The summer’s Festival of House event in Angus has hit a major snag, after Angus council officers recommended refusal of the licence over safety concerns.

The council has recommended that councillors refuse the festival’s application for a Public Entertainment Licence when it goes before the Civic Licensing Committee on Friday.

Angus council has said they have “worked from the outset with the event organiser and with partners, and endeavoured to provide the necessary assistance, guidance and collaboration.

“However, a number of key areas remain of significant concern and fall short of the expected standards required for this event.

“The plans remain of a standard well below what would be expected,” he said.

“There are significant gaps, conflicting information and inconsistencies which provide no confidence that the plans provide the foundation for the delivery of a professionally managed, safe event.”

The management structure was also highlighted in the report compiled for councillors, with officers claiming it remains incoherent in terms of roles and decision making responsibilities.

The final key issue of plans submitted to the council by organisers involved the traffic management plan, which has not been deemed “workable”.

The conclusion was that “it is the view of the constituent members of the steering group that this event cannot be delivered safely and therefore cannot support the application for the public entertainment licence.”

The electronic dance event hopes to attract 15,000 music fans to Panmure estate, near Carnoustie in June, with a string of big names acts booked to appear.

Tickets cost more than £150 for the two days, with tickets already on sale.

Underworld, Rudimental and Leftfield are among the headliners scheduled to appear for the two day festival from Friday 10 June.

Craig Blyth, Director at Festival of House, said: “All support emails and letters have been submitted with licensing documents, both objections and support are all relevant and helps Licensing Board members understand the full picture across the area.

“We have received many notes of support and would like to thank everyone so far who has taken the time to do this.

“All crowd management and alcohol management plans are being progressed in a timely manner agreed with Angus Council.”

A GROUP of Travellers has pitched up just metres from homes in a quiet suburb.

People living on Threewells Drive, Forfar, say that the illicit site at an adjacent park was set up at around 4pm on Sunday.

Folk living in the area today called for Angus Council to take action, with one resident describing the situation as a “nightmare”.

It’s understood it is the same Travellers who had previously set up on land to the west of the Lochside Caravan Club site, at Forfar Loch Country Park, and were served with a notice of eviction.

Laura White, 36, a business owner, said: “They came here at about 4pm. It was just one guy in a van at first and then the rest suddenly appeared after that.

“I have two dogs and I now can’t walk them in the park because I need to use that route. It’s a nightmare. I think everyone in the area just wants them moved on because it isn’t fair on people in the area who are now cut off from using the park.

“A lot of parents would also use that route to take their kids to the school.”

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said the location of the site was restricting locals’ access to a nearby park.

She added: “It was quite a shock when they all turned up.

“I think that the council should move them on because there isn’t any way of using it as a through-road now. This is a quiet suburb. The park is usually full of kids but it has been totally empty apart from dogs from the caravans.”

The Travellers declined to comment when approached by the Tele.

“A spokesman for Angus Council said: “We are aware of the unauthorised encampment at a disused playpark in Threewells Drive.

“We are continuing to monitor the situation in accordance with policy and procedures.”

A STALKER bombarded a student with Facebook messages for four years and made threats that his victim would “get hurt”.

Spurned Gregor Sharpe, 24, was spotted at Fiona Leeper’s work and even said he was going to go to her house, Dundee Sheriff Court heard.

The pair had been taught at Carnoustie High School at the same time but were never close.

But when Ms Leeper became a first-year student at university in 2011 she began receiving Facebook messages from Sharpe.

He claimed he missed and loved her and wanted to meet up.

Ms Leeper replied that she wasn’t interested, asking him to leave her alone and blocking him from her Facebook.

Fiscal depute Trina Sinclair told the court: “A few months later the complainer again received Facebook messages from the accused using a new account, again stating that he missed her, loved her and wanted to meet up.

“The messages continued for four years. The complainer said she ignored them, but found them annoying.”

However, in January this year, Ms Leeper was speaking to a work colleague about the messages and showed him a photo of Sharpe.

The doorman said he recognised him and had seen him “hanging around” her workplace.

On January 26, Sharpe then messaged Ms Leeper stating: “I am coming to see you in person right now. See you soon.”

Ms Sinclair said “the complainer was at home alone and she felt scared” and asked a friend to come round.

Sharpe never showed up but mentioned the friend’s name in another message.

