Latest news with #CastleDouglas
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Threave Rovers gaffer says draw with Blantyre Victoria was point gained
The Castle Douglas side fought back from 2-0 down to earn a draw on their first appearance in the West of Scotland League's second division. Threave Rovers gaffer Danny Dunglinson reckons Saturday's draw with Blantyre Victoria was a point gained. The Castle Douglas side found themselves 2-0 down inside half an hour after goals from Paul Brennan and Kieran Daw. However, a brace from Ross Irving saw them earn a draw on their first appearance in the West of Scotland League's second division. 'For the first 20 minutes we were pretty poor and they got two goals. After that I thought we were on top and after we got it back to 2-2 we had two sitters we should have scored. 'The reaction was pleasing and half-time came at a good time as it gave us the chance to get in and tell them what we felt they needed to be doing better. 'In the second half we started like a train, we were in their faces and on top of them, and it was much better. 'I think overall a draw was a fair result, they'd have felt hard done by if they'd lost the game and speaking to their manager after the game he had the same assessment 'Last year, we were two goals up on the first day and drew. We felt that set the tone for the whole season, maybe this year the scales have tipped a wee bit. We've shown we had that fight and it could have a positive effect. 'Blantyre are a decent side, they'll take points off lots of teams and they'll be top five or six, if not higher.' Threave are at home again this weekend with Ashfield visiting Meadow Park. They'll be without a number of players, including Dean Brotherston who was sent off late on last weekend. Dunglinson said: 'Ashfield are similar to Blantyre, they came down last year. Last season they were two levels ahead of us so they won't be any mugs. 'We know where they're strong, they've got some really handy players. I think it's an entirely new squad. They got beat 2-0 off Lesmahagow but to me they're favourites for the league so that's no disgrace. 'It'll be tough, we've got a few missing and one suspended. 'We're at home, we want to make Meadow a fortress and pick up as many points as possible. 'We'll set up to win the game and I've confident with the players we've got we'll be more than capable.'
BBC News
17-07-2025
- BBC News
Van driver killed in crash near Dumfries
A van driver has been killed in a single-vehicle crash near accident happened on the Old Military Road between the town and Castle Douglas at about 20:55 on Wednesday and involved a white Vauxhall services were called to the scene and the driver of the van, a 23-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the dogs were also in the van and one of them had to be put down while the other two required veterinary treatment. The road was shut until about 02:50 while investigations were carried Colin Ramage said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man who has died."Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the crash, and we would urge anyone who saw what happened to come forward."We're also keen to speak to anyone who was driving in the area around the time of the crash and may have dash-cam footage, as it could assist our investigation."
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
In Pictures: Castle Douglas Soapbox Derby
Colourful homemade karts rolled into a south Scotland town at the weekend for an annual Castle Douglas Soapbox Derby was launched in 2019 by a group of local friends. The self-funded event involves gravity-powered homemade cars rolling down a ramp before facing a range of ramps and Matt McKerlie said he hoped the event brought fun to the town while supporting local businesses.
The Herald Scotland
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
There's a parliament for the Central Belt. What about the rest of us?
