We use cookies to collect information about how you use the Police Scotland website We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve our services A 27-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a man in Larkhall Police were called to a property on Fairholm Street around 10pm on Saturday where a 32-year-old man was found with serious injuries He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow He has now been named as Iain Kennedy from Larkhall Mr Kennedy's family said: “Iain was a much-loved brother “He will be missed by all who knew him and we would ask that we are given privacy to come to terms with our loss at this time.” The 27-year-old is due to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Monday of Lanarkshire CID said: "Our thoughts are with Mr Kennedy's family and friends at this most difficult time Officers are continuing to provide his family with support." Local Area Commander said: "We understand this incident has caused concern within the local community and I want to reassure residents that there will be an ongoing presence in the area “Additional patrols are being carried out to provide reassurance and I would encourage anyone with concerns to speak to our officers "We remain committed to working closely with the public to ensure their safety and wellbeing and I would like to thank the community for their cooperation and support during this time." Police Scotland support those who wish to become police officers special constables or police staff by hosting various online and in-person recruitment events throughout the year supported victims and a thriving workforce Read about our 2030 vision and three-year plan Worried that your partner or the partner of someone you know might have an abusive past we'd appreciate your feedback on the service we provided Police Scotland has been working to make its websites more accessible - read our accessibility statement the SNP’s candidate Katy Loudon has called out the “deafening silence” on Labour’s broken promises by both Anas Sarwar and Labour’s by-election candidate Only this week 14 Labour MSPs voted to support the latest round of Labour cuts which are expected to push 250,000 people into poverty Not only did those Labour MSPs vote to support cuts but eight others failed to vote at all – including Anas Sarwar himself Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election has not spoken out against Labour cuts which will harm countless families in the constituency He’s also been silent on Labour’s record in government which includes: Katy Loudon said that Anas Sarwar’s silence over the Labour Party’s broken promises proves that neither he can be trusted to do right by the people of Hamilton Labour has maintained the awful two child cap taken away vital payments from pensioners and overseen soaring household bills – and all within a matter of months Labour MSPs are in lockstep with their London bosses – with most of their MSPs backing the £5 billion of Labour cuts to disability support while others Larkhall and Stonehouse deserve better than a Labour candidate who will look the other way and I will be taking that message to doorsteps across Hamilton If you need help, please contact member.care@snp.org or call 0800 633 5432 Don't have an account? Sign up Emergency services were called to a home on Fairholm Street in Larkhall at around 10pm on Saturday. Emergency services were called to a home on Fairholm Street in Larkhall at around 10pm on Saturday, following reports of a 32-year-old man being found with serious injuries. Iain Kennedy was transported to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where he later died. Jordan Muir, from Larkhall, faced four charges when he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Monday, including murder and assaulting a police officer. The 27-year-old made no plea. He was committed for further examination and remanded in custody. Muir is due to appear in court again within eight days. 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+" Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on 5th June 2025 I am determined to continue the hard work of our dear friend and colleague Christina was a tireless champion for the community and for Scotland and this by-election is an opportunity to honour her incredible legacy Christina’s commitment to the constituency was unwavering and my promise to you is that I will always put the people of Scotland’s interests first This by-election is more important than ever for the SNP and for Scotland against the backdrop of a recent poll showing a double-digit lead for independence support the Labour government in Westminster is failing us – ramping up cuts Take the issue of rising energy bills: under Labour pensioners are being hit hard with cuts to winter fuel payments The SNP is committed to bringing these payments back We also remain steadfast in our support for Scotland’s NHS While the SNP works every day to improve access to GP services and tackle waiting times we’ll never stop fighting to ensure that Scotland’s NHS is protected for future generations This by-election is an opportunity for you to make your voice heard and get into the swing of things for the Scottish Parliamentary election in 2026 Please join me and my local team for this crucial by-election campaign by contacting me via email or visiting our Campaign Hub at 18 Townhead Street It’s open 10am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 6.30pm Saturday and Sunday The first campaign session kicks off at 10:30am with additional shifts available at 2pm and 6pm Campaign activities are also available throughout the day so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved You can also help us to reach people across every part of the constituency by donating to the campaign Donate now If you need help, please contact member.care@snp.org