Latest news with #DunfermlinePress
The National
09-05-2025
- The National
CCTV released as police probe destruction of Scottish city monument
The Mercat Cross in Dunfermline was snapped in half, with debris left scattered across the High Street at the junction of Guildhall Street, overnight from Saturday, April 12, to Sunday, April 13. There has been a Mercat Cross in Dunfermline since at least 1396, when the Burgh received its charter, according to the national historic environment record Canmore. Other estimates say it may be two centuries older than that. The Dunfermline cross before and after the damage earlier in April (Image: Dunfermline Press) The cross has been repaired and replaced many times over the centuries, and the one which was damaged earlier in April had been raised and resourced by public subscription in 1868, Fife Council archaeologist Douglas Speirs said previously. Police previously described two men who they said could help with enquiries. Officers said the first was in his early 20s, white, around 5ft 8/9ins tall, slim build, brownish hair, thick eyebrows, sideburns and an earring in his left ear. He was wearing a baby blue-coloured hoodie, tan-coloured trousers and white/light trainers. The second was described as also in his early 20s, white, about 5ft 9/10ins tall, medium build, brown hair, long messy on top, trimmed short at the sides, short stubble growth. He was wearing a thin black jacket with small writing on the right shoulder, a black t-shirt with white writing and a yellow logo, black jogging bottoms, grey Nike Air Max shoes. CCTV image of the men who the police would like to speak with (Image: Police Scotland) Now, officers have released a CCTV image of men they say could help with enquiries and are appealing for the men themselves, or anyone who may recognise them, to get in touch. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "I would urge the men pictured or anyone who may recognise them to contact us'. Anyone who can assist is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 1093 of 13 April, 2025. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
The National
30-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Job cuts confirmed as sale of Scottish shopping centre concludes
Northdale Asset Management, a London-based property investment company, confirmed earlier this year that a deal to buy the centre – along with two other malls in King's Lynn and Loughborough, had been struck. The Dunfermline Press reported that around 23 workers are being made redundant as a result of changes being implemented while workers have been told that they may have the option to reapply for their old jobs. Stephen Hill, director of property and asset management at Gatehouse Property Management, confirmed they would be taking over services at the centre. "The sale of Kingsgate Shopping Centre is due to conclude on Wednesday and at the same time all supplier contracts will come to an end," he said. "Gatehouse Property Management has been appointed to manage the centre on behalf of the purchaser and there may be new opportunities for some of the current staff if they are not retained by their existing employer." Northdale Asset Management confirmed that all security and cleaning staff were employed by contractors not the centre, adding: "We have no further comment to make."
The National
21-04-2025
- The National
Police hunt two men after 'important' Scottish city monument destroyed
Police Scotland issued detailed descriptions of the two after the Mercat Cross in Dunfermline was damaged overnight from Saturday, 12 April, to Sunday, 13 April, 2025. The statue was snapped in half, with debris left scattered across the High Street at the junction of Guildhall Street, the Dunfermline Press reported at the time. There has been a Mercat Cross in Dunfermline since at least 1396, when the Burgh received its charter, according to the historic environment record Canmore. The one which was damaged earlier in April had been raised and resourced by public subscription in 1868, it is understood. Police said they had been 'following a positive line of enquiry' and were now appealing directly to the two males believed to be involved in the incident to come forward. READ MORE: JD Vance issues statement as Pope dies hours after meeting him Officers said the first man is described as early 20s, white, around 5ft 8/9ins tall, slim build, brownish hair, thick eyebrows, sideburns and an earring in his left ear. He was wearing a baby blue-coloured hoodie, tan-coloured trousers and white/light trainers. The second is described as early 20s, white, about 5ft 9/10ins tall, medium build, brown hair, long messy on top, trimmed short at the sides, short stubble growth. He was wearing a thin black jacket with small writing on right shoulder, a black t-shirt with white writing and a yellow logo, black jogging bottoms, grey Nike Air Max shoes. Inspector Conrad Musgrave, from Dunfermline Police Station, said: 'The statue is very old and important to the people of Dunfermline and the surrounding area. 'Extensive enquiries have been carried out, including full CCTV reviews from the local area and nearby premises. 'We are now asking the males responsible to please come forward.' Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident 1093 of Sunday, 13 April, 2025. READ MORE: Claim trans people 'asked for ID at Scottish train toilets' dismissed It's not the first time the monument has been damaged. The unicorn at the top was smashed by vandals in November 2022. Fife Council archaeologist Douglas Speirs said at the time that there had been a market cross on Dunfermline High Street since the 1120s. "It's been subject to replacement and repair many times over the centuries – 1396, 1620, 1695, 1752," he explained. "The cross we see today is a replacement erected by public subscription in 1868, with the horn of the unicorn replaced by the council only last year. "For almost 1000 years, the heart of Dunfermline's marketplace has been watched over by its market cross. The town's oldest feature of municipal architecture, it has always been a monument of civic pride.' Dunfermline officially became a city in May 2022 as part of the late Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