Festival but no mention of aid for the equivalent in Wigtown or Melrose. Add on the end to peak rail fares that the First Minister claimed would save thousands for commuters on the Glasgow/Edinburgh line with no mention of equivalent savings for those in Tongue, Ullapool, Lochgilphead, Kelso or Kirkcudbright and we appear to have a Parliament that only address problems around Edinburgh. Adding on the desecration to the Flow Country of the North, Skye, Beauly, the Mearns, the Yarrow Valley and Loch Ken raises the question as to the worth of SNP politicians in rural Scotland when the preservation of its scenic beauty does not receive their support. Note that in the Lake District, the Peak District and the Yorkshire Moors electricity cables are firmly placed underground. Why does Holyrood refuse to provide the same protection in Scotland? Ian Moir, Castle Douglas. Nuclear won't bring Scots jobs If there is a 'fraud' on nuclear power ("Nuclear industry says ministers' green energy plans are 'fraud' and will see Scots miss out", The Herald, June 26), then it is being perpetrated on Scotland. Why is Scotland importing relatively small quantities of electricity from England a problem, as the Nuclear Industry Authority (NIA) complains, when England imports substantially higher quantities from Scotland right now (net exports 2024 19.7 TWh), and we are in a common energy market? The jobs at Torness will inevitably go as it takes decades to build a new nuclear reactor, so a new plant to 'save' the jobs would have to have been started around 2000 – when Labour was in power, north and south, but at that time rejected new nuclear. The 'thousands of jobs' are another Labour/NIA illusion, as the main contractors will be French with some English input. Billions of investment? The reality is that Scotland has won contracts worth a measly £280 million at Hinckley Point C on an estimated cost for that site at £42-49 billion rather than a per capita share of about £4bn. There is no reason to assume Scotland would gain more work simply because it is to be built in Scotland. Read more letters I expect the other component of supposed nuclear value-added to Scotland's economy is the endless decommissioning of nuclear sites which are costing all of us a fortune. Lazards Levelized Cost of Energy 2025 has nuclear generation at four times the cost of wind, so nuclear will not bring down the cost of electricity. Small Modular Reactors are even worse as they lack economies of scale, they produce more waste, they still require 24/7 security and we still have no idea of the cost of electricity produced – one of those involved in the SMR competition (NuScale) could not find industry buyers for its electricity at its proposed plants in Utah as, even with Federal funding, the price mooted was too high. I think you need to fact-check every part of the nuclear industry's weasel words as they are misleading tosh, but also party political. Scotland also has substantial new renewables generation and substantial storage in the pipeline. Scotland could, at the worst, burn its own natural gas (supplemented with 25% green hydrogen) for electricity generation instead of exporting it for others to burn. GR Weir, Ochiltree. We must back North Sea oil When a communist regime like Venezuela offers a more competitive tax environment to oil and gas investors than the United Kingdom, it's a damning indictment of how far our energy policy has drifted from economic common sense. Under Labour's punitive approach, the UK has become hostile to the very industries needed to fund and power the so-called green transition. The windfall tax – via the Energy Profits Levy – has been raised to a punishing 78% and extended to 2030. Crucially, the specific investment allowance within the EPL, which incentivised reinvestment into North Sea projects, has been scrapped. While standard capital allowances like full expensing remain, they are far less effective in attracting long-term energy investment. The damage is clear. Domestic gas production has fallen 20% since 2019, oil output is down 40%, and the UK is now importing nearly half of its energy. Imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) – four times more polluting than domestically produced gas – are up 42%. In a so-called green agenda, we're shipping in more carbon-heavy fuel while blocking local production that supports jobs and tax revenues. And who pays the price? British households and manufacturers, now burdened with the highest energy costs in Europe which are up to four times higher than in the US. Our industrial base is shrinking, energy security is weakening, and taxpayer subsidies for unreliable renewables and unproven schemes like carbon capture are soaring. Even Labour's own Scottish leader Anas Sarwar has warned that many fully licensed North Sea fields are no longer investible. If Labour's front bench in Holyrood can see the cliff edge, why can't those in Westminster? Britain needs an energy policy built on realism, not Marxism. That means supporting domestic production, attracting investment, protecting jobs – and above all, delivering affordable, secure energy for British consumers and businesses. Ian Lakin, Aberdeen. Windfall taxes in the North Sea have increased (Image: PA) Defence pledge will not work Socialist governments – and Conservative and Unionist ones alike – have disgracefully run down our nation's ability to defend itself at least since the Second World War, although arguably the rot set in with the Great War. Hence the need for American assistance during the more recent war which, while essential to our ongoing freedom, came at a high financial cost and saw our global power eclipsed by that of the Americans. Now we have a socialist government that seeks to overturn decades of its own party's