Home   News   Article Detectives in Elgin are appealing for information after a dangerous driver failed to stop when instructed Officers want to trace the driver of a grey Mini Cooper spotted driving erratically in a car park in the town’s Blackfriars Road at around 2.40pm on Friday (May 2) Police responded after a report of the car being driven dangerously he failed to stop and made off towards Elgin town centre Detective sergeant Robbie Williams said: "We are keen to talk to anyone that saw this vehicle in the car park of Tesco before the incident on Friday "We are also looking for anyone with dash-cam footage from around that time to get in touch "Anyone with information should contact 101 quoting reference 2042 of 2 May An Elgin man threatened to starve his dog and feed a hotel worker to it in a series of incidents earlier this year Robert Sutherland appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court last week for sentencing for the crimes but was told to go back to his doctor for further reports on the effects of his long-term drug use The 38-year-old will now return to court once more in June Fiscal depute Victoria Silver told the court on Thursday that Sutherland’s barbs towards hotel workers at Elgin’s Premier Inn and Travelodge included telling them there were snipers on the roof and he would have men come and take them to him Sutherland had stayed at both hotels in January this year but turned on staff when he was told he was no longer welcome at either business he told the assistant manager at the Travelodge he wanted a room but had no money to pay for it He was invited to sit at the bar until he could scrape the cash together “Whilst being at the bar he’s begun to act strangely mumbling to himself and pointing at cars in the car park,” Ms Silver said He was then told to leave on “numerous occasions” by employees who ultimately had to ask police to attend to receive him He would return to the Travelodge on January 9 making his way into the building when staff had to unlock the doors to allow access to a legitimate customer Sutherland was again told he would not be accommodated Ms Silver said he became “agitated” and told the employee “he would get men to pick her up and take her to him so he could sort her out” “She was scared by this comment and so again called the police to report the incident,” she added he told a member of staff there were “snipers on the roof and he would get somebody to come get her” He would return on January 18 with his dog in tow after again being refused a room earlier in the day Sutherland would tell a woman he would “starve his dog for four days and get his dog to eat her” said he was unappreciative of the effect his words had on people “There is clearly some degree of paranoid delusion,” Mr Carty said it’s not entirely clear that Mr Sutherland quite appreciates the effects these comments have on people.” Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov said she was unsure if Sutherland would be able to “meaningfully” engage with a non-custodial order she called for Mr Carty to engage Sutherland’s personal doctor for a report on the long-term effects of his drug misuse Police were called to reports of the car being driven dangerously at a supermarket car park on Friday afternoon. Officers were called to the Tesco car park on Blackfriars Road around 2.40pm on Friday following reports of a grey Mini Cooper being driven in a dangerous manner. The driver failed to stop when instructed and made off towards Elgin town centre. Police are now urging anyone who saw the vehicle in the car park before the incident, or after it left, to get in touch. Detective sergeant Robbie Williams said: “We are keen to talk to anyone that saw this vehicle in the car park of Tesco before the incident on Friday or after it left. “We are also looking for anyone with dash-cam footage from around that time to get in touch. “Anyone with information should contact 101 quoting reference 2042 of May 2, 2025.” STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" Police are searching for a motorist who “made off” after crashing a car Officers originally attempted to pull the vehicle over in the Newmill Road area of Elgin on Sunday The car was located at around 6.35pm having crashed on the junction of Reid Street and Lesmurdie Road the driver had made off and enquiries are now ongoing to trace the person responsible A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "On Sunday a car failed to stop for officers in the Newmill Road area of Elgin and was traced having crashed at the junction of Reid Street around 6.35pm “The driver made off and enquiries are ongoing to trace them.” Three men have been arrested and charged in connection with a “serious assault” in New Elgin which left another man in hospital A 28-year-old man was seriously assaulted and 63-year-old woman assaulted in Main Street at around 10pm on Saturday The 28-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment following the incident and police launched an appeal for witnesses In an update this morning (Saturday, May 3) officers confirmed that three men have now been arrested and charged in connection with the incident and will appear in court at a future date a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 10pm on Saturday officers received a report of a serious assault on Main Street A 28-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment 27 and 19-years-old - have been arrested and charged and are due to appear at Elgin Sheriff Court on Tuesday “Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting ‘incident 3818 of April 26’.” we know the value you place on trusted local journalism At The Forres Gazette we are committed to delivering the very best coverage from communities right across our area and we can only do this with the support of our readers By becoming a subscriber you not only support us in this mission including unlimited access to our website and digital editions of all our weekly newspapers Head to the subscribe page to claim this offer The button can be found above the newspaper masthead at the top of this page Use the promo code PHILIPMURRAY to get a year of unlimited digital access for just £20 - we really appreciate your support An Elgin man who suddenly lost his hearing has praised a local charity for helping him “enjoy his life again” has said tinnitus and vertigo “dramatically changed his life” and led to him losing his job he woke up one morning to find he was unable to hear anything and could barely balance the now 62-year-old managed to make it to his doctor for an emergency appointment and was then diagnosed with sudden onset hearing loss which also caused tinnitus which resulted in Philip losing his job in a nursing home as he was deemed unable to provide safe care Philip said: “I woke up at 5am to a loud crashing noise “I was staggering all over the house I was still staggering and bouncing around “I thought I would turn the volume on the TV up who previously served as a technician in the Royal Air Force says he then realised he couldn’t hear anything – including his feet on the floor and the kettle the Elgin man says he started to “panic” and got a taxi to the GP where he had to communicate by writing things down but all I can hear now is really low bass notes in one of my ears “Sometimes the tinnitus is so bad I can’t hear anything else “It causes nausea and sometimes vomiting I tell people that it makes me unpredictable as I may have to cancel appointments at the last minute “There have been times when I’ve reacted to a loud noise triggering my vertigo and causing me to fall and land in the middle of the street on two occasions with cars coming towards me After hearing about North East Sensory Services (NESS) from a friend he contacted the charity and staff were able to help him adjust to his new life and regain his confidence and self-esteem The charity supports thousands of blind and deaf people across the north-east with its main objective being to help people to live as independently as possible They have helped him with a flashing doorbell a flashing and vibrating smoke alarm as well as a social worker who has worked with him to apply for the Adult Disability Payment He also joined one of NESS’s lipreading classes, which he described as “amazing” and “a real turnaround,” as it helped him meet others going through the same thing Philip said: “I know I can phone NESS any time during the day if I’m feeling lonely and they helped me so much with that.” Carla Marchbank, statutory services manager at NESS, said: “Philip’s story shows just how devastating sensory loss can be our staff understand people need different things along their journey and we try to support them in whatever way they need at the best time for them.” Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments A man was arrested after police were called to a “disturbance” outside an Elgin pub A large police presence was spotted at Foggies Vape Bar in the town on Sunday evening Police Scotland confirmed that a 42-year-old man was arrested in connection with “abusive and threatening behaviour” A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “We were called around 7pm on Sunday to a report of a disturbance in the Munro Place area of Elgin “Officers attended and a 42-year-old man was arrested in connection with abusive and threatening behaviour and issued with a recorded police warning.” An Elgin man who branded his mum a “witch” and urged her to die has been left devastated after being told she wants no further contact with him Finley Wood appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court last week for sentencing after earlier admitting to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner when he drunkenly turned his anger towards his mother Grampian Online reported that it included calling the widow a “witch” and saying it was “about time” she was dead. whom he had moved in with following the death of her husband had to barricade herself in her bedroom to escape Wood’s anger She had raised concerns about his drinking when he attempted to take a car at the property fiscal depute Karen Poke told the court Wood’s mother was described as “very distressed and crying” when he began remonstrating when she told him no “She described the accused as having an alcohol problem and being aggressive when he drinks Ms Poke said Wood then called her a “f*****g witch” and added it was “about time she was dead” He would then bang on her door while looking for the keys said the fallout of that night – and his mother being in favour of a non-harassment order – has left Wood “genuinely heartbroken and moved to tears” She described how a successful and financially rewarding career had crumbled away in the months prior to moving to be with his mum,which factored into his behaviour Mr Woods’ life was entirely different,” she said “He was in a very successful and lucrative career his personal and financial circumstances as they stand now are outlined in the report “He had hoped very much to have a fresh start in Scotland “He is devastated that his actions and his inability to cope at the time with his change in circumstances have now apparently damaged that relationship beyond repair “When I told Mr Wood the Crown’s position on a non-harassment order in this matter I would say he appeared genuinely heartbroken and nearly moved to tears.” Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov ordered Wood to attend alcohol counselling in her ruling sentencing him to one year of supervision under the social work department She also granted the Crown’s motion for a non-harassment order It means Wood cannot contact or attempt to contact his mother for the next five years “Your own circumstances have been unfortunate,” Sheriff Pasportikov said “It’s quite significant that she doesn’t want anything to do with you.” Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee has approved changes to disabled parking provision in Elgin town centre The decision follows a detailed review aimed at improving access for Blue Badge holders and better aligning parking with future town centre improvements The review was prompted by earlier commitments to revisit disabled parking following the reopening of North Street to traffic following completion of construction at the Poundland building and it responds to long-standing concerns raised by disabled users about accessibility and misuse of current spaces The review also benchmarked provision in Elgin against towns of a similar size across Scotland confirming that Elgin already offers significantly more disabled parking The new spaces present a valuable opportunity to enhance accessibility as part of wider town centre improvements in Elgin The two new bays on North Guildry Street will be funded through the council’s 2025/26 capital budget for Disability Adaptations Whereas the High Street spaces would be part of works associated with the Levelling Up Fund A survey conducted in late 2024 found that while some accessible parking locations or their use excluded some mobility impaired users as they were on a steep gradient Consultation with some local Blue Badge holders and the Chair of Moray Disability Forum confirmed strong support for the proposed changes particularly due to improved surface conditions and central location Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee said: “We committed to listening to the needs of people who use accessible parking spaces and the result is making these practical changes to improve access in Elgin By approving new parking locations that are safer and more level we’re ensuring a better experience for Blue Badge holders and creating a more inclusive town centre.” with further developments progressing alongside Levelling Up Fund (LUF) projects in 2026 A consultation on the LUF active travel measures will take place this summer. Full details on all the LUF projects can be found at the My Moray website. Cookie Settings Powered by Onclusive PR Manager™ The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Sargent Match OfficialsReferee: George CalderAssistant Referee 1: Steven WilsonAssistant Referee 2: Calum HaswellMatch StatsKey Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time Gregor Nicol (East Fife) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal Kane Hester (Elgin City) is shown the yellow card Scott Shepherd (East Fife) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal Scott Shepherd (East Fife) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner Kane Hester (Elgin City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked Kallum Higginbotham (East Fife) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close Brian Cameron (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the defensive half The Moray Growth Deal’s flagship Early Years STEM project is taking a significant step forward with renovation works at Elgin Library set to begin in the first week of May Robertson Construction has been appointed as the main contractor to carry out the works which are expected to take around six months The project is part of Moray’s £100m Growth Deal The project is funded through £3.5m in capital from the Scottish Government and £1.3m from Moray Council along with £1.6m in revenue support from Moray Council Elgin Library will be the first location in Moray to host a specialist STEM facility providing a base for interactive and curriculum-aligned learning experiences The STEM Starts Discovery Centre will be created through the renovation of the library’s former drill hall space at the rear of the building ensuring the main library remains fully operational throughout Designed in collaboration with Glasgow Science Centre and Unusual Projects, the centre will feature hands-on exhibitions themed around life and work in Moray, supporting key aspects of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. Some of the early design concepts can be viewed here. There will be no major disruption to day-to-day services within the library a small number of parking bays will be restricted to allow access to contractor cabins Library events and activities will continue as normal and while bookable meeting and event rooms will be unavailable until the works are complete the new spaces will be available for the community for use said: “By introducing STEM to children early in their education journey we aim to inspire a love of discovery that will stay with them through life and potentially into a future STEM career This will play a pivotal role in inspiring the next generation of innovators and supporting Moray’s future workforce “It’s fantastic to see construction getting underway this marks a key milestone in delivering a facility that will benefit young learners across Moray for years to come.” Elgin City boss Allan Hale says his men are relaxed going into the League One play-offs as outsiders as they aim to make promotion history The fourth-placed finishers in League Two host Annan Athletic at home tomorrow night in the semi-final before Saturday’s second leg in Dumfries and Galloway Wullie Gibson’s Annan dropped into the play-offs after finishing 11th in League One It is 25 years since the Black and Whites gained entry to the Scottish leagues But while fellow north ex-Highland League clubs Peterhead and Cove Rangers have both spent seasons in the higher divisions Elgin have yet to earn promotion from the bottom rung of the national set-up Former Huntly manager Hale is relishing the chance to guide Elgin towards a historic milestone but whoever you play in the play-offs is never going to be easy “We’ve earned the right to be here through our performances over the course of this season “We’re quite relaxed going into these games – I don’t think many people are saying Elgin City are the favourites to go up “Most people expect we’re going to be the team not to be promoted from the four contenders you work hard all season to get these opportunities to gain promotion “We want to be the first team in Elgin’s history to do that “These will be two tough games against Annan – but I’m sure Annan will feel the same about us “We’re focusing on what we can do well and try to best implement our game-plan “Hopefully the atmosphere on Tuesday will be same as it has been over the last few weeks so we can get the result to keep us in contention for the next game “We’re happy with the season – our (club record which only ourselves and league winners Peterhead achieved and we reached the fourth round of the Scottish Cup “Now the objective is we want to be the first Elgin team to reach a League One play-off final Saturday’s 2-0 league-closing loss at runners-up East Fife ensured Elgin finished fourth rather than third but there were positives to take from it as Hale made eight changes from the team who beat Stranraer 3-0 Experienced defender and club captain Matthew Cooper made his first start since February last year with midfielder Rory MacEwan pitched for his first start since December 2023 the main setback for Hale was Lewis Hyde going off with a hamstring injury The Elgin manager said: “It was important to make those changes on Saturday “A lot of players have had to bide their time and be patient this season It was a good opportunity to give them their rewards for their attitudes and application we were still going to try and win the game and try to cement third place “It was also good to give Liam MacDonald his first start He’s been doing really well and he acquitted himself really well “The only disappointment was Lewis Hyde injuring his hamstring We don’t get know the extent of it yet He brings good qualities to the way we play and he’s been finding his form at the right time “I think Saturday was only Rory’s second start under us He’s been in training for some time and the sharpness is improving every week “Hopefully that is him over the worst of his issues He’s a good player who keeps the ball ticking over and is very composed in possession “It’s important we have players of that experience back “Matthew Cooper acquitted himself well having also been out for some time – he’s had a number of injuries “Even having these boys around the dressing room is important right now.” who rejoined Elgin from Montrose in January also came off the bench for his first minutes since March after being sidelined with a hip injury The Elgin Business Improvement District (BID) renewal ballot has not secured enough support meaning the BID will not continue beyond its current term The ballot sought to secure a further five-year term for Elgin BID however despite the efforts of Elgin BID’s management and Board of Directors the renewal ballot did not achieve the required level of backing from the business community the BID has supported businesses in the city centre and driven initiatives to enhance the local shopping and leisure environment Key activities have included town centre events and regeneration efforts aimed at improving the economic vitality of Elgin Elgin BID board of directors will now decide the next steps as its current term concludes The full official declaration of the ballot results can be viewed here. A youth was attacked with a machete-style blade after he punched a 17-year-old in the face on Elgin High Street ended up in a fight on the town’s high street at around 6.15pm on November 16 One was struck twice on the body and arm with what he told police was "a machete” The 17-year-old appeared before Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted assault to severe injury but under provocation due to