He later told Ms Leeper: “If you don’t forgive me, you will get hurt, not me, Fiona. I hope I don’t bump into you again Fiona, for your sake.”

When Ms Leeper said she was going to call the police, Sharpe said: “I’m sorry.”

He later told officers he was “curious” about her relationship with the friend and claimed his relationship with Ms Leeper was “unique” and “strange”.

Sheriff Brown deferred sentence until June 6 for a psychological report. And he warned Sharpe: “If you pester this lady again I will not hesitate to lock you up for as long as I can.”

Sharpe, of Hilltown, admitted that between September 1 2011 and February 8 this year, at Hilltown, the Central Library at the Wellgate, and elsewhere, he caused Ms Leeper fear or alarm by repeatedly sending her messages, including telling her he knew personal details of her life and making threats and abusive remarks.

Two cars have been involved in a collision in Monifieth today, causing delays.

The smash at the intersection between Dalhousie Road and Balmossie Street involved a parked Ford Fiesta and a Vauxhall Corsa.

It happened at about 11.30am, causing minor delays to motorists as police directed traffic around the accident.

The black Corsa was driving out of Monifieth when it collided with the black Fiesta parked on the side of the road.

There was no injury to the driver of the Corsa, the only person involved in the incident, although his car did suffer significant damage to the front passenger wheel.

Police officers were directing traffic around the incident which obstructed both ways.

The Festival of House has been cancelled after organisers admitted that a licencing row would be too difficult to overcome in time.

The announcement comes after Police Scotland and Angus Council said earlier this week that they did not believe the event should be allowed to happen on safety grounds.

However, organisers had previously insisted that they were confident the event would go ahead.

But the firm has now conceded that the festival, which had been planned for June 10 and 11 at Panmure Estate near Carnoustie, on would not happen.

Craig Blyth, Festival of House director, said: “It is with much regret we are announcing this year’s Festival of House will not go ahead.

“We are extremely disappointed to have reached this decision.

“The gap between all parties in terms of key plans is such that it is incapable of resolution in the time left before the event and that to go forward with tomorrow’s licensing hearing would be harmful to the relationship between the parties involved.

“We have proposed a formal debriefing to Angus Council, presenting an opportunity to look forward to planning another event timeously for next year. Lessons can be learned by all parties from such an exercise.

“We dispute entirely any suggestion by Angus Council the event would not be safe. The safety and wellbeing of fans and residents has been our priority from the outset, and we feel the core safety plans in place are comprehensive and robust.

“We would like to thank the many thousands of supporters who have unequivocally voiced their desire over the last twelve months for the festival to take place.

“This includes residents, local businesses and fans, many of whom were travelling to Angus for the first time from across the country, and who were looking forward to enjoying a weekend of world class music in a beautiful part of Scotland.

“The festival would have brought significant benefits to the region and generated a much needed, long lasting economic legacy.”

Thousands of tickets have already been sold and major acts have been booked and are set to play at the event.

“Most of all we would like to express our disappointment to the thousands of fans who have bought tickets for the festival and offer them our sincere apologies.

“We would like to reassure fans who have bought tickets a full refund will be swiftly administered.

“Refunds will start to be processed by Skiddle next week. Any further queries should be directed to info@festivalofhouse.co.uk.”

ENVIRONMENT chiefs have admitted that plans to close recycling centres in Angus could see more rubbish being brought to Dundee’s recycling centres.

Councillors are considering money-saving plans to reduce its number of recycling centres — with sites at Forfar, Kirriemuir, Carnoustie, Monifieth and Brechin all facing potential closure.

A decision is set to be taken on May 24 on the fate of the five centres.

Councillor John Alexander — convener of neighbourhood services in Dundee, which includes environmental issues — said today that he plans to hold talks with Angus Council on the issue amid concerns that the move will impact on the city’s recycling services.

He told the Tele: “It is a matter for those elected by the Angus population and we will work with our colleagues in Angus on whatever decision they take.

“I appreciate the difficulty of reducing budgets and the views around this contentious issue.

“We will be monitoring the situation and will assess any potential impact once a decision has been made by the communities committee.

“Given the focus on household recycling, we would hope that any impact would be minimal.”

But he added: “We are acutely aware that any potential closures may have an impact upon our own recycling sites and officers will be analysing input into our own recycling sites over the coming months.

“Our focus is on increasing recycling and ensuring adequate provision for the people of Dundee.