or call 0800 633 5432 Subscribe Scotland’s fortnightly political & current affairs magazine Subscribe Larkhall and Stonehouse will head to the polls in June | Iain Masterton / Alamy Stock Photo Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency will take place in the first week of June The vacancy was created following the death of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie The serving government minister died last month after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer The SNP has already announced that Katy Loudon the deputy lord lieutenant of Lanarkshire Other parties have yet to name their candidates The winner will hold the seat for less than a year before the next election McKelvie had a majority of 4,582 votes over Labour’s Monica Lennon at the last election with the Conservatives’ Meghan Gallacher coming in a distant third Loudon has said she would “work tirelessly to build on Christina’s incredible legacy” She added: “Times are tough for a lot of people right now but this community has so much going for it and I’m determined that we deliver a brighter future for everyone The SNP will continue to show the positive difference we can make when we have the powers to do so.” The byelection will take place on Thursday 5 June with the winner to be declared the following day The new MSP will be sworn in the week after McKelvie’s funeral took place last week tributes poured in from across the political spectrum at the news of her passing in March Holyrood provides comprehensive coverage of Scottish politics, offering award-winning reporting and analysis: Subscribe Read the most recent article written by Staff Reporter - Climate change chief: Scotland still failing to make progress on cutting emissions Get award-winning journalism delivered straight to your inbox © Political Holdings Limited document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); A busy public meeting heard Larkhall residents' concerns about plans for the new £24m sports centre(Image: Contributed/Hamilton Advertiser)People power has won out in the plans for a new Larkhall Leisure Centre – with South Lanarkshire Council leader Joe Fagan announcing almost £4 million of extra funding to provide an enlarged games hall “in line with community aspirations” It means the planned new centre would have an indoor sports area accommodating at least three badminton courts rather than the controversial original plans that called for making use of facilities at neighbouring Larkhall Academy when available Local residents called the move “a huge win for Larkhall and our communities” following a passionate campaign for upgraded facilities, including their recent busy public meeting and online petition which gathered nearly 1800 signatures and say their voices have been “heard loud and clear” The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now Get all the news from your area – as well as features sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Councillor Fagan says his administration will be proposing a funding upgrade of £3.85m at the local authority’s annual budget meeting on Wednesday using “a small window of opportunity in which the council can inject more cash into the project” to elevate the overall budget from £23.9m to £27.75m He said: “Larkhall needs a new leisure centre and we are going to build one – and we now believe we can build one with a larger games hall I intend to put forward a council budget that invests in all parts of South Lanarkshire and that will include increasing investment in our Larkhall Leisure Centre project “I have listened to representations from the community They have made a strong case but it is only through the swift action I am proposing that we can put in place investment for the new financial year – not available until now – to expand the project He noted that the original proposals represented “the best project we could [put forward] with the funding available” but said of the new announcement: “Should the council move quickly to invest more in Larkhall as part of the coming budget The news has been warmly welcomed by Larkhall residents and representatives with community council chair Tommy McPhee saying: “A huge thank you to those who added their voice to the call for additional funding we will now have a facility fit for purpose.” chair of local charity and voluntary group organisation Larkhall Plan Partnership said: “South Lanarkshire Council’s decision to increase the leisure centre funding to £27m is the right one and one which we greatly appreciate It demonstrates that we can influence those in power and make our voices heard when we come together and fight for the services we deserve “We had been in talks with the council about what was needed to meet the needs of the town now and also for generations to come We recognise the tight financial position that all public services are facing and are doing everything we can to do as much for ourselves as a community including seeking funding from other sources “Larkhall is growing as a town – this decision increases the shelf-life of the centre and makes better financial sense in the long run We look forward to working with the council in bringing this much-needed new facility to fruition as the project continues and construction begins.” She thanked “the local community for making their voices heard” and politicians who supported the campaign including Larkhall ward councillors Richard Nelson and Ross Clark Councillor Nelson called the funding increase “fantastic news” saying it had come following cross-party budget work and “weeks of hard work discussions and efforts behind the scenes” and said: “This means we will now have a bigger games hall which will include a three-court badminton area “This victory belongs to the people of Larkhall – their support unity and dedication have made this possible