woeful performance in this regard and raise defence expenditure significantly. In principle, this is a welcome move. The right way to do that is on our own terms, based on a clear understanding of what is required to defend the realm. Instead it has been proposed simply to apply an arbitrary financial not strategic target, set by the capricious leader of a foreign country with a high propensity for violence domestically and deeply damaging military adventurism internationally. This will likely mean we continue to be ill-equipped for the existential task in hand, while wasting vast sums of taxpayers' hard-earned money and becoming more likely to be drawn into future American misadventurism abroad. Let us not forget the debacle of recent socialist governments pandering to such catastrophic misjudgements, both in Iraq and Afghanistan. Christopher Ruane, Lanark. Iran must obey international law In the event that the current Israeli (+ America) Iran war does eventually result in international negotiations for peace, may l suggest two matters which might usefully be added to the agenda? Firstly, an international passage through the Strait of Hormuz which runs past the coastline of Iran should be considered (because in excess of 24% of oil destined for use around the world passes down the Persian Gulf and through that Strait). When the Shahs were in power in Iran they signed international treaties which guaranteed an international waterway there. When a change of sovereignty takes place in a country then they should renew any such international treaties. It appears that the Islamic Republic of Iran has not done so – but, I suggest, should be invited to do so now. Secondly, I suggest that the true role played by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the destruction of Flight PA 103 over Lockerbie in Scotland should also be addressed. Despite the recent decision finding a sole Libyan (Abdelbaset Ali Mohamed al-Megrahi) responsible, there are many who doubt that verdict – including Dr Jim Swire, who lost his eldest daughter Flora in that tragedy and who in his recent book stated that there seems no doubt now that it was a revenge attack by Iran for the shooting down by an American warship of the Iranian civilian flight IR 655 over the Strait of Hormuz. It is suggested here that no one can sensibly deny an entitlement for the creation of an Islamic Republic in the Middle East or elsewhere. Having said that, it is also suggested that if they wish to stand amongst and trade with the world's international community then they must be prepared to adopt minimum international standards of behaviour – or face international sanctions. Richard Anderson, Advocate, Edinburgh.
The Herald Scotland
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Drill, Mr Swinney, drill, and let's make the most of gas
It is surprising that our Finance Secretary has not listened to her Norwegian counterpart and adopted the Norse advice to drill, baby, drill and extract every last volume of gas from the North Sea. At 6.8p/unit it means that electricity (28p/unit) will never be competitive with gas. Mr Swinney should give the planning approval to the 900MW plant at Peterhead, support the Rosebank project and ask Scottish Power to build similar units at Longannet, Cockenzie, Hunterston and Chapelcross to ensure the lights stay on under dunkelflaute weather conditions. With carbon capture technology it will be a much cheaper option than the hydrogen-fuelled gas turbine project proposed by Nicola Sturgeon. After all, if you start with using renewable electricity at 28p/unit to produce hydrogen just what will be the final cost of energy from utilising such science-based projects? Ian Moir, Castle Douglas. McArthur deserves congratulations Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur should be commended for his hard work in getting the Assisted Dying Bill through the first stage in the Scottish Parliament. It is supported not just by MSPs in Holyrood but by a vast majority of the Scottish electorate. If there were a referendum on the matter the vote in favour would have been voted overwhelming. Dennis Forbes Grattan, Aberdeen. Relationship is not so special I am in full agreement with the views expressed in Neil Mackay's excellent interview with author Angus Hanton regarding the mythical special relationship with the USA ("'How the destruction of Scottish jobs exposes how the UK is now America's vassal", May 11). I would add that the practices outlined in the article are not new. At one stage in my career I worked in Edinburgh for a company that was part of a giant San Francisco-based investment management group. When the dotcom bubble burst, they 'closed Europe'. No consultation and no special consideration for the Brits. I have visited the United States many times for business and pleasure. Whilst I am always welcomed and despite the common language, I have never felt I was in a 'special relationship'. On reflection the feeling was one of mild condescension and of superiority over the Old World, though many were obsessive about their European heritage As we Europeans try to find our place in Trumpworld our PM regularly plays the special relationship card. I would urge caution and remind our leaders of the events leading up to July 4, 1776. It's not called Independence Day for nothing. The truth is that despite the common language American and European values are very different. Read more letters Many Americans like to think of the United States as the prototypical Western nation, the culmination of centuries of European experience and wisdom. And many Brits like to think of Americans as their close cousins – albeit loud-mouthed cousins they are embarrassed to talk about at dinner parties. It is easy to forget that the United States