The parents of a toddler killed after being struck by a car driven by a 91-year old woman with dementia say the law must change for older drivers.

Tue 21 Jan, 6.00 pm

As Glasgow prepares to celebrate its 850th anniversary, the leader of the City Council is refuting claims the whole place needs a deep clean for its birthday and insists it has been spruced up and is constantly being cleaned.



Susan Aitken also says that grand plans for investment have been hit hard by Covid, the housing emergency, and wider economic issues.

Reporter

Vanessa Kennedy

For locals, it's a set of mixed feelings about the state of their home town. 

Council leader defends city cleanliness ahead of 850th celebrations

A £470 million permanent solution for "Rest and Be Thankful" is being put to those who live and work along A83.



For over a decade, travel on the road has been disrupted by closures, diversions, and convoys due to landslips at the beauty spot.



Proposals would see a cover put over the road and deeper catch pits built.



Businesses along the route say they're welcoming the plans but insist they are long overdue.

Olly Dickinson

Proposals would see a cover put over the road and deeper catch pits built.

Businesses welcome ‘permanent solution’ plans for Rest and Be Thankful

In just six months, Aberdeen will welcome almost 400,000 visitors with the return of The Tall Ships Race.



Fifty from across the globe are expected to attend the event at the quayside in Port of Aberdeen’s North Harbour.



Aberdeen will be the only UK host port for the event.

Grainne NiGhreachain

Organisers say it'll bring a major economic and cultural boost to the North East.

Tall Ships race to bring 50 ships and 400,000 visitors

The King has praised a 99-year-old D-Day veteran as a "great example to us all" as he visited Aberdeen.



Queen Camilla spoke to students at Aberdeen University, and she met with those involved in community projects.

Oliver Wright

The Queen visited the University of Aberdeen and spoke to students about their projects.

King meets with D-Day veteran during trip to Aberdeen

The mother of a missing teenager in the Western Isles says she'll never stop trying to find her son.



Aleksandr Benga was last seen more than two months ago on the grounds of Lews Castle in Stornoway.



Police launched a major search to try and find the 16-year-old.



Now, his mother, Viktorija, says she hopes to fund her own search through donations.

Steven Brown

Aleksandr Benga was last seen more than two months ago in the grounds of Lews Castle.

Mum vows to ‘never stop’ searching for son missing for two months

A solicitor has claimed that two young people were given a "death sentence" after being sent to Polmont young offender's institution.



A Fatal Accident Inquiry has found the deaths of 21-year-old Katie Allan and 16-year-old William Brown, who both committed suicide in Polmont, could have been avoided if reasonable precautions had been taken.



A sheriff described a catalogue of systematic failures. Both Katie's and William's families are now demanding a change in the law to allow prisons to be prosecuted.

Sharon Frew

The Scottish Prison Service, NHS Forth Valley and the Scottish Government have all apologised.

Deaths of youngers at Polmont could have been avoided, inquiry finds

If you've ever stayed overnight in major European cities like Paris, Berlin or Amsterdam, you may have noticed that there's an extra charge in the form of a visitor levy.



Now Edinburgh is on the cusp of introducing the first so-called tourist tax in Scotland. And other councils are considering the same.



Today, after hours of debate, with some councillors calling for the charge to be upped to 7% or 8%, the proposed 5% levy was set.



So what will that look like for visitors?



Well, it means that a room which costs £120 a night will go up by £6.



And that applies to all types of overnight accommodation and is capped at five consecutive nights.



The scheme will apply to overnight stays from the July 24 next year and for booked and paid-for visits on or after May 1.



Some hospitality businesses have expressed concerns that this doesn’t give them enough time to make the necessary changes.



The council says that £50 million extra a year will help improve the fabric of Edinburgh, not just the city centre.



The final vote with the full council will go ahead next week.



Argyll and Bute council have started a twelve-week consultation on a visitor's levy, but businesses in the area say they have major concerns over the impact on tourists and residents travelling in the area.

Concerns stretch across all areas of hospitality about the new levy.



Edinburgh on cusp of introducing Scotland’s first tourist tax

We previously reported on the end of the nugget as we know it, but now the famous dessert could be saved from extinction.



One man is taking the matter - and the nugget - into his own hands by starting a fundraising campaign to save the sweet treat.

Rahim Cham

STV News went to find out what it is going to take to keep the treat from melting away.

Famous dessert nougat could be saved from extinction

An Edinburgh Homeless charity is urgently seeking new premises after it was unexpectedly served an eviction notice.



