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You can allow all or manage them individually. You can find out more on our cookie page at any time Work has finished on the two-hectare area of land adjacent to the current cemetery including the installation of infrastructure including roads The existing cemetery is nearing capacity and the extension will provide an increased sustainable burial environment including 1000 lairs The development is in addition to a new Dumbarton Cemetery work to extend Kilmaronock Cemetery and a project to extend North Dalnottar Cemetery Regeneration and Economic Development said: “This was a really important project for the Council and for our residents The extension to the cemetery in Alexandria has been planned for a number of years and I am pleased it will soon become operational providing a vital amenity in our community.” Regeneration and Economic Development added: "The new cemetery is close to the people it serves and a fitting extension to the current site It will provide a peaceful location for families to pay their respects and remember their loved ones.” ScotRail is set to introduce significant timetable improvements from Sunday with a major focus on enhancing rail connections for Fife.  The new timetable will include more frequent services to and from Leven and better connecting communities throughout Fife Additional carriages are also being added to some trains at the busiest times to provide more seats for customers Changes to the departure time of some early morning services in the Highlands will provide a more balanced range of travel options for customers travelling from the Kyle of Lochalsh and Tain areas. A late-night service to Tain will also be reintroduced as a trial as well as a new direct morning service from Inverness to Edinburgh The changes come as part of ScotRail’s ongoing commitment to better connectivity and improved service reliability for customers across Scotland’s Railway.  Key highlights of the May 2025 timetable include:  Customers travelling between East Kilbride and Glasgow Central will also benefit from the reintroduction of rail services following the completion of the latest phase of major modernisation works along the route While most of the other changes across the network are minor customers are encouraged to check their journey on the ScotRail website and through social media channels as train times may have changed Customers can check train times at scotrail.co.uk and on the ScotRail app Timetables are also available for download from the ScotRail website said: “We’re excited to introduce these timetable enhancements which will transform travel options for customers in Fife and beyond.  “Everyone at ScotRail is working hard to deliver a safe and green rail service that provides a positive experience for our customers “The changes we’re making provide more frequent services make it easier for customers to get where they need to go and to choose rail as their preferred mode of transport.”  said: “I’m delighted ScotRail is introducing the second train per hour to Leven with this latest timetable change bringing even more benefits to the area as we approach the first anniversary of the line reopening This will connect the Leven area communities directly with opportunities in a wider part of Fife including Dunfermline.“This is another example of the ways in which this Scottish Government’s commitment to investing in our railways is opening up education and economic opportunities for local communities.” Rail Business Daily’s market leading news and profile enhancement services enable your business to tell your story to the wider rail community Engage with thousands of readers via our rail news platforms including the hugely popular 7am newsletter rail news website and Rail Director magazine you agree to us sending you emails on behalf of railbusinessdaily.com When Tina Ramzi started to notice her tummy was getting bloated she just put it down to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) But when it grew bigger and she was getting more uncomfortable the mum-of-three from Leven knew something was wrong “There was one night it got so bad that it looked as if I was six or seven months pregnant,” Tina “I showed my tummy to a friend who works in a maternity ward and her reaction gave me a fright “She was like: ‘Oh my goodness can I feel it?’ And then when she did she said: ‘Are you sure you aren’t pregnant?’ “Then she said ‘please go to the doctor’s and get that checked out A few months earlier Tina had seen her GP after experiencing some blood spotting after bowel movements This resulted in her having an operation to have haemorrhoids removed she was also feeling very tired and experiencing unusual bloating She went back to her GP again who gave her a stool sample test to do at home Now Tina is keen to share her story to raise awareness of the symptoms during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month – as catching the disease early significantly increases the chances of treating it successfully In February 2023 Tina first went to her GP after noticing blood spotting after going to the toilet “My doctor did an examination and saw I had haemorrhoids,” Tina explains “Since having kids they have always just came and gone but I asked her if I could get them removed.” So that April she had an operation at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline So her GP referred her back to the same surgeon at Queen Margaret Hospital to remove more haemorrhoids After that she was kept busy after launching new respite service Inspired Breaks for adults with disabilities in September 2023 in February 2024 the former social worker went back to her GP And this time it was because she had been struggling with extreme fatigue “Initially I just put the tiredness down to running a business and being a single mum with three kids,” Tina says “But I thought I might be anaemic so wanted to get my GP to check my bloods “They came back ok so I thought maybe I just needed to slow down for a while.” Then two months later Tina noticed changes in her tummy “It started to become bloated really quickly – my tummy was like a football,” she says “I just diagnosed myself as having IBS “I didn’t have any pain though it was just uncomfortable “But I looked as if I was six or seven months pregnant.” In June 2024 Tina made another appointment with her GP “I told her I was still feeling very tired “So she gave me a stool sample test to do at home.” Tina was called back in to get the results Due to her numbers being very high from the test her GP wanted to refer her and said she would get an appointment within four weeks “I have private healthcare so I asked her to refer me privately instead to the Spire Hospital in Edinburgh.” In August last year Tina had a meeting with a consultant at the Spire Hospital But the week before the meeting the Leven mum noticed a change in her symptoms “I started to get more bleeding from my back passage – it wasn’t even spotting anymore They were darker and the shape was different.” Her consultant sent her for a scan and she also had a colonoscopy She was then invited back for the results and went with a friend “My consultant had the results up on a screen when we went in I just knew something wasn’t right,” Tina continues “He moved down to the bowel area on the scan and said: ‘That bit there isn’t good “I asked him if it was cancer and he said: ‘I believe it is bowel cancer you have got’ “You could have knocked me down with a feather “But my first question was – what do we do and how do we fix it “When we left the hospital and got back to the car I phoned my sister Tamara “I was crying and had an emotional meltdown I just couldn’t believe I had bowel cancer.” A few days later Tina had a biopsy done which confirmed her bowel cancer diagnosis It was then decided she would have an operation to remove the tumour “As soon as I got the date I phoned my sister “The worst bit was the waiting – knowing what I had and then waiting to get it removed “All in all it was seven weeks between getting diagnosed and having the operation Tina had her operation at the Spire Hospital in November last year It involved the tumour being removed along with 19 surrounding lymph nodes “When I woke up I remember seeing my sister’s face She was smiling and said it had gone really well “I was just glad they caught it as early as they did.” Tina developed sepsis which was treated with antibiotics This meant she needed to spend a few more days in hospital But during this time she was given good news “My consultant told me no cancer cells had been detected in my lymph nodes “So I didn’t need further cancer treatment which I was really pleased about.” Since her operation Tina has been recovering at home with her three children Alee sister Tamara and partner Mark who have all rallied round to offer support “When I got home from hospital I couldn’t do anything “Both my parents have passed away and my sister lives in Australia so