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Press and Journal
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Trapped by Raac: 5000 reasons to keep fighting for Aberdeen homeowners impacted by concrete crisis
We took our Trapped by Raac campaign onto the streets of Aberdeen this weekend – and the hard work paid off. Thanks to a protest involving members of the Torry Community Raac Campaign (TCRC) group, affected families from Balnagask, and team P&J – we've now crossed the 5,000 signature mark on the homeowners' petition. Attended by owner occupiers and former council tenants alike, some members of the group held banners to protest the situation, reminding the public about the burgeoning concrete crisis. Others spoke to shoppers to garner more names on the petition, sharing stories of the 500 households in Aberdeen impacted by Raac. The group was visited by Conservative MSP Liam Kerr, who spent time listening to stories from families caught in this crisis. Labour councillor Simon Watson – who represents Torry and Ferryhill – also stopped by to talk to his constituents. At the same time as the protest, Fiona and Ricky Burgess, whose story we shared this week, proudly took a Raac campaign banner to Hampden for the Aberdeen Celtic Scottish Cup final. Founding member of TCRC Lynn Winstanley is one of 138 homeowners whose houses are marked for demolition. She stands to lose 10s of 1000s from the value of her home if she sells her property back to ACC. She said: 'We can't sit back and relax though 5000 signatures on the petition is amazing. That's only half the names we need to get a reply from Westminster. 'If you haven't already signed, please do. Put yourself in our shoes. You'd want people to get behind you and to help you. That's all we are asking for.' The petition, which calls for justice, fair house prices for homeowners, and an eventual public enquiry, needs to cross 10,000 signatures before the UK Government will, at the very least, reply. In a previous interview with Aberdeen City Council co-leader Christian Allard, he said without Westminister unlocking financial support, Raac [crisis] could become the next Post Office Scandal. We also revealed that only four properties have been bought back by ACC since the voluntary acquisition process began. A total of 13 owners, from 138 privately owned properties, have agreed to sell following Valuation Office Agency assessments. 'Selling our homes for sometimes half what they were worth before we heard about Raac is not something we can just sit back and let happen. 'It's not fair. We are in this situation through no fault of our own,' Lynn added. 'Please, please keep sharing the petition, ask your friends to sign it. It's Aberdeen now but we are hearing about this all over the country. If we win our battle it could help future families never go through the hell we're going through.' Lindsay Bruce of The Press and Journal also shared a video thanking those who have signed the petition but called for others to join the campaign. To read more about the Raac crisis and our campaign click here.
The National
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Celtic hero Victor Wanyama on chances of Dunfermline stay
The midfielder, 34 next month, signed for the Pars on a short-term deal in March. Lennon had just been appointed manager and turned to a man he knew he could rely on to help them avoid the drop from the Championship. Wanyama only made two appearances after being sent off for a handball during his first appearance in a defeat to former teammate Scott Brown's Ayr United. But he has been made to feel welcome in Fife and would be open to staying longer. Lennon's own future remains up in the air as he holds talks with Dunfermline chiefs, having only signed until the end of the season himself. Wanyama told BBC Sport Africa: 'We have to sit down again and see what's next. 'And then I'd be happy to come back here for next season. Read more: Brendan Rodgers details 'multiple reasons' he always wanted Celtic return Celtic Scottish Cup final countdown with Rodgers' selection options analysed 'Scottish people and the community, they really look after visitors. They are good people and they embrace their culture. 'Always loving, it doesn't matter where you come from – and they see you as one of their own. And they love their football.' The Kenyan also spoke about the reunion with Lennon and how easy it was to say yes to the man who took him to Parkhead in 2011. 'He made me get to the next level of football,' he said. 'He knows me very well, so it is easy when someone like Neil calls. 'He's passionate and he's a winner. 'We had a young team [at Dunfermline] and I had to play a role in that, speaking to the young lads, trying to help them in training. 'I think that itself has been a big role.'