but securing this funding is a massive step forward.” Councillor Clark, who had again written this week to the council leader alongside local MSP Christina McKelvie thanked all those involved in the long-running campaign and said: “I’m glad that the council leader has finally U-turned on the proposed limited replacement of Larkhall leisure centre [and] acknowledged the pressure that’s been put on him “Councillor Fagan might say he listens to communities’ needs but it’s taken a sustained public campaign for him to hear them “I’ve also secured an item in the SNP’s opposition budget for increased funding to ensure the facility meets local needs so it’s good to see that regardless of the outcome of next week’s budget meeting Larkhall will get the investment it deserves.” Residents had spent months outlining their concerns about the lack of indoor sports provision in the planned new centre calling proposals to use the nearby school “a downgrade” and highlighting issues including reduced availability to the public while the facilities are in school use Building work on the new centre is due to start later this year with the planned replacement for the ageing existing leisure facility due to include a 25m swimming pool sports courts and community meetings space * Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. 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Larkhall Thistle Community Football Club has been granted a 25-year lease for Raploch pitches and pavilion This will allow the team to continue to manage the facility as a going concern for the development of youth football and incrementally invest in the facility to redevelop the pavilion introduce an artificial pitch and improve parking and security Larkhall Thistle Chairperson David Cerretti said: “It has been a long journey but having finally arrived I can honestly say Larkhall Thistle Community Football Club is thrilled to secure the Raploch on a long term 25-year lease This is a major step forward for the club and the local community “The new lease agreement ensures we will continue to serve the children and community of Larkhall as a hub for grassroots football and much more “While we face many challenges ahead this stability allows us to plan ahead increase participation in grassroots football and importantly look to expand our portfolio of delivery.” Chair of the council’s Housing and Technical Resources Committee said: “This is great news for football supporters across Larkhall with the oldest junior club in Scotland securing their home for the foreseeable future “I wish the club every success and I am sure they will continue to grow and help develop the next generation of top Scottish football talent.” Employment support for care experienced young people Bold course set for health and social care in South Lanarkshire Elmer having a jungle adventure in Lanark next month Award for charity that connects people with jobs New Education director for South Lanarkshire Pupils’ voices heard as school wins award Have your say on future of council buildings Good_sports_are_a_perfect_match_for_each_other Find out more about what's happening in South Lanarkshire Hamilton Sheriff Court.(Image: Hamilton Advertiser)A man who stabbed his nephew on the neck with a screwdriver told police officers ‘He deserved it’ narrowly avoided prison at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week He admitted assaulting the man to his injury during a struggle at a house in Birken Road Sheriff Linda Nicolson imposed a 10-week electronic tagging order that confines Gilroy to his home between 8am and 6am each day The sheriff told him: “It’s fortunate there was no serious injury You showed no remorse in your statement to the police “But if you fall to comply it’s highly likely there will be a custodial sentence.” *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here A recent survey found that 87% of respondents are still backing plans for the new centre The pool will have a moveable floor to adjust the depth of the water for swimming lessons and there will also be a spectators’ area The new centre’s gym will accommodate high spec cardiovascular and resistance equipment The fitness and dance studio will be a multipurpose space to cater for the latest trends in fitness be lined and double standard height to accommodate badminton The room will also be suitable for community activities There will also be a flexible community space with a tea prep area. Council Leader Joe Fagan said: “The current Larkhall Leisure Centre has held a special place in the heart of the Larkhall community for decades “The new facility will be a brand-new state-of the-art leisure centre which the community can be proud of and which is fit for generations to come. “We would like to thank all those who came along to the community drop-in sessions in October and November this year to review the initial plans for the new Larkhall Leisure Centre “The concept designs were developed based on the outcomes from a previous consultation exercise in 2022 which identified the highest priorities for the new centre to be a swimming pool multipurpose space suitable for fitness activities it was advised that due to budget pressures a like-for-like replacement facility was not possible but we will do the best we can with the budget available and we will maximise the use of facilities at the adjacent Larkhall Academy to create a sports and leisure campus for the community “With a budget of £23.9 million the new Larkhall Leisure Centre will be the most expensive facility out with the secondary schools’ programme Proposals are also being progressed for Larkhall Academy to become a ‘dual use facility’ which will improve access and bookings and create a campus of community and sports accommodation The school has a four court games hall and two gyms which can accommodate several sports including