him being a victim first in the violent encounter Fiscal depute Susan Love told the court that the casualty suffered lacerations to his chest and bicep with both requiring two stitches each "The incident was captured on CCTV and the accused was seen to conceal the blade in his clothes before walking away,” the prosecutor added “The two are known to each other and there was previous animosity between them "When he was arrested and interviewed by police he told them: 'I didn't mean to Sheriff Macdonald deferred sentence until June 3 for the preparation of a social background report on the first-time offender which is longer than usual as he no longer lives in Scotland The Sheriff told him: "This is a very serious matter." An offshore worker from Elgin who tried to spend a night in a layby following an argument at home has had his driving privileges revoked Fraser Houston appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court on Thursday for sentencing after admitting to refusing to comply with roadside testing procedures when requested to do so earlier this year The 40-year-old had gotten into a dispute at home on the evening of January 23 when he made the decision to leave and try to spend the rest of the night in a layby between Elgin and Thomshill He was stopped in that effort when he came to the attention of passing police officers Fiscal depute Shay Treanor told the court that officers spotted Houston’s car – a black Ford Mondeo – alone in the layby and made the decision to approach they came to the conclusion that he had consumed alcohol When they asked him to complete the roadside testing procedure Mr Treanor said Houston became “irate” “They formed the opinion the accused was under the influence of alcohol,” he said “He stated ‘I’m not doing it’.” said he eventually did comply with officers when he was taken in but “things were too far down the road” at that stage struggled with mental health issues when he was not offshore and had gotten into an argument with his partner on the night of his arrest “They are particularly severe when he’s onshore,” he said “An argument had taken place between him and his partner that evening He had taken himself away from the property and parked up with the intention of staying in his car overnight,” he added “As a result of that he had consumed alcohol.” He added Houston would not lose his job as a result of the conviction despite issues that will arise because of his lack of transport “Arrangements can be made for Mr Houston to get around them,” Mr O’Neill said Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov told Houston he will be banned from driving for the next three years He will also fall under the supervision of the social work department for 18 months be required to attend any alcohol treatment programmes they suggest and complete 100 hours of unpaid work within the community over the next nine months An Elgin man left his victim unconscious and unable to work for three weeks after “appalling unprovoked violence” on the town’s high street Kacper Siemeszko pulled another man to the ground before punching and kicking him on the head on April 27 Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh told Sheriff Gary Aitken at Inverness Sheriff Court that the 21-year-old was not known to his victim before the assault She said: “At 11pm the witness was on the High Street speaking to drivers in the taxi queue before there was pushing and shoving between the two Siemeszko then pulled his victim to the ground He then kicked him in the head and rendered him unconscious.” The assault was captured on CCTV and police on patrol arrested him after The victim was taken to A&E at Dr Gray’s Hospital and was found to have a bilateral fracture to his cheek bones alongside other injuries He was unable to work for three weeks and now suffers blurred vision in his right eye pled guilty to assault causing severe injury and endangerment of life Sheriff Aitken added: “This was an appalling piece of unprovoked violence.” Sentencing has been deferred until May 8 for background reports to be carried out A man has admitted committing assault after losing his temper while in an Elgin shop John Whyte was described as having chased the man around the store before repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body was caught on the shop’s CCTV and was also seen by witnesses It left its victim with a slight cut on his left temple which did not require hospital treatment Defence solicitor Megan Lee told Elgin Sheriff Court that rather than happening suddenly and from out of the blue there had been a long build-up to the violence She also stated that the attack was “wholly out of character” for her client Ms Lee said: “He’s a churchgoer and not someone who resorts to violence.” The lawyer then described the victim of the assault as someone who’s “well known to this court” Sheriff Aitken interjected at that point to say this wasn’t relevant to the case he’d since stepped back from his previous role there Sheriff Aitken said: “I can tell by just looking at you that you understand the stupidity of this.” who’s aged 48 and lives in the Kingsmills area of Elgin under the court’s supervision for the next 12 months During this time he will be expected to undergo a course in coping strategies and consequential thinking Welcome to Planning Ahead – our weekly round-up of the latest proposals across Moray Sit back and enjoy all of the most interesting planning news phone company EE will extend the time they will operate their store from a truck in the Elgin town centre Glamping pods have been proposed near Spey Bay Golf Course The JD Sports store in Elgin could be given a makeover And a hotel in Tomintoul will breathe new life into their function hall we look at approved plans to transform a former church hall near Buckie Last August, we revealed the Church of Scotland had completed the sale of Rathven Parish Church. The 230-year-old church held its last service on May 26 last year Bosses had put the historic property—complete with hall and car park—on the market for offers over £120,000 This sale was part of a nationwide drive to cut costs by selling churches as congregations dwindle and fewer ministers are being trained In December, new owner Paul McCawley submitted plans to transform the former church hall into a three-bedroom home The makeover included energy efficiency improvements The architects previously said the “relatively minor” alterations and change of use would have little impact on the heritage of the site and B-listed parish church Now the plans have been approved for the former hall In November, we revealed United Kingdom Distilleries Limited wanted to transform the Hotel Square’s function hall in Tomintoul into a micro distillery Floor plans previously showed the makeover included a production area and a store Now the plans have been given planning permission Work can’t start until a building warrant is approved for the £45,000 transformation Grant And Geoghegan Limited has been representing the business in the planning process Six glamping pods could be built next to the Spey Bay Golf Course. Mr C Docherty is behind the plans for the pods will allow guests use of the existing communal facilities such as the putting green they will benefit from a golf preferential fee rate when booking the pods The operator wants to build relationships with local businesses to offer their goods and services to guests These services will be promoted within the pods and local knowledge of beauty spots will be given to guests too In 2023,  US-based Links Golf Club bought the golf course that just sits along the Moray coastline The 18-hole golf course includes an associated caravan park Links is an online community that was created in 2021 and mainly consists of tech-forward millennials and Gen-Z golfers who have found a passion for the sport The business says it wants to revolutionise traditional golf by offering enthusiasts unique and exclusive experiences Phone company EE has given the go-ahead to operate their store from a truck for a further six months as they continue to hunt for a new permanent Elgin home They were one of the businesses made homeless by the St Giles Centre closure the company has been running a temporary store inside a truck parked on the Plainstones This comes as they will serve its customers beyond the 28-day period they had previously had. EE says it will “continue to serve the community and safeguard existing jobs” Last year, Chest Heart And Stroke Scotland opened up a new charity shop in Elgin unit 6 at Elgin Retail Park on Edgar Road was home to Bensons for Beds Now Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland bosses want to form a storage area According to building papers JD Sports want to carry out £20,000 worth of work at their Elgin store According to a building warrant the work proposed at unit 2 at Springfield Retail Park on Edgar Road includes electrical works for new lighting a replacement counter and new furniture layout Access to the shop will be maintained and fire complementation unchanged Are you going to be submitting interesting plans? Get in touch at sean.mcangus@ajl.co.uk Emergency services were called to Maverston Golf Course on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency services were called to Maverston Golf Course in the Garmouth Road area of Elgin at around 4.20pm on Tuesday. There are no suspicious circumstances regarding the incident. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 4.20pm on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, officers received a report of a man having taken unwell on a golf course in the Garmouth Road area of Elgin. “Emergency services attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. “There are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.” Rail travellers between Inverness and Elgin are facing chaos today through cancelled services A fault on the ScotRail train serving the route in both directions has led to major disruption with the cancellation of five services ScotRail has apologised to customers and says it has arranged for those affected to travel on Stagecoach North buses between Inverness and Elgin at no extra cost Those wishing to use the alternative service should show a valid ticket or Smartcard to the driver on request The 11.44 and 13:30 departures from Inverness to Elgin calling at Inverness Airport 12:36 and 14:25 departures from Elgin to Inverness The rail operator expects its late afternoon and evening services on the route to run as normal Other services between Inverness and Aberdeen are not affected Latest on rail services can be found here at National Rail. For several years Elgin bus station has been seen as the focal point for the town’s rising problems with anti-social behaviour Stagecoach staff have described it as a “no-go area” in previous summers amidst worries of teens from Buckie Keith and Forres congregating there on Friday and Saturday nights started the fire that forced Poundland to move to a temporary home And last year the worrying situation made national headlines following the tragic death of Stagecoach driver Keith Rollinson who was 15 at the time of the attack in February 2024 was later sentenced to four years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to culpable homicide In recent months the Press and Journal has spoken to Stagecoach drivers who say anti-social behaviour from youngsters continues to be an issue. Today the Elgin bus station remains a key focus from police and Moray Council staff doing patrols of the area The Press and Journal spent four hours on a Friday evening at Elgin bus station to see what happens on an average night It’s shortly after 6pm when I arrive at the bus station which has clearly brought people into the streets Walking into the bus station from towards Poundland the first sight I see are about eight teenagers Three of them are holding bottles of Buckfast It’s clear they don’t have much of a plan for the evening They keep drinking and smoking vapes for about the next hour or so but keep themselves to themselves without approaching other passengers When they eventually leave at about 7.30pm in the direction of the St Giles Centre one Stagecoach driver checks to see where they’ve gone they move from that corner over there to a different corner down there Surely they’ve got something better to do.” The rest of the bus station remains reasonably busy Some youths appear to have been out at a sports club or the gym others are just friends travelling home together He tries to make conversation with some waiting passengers but doesn’t cause any issues Looking around the bus station area you can see groups of teenagers discussing their options of where to use their bus passes to head for the night presumably unsatisfied with their options in Elgin In the end they decide Elgin is their best bet for the night and leave the bus station again Other teenagers pitch up at the rear entrance to Virgin Money to congregate and chat At about 8.30pm police pull up at the bus station and ask Stagecoach staff if they’ve seen a particular girl They say she would have arrived off a bus from Buckie about 15 minutes previously One Stagecoach driver says he saw her and points them in the direction of Tesco two other police officers park up at the bus station This time they’re just asking round passengers to make sure everything is fine the bus station only tends to get busy as passengers arrive to wait for a bus or one pulls in to drop people off After 9pm the buses appear to get more busy as a whole cross-section of society congregate to catch the last lifts home Manitoba and the south of Elgin leaves almost completely full of teenagers other youngsters continue to arrive at the bus station from outside the town eager to make plans for the evening Three boys, aged between 14 and 16, come off a 35 bus, which has come from Macduff, Buckie and Lhanbryde among other places By the time the last bus for Buckie is leaving at about 10pm the bus station is the busiest it has been all night I count 21 people boarding to head home for the evening Around the same time a fire engine pulls up one fireman gets out with a torch and immediately inspects the area at the rear or Virgin Money About an hour previously three boys were hanging out there Not causing any fuss or creating any noise just sitting together away from everyone else they join the Stagecoach passengers and head back into the night At The Northern Scot we are committed to delivering the very best coverage from communities right across our area Home   Sport   Article MORAY is set to welcome top rally drivers from across Scotland as the Speyside Stages are set to take place on Saturday Around 90 cars are entered to compete across eight stages in the region in the opening round of the Scottish Rally Championship Defending Speyside Stages champion David Bogie from Dumfries will be going for an incredible 12th title at the event as he partners up with co-driver John Rowan in a Skoda Fabia RS Among the leading contenders who are looking to challenge for the title include John Wink from Huntly in a Hyundai i20 R5, Jock Armstrong from Castle Douglas in a Skoda Fabia R5 and Mark McCulloch in a Proton Satria Evo Muir of Ord driver Scott MacBeth along with Elgin co-driver Daniel Forsyth who finished third at last year’s Snowman Rally in Ross-shire are also considered contenders for the title with their Skoda Fabia R5 Other Moray drivers taking part in the rally include Dougal Brown from Forres in a Ford Escort MK 2 Brett McKenzie from Elgin in a Mitsubishi Evo 8 Michael Philip from Alves in a Ford Escort MK 2 Robert Tonge from Elgin in an MG ZR and Neil Philip from Alves in a Subaru Impreza Clerk of the course Neil Shanks says it promises to be a competitive field to start the Scottish Rally Championship season He said: “Teams have been out throughout this week to prepare the course in the forests for this weekend “It is a really competitive field for the rally which will be under 90 cars and we are happy with that level “Quality wise it looks like it will be really competitive again.” The safety scrutineering event takes place on the High Street in Elgin on Friday as cars will undergo their final safety checks The rally will start as tradition around the perimeter roads at Cooper Park in Elgin on Saturday at 9am The forest stages this year will take place between Elgin Competitors will stop twice at the service area at Keith Showground during the day before heading back towards Elgin There is also a spectators area at Whiteash outside Fochabers for people to watch the cars in action The winners ceremony will take place at Moray College in Elgin at around 4pm Shanks says the start of the event at Cooper Park is always well attended by spectators and is a major part of what makes the rally so special He said: “We always try and make the Speyside Stages more than just a motorsport event “We want to make an occasion for the town and the communities where the rally takes place “The scrutineering event on Friday and spectator events at Cooper Park is ideal for people to get their first experience of rally driving “Hopefully we get nice weather for the event and a chance for people in Elgin to experience something which they might see only once a year.” VE Day came just too late for one young pilot from Elgin who failed to return from a mission over Nazi Germany John Edward Fraser lost his life just a fortnight before the end of the war in Europe on May 8 As the nation gears up to mark the 80th anniversary of the conflict’s close here are a few details about his short life Jock had been a high-achieving student at Elgin Academy after completing basic training at Cranwell in Lincolnshire Flight training often took place abroad in order to avoid contact with the Luftwaffe Jock was sent to No7 Air School in Kroonstad After initially learning how to handle a De Havilland Tiger Moth he joined 33 Squadron and began flying Spitfires as support for the advancing Allied ground troops Having transitioned from Spitfires to the new and faster Hawker Tempest Mark V planes its patrols began to fly deep into Germany itself Some of the comments contained within reveal his youthful thirst for adventure Jock was amongst eight Tempest pilots who encountered 15 Messerschmitt Bf 109s Jock accounted for one of the four enemy planes downed that day while the squadron also lost four of its own His logbook ends just under two months later with a short entry in someone else’s handwriting Jock is buried in the Becklingen war cemetery sited about a mile outside a village in north Germany that bears the same name He’s also commemorated on the New Elgin war memorial A short walk away from the monument lives Isobel King who’s 94-years old and the last member of the family who knew Jock She has fond memories of her cousin and can still quote his service number even after 80 years plus his medals and letters home are now part of the Elgin Museum collection They can be viewed by contacting the venue in advance other Second World War memorabilia can currently be seen in the entrance lobby at Elgin Library Mary Shand and Stewart Halkett researched and prepared the display in preparation for the 80th anniversary of VE Day and to illustrate the changes that the war brought to everyday life Stewart said: “You look at the amounts and we’d probably consume in a single day what they had to make last a week “People back then had to rely much more on growing things in their gardens In addition to extracts from the Northern Scot and photographs from the time the display also includes wartime items such as a women’s handbag with a special compartment to store a gas mask The display can be viewed at Elgin Library every day except Sunday Moray Council has launched the tender process for a main works contractor to undertake the redevelopment of Elgin Town Hall Elgin Town Hall is a key site within the Cultural Quarter project The total estimated capital costs for the Cultural Quarter are £28.2m which includes funding for both Elgin Town Hall and Grant Lodge £22.2m has been committed through the Moray Growth Deal The redevelopment of Elgin Town Hall is Phase One and is fully funded within this allocation The Cultural Quarter project is funded through £12.7m from the Scottish Government and £2m from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Working with advocates and partners such as The Grant Lodge Trust the team will explore options to secure additional investment for Grant Lodge from a number of external sources over the next 24 months whilst Elgin Town Hall is on site This next phase of the project aims to revitalise the historic venue enhancing its role as a central hub for culture and community activities The redevelopment will transform the space into a modern accessible facility that accommodates a diverse range of events Elgin Town Hall is a Category B listed building meaning the redevelopment will require careful consideration to preserve its historic features while integrating contemporary design elements to meet current and future needs Moray Council appointed LDN Architects to lead the design phase of Elgin Town Hall Working closely with Elgin Town Hall for the Community which were displayed at a public drop-in event in August 2024 Planning permission and listed building consent was given in November 2024 The selected contractor will be responsible for completing the construction work in line with these approved plans The tender is available on Public Contract Scotland (reference MAR526371) with a submission deadline of 30 April 2025 Moray Council’s Chair of the Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee said: “The redevelopment of Elgin Town Hall is a significant step forward in our commitment to enhancing cultural infrastructure in Moray This project will not only preserve a beloved historic building but also create a versatile space that meets the evolving needs of our community We encourage qualified contractors to participate in this opportunity to contribute to Moray's vibrant cultural landscape “The Cultural Quarter project also includes the future redevelopment of Grant Lodge collectively aiming to enhance Moray's appeal as a destination for residents and visitors alike.” More details on the Elgin Town Hall redevelopment, and the Cultural Quarter can be found at the My Moray website The A96 through Elgin will be closed across two days at the beginning of next month The road will shut at the Pansport Roundabout - near Anderson’s Care Home - on the evening of Wednesday This is to allow roads operator Amey to undertake ‘investigation works’ ahead of resurfacing works which will take place later in 2025 Investigations will include gathering information to ensure the future works are carried out efficiently The A96 will be closed between the Northfield roundabout and the Reiket Lane roundabout for the duration of the works eastbound traffic will take the third exit from Northfield Roundabout onto the A941 Northfield Terrace and follow to take the first exit at the roundabout onto Thornhill Road then continue onto Reiket Lane to rejoin the A96 Westbound traffic will take the route in reverse Local diversions will be in place for roundabouts and junctions onto the A96 which are within the closure area There will be local access between Reiket Lane Roundabout and Victoria Crescent westbound and between Pansport Roundabout and Reiket Lane Roundabout eastbound on the east side of the closure There will be local access between Northfield Roundabout and Cathedral Road on the west side of the closure He runs Active Control Environmental Services where he carries out work at hotels, restaurants and other businesses across Scotland he also took the plunge into renting out flats near Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin It has since grown into him setting up a dedicated property business he took another step by buying the Heather Glen Guest House on North Guildry Street has transformed the former Elgin town centre B&B into whisky-themed self catering accommodation and renamed it Stag & Barrel The location near the Gordon MacPhail building and huge potential for the large building was very attractive to Jamie The former dental practice has also come complete with an unusual treasure trove Previous owners showed him a pack of dental records inside the building including an X-ray of the teeth of Elgin showbiz agent Albert Bonici who was famous for bringing the Beatles to town Jamie said: “I sold my flats and saw the property and thought why not go for it “It’s been an absolute whirlwind since the start and the help from family and friends has been phenomenal “It was 18 hours a day getting the place transformed “The previous owners were really helpful with everything.” Elgin-native Jamie added: “I saw it as a building with huge potential “I thought I needed to put my own stamp on it but the previous owners have run it really successfully especially being near the Gordon MacPhail building which will be great once it is redeveloped “I have put in things like whisky barrel furniture and other things to capitalise on the heritage of Scotland and the whisky industry “It is a nice place for everyone not just for whisky tourism and I want to attract as many as possible to help the town “So far I’ve had a real good mix of guests which includes people from America and workers and students at UHI who are from Shetland.” Jamie hopes to encourage Stag & Barrel guests to use other businesses and in-turn help boost the Elgin town centre He added: “My goal is to promote the town centre as much as possible “I have information on my website about the local businesses and I have information documents in each of the rooms “I will be offering rooms only and there are many local pubs and restaurants people can enjoy “I’m all about bringing positivity to Elgin and helping the town centre flourish.” in the future he plans to increase capacity by renting out the three bedroom house which is part of the building and transform a former office into a kitchen he will continue to run his pest control company too Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. 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SNSPublished3 May 2025The final play-off spots have been decided in the Scottish Professional Football League's three lower divisions on a dramatic final day of the regular season Ayr prepare for play-off with win over Airdrieonians Cove Rangers and Queen of the South had already booked their play-off places Alloa Athletic and Stenhousemuir could all have ended up fourth winning 4-2 away to second-bottom Annan Athletic Queens drew 1-1 away to Arbroath to seal third spot but Alloa blew their hopes with a 2-1 defeat away to Kelty Hearts who were playing their first game after handing the player-manager job permanently to Thomas O'Ware That allowed Stenhousemuir to leapfrog the Wasps into fourth spot after their 2-1 win over bottom side and already relegated Dumbarton It means Cove will visit Queens in the first leg of the play-off semi-final on Tuesday who finished second bottom of the Championship The League 1 play-off places had already been decided with East Fife runners-up to fourth-tier champions Peterhead but Edinburgh City and Elgin City were still vying for third spot Edinburgh lost their city derby away to Spartans 3-1 but they remain in third after Elgin were beaten 2-0 away to East Fife who secured the title and automatic promotion by beating the Fifers last weekend It means Edinbugh will host East Fife in Tuesday's semi-final first leg Bonnyrigg Rose face a relegation play-off against East Kilbride to remain in the SPFL despite a 1-0 win away to Stranraer who had spent much of the season at the foot of the table completed their escape with a 0-0 draw at home to Stirling Albion to edge out Bonnyrigg on goal difference completed an aggregate win over Highland counterparts Brora Rangers who won their title by seven points from Celtic B drew 3-3 in Brora following last weekend's 4-1 home victory Bonnyrigg visit East Kilbride for the first leg next Saturday Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt Alpine poised to replace Doohan with Colapinto The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects What is still to be decided as season reaches climax Scotland men's internationals to be shown live on BBC Commonwealth Games: Why is it so special to be part of Team Scotland From titles to tinpottery - rank Scotland's top 10 clubs Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Hilferty at 76 minutesSubstitutesNumber 15 Wilde Match OfficialsReferee: Alex ShepherdAssistant Referee 1: Craig MacraeAssistant Referee 2: Scott BuntingMatch StatsKey Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time Dylan Gavin (Elgin City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right Matthew Cooper (Elgin City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close but misses to the right following a corner Dylan Gavin (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the attacking half Finn Ecrepont (Stranraer) wins a free kick on the left wing Mark Gallagher (Elgin City) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner Dylan Gavin (Elgin City) wins a free kick on the right wing Russell Dingwall (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the attacking half Springfield Properties has announced the appointment of a new construction director following the retirement of one of the company’s first employees Elgin native Darren Thomson has been promoted to the position of construction director in the north of Scotland following the retirement of Eck Patterson who had been an employee at Springfield for nearly 30 years started his career with the Moray-based firm as assistant project manager in 2016 rising through the ranks before his latest promotion He said: “My appointment has come at an exciting time for Springfield as we refocus on the north and the opportunities in the region such as the investment from the green infrastructure improvements “An important part of this process is developing the construction workforce for the future “Supporting and developing staff is and always has been a significant part of our ethos I’ve worked with Springfield for a number of years and benefitted from development opportunities along the way to prepare me for progression “We currently have 12.6 per cent of staff either in higher education or employed as an apprentice.” Mr Thomson’s appointment follows the launch of the firm’s apprenticeship recruitment scheme which advertised 21 positions across the business my focus will of course be to support our hard working and diligent site teams to ensure we are continuing to build high quality and energy efficient homes for people who need them,” Mr Thomson said “It’s an exciting new chapter in my Springfield career and I’m looking forward to getting started.” added: “Having worked closely with Darren over the past eight years I am proud of his promotion to construction director and look forward to seeing him thrive in this new role “Darren is deeply committed to our business goals and values and I have no doubt he will successfully lead our construction teams to ensure we continue to deliver the best quality homes for our customers.” Springfield is currently building homes in Elgin Drumnadrochit and Dornoch with a new development recently launched in Buckie Solar and storage platform Elgin has purchased the development arm of Amberside Energy Elgin has acquired 100% of the share capital of Amberside Energy’s development arm The sale of the development arm leaves Amberside Energy to retain control of its primary business which involves the creation of software solutions for renewable energy developers Amberside Energy has created software tools that estimate available grid capacity in Britain Elgin will now take control of Amberside Energy’s entire development pipeline Elgin currently has a development pipeline of over 16GW of solar and co-located battery energy storage system (BESS) projects Elgin has currently delivered over 1.4GW of projects from origination to energisation since being founded in 2009 “This is a great strategic acquisition to grow our pipeline across the UK,” said Ronan Kilduff added: “This strategic sale allows Amberside