my friends are my family “For weeks they helped by cooking meals doing shopping and cleaning for me and taking the kids to activities Tina is passionate about raising awareness of bowel cancer symptoms “It is important to make health a priority You can never be too busy to make time for your health “People might feel embarrassed talking about their bowel movements but there is nothing to be embarrassed about “I would encourage anyone who notices any changes in their body to get it checked out straight away “If my story can help just one other person it will be a positive thing 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 14-year-old was assaulted in the Burnmill Road area of Leven on Saturday, February 22. Officers were made aware of a 14-year-old being assaulted in the Burnmill Road area on Saturday, February 22. Police Scotland confirmed a 15-year-old boy has been charged in connection with the incident. He will be reported to the relevant authorities. The force is urging anyone with information regarding any other attacks in the area to come forward. Inspector Matt Spencer said: “Officers will continue to actively work with our partners to address any concerns or issues within the community to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. “I would like to reassure the public that a zero-tolerance approach will be taken towards any violence or anti-social behaviour, and that any such incidents will be robustly investigated. “I would urge anybody to report any such incidents to police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Information can also be reported via the Police Scotland website.” 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+" Scotmid’s Leven Street store in Edinburgh had faced a significant challenge with the theft of spirits leading them to be deem a high-risk product at this site the team made the strategic decision to relocate the entire spirits range behind the kiosk and although this could have potentially impacted sales Scotmid created pictorial sleeves of every product on the existing free-flow fixture in order to inform the customer of the range available This solution not only eliminated the theft risk but also preserved previous sales volumes Scotmid’s Leven Street store achieved a 40% reduction in the theft value of spirits that it has since been replicated in other stores facing similar challenges As well as not impacting sales in the category the feedback from store staff since making the change has highlighted increased feelings of safety due to a reduced risk of confrontations Scotmid also invested in crime prevention technology and procedures to keep their staff and customers safe Scotmid says it is committed to enhancing its crime detection and prevention capabilities through the use of advanced CCTV analytics This technology will enable the retailer to identify suspicious activities in real-time and integrate seamlessly with its central monitoring systems by linking these analytics with existing Vocovo headsets Scotmid hopes to ensure that its staff are promptly alerted and equipped with accurate information allowing them to respond effectively and efficiently to potential threats Register today to gain unlimited access to articles and to receive our great range of email newsletters Register now Site powered by Webvision Cloud © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner Partners involved in the Restoring the River Leven Project have pledged to continue closely monitoring the site and its recovery following a year of remarkable progress Improvements have been made to a two-and-a-half mile stretch of the waterway and its surroundings between Cameron Bridge and Leven throughout 2024 rejuvenating the river for the benefit of local people and wildlife The project team has transformed the area thanks to a series of innovative restoration initiatives enhancing habitats and strengthening community connectivity to the river And early indications are that the project has had the desired impact with overwhelmingly positive feedback from locals and visitors alike and local anglers reporting a significant increase in sea trout upstream of the restoration site Key achievements in recent months include: native tree planting will begin around the floodplain near the Kirkland rock ramp and birch selected to complement the revitalized landscape Fife Council’s Spokesperson for Environment and Climate Change said:“We’re thrilled with the progress that’s been made this summer and delighted to see promising early signs of the project’s impact on fish passage and ecosystem recovery “The combination of innovative restoration designs and strong community involvement has been a real recipe for success “It’s incredibly rewarding to already see signs of ecological improvement and we’d like to thank everyone who has been involved since day one.” the McGowan Environmental team (who led construction) were able to keep much of the site open for public access which was a huge success and has led to positive reception by locals Social media updates over the course of the summer also received a largely positive response and the Burn Mill Dam removal sparked the interest of Dam Removal Europe who did a live interview piece during the works which promoted the benefits of such designs to a global audience See photo below for how it looked when it was finished First Minister John Swinney also visited the Kirkland rock ramp site in September to hear more about the restoration project and the wider Levenmouth Connectivity Project plans said: “We’re delighted that the partnership have completed the River Leven restoration project this year “The project has met its aims of easing fish passage on two redundant historic barriers with the removal of Burn Mill dam and the creation of a natural rock ramp at Kirkland “We’ve improved morphology within the river helping to kick-start natural processes as well as focussing on improvements to the river’s greenspace planting and trees will enhance the area for both wildlife and people - and are especially important with our changing climate “We look forward to seeing the wider Leven connectivity project continue the next phase of developments in this area.” Head of Development at Fife Coast and Countryside Trust added: “We are delighted to see the completed removal of these major barriers to fish passage and that they are already demonstrating huge benefits for nature and people in the Leven area "Whilst there is tree planting to be completed over the winter it is a testament to the partnership and all interested parties that the project has been delivered to such a high standard "We are excited to be carrying this spirit into Fife's wider River Restoration Programme with works starting next year on the Back Burn and feasibility getting underway on the Rosyth Rivers Project." SEPA WEF and Fife Coast and Countryside Trust would like to thank the excellent contractors cbec, with support from RSK Environment Ltd, and McGowan Environmental for bringing this ambitious project and our vision for the River Leven to life A new video highlighting the progress made is available to view and share: River Leven restoration works Group picture above shows from left to right: Fiona Skiffington Fife Council Service Manager (Climate Change and Zero Waste); Councillor Tom Adams; Lynda Gairns SEPA River Restoration Specialist; Councillor David Alexander and Councillor Ken Caldwell alongside Kirkland Dam The Restoring the River Leven project is part of a broader initiative to enhance river connectivity and create sustainable benefits for the local community By removing barriers and restoring natural processes the project supports a healthier and more resilient river ecosystem The project itself was commissioned by Fife Council and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) supported initially with funding from the Water Environment Fund (WEF) and Fife Council Fife Coast and Countryside Trust (FCCT) has managed the project from concept design through to delivery on behalf of Fife Council SEPA administers the Water Environment Fund (WEF) on behalf of the Scottish Government and works in partnership with local authorities fishery trusts and conservation bodies to deliver an annual programme of river restoration projects The Water Environment Fund (WEF) delivers projects which will derive the greatest benefit to Scotland’s rivers and neighbouring communities Working in partnership with local authorities WEF is used to create better river environments for wildlife and people We do this by restoring damaged river corridors to enhance the ecological value of the river and improve public amenity and well-being opportunities More information about Water Environment Fund is available For more information or to follow the project’s updates, visit theleven.org Residents in Leven have spoken of their shock at how fast a neighbouring home was engulfed in flames and destroyed Four fire crews descended on the Promenade at around 5.30pm on