Latest news with #BonfireNight
Scotsman
12 hours ago
- General
- Scotsman
Edinburgh supermarkets urged to stop selling fireworks after last year' Bonfire Night 'mayhem'
Supermarkets in the Capital are being urged to stop selling fireworks after the "mayhem" of Bonfire Night in Edinburgh last year. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... There was violence on November 5 acrosss Niddrie, Sighthill and Moredun, with youths in balaclavas setting off fireworks towards police, rocks thrown at passing vehicles and buses coming under attack. Edinburgh South West Labour MP Scott Arthur wrote to all the big supermarkets with branches in his constituency, urging them not to sell fireworks. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Some of them have said they have already stopped such sales or planned to do so. But two supermarket giants - Asda and Aldi - said they did not intend to stop selling fireworks at this stage. Pictures from the 'mayhem' on Bonfire Night 2024 | TSPL Dr Arthur said: 'Rather than a joyful celebration, Bonfire Night 2024 will be remembered for the chaos on Calder Road, Broomhouse, and beyond. Gangs with fireworks terrorised neighbourhoods, targeting public spaces, a care home, local businesses and people's homes. '2024 wasn't the first time we saw this disorder across Edinburgh, and without action, it won't be the last. Some residents fled their homes, staying at relatives' or paying for hotel rooms. Others couldn't get home to their families. 'You had care staff stuck inside a care home, the threat to businesses, people who didn't feel safe in their own houses and others concerned about their pets. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Supermarkets have a moral responsibility to protect the communities they serve, and suspending the sale of fireworks is part of achieving this. "My constituents shouldn't have to live in fear because some supermarkets are choosing to put profits first and communities second. Aldi and Asda need to listen to local residents and do the right thing." Asda told Dr Arthur in its reply that it fully supported efforts to end the misuse of fireworks and was carefully considering the issues he raised. It continued: "We are committed to enforcing strict rules around the sale of fireworks and we also believe the vast majority of our customers use fireworks responsibly and therefore it is a balancing act. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Going forward we fully support the use of Firework Control Zone regulations and look forward to the outcome of that process for 2025." Aldi said it understood the concerns raised about the misuse of fireworks. But it continued: "As a responsible retailer we are committed to ensuring that fireworks are sold in accordance with all local and national regulations and safety standards. Additionally , we provide guidelines and safety information to our customers to promote responsible use." It added that it was monitoring the applications for Firework Control Zones and would ensure none of its stores within these zones sold fireworks. Sainsbury's stopped selling fireworks in 2019 and Tesco and Morrisons do not sell them either. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lidl is not operating a universal firework ban, but regional director Marco Ivone told Dr Arthur: "We were sorry to hear about the unrest that has unfolded on Bonfire Night over the past few years and the distress this caused local residents. I can confirm that we have taken the decision to no longer sell fireworks in any of our Edinburgh stores." Dr Arthur said very few corner shops now sold fireworks because of the strict requirements, such as storing them in a secure box, and the behaviour of some customers. He said: 'A couple of years ago, I went round all the corner shops in my council ward with a police officer and not one was selling them - a combination of too little money to be made and a lot of hassle.'
Edinburgh Live
5 days ago
- General
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh locals 'deeply concerned' as fire station threatened with closure
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh fire station threatened by closure has sparked a frenzy of concern from locals and firefighters who say they are concerned for the safety of their neighbourhood. The Marionville Fire Station in Restalrig may close and relocate three miles away to Newcraighall. Edinburgh Live spoke to David Strachan, Marionville's branch representative for the Fire Brigade Union (FBU). The firefighter has worked at the station for 17 years and was "deeply upset" by the news of potential closure. He claimed the move to Newcraighall would come with a downsize, costing the station 10 firefighter posts which he called a safety concern for the area. David said: "This is my community. I live in Abbeyhill. My family lives here and my kids go to school in this area. Marionville would be the first [station] attendance at my home and my kids school and for friends in the area if there was a fire. "I'm worried that my family and friends, the people of of our community, would have to wait longer for fire engines to respond to an emergency. I have serious concerns that it would make people in this part of Edinburgh less safe." David claimed the next nearest fire station at McDonald Road, one of the busiest bases in Scotland, would pick up the bulk of Marionville's calls - making the station "significantly busier". He added: "If McDonald Road [station] is busy - they can only respond to one call at a time - if there were two calls concurrently, people would be waiting even longer for a response." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Asked about the morale at the station, David added: "Everyone is very unsettled because we don't know what future holds for us. Our primary concern is for the people of this community that are ultimately going to be less safe as a result of this decision." The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said the decision to close Marionville was not final and that "any permanent changes to our station footprint or how we deliver our services will only come after we have sought views from the public". Chris Murray, MP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, has voiced his support for the fire station. He told Edinburgh Live: "I am perplexed that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are taking forward proposals to close Marionville Fire Station. This station is a vital resource in addressing callouts across my constituency, and the whole city. "Given the pressures we have seen on the fire service over the likes of Bonfire Night, I am clear that closing this station is not in the interests of my constituents' safety." A post on his Instagram adds: "The Marionville firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect people in central and east Edinburgh. I have met with them several times and heard how bravely they act to save lives – and how they are increasingly overstretched. "Cutting this station to move resources elsewhere would increase response times – which could be the difference between a bad incident, and a disastrous one. As the local MP, I am crystal clear: Marionville fire station should not be considered for closure." David launched a petition to help save the station, which garnered over 1,500 signatures in 24 hours. It explains that Marionville was built using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) panels, meaning the station is unsafe and needs to be rebuilt. The petition continues: "The closure of Marionville presents a huge increase in risk, with increased response times to a densely populated area of Edinburgh, a city where the population is increasing at an unprecedented rate . . . Resources are already spread far too thin in the capital. "It is a matter of minutes for a fire to go from manageable to fully developed, dramatically increasing the risk to people, property and firefighters." You can find David's petition here. Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Andrew Girrity from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "We are currently in the midst of a service delivery review, which aims to ensure that our resources – our staff, stations and appliances – are matched to operational risk and demand across Scotland. 'We also must address urgent property issues including stations affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), which includes Marionville Community Fire Station. "We have now concluded an options appraisal and development process, and a number of change options have been recommended to progress to public consultation in the summer. This remains subject to final approval by the SFRS Board. "Any permanent changes to our station footprint or how we deliver our services will only come after we have sought views from the public and a final decision has been made by the SFRS Board."
Edinburgh Reporter
7 days ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Officers suing Police Scotland over Bonfire Night injuries
Police Scotland is being sued by officers who were injured amid violence and disorder during Bonfire Night havoc in Edinburgh. Chaos erupted in Niddrie on 5 November 2023 after around 50 youths launched fireworks and petrol bombs at riot police. It has now emerged that 20 officers on duty during the night of 'unprecedented' mayhem are taking legal action against Police Scotland over failing to provide them with safety equipment and noise exposure. Another officer is pursuing legal action against Police Scotland in relation to further outbreaks of violence and disorder during bonfire night last November. It is understood the officers who have lodged personal injury claims for the 2023 incident are claiming Police Scotland left them without adequate ear protection, leaving them exposed to a 'constant barrage of fireworks' for up to three hours. Over 30 officers are said to have reported hearing problems including tinnitus after being exposed to the deafening salvo of firework and petrol bomb explosions. It was later claimed Police Scotland had around 10,000 sets of sound suppressors designed to protect against noise-induced hearing loss while still allowing officers to hear conversations and listen to radios, but these were not issued prior to Operation Moonbeam — Police Scotland's response to Bonfire Night — due to testing issues at the time. The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents rank and file officers, said around 70 officers in total had been injured on the night. It said the vast majority of the injuries were minor but 21 officers were later said to still suffering hearing problems, with a further officer injured after being hit by a firework. Video footage from the night showed officers in riot gear standing in a line while youths threw explosives at their feet. Officers in other parts of the country also suffered minor injuries while responding to similar bonfire night disturbances. David Kennedy, general secretary of the SPF, later said hearing damage could have been prevented if officers had been supplied with the appropriate protective gear. He said: 'The officers in Niddrie were exposed to a constant barrage of fireworks, petrol bombs and other missiles for around three hours on that evening.' According to Mr Kennedy, most officers affected suffered from tinnitus amid concerns it could become a permanent problem, adding: 'This is a problem that could've been resolved if they had been given the appropriate earpieces to use with their airwaves to hear the radio. 'Tinnitus is debilitating and for some it could become worse. Some officers could actually lose their hearing as it gets worse over the years, so it could end some of those officers' careers eventually.' Police Scotland has now confirmed that 21 claims have been raised relating to bonfire night incidents and said they are ongoing. Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam, said: 'During the policing operation for Bonfire night 2023, police officers experienced unprecedented levels of violence towards them during a period of sustained disorder. 'The safety of all our personnel is of the utmost importance during operational deployments. Whenever officers or staff are injured, we strive to provide them with all the necessary assistance and support during their recovery and return to work. 'In addition, each report of injury is assessed to establish learning outcomes that can be applied to policing tactics for future operations.' ACC Mairs added: 'We will also continue to explore the procurement and distribution of new equipment to safeguard those on the frontline as they perform their duties.' Niddrie 5 November 2023 Like this: Like Related
