, with a specific focus on big brass band and street music performances. Their programme was thrown into turmoil on Monday, 26 October, however, when their van, containing a huge proportion of their instruments, was stolen. Olivia Furness, Executive Director of Oi Musica, said she was “totally sickened” after discovering the van stolen from its usual parking spot on Westbank Street in Portobello.
Edinburgh Loony Dook cancelled due to safety fears
Organisers say the Dook is becoming a “safety issue due to its popularity” and cannot now go ahead without road closures, marshals, and safety fencing. After the intervention of a “mystery man”, however, the Dook appears to have secured the necessary investment and will return to South Queensferry in 2028.
Family of Edinburgh mum “failed by the system” in cancer fight calls for change
Sarah Johnston (née Howden), from Edinburgh, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) – a type of blood cancer – in 2019. She was treated for more than four years across three health boards and seven hospitals, but died in January 2024, aged just 44, from a condition related to her treatment. Sarah left behind three children and a husband.
City Art Centre to open largest ever exhibition by printmaker Ade Adesina
THE City Art Centre in Edinburgh is preparing to open the largest exhibition to date by the acclaimed Aberdeen-based printmaker Ade Adesina. Opening to the public on Saturday, 7 November 2026, the retrospective will bring together an expansive collection of work spanning 15 years of the Nigerian artist’s career.
Car traffic in Edinburgh down 16% as cycling popularity increases
THE NUMBER of cars on Edinburgh’s streets has fallen by 16% over five years as cycling becomes a more popular option for capital commuters. The overall number of vehicles on Edinburgh’s streets has dropped by around 17% amid plummeting numbers of taxis, heavy goods vehicles and motorcycles. Bicycles were the only vehicle category to increase its numbers between 2019 and 2025.
Edinburgh Trams contactless machines knocked out by software update
CARD machines at Edinburgh tram stops were temporarily knocked out on Tuesday afternoon after a software update caused a technical issue. Customers were unable to use the Tap On Tap Off (ToTo) function at all tram stops in the city from around 5pm yesterday. This may have resulted in some customers being incorrectly charged because of an inability to tap off. Tram chiefs apologised for the inconvenience and offered a refund to affected customers.
Lothian Buses accounts for more than a third of Scottish bus journeys
The capital has long had higher levels of public transport use than the rest of the country, but transport chiefs have now been able to recover passenger numbers almost to pre-Covid levels, outpacing other towns and cities in Scotland. This has given rise to a remarkable disparity between Edinburgh – home to around 9.6% of the population – and the rest of the country.
Demolition of Liberton Hospital set to begin, with 400 homes planned
The council purchased Liberton Hospital for £14.8m in 2023 and drew up a masterplan to construct a development of both flats and houses on the site. A Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) has now outlined up to 400 homes, 50% of which would be affordable. The PAN also includes provision for mid-market rent and private homes supported by car and cycle parking, landscaping and amenity spaces.
Music group “totally sickened” after van and instrument theft
Oi Musica Executive Director, Olivia Furness, discovered the theft on Monday afternoon and spent the rest of the day searching and making enquiries. She estimates that £20,000 worth of goods, including the van, had been stolen, and added that it could take the music group months to recover. The van was taken from a car park on Westbank Street in Portobello, where it is often parked.
Emergency support promised after North Edinburgh Childcare closure
Alternative childcare places have been found for “the majority” of families using North Edinburgh Childcare (NEC) services, while assistance will be provided to staff affected by the closure, according to Edinburgh Council. The Pilton facility, which has capacity for 66 children at one time, announced that it will enter insolvency and close in an email sent to staff and parents on Monday night.
Council votes to condemn “Zionism is racism” motion
The motion, agreed at the party’s autumn conference in Brighton, drew widespread criticism from both English and Scottish politicians. Prominent Jewish groups like the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council also denounced it as an attempt to deny Israel’s right to exist – crossing the line into antisemitism for many.
Veterans may be losing housing benefits because of “bureaucratic silos”
Former armed forces personnel are entitled to housing credits for specialised housing provision from the council – intended to ensure they don’t fall through the cracks into homelessness. However, to qualify for these credits, they must self-identify on their initial application or risk being disbarred from accessing ringfenced dwellings. In addition, veterans face a three-year expiration limit from the date of their discharge on the EdIndex housing register.