Streetreads, run by Simon Community Scotland, provides a warm and safe space for those sleeping rough in the city, but has been forced to close until an alternative location is found.

Amie Flett

Staff say it couldn't have come at a worse time.

Homeless charity urgently seeking new premises after eviction notice

It’s been in the planning for five years or so, but an Eden Project in Dundee could still be four to five years away, if it happens at all.



Bosses say the green tourism attraction would bring 500,000 visitors to the city every year, as well as hundreds of jobs.

Fraser Nicoll

They now need millions of pounds worth of funding.

Dundee Eden project could still be five years away

There are calls for immediate action to address concerns over the long-term viability of the salmon farming industry.



Record fish mortalities and environmental pollution are some of the issues raised by a parliamentary inquiry.



The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee say the Scottish Government must do more to control the industry.

Anne Smith

A new report  is urgently calling on the  Scottish Government to do more to control the sector.

Calls for action to address ‘long-term viability’ of salmon farming

After 30 years, the St Giles Shopping centre in Elgin will close for the final time on Monday.



Retailers and staff were left shocked when the mall's owners announced they were to close due to financial pressures less than a fortnight ago.



Business leaders say they're doing all they can to help stores find new premises and save around 100 jobs.

Nicola McAlley

Some stores are managing to relocate to other town centre units.

Retailers ‘shocked’ as St Giles centre to close after 30 years

Aberdeenshire residents are calling for tougher action on fly-tippers after cannabis plants were found at a beauty spot.



They say discarded materials are appearing on a regular basis and have reported the matter to police.

Haley Bouma

Rubbish began appearing on private land around Hatton of Fintray last summer.

Cannabis plants among rubbish found at fly-tipping site

A bunker and a bomb shelter used on an East Lothian RAF base during the Second World War are being made available for public viewing for the first time.



Both, which had either fallen into disrepair or been filled in, have been restored by the National Museum of Flight, which is based at East Fortune Airfield.

Lewis Michie

During the Second World War this airfield in East Lothian was RAF East Fortune.


Bunker and bomb shelter at former WWII airfield open to public

A funding initiative in Dundee is empowering communities by allowing them to decide how the money is spent.



A support group for parents in Lochee says it's helping them to make new friends and improve health and well-being.

Susan Nicholson

Bids for funding can be made over the next 18 months.

Funding initiative to allow communities to decide how money spent

Scotland is set to receive the UK's most advanced air ambulance helicopter.



The aircraft for Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance service will be based in Aberdeen and will be ready for operation in the autumn.

It comes ahead of a major fundraising campaign.

Air ambulance charity to receive state-of-the-art helicopter

"If we don't fight for pensioners, who will?"



That's the call from the North Lanarkshire couple who are taking both the UK and Scottish Government to court over the decision to stop universal winter fuel payments.



Lawyers for Peter and Florence Fanning appeared at The Court of Session in Edinburgh today.



The couple want the payment restored in full.

Vanessa Taaffe

Universal winter fuel payments for pensioners were cut by the Chancellor last year.

Scots couple to sue UK and Scottish Governments over fuel payment cut

The First Minister has guaranteed to end the two-child benefit cap earlier than expected - if the system can safely be put in place more quickly.



John Swinney says, although that remains the expectation, payments could be made later this year.

Political Correspondent

Ewan Petrie

Holyrood ministers have promised to mitigate the UK Government policy in April next year.

Two-child cap will be ended sooner if system in place, says FM

Potholes are among drivers' most common frustrations, ranging from a daily annoyance to threatening life.



Now, the cost of repairing the damage to vehicles caused by dodgy roads is at an all-time high.



According to the AA, the total cost of fixing vehicles that had broken down because of poor road surfaces in 2024 was £579m.

Journalist

Tara Fitzpatrick

Glasgow City Council say the winter weather comes with more pressure on the roads.

Cost of pothole damage hits record high with repairs totalling £579m

Campaigners are calling for an inquiry into the demolition of a B-listed building in Paisley.



The former Territorial Army hall on the town's High Street was severely damaged in a fire five years ago and has been sitting derelict since.



Hopes for its restoration were dashed last week after the council served it with a dangerous buildings notice.

Vidushi Tiwari

Renfrewshire Council issued multiple stop notices to the company.

Campaigners call for inquiry into demolition of listed building

Edinburgh's first vertical farm has officially opened in the city, using artificial intelligence and advanced technology to grow crops.



