Latest news with #STV
Spectator
a day ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Watch: SNP housing secretary slips up on social housing
SNP MSP Mairi McAllan appears to be rated rather highly by First Minister John Swinney, who created an entirely new job created for her on her return to Holyrood from maternity leave – but the Scottish government's new housing secretary hasn't had the smoothest start to the job. A rather awkward interview with STV this week highlighted the Cabinet minister isn't quite as on top of her brief as she should be. Oh dear… The SNP claims on its website that 'since taking office, we have delivered 96,750 affordable homes, nearly 67,000 of which were for social rent'. But on how many people are currently waiting for a social home in Scotland, it seems the Nats are a little less clear. When quizzed during a visit to Bathgate on Wednesday, McAllan's interview fast became rather excruciating… STV: Do you know how many people are waiting for a social home currently? MM: I don't have that… I don't have that figure. STV: You don't know how many people are waiting for a social home in Scotland? MM: I don't have that figure on me. STV: You're the new cabinet secretary for the housing brief, and you can't tell me how many thousands of people are waiting for a social home? MM: It's not that I don't know it. I don't have the figure with me today. Er, that rather sounds like she doesn't know, then… STV: Well, it's 250,000. More than a quarter of a million Scots are waiting for a social home. What are you going to say to them? They'll be quite shocked to hear you didn't know how many of them were waiting for a home. Ouch. Watch the clip here:
Daily Record
a day ago
- Climate
- Daily Record
Where in Scotland will be hit by heatwave weather as summer events ramp up this weekend
The UK is bracing for a significant spell of hot weather that may cause some sleepless nights Scotland is stepping into summer with a string of exciting events that will kick off this weekend. June got off to a pretty miserable start, with the country plagued by heavy downpours and thunderstorms for much of last week. The tide seems to be turning, though, with the Met Office teasing the possibility of a heatwave. Down south will, as usual, see the best of the toasty conditions, with much of England even being hit with a yellow heat health warning. Different parts of the UK have different temperature thresholds for a heatwave. In Scotland, 25C or higher needs to be recorded at the same spot for three consecutive days or longer. Despite the uncertainty of this hot spell being an official heatwave, it will undoubtedly provide Scotland's warmest day of the year so far, which currently goes to Lossiemouth, Moray which recorded 25.7C on June 13. However, the Met Office's weather maps suggest there is a possibility of three consecutive days of 25C or over on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Heatwave temperatures of 25C will be common, especially on Friday, which looks set to be the warmest day. Temperatures will rise to around 24C in Glasgow on Thursday, as well as in parts of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. It will also feel especially warm in the Borders and around Dumfries. On Friday, temperatures will peak at around 4pm, reaching a roasting 27C in Edinburgh and Jedburgh, and 26C in Glasgow, Bathgate, Stirling, Perth, Dundee, and Pitlochry. Highs of 25C will be common as well. It will feel slightly fresher in the Western Isles and far north, although the mercury should still top 19C. Saturday's highs will be 25C in Jedburgh, 24C in Edinburgh, Lauder, Perth, Dundee, Pitlochry, and Aberlour in Moray. Sunday will feel fresher although highs of 20C will still be common. Sean Batty, STV weatherman, said highs of even around 28C were "not out of the question" in areas such as the Moray coast, Perth, Glasgow, Stirling, Edinburgh, and East Lothian, although he did not specify for what date. Although most areas may not meet the three-day threshold, The Met Office has not ruled out the heatwave reaching parts of Scotland over the next couple of days. "By Saturday, many areas, particularly in Wales, the West Midlands, and Somerset, are likely to meet the [heatwave] criteria," the agency said. "By Sunday, central and eastern England, and parts of eastern Scotland, could also qualify. So yes, a technical heatwave is likely for many parts of the UK this week." A lot of humidity will be in the air in Scotland, too, making conditions "feel more oppressive". This may be particularly felt during the night with Scots facing a restless sleep due to the toastier climes. Temperatures on Thursday night could remain in the high teens, particularly across the west Highlands, Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire, and the Moray coast. There's even a chance new overnight temperature records fall by the weekend. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Record
Easy hack to avoid getting sand in your car this summer
The expert hack promises to keep your car clean after a trip to the seaside. This weekend is set to be a scorcher, so trips to seaside might be on the cards for many Scots hoping to lap up the sunshine. Forecaster predicts Scotland could hit 26C on Friday, and STV weatherman Sean Batty hasn't rule out highs of 28C in some parts of the country over the coming days. The Met Office's UK temperature map shows the country's major cities sitting in the mid 20s for most of the weekend, making it the perfect temperatures for a day at the beach. However, as lovely as a scorching day by the sea sounds, the reality can be slightly different, especially if you have young children. Stopping sand getting into your car is tricky when your loading up after a long day at the seaside due to its tendency to stick to moisture and crevices, meaning the battle against the grains often feels like an losing one. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. While some surfaces like dashboards or leather seats can be cleaned with a dust brush or microfibre cloth, deep-seated sand in carpets and upholstery requires more effort, including hoovering, brushing, and potentially specialised cleaning techniques. The key to avoiding having to deep-clean the car is to ensure sand doesn't get in there in the first place. Experts at 1dot, a car cleaning retailer, said this simple yet very effective hack will solve all your sandy problems. According to the professionals a simple plastic bag and a splash of water work wonders after a day at the beach. Before stepping into the car, beachgoers should rinse their feet in a small plastic bag (or bag for life) filled with water, then dry off with a towel. The bag captures the sand and keeps it from clinging to feet or falling onto mats and seats. Ash Young, a car cleaning expert said: "It's quick, cheap, and surprisingly effective. Keep a couple of medium-sized plastic bags and a small towel in your beach kit. You'll save yourself from hours of hoovering later.' 1dot's top tips to keep your car clean after a day at the beach Designate a "clean zone": Keep towels and clean flip-flops near the car door for a quick transition. Use a portable foot rinse station: A jug of water or collapsible basin can double as a rinse tool. Line your car boot: Use an old sheet or shower curtain liner to catch stray sand and shake it out afterwards. Brush off gear: Give beach toys, chairs, and beach towels a quick wipe before loading them in. Ash added: "This is one of those small hacks that can save a big mess. "A little prep goes a long way when it comes to protecting your car interior.'