Press and Journal
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Kincorth pub boss hits out at boycott threats after hosting event for seriously ill Celtic fan
A pub boss has said he would 'do it again' after he hosted a 'community day' for a seriously ill Celtic fan – despite boycott threats from angry Dons. Andy Eagar took charge of the Abbot in the Kincorth area of Aberdeen six months ago. He held the event for a pub regular who had received life changing news just weeks before. Speaking to The Press and Journal, Mr Eagar said: 'All the lads in the community, whether they're Celtic supporters, Aberdeen, Rangers, Hibs, Man United or whatever, rallied together. 'They wanted to have a special day for him during the Celtic Scottish Cup semi-final. 'As a one off, they decorated the corner of the bar with some Celtic flags and the Celtic fans who drink in the bar got together with their tops on.' Former Hoops and Scotland goalkeeper Rab Douglas came up from Dundee to be part of the gathering. He ended up staying the whole night, missing his train home. Video messages from former Celtic manager and captain Neil Lennon, as well as former Parkhead and Aberdeen defender, Derek Whyte, were also played. After pictures of the event were posted on the Provost Watt Drive pub's Facebook page, however, some unofficial Aberdeen FC supporters pages urged Dons fans to boycott the establishment. Mr Eagar – an Aberdeen fan – said he'd been bemused by the reaction. 'It was a bit disappointing. 'It certainly knocked the wind out of the sales. 'Just trying to do something nice for someone could have had a pretty negative affect on our business.' Mr Eagar said he'd been sorry that some of those who attended were made to 'feel bad' about the reaction and the implications for the var, 'From my point of view, it was more of a community event, supporting somebody in the community that has had some bad news,' he added. 'When something like this happens, football colours go by the wayside and you rally around.' Though apologies have since come from the groups involved in the calls for a boycott, he said: 'You still get the Aberdeen diehards commenting saying we shouldn't have done that.' It was not just fans of the east end of Glasgow club that were at the Abbot that day, as the bar boss says 'a few' diehard Rangers fans were also in attendance. He admits they did not partake in singing 'Fields of Athenry' but adds: 'While the Rangers guys weren't singing along, they were in there supporting the guy as well.' One of the Abbot's barmaids – a 'staunch' Rangers fan according to Mr Eagar – was there and joined in the fun. 'She was in there and getting photographed with Rab Douglas and everything, just supporting the guy, and that's what it was about. Supporting.' Though the online threats 'got out of hand' Mr Eagar says the only bar in the 'Garden Estate' hasn't suffered any lasting damage. 'In the end, they got quite a lot of backlash themselves from people up here that know me personally,' he said. 'We were honoured to have given this guy a day to remember.' His main focus is continuing to make the pub a community one for all, 'rather than just a boozer for people to go and have a few drinks'. In the past six months, this has seen them the Abbot host themed evenings, 'looking after some of the older crowd', staging fundraisers for kids' football and sponsoring top amateur side Kincorth AFC. And would he host another community event for a terminally ill regular? 'I'd do it again for a Rangers fan, for anyone at all,' he said.
Scotsman
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
How Hibs can use 'lure' of European football to attract talent and retain stars
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now Third placed finish AND Celtic Scottish Cup win needed to land UEFA group stage guarantee Sign up to our Hibs football 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... The money would be helpful, the prestige definitely something to be cherished. Everyone connected with Hibs, from chairman of the board to casual armchair fan, will have reasons to crave a return to European football. David Gray, for one, believes that the 'lure' of spending Thursday nights under the lights in pursuit of Euro glory could prove invaluable – in terms of talent retention AND recruitment - to an ambitious club in a small but passionate market. Given everything we know about the Black Knight model and the importance of Europe to their player movement plans, it certainly couldn't hurt. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For starters, Gray hopes that guaranteed UEFA competition until Christmas, a prize still very much within grasp, would allow him to reduce the number of non-committed out-of-contract players on his books to just a handful. And he's certain the platform provided by continental competition would make Easter Road a more attractive destination for potential signings seeking their next big move. Hibs travel to Pittodrie this weekend knowing that a win over Aberdeen would take them a long way towards their goal of claiming third spot in the Scottish Premiership. Should Celtic justify the faith of every bookie on planet football by beating the Dons in the Scottish Cup final next month, the team finishing third will be guaranteed a crack at the Europa League play-offs, with the promise of Europa Conference League group stage football providing a soft landing in the event of a stumble at that final hurdle. Focused on getting the first part of that equation in place, Gray is happy to explain just why Europe – with all the excitement that brings for fans forced to brush up on their geography when planning occasionally complex away days – matters so much, the first-year head coach saying: 'I think when you join the football club, if you've been here for years, or whenever you're trying to sign a new player, whenever you're trying to bring people to the football club, the lure and the opportunity to play in Europe is a genuine opportunity. And it's not something that every player gets the opportunity to do. Lucrative Europa Conference League campaign would put strain on squad 'You could go down south and play and have a fantastic career at a really high level but never get the opportunity to play in Europe. Yet still have a fantastic career by the end of it. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There is a genuine opportunity to do that here. And I think looking at the position we've put ourselves in now, that's a genuine opportunity. 'The lure of that when your trying to bring players in, that's an additional factor, the fact that you get to go and play in Europe. Especially with the format as well, because you could get right into Europe and play all the way to Christmas. So it's definitely something different, it's definitely where the club wants to be operating as often as it can, given all the rewards that come with it.' Plenty a Scottish team has found involvement in the Europa Conference League - worth over £2.5 million before a ball is kicked, ticket sold or point gained - a costly experience, in football terms, as the demands of regular midweek football put a strain on squads tending towards the lean side of functional. Hibs have provided Gray – who signed a dozen players in the summer and added one more in January – with backing, at least, to assemble the right tools for the job. Yet he's adamant that there should be no need for another huge turnover in the summer, saying: 'I think you need a big squad to cope with Europe, but you don't then just recruit numbers. You need quality, you need that togetherness still. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's not as if, because you get to Europe, you just need to go and bring in lots of players. I think there is a really good core here already that we've looked at, it's getting better all the time, there's a lot of improving still to be done. 'Earlier in the season we were talking about 15 out of contract. Now we're hoping to get that down to single figures – and maybe even a number on one hand by the end of the season. So we're trying to keep the core together. 'Now clearly that can change between now and the end of the season, and we're always looking to try and make sure that the squad improves all the time. But definitely if you can present players with the opportunity to go and play in Europe, it can only be beneficial when you're trying to keep players - and also bring players to the club.'