Glasgow art deco building could be converted into hotel
Glasgow City Council has received an application to convert the Art Deco property, which was most recently home to Irish retail chain Dunnes Stores. A three-storey rooftop extension is proposed to create a 144-bedroom hotel with a “destination restaurant and bar” and roof terrace. Constructed in 1929, the building, at the junction of Sauchiehall Street and Cambridge Street, has been empty since Dunnes shut in 2017.
Nursery to close on four days notice as insolvency looms
In an email sent to parents on Monday night, North Edinburgh Childcare confirmed that it will enter insolvency proceedings, citing lower demand for childcare and dwindling external support. The nursery, breakfast clubs and out-of-school clubs will all be shuttered after Friday, 30 October.
MP condemns far right military-style stunt at Edinburgh Castle
Footage emerged over the weekend showing a group of around 200 men, all clad entirely in black, forming a military “drill square” in the shadow of the castle. A seven-minute video of the protest shows the group of men making their way up Johnston Terrace before forming into a square and holding a “silent protest” in front of the castle. They then proceed to make their way down Castlehill holding a banner that reads “We have a duty to protect our children and defend our homeland”.
Scots Line of Duty director developing Edinburgh paramedic thriller
THE Scottish director of episodes of Line of Duty, Good Omens and Doctor Who is developing a new Edinburgh-set paramedic thriller series. Douglas Mackinnon’s prospective new series will centre on 35-year-old Kylie MacDonald, a newly trained paramedic working nights as an emergency responder in the capital. She races to save lives during the busy Edinburgh Festival season while a mystery surrounding a tragedy in her past threatens to unravel the new life she’s set up.
Another weather warning issued for Edinburgh as high winds bear down
Parts of northern Scotland can expect to be hit with 70mph winds, although forecasters have ruled out upgrading the weather front to the third named storm in less than four days. – in place across the west coast of England and Wales, as well as Strathclyde and Dumfries & Galloway – from 6pm on Monday until 3am will miss Edinburgh. However, a second – in force from 3am until 9pm on Tuesday – will blanket the entire country apart from the far south.
Amber weather warning issued as strong winds set to batter Edinburgh
Storm Boelo is set to hit Scotland over the weekend and is the second of two major storms to hit after Storm Austen caused disruption across the UK. The wind alert for Storm Boelo was upgraded from a yellow to amber for the entire mainland and Western Isles, lasting from 9pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning from rain in Central and Eastern areas from 7pm on Friday until Midnight.
Edinburgh charity “losing £10,000 per day” after “devastating” theft
Staff at the Edinburgh Furniture Initiative began their shifts unaware of the brazen theft until drivers attempted to start up the charity’s transport vehicles – and the vehicles began spewing diesel fumes. Mechanics at the local garage “knew exactly what had happened” as soon as they heard the engines, and confirmed all four vans – their entire fleet – had had their catalytic converters stolen.
Social media “glamorisation” may be driving Bonfire Night violence
The weeks-long Police Scotland initiative – dubbed “Operation Moonbeam” – aims to tackle disruption and criminality around Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night. Moonbeam was officially launched in 2017, but the operation has grown in scale since 2023, when 62 police officers around the country were injured in shocking Bonfire Night disorder. Since then, the number of violent incidents has fallen dramatically, with just one officer injured in 2024.
Man assaulted at home in Paisley as police launch probe
A MAN has been hospitalised with serious injuries after an intruder violently assaulted him after forcing entry into his Paisley home. Emergency responders were dispatched to an address on the quiet Springbank Terrace in the Renfrewshire town following reports of an incident at around 10:55pm on Tuesday 19 October. The 55-year-old victim sustained severe injuries during the home invasion and was immediately transported to hospital for urgent medical treatment.
“Skullduggery” behind Victorian Edinburgh painting for sale for first time
The 1851 masterpiece by David Roberts – lauded by art historians as the foremost British painter of architecture – depicts the Donaldson Hospital in West Coates and is expected to fetch up to £150,000 at auction. The painting has not even been exhibited since it was shown at the Barbican in London almost 40 years ago and will go on sale for the first time on Thursday this week.
Former nursery could be demolished for new build homes
The proposals would see a range of two- and three-bed colony and townhouse units installed at the site of the former Busy Bees Heriot nursery in Broughton. The existing two-story nursery at 32-34 Heriothill Terrace would be torn down under the proposals from Mandale Homes. If approved the development would consist of ten three-bedroom units with one two-bedroom unit, along with associated landscaping, cycle parking, six car parking spaces and access arrangements.