“If we believe that changes are required on the back of any decision, then we will look at working with our counterparts on improving the situation. However, I have not seen any proposals and I am sure that we will be able to deal with any matters which arise in collaboration with our Angus counterparts.”

A spokesman for Angus Council said that the authorities work closely with one another and that talks are ongoing regarding shared services across Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross.

He added: “Angus Council has seen significant improvements in its kerbside recycling rates.

“Current performance is amongst the best in Scotland and the people of Angus are to be commended for how well they are recycling.

“The recent report to the communities committee on April 12 saw far-reaching change approved without division, highlighting that protecting services through innovation is a priority for Angus Council.

“It was agreed that proposed changes in relation to recycling centres would be deferred to explore what other options there are for the future of the service.”

Dundee City Council closed one of its recycling centres — Marchbanks — in 2013, leaving two remaining sites.

A WOMAN was being treated in hospital today for a serious head injury after a fall outside a pub.

The victim, who is in her 40s, was admitted to Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital following the incident in the early hours of Sunday.

It is believed the woman fell down a set of stairs close to The Vault pub in the middle of Monifieth.

She was taken to hospital by ambulance in a “serious” condition but her current condition isn’t known.

However, friends and family posted on social media about their concerns for her — one saying that she hoped she “pulls through”.

A member of staff at The Vault confirmed a woman had been involved in an accident close to the premises on Saturday night.

He added that she was “unwell” and had been taken to hospital. A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed that a crew was called to the scene outside the pub.

He said: “We received a 999 call shortly after 1am to attend a female who had fallen and sustained a head injury.

“A local ambulance crew attended and we conveyed a female in her 40s to Ninewells Hospital in a serious condition.”

Members of the woman’s family were too upset to speak when approached by the Tele.

A member of staff from the nearby Seaway Chip Shop said: “I had heard over the weekend that a woman did fall and seriously hurt herself.

“It’s a small town so news like that spreads fast.

“It was a shame to hear — I hope the woman is all right.”

The incident came just over 24 hours after a man sustained a head injury in an assault on Monifieth High Street.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident, which happened near the Yummy Express takeaway at about 10.10pm on Friday.

A spokeswoman said: “Anyone with any knowledge of this assault or who may have witnessed the incident is asked to contact police on 101, Crimestoppers 0800 555111, or speak to any police officer.”

Officers said that they were not involved in the incident on Sunday morning as it appeared to be a medical matter.

Angus has been split into two Holyrood constituencies since 2011; Angus North and Mearns, and Angus South.

Angus South’s main population centres are the towns of Monifieth, Carnoustie and Arbroath, while Angus North and Mearns’ main towns are Brechin, Forfar and Montrose.

Heavy job losses have occurred across Angus with the downturn in the oil industry. Constituents will be keen to see how this rise in unemployment is addressed by its prospective elected members.

Graeme Dey will once again stand for the SNP in Angus South, against Kirstene Hair of the Scottish Conservatives, Joanne McFadden of Scottish Labour and Clive Sneddon of the Scottish Lib Dems.

Mairi Evans has been selected for the SNP in Angus North and Mearns, alongside Euan Davidson of the Scottish Lib Dems, Alex Johnstone of the Scottish Conservatives and John Ruddy of Scottish Labour. When the Tele spoke to voters in Angus South, it appeared that Scottish independence continued to dominate their political views.

Alana Simpson, 21, from Arbroath, is a full-time mother. She said the independence referendum had given her an interest in politics, and she plans to vote for the SNP as a result.

“I supported independence then and now, and think the SNP should be able to call another referendum at some point if they get into power again,” she said.

“I think the SNP is better at supporting people on benefits too.

“When my daughter is old enough I’d like to go back to working part-time, and I think the SNP will help with benefits, otherwise it wouldn’t be worth my while.”

Peter Smith, 67, from Carnoustie, has already cast a postal vote for the Scottish Conservatives.

The electrical industry retiree said: “My vote is a party vote. I voted Conservative because I think the SNP has an agenda for a second independence referendum, which is rejecting the Scottish nation as a whole.

“To a degree the SNP is a one-issue party, and I think they have taken their eye off the ball a bit. The Conservatives are aiming to be a strong opposition, and I hope they will hold the SNP to account.”

Fiona Doran, 50, from Arbroath is a retired disability worker.

She said: “I am planning to vote for the SNP.

“Although I still support independence, it’s now also a vote for productivity and what I hope the candidates will achieve.