Sunday after the alarm was raised Firefighters spent more than five hours tackling the blaze it was apparent a section of the roof had fallen in Extensive damage to the house’s upper floor ground floor and rear was also clearly visible a caravan a few feet from the property has been destroyed One Promenade resident told The Courier that they watched in horror as flames ripped through the house He said: “The house was already well alight when I first became aware there was a fire “Thick black smoke filled the immediate area “It was frightening to watch how quickly the house was taken over by the flames “Flames were coming from the back of the house but all from the upstairs windows “The firefighters were amazing and worked quickly from a fire engine with a high-reach ladder to fight the flames so that must have been a factor in how fast the fire took hold of the property.” has been a magnet for anti-social behaviour She said: “There have been instances of teenagers accessing the garden “The concern now is that it will become a further attraction for anti-social behaviour now that it has been badly damaged.” A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were called out to a derelict building which was alight on the Promenade in Leven at around 5.30pm on Sunday “Four appliances attended and the last appliance left the scene at 10.49pm.” A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Inquiries are ongoing following a wilful fire at a premises on the Promenade “Emergency services attended and the fire was extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service “There were no reported injuries.” Partners involved in the Restoring the River Leven project have been reflecting on a summer of progress as the latest phase nears completion there has been a hive of activity on site as the project group carried out a series of modifications to make it easier for fish to migrate up and downstream on the stretch between the Kirkland and Burn Mill dams The project has been an excellent example of partnership working involving Fife Council Fife Coast and Countryside Trust and SEPA’s Water Environment Fund works on the ‘nature-like’ rock ramp have almost been finished with rocks and boulders being added to create a rough surface on the face of the dam sloping down to the natural riverbed below This has helped to remove the jump or step which was restricting the movement of fish and has provided areas of faster and slower flowing water to help the fish move up and down past the structure more easily Localised fish rescues have also been undertaken (thanks to Forth Rivers Trust) while the in-channel works have been ongoing and invasive plant species including Himalayan Balsam have been removed from the works site as part of the process Burn Mill Dam has been fully removed and riverbanks at the same location have been stabilised water and sediment can now move freely and more naturally through this section of the lower river Local councillors and members of the project Governance Group visited the site in person this week to see what’s been going on first hand and hear more about what’s been carried out and the vision for the River Leven going forward said: “This is another great Fife example of different organisations coming together to deliver something good and we are so grateful to the various partners and contractors who have helped make it happen “The steps taken to make these carefully considered interventions in the way the river flows will invite back the various species that use this river “At FCCT we’re keen to point out that we consider people to be among those species we hope will come back and reap the benefits of connecting with this freshly thriving ecosystem through the heart of Levenmouth.” It has been an eventful couple of months for The Leven Programme as the project has progressed An old car that had been submerged by the impounded flow at Burn Mill Dam had to be removed and disposed of while the dam removal itself was streamed live across the continent thanks to Dam Removal Europe where local team members were able to talk about the history of the river and the benefits of removing the barrier for improved fish migration And eagle-eyed visitors will have spotted helicopters being used last week to relocate some of the trees that had been removed from further upstream to an area of wetland to the south of the river That process will provide additional perches and resting places for the heron and other wading birds in the area and a number of birds have already been spotted making use of the new features Following completion of the construction phase in the next few weeks it will take some time for the excavated areas of land and the newly constructed riverbanks to re-stabilise with vegetation likely to regrow over the next couple of growing seasons said: “SEPA are delighted to see the progress of the works on the River Leven “The removal of Burn Mill Dam has allowed the river to naturally recover with new pools and riffles forming “The nature like rock ramp is attracting lots of attention from local walkers and we are already receiving positive feedback on how it looks and the benefits it will bring to fish “We look forward to completing the works in the coming month and are eager to see what is next for the wider Leven programme.” Our group photo shows from left to right: Fiona Skiffington More information about The Leven Programme can be found via Home | The Leven Programme More information about WEF is available at Water environment fund | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) The roof of a block of homes in Leven has been destroyed in a fire Crews from across Fife spent more than two hours tackling the blaze on Saturday night Locals saw flames shooting from the building An investigation into the fire is continuing with police still present outside the block on Sunday morning said: “I was alerted to a lot of folk standing in the street I thought people were heading home and just chatting “Then I saw the fire in the roof – it was fairly small at that point at around 10.30pm “It was unbelievable to see how quickly it took hold “The smoke was belching from the roof “The fire kept flaring up – particularly in the right-hand corner near the front of the building “I saw the fire service helping a man out who was in his dressing gown “I think he was concerned one of his cats was still inside “I believe the fire service also put another ground-floor door in to check if anyone was inside “There were a few times it looked like it was under control and it kept flaring up “The roof space is destroyed – I’m shocked how quickly it went up.” A 44-year-old woman, who has lived in the area for three years “Thankfully the fire service was here really quickly “Myself and other neighbours alerted those living in that block to get out of their homes “Thankfully everyone was OK and got out safely.” An 81-year-old woman who lives nearby said it was “quite a shock” to have woken up to see the damage She said: “I wasn’t aware of it until this morning “It was quite a shock to see the damage Thankfully people got out OK but they must have got a fright “These people have lost their homes now and I feel for them.” A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We received a call at 10.25pm of a house fire on Letham Terrace and height appliance due to extinguish the fire in the roof “We received the stop message at 12.34am.” A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a fire at a house on Letham Terrace in Leven around 10.40pm on Saturday “The fire was extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and no one was injured “The cause of the fire is being treated as unexplained and inquiries are ongoing with the fire service.” fully accessible new shared path network to connect the new rail stations at Leven and Cameron Bridge alongside the River Leven have been approved by councillors Members of Fife Council’s Cabinet Committee today agreed that the River Park Routes element of the wider Levenmouth Connectivity Project should be progressed at an estimated cost of £6.118 million – with delivery to be done through the SCAPE Civil Engineering Framework and the council’s Road Maintenance and Civil Engineering Minor Works Framework The decision means that work is expected to start on developing and/or upgrading 3km of existing paths along the River Leven in the Spring linking residential areas and allowing communities to access the river and existing assets in the area railings and seated rest areas will be provided as part of the project with tree planting and management of any invasive species encountered along the route also factored into the proposals said: “It’s a really exciting time for Levenmouth and the Leven Rail Link and associated programmes has brought over £150m of direct investment to the Levenmouth area which is a key regeneration focus of Fife Council “Now that the new Levenmouth railway line is operational these new River Park Routes will help