badminton An update on these arrangements will be provided in the new year and the community will continue to be updated at key stages of the project The community will continue to be updated at key stages of the project Police are looking for a male youth who made off from the vehicle after it was returned. The silver BMW was parked on Union Street around 4.15pm on Tuesday when the child’s mother left it for a few minutes before returning to find it gone. Shortly after, the car was seen being driven back to where it had parked. A male youth then left the vehicle and made off. The male is described as white, of slim build, around 5ft 9ins, and about 17 to 20 years old. He was wearing a dark top with the hood up and dark bottoms. Police are especially keen to speak to two women who were sitting on a bench nearby when the incident took place. Inspector Jim Mutter said: “Fortunately, the child was not harmed, but this was an extremely upsetting experience for the mother, and our enquiries are ongoing to trace the youth who was seen driving and exiting the car. “We are asking anyone in the area at the time to check private CCTV and dash-cam to see if they have captured anything that could assist us. “We are also particularly keen to speak to two older women who were sitting on a bench nearby as they may have vital information that could assist with our enquiries.” Anyone who can help is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2136 of Tuesday, December 31, 2024. In a statement, Mr Kennedy’s family said: “Iain was a much-loved brother, son and friend. A 27-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection wit the death. He is due to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Monday. Detective Inspector Mark Dines, of Lanarkshire CID said: “Our thoughts are with Mr Kennedy’s family and friends at this most difficult time. Officers are continuing to provide his family with support.” Chief Inspector Neil Smith, Local Area Commander said: “We understand this incident has caused concern within the local community, and I want to reassure residents that there will be an ongoing presence in the area. “Additional patrols are being carried out to provide reassurance, and I would encourage anyone with concerns to speak to our officers. “We remain committed to working closely with the public to ensure their safety and wellbeing, and I would like to thank the community for their cooperation and support during this time.” Win Happy PremiumSearch Rayo clyde local newsWarning Larkhall could miss out on future sports stars under leisure centre plansCurrent proposals include a 25 metre pool but no large games hall Larkhall could lose out on producing the next generation of Olympic talent without a leisure centre to match the size of the town That's the warning from campaigners who're against plans for a smaller building with fewer badminton courts and no soft play area South Lanarkshire Council is budgeting £23.9m on the facility and says it is the most lucrative building project outside the school portfolio Adam Archibald used to work there as a lifeguard and told Clyde 1: "We are set to lose a large games hall when the current one has space for six badminton courts a function suite as well as a dance studio "We have already lost the sports barn the community centre and there are talks to get rid of our golf course too "Our population has grown by 25% so anything less than like for like isn't going to be satisfactory and the council doesn't appear to be trying to look at other ways of making revenunue "Instead it is constantly choosing to make cuts." A petition against the proposals which was started in December last year is now reaching almost 1,500 signatures Pictures below show the condition on the inside of the current leisure centre which opened back in 1964 The boss of the local authority Joe Fagan has been telling Clyde 1 he has been taking the views of the community on board and is keen to make progress He said: "We are going to do the best we can with the budget available but we have to make sure we don't promise more than we can deliver "When I became the leader of the council I inherited a budget of around £9m for this leisure centre and we have taken it up to £23.9m." Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) (Image: Copyright Unknown)Larkhall councillors have told how they are backing local residents in their campaign for a full-sized sports hall with games courts to be included in the area’s new £24 million leisure centre Ward members Richard Nelson of the Conservatives and Ross Clark of the SNP both say the planned replacement facility – on which construction is set to begin this summer – will not meet local needs and that proposals to use games hall space at neighbouring Larkhall Academy will not give sufficient provision An online petition calling for the plans to be revisited has gained 1200 signatures but South Lanarkshire Council have said the planned centre with a pool sauna and community space is the authority’s “biggest project outside the secondary school estate” while a like-for-like games hall replacement “does not fit into the affordability envelope” Councillor Nelson says he has been exploring attempts to increase the budget for the new centre, telling Lanarkshire Live: “Over the past week I have been in discussions with council officers and the administration regarding more potential funding streams as the current plans do not meet with what Larkhall needs and I am determined to explore every possible avenue to ensure that the community gets the facility it deserves I must express my concerns regarding the current design proposals and the lack of meaningful community engagement throughout this process.” He added: “The people of Larkhall have already lost so much over the years and it is vital that any new development truly reflects their