Here are the main stories hitting the headlines in Fife and the Lothians on Thursday, 4 November:
West Lothian Courier:
JAILED TARTAN TERRORIST’S ESCAPE PLAN
Self-styled tartan terrorists Adam Busby sparked a scare at Livingston Sheriff Court last week after telling a prison escort that he planned to use his trial there as a chance to escape.
Busby, who was jailed for six years in June 2009 after he admitted sending packages containing shotgun cartridges and threatening notes to a politician and a city council, was back in trouble after he assaulted two prison officers at Addiewell Prison.
The Southern Reporter:
Green light given for arts and entertainment centre in Gala
The transformation of a former church in Galashiels into a state-of-the-art venture for live music, comedy, dance and drama took a major step forward this week.
On Tuesday the executive committee of Scottish Borders Council met in a private session to consider the future of St Andrew’s Art Centre in Bridge Street, which it closed more than a year ago.
East Lothian News:
Forecourt drama
A petrol station worker has been hailed a hero after a taxi caught fire on the forecourt.
Driver Scott Percy has praised the prompt actions of staff at the Tranent garage where he had stopped to get fuel.
Former solider Scott (23), who has been in business for two years, had just dropped off a fare when the drama unfolded on Saturday night.
East Lothian Courier:
Store Wars U-turn favours Sainsbury’s
Haddington’s ‘Store Wars’ have taken a major twist after council planners performed a U-turn on the preferred location for an out-of-town retail development.
In a significant move, council officials have completely changed the key recommendation of the local authority’s Haddington Retail Review to favour Gateside West, where Sainsbury’s has applied for planning permission for a store.
Dunfermline Press:
Win-win for West Fife!
2000 jobs on way at plant
The new owner of the former Hyundai and Freescale/Motorola site, Freddy Shepherd, believes his renewable energy plans at Halbeath can create 2000 permanent jobs.
And
Green light for 50 years’ work at the dockyard
Rosyth Dockyard has beaten off a challenge from France and is set to carry out maintenance and refit work on the new aircraft carrier class over a projected 50-year lifespan.
The Fife Free Press:
WE’LL LISTEN TO PARENTS
Kirkcaldy MSP Marilyn Livingstone has met with Fife Council bosses to discuss concerns surrounding a consultation on the closure of a primary school in the town.
Mrs Livingstone attended the meeting with Chief Executive Ronnie Hinds and education boss Ken Greer this week following an open letter to the Council from parents at Dunearn Primary School.
Central Fife Times & Advertiser:
Man sought sex acts with teen
A 29-YEAR-OLD Cowdenbeath man who tried to get an underage girl to perform sex acts on him has been put on the sex offenders’ register for a year.
Paul Laidlaw sent text messages to the then 15-year-old girl after obtaining her phone number.
