Latest news with #Berwickshire
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Borders councillor steps down from SNP after cannabis farm charge
A Scottish Borders councillor has stepped down from the SNP after being charged with drug Orr, 70, was arrested after the discovery of a cannabis farm at a property near Paxton, Berwickshire, in February last year. Her son Duncan Orr, 29, was also arrested and charged. They are expected to appear in court at a later date. The SNP said Orr had left the party while the investigation continued. She has remained in her role as councillor for the East Berwickshire ward. The cannabis farm was discovered after police were called to a report of men banging on the window of a remote property near Paxton late at night on 3 February 2024. When officers arrived they found no trace of the men, but did find cannabis with an estimated street value of about £500, spoke about the incident during at the SNP conference last year, but did not mention the discovery of the cannabis. At an event organised by the Scottish Police Federation and attended by Justice Secretary Angela Constance, Orr said she was "crying on the phone" and thought she "was going to die" when she called officers about two men outside the said it took 29 minutes for Police Scotland to arrive and that by then the two men had force said officers arrived at the "remote property" within 19 minutes of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service confirmed that the procurator fiscal had received a report "concerning a 70-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man in connection with an alleged incident in the Scottish Borders on 3 February 2024".
Times
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Times
SNP councillor resigns from party after £500,000 drug bust
An SNP politician has stepped down from the party after being charged with drug offences following the discovery of a cannabis farm at a rural property. Aileen Orr, a councillor and one-time party staff member for Mike Russell, the former SNP president and Nicola Sturgeon ally, was arrested after a drugs bust in the Borders in February last year. Orr, now 71, called the emergency services to report a break-in at a farmhouse on the outskirts of the Berwickshire village of Paxton. When police arrived at the property they did not locate any burglars but did find a cannabis cultivation with an estimated street value of £500,000. Orr was arrested and charged last year, as was her 29-year-old son, Duncan Orr. A report is due to be submitted to prosecutors and a court date will be set in due course.
Daily Mail
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
SNP politician, 71, charged after police discover £1/2million cannabis farm at idyllic rural home
An elderly SNP politician has been arrested and charged with drug offences after police discovered a massive cannabis farm worth half-a-million pounds at a country property. Councillor Aileen Orr, 71, was at the centre of the huge drugs bust in the Borders in February last year, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Officers swooped on a farmhouse on the outskirts of the village of Paxton in Berwickshire after receiving a 999 call from Mrs Orr amid a suspected break-in. Yet when they arrived at the large home, set back from winding countryside roads, they could not locate any burglars. Instead, they stumbled upon a cannabis cultivation with a street value of around £500,000. A Police Scotland spokesman last night confirmed a 70-year-old was arrested and charged last year, as was a 29-year-old. A report is due to be submitted to prosecutors and a court date will be set in due course. The scandal sent shockwaves through the remote village of Paxton, which boasts glorious scenery and a sleepy pace of life for local residents. The idyllic haven's calm was shattered on the night of February 3, 2024, when Mrs Orr, who has previously worked for former SNP president and Nicola Sturgeon ally Mike Russell, called police after two men tried to break into a country house she was staying in. She told a fringe event at the SNP conference last year that she feared for her life as two 'violent' men entered the farmhouse in the middle of the night. And in the address to the Scottish Police Federation's gathering, which was also attended by Justice Secretary Angela Constance, she complained that it took officers 29 minutes to reach her, by which time the intruders had fled. The councillor, who has written a book about Wojtek, a 500-pound beer-drinking brown bear who was adopted as a Polish Army mascot in the Second World War before ending up in Edinburgh Zoo, told the audience that she had a 'very, very good relationship with the local police', but said she suffered extreme fear while waiting for their response. Mrs Orr did not tell the Justice Secretary and other attending the conference that she and a 29-year-old were arrested that night in relation to the cannabis cultivation. Looked at from the roadside, the grand farmhouse has a prominent presence against the rugged landscape, with the home resembling a large country pile. Huge cattle sheds can also be seen from public paths and next to the main house there is also a greenhouse. It is not known exactly where the cannabis was located by police. Once cannabis plants have reached maturity, often with the aid of high-intensity heat lamps, they can be trimmed and them dried – a process known as curing – which breaks down the chlorophyll in the leaves. Under UK sentencing guidelines, those found buying equipment and paying energy costs to cultivate 100 plants or more would be seen as playing a 'lead role' in growing cannabis to sell it and to make money. Those found to have broken the law by growing the Class B drug can expect to be handed down a prison sentence of up to six years, the official advice states. Mrs Orr, who was born and raised in Lockerbie in Dumfries-shire before studying at the London School of Economics and later working for the Bank of America, continues to fulfil her role as a councillor for the East Berwickshire ward of Scottish Borders Council. She was previously a regional director of the Countryside Alliance and also an advisor to Mr Russell when he was an MSP. Police Scotland has said it actually took officers 19 minutes to arrive at the address that night. A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'A 70-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man have been arrested and charged in connection with drugs offences after a cannabis cultivation was discovered at a property near Paxton at around 12.55am on Saturday, February 3, 2024. 'A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal and they are expected to appear at court at a later date.'