improve connectivity for walking cycling and wheeling for local communities and link the new rail stations at Cameron Bridge and Leven and surrounding communities via new bridges at Duniface and Mountfleurie “This project will ensure that a coherent and complete network of paths is available to encourage and support active travel in the area.” Today’s decision was taken to ensure the River Park Routes can be delivered by March 2026 after Transport Scotland revised its funding delivery model for active travel – hence the need to reprofile the Levenmouth Connectivity Project The creation of the remaining on-road active travel network along Methilhaven Road will therefore be deferred until funding from Transport Scotland/Sustrans is confirmed while councillors were also reassured that the £5.83m new active travel bridge planned for Mountfleurie is on track for completion by March 2026 if revised designs are approved as anticipated more than £16.8m has been allocated to the Levenmouth Connectivity Project over a three-year period from various sources – split between the River Park Routes the on-road active travel network and for any contingency funding required Artist’s impressions of how the River Leven Park routes might look are included on this page above Tackling anti-social behaviour around Levenmouth continues to be a priority as councillors on the Levenmouth Area Committee today agreed to continue funding for extra police presence Police Scotland will match this allocation of Area Committee funding with a further Police constable resource to create a team of two dedicated to countering anti-social behaviour and other priorities in Levenmouth Councillors heard about the work that has gone on in the last year and the results from that members of the community and elected members has indicated that local people recognise the drop in nuisance behaviour in their area which through time continues to improve and build on the perception of Levenmouth being a safe place to live and work Cllr Colin Davidson said: “This is a really welcome report We know there are still some issues with anti-social behaviour in Levenmouth but we are definitely seeing an improvement in the area “We can see the work that is ongoing with the police but also within our schools This really is a local partnership led by Police Scotland and a range of other third sector agencies.” We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. 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You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports one for each polluted management catchment on the water quality monitoring undertaken by the Environment Agency to determine the baseline length of rivers and estuaries considered polluted by any of the Environment Act target substances from abandoned metal mines in 2022 The purpose of calculating this baseline was to enable measurement of the statutory abandoned metal mines target set out in Part 4 of the Environmental Targets (Water) (England) Regulations 2023 This regulation requires that the combined length of English rivers and estuaries polluted by the target substances from abandoned metal mines is In the Kent and Leven management catchment the baseline length of polluted rivers for the abandoned metal mines water target is 9km We will aim to identify the key sources of metal pollution in this management catchment by carrying out detailed monitoring investigations You can find further background and context on the Environment Act abandoned metal mines water target in the national baseline report which should be read together with this report The boundary of the management catchment and all 4 operational catchments are highlighted in Figure 1 There is evidence of copper mining in the Coniston area dating back to the 1500s The copper mining industry in the area continued to grow throughout the 17th and 18th centuries with mining activity at its peak in the 19th century There were attempts to rework them in the early 1900s but these proved unsuccessful Figure 1 shows the locations of mineral veins closed mine waste facilities known to be causing serious environmental harm and areas of abandoned mine wastes (mining spoil) in the Kent and Leven management catchment This information has been gathered from various sources including: most of the historical mining activities in the Kent and Leven management catchment were concentrated in the Crake operational catchment to the north west of the village of Coniston The tables below list the (surface water bodies) catchments directly impacted by abandoned metal mines in the Kent and Leven management catchment These tables highlight where there are known point sources (mine adits or mine drainage levels) and diffuse sources (mine wastes or spoil heaps) within the catchment The Environment Agency is continuing to investigate point and diffuse sources within the Kent and Leven management catchment by undertaking a series of catchment characterisation studies These studies will help us identify which sources need to be tackled to achieve the long-term statutory target Table 1 summarises which type of pollution sources from abandoned metal mines have been identified within the catchments (surface water bodies) in the Crake operational catchment The objective of the baseline monitoring was to establish the upstream and downstream extent of surface waters polluted by the target substances from abandoned metal mines We selected the baseline monitoring sites by first completing a desk study to review previous water quality data We then made initial site visits to collect samples and to assess the suitability of the site for continued sampling at least 12 water quality samples were then collected from each monitoring site Within the Kent and Leven management catchment water quality monitoring was undertaken in one of the 4 operational catchments (Crake) We did not carry out monitoring in operational catchments where there is either no historical metal mining within the catchment or a combination of current and historical monitoring data shows that waterbodies within these catchments are not polluted by abandoned metal mines 8 sites were selected across the Kent and Leven management catchment to determine the baseline length of rivers polluted by target substances from abandoned metal mines The locations of these monitoring sites are shown in Figure 1 a further 24 sites were individually sampled to provide additional supporting data Water quality data collected between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2024 have been used to determine and validate the baseline length of rivers and estuaries considered polluted in 2022 The length of rivers polluted by abandoned metal mines fluctuates in response to natural variation in rainfall and river flows this length will not materially change unless remediation measures like mine water treatment schemes or diffuse interventions are installed to decrease inputs of metals data collected after 31 December 2022 are considered to be representative of rivers provided no new remediation measures had been constructed since 2022 No new remediation measures have been constructed in the Kent and Leven management catchment since 2022 the target substances measured were cadmium We did not undertake testing for arsenic in this management catchment since historical monitoring data and knowledge of the local geology across the catchment indicated that no rivers are polluted by arsenic in this management catchment The baseline water quality data for all monitoring sites are available on the Environment Agency’s public water quality archive For a river water quality sample to be considered polluted, concentrations of one or more of the target substances must exceed the relevant EQS set by government when assessed as an “annual average”. The EQS are set out in The Water Framework Directive (Standards and Classification) Directions (England and Wales) 2015 The EQS are derived using ecotoxicology data and set at a level that should prevent harmful environmental impacts When the concentration of a substance in a water sample is higher than the EQS adverse impacts on the aquatic ecosystem can occur and the sample is considered to be polluted we calculated a numeric “pollution level” by dividing the measured concentration of the target substances by the EQS the monitoring site is considered polluted by that target substance the greater the likelihood of harm to aquatic life Our detailed monitoring across a range of flow conditions between January 2022 and March 2024 shows that in the Kent and Leven management catchment the baseline length of polluted rivers for the abandoned metal mines target is 9km Figure 2 shows the rivers in the Kent and Leven management catchment that are polluted by target substances from abandoned metal mines Table 2 shows the river length (in km) that are polluted by each of the target substances within the Kent and Leven management catchment the most polluted rivers are impacted by more