“There’s been no energy in the Conservatives’ campaign. I think Labour have suffered badly in Scotland because of the image of the party in the UK.

“I would have voted for them in the past, but wouldn’t now the SNP have got their act together.”

Stewart Findlay, 26, from Carnoustie is an unemployed father of one. He plans to vote for the SNP.

He said: “I supported the SNP for the Yes vote, and since then I’ve stuck with them.

“Through the referendum I took an interest in politics and I think there will be another referendum.

“The SNP, I’ve found, sort of suits what I think politically, but I couldn’t tell you the candidates, I’m voting for the party.”

In the run-up to the Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 5, the Tele is looking at the constituencies and candidates in our readership areas.

Carnoustie businesses have already begun preparations for the 2016 British Senior Open.

This year’s event is gearing up to be another hectic period for firms as thousands of golfing enthusiasts descend on the town for the four day event in July.

The contest was held in Carnoustie in 2010 and welcomed more than 30,000 spectators.

Staff at the Indian restaurant Ganges hope to keep fans — and hopefully pros — well-fed.

The eatery’s Nasir Hussain, 29, said: “The Senior Open is always busy — the golfing community are always fantastic customers.

“We always make them feel welcome not only in the restaurant, but in Scotland as a whole. We might get some celebrities coming in this year, who knows?

“We get French, Americans — a whole host of nationalities.”

Elaine Vickers, 61, who has run the Carnoustie Coach House for the past nine years, said the Senior Open is one of the biggest events of the year.

She said: “We are already making preparations for our guests arrival.”

Carnoustie councillor Brian Boyd is delighted the event is coming back to the links course.

He told the Tele: “I hope visitors will take in some of the local businesses in the area.

“Hotels, bars and shops I hope will reap the benefits as I know firms have been hit hard in recent months.

“Hopefully it will be a great boost to Carnoustie and the whole of Tayside.”

Andy Stubbs, managing director of the European Senior Tour, said the team behind the contest are delighted to be returning to Carnoustie.

He said: “In 2010, we saw Bernhard Langer become the first continental European to win this prestigious tournament.

“After his second Senior Open victory in 2014, and runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2015, he will certainly be one to watch when we return to Angus.

“We will also see the Senior Open debut of Jean Van de Velde, who turned 50 earlier this year and now has the opportunity of setting the record straight after the events of The Open in 1999.

“We enjoyed superb hospitality six years ago, and I’m sure the welcome will be equally warm when the Senior Open tees off at the historic links of Carnoustie in July.”

A man has been charged during a police crackdown on bogus workmen and doorstep crime.

Police Scotland confirmed that a 44-year-old man had been detained in connection with crimes of dishonesty and would face court tomorrow.

A spokesperson said: “As part of Operation Monarda, Police Scotland’s ongoing initiative to target bogus workmen and raise awareness of doorstep crime, a 44-year old-man was detained in Dickson Avenue, Dundee on Friday.

“He has been charged in connection with a number of crimes of dishonesty, including theft, at addresses in Dundee and Arbroath that happened between February and April this year and he is expected appear at Dundee Sheriff Court tomorrow.”

A Tayside DJ was commemorated at a Dundee dance event, with a video of one of his best sets played at the gig on huge screens.

Scott Williams, 33, died in August when his car hit a wall while driving on the Arbroath to Lunan Road.

The DJ was well-known for his house and techno sets across the nightclub scene in Tayside and was said to be heading for a big future.

He regularly played sets at the Dundee Dance Event’s closing party and, to mark his loss, organisers Mike McDonald and Richard Martin decided it would be a fitting tribute to screen one of his former performances at this year’s event, which took place on Sunday.

Richard said: “Doing a tribute to Scott was one of the first things we thought about.

“Scott loved music, he played every year and he always did the closing party, so we thought it was a fitting thing to do.

“The crowd absolutely loved it. They were all pointing at the screen when the video came on.

“Some were saying it was an emotional time and he will be missed, but it went down really well.

“Hundreds of people knew Scott and there was never an actual tribute done for him in Dundee when he died, so it was only right we did one now.”

One of the videos shows Scott performing and it closes with a quote which states: “Better having a short life doing things you like, than a long one being miserable”. The tribute to Scott was also referenced on all the flyers, wristbands and T-shirts involved with the dance festival.

A total of 1,500 people were in attendance at the Dundee University Students’ Association union to watch the video clips of Scott at the closing party.

