Malcolm Construction boost quarry operations with £1.1 million investment in Cat machinery FINNING have supplied £1.1 million worth of Caterpillar machinery to one of the largest construction and contracting companies in Scotland Malcolm Construction have invested in two Cat 745 three-axle articulated dumptrucks (ADTs) and one Cat 352 excavator from Finning UK & Ireland the world’s largest dealer of Cat equipment This purchase comes as part of the company’s continued investment in heavy machinery to further enhance the efficiency at its Loanhead Quarry Key to the investment were the productivity and financial benefits of both the Cat 745 ADTs and the Cat 352 excavator To showcase the advantages of these machines Finning provided a demonstration Cat 745 to the company for a week and the benefits were immediately clear said: ‘Being able to demo the Cat 745 for a week was invaluable in validating the numerous benefits of this machine Thanks to integrated VisionLink technology we were able to see the actual fuel burn figures of the machine which came in at an average of 73.2 litres daily and a 586-litre total for the week – an impressive figure given the load and rigorous application ‘With the machine’s higher payload capacity of up to 41 tonnes The machine’s Eco Mode undeniably helped to optimize our operating costs over the week at no detriment to the performance of the machine ‘Our machines endure the most demanding applications and stability are a high priority when we are investing in new equipment The Cat 352 excavator is already proving it is just as efficient as our other Cat machines and just as robust – handling large tools and heavy loads with ease.’ As one of the largest construction and contracting companies in Scotland Malcolm Construction Ltd regularly assesses its fleet to ensure efficiency and reliability for all its applications territory account manager at Finning UK & Ireland said: ‘We have worked closely with the team at Malcom Construction to ensure they receive maximum effectiveness from their machinery To guarantee they were confident in the results we promised we offered them a demo machine complete with VisionLink telematics to showcase the full extent of fuel savings and enhanced productivity on offer ‘All of the new generation of Cat machines are engineered to deliver optimum efficiency and come with enhanced features such as auto idle shutdown and payload technology that directly reduces fuel consumption With the addition of VisionLink telematics even the larger machines can be closely monitored to enhance the overall efficiency of the fleet tangible results for our customer Malcolm Construction Ltd and we are looking forward to continuing to work together to maximize efficiencies and enhance productivity in the future.’ jobs events and articles direct to your inbox Subscribe Here Agg-Net is the ‘go-to’ website for key decision makers within the aggregates and recycling industries market reports and industry features provide an independent and informed voice for the industry Agg-Net is the official digital partner for Hillhead providing unrivalled coverage of our June event 7 Regent StreetNottinghamNG1 5BSUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0)115 941 1315 Police are appealing for witnesses after a cannabis cultivation was discovered at an industrial unit in Loanhead on Friday 18th May Police officers attended at Unit 5/1 Eldin Industrial Estate and seized 25 mature cannabis plants worth in the region of £7,000 and 1.72kg of cannabis worth in the region of £17,000 Inquiries are ongoing and officers are asking anyone with information that can assist them to please get in contact Chief Inspector Kenny Simpson said: “Removing illegal and harmful drugs from the streets of Midlothian is a priority for local residents “We take all information we receive from the community about the production or distribution of illegal substances extremely seriously and will act on it immediately “If you would like to report ongoing drug offences in your area then please contact us on 101 or make an anonymous report to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.” John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme The Edinburgh Reporter brings you news all about Edinburgh A MAN has been charged after a person was allegedly spotted outside a Scots primary school with a weapon The man was allegedly seen outside of Loanhead Primary School in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire on Monday Parents rushed to the school, which is on Dick Road in the town centre, to pull their children out after news of the alleged incident said the children had been taken inside but parents who had opted to leave their kids in school had decided to walk laps around the school “to make sure it was safe” A spokesperson for East Ayrshire Council said: “This is a matter for Police Scotland and we won't be making any comment at the moment.” A 27-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the alleged incident "A 27 year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection. "He is due to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court at a later