Energy to sharpen its focus on our core competencies—creating advanced software and data analytics solutions for project development and operational asset management we can extend our reach and deliver these solutions to a broader market beyond our internal operations” The deal follows hot on the heels of news of a major portfolio purchase by Elgin. Earlier this month, Elgin acquired a 318MW solar and storage portfolio from a fund managed by Foresight Group. Four of these projects won contracts in most recent Contracts for Difference (CfD) allocation round construction is expected to begin on a number of these projects in the first half of 2025 a subsidiary of British water utility Pennon Group Solar and storage developer Elgin Energy has acquired a large solar and storage portfolio from a fund managed by Foresight Group The 318MW portfolio is comprised of six sites spread across the UK at various stages of development four of them – with a combined capacity of 164MW – secured contracts in the most recent Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 6 (AR6) Elgin states that it expects construction to begin on several of the projects in the first half of this year This is not the first time Elgin Energy and Foresight Group have worked together. The two companies have had a business relationship for almost five years, having formed a joint venture in September 2020 with the aim of developing 200MW of new solar PV capacity across England Elgin has not yet responded to a request for comment has reportedly told other news outlets: “​​Acquiring this portfolio marks a defining moment for Elgin as we solidify our position as an independent power producer (IPP) These projects represent our commitment to delivering tangible high-quality renewable energy solutions that align with the UK’s net-zero ambitions.  We look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition and playing a key role in the nation’s energy transition.” associate investment director at Foresight added: “We are delighted to have completed the sale of this portfolio of solar and storage projects to Elgin having co-developed the projects since 2020 The realisation of this investment underscores our commitment to building sustainable energy solutions.” This is the first major asset purchase that Elgin has taken part in since receiving a significant investment boost last spring. In April 2024, investment firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) acquired a majority stake in Elgin Energy for £250 million with the intention of helping Elgin Energy to deliver a 15GW project portfolio in 2023 and sold a 16-project Irish portfolio totalling 191MW of capacity to investment group Allianz Capital Partners in February 2024 Elgin has stated its intention to transition into an IPP the firm secured a £60 million revolving credit facility from Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) in order to support this mission which the firm said would be used to grow its team and pipeline in new and existing markets as well as supporting its 15GW development portfolio Elgin secured a development rights deal with Severn Trent Green Power to construct three large-scale solar PV power plants in Leicestershire The three projects are classified as “ready to build” A man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for viciously assaulting a woman Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Andrew Clark kicked and stamped on her head after earlier threatening to hit her with a rock on May 14 Video footage of the assault was shown in court later threatened to cut his own throat after police forced entry to his home on the same day Officers had to deploy a PAVA spray and their batons to make him drop the knife The 31-year-old admitted committing the serious assault in Cumming Circle Elgin and a charge of threatening behaviour Defence agent Stephen Carty said his client had a number of mental health conditions and was currently engaging with drug and alcohol services the court had previously heard from fiscal depute Emily Hood that: “He pushed her backwards and then repeatedly punched her on the head causing her to fall to the ground before repeatedly kicking and stamping on her head “This was captured by a witness on his mobile phone.” they found the woman slumped on the ground in front of her house with swelling to her face and a cut on the bridge of her nose “A CT scan confirmed that she suffered a fracture around her left eye cheek and the nasal bone and a concussion," Ms Hood said The court heard Clark was traced to his home but refused entry to the officers Ms Hood went on: "He was in a small corridor in possession of a knife which he held to his throat stating he would cut it if officers came any closer “He momentarily removed the knife from his throat allowing an officer to deploy his PAVA spray into his eyes." Officers then grabbed his wrist and one used his baton to strike his arm Sheriff Gary Aitken sentenced Clark to serve 18 months and nine months Sheriff Aitken said: “Given the nature of charge two and the violence behaviour of this kind is not acceptable.” Businesses have rejected renewing Elgin Bid in a narrow vote that divided town centre traders Supporters of the organisation backed the group’s efforts to address empty properties control the growing gull population and keep the High Street tidy Opponents though say they were not getting value for money on a levy they have no choice but to pay at a time of tightening bills The result of the ballot of Elgin town centre businesses was extremely close with 69 opposing another five-year term for Bid while just 63 backed the group – 290 eligible firms didn’t vote at all figures published by Moray Council show the value of businesses backing Bid was almost treble those that opposed it It likely means that while the organisation found favour with larger firms smaller businesses voted overwhelmingly to reject it Elgin Bid has organised the Christmas decorations and big festive switch-on in the town centre it means that any kind of celebration in the town centre this year is at risk Elgin Bid has also been responsible for funding work to address rising worries from gulls in the town centre The group says it is ceasing operations immediately meaning any work that was planned for the summer season will likely be cancelled The organisation is also responsible for the Elgin Gift Card additional street cleaning in the town centre and providing advice about where businesses can secure funding In an e-mail to members following the result Elgin Bid told businesses they were proud of the work done since 2010 It read: “We want to sincerely thank everyone who supported Elgin Bid in the recent renewal ballot “This marks the end of a chapter that has seen Elgin Bid deliver a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving the town centre – from events and promotions to direct business support and grateful to the businesses who have supported that work “The Bid will now begin a formal wind-down process and our team will ensure this is carried out smoothly and responsibly.” Labour Elgin South councillor John Divers has been on the Bid’s board since its formation 15 years ago He believes the demise of the group could have a negative impact on regeneration efforts in the town centre while the future of the St Giles Centre also remains unknown And he questioned the decision of other councillors who voted in favour of Moray Council abstaining in the ballot Mr Divers said: “There’s been all this work going on between Moray Council and Elgin Bid to get this regeneration work going including at the old M&Co which was just about to start “Elgin Bid brought footfall into the town centre, there’s no doubt about that. Whether it was keeping the High Street tidier, deterring seagulls or through events “The big question now is who will pick up that mantle now “Others in the council have suggested Moray Chamber of Commerce or the Federation of Small Businesses “I think some councillors just didn’t think it through This could have a big impact on the council’s finances much more than the £16,000 levy we paid Bid every year.” SNP Elgin North councillor Jérémie Fernandes was among those in the chambers who backed Moray Council’s decision to abstain in the vote on the future of Elgin Bid. Today he explained the result will now allow businesses in the town centre to decide the best way forward it reinforces that Moray Council made the right decision in choosing to abstain “Taking a position would have influenced the outcome in a way that didn’t fairly reflect the views of the business community “If a majority had backed the renewal the council would have fully supported the Bid that decision rightly belongs to the businesses themselves it’s for them to consider the next steps and decide on a structure that best meets their needs.” Labour Elgin North councillor Sandy Keith believes the decision not to take a stance on the future of Bid influenced the process He said: “The result means there will be no unified business voice going forward and it puts in jeopardy things like the farmers markets and the fight against seagulls “I think that the SNP and Tory councillors who voted to prevent Moray Council taking a position on the continuation of Bid was a big mistake “It set the background to this vote as it gave the view the council doesn’t care about the development and economic health of the centre of Elgin – that is to their eternal shame.” McHale Match OfficialsReferee: Jordan CurranAssistant Referee 1: Calum DoyleAssistant Referee 2: Lewis WebsterMatch StatsKey Mark Gallagher (Elgin City) wins a free kick on the left wing Ross Draper (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Lewis Hyde (Elgin City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time Russell Dingwall (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Mark Stowe (The Spartans) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner Mark Stowe (The Spartans) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal Lewis Hyde (Elgin City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high Jake Dolzanski (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Mark Stowe (The Spartans) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked A teenager who chased, punched and kicked a boy while he was on the ground has been ordered to carry out hours of unpaid work. Elgin Sheriff Court heard that on September 28, 2023, at around 8pm, Kai Thorpe, who now lives in Forres, was with a group of males near St Giles Church in Elgin when they noticed a 14-year-old boy walk by. After an interaction, one of the males tried to punch the boy. He tried to run away but was chased down, however, by Thorpe who proceeded to punch him, knock him over and kick him while he was on the ground. He was arrested and charged by police two days later on September 30. The 19-year-old appeared before the court for sentencing regarding two further matters. In the evening of September 21, 2024, Thorpe was at a property in Burghead with two other witnesses before an argument started. Before leaving the property, he took one of the witness’ tobacco. He was traced by the witnesses later that day when they tried to retrieve it. Having exhausted all other avenues of trying to get it back, one of the witnesses phoned their mother and handed the phone to Thorpe to speak to her. However, upon doing so, Thorpe tried to strike them and a struggle ensued. The trio fell to the ground and Thorpe purposefully smashed the phone while it was in his hand. Thorpe also admitted to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and resisting arrest after a separate incident on September 7, 2024. Defence solicitor Grant Daglish told the court his client accepts that his behaviour had been unacceptable. He added that he was “remorseful” stating that he has “turned a corner” recently. Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov ordered Thorpe to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work to be completed within six months. She also imposed a one year supervision order with a review in one month’s time. McDonald at 86 minutesSubstituteshome team substituted for Jack Brown at 46 minutesNumber 21 Walker Match OfficialsReferee: Graham GraingerAssistant Referee 1: James McCluskeyAssistant Referee 2: Michael MacDermidMatch StatsKey Oliver Colloty (Peterhead) wins a free kick in the attacking half Jason Brown (Peterhead) wins a free kick in the defensive half Cieran Dunne went off injured after Peterhead had used all subs Delay in match because of an injury Cieran Dunne (Peterhead) Dylan Gavin (Elgin City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner Peter Pawlett (Peterhead) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Mark Gallagher (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the defensive half A new community space is to open in New Elgin this weekend following months of planning with residents A special lights and music show will mark the opening of “The Link” on Southfield Drive from 3.30pm on Saturday 30 November The event follows months of planning and community engagement involving the Moray Pathways Local Employability Partnership (LEP) and the New Elgin Community Plan and a number of local volunteers have already signed up to help with the running of the space It has been agreed that the facility will be open to people of all ages in the community In the first phase it will operate as a daytime drop-in centre offering a range of taster sessions including parent and family drop-ins Communities and Children services committee Cllr Kathleen Robertson said: “The opening of this new space is the culmination of a lot of hard work from the LEP and the New Elgin Community Plan “I am delighted to see this vision become a reality It’s a wonderful example of how the community has come together to create a place where people of all ages can gather added: “This is such an exciting opportunity for members of this local community and local groups to come together to make connections It’s been great to see residents working together to share ideas get involved and bring the project to life Saturday’s opening will involve a range of fun activities including a bouncy castle and Santa’s grotto The new space will be available to members of the community in New Elgin A shoplifter threatened to stab a retail worker in the face when confronted outside JD Sports in Elgin Alistair McLeod took a bag with him into the store on the Springfield Retail Park at about 4pm on October 24 Elgin Sheriff Court was told another shopper then saw the 49-year-old “stuffing items of clothing into it” Fiscal depute Shay Treanor said: “A short time later the store’s security alarm went off “Two of the staff went outside to investigate and were told by a member of the public that the accused was hiding behind a vehicle in the nearby carpark “One of them asked to see what was in the bag ‘If you come any closer I will stab your ******* eye out’ “The staff members went back inside in fear for their safety.” It was stated in court that McLeod had stolen several jackets worth £790 in total none of these jackets were ever recovered either by the defendant or by the store It was claimed instead that McLeod had run off from the car park Defence solicitor Iain Maltman stated his client had experienced issues with drugs and alcohol over the years The lawyer added: “He wants to apologise for his behaviour towards the store’s staff.” who had earlier spent 37 days in prison on remand was not fit enough to do unpaid work for the community Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov told him to pay £790 to JD Sports she ordered him to pay £200 in compensation to the staff member he’d threatened McLeod was also placed under the court’s supervision for the next two years to monitor his progress Construction on the flagship South Street regeneration project in Elgin will start in early 2025 delivered as part of the £18m Levelling Up Fund will see ground level clearance on the site which includes several properties in South Street and Elgin High Street including two former toy shops and two derelict sites formerly the Newmarket Bar and the Jailhouse nightclub will be redeveloped The project is a partnership between Moray Council This is the first Levelling Up Fund project to start including the redevelopment of the vacant former Sawmill by Linkwood Road and the reimagining of Cooper Park Improvements to Cooper Park will include accessible walkways The existing toilet block in Cooper Park will also be transformed into new toilets and café with facilities for all park users The central Elgin project will also boost the evening economy including a new creative arts centre for jobs and community projects in the former Gordon Arms Hotel in the High Street and new café spaces will enhance the area’s outdoor culture A dedicated contact for the local business community who may be impacted by construction works will be available as well as regular public updates on the progress of the projects explained there will be some short-term pain for long-term gain: "This is exciting progress for Elgin and the wider Moray community The Levelling Up Fund is all about improving infrastructure and supporting town centre regeneration and the South Street redevelopment is a great signal that Moray is up for this transformation “I’m looking forward to seeing construction on the project begin in early 2025 and vibrant public spaces to our town centre We appreciate that there will be disruption to South Street during the construction phases But I hope residents and visitors will appreciate this needs to happen to get the transformation we want to see in our region’s capital The council gives a commitment to make sure any disruption is communicated as effectively as possible and I thank folk in advance for their patience during any temporary work to help make Moray an event better place to live Businesses who rejected Elgin BID “couldn’t speak freely or be listened to” and began to wonder: “Why are we paying for this?” a different business owner who backed the organisation has warned that its loss could cause a “far greater” impact than many expect We spoke to those on both sides of the debate over Elgin BID after it was denied another five-year term representing the town centre Businesses voted down the organisation by a margin of 52 per cent to 48 per cent in a contest with a turnout of just 34 per cent which previously delivered the annual Christmas lights event food and drink festival and farmers markets With the impact of the vote still uncertain we spoke to local businesses about how they reached their decision and their opinions on what the future holds who has owned the Ditsy Teacup café on Thunderton Place since 2018 she served on the organisation’s board before the demands of her business caused her to step back in autumn 2022 she was among the 52 per cent of business owners which voted against Elgin BID and I think they have a place in our businesses “And it wasn't a huge surprise that it didn't get voted through "It is disappointing to see the demise of it "But I think the message was clear from all the businesses Laura said she decided to vote against Elgin BID because she felt the organisation was not taking on board the views of businesses “You didn't feel like your voice was heard or listened to,” she added "Businesses felt like we didn't really have a platform to speak freely “The economic climate and other factors mean that businesses are having to work harder than ever before to try and turn anything like a profit having that additional cost for something where I didn't feel like I was getting value for money really made you go: ‘Well "The businesses that I've spoken to share my frustrations.” The cafe owner expressed her sympathy for the Elgin BID staff facing unemployment due to the result “I feel for the team that have all lost their jobs,” Laura said “That is obviously not nice and it's not something that we there's people who have lost their jobs and lost their livelihood.” the Ditsy Teacup boss said she may consider supporting a BID in a future ballot if it was done differently it would need to represent a broader range of businesses rather than just hospitality There also need to be “well-run events that are professional” and which show off the best parts of the town there would need to be some changes to the way it has been run "BID needs to have a stronger voice within the council Laura also paid tribute to the work of the organisation’s street ambassadors who were “very proactive” in keeping the town centre and listening to businesses Street ambassador Willie Duncan was a “really big advocate for businesses” Lee Midlane has been running her business IT Central from its home on South Street for nearly a decade The businesswoman - who is an Elgin BID director and board member - said she was “very surprised” that the organisation had been voted down because I've had a good working relationship with Elgin BID for the 10 years that my business IT Central has been here,” she said the organisation had supported her in several key ways “We had times where we were looking to do renovation work on the building and we were having difficulty communicating with the council,” she added “They were able to speak to the right people that I couldn't speak to and actually got answers that I wasn't able to get “There were times where I needed answers to things and they were able to provide answers.” The business owner also warned that the business