Many fans took to social media speaking of how much they missed Scott below a post of the clips.

One said: “Breaks my heart every time I see a video of him.”

Another added: “Your memory will always live on in the music Scott, we all miss you.”

Richard said the dance scene lost a rising star in Scott, who could have gone far in the genre.

He added: “Scott gave up being a manager at H Samuel to do a stint DJing in Ibiza — Ibiza was his dream.

“Given time, he would have gone on to be one of the main headliners there.”

Scott, of Arbroath, died at the scene of the crash in the early hours of August 29 when his Ford Focus hit a wall on the Arbroath to Lunan road about a mile north of its junction with Auchmithie.

The car left the road and landed on its side in a field.

Scott was described as the “best person ever” by his former partner Leeona Russell, who was also the mother of his young daughter Lexi.

Volunteers at the fire-hit Caledonian Railway have expressed their disappointment at the failure of police to find the culprit who started the blaze.

Andy Pegg, events manager for the rail preservation group, told the Tele of a growing sense of pessimism among his fellow train enthusiasts.

He said: “Frankly, I don’t think they will get any further and we’ve heard nothing from police.

“I believe the investigation is dead in the water and I don’t think we’ll ever know. It’s quite disappointing to never see anyone caught for this.

“We lost so much after lots of hard work and commitment. It was definitely arson. We found the metalwork and the lock was undamaged — it was in the lock position.

“We have no idea why someone would want to do this, other than maybe boredom.”

On April 6, a fire ripped through a recently refurbished LMS Brakevan causing extensive damage.

Two fire appliances from Brechin attended to find the recently renovated buffet carriage at the railway museum well alight.

Initial estimates placed restoration costs at about £20,000, but offers of help poured in within hours of the news breaking.

Less than a month later, the group already has funds in place to restore the damaged carriage, thanks to the support of local businesses and the community.

It is hoped restoration work can begin after the summer and the group plans to use an alternative brakevan in the meantime.

Andy said: “The other brakevan is not as big, it’s more of a display piece. We’ll have to do more trips, carrying less people per journey, but we’re hoping it won’t impact on services too much.

“We’re looking at the bright side, putting this behind us and moving on.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland continues to appeal for information in connection with a fire at Caledonian Railway sometime between 10.45pm and 11pm on April 6.

“The fire caused extensive damage to a train carriage.

“Local inquiries, including house-to- house, have been progressed, along with media appeals for witnesses.

“Anyone who has information that could assist officers with their inquiries, or who saw or heard anything suspicious, is asked to contact police on 101. Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

IT’S make your mind up time for people across the country tomorrow.

Voters will elect the 129 MSPs who will represent them at Holyrood for the next five years.

If voting patterns continue, turnout is expected to be at its highest-ever point for a Scottish Parliament election. Last year saw a 71% turnout in Scotland for the UK General Election, compared to 63% in 2010.

This followed Scotland recording the country’s highest post-war voter turnout in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

The polls for the Scottish Parliament election are open from 7am until 10pm. In an emergency where people can’t go to the polling station in person, they can apply for an emergency proxy up to 5pm.

In Dundee, more than 250 staff will be on duty at 122 polling stations across the city.

When the polls close, 200 staff will be involved in counting the votes at Dundee International Sports Complex (DISC).

In Dundee City West, one nursery school and 10 primary schools are being used as polling stations, with one nursery and 11 primaries used in neighbouring Dundee East. Children at these schools have the day off.

In 2011, the two Dundee constituencies declared between 3am and 4am on Friday morning, with election staff expecting a similar time for results this year.

In the 2011 Scottish Parliamentary election, both constituencies had just under 50% turnout. Last year, at the UK General Election, Dundee East and West had 71% and 68% turnouts respectively.

In Angus, meanwhile, 405 staff will be at 167 polling stations across the two constituencies in the county.

Fourteen of the stations are in schools, and eight of these will be closed. As in Dundee, pupils at the eight closed schools have the day off. There will be 140 staff members counting the votes at Arbroath’s Saltire Leisure Centre, where the successful candidates for Angus North and Mearns and Angus South will be announced. Election staff have predicted a result by 2.30am on Friday.

Voter turnout sat at 47.4% and 49.9% in Angus North and Mearns and Angus South in 2011.

At Westminster, the seat which encompasses the whole of Angus saw a 60.4% turnout last year.