Scientists at Scotland's Rural College say it will help students develop essential skills for the future of farming and offer vital insights into growing conditions for researchers.

Laura Piper

Vertical farms can produce fresh produce all year round and use less resources.

Edinburgh’s first vertical farm opens using AI to grow crops

Wild salmon are returning to the upper parts of a Perthshire river for the first time since the 1950s.



The Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board revealed the findings at the River Garry ahead of the first day of the new fishing season on the Tay. 



Broadcaster Paul Murton had the honour of casting the first line.

Fergus Matheson

Last year's Salmon fishing season on the river was described as very encouraging.


Wild salmon return to the upper Garry for first time since 1950s

The former Michelin tyre factory in Dundee is facing a new future with the promise of 400 jobs.



Angus-based textile firm Wilkie will move its operations from Kirriemuir to the site, invest £50m, and triple its workforce to 600.

Lynne Rankin

The firm has become the major shareholder in the Michelin Innovation Parc in Dundee.

Textile firm to invest £50m and treble workforce at Dundee site

Aberdeen City Council could be taken to court if it decides to make bus gates permanent.



Lawyers acting on behalf of a city retailer have threatened the local authority with legal action if it fails to get consent from the Scottish Government before making the move.

Finlay Jack

Since the gates were introduced nearly 18 months ago, millions of pounds worth of fines have been sent.

Retailers threatens legal action if city bus gates made permanent

A former Scottish Government cabinet secretary has branded the refusal to accelerate work on the dualling of the A9 as ‘deeply disappointing’.



Fergus Ewing’s comments come as a new report advised against accelerating the project to dual the road between Perth and Inverness.

The Scottish Parliament will debate the issue tomorrow.

Ewing brands decision not to speed up A9 project as ‘disappointing’

House owners across Scotland forced out of their homes by the risk of lightweight concrete - better known as RAAC - have taken their fight for fair compensation to the Scottish Government.



They say they've been left in limbo - locked out of their homes which they are still paying mortgages on.

Ministers say any remediations would have to been funded by their UK counterparts.

RAAC affected homeowners take their fight to the Scottish Government

A team of scientists from Edinburgh are pioneering a way to turn fatbergs from sewers into a sweet-smelling perfume.



Their research comes as a report from the House of Lords science committee warns that the UK has already lost its position as a world-leader in engineering biology - and is in “severe” danger of slipping further behind.

Their bacteria can break down fat while producing a much better-smelling oil.

Scientists develop new method to turn fatbergs into perfume

Scotland's first ever para-gymnastics team are aiming for gold with their sights set on the Paralympics in 2032.



The discipline has now been made part of the games for the first time, giving Scottish hopefuls a route to the top.

After success at their first tournament in Norway, STV News went to meet the team at their training session.

Scotland’s first ever para-gymnastics team going for gold

Dozens of charities across Edinburgh are at risk of closure this summer as the board managing health and social care services is set to cut £4.5m of funding in June.



STV News has been hearing from some of the service users about how the loss will affect them.

The Murrayfield Dementia Project is just one of 64 services whose future is at risk.

Edinburgh charities at risk as board to cut £4.5m from budget

Members at a closure-threatened golf course in Dundee say "time is of the essence," with just a few months left to save it.



The council-run Caird Park course is due to shut in April, as part of £500,000 worth of cost savings.

The club has met with a potential investor, who thinks he can keep the facility running.

Golf club members warn time is running out to save course

Marine organisations have accused the Scottish Government of dragging their heels on important fisheries and environmental legislation.



Ministers are asking for evidence on two key policies.



But with the Holyrood elections due next year, some fear proper protections won't be put in place on time.

The Scottish Government says it's committed to protecting the marine environment.

Marine organisations accuse Holyrood of dragging feet on legislation

An investigation is under way after a major fire at a recycling plant closed the Friarton Bridge on the outskirts of Perth.



Large amounts of smoke forced the M90 to be sealed off as nearby residents were told to keep windows and doors shut.

Felicity Clifford

Recycling company Enva, which operates the site, say the likely cause was a battery.

Investigation under way following major fire at recycling centre

It's seven years later than planned and millions and millions of pounds over budget but the Glen Sannox is finally sailing.



Having started its first full day of service from Troon on Monday, she's expected to have carried more than 1,000 passengers by the end of the day. 



The journeys on Monday may have been smooth but it has been far from plain sailing to get the vessel completed.

Expectations are high from islanders now the new ship is part of the fleet. 

Long-delayed and over budget ferry Glen Sannox enters service

As far as islanders are concerned, this ferry has been a long, long time coming.