was founded primarily by people seeking refuge from the ways of Europe and the British Empire in particular. The Founding Fathers of the republic did not aspire to emulate the Europeans at all – on the contrary the American constitution was largely about ensuring that Americans would not suffer under a European/British style of government. They worked to correct the numerous abuses and excesses they saw as plaguing the monarchies of the Old World. In the intervening 250 years the constitution has changed relatively little, and while many European monarchies have been transformed into republics and parliamentary democracies the core values underlying these societies have remained significantly different from those of Americans. At a superficial level we share many of the same goals: liberty, human rights, rule of law, but it is easy to agree on labels; the devil is in the detail and when it comes to the substance underlying these grand ideals Americans and Europeans are often hopelessly divided. Despite the foregoing, Americans and Europeans probably share more common values than any other two continents on Earth. It is largely for this reason that we have become so mutually frustrated with one another in recent years: we tend believe we are essentially the same, to perceive a common set of values and we are left quite disappointed when we begin to realise how different we truly are. Keith Swinley, Ayr. Propaganda war in Gaza How should we deal with the problem that is Gaza? There is no doubt that Hamas harbours hopes of the destruction of Israel while the Israeli government is intent upon taking control of the territory of Gaza and forcibly removing the Palestinians from that area. Currently the bone of contention centres round the provision of aid for the inhabitants of Gaza to prevent their starvation. The propagandists on the Israeli side claim that there is no shortage of aid going into that territory and that Hamas is hijacking those provisions to their own ends while denying access to the food supply for the ordinary Gazans, the latter half of that statement intimating that the ordinary Gazans are indeed on the verge of a famine. Those same propagandists say that Hamas controls the flow of information which is allowed to be made public to paint the Israelis in a bad light and also contend that Hamas embeds its members in hospitals and schools to make sure that any attack by the Israelis on such targets creates horrific headlines. Just this week a pro-Israeli spokesperson was ready to abandon an interview with a BBC interviewer if the interviewer insisted upon talking about the shortage of provisions entering Gaza, which the pro-Israeli spokesperson claimed was no more than Hamas-manufactured propaganda. That self-same spokesperson also pointed out that the presentation of an emaciated child on TV as a sign of the famine being inflicted upon the territory was just another piece of Hamas propaganda. We must then wonder if that person would dare to suggest that the 22 children killed by a missile attack upon a hospital shown as wrapped up in winding sheets were just another piece of propaganda. It must surely be possible to distinguish between what is being identified as Hamas propaganda and the savage Israeli assaults which inflict so much damage upon innocent Palestinian civilians. Both sides seem determined to eliminate the other in what amounts to a policy of genocide. Their actions speak louder than their words and the hapless Palestinian civilians are trapped in the middle. Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs. Ukraine's fight is our fight Russian governments have always been cruel, corrupt and chaotic. Every so often they break away from this, usually after a military disaster, and experiment with something less brutal but it never lasts, and they quickly revert to form. They are also prone to attack their neighbours with a view to conferring the benefits of Russian government on them which explains the determination of the Poles, the Czechs and the peoples of the Baltic States not to let this happen to them again. Back during the Cold War (that never really ended) the West was haunted by the fear of the armour of the huge Soviet army rolling across the North German plain and adding the rest of Europe to the Soviet Bloc. Perhaps nuclear deterrence was all that saved us from this threat. From the start Ukraine has maintained that its fight is not just for its own freedom but for ours as well. In three brutal years it has all but destroyed the Russian army and, even if Donald Trump forces them to capitulate, the Ukrainians have bought us about five years to prepare for Russia's next big adventure. I am only too happy to see my taxes spent on arms for Ukraine. I prefer the Volga to the Clyde as a frontline. When the history of this grim episode is written I hope that President Zelenskyy will feature as the saviour of his people and not just another tragic hero. Ronald Cameron, Banavie. Volodymr Zelenskyy (Image: PA) More train ticket woes Like Graeme Arnott (Letters, May 4), I've had a problem with the nonsense of not being able to book railway tickets online, by app or even a ticket machine. My Saltire card has never been available from the huge drop-down menu on the National Rail list of concession schemes – eventually getting fed up with this, I queried it with Transport Scotland who told me that the relevant local authority, in my case West Dunbartonshire, insists that Saltire card concession tickets can only be purchased face to face at a ticket office or on the train from a ticket collector. This ludicrous situation is made even more ridiculous by ScotRail's reduction of ticket office opening hours and the fact that there are frequently no ticket staff on trains. Stuart Neville, Clydebank.
