Latest news with #Dalbeattie
Telegraph
04-08-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Rayner's war on allotments is slowly killing Britain's beauty
It's a sign of our creeping decrepitude that my wife and I enjoy spending our Sunday afternoons going to charity garden openings. Usually these are in the grounds of country houses but this summer's star opening of the season was unquestionably hosted by the Dalbeattie Community Allotments Association. I have long been fascinated by allotments. Glimpsed from train windows they offer a window into a Britain that is, as John Major once said 'still the country of long shadows on cricket grounds, warm beer, invincible green suburbs, dog lovers', himself pulling from George Orwell's evocative image of 'old maids bicycling to Holy Communion through the morning mist'. Dalbeattie's allotments did not disappoint. The gardens themselves waxed with competitive marrow growing, stellar displays of annuals and characterful greenhouses and 'man cave' sheds. The chatter of sparrows in the perimeter hedge and an aerial display of swifts up above spoke eloquently of its support for local biodiversity. But most of all it was the people that made a powerful impression on us. Happy, healthy people bound in friendship. People whose existence in small flats in the town might otherwise be grey and dismal, but for whom instead life on the allotment appeared to be like one long Jubilee street party. Knowledgeable gardeners, people not at the mercy of the supermarkets for whom self-sufficiency is a way of life. We came away humbled by their green fingers and determined to try harder in our veg patch. So shame on Angela Rayner for giving councils flexibility to sell off allotments to raise money for day-to-day expenditure. We all know the country is bust and local authorities are being starved of cash. But we can all also point to wasteful quangos that could be axed, unnecessary diversity, equity and inclusion jobsworths that could be removed from the government payroll, benefits cheats that could be cut off, bungs-to-the-rich charities like the RSPB that could be stopped, rather than selling off the family silver embodied in the nation's precious few green spaces. First they came for the playing fields, then they gobbled up the allotments. It betrays a metropolitan disdain for people who get their hands dirty growing vegetables. Society will be all the poorer for the loss of these green spaces that provide solace to so many people, particularly the elderly. It is also morally wrong, if not technically illegal in many cases because they are not rightfully theirs to sell. Most allotments that are now in public ownership actually started life through land being gifted by philanthropists to provide amenity and healthy food for local people. They should not be for politicians to dispose of as they please. I hope there will be legal challenges on these grounds. There was a time when Labour politicians were grounded by being smallholders and allotmenteers themselves – think Nye Bevan with his pigs or Jeremy Corbyn with his vegetables. Anyone with a genuine concern for the have-nots should fiercely oppose this sell-off. This daft policy exposes the moral bankruptcy and soullessness at the heart of the Starmer project. I can just about get my head around the socialist impulse to exterminate kulaks like me, via the obnoxious family farm tax, though the toxic side effects are already evident and history will judge them harshly for it. But going after the allotment holders? Seriously?
Daily Record
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Creetown denied a point after conceding 'cheap goal' at Dalbeattie Star
Martin McCaulay's men had hoped to start the new South of Scotland League campaign with a positive result. A 'cheap goal' denied Creetown the chance to start the new season with a point. Stevie Harkness scored the only goal at Islecroft with less than 15 minutes to play as Martin McCaulay's men were beaten by Dalbeattie Star. He said: 'When you get to the 75 or 80 minute mark you've got to see the game out – either settle for a point or, if you're lucky, catch them on the break and sneak a win. 'It's extremely disappointing and it's a case of different season, same story. We've given away a cheap goal again and it's cost us what would have been a great point. 'For the work rate and effort the boys put in they deserved a point. 'Overall, Dalbeattie had more of the ball, which was expected. They know how to play on their own pitch but overall the boys were brilliant. 'The big disappointment for me was our quality on the ball. It was nowhere near good enough or what the boys showed in the three pre-season games. 'At half time I told them they were doing fine and limiting them to shots outside the box, but we couldn't let them keep picking the ball up in between the lines.' Dalbeattie's Connor Potts and Kyle Higgins are probably the two most complete footballers in the South league. They're intelligent, creative players who can hurt you and it was them, along with Andy Caffrey, who controlled the game for them – but in the first half they couldn't get through us and ironically we probably had the best chance. 'I warned them if they didn't keep the ball better, we could get punished – and that's what happened. 'It was a cheap goal – it was unlucky from our point of view and fortunate for them. 'It's extremely disappointing as you want to start the season with a positive result. Ahead of the match, McCaulay boosted his squad by announcing a string of new signings. Craig Agnew, Finlay Brown, Danny Wither, Braiden Wilson, Ally Faulds, Owen Sutherland, Ashton McKeand, Micky Wilson and Daniel McDevitt have all signed on at Castle Cary Park. Now he is preparing the side for the trip to Stranraer this Saturday. McCaulay added: 'It doesn't get any easier with an away trip to Stranraer reserves. 'It'll be another tough fixture, they're a very well coached side. They've strength in depth in their squad, they'll be well organised, fit. It'll be another test for us but one we're looking forward to.'