than one target substance which drain from the area of Coniston Copper Mines These 2 watercourses subsequently flow into Church Beck which is polluted by copper down to the point at which it enters Coniston Water Church Beck is not polluted by any other target substances At the points sampled on Yewdale Beck there is no pollution from abandoned metal mines There is extensive mining in the headwaters of this catchment and there is some data to support localised impacts in those tributaries Figure 3 shows the baseline polluted rivers in this operational catchment It should be noted that due to close proximity of some of the sampling points to each other some of the sampling point markers on this map (blue squares) may overlap Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details A Fife gym owner has launched a bid to transform a former Leven bank into new fitness premises Fiona Livingstone has submitted a planning application to convert the Clydesdale Bank into a two-storey gymnasium The Durie Street building has been empty and boarded up for almost eight years But the established business woman hopes to create “a light and functional space” to operate Fiona Livingstone Fitness She currently runs a gym and fitness classes at premises in Wellesley Road in Methil And her application states: “The gym will mainly be used for classes as well as weights sessions and personal training.” Ms Livingstone will use both the ground and smaller upper floor seven-days-a-week She hopes to change the layout by merging the front teller area with a hallway and three offices The upper floor comprises staff offices and toilets And the plan is to keep the toilets as they are but merge the offices to create a second gym no external alterations are planned other than new signage The Leven Clydesdale Bank was one of 79 branches to close across the UK in 2017 It was later put on the market with an asking price of £130,000 and is currently advertised as being under offer Ms Livingstone says her plan will extend and complement the range of businesses in Leven town centre The Clydesdale is one of three Leven banks to close over the past decade. However, the Royal Bank of Scotland, which closed in 2017, has now reopened as a beauty and aesthetics salon. Other banks across Fife have also been repurposed to create a variety of businesses An elderly Leven woman has been left with next to nothing after her house burnt down earlier this year told The Courier she had “lost everything” after the fire on the evening of January 18 It was about 10.30pm on a Saturday night when the blaze took hold in the roof of a block of homes Elizabeth was visiting her daughter Angela’s house when her son told her over the phone that her home was ablaze She found it hard to believe and told him “it was nothing to joke about” before realising the scale of destruction the fire had caused which firefighters tackled for more than two hours Elizabeth’s home and three others in the same block on Letham Terrace were severely damaged by the blaze and – and ensuing water damage And the scale of the destruction meant the pensioner was left with very little Elizabeth said: “The house next door exploded and I couldn’t get anything out “I couldn’t believe the house went up in flames “Now the house is going to be knocked down “I’ve been buying out of charity shops for the last 10-11 weeks.” Elizabeth had lived on Letham Terrace for around five years but has now been offered a new house by Fife Council in the Mountfleurie area of Leven The former Leven Spinning Mill worker is staying with her daughter Angela while she waits to move in “But I’m going to need a bed and some white goods “I’ll keep going as I always do because it’s all I can do.” Angela has launched a GoFund Me appeal for her mother and is raising awareness of her plight in the hope she will receive some donations Since publicising Elizabeth’s story on social media a mattress and some other smaller items have been made A multi-emergency service response was launched after a man was rescued from the Firth of Forth at Leven Beach It has been reported that a member of the public rescued the man after he had entered the water near Leven Golf Club at around 11.30am on Saturday police and an ambulance were all called out to the incident The HM Coastguard confirmed that a person had been in the water near Leven Golf Course A spokesperson said: “The Kinghorn (RNLI) lifeboat the St Andrews and Leven Coastguard Rescue Teams and the helicopter rescue 948 was tasked at 11.43am “The person concerned was rescued by a member of the public before any of our assets were on the scene “There was an ambulance on scene.” It has been reported that other members of the public entered the water to help the man It is understood that he was in the water for around 10 minutes An off-duty paramedic was also reported to be involved in the rescue efforts A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 11.45am on Saturday and we mobilised two appliances “One male casualty was removed from the water prior to the fire service’s arrival “The last appliance left the scene at 12.01pm.” It was understood that the call was over a concern for a person The Scottish Ambulance Service has been approached for further information Lidl is thought to be actively considering a site for a new Leven store The Courier has learned the budget supermarket chain is involved in discussions with engineering firm Pfaudler over the potential purchase of land planning permission would need to be secured Lidl would then move from its existing Mitchell Street store to the new site on Glenlyon Road Supermarket bosses say they do not have any firm plans for Leven but confirmed they are seeking a site for a new store in the town It would include five aisles of shopping and 126 car parking spaces The land in question is between the Pfaudler building and Sainsbury’s and is currently used as a car park and storage It has been for sale for many years and previously attracted interest from Tesco Leven is on a list of site requirements for the German-based supermarket It hopes to open nine new stores in Fife and Tayside, including two in Dunfermline one in the north of Kirkcaldy and one in St Andrews Lidl said previously it specifically wants sites in “prominent locations” Requirements include over 100 parking spaces with easy access and strong pedestrian or traffic flow “I would encourage use of that site,” he said “It would free up the existing Lidl site for further development “It would strengthen the offer of retail in that part of town.” A Guinness World record-holding ocean rower in 2005 he became the first man ever to row solo and unsupported from Spain to the West Indies Leven has rowed thousands of nautical miles including the Trade Winds route several times the North Atlantic from New York to the Scilly Isles and across the Indian Ocean from Western Australia to the Seychelles was easily the most dangerous yet for the Scottish Borders adventurer Earlier this year Leven and his crew left Eyemouth in their boat Hermione and headed to Pond Inlet in Canada to begin their journey With no commercial lines able to take the team and their craft to the starting point they used a hybrid engine fitted to the rowing boat to motor the 4,500 miles The Arctic’s North West Passage is steeped in mystery and tragedy has claimed the lives of many of those brave enough to have attempted it Weaving amongst the hostile Canadian arctic archipelagos over the top of the world it has captured the imagination of Europe’s foremost explorers – Christopher Columbus Roald Amundsen and the doomed Sir John Franklin their exhibition hit the rocks in September when an unforecast storm on the point of Cape Hope in the North West passage brought huge gusts of winds which destroyed the boat’s anchor system ‘The weather up there changes so quickly,’ Leven said ‘In 20 minutes you can go from calm to gusts of wind blowing 30 knots ‘We decided to make a dash for a couple of islands that were on the chart But because so much of the coastline on the North West Passage is unsurveyed we quickly realised the ones we were going to sheltered behind didn’t in fact exist ‘We couldn’t find anywhere to shelter as the weather got worse ‘There is almost nowhere to shelter along the coastline so we always knew we would be in a bit of a pickle if we had to face any bad weather ‘We had a line with three anchors out and we got hit by a big breaking wave which broke one of the flukes on the anchor which I have never even heard of happening before We didn’t realise the anchor was broken straight away we just thought we were dragging it across lots of jaggy rocks.’ The crew began rowing and with a bit of luck managed to avoid most of the rocks But it quickly became clear they were going to collide with the shore emergency anchor which kind of controlled our beach landing,’ Leven said the boat jackknifed and started bouncing down the beach ‘We hit a really bad rock and it put a three and a half foot hole in the bottom of the boat but more critically it had smashed into two of the waterproof bulkheads which meant we could now see daylight down through the bottom of the boat ‘The hole was too deep to repair in a conventional sense We carry fibreglass repair kits but they are really for small puncture wounds We don’t carry anything that would deal with a huge hole that size.’  When the crew tried to re-float the boat water was pouring in A hole that size normally marks the end of an expedition But being on the North West Passage is not like getting rescued in the English channel and he knew it could take days for someone to rescue them ‘We hatched a plan to patch it up best we could using some drybags some rubber tape and some screws,’ he said ‘We dug some of the beach away with our oars to make a channel back to the sea because the boat couldn’t refloat by itself ‘It was a rudimentary repair so it was leaking all the time ‘We had a little electric engine that was going to be used in case of emergency so we popped that on the back and thought we would make our way to the nearest village ‘But just after a few hours the engine failed and we knew we would just have to row.’ The crew began an intense regime of rowing and bailing out over the next ten days to keep on top of the water coming in And slowly but surely they managed to eke out the 250 miles to get round to their destination at Paulatuk ‘We had our hearts in our mouths a lot of the time because the coastline up there is so exposed,’ Leven said ‘But it was great teamwork and a really good example of how people work together to get difficult things done.’  Technically the crew didn’t row the whole North West Passage the boundaries were just 100 miles ahead of them but with the hole in the boat they couldn’t make it But what they did achieve was a miraculous feat of survival becoming the first rowing boat to go from East to West And after a few months of reflection what does Leven think about the incredible adventure ‘It was easily the most challenging expedition I have been on in my life the arctic is a ruggedly beautifully unique environment and I can see why people would want to go back for more ‘It was an amazing journey and I think one of the best things we were able to do was to get the boat home.’ IPSO is an independent body which deals with complaints from the public about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Around 100 employees at the the Silberline factory in Leven are to be made redundant. Around 100 employees at the the Silberline factory in Leven – which produces industrial pigments and coatings often used in cars – are to be made redundant. It had been run by American owners since 1974, but in January the firm was acquired by German business Eckart. Silberline said in April plans to shut the factory down were being considered. On Thursday, the company confirmed the site will close at the end of next year, and operations will continue “as scheduled” until then. Alan Snaddon, operations director at Silberline said: “Following an in-depth review of our operations in Leven and considering various possibilities we came to the decision to close the Leven plant. “As we have explained from the start, this proposal and the decision about closing the Leven site has not been formulated lightly and is a result of the difficult situation we find ourselves in, caused by multiple factors, including the global trend of regionalisation of the business. “We anticipate that the Leven site will be closing at the end of 2025. “Operations will continue as scheduled until then. “In the past few months, we have been consulting with our affected employees and their representatives. “This consultation process has been completed. As a result, all employees have agreed to enter a termination agreement. “We are doing everything we can to support our employees, i.e., we have already and will continue to work with government agencies such as PACE to ensure we do all we can to secure future employment for all involved.” Following the successful restoration of the River Leven an ambitious new project is underway to breathe life back into one of Fife’s cherished waterways SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) and Fife Coast and Countryside Trust are joining forces to restore a 5.8-kilometre stretch of the Back Burn – also known locally as the Conland and Balbirnie Burn – between Rhind Hill in the Lomond Hills and Newton aims to return this historically significant waterway to a more natural state Supported by funding from the Water Environment Fund (WEF) and Fife Council and create enhanced greenspaces for the community to enjoy The project is now in its final design stage with cbec eco-engineering appointed as technical designers Drawing on expertise from the successful River Leven restoration cbec is developing innovative designs to restore the Back Burn while respecting its cultural and historical significance Improvement works are planned for Summer 2025 Coul Den Reservoir (managed by Fife Coast & Countryside Trust): Balbirnie Park (an A-listed designed landscape managed by Fife Council): “This project represents an incredible opportunity to transform the Back Burn into a thriving natural habitat that benefits both wildlife and the local community,” said Councillor Jan Wincott Fife Council spokesperson for environment and climate change “We’re proud to build on the success of the River Leven restoration and create a space where residents and visitors alike can connect with nature.” Centuries of industrial activity and man-made modifications – including artificial straightening and wire baskets filled with stones (gabions) – have left the Back Burn degraded Restoring its natural flow will provide wide-reaching benefits including boosting local biodiversity by improving habitats for plants and animals; enhancing community greenspaces for recreation and wellbeing; improving climate resilience through natural flood management; and protecting heritage while creating space for nature in urban settings said: “SEPA’s Water Environment Fund (WEF) are delighted that the Back Burn restoration project will start the works phase this summer “Following on from the success of the River Leven restoration project last year we look forward to continuing to improve rivers across Fife for both wildlife and people.” added: "Building on the success of the River Leven restoration we’re delighted to be moving forward with the Back Burn restoration project this year continuing our commitment to enhancing natural habitats and community spaces across Fife “It's fantastic to be collaborating once again with SEPA and cbec eco-engineering on this next phase of river restoration which forms part of the wider Leven Programme and we’re excited for our own team to get involved and develop their skills on this project through the delivery of minor improvement works along the burn.” Community engagement is at the heart of the Restoring the Back Burn project Further details and updates will be shared in due course to ensure local people are involved in shaping the future of this treasured waterway For more information about the project and the Leven Programme, visit www.theleven.org Find out more information about the Water Environment Fund Photos courtesy of Fife Coast and Countryside Trust Laura Gunn has secured a place at Edinburgh University to study Geophysics Her passion to pursue higher education was fuelled throughout secondary school by her studies in Mathematics Physics and Geography where she excelled and also studied Physics and Music at Advanced Higher Laura was appointed House Captain for her commitment and enthusiasm within the school community She supported younger pupils within the school’s Anti Bullying Club and supported after school sports activities Laura was also a key member of our ‘sound and lighting’ team for school shows Laura served with the Air Cadets for many years rising through the promotional ranks Laura has been a wonderful asset to the school and we wish her all the very best as she now moves to the next chapter Abbi Wilson is going on to study Psychology at Glasgow University Abbi has achieved academic success across the curriculum achieving A’s in a number of her National 5 and Higher examinations Abbi overcame challenging health issues and major surgery during her senior phase of schooling proving herself to be a courageous and determined individual Her incredible resilience and positive attitude have carried her through some difficult personal challenges but Abbi has dealt with her journey in an inspirational manner and her friends and family have supported her throughout Abbi has been an exemplary student and is a fantastic role model for younger pupils We would like to wish Abbi all the best for her future learning journey at Glasgow University Davie Kinney is leaving school to study at BAE Systems Advanced Apprentice Naval Ships Steelwork Fabricator Plater Davie joined the Communication Base at Vale of Leven Academy with