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
New defibrillator installed on Glasgow mobile phone mast
The potentially life-saving equipment has been fitted to the mast's cabinet, situated at the corner of Easterhouse Road and Springcroft Road, Swinton in Glasgow. This instillation was completed following calls from Baillieston councillor, Kevin Lalley who was on the lookout for a suitable location for the unit donated by an anonymous resident. Councillor Lalley approached VodafoneThree, which, along with mobile infrastructure partner Cornerstone, installed the unit on the supporting cabinet of the mast which provides the defibrillator with the power it needs to function properly. Read more: Warning issued as over 100,000 Scots could be left without heating and hot water (Image: Supplied) Councillor Lalley said: "I wish to thank VodafoneThree for assisting the community of Swinton and the wider Baillieston community with their assistance to install this defibrillator. "This is a fantastic initiative and is solely down to one of Swinton's residents. "This lady, who wishes to remain anonymous, approached me and, together, this facility has arrived in our community. "This lady has kindly donated the defibrillator and a very big thank you goes to her for thinking of others. "This can potentially save lives. "Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time, and having defibrillators in a public place, ready for use, is so important." Read more: STV presenter 'brings the sunshine' to officially open Glasgow care home Miranda van Gestel, chief customer officer at Cornerstone, said: "When St John's contacted VodafoneThree about installing a defibrillator on one of our infrastructure cabinets, we were delighted to support the initiative. "This collaboration shows how our shared footprint can do more than deliver connectivity, it can also help save lives. "We're proud to play a part and look forward to exploring more ways we can partner with VodafoneThree for community good." Kris Sanderson, VodafoneThree's network regional manager, added: "When we heard about the need for the defibrillator placement, we were only too happy to help. "We hope it's never needed, but it's a massively important piece of equipment for the local community, and we're delighted to be supporting it."
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
STV presenter official opens Kelvinside Manor care home
STV weather presenter Sean Batty officially opened Kelvinside Manor in Glasgow's West End. The care home, which has already welcomed residents, is a 48-bed facility offering 24-hour nursing, dementia, and respite care. (Image: Supplied) Read more: STV's new station appoints programme director to deliver 'must-listen radio' Sean, a favourite among residents, was joined by families, care home staff, community members, and project partners. The popular presenter marked the occasion by unveiling a special commemorative plaque for the official opening. Children from Kelvinside Academy Nursery also came along to take part in the celebrations. Laura McAlonan, 89, a resident at Kelvinside Manor, said: "It was a marvellous day. "My son and daughter came along, and it was a great turnout. "I spent a lot of time organising charity events and I know a lot of planning went into making it special. "Everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves and it was a chance for everyone [families] to see how comfortable the home is and that we are settled here." The afternoon included live entertainment, refreshments, and a chance for guests to tour the home. It began with 14-year-old bagpiper Christopher Denny, followed by Scottish folk songs performed by harpist and singer Pauline Vallance. Guests enjoyed a Scottish tapas spread featuring smoked salmon, pulled pork, and canapés, along with fizz and mocktails, all prepared by Kelvinside Manor's head chef Maureen McCourt. To top the celebrations off, the event concluded with a special whisky tasting, including the limited-edition Meallmore blend created in honour of Father's Day. (Image: Supplied) Read more: Co-op invite community groups to apply for share of £5m funding Cillian Hennessey, chief executive of Meallmore, said: "We're very proud of what we've achieved here in Kelvinside. "This building has always been a part of the local community and a real part of this area of Glasgow's West End, so we're thrilled to be able to give it a new chapter. "We'd like to thank everyone who has played a role in the development of Kelvinside Manor; and a special thanks to Veronica and the incredible team who really make the home what it is, while providing the highest standards of personalised care. "It's great to see our first residents looking so happy and settled and enjoying all the fantastic spaces that the home has to offer." Veronica Dormer, manager of Kelvinside Manor, said: "We had such a wonderful afternoon. "It really was the perfect way to officially open our lovely new home; both the residents and our team were proud to show it off to our guests. "We were blown away by the fantastic turnout and it was a joy to have Sean with us too, chatting to residents and posing for photos – especially as he was good enough to bring us the sunshine!"