They need a reliable service and the last 12 months have been particularly challenging - for locals and tourists alike.



STV News spent the day on Arran hearing their concerns.

They say a new ferry is a positive step, but far from the end of the road.




Arran islanders pensive as new ferry enters service

There is a real sticking point regarding the future of the ferry route from Ardrossan to Arran.



The Caledonian Isles will still run from the seaside town - but she's out for repair until at least March.



So, that means there are now no scheduled ferries at all from Ardrossan to Brodick for the next two months.



And the future is really worrying the locals.

Kelly-Ann Woodland

The new Glen Sannox ferry is too large to dock at the current facilities in the town.

Locals fear for future of Ardrossan to Arran ferry link

An Edinburgh music initiative which surprised school pupils with a visit from Ed Sheeran last week hope the pop megastar's visit can help inspire children from all backgrounds to get involved in music.



STV News has been to see some of those lucky enough to meet him.

Sheeran was visiting the city's Muirhouse area as part of the launch of his new foundation.

Pop megastar Ed Sheeran surprises Edinburgh pupils with visit

A group of people with brain injuries say there were tears of joy when they reached Everest base camp.



The group have been supported by the charity Headway after many of them were told they would never walk or talk again, following life-changing head trauma.

The group and their families have been supported by the charity Headway.

‘Tears of joy’ as brain injury group hike to Everest base camp

The campaign behind the resurgence of Aberdeen's main thoroughfare is aiming to fill the remaining vacant units with new businesses.



Our Union Street is hoping to inspire entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into a reality, offering incentives such as rent and rates relief.

The campaign has a number of incentives in place for new businesses, such as rent and rates relief.

Campaign aims to fill vacant units on Union Street with new businesses

The search for two sisters who went missing in Aberdeen six days ago has been extended to the coast.



Eliza and Henrietta Huszti haven't been seen since the early hours of Tuesday morning.



Their family in Hungary say they can't piece together what might have happened.

Police say they're 'seriously concerned' for the welfare of the 32-year-olds.

Search continues for twin sisters missing for six days

Fishing at sea remains one of the most dangerous professions in the country.



But a safety course is hoping to reduce the number of preventable deaths by urging those in the industry to wear a life jacket.



More than 50 trawlermen have died since 2013, with investigators saying a high number could have been saved.

The course has been developed alongside the RNLI specifically for those working in the sector.

Safety course hoping to reduce fishermen deaths at sea

Glasgow - Europe's drugs death capital - is just days away from opening the first and only place in the UK where addicts can bring their own illegal drugs and inject them, under NHS supervision.



It's a controversial decision made after a decade of debate and deadlock.



STV News has been inside the facility, called the Thistle, in the east end of Glasgow, which officials believe will offer hope to hundreds of people.

The three year pilot will cost almost £7m.

UK’s first drugs consumption room to open in Glasgow

Across Scotland, 1,172 people died in 2023 as a result of their addiction to illegal substances.



These statistics also showed Glasgow had overtaken Dundee as the drug death capital of Europe.



The city is now set to become the first the UK to pilot a drug consumption room with a view to allowing users to inject illegal substances safely without fear of prosecution.

Tackling the issue has been described as a "national mission" by the Scottish Government.

How will the UK’s first drugs consumption room work?

One of Scotland's generational delicacies is about to be history.



For a century the famous nougat was made by Waverly Bakery and became a household favourite.



But production has stopped due to rising costs and the original recipe is now down to the final few boxes.

Wholesale buyers Crolla Ice Creams has the last 100 boxes in the entire country. 

Production grinds to a halt at Scottish nougat factory

A fourteen-year-old dog is recovering well following an eight-hour rescue mission to save her from a sewer.



Maizi, who is deaf, became trapped in an underground pipe after falling through an uncovered drain while out on a walk in a park in Dunfermline.

Fife Council has secured the drain and is now inspecting the area for additional risks.

Elderly dog recovering after getting stuck in sewer

The UK Government has announced plans to cap the price of resale tickets in a clamp-down on touts who bulk buy and then resell them for huge profits.



It would apply to tickets in the live events industry including sport, music, comedy and theatre.

A public consultation will be launched in the coming months.

Westminster announces plans to cap resale ticket prices

Residents at a block of flats in Dundee with RAAC say flooding issues are adding to their concerns about its structure.



The council has erected scaffolding, while permanent repairs are planned.

Campaigners say private homeowners shouldn't have to pay.