Meanwhile, an army of 150 staff will cover the 48 polling stations in North East Fife.

Different from other constituencies, all council schools are closed for in-service.

There will be 210 staff on hand at the Michael Woods Leisure Centre in Glenrothes to tally up the votes from Kirkcaldy, North East Fife and Mid Fife, as well as the Mid Scotland and Fife regional count.

Turnout in the Scottish Parliament election in 2011 was 50.69% for North East Fife. In the Westminster seat of the same name, 73% of the electorate voted last year.

Although some schools are being used as polling stations, all schools will remain open to pupils.

In Perthshire North, there are 328 staff based at polling stations, with 190 set to count the votes at Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth.

Staff have predicted the result of the vote to be announced around 3.30am.

In 2011, there was a 56.3% turnout in the constituency. Last year, 74.8% voted in the Perth and North Perthshire constituency for the General Election.

PLEASE don’t stop the music is the message NHS Tayside workers have delivered to bosses amidst a radio licensing row.

Staff across the health board have hit out after bosses banned the use of radio in some working areas.

NHS Tayside chiefs say the health board does not hold the relevant licence to allow radio broadcasts on the premises and claimed purchasing one would be poor use of public funds.

One staff member, who did not want to be named, said: “We had a radio for years and it was fine but then someone came in and said that we shouldn’t be listening to it just before Christmas and they stopped it because we didn’t have a licence.

“It’s a really bad environment to work in. You don’t realise just how much you miss something like the radio until it is taken away.”

Colin Coupar, regional organiser for the Unite trade union, said he was aware of the licensing issue.

He added: “We haven’t been asked to raise it as yet. There are three important points. Are people in offices infringing licensing rules? I wouldn’t say that is public broadcasting. I would also query who has actually complained about this. The third is whether or not this is actually impacting on the work people do — if it is then it is legitimate action.”

An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said staff can listen to music through headphones if their job allows.

She said: “At a time when we are focusing on protecting funding to frontline services to ensure we continue to deliver person-centred, safe and effective patient care, purchasing a music licence for the organisation is not considered the best use of public funds. Playing music without a licence is an infringement of copyright and NHS Tayside could ultimately face legal proceedings if any sites were noncompliant.

“However, no licence is required where background music is used in treatment and therapy areas within hospitals or clinics. This includes areas used by patients.”

An appeal has been lodged after Angus Council failed to reach a decision on a bid to develop 300 homes on a site at Carnoustie.

Plans have been lodged by Angus Estates and Muir Homes to build the homes on farmland west of the town’s Carlogie Road.

The developers have applied for permission in principle for the development, which would include affordable private and retirement homes.

The firm has now appealed to the Scottish Government on the basis that Angus Council has failed to reach a decision on the application.

The proposals for the development have already caused concern in Carnoustie, with local residents worried that the infrastructure in the town will not be able to cope if the housing goes ahead.

The developers also propose to create access, infrastructure, open space and paths alongside the homes, with vehicular access through Carlogie Road.

The land is currently used for growing cereal crops and cultivation of turf.

A planning statement submitted by the applicants said: “Tenure selection has been informed by an assessment of the local housing market and public consultation.

“It has led to the identification of demand across a number of sectors covering retirement, self-build, affordable and mainstream markets.”

New plans to build 350 homes in Carnoustie were first revealed last May.

The plans were changed and a revised application for 300 homes was lodged with the council.

A spokesman for Angus Estates and Muir Homes previously said: “We are determined to invest in Carnoustie through providing land to support the growth of local businesses and meet future housing needs.”

A TEENAGER’S birthday celebration turned into a nightmare following a freak accident at an amusement arcade.

Lisa Rodger from Beauly Crescent, Dundee, went to Pleasureland in Arbroath with friends and family to celebrate turning 13.

But following a crash on the dodgems, Lisa ended up being treated for whiplash, bruising, and damage to the tendons under her eye.

Mum Michelle, 32, said: “She got to the first corner and spun out of control — at that point two men in another dodgem crashed into the side of her.

“The weight of them lifted the whole cart up into mid-air and it ended up sitting on the barrier at the side.

“She was really shaken up about it and had bad bruising so we went to Ninewells.”

Lisa was seen by a doctor and given painkillers for the bruising and had to take a week off of school to recover from the incident.

She said: “It was really sore. I was upset and was in shock and just sat there screaming.

“I never want to go on the dodgems again. I’ve had bad dreams about it too.”