date." It comes just two weeks after copes were called to another Scots school after two 'intruders' gained access. The school issued an alarming email to parents informing them of the incident before assuring them that everyone was safe The email stated that two people who are "not associated" with the school had "gained access" to the building But education chiefs said the school was locked at the time but the two individuals were "let in" by a pupil The pair then left "without incident" 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 The NEN – North Edinburgh News The community media resource for north Edinburgh Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email A 51-year-old man has been charged in connection with a fatal road crash that took place in Loanhead on Tuesday The crash took place on Knivensknowe Road where an 88-year-old man was struck by a Honda Civic car He was taken to hospital where he died as a result of his injuries on Saturday The 51-year-old driver of the car has been charged in connection with a road traffic offence A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal Police were called to Loanhead Street on Tuesday, April 1. Police were called to the town’s Loanhead Street on April 1 around 12.35pm. A 40-year-old man was traced and charged in connection with the incident. He is due to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on April 2. Police Scotland said a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 12.35pm on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, we received a report of concern regarding a man causing a disturbance in the area of Loanhead Street, Kilmarnock. “Following enquiries, a 40-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection, and he is due to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. “A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.” 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+" Auchengray and Tarbrax Improvement Foundation (WATIF) will redevelop the Cowbyre at Loanhead Farm into the café A grant of £200,000 will be funded from Blacklaw Muirhall /Stallashaw and Pateshill windfarms which contribute to the REF The total cost of the project is just under £375,000 with other contributions coming from the Community Led Local Development Fund (CLLD) and WATIF The money will go toward various building works associated with the café as well as funding for a two-year manager’s post to deliver community and income generating projects said: “We are delighted with the award from the REF which will enable us to develop our Cowbyre Café “In the limited time we have been open we have seen the huge social impact that Loanhead Farm has made to both our community and further afield and we are excited to develop this further next year.” Chair of the council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee said: “This will be a fantastic asset for the local community and provide a valuable meeting place for people who stay in the villages of Woolfords I am sure it will also prove to be popular with people visiting these areas and it very much promotes community wealth building and rural entrepreneurial activity.” Photo above shows the Cowbyre at Loanhead Farm which will be transformed into a bistro cafe 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 Loanhead Gala Day 2024; Queen Penny Simmonds Loanhead Gala Day saw the sun shine for the crowning of the 112th Loanhead School Queen primary school pupil Penny Simmonds was crowned the 112th Loanhead School Queen She was serenaded at her house by MacTaggart Scott Loanhead Band Penny and her Court marched through the town centre reaching the location of the Crowning Ceremony; Fountain Green Chairman Ross Perfect with Crowing Lady and Companion There was healthy crowds and a community feel as she was crowned by Mrs Irene Frame They were then escorted from the stage by Gala Day Chairman Ross Perfect The Herald was p7 loanhead primary school pupil Finlay Paris the grand procession made its way around the town Then the local community gathered together in Memorial Park to enjoy an afternoon filled with entertainment Loanhead Gala Day was a success with many happy faces Subscribe to the Midlothian View newsletter A MAN has been charged nearly a year after an elderly dog walker was fatally hit by a car The tragic incident happened on Nivensknowe Road in Loanhead An 88-year-old man was allegedly knocked down by a Honda Civic car The pensioner was rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for emergency treatment But tragically he could not be saved and he died from his injuries The man's dog also passed away and following their deaths Police will submit a report to the procurator fiscal.A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "A 51-year-old man has been charged in connection with a fatal road crash that took place in Loanhead on Tuesday, 19 December, 2023. "The crash took place on Nivensknowe Road where an 88-year-old man was struck by a Honda Civic car. "He was taken to hospital where he died as a result of his injuries on Saturday, 23 December, 2023. Elsewhere, a 76-year-old man has been found dead near a marina