Auto Car
08-07-2025
- Auto Car
"This leaves me worried for the future safety of our children" – families rally against cuts to lollipop crossings
Families across the UK are campaigning to stem the decline in school crossing patrol officers, otherwise known as lollipop men and women, in the face of council cutbacks. They argue the roles are still needed, given that new police data released in June reported that 413 pedestrians were killed in 2024, an increase of 2% compared with 2023, amounting to a quarter of all road-related deaths. People aged 16 years and under accounted for 4% of these deaths and 10% of those injured. The figures have been released against a background of reductions in school crossing patrols, the numbers of which have halved in the past 10 years but which their supporters insist make roads safer for children. Croydon Council is one of the latest to scrap its lollipop patrollers, with schools losing them at the end of the current term. 'This decision leaves me worried for the future safety of our children,' said a parent of children attending one of the six affected schools. 'The presence of lollipop men and women is essential.' A Croydon Council spokesperson said 'most patrols were phased out many years ago' and risk assessments for the remaining sites will result in a new permanent crossing at one and temporary crossings at three more. Elsewhere, alarmed by the withdrawal of their schools' crossing officers, concerned parents around the country have taken to campaign platforms to rally support for their reinstatement. Among them is one to save the crossing officer at Dalbeattie High School near Dumfries in Scotland, which also has a nursery and a primary school nearby. Diana Finnigan, whose 10-year-old grandson attends the primary school, is opposing the council's decision to withdraw crossing staff and has started an online petition that has so far attracted 500 signatures. 'I live close to the school and see every day how dangerous the roads outside it are for children,' she said. 'Local councillors say the children can use the light-controlled crossings but you can't assume every child, especially young ones, will. Some just ignore the lights and dash across, risking their lives. I've seen cars jump the lights too.' A spokesman for Dumfries and Galloway Council confi rmed its intention to withdraw crossing patrol officers from the school. 'Elected members of the council chose to remove crossing patrol staff from automated crossings,' he said. 'Council offi cers are preparing communications so that parents and carers are aware of the changes.'
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway curlers reach quarter-finals of World Junior Mixed Curling Championships
Dalbeattie's Orrin Carson and Stranraer's Robyn Munro represented Scotland at the competition in Edmonton, Canada. Two Dumfries and Galloway curlers reached the quarter-finals of the first ever World Junior Mixed Curling Championships. Dalbeattie's Orrin Carson and Stranraer's Robyn Munro represented Scotland at the competition, which took place in Edmonton, Canada. And a fine display saw them top their group in the round-robin stage. They beat Austria, Australia, Hungary, Brazil and the United states, their only defeat coming to China. That run of results was enough to put them through to the quarter-finals. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Unfortunately, that was where their run ended as they suffered a narrow 7-6 defeat to Sweden. It's been a good year for Orrin and Robyn as the pair won the Scottish Curling Junior Mixed Doubles in Dumfries and also won gold in the mixed doubles at the World University Games. Robyn said: 'It's a bitter-sweet end to what has been a really successful season together, undefeated through both junior events in Scotland and winning gold at the first World University Games and to win the right to compete at the first ever World Junior mixed doubles together. 'Especially in our first season playing together, it's been a journey that we can both be very proud of. 'We're both just a bit gutted that we couldn't make it to the medal games, but we gave it our all and I enjoyed my last event as a junior and I'm glad to have shared that with Orrin and he has another year of juniors, so I'm sure he'll be back to try for more.'
Daily Record
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Thrilling match between Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie schools went to a penalty shoot out
Two Stewartry teams competed in the D&GSFA Small Schools Final at Queen of the South Arena in Dumfries recently. Dalbeattie High School Under 16s took on local rivals, Castle Douglas High School Under 16s on Queens 4G pitch, with both teams showcasing their talents in what turned out to be a thrilling contest. Both sets of players adapted well to the quick and large playing surface and the first half saw chances created by both teams but excellent goalkeeping and stout defending kept the match scoreless at half-time. The two coaches, Mr Mein and McNay, asked for more directness in the second half, and it was not long before David Perez latched on to a long ball from defence, nipping in and around the Dalbeattie goalkeeper, slotting the ball home for Castle Douglas' opening goal. For the remainder of the match, play and chances were fairly even, but the last five minutes saw Dalbeattie throw everything forward, and with 25 seconds to go, a fine build up put through Robbie Wykes, who composed himself, to equalise in the dying seconds. It has been agreed with Mr McGuffie, the official, that the match would proceed straight to penalties. Castle Douglas converted all of their efforts, whilst Dalbeattie found the Castle Douglas netminder in fine form. Castle Douglas edged the drama 4-2 and lifted the trophy in a thrilling affair. Well done to all players, coaches and fans for participating in a great final. Many thanks to QOS for their hospitality.