The Sun
26-06-2025
- The Sun
The neighbouring coastal villages in the UK that have hidden beaches and even puffins you can spot from the shore
A HUGE stretch of coast in the UK has some beautiful villages you can walk between - and even some saunas and beachfront cafes along the way. Berwickshire in Scotland is located just over the Scottish-English border and is a popular holiday destination for staycationers. 8 8 8 And within the region is short coastal walk that links two seaside villages with beautiful beaches and an abundance of birdlife. Starting at St Abb's - a small fishing village - visitors can explore a rugged harbour, complete with a tiny cafe perched just above the water. The family-run Ebbcarrs Cafe serves up fresh local seafood, homemade bakes and local ales - which can all be enjoyed whilst watching the boats bob up and down on the harbour. After enjoying a refreshing tipple, travellers can head to St Abbs visitor centre to gain amazing views across the harbour - with the waves crashing into nearby rocks. St Abb's Head is also known for its dramatic cliffs and seabird colonies. And if you are here at the right time of the year, between spring and summer, you can see the region's puffins - which come ashore to nest. During the daytime, the puffins can be seen fishing and even burrowing. The village's beach - Coldingham Bay - differs from the ruggedness of the harbour and is located a short walk away from the centre of the village. The one-kilometre sandy beach is popular with swimmers and watersports enthusiasts. And here visitors can also find a cafe set in the sand - called Beach Cafe - which boasts even more incredible views across the bay. Why Carmarthenshire makes the perfect family hol 8 8 One recent visitor said: "We hiked across the cliffs, hillside and beaches from Eyemouth and arrived at this absolutely wonderful stopping point." To the northern end of the beach, there are also a handful of historic beach huts - whilst at the southern end visitors will find a steep, grassy area. For those who enjoy a longer walk, the Berwickshire Coastal Path crosses the beach and takes walkers to Eyemouth. Alternatively, you could head in land too and explore the ruins of Coldingham Priory, which was founded in the 11th century by King Edgar I of Scotland. And to extend your trip, you could stay at Calonia Dene - a unique triangular-shaped holiday lodge park set back from the cliffs, complete with hot tub and sauna facilities. One recent visitor said: "Me and my girlfriend have attended numerous lodge holiday's in the UK and this one is definitely the best!" In Eyemouth, there is also a Parkdean holiday park and a leisure centre, that sits just above the beach complete with a sauna for visitors and Parkdean guests to use. 8 The stretch between St Abbs and Eyemouth takes around 10 minutes to drive, or is about an hour-and-a-half walk. Other beaches nestled between the villages include Mildown Bay. Wedged between the dramatic coastal cliffs, Mildown Bay is next door to the larger Coldingham Bay. Many visitors admire this spot for its diverse ecosystem with seals and other marine creatures often spotted in the bay. Further along again, you will reach Linkim Shore - a very shallow and rocky beach that runs level with the coastal path. Before hikers reach Eyemouth, they will cross Killiedraught Bay - often home to guillemots, kittiwakes, puffins, razorbills, and even dolphins. There is also a UK hidden gem beach that Brits say is 'on another level'. Plus, the UK beach parents say is a hidden gem where kids can go 'dinosaur-hunting'. 8 8
The National
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
We should be taking our lead from these Yes activists
This is of course partly as a result of the 'no acknowledgement' digital and social media bad-manner culture that has evolved in general and partly I suspect from the many SNP and other so-called 'parliamentarians' who live in a bubble of self-importance and complacency, who have not yet woken up to the fact that the appellation 'politician' is now increasingly a term of derision and contempt. These are not the statesmen of previous years who would have without delay replied in person, via a secretariat at the very least, to engage with any aligned and sympathetic movement in fraternal solidarity. It is not possible to imagine a John Smith – or Alex Salmond for that matter – to be so distracted by affairs of state not send a message of thanks and leadership affirmation. The entitlement mindset of many but not all SNP grassroots members and politicians has delivered nothing thus far in terms of national liberation from the colonial 'commonsteal' and it is increasingly apparent to all passionate and dispassionate observers of the Scottish struggle for freedom that a house divided on itself cannot, simply will not, prevail. The British elites will continue to 'divide and conquer' until the independent-minded people of Scotland 'unite and conquer' to provide a decent inheritance for their children and grandchildren. We urgently require a regular series of highly visible national 'gatherings' of all indy groups together that will attract hitherto uncertain people and reforge old friendships in a spirit of mutual reconciliation and resolve. No 'Pollyannaism' but real, visceral attempts to express and let go of personal impasses and resentments as well as strategic and tactical disagreements. One or two non-politically correct face-to-face encounters on Glasgow Green, Salisbury Crags or right outside Holyrood would clear the air, don't you think? Sober, polite conventions have their place but in the words of Burns, 'The heart is aye the part that maks us right or wrang'. A 'heart felt' reunification in the movement must precede polite talking shops. Yes Berwickshire has set a great example to all other groups and let us all look at least initially to 'liberate Scotland' to be a gathering point. Three or four big, and I mean big events need to be convened and the SNP could easily re-establish their tarnished freedom credentials by using their enormous resources hitherto squandered or frittered away, to be the midwife