in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire The tragic find was made in the town's Mackenzie Crescent this morning This drive in demand has led to the dairy company expanding its operations to a new depot at Bilston Glen The 12,000 square feet site where 55 members of staff are employed will help the company deliver to customers from Whitburn to Dunbar A further ten members of staff will be recruited in the coming months was founded in 1995 by company chairman Michael McQueen and his wife Meg and now operates distribution depots in Scotland and north of England employing hundreds of staff including the couple’s five children who hold senior positions within the business apple juice and free-range eggs which customers can order using the company’s online ‘shop’ or by calling its customer call centre.  Managing Director of McQueens Dairies said: “The expansion of our Loanhead distribution centre reflects the significant increase in demand for doorstep deliveries we have experienced and for returnable glass bottles to reduce single use plastic as well as accommodating the future growth of the business in Edinburgh and Lothian Our customer base is now in the tens of thousands an increase of almost fourfold since June 2018 and we are also supplying tens of thousands of glass bottles every week around five times as many over the same time period.” The company has also appointed Barry Carty (photographed below) as the new Site Logistics Manager to support the business and its growth following 20 years with multiple retailer Asda Barry Carty, Site Logistics Manager at Loanhead for McQueens Dairies added: “This is an exciting time to join the business as it continues to achieve impressive growth across the region we’ll be looking to increase our staff number in the coming months too.” Home   News   Article A group of countryside dwellers are objecting to plans to build a battery storage facility on agricultural land in the heart of their community which is about three football pitches in size What’s known as a proposal of application notice has been submitted to Moray Council’s planning committee by the UK arm of Spanish company OPDEnergy Although the development is still at a fledgling stage and the committee won’t be making a decision at its meeting tomorrow (Tuesday local residents have taken the chance to make their opposition known immediately stated the development would be an “eyesore” that would spoil a beautiful part of the region She added: “They’re proposing to build on prime farming land It’s going to ruin an area on the Laich of Moray the MP and to our local councillors to raise awareness about what’s being proposed The residents are questioning why a site has been chosen that’s more than two miles from the substation on Elgin’s Covesea Road which the facility would serve Amongst their other concerns are the impact that construction traffic would have on a single track lane with no passing places or space to turn lorries they are highlighting that the underground cable linking the facility to Elgin would pass through ancient woodland at Findrassie ODPEnergy says its facility would store excess energy and release it at times when demand exceeds generation allowing for a more stable and reliable electricity supply It would store 49.9MW of electricity – just below the 50MW threshold where the matter would go to the Scottish Government for a decision rather than Moray Council A public consultation event has been scheduled for Wednesday at Spynie Hall regarding the proposed development ODPEnergy is also working on plans to install a similar 49.9MW battery facility on land just 90 yards from Macduff Primary School – a proposal which is being objected to by worried parents The Loanhead Farm proposal will be one of four major building projects going before the planning committee tomorrow Proposal of application notices (PANs) have also been submitted for warehouses at Portgordon an anaerobic digestion facility at Buckie and further housing in Elgin Springfield Properties has submitted a PAN for phase three of its South Glassgreen housing development to the west of the A941 Elgin to Rothes road As well as homes it includes retail units and a school which would turn organic matter such as animal or food waste into green gas and fertiliser is sited to the east of March Road in Buckie William Grant and Sons Distillers has submitted a proposal to build warehouses to the south west of Crisp Maltings at Portgordon As well as ancillary buildings it includes a bridge over the Core Burn None of the four proposals will be decided upon tomorrow however they will be discussed by councillors STV understands that the reported weapon was archery equipment. Emergency services were made aware of an individual with a weapon near Loanhead Primary School in Kilmarnock. STV News understands that the reported weapon was archery equipment. At no point were either staff or pupils in the school at risk, East Ayrshire Council said. Officers have charged a 27-year-old man in connection. He is due to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court at a later date. Inspector Jonathan Leitch said: “We were made aware of reports of a man with a weapon in the Loanhead Street area of Kilmarnock on Monday, January 27, 2025.  “A 27 year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection. “He is due to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court at a later date.”  An East Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “This is a police matter and East Ayrshire Council is unable to provide any detail. “However, it is important to clarify that the school was liaising very closely with police colleagues and that at no point was the individual on school premises.” Anne Amos, 72, died at Pine Villa Nursing Home in Loanhead, Midlothian, in 2021. Anne Amos, 72, died on September 13, 2021 at Pine Villa Nursing Home in Loanhead, Midlothian. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged a first notice for the inquiry, with a preliminary hearing set for January 20 and a start date for May 20 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. An FAI aims not to attribute blame, but looks at the cause of death, the circumstances in which it occurred, and to establish if any precautions could be taken to prevent similar incidents. The inquiry will look at measures and risk assessments in use by the nursing home to mitigate choking hazards and the circumstances in which Ms Amos was left unattended. Procurator fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on death investigations for COPFS, said: “The death of Anne Amos occurred in circumstances giving rise to significant public concern and as such a discretionary fatal accident inquiry should be held. “The lodging of the first notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the sheriff. “Ms Amos’s family will continue to be kept informed of significant developments as court proceedings progress.” Emergency services were alerted to a fire at Straiton Retail Park at around 9pm on Monday. Firefighters were called to Straiton Retail Park, in Loanhead, at about 9pm on Monday. There are no reported injuries as a result of the blaze. There are about 25 shops and restaurants at the retail centre, including popular franchises such as Starbucks, TK Maxx, Next, and Matalan. Police Scotland said it was treating the incident as wilful and has appealed to the public for information. Detective constable Garry Mauran said: “Thankfully no-one was injured as a result of the fire which has caused significant damage and loss of business to several premises in the area. “We are treating the fire as wilful and I would appeal to anyone who was in the area and may have witnessed anything suspicious to contact us, external.” The fast-growing care home sector is racing to keep up with demand with the latest new build identified for a site at Loanhead Mansfield Care and Planform Architects are leading proposals for Mayburn House, a 50-bed replacement for the existing Pine Villa Care Home at Hawthorn Gardens Rising on an adjacent vacant development site, latterly home to an earlier nursing home that has since been demolished the new plans centre on the creation of a Z-plan build to accommodate secure south-facing gardens Striving to break up the facade to establish a more domestic scale the design incorporates vertical breaks and reliefs visually subdividing accommodation into smaller units Emphasising a 'modern but homely' appearance the architects wrote: "Varying materials are used to break up the appearance of the building The façade is accented with cast stone detailing A brick finish is proposed in the ground and first levels and white render is used in the upper floor level." Separate wings of accommodation will be limited to not more than 10 residents and include a shared dining room with garden views Pine Villa Care Home will close and its residents relocated to the new development.   All comments are pre-moderated and must obey our house rules The massed Pipes and Drums from previous Gala Day Midlothian’s oldest local festival and one of Scotland’s largest traditional children’s gala days takes place in Loanhead this Saturday The centrepiece of the event is the crowning of Loanhead’s 111th School Queen which takes place on Fountain Green in the centre of the town at 11.45 am The main procession around the town moves off from Church Street at 1.00 pm and will be accompanied by 11 bands This is followed by an afternoon of family entertainment in the Memorial Park where star attractions are equestrian stunt team Van Buren’s Victorian Theatre of Wonders Admission to all events is free and everyone is invited to join the people of Loanhead in their traditional annual celebrations A waste facility which has been operating for over three years in the centre of a Midlothian town has been refused planning permission by councillors Concerns over the work being carried out in the centre of Loanhead and on contaminated land were raised by the local community council and residents And at a meeting of Midlothian Council’s planning committee this week council leader Kelly Parry moved a motion to refuse an application for a change of use of the site from a scrap yard to its current operations raised issues caused by vehicles parking outside the Engine