Todd O’Brian, manager of Pleasureland, said customers’ safety is of paramount importance.

He said: “I wasn’t on shift but I did hear about it as we have incident forms we fill out. I was shocked to hear about her injuries. We always have two trained first-aiders on shift who know how to operate the rides safely.

“In the incident report, it says the girl was bumped from behind after the car was stuck against the track, resulting in her hitting her ear off the headrest.

“She was offered an ice pack to reduce any swelling but her mother said it wasn’t necessary.

“The nature of the dodgems is you get bumped and you are never going to be 100% free of accidents.

“We have an annual inspection by the Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme which ensures amusement devices are regularly inspected and certified as safe for use.

“We also do daily checks on every ride here. The safety of our customers remains our number one priority.”

A 33-YEAR-old woman has died at Ninewells Hospital after suffering a blood clot.

Doris Bailey took ill at home in Arbroath and was taken in for treatment but passed away eight days later.

Today, her mum Christina said that although she was finding it hard to come to terms with the loss, she was proud that Doris’s organs would be donated to help save the lives of others.

She said: “It’s so hard to come to terms with losing my daughter but I can draw some consolation that, thanks to her generous gift, other people will survive.

“It was so typical of her thoughtful and caring nature that she would have become an organ donor.

“I had no idea she carried a donor card. I understand she signed up to become an organ donor when she was at St Andrews University.

“She didn’t tell me she had done it.

“It was only after we knew she wasn’t going to survive that the doctors told me she carried a card.”

Doris was at home with her mum when she became unwell on April 22.

Christina said she heard a noise “and realised that Doris wasn’t at all well”.

She called an ambulance, which took Doris to hospital, where she remained until suffering a cardiac arrest on April 30.

Doris was well-known in the town for the dog-walking service that she ran — regularly walking up to 13 pets at a time, twice a day.

Christina said: “This is especially hard to get to grips with as Doris was obviously so fit and active at all times. I’m going to miss her so much. It really is so hard to lose a child.”

Doris was born in London but grew up in Arbroath. She went to Lathallan School, near St Cyrus, and then went on to Albyn School for Girls in Aberdeen.

She then studied ancient history at university, but became so homesick she gave up her course and returned home.

Christina said Doris had always loved animals, adding: “She jumped at the chance to take over the dog-walking business and she was so popular with all her customers and their dogs.”

Doris is also survived by her dad Keith who lives in London. Her funeral will be held on Tuesday with donations for the Scottish SPCA welcomed.

Christina added: “I want to pay tribute to all the ambulance crew and all the intensive care staff at Ninewells Hospital who did everything they could to try to save Doris.”

The funeral of an Afghanistan veteran and Green Beret who died after collapsing during the London Marathon will be held today.

Captain David Seath, from Arbroath, was a fire support team commander in 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.

The 31-year-old suffered a suspected cardiac arrest while running the 26.2-mile course on Sunday April 24 and later died in hospital.

He will be laid to rest following a funeral in St Margaret’s RC Memorial Church, Dunfermline, led by parish priest Father Chris Heenan.

A family notice in a newspaper said the service would be a “celebration of David’s life” and urged mourners to wear bright colours.

Capt Seath fell ill at the 23-mile mark while taking part in the race.

His girlfriend subsequently told how his death had left a “devastatingly large hole in our lives”.

Gaby Schoenberger paid tribute to him on Facebook last week and thanked the public for their support.

She wrote: “I cannot begin to describe the pain that I, his family and friends are feeling right now.

“It doesn’t make sense and a character like his being taken away so viciously leaves such a devastatingly large hole in our lives.”

Capt Seath’s mother Libby also paid tribute to him, saying: “David has achieved more in 31 years than most people do in 70.

“He lived his life on the edge and to the full. He was running to raise money for Help For Heroes, a cause which was very important to him.”

Following his death, Capt Seath’s friends and colleagues vowed to continue to raise money for Help for Heroes and walk the final three miles of the marathon course.

More than £100,000 has been donated to a JustGiving page in his memory while about £80,000 has been raised for the charity on his own page.

The fundraising page in memory of Capt Seath was set up by Capt James Walker-McClimens of the 7th Parachute Royal Horse Artillery.

Having served with Capt Seath in the 19th Regiment The Royal Artillery The Highland Gunners in Tidworth, they went on tour together to Afghanistan in 2012, returning at the same time.