a diagnosis of ASD and ADHD and has shown remarkable resilience and commitment in his studies He was delighted to achieve his National 5 PE qualification demonstrating teamwork and communication skills with the support from the Communication Base to reach his full potential achieving National 5 qualifications in Art and is expected to gain one in Practical Metalwork this year He served as 'Base Vice Captain' and participated in the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme and successfully delivered training to S1 pupils His determination secured him a place in the school programme NPA Engineering with BAE Systems where he attended four afternoons a week and impressed the tutors with his focus and dedication Davie achieved his goal in securing a place in BAE Systems and is the first pupil from the Base to leave school with an apprenticeship He was awarded the 'Base Champion' this year and we are all incredibly proud of Davie and confident he will excel in his new role Boutique Hotelier Leven Manchester has appointed Daniel Clayton as its new general manager He joins the design-led 42 bedroom hotel armed with a wealth of experience from leadership roles with Principal Hotel Company where he was hotel manager from April 2023 It is thought he has replaced Kris Doyle at Leven Manchester with Clayton now ‘committed’ to building on the commercial success of the Leven brand’s first hotel in Manchester Clayton said; “I’m looking forward to driving innovation and further developing the LEVEN brand in Manchester and beyond Leven is a joint venture between industry innovators Wellbrook Hospitality and entrepreneurs Joshua and Ben Senior’s investment vehicle Branco Capital Following the success of the brand’s first opening in Manchester, Leven, has a pipeline of other openings in the works accommodation that includes a selection of rooms all individually designed with sleek interiors and industrial elements On the ground floor is the Lobby and Lounge designed to be day-to-night sociable spaces for guests and locals alike Industry innovators and former colleagues Timothy Griffin and Shanthan Balakrishnan joined forces to create Wellbrook Hospitality in 2020 with the aim of harnessing their collective experience to develop and operate challenger brands in the hospitality field Emergency services were called to Standing Stane Road near Leven after a three-vehicle crash Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were called just after 1pm on Hogmanay to the A915 road The collision is reported to have taken place near the Wellsgreen Driving Range The road was closed overnight following the incident Police later confirmed a 26-year-old woman died in the collision. A spokesperson for SFRS said: “We received a call at 1.07pm about an incident on the A915 Standing Stane Road “We sent three appliances at the scene.” Work to repair Leven’s storm-battered sea wall is earmarked to begin within weeks A long-awaited consultant’s report on how best to fix the damage inflicted by Storm Babet is now complete And Fife Council is preparing to agree designs and put the necessary works out to tender It is hoped work will finally get under way in May to tie in with the opening of a new Promenade skate park Parts of the seafront have been fenced off since the October 2023 storm have since washed away a section of unprotected sandbank The council has come under fire by MSP Jenny Gilruth over the length of time it has taken to instigate repairs She says she is “deeply concerned” about the state of the Promenade The Mid Fife and Glenrothes SNP MSP said: “The safety of my constituents is of the utmost priority “And it is extremely disappointing that the Labour-run Fife Council do not recognise the vital importance of repairing Leven‘s sea wall as soon as possible “Despite continuously raising this with the council the Labour administration has informed me that finding the funds to fix this issue will be a real challenge “The local community in Levenmouth deserves better – let’s get the promenade fixed.” Council leader David Ross said this week that budget pressures meant £200 million would be cut from the capital plan. And this will affect a number of agreed infrastructure projects Levenmouth area committee convener Colin Davidson gave an assurance the Leven sea wall work is on track “I spoke to the officers involved yesterday and the consultant’s report is now in,” he said “We’re hoping to get started no later than May “The work will involve taking the wall back to its foundations putting rock armour in and rebuilding the wall “We’re hoping it will last for another 100 years.” Emergency services were called to Kingsdale Gardens, Leven, at around 12.40am on Wednesday. Emergency services were called to Kingsdale Gardens, Leven, at around 12.40am on Wednesday following reports of a dog attack. Armed officers were deployed to the scene as a precaution and a 44-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment. Both of the animals were seized and put down. Police Scotland confirmed one of the dogs was an XL Bully, however the breed of the second dog is not known. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 12.40am on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, we received a report of a man being injured by two dogs on Kingsdale Gardens, Leven. “Emergency services attended, and a 44-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment. Families have the chance to take part in the RSPB Easter Trail which started today at Loch Leven Nature Reserve and runs all weekend The event sees families follow a fun-filled trail through the scenic reserve and plenty of chocolate eggs being claimed as rewards For more easter weekend events check out our 16 of the best Easter egg hunts in Dundee, Angus, Fife and Perthshire The Courier’s photographer Steve MacDougall was there to capture all the activity A missing teenager in Leven has been traced “safe and well” Brandon Murphy was reported missing at 2.30am on Monday in the Fife town Police launched an appeal to help find the 15-year-old who also had links to Lochgelly The force confirmed he had been traced on Thursday. The East Riding YOURHealth Health and Wellbeing and Connector Service is inviting local people to join in with Social Prescriber Day throughout this week Social prescribers support in non-medical ways to help people with their health and wellbeing This could be in situations causing stress such as cost of living debt and housing to improving wellbeing including connecting people with community groups or finding places to make new friends The service covers the whole of the East Riding to provide personal support and motivation with changing behaviours and help reduce the risk of long-term health conditions community and social enterprise services available in the East Riding during the week at several community venues Driffield – Wednesday 19th March 9am-12 noon Alfred Bean Hospital Join Kay who will be holding a social prescriber’s drop-in clinic to discuss how to support non – medical needs Join Alicia for the popular health walks designed to be accessible to enjoy enjoy the fresh air and feel good for the day Meet the Provider event where Rose will be attending with other services that can help finding work supporting wellbeing and non-medical services that can help with reducing stress and improving wellbeing Alicia and Aaron will be supporting carers with Barchester Care Homes If you care for someone and are looking for support this is a great opportunity to spend time with people in similar situations meet new friends and find out what kind of support is out there for you Beverley – Wednesday 19th March 10am-12 noon Treasure House Meet John who will be supporting the local community with accessing non-medical services to improve health and wellbeing Pocklington – Thursday 20th March 10am-12 noon Pocklington Arts Centre Elisha and Jen will be supporting the local community in finding social activities to enjoy improve mental health and support people with services best placed to help manage challenging situations YOURhealth Social Prescriber Team Leader said: “A major aspect of the Health and Wellbeing Advisor and Connector service is to ensure that services such as ERYC libraries church groups and foodbanks and promoted and accessed more by the general public “Helping reduce the day to day social economic and emotional health issues we can all face day to day The week will be a great opportunity to highlight such groups and services and give people the opportunity to experience the benefits of social prescribing.” Any adult in the East Riding can self-refer into the Health and Wellbeing Service to receive free one-to-one support a music festival and a winter wonderland with ice rink are among a series of events planned to mark the centenary of Letham Glen in Leven And locals have put together a packed programme of community celebrations The glen is named after John Letham a retired farmer who gifted money to secure the park for