Road industrial site which is next to residential housing She said: “Local residents cannot park and vehicles on pavements prevent them getting to their homes with buggies or disabled residents unable to use the pathways “This is supposedly a safe route to school.” Councillors were told by planning officers that the site had been used as an industrial area for 150 years and if the waste facility was refused permission its space could revert to the scrap yard which previously operated on it However Councillor Parry expressed frustration at the lack of mitigation measure offered by planning conditions or the applicant to tackle the impact on residents living next to the industrial estate The application had been recommended for approval by planning officers Loanhead and District Community Council raised concerns about the land at the former colliery site They said: “The site encompasses two shafts of the former Ramsay Colliery and is an area of high contamination “It is unimaginable that Midlothian Council Planning Department is seriously considering permitting a waste transfer site to operate on a seriously contaminated site.” Planners however insisted the ground surface of the site would not be disturbed by the waste facility The council received 26 individual objections which raised concerns over the impact of traffic in and out of the site the centre being in close proximity to schools and a call for it to be moved to a more industrial location away from housing Enviroworx who are operating the waste processing site had pointed out it is not a new facility but a relocation of their operations on the site to a more efficient area In their supporting statement to councillors in response to concerns they said: “A commitment to environmental sustainability and operational efficiency drives our planning application “We understand and respect the concerns of our stakeholders and are committed to open transparent dialogue to address these concerns focusing on recycling and community engagement represents a positive step forward for Enviroworx and the Loanhead community.” The committee backed Councillor Parry’s motion to refuse the planning application Loanhead men's litter pickers group on their first picking day This article has been written by the Loanhead Gala Committee Following a successful community litter pick last year Loanhead Gala Committee intend to arrange 3 Community Litter Picks this year They will all be held on Sundays and are open to anyone who wishes to take part the second in early June and the third in late August / early September Dates and further arrangements will be announced soon through the Loanhead Gala facebook page Ross Perfect and Alan McLaren have arranged a small litter picking group for retired men It is intended that the group will meet on a weekday morning targeting a different area of the town for a litter pick each week The group turned out for the first time on Thursday 7 March the Memorial Park around the main entrance on The Loan and the access road from The Loan to Park Crescent Any retired men who may be interested in joining the group should contact Ross or Alan or the Gala Committee through the Loanhead Gala Day facebook page. Ageing Well co-ordinator Vivian Wallace and Heritage Trail project co-ordinator Ruth Stephen The Loanhead Heritage Trail was officially launched at Loanhead Library yesterday members of Loanhead & District Community Council staff from Midlothian Council and Loanhead Residents The Trail has been two years in the making with six stainless steel benches installed within Loanhead last year and the creation of a trail map leaflet this year thanks to funding from Aging Well to cover printing costs The map can be obtained free of charge from Loanhead Library The trail map leaflet gives a brief history of Loanhead Industry Stainless Steel benches incorporated within the trail have additional historical facts A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A man was arrested following warrants in the Mayburn Avenue 2024.“The 36-year-old has been charged in connection with the possession of potentially hazardous substances and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.“There is no wider risk to the public.” From left to right: Loanhead Gala Day Chiarman Ross Perfect Loanhead Gala Queen Elect 2023 Amy McWilliams Rangers and Scotland footballer Chelsea Cornet Loanhead Gala Day Herald 2023 Zak Robertson Loanhead Youth football co-ordinator Peter Frame Loanhead has a long history of producing talented footballers many of whom have gone on to join the professional ranks and with several enjoying distinguished careers In recognition of this part of Loanhead’s history a Loanhead Football Heritage Banner was introduced as part of the town’s gala procession in 2016 The banner originally featured the names of 12 outstanding players from Loanhead and has become something of a Hall of Fame for Loanhead footballers the names of two further footballers from Loanhead with Chelsea being the first women’s footballer to join Loanhead’s Football Hall of Fame Ryan Flynn began his football career at Loanhead Miners’ Youth FC After a spell as a youth