Written by Midlothian View Editor, Phil Bowen
Midlothian Council Leader Councillor Kelly Parry has written to the UK Prime Minister calling for urgent action to help families, workers and public services facing rapidly rising petrol and diesel prices.
With diesel prices now approaching £2 a litre, Councillor Parry has asked the UK Government to consider introducing a temporary cap on fuel prices or using the powers available to it to bring costs at the pump down.
The latest rise is creating real pressure for people across Midlothian. For many residents, particularly those living in communities where public transport is not a practical option for every journey, having a car is essential for getting to work, taking children to school, attending appointments and managing everyday family life.
Councillor Parry said:
“Many people in Midlothian rely on their car to get to work, and to access essential services, and rising fuel costs mean less money for food, heating, childcare and other essentials. I am also very conscious of the pressure this puts on our Council staff, many of whom rely on their cars to get to work or travel between locations.
“The Council is feeling the impact too. Fuel and energy costs are an unavoidable cost in delivering services such as waste collection, roads and care, at a time when our budgets are already under significant pressure.
“The UK Government has powers that can make a real difference, including Fuel Duty and VAT. I am asking the Prime Minister to use those powers to bring prices down and give families, workers and public services some much-needed breathing space.”
Councillor Parry’s letter also highlights the longer-term transition towards cleaner vehicles being undertaken by the Council. However, she stressed that this transition takes time and that petrol and diesel vehicles remain essential to the delivery of many frontline services.
The Council Leader has asked the UK Government to set out what action it can take to reduce fuel costs and protect households, workers and essential public services from further increases.
Here is the letter sent to the Prime Minister.
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Adam Bowen
It was a big game at Tynecastle on Saturday with both teams looking to get back to winning form.
Hearts made 4 changes from their draw at Kilmarnock before the international break. Findlay, Borchgrevink and Magnusson were all benched. Kingsley wasn’t involved in the squad as they didn’t want to risk him following his recent injury. Ageu, Milne, Altena and Fagan-Walcott all came into the starting 11.
As for St Mirren they made two changes follow their heavy defeat at home to Dundee United. Mochrie and Agrafiotis where listed to start with Sule and Phillips dropping to the bench. However, Agrafiotis felt something in his calf pop during the warm up, according to manager Craig McLeish, so Phillips did end up starting the game.
Hearts opened the scoring, winning a free kick in the 20th minute, where Miller’s ball found Mendy’s head, although he played it back towards Mochrie of St Mirren who managed to make an even bigger meal of it chesting the ball straight back into the path of Mendy, who unleashed a cracking volley into the top right of the goal.
11 minutes later another St Mirren individual error, this time by captain, Gogic, led to Braga picking up the ball and playing McPake through on goal. Matters got even worse for Gogic as when he caught up with McPake’s brilliant speed, he got to close leading to McPake’s foot getting caught on Gogic’s knee, resulting in a penalty kick. Miller calmly stood up and placed it into the right hand side of the net, sending Chapman the wrong way.
Five minutes into the second half Wilson gained the ball inside the box before cutting back where he was swiped, leading to another penalty kick. It was Miller again who went the same side; this time Chapman dived the right way but not enough as the ball found the corner of the net.
Again, Miller was involved in the next goal dribbling the ball from the centre circle before playing Braga through, his positive first touch led to a one-on-one where he took it around the keeper and slotted it home. The sliding St Mirren defenders only helped bundle it in.
It was the man making his league debut for Hearts, Fagan-Walcott who was vital to the 5th goal. His long ball from the defensive third found McPake, who was outstanding all game, he brought the ball down before showing immense strength, shrugging Donnelly to the floor, before composing himself and finishing clinically toward the near post.
It was a demolition served by Hearts, showing any doubters this season that Hearts are still a very strong team despite the departures they suffered during the summer window.
Wouter’s side has won all 4 of their league games at Tynecastle this season, scoring a lot of goals. When Wouter Vrancken was asked about how important this is for the supporters getting behind the team, he mentioned that ‘we try and play a kind of football that is positive and constructive, and proactive and not a reaction.’
Saying how for his players, he tries to play a style of football similar to when they were kids, ‘when you were a little boy, when you started playing football on the street, you played football to score goals, not to stay behind before your goal and prevent the goals. You want to score goals, because this feeling that you get then, that’s the nicest feeling you have in football.’
St Mirren boss, Craig McLeish stated after the game, ‘that it is not good enough for our point of view. We shot ourselves in the foot at times, two penalties that are avoidable, individual mistakes, errors for the other 3 and that’s not to take anything away from Hearts, they were at it today, they were excellent.’
He added, ‘I wouldn’t be looking at going and ripping things up and starting again, but we need to do better at what we’re doing. ‘We’re approaching games differently each week and you just cannot’t shoot yourself in the foot like that.’
Hearts will now go into a tough week full of confidence, where they face Nordsjaelland in their first game of the Europa Conference League before the return to Celtic Park on Sunday, where everyone will be thinking about what happened last time these two played.
St Mirren will prepare for an away trip to Pittodrie where they face Aberdeen on Saturday.
From left to right: Midlothian Provost Councillor Debbi McCall, Sana and Tony Forrest, and the Deputy Lieutenant of Midlothian, The Hon Harriet Dalymple.
Written by Midlothian View Editor, Phil Bowen
A Pathhead couple who first met as teenagers through their local church youth group have celebrated 60 years of marriage, marked by a special visit from Midlothian Provost Councillor Debbi McCall and the Deputy Lieutenant of Midlothian, The Hon Harriet Dalymple.
Sana and Tony Forrest, who married on 8 October 1966 at Liberton Northfield Church of Scotland in Edinburgh, were presented with flowers and a congratulatory message from His Majesty King Charles III to mark their diamond wedding anniversary.
The couple’s story began at a Youth Fellowship held at a church hall in The Inch, Edinburgh, where they became part of a close-knit circle of friends. As friendships blossomed into romances, Sana and Tony found each other and began a journey together that has now spanned six decades. Remarkably, they still keep in touch with some of the friends who shared those early years.
Over the course of their marriage, Sana and Tony have built a loving family. They are proud parents to sons Marc and Paul and grandparents to Jasmine and Summer, who have brought them joy over the years.
Their shared love of travel has taken them across the world, including trips to Canada and Alaska and cruises throughout the Mediterranean. Family holidays in Malta, Cyprus and Greece also created many treasured memories. More recently, they have enjoyed spending time closer to home, with visits to family in Derby and caravan holidays in Ayr and Aviemore. One particularly memorable experience for Tony was getting the chance to get up close to his favourite animals, tigers, and even feed a snow leopard.
In 2016, Sana and Tony moved to Pathhead, where they renovated their home and turned their passion for gardening into a beautiful garden that remains a source of pride and enjoyment. Both are active members of the Pathhead Horticultural Society, taking part in outings and helping support community projects.
Provost Debbi McCall said: “It was a privilege to visit Sana and Tony and help celebrate this remarkable milestone. Reaching 60 years of marriage is a wonderful achievement and a testament to the love, commitment and friendship they have shared throughout their lives together.
“Their story is full of family, community spirit, adventure and lasting friendships. On behalf of myself, the Lord-Lieutenant and everyone in Midlothian, I wish them a very happy diamond wedding anniversary and many more happy memories together.”
The Hon. Harriet Dalrymple Deputy Lieutenant of Midlothian joined the Provost in presenting the royal message and flowers on behalf of the Lord-Lieutenant, helping to make the occasion a memorable celebration for the couple and their family.
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