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Police being sued by own officers injured in shameful rioting on Bonfire Night
Police Scotland is being sued by more than 20 of its own officers who claim the force failed to protect them. The group were injured amid violence and disorder during Bonfire Night havoc in Edinburgh in 2023 and 2024. Chaos erupted in the Niddrie area of the city on November 5, 2023 after around 50 youths launched fireworks and petrol bombs at riot police. It has now emerged that 20 officers on duty during the 'unprecedented' mayhem are taking legal action against Police Scotland over failing to provide them with safety equipment and ear protection. Another officer is pursuing legal action over further outbreaks of violence and disorder during Bonfire Night last November. It is understood the officers who have lodged personal injury claims for the 2023 incident are claiming the force left them without adequate ear protection, leaving them exposed to a 'barrage of fireworks' for up to three hours. Over 30 officers are said to have reported hearing problems including tinnitus after being exposed to the deafening salvo of firework and petrol bomb explosions. It was later claimed Police Scotland had 10,000 sets of sound suppressors designed to protect against noise-induced hearing loss while still allowing officers to hear conversations and listen to radios. However, it is claimed these were not issued prior to Operation Moonbeam – Police Scotland's response to Bonfire Night – due to testing issues at the time. The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents rank and file officers, said around 70 officers in total had been hurt during the 2023 incident. Most the injuries were minor but 20 officers were later said to still be suffering from hearing problems, with a further officer injured after being hit by a firework in 2024. Video footage from 2023 showed officers in riot gear standing in a line while youths threw explosives at their feet. Officers also suffered minor injuries while responding to similar Bonfire Night disturbances in Glasgow and Dundee. SPF general secretary David Kennedy later said hearing damage could have been prevented if officers had been supplied with the appropriate protective gear. 'Some officers could actually lose their hearing as tinnitus gets worse over the years,' he added. Police Scotland confirmed that 21 claims have been raised relating to Bonfire Night incidents. Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam, said: 'The safety of all our personnel is of the utmost importance during operational deployments. 'We will also continue to explore the procurement and distribution of new equipment to safeguard those on the front line.'
Time Out
24-05-2025
- Time Out
Britain's happiest places to live have been revealed – and two are near London
Last week the Guardian published a list of the happiest places to live in the UK right now. Taking into account factors like access to green spaces and culture, a sense of community and the availability of public services, the newspaper's ranking intended to reveal Britain's most joyous roads, villages, towns and cities in 2025. In the overall list – which you can find out more about here – a total of five places in London made the cut. The Ridgeway (Enfield), Surbiton North, Clapham Junction, Bounds Green and Bromley were the only areas of the capital to feature. But that wasn't all. Several places near – but not in – London featured in the Guardian 's wider list. These are places within easy reach of the city, where you get to enjoy the best of London life without some of the less-good bits. So what are these two cheery places within easy distance of the capital? Let's dive into it. Lewes Lewes is just an hour by train from London Victoria, and the Guardian praised the East Sussex town for its food options (like its Friday Food Market), cultural attractions (such as Glyndebourne opera house and the legendary annual Bonfire Night traditions) and access to nature. Often named among the nation's prettiest towns, Lewes is inside South Downs National Park and just a short drive from the seaside. Gastronomy, culture and nature aside, the Guardian also picked out Lewes' range of vintage, boutique and outdoors shops as making the place more joyful. Aylesbury The other near-London spot in the Guardian 's list was Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, which is about an hour's train from Marylebone. The newspapers said that from the train 'you can see chalk hills, wooded valleys, big fields with traces of medieval farming and flowering hawthorn hedges'. The Guardian continued to argue that Aylesbury boasts 'a strong sense of community, a mixed population, and great countryside', and says that the town's house prices are 'slightly more affordable' than elsewhere in the southeast. Beyond an hour's commute Further afield than Lewes and Aylesbury, the Guardian 's list features several other locations that are sort of near the capital – they're not as commutable, but they're easy enough to visit. Chichester in West Sussex was included (around an hour and a half from London), as was Evesham in Worcestershire (within a couple of hours of the capital by train), which came second overall. Devizes in Wiltshire, Newport on the Isle of Wight and Cirencester in the Cotswolds made the list, too. You can find the Guardian here.