player at Liverpool Oldham Athletic and is currently with St Mirren Chelsea Cornet started out at Loanhead Miners’ Youth FC at age 5 After a highly successful period at Hibernian where she was part of the side which won the Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup and the Scottish Women’s Cup on multiple occasions where the Scottish Women’s Premier League Championship was secured in season 2021 – 22 In April 2023 Chelsea gained her first full Scotland cap in a 1-0 win against Australia Both Ryan and Chelsea have strong Loanhead Gala connections Ryan was Herald in 2000 and Chelsea was a Lady in Waiting in 2010 Amongst the 12 footballers who originally featured on the banner are:- A member of Hearts’ Scottish Cup winning side of 1998 Gary then moved to Everton in 2000 for a fee of £1.7 million and during a seven year stay made over 150 appearances Gary earned 46 full Scotland caps between 2000 and 2009 Tommy Johnston – a centre forward of many clubs including Kilmarnock Gillingham and Newport County in a career spanning from the 1940’s to the early 1960’s Voted Orient’s greatest ever player in a fan poll to mark the millennium Tommy is one of the top all time goal-scorers in the English football league Jim Steele – after beginning his senior career at Dundee His career highlight came as a member of Southampton’s FA Cup winning team in 1976 Alex Young – Alex made 243 appearances for Hearts between 1955 and 1960 in the club’s most successful ever spell during which time he won two League Championship He then moved to Everton where he quickly became established as a fans’ favourite He made 273 appearances and scored 87 goals for Everton being a member of their League Championship winning side in 1962-63 and their FA Cup winning team of 1966 Alex was capped by Scotland on 8 occasions will be a prominent feature in the processions at this year’s Loanhead Children’s Gala Day on Saturday 24 June 2023 has announced a further expansion of its business with the opening of a new distribution depot in Loanhead that is three times the size of its previous facility as its doorstep delivery business continues to grow in Edinburgh and Lothian ft depot at Bilston Glen Industrial Estate will serve the company’s tens of thousands of doorstep delivery customers from Whitburn in West Lothian to the City of Edinburgh and across to Dunbar in East Lothian and that number is expected to increase by a further 20% in the next twelve months as demand for deliveries from residential offices and private nurseries within the area continues apple juice and free-range eggs which customers can order using the company’s online ‘shop’ or by calling its customer call centre Managing Director of McQueens Dairies said: “The expansion of our Loanhead distribution centre reflects the significant increase in demand for doorstep deliveries we have experienced and for returnable glass bottles to reduce single use plastic The company has also appointed Barry Carty as the new Site Logistics Manager to support the business and its growth Site Logistics Manager at Loanhead for McQueens Dairies added: “This is an exciting time to join the business as it continues to achieve impressive growth across the region McQueens Dairies Ltd has distribution depots in Glasgow A HERO dad was partially blinded as he saved his four kids from a horror fire in their home A fire took hold of their flat on McNeill Terrace in Loanhead We told yesterday how brave Colin Walker leapt from the second-floor window onto the ground outside before catching his family members as they jumped out after him His partner Michelle Coleman and four of their five kids Erin Daughter Skye was not in the flat at the time has said Colin lost his sight momentarily due to a backdraft during his heroics He told the Daily Record: “Colin said that there was a backdraft in the house as he opened a door and that ‘it was like a firework going off in his face’ and that he partially lost his sight for a while. "As the thick smoke flooded in and consumed the house nobody could see so he just threw himself out the window and the kids followed.” The brave dad was seriously hurt after jumping but continued to help his young family as they also jumped from the building, catching them on the outside. Despite have their lives saved, they did suffer nasty injuries, including lung damage and broken bones. Robert added: "When my brother had to catch his one-year old son, Flynn, he bounced off my brother and broke his leg. “My eldest nephew, Kaiden, managed to jump straight away and landed on my brother hitting him with some force. “Also Kaiden had his little friend staying over who managed to jump out and Colin caught him and he was unhurt. “The eldest girl, Erin, was too scared to jump alone so she jumped with her mum, Michelle. Michelle broke her arm and Erin broke her leg.” but loved ones have launched two separate fundraisers to support them in their time of need Over £7,000 has already been raised between the two You can donate here and here. We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scoop@thesun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5300 A former nursing home in