needs and priorities The council’s suggestion of a dual-use facility with Larkhall Academy is simply not an acceptable solution not a compromise that limits accessibility and usage for residents I will continue to challenge these proposals and push for a plan that genuinely benefits Larkhall “I stand firmly with the residents in their renewed campaign efforts we will be ramping up our engagement – through meetings and public advocacy – to ensure that our voices are heard loud and clear “This issue is too important to be overlooked, and I remain fully committed to fighting for a proper leisure centre that meets the needs of Larkhall now and in the future.” Ward colleague Councillor Clark told Lanarkshire Live: “The people of Larkhall rightly want the best possible leisure centre for our community – it is what they deserve and it has been made clear ever since the plans were published that the current proposals are simply not good enough “The one court-sized hall with the proposal to share facilities with the high school is not sufficient to meet the needs of a community the size of Larkhall and I will continue to support the community as we put pressure on the council and make our views known that Larkhall deserves better.” More than 50 residents attended a busy public meeting arranged by Larkhall Community Council and Larkhall Plan Partnership and are redoubling their efforts to call for sports provision to be contained within the new leisure centre rather than requiring the use of facilities when available at neighbouring Larkhall Academy “My administration inherited a budget of just £9m for the project but when it became clear that this would be well short of what was required £23.9m was secured by pulling together many different strands of funding While it has not been possible to include a larger games areas within even this expanded budget we are progressing with plans to open up the games halls within next-door Larkhall Academy to community use “Larkhall needs a new leisure centre and we are going to build one - but we can only promise what we can afford to deliver We will continue to engage with the community on our exciting plans for the area.” TRIBUTES have been paid to a "much-loved" Scots man who was found fatally injured as a suspect has been charged over his death Iain Kennedy was found by officers after they attended a property on Fairholm Street The 32-year-old was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow where he later died Cops confirmed tonight they have arrested and charged a 27-year-old man in connection with Mr Kennedy's death He was due to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court today Mr Kennedy's shattered family paid tribute in a statement released through Police Scotland to a "much-loved brother Detective Inspector Mark Dines, of Lanarkshire CID said: "Our thoughts are with Mr Kennedy's family and friends at this most difficult time. "Officers are continuing to provide his family with support." Cops are continuing to patrol the area around the property where Mr Kennedy was found. Local Area Commander said: "We understand this incident has caused concern within the local community "We remain committed to working closely with the public to ensure their safety and wellbeing and I would like to thank the community for their cooperation and support during this time." Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here. Rayo clyde local newsBy election next month in Hamilton Larkhall and Stonehouse after MSP deathChristina McKelvie died last month of secondary breast cancer A by-election will be held in the Hamilton Larkhall and Stonehouse to find a new MSP after the death of Christina McKelvie from the SNP The 57-year-old took medical leave from her role as drugs minister receiving treatment for secondary breast cancer A vote to find her successor will take place on June 5 When a constituency seat at Holyrood becomes vacant the presiding officer must announce the date for a by-election within three months in consultation with the returning officer of the relevant council Ms Johnstone is also able to discuss the date with the leaders of the major parties at Holyrood The SNP has already announced South Lanarkshire councillor Katy Loudon will seek to keep the seat in the party's hands Ms Loudon was previously the candidate in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West Westminster seat at both the election last summer and the by-election in 2023 Ms Loudon pledged to "work tirelessly to build on Christina's incredible legacy" as she took aim at the UK Government "The SNP will continue to show the positive difference we can make when we have the powers to do so," she said "Under John Swinney's leadership the SNP is focussed on the priorities of people across Scotland: whether that is delivering increased capacity in our NHS; making it easier for people to see their GP; bringing back universal winter heating support; or investing in economic growth Keir Starmer's Labour Government has betrayed pensioners by taking away their winter fuel payment they are damaging the economy and jobs with their hike on employer's national insurance contributions and people are seeing their energy bills rise despite Labour promising to cut them "These are real issues affecting people across the constituency - and Keir Starmer's Westminster Government must be made to change course." First Minister John Swinney said the councillor would make a "fantastic MSP" "Times are difficult right now for many people with many bills rising and a lot of uncertainty about the future," he said can-do campaign in this election - we will be talking about how we are supporting people through tough times and we will be giving hope for a brighter future "The SNP will be working tirelessly to build on Christina McKelvie's outstanding work on behalf the people of Hamilton