Flooding adding to resident’s concerns over RAAC homes

Around 100 farmers staged a demonstration along Dundee's Kingsway opposing the UK Government's inheritance tax plans.



The demonstration travelled along the A90 in a bid to have their voices hear.



 The UK Government plan to start taxing farmers on assets they inherit worth more than £1m from April.



Ministers say it will only impact the wealthiest, around 500 farms while unions claim the figure could be as high as 70,000.

Callum Clark

It's the latest demonstration to take place across the country.

Farmers in Dundee protest against inheritance tax changes

Mystery surrounding the illegal release of two lynx in the Highlands has increased after two more of the animals were spotted in the area on Friday morning.



Two of the animals were captured near Kingussie yesterday and are now in quarantine at Edinburgh Zoo.



This morning Police Scotland released a statement saying they had received reports of another pair in the same area.

There have been calls for lynx to be reintroduced to Scotland.

Lynx release mystery deepens as two more animals spotted

Last night was the coldest January night in the UK in 15 years as temperatures plummeted to -14.5C in Altnaharra in the Highlands.



A yellow warning for snow and ice remained in place until 10am this morning, causing disruptions to schools and travel.



More than 50 schools were unable to open in Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.



Meanwhile, in Aberdeen, homeless charities have raised concerns about those struggling with the freezing conditions.

Last night was the coldest January evening in 15 years, reaching -14.5C.

Coldest night in 15 years after temperatures plummet to -14.5C

A Romanian gang who groomed, raped and sexually exploited ten vulnerable women are facing life behind bars.



The victims, who were plied with drink and drugs, continue to be supported to help them rebuild their lives.

One woman was gang-raped by three of the Romanians, while another was forced into prostitution.

Romanian grooming gang facing life sentence following conviction

The deputy prime minister insists she will cooperate with the Scottish Government to help it mitigate the two-child benefit cap, but says her government has no immediate plans to scrap it.



On a visit to Govan, Angela Rayner says the Department of Work and Pensions will help identify eligible families, but says she doesn't know of any requests so far.

Political Reporter

Laura Alderman

Currently, families are not able to claim child benefits for more than two children. 

Rayner: We will work with Holyrood to mitigate benefit cap

Two lynx which were on the loose in the Highlands have been captured.



The wild cats are thought to have been released illegally in an act described as "reckless" by an animal charity.



They were caught following a major search in freezing temperatures overnight.

The animals are now on their way to Edinburgh Zoo to be quarantined.

Two lynx captured after being ‘illegally released’ in the Highlands

What is black and white and green all over?



It's Hilda the cow, who has a lower carbon 'hoof-print' than your average heifer.



She's been born as part of a project in Dumfries to breed a more environmentally-friendly herd that could produce less of the greenhouse gas methane.

STV News has visited the Dumfries farm to find out more about Hilda's lower carbon 'hoof-print'.

First ‘green cow’ born that could produce less greenhouse gas

A dog that has spent half a decade in an animal shelter is hoping that 2025 will finally be the year she is adopted by her forever home.



Six-year-old Rottweiler crossbreed Cassie has been described as the "most overlooked dog" at the Dogs Trust rehoming centre in West Calder, as one of their longest-staying residents.

The six-year-old Rottweiler crossbreed has been living at the rehoming centre since she was nine months old.

Dog living in shelter for five years hoping to be adopted in 2025

Local authorities across Scotland have been warned to learn from weaknesses at Aberdeen City Council that allowed an employee to embezzle more than a million pounds for nearly two decades.



Michael Paterson stole the money through false council tax refunds for 17 years. He was jailed for four years in July.



So far, the council has failed to contact any taxpayers who have been impacted.

Michael Paterson stole the money over 17 years while working at Aberdeen City Council.

Scottish councils warned after employee stole more than £1m

NHS Grampian saw more than four times last year's flu hospital admissions as the health board battles winter pressures.



That's despite figures from Public Health Scotland showing the number of people admitted to hospital with the virus had fallen this week.

As temperatures remain low, the NHS continues to face pressures brought by winter.



NHS Grampian sees four times as many flu admissions than last year

Tourists visiting Scotland from the summer of 2026 will be hit by a new tax - the visitor levy.



It will be introduced first in Edinburgh - where councillors expect to raise £50m a year by charging an extra 5% each night on the cost of overnight accommodation in hotels, B&amp;Bs and short-term lets.



So, a £100 a night room would cost £105 - with that extra £5 going into the council's coffers.

STV News - Edinburgh