Loanhead has been identified for the delivery of 20 new homes by Covell Matthews Architects An updated planning application lodged with Midlothian Council calls for ‘conservative surgery’ to later extensions and outbuildings at Mayburn House while retaining features of the main villa allowing two new build wings to be constructed New build flats will include a mix of affordable homes and properties for private sale with new build elements finished in recycled stone cladding Campaigners have been fighting to save the building after fire ripped through it 50 years ago. has been at the centre of a decades long campaign to save it from demolition and has been dubbed Scotland’s most “at risk” mansion Campaigners have been fighting to save the Category A listed building since fire ripped through it 50 years ago Mystery surrounds its current owners and its ruinous condition following the blaze had left its future in doubt This week the National Heritage Memorial Fund announced a grant of £5.3m to the Landmark Trust to rescue and stabilise the mansion Midlothian Council has said once funding is in place it will begin work to seek a compulsory purchase order to take over the site was built by celebrated Scottish architect William Adam in 1723 as a summer residents for John Clerk of Penicuik a leading figure of the Scottish Enlightenment Its design was a pioneering example of a neo-Classical style which William Adam’s son Robert Adam and others would develop for Edinburgh’s New Town a generation later In the 19th century Mavisbank became a ground-breaking mental hospital where reforming Doctor John Batty Tuke developed compassionate approaches to mental illness demolition on safety grounds was ordered by the local authority in the mid-1980s An emergency round-the-clock vigil was maintained by local volunteers until the decision could be halted Attempts to raise funds to repair the house were unsuccessful until the announcement by the heritage fund which receives annual grants from the UK government towards its work to save the nation’s heritage Historic buildings charity The Landmark Trust has been working with Midlothian Council the Mavisbank Trust and others to find a solution to save the site for nearly a decade The Trust and the local authority will now seek the purchase before preservation work begins A second phase is planned to involve the restoration of the house with the end use is expected to be a mixture of accommodation for short residential stays and public access said: “We have long supported the opportunity to restore Mavisbank House “Once the full funding package is in place we will use our compulsory purchase powers to help secure a future for this important building.” said: “Mavisbank has hung by little more than a thread for so long with demolition seriously contemplated on more than one occasion “The Landmark Trust is absolutely thrilled that through this grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the support and expertise of many others we can start the process of saving it.” The £5.3m grant is a huge boost to a funding package which includes an additional £1.3m from other sources including the Landmark Trust A further £1.6m is needed to complete to project still and more information is available here. Amelia and Olivia from Loanhead Primary and Early Childhood Centre joined Councillor Douglas Reid Leader of the Council to unveil a plaque at a special ceremony to mark its official opening Kilmarnock schools pipe band pipers and former Loanhead pupils were on hand to get the ceremony off to a wonderful start playing beautifully in the reception area before piping special guests including Provost Jim Todd into the school Head Teacher Amanda Milne and Linda McAulay-Griffiths Chief Education Officer and Head of Education welcomed guests to the ceremony that took place in the historic heart of the school and included wonderful entertainment from the whole school ‘I am the Earth’ and ‘A Million Dreams’ and there was a wonderful performance from the Loanhead Lions Amelia and Olivia performed a poem called ‘Our School’ that had been written by young people from P7 Their performance was confident and self-assured which was framed and presented as a gift to Cllr Reid by Archie and Molly covered the history of the school from 1905 to the present day and had some wonderful lines including: “The 1970’s gave us toilets indoors – no more ‘going’ in the cauld.” Euan Clark from the contractor Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd presented vouchers to Mrs Milne before Councillor Reid Councillor Maureen McKay and local members Councillors Graham Barton gave a brilliant speech about his memories of being a pupil at Loanhead The outdoor toilets did feature in the speech and he even read from his old exercise books that had been saved by his sister Jean Councillor Reid said: “I was honoured to be invited by Head Teacher Amanda Milne to Loanhead Primary and Early Childhood Centre to finally perform the official opening of the school and unveil a plaque with Amelia and Olivia The school has been completely modernised and extended to include a new Early Childhood Centre and the work