New documentary relives Hearts title collapse
Popular YouTube sports channel Copa90 – which has more than 1.3 million subscribers – followed the Gorgie club’s title challenge until their painful defeat at Celtic Park. Eli Mengem, Copa90 presenter and director, said the documentary was “one of the most powerful” they’ve ever put together. Posting to social media yesterday, he said: “On Sunday, Hearts play Celtic for the first time since *that* final day fixture.
Leith tenants protest against £137 per month rent increases
Residents at the Dockside apartments in Leith displayed a large banner across the building on Tuesday demanding the cancellation of the hikes. The increase affects income-assessed intermediate-market rent (IMR) tenants, who face paying an extra £137 per month for a one-bedroom flat or £122 for a two-bedroom property. Campaigners from Living Rent, the tenants’ union, say the new rates exceed Local Housing Allowance (LHA) caps and have accused the landlord of opportunistic behaviour.
Edinburgh ranks as third most expensive student city for a night out
Edinburgh has been ranked as the third most expensive student city in the UK for a night out, with the median price of entry into a club the highest anywhere in the country. Young students, cutting loose and enjoying newfound freedom, can expect to pay up to £52.13 for a night on the town. This is according to cricket-themed sports bar chain Sixes, which ranked cities with at least one university on the price of three pints, club entry, two miles in a taxi, and food.
Irish republican group to march through Glasgow this month
Cairde Na hÉireann – which translates to Friends of Ireland – will lead a procession from the East End to the city centre along the River Clyde. Around 150 people are expected to gather at Millroad Street on Saturday, 24 October and march along Green Street, London Road, Bain Street, Gallowgate, and Moir Street. The group, affiliated to Irish republican political party Sinn Fein, holds marches to commemorate the hunger strikes by Irish republican prisoners in the 1980s.
Edinburgh march against data centres organised
The march, slated for 14 November, will draw together community campaigners who are affected by data centre proposals, climate and anti-poverty charities. It comes after a wave of protests to “stop dirty data centres” across Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and many other countries earlier in the month. The Edinburgh protest will also coincide with a global day of action around the COP31 UN climate talks in Antalya, Turkey.
£1.6m worth of cocaine seized from Glasgow flat
COCAINE with an estimated street value of £1.6m has been seized following a major drugs bust in Glasgow. A six-figure sum of cash was also recovered during the intelligence-led raid on a flat in the Holm Street area of the city. A 29-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman have been arrested and charged in connection with the significant drugs recovery. Both individuals are expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court to face the charges related to the operation.
Leithers urged to share ideas for UK Town of Culture 2028 bid
The suburb of more than 50,000 people is one of 15 places across the nation to be shortlisted for the new competition run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The bid for the title will coincide with the 900th anniversary of the very first written record of Leith, making it a potentially historic year for the area.
New Glasgow drug recovery awards honour rehab champions
The inaugural Scottish Recovery Awards recognised the people and organisations working to reduce the harms caused by addiction across the country. Organised by recovery clinic Abbeycare to mark its 20th anniversary, the event featured broadcaster Iain Lee and community care minister Alison Thewliss as speakers. Ten awards were handed out on the night to individuals ranging from volunteers to politicians.
Gordon Brown attended Fife exorcism, claims former Hearts manager
When Levein took over at Stark’s Park in September 2006, the club was keen on signing deeply religious centre-back Marvin Andrews – newly available after being released by Rangers. So keen in fact, that the club’s most famous supporter was willing to take some time off his day job as the Chancellor of the Exchequer to meet the player during a service to “cast out demons”.
Edinburgh border rethink should force referendum, claims councillor
This is because of an obscure clause in a 1980s European charter, adopted in Scotland earlier this year, which governs the consultation process for significant local government reform. It states that any changes to local authority boundaries cannot be undertaken “without prior consultation of the local communities concerned, possibly by means of a referendum where this is permitted by statute”.
Capital guide launched to help relocating armed forces families
A NEW guide has been launched to assist armed forces families relocating to Edinburgh. Developed by national children’s charity Children First, the guide and map aim to help military personnel and their relatives settle into the capital. The project provides practical information gathered from the reflections and advice of military families who have previously experienced the transition to life in Edinburgh.
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