the town It once hosted the famous Hercules the Bear each summer And it’s still known for its tranquil woodland walks A centenary celebrations committee has been working hard to organise an events calendar And chairman Ross Bennett said: “This centenary is an opportunity to bring people together “We’re thrilled to invite everyone to join us in making this milestone truly special.” a wild science petting zoo and an Easter egg treasure hunt food vendors and a barbecue are also included This is for care home residents and day centre users and includes afternoon tea and a brass band There will also be a singer and a heritage display showcasing the history of Letham Glen June 14 – Rose Queen and King’s Ceremony Leven’s three primary schools will take part in the first ceremony in six years Kings and queens from each school will be crowned and there will be stalls but organisers promise a “magical outdoor movie experience Fitness enthusiasts and charity supporters are encouraged to sign up for this event The centenary celebrations will conclude in style with a winter wonderland magical lighting displays and Christmas-themed attractions A Leven pub is set to reopen under a new name and new management after a £500,000 investment is to trade from November at the site of the former Den Inn who wants to create a more family-friendly atmosphere The 30-year-old is currently working on the refurb which includes a new commercial kitchen and bar refit He told The Courier: “It’s going to be a whole new look – modernised but still timeless and classic “Hopefully it will really take it to the forefront of the community – we have put in for variations in the license so we can have kids in “We want to have different events like music “The bar will stay in the middle as it’s a unique feature – there will be new and refurbished furniture “There will be a brand-new commercial kitchen which is the biggest part of the project and involves a total refit “We’ll have simple but good quality food – comforts and traditional pub grub I have a pretty good chef with good ideas.” The revamp investment has come from Star Pubs & Bars has a background in hospitality and hopes the refurb will help the pub move away from its past and grow customer bases locally and from further afield He added: “Pubs have changed dramatically since Covid and people want to stay local “We’re looking to provide a budget but high-quality evening out It used to be a bit of a football pub so we’re steering away from that but I’ve been working on the business plan for about a year with Heineken “They’ve got a great system in place for up-and-coming operators “Leven is an up-and-coming town with the new rail link and there’s a whole host of local businesses “Every time the doors are open there are people really interested in what’s going on “It’s going to be something really special.” Oliver added that anyone interested in working at Scoonie Tavern should email hello@thescoonietavern.co.uk Bus passengers and drivers have been warned to expect disruption during a week of roadworks in Leven Resurfacing is to be carried out from October 14 to 18 at Scoonie Roundabout It will take place between 7.30am and 5.30pm each day from the junction at Scoonie Terrace to Glencairn Gardens Traffic will be diverted via Sillerhole Road pedestrians and residents will be maintained In March, traffic lights at the roundabout due to a gas leak resulted in hour-long delays for motorists A NEW Asian buffet is set to breathe life back into a building which has lain empty in Glasgow The venue, in the west of the city, used to be home to a popular bar and restaurant before it suddenly closed last year The Leven Valley Inn was put up for sale after owners Mitchells and Butlers announced its shock closure in the summer Located in Great Western Retail Park, the family-friendly pub served delicious pizza But it was put on the market in August 2024 the owners revealed that they were looking for a rental of around £50,000 per annum locals have noticed that a new Chinese buffet is set to move into the space Large signs have now appeared outside the venue revealing that HongKong Banquet is "coming soon", according to Clydebank Post. It is currently unknown exactly when it will officially open. Posting on Facebook one person said: "Hope the buffet is good Another added: "Gutted no more carvery be interesting to see how the buffet place does" Someone else wrote: "Hopefully it's good" While a fourth shared: "Fingers crossed it happens soon" And a fifth chimed in: "Ohhh can't wait At the time when The Leven Valley Inn was put up for sale surveyors CDLH said it was expected to attract "considerable interest" Alan Creevy, director of CDLH, told The Herald: "The Leven Valley is a purpose-built family dining restaurant/bar which also includes a studio and two bedroom dwelling flat "The property is at the heart of the Great Western Retail Park development, with other occupiers, including B&Q, Burger King, McDonalds and Starbucks etc where we are seeking a rental of £50,000 per annum and premium offers for a new lease our clients will consider an outright sale of the heritable property." MANY food and drink chains have been struggling recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches Byron Burger fell into administration last year with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans The brand plans to close 20 loss-making restaurants after a “challenging” start to the year has raised fears about its survival as it races to plug its debts 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 He has been content to work away in the background but do not let Peter Leven’s low profile fool you – his stock at Aberdeen has never been higher The one-year anniversary of former interim boss Neil Warnock’s departure from Pittodrie at the end of an ill-fated 34-day spell in charge at the Dons passed last week without the blink of an eye Warnock failed to win a single a league game in his short stint before leaving Leven to perform a truly remarkable rescue act in picking up the pieces and guiding the Dons to safety in the Scottish Premiership last season Aberdeen were three points above the relegation play-off position and staring into the abyss when Leven replaced Warnock and the interim boss lost his first league game in charge He did not lose another as he guided the team to a nine-match unbeaten run to finish best of the rest in the bottom half of the Premiership He also came agonisingly close to leading the team to the Scottish Cup final with the Dons denied what would have been a stunning result by Celtic in one of the greatest semi-finals in recent memory last season Twice the Dons hauled themselves off the floor to equalise in the final minute both in the regulation 90 and the additional 30 minutes of extra-time But fate determined it was the Hoops who progressed thanks to a penalty shoot-out win Aberdeen may have come up short at the National Stadium but the sheer force of will shown by the team in refusing to accept defeat highlighted perfectly the impact Leven had made in such a short space of time The coach was rewarded for his sterling efforts by being offered a place on Jimmy Thelin’s backroom staff when the Swede arrived in Scotland last summer but it has not stopped other clubs from trying to lure him away Leven has rejected overtures from St Johnstone and Raith Rovers to remain part of the Dons coaching team already this season Since decided to remain at Pittodrie his stock has risen further with Leven taking on a greater role behind the scenes following Emir Bajrami’s shock departure in January to return to Sweden for personal reasons It’s testament to Leven’s qualities that Thelin did not seek to replace his trusted lieutenant The players certainly recognise the worth of their coach When the Perth Saints came calling last August Leighton Clarkson stated the players would be ‘gutted’ if Leven left. Last week, on-loan striker Kevin Nisbet credited Leven’s role behind the scenes in helping him get back to his best in an interview with the club website. When a striker who has not had his struggles to seek on the injury front in recent years is claiming to be feeling the fittest he has in years and crediting Leven’s role in helping him regain his form then clearly the Dons coach is doing something right That high regard for Leven will no doubt be tested by interested admirers as vacancies inevitably being to arise throughout the country Callum Davidson’s shock departure from the Championship side on Saturday means a search for a third manager of the club this season is underway Do not be surprised if Leven is linked with the post – or if other approaches come his way in the weeks and months ahead It is no secret Leven’s appetite for being the man in charge has been whetted by his time in the Dons dugout His loyalty and ambition have been tested twice since Thelin arrived Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. 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