has been carried out very sympathetically - the lift shaft blends in seamlessly it looks like it has been there since the start “Unveiling the plaque and officially opening the school was a very proud moment I know how much the school means to the people of Kilmarnock My mum and dad attended Loanhead and so did I along with my brother and my sister The school is steeped in world and Scottish history but also thousands of family histories thousands of children have attended the school made friends for life and Loanhead will forever be in their hearts I am proud of that legacy but also as Leader of East Ayrshire Council I am proud that our extensive school improvement programme meant that we invested in Loanhead’s future and that our children and young people are learning in the best of facilities.” The extensive renovation and building programme which began in October 2019 and reopened to pupils in April 2021 saw the 117-year-old school completely modernised a lift was installed within the school atrium and a new single storey Early Childhood Centre for 42 children built that features light bright and modern flexible dining and activity areas A fully glazed link connects the primary school with the extension which was latterly the school kitchen and dining hall was refurbished to provide accommodation for the PEACE Group that provides afterschool clubs which was part of an extensive investment programme in educational facilities across East Ayrshire ensures that our youngest learners benefit from modern dedicated facilities providing 1140hours of early learning and childcare and that our children and young people are learning within an inclusive educational environment providing the best possible start to their educational journey Cookie Settings Powered by Onclusive PR Manager™ Children took part in a range of activities during Health Week By InYourArea Community · 13 July 2022 Obstacle course fun as part of Health Week at Loanhead Primary School Loanhead Primary School's Health Week was given a boost thanks to a £250 donation from a housebuilder The money donated by Dandara East Scotland was used to sponsor an obstacle course designed to get kids moving and reinforce the message that exercise can be fun With almost 30 per cent of Primary One children in Scotland at risk of being overweight according to Public Health Scotland encouraging young children to be fit and healthy has never been more vital says Libby McAdam of Loanhead Primary Parents’ Council She said: "It’s so important that children learn the lessons about fitness now to protect them from future illness caused by an unhealthy diet and a lack of activity "We are so grateful to Dandara for sponsoring the obstacle course during Health Week." included a full range of activities to promote a healthy lifestyle mainly through being active but also incorporating healthy eating Sessions included football and rugby from local clubs orienteering with Scotia Adventure and daily dance warm-ups with staff from the nearby Nike Store said: "Loanhead Primary organised an amazing week of activities Not only do obstacle courses offer a way to improve physicality but they are also great for developing problem solving skills and stimulating imaginations too." Get all the latest news, updates, things to do and more from Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland's dedicated InYourArea feed LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} The South American restaurant is at 30 to 34 Fountain Place Loanhead and is a transformation of the old Village Inn It is the second restaurant in the family following the well-known Parrilla in Musselburgh by brothers Nazim and Ateeq Ahmed The speciality of the house will be high quality dry-aged beef with South American flavours and a wide range of wines As well as meat and fish dishes there are also vegetarian alternatives Nazim said: “The idea behind Parrilla was to bring something unique to Loanhead and the wider area while using locally-sourced core ingredients “We opened in Musselburgh in 2017 and the restaurant is well established regular clients and people from elsewhere who are looking for something different When we were considering where to located our second restaurant Loanhead seemed like an obvious choice as there isn’t anything like Parrilla in the town at the moment “Our restaurant is inspired by the Argentine way of life and its food Argentine cuisine is a fascinating mix of cultures combining extravagant South American and Mediterranean flavours “Sustainability is very important to us and we have been working with some of best butchers in Scotland and small farms with high animal welfare sustainable farms who grass feed the animals throughout the summer and use silage (a type of natural grass fodder) in winter This natural process means our products are as environmentally friendly as possible “We are a family-run restaurant with a strong desire to create provide exceptional hospitality Hospitality runs through our veins with years of experience in prestigious establishments Parrilla will be open every day except Tuesday and is now taking bookings at www.parrillaargentiniangrill.co.uk