“In the Army we don’t like unfinished business, it was something he wanted to do – he wanted to do the full marathon, so we are going to complete it for him,” he said.

“He was raising money for Help For Heroes, so we just want to carry on that theme.”

The polls have opened this morning as Tayside voters elect their next batch of MSPs to Holyrood.

The Scottish Parliament election comes a year after the SNP won 56 out of 59 seats at the UK general election, and there are no signs that the party’s momentum is slowing.

Polls suggest the SNP is in line to take the largest share of seats, after its landslide victory in 2011 created the first Holyrood majority government.

But all eyes will be on the race for second place, with the Conservatives hoping to unseat Labour as Scotland’s second biggest party.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has been increasingly optimistic in the days leading up to the election, insisting polling and canvassing returns indicate her party is “well on course” to be Scotland’s main opposition.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has brought in a raft of new faces this year after Labour was decimated in the 2015 general election, returning just one MP in a land where it had dominated politics for nearly half a century.

Ms Dugdale has acknowledged she still has work to do to rebuild the party into a force capable of unseating the SNP, but she has stated her intention to take Labour back into government.

Voting is getting under way, with polling stations open between 7am and 10pm.

Scotland’s constitutional future remains a key election battleground after 45% voted for Scottish independence in September 2014, and a recent survey suggested half of Scots will not vote for a party that disagrees with their views on independence.

The referendum led to a surge in support for the Scottish Greens, with its membership quadrupling since then as many Scots apparently look for a pro-independence alternative to the SNP.

The nationalist left is also represented by newcomer Rise, which has earned the support of former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars, and Solidarity – which is led by former Scottish Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan.

Polls indicate the Greens could be in line for as many as eight MSPs, if their strategy of focussing largely on the regional list pays off.

Eurosceptic party Ukip has followed a similar strategy, and is hoping to emulate its success in the 2014 European Parliament election when David Coburn became the party’s first Scottish parliamentarian.

Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie is hoping Scotland has forgiven his party for going into coalition with the hitherto unpopular Conservatives in the UK government in 2010, insisting his party has done more than any other to deliver Scotland’s new powerhouse parliament.

The next Scottish Government will preside over the most powerful Scottish Parliament since the Act of Union, with the Scotland Act devolving a range of previously unavailable tax and spend powers.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon is expected to cast her ballot in her Glasgow constituency on Thursday morning.

Ms Dugdale and Ms Davidson will both cast their ballots in Edinburgh, after the Conservative leader switched her constituency from the Glasgow region she won in 2011 to her adopted home in the Scottish capital.

Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie will be in his Glasgow Kelvin target seat, one of only three constituencies hits party is contesting.

Mr Coburn will be voting in Kinghorn and Mr Rennie will be in Blairadam, both in Fife.
ends

A SHOCKING video has emerged of a van driver speeding across a Tayside junction on the wrong side of the road.

The frightening footage, captured by two cameras situated on a property in Muirdrum, near Carnoustie, shows a truck slowly coming to a stop at the junction — but at the same time a van speeds past the lorry.

While performing the manoeuvre, the van crosses the junction without appearing to even attempt to slow down for any potential oncoming traffic.

Onlookers standing talking at the side of the road look on in disbelief as they realise just what has happened, but luckily the van doesn’t appear to hit any unsighted traffic while crossing the junction.

The incident happened on the B9128 as it crosses an unclassified road.

The owner of the cameras has uploaded the footage to the internet to show the plain disregard the van driver had for other people’s safety.

The videos, which have already been watched by more than 10,000 people, were condemned by dozens of viewers.

The person who uploaded the videos said there had been “quite a few more incidents” and that it “happens on a regular basis”.

He warned there could be a fatality, adding: “The second camera caught the van going over the junction at speed.”

Jenny McMillan, 39, who lives nearby, said she would like to see speed bumps installed as she has witnessed many similar incidents in the past.

She said: “I was in disbelief when I saw it.

“That’s where me and my daughter cross the road when we go for cycle rides.

“A child, a dog walker, a mother pushing a pram — they wouldn’t have stood a chance if they had been hit by that van.

“I think we need speed bumps at that junction because you regularly see people not stopping, although it’s usually in the other direction.

“I think people believe Muirdrum is quiet and they can get away with it.

“But why would you take that risk?

“Why would you do that?

“I just hope they can catch the guy who did it.

“It’s not like it was even late at night, it was 2pm.”