community’s decision could lead to unintended consequences Among the impacts could be the loss of Elgin BID’s gull reduction program farmer’s markets and the Elgin Christmas lights switch-on “I think it's quite short-sighted really,” Lee added “People are only going to realise what they're losing once it’s gone “It could be that the ripples of this decision are actually far greater than people anticipate “Without somebody to actually do the organisation and the licensing and all the permits and things for events certainly not something that we could organise on our own.” Moray Council agreed to abstain on the vote for the first time after backing Elgin BID in three prior ballots Lee said this may have influenced the opinions of business owners and because I think it sort of signalled that they didn't have confidence in BID,” she added I think that could definitely have pushed them to be a no rather than a yes Lee also runs a clothing business named Box Brand She said Elgin BID had a vital role in helping create the brands by offering her a free stall at farmers’ markets which let her test new products The debate over Elgin BID across social media had featured “strong and inaccurate opinions at times” including from members of the public without a vote despite her fears about what the loss of Elgin BID might mean for the town she said she could understand why people voted as they did “I can understand it when you see the changes that the government is making with minimum wage and national insurance and everything else,” she added “The extra cost on small businesses is huge and I know for us the change of cost is like four figures a month “I think people are just trying to save pennies wherever they can Free parking after 3pm at St Giles Multi-storey car park returns from 23 November until 28 December 2024 While many are already in the festive spirit Christmas well and truly arrives in Elgin on Saturday 23 November with the Elgin BID Christmas lights switch-on Coinciding with the festivities this year is the return of Free After Three giving free car parking in the St Giles Multi-storey car park from 3pm-6pm for the rest of the year the initiative is in its tenth year and aims to on the success of previous years by encouraging residents and visitors to shop local and support local businesses in the run-up to Christmas and during the traditional festive sales Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Growth and Infrastructure Services Committee the Free After Three scheme is ideal to take advantage of at this time of year Whether you’re coming to see the lights switch on or popping in for some last minute gifts nearer to Christmas I know our local businesses will appreciate your support this festive period.” Our under-18s will look to continue their productive CAS Cup form when they travel north to face Elgin City on Friday evening The match is scheduled to kick-off at 6.15pm on the astroturf pitch beside Borough Briggs The young team were last in action earlier this month when they were defeated 3-0 by Greenock Morton at McDiarmid Park Defender Arran Brookfield was on hand to preview the Elgin match He said: “It was a difficult one to take against Morton the other week but we can’t really do much about it now You need to remain positive and move onto the next game “We know that there has to be a reaction and that all of your focus needs to move onto the next week We have some momentum in the cup and we’ll be looking to keep that going and progress in the competition “We don’t know too much about Elgin but they will be a physical team We need to cope with that and hopefully our technical aspect can come through “Training has been a great standard this week and now we just need to carry that through until matchday.” Our newsletterStay up to date with all things SaintsSign up to receive our newsletter to get our latest news and offers Ground clearance has officially started on Elgin’s South Street regeneration project milestone in this transformative development the initial stage involves clearing several properties on South Street and Elgin High Street including two former toy shops and two derelict sites – the former Newmarket Bar and the Jailhouse nightclub This will be followed by site investigations and below-ground works the façade from the old market will be preserved The South Street regeneration forms part of two key Moray Growth Deal projects: In addition to housing and the Business Enterprise Hub the development will provide opportunities for three commercial retail units and improved public spaces The enabling works will continue over the next few months with construction expected to begin by summer 2025 To support the local business community during construction, a dedicated contact will be available to address concerns, and regular public updates on the project’s progress will be provided. In the meantime, queries can be directed to regeneration@moray.gov.uk is delighted that the project is underway: “This regeneration project is set to breathe new life into Elgin’s town centre fostering innovative business opportunities we’re ensuring a brighter future for the community “This project demonstrates the benefits of collaborative working showcasing how strong partnerships can drive meaningful change It’s fantastic to see with our own eyes this ambitious project come to life and I’m eager to follow its progress in the months ahead as I know many locals will too.” said: “This regeneration project will deliver lasting positive change in Elgin creating new opportunities that enhance the town’s appeal as a vibrant place to live “This milestone marks an important step toward the transformation of South Street fostering local employment and driving economic growth and it’s especially meaningful for us to collaborate with Moray Council and UHI Moray to bring this ambitious vision to life.” UHI Moray Principal and Senior Responsible Officer (Business Enterprise Hub) added: “UHI Moray is delighted to be a key part of this exciting new development in the heart of Elgin “This new facility and new resource will allow us to make a step-change in our work here with local partners in Moray to enable local businesses to grow and develop through training Yellow Card at 62 minutesSubstituteshome team Yellow Card at 62 minutesSubstitutesNumber 12 McHale Match OfficialsReferee: Andy GambleAssistant Referee 1: Elliot Husband PowtonAssistant Referee 2: Calum HaswellMatch StatsKey Russell Dingwall (Elgin City) header from the left side of the box is blocked Ouzy See (Edinburgh City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close Owen Cairns (Elgin City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left Kyle Girvan (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Innes Lawson (Edinburgh City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close but misses to the right from a direct free kick James Stokes (Edinburgh City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Malik Zaid (Edinburgh City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal Jack Murray (Elgin City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Ouzy See (Edinburgh City) wins a free kick on the right wing A pavement on Elgin High Street is set to be narrowed to make way for more disabled parking The selected pavement has been a popular illegal parking spot for a number of years but now drivers will have to think twice before pulling in The move is intended to make up for the prospective loss of blue badge spaces elsewhere in the town the disabled spaces on Commerce Street are to be paved over as part of a cycle link being built from Moss Street through to Lossie Wynd Moray Council says the flow of traffic through Commerce Street will be reversed and bollards will “remove unauthorised vehicles from the pedestrianised areas” A separate proposal to pedestrianise Thunderton Place would see timed bollards blocking all traffic except delivery vehicles between 11am-4pm thereby limiting the daytime use of the disabled spaces there A total of eight spaces are coming to the centre of Elgin Both sides of the High Street pavement before Batchen Street – a popular pavement parking spot – will be narrowed to create four of them North Guildry Street will get two of the others The North Guildry street spaces could be painted as early as this summer the council have not yet committed to a date for the High Street spaces while the construction of the cycle link and bollards is not expected before 2027 Two 12-year-old boys missing from Elgin have been traced An appeal to find Rylan Miller and Riley Minnican was launched yesterday evening after going missing on the morning of March 20 Police Scotland also thanked everyone for their help in sharing the appeal A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We can confirm that two 12-year-old boys Rylan Miller and Riley Minnican who were reported missing from Moray have been traced “Thank you to everyone who shared our earlier appeal.” A man armed himself with knives and threatened police with bottles of acid and a petrol bomb during an hours-long Elgin siege appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court by video link from HMP Polmont to admit charges of assault and threatening behaviour at a house on the town’s Jasmine Drive on May 25 who is currently serving a two-year jail sentence was jailed for 32 months by Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald Fiscal depute Emily Hood told Sheriff Macdonald that a row sparked by birthday presents led to the siege which Grant said would be “the biggest Elgin has ever seen” He became aggressive after being told by his partner that she had spent £700 on his bank card on gifts Ms Hood said: "He pushed her with both hands to the floor and she went out to the garden to phone the police “The accused said: 'If she is phoning the police his attention turned to a young girl in the property and he pushed her down the stairs before police were called Ms Hood added: "Police arrived and he barricaded himself in the house was seen to be drinking vodka and taking tablets got three knives and threatened to kill any officer who came in “He shouted: 'This is going to be the biggest siege Elgin has ever seen.' The court heard that Grant could be seen pouring boiling water into a bottle and adding sugar to it before threatening to throw it over the police He also claimed he had acid in another bottle The siege came to an end when Grant became unsteady on his feet and then collapsed unconscious as a result of the intoxicants he had taken the Sheriff told him: "Your behaviour was absolutely shocking and violent unacceptable towards people who were trying to help you and you were apparently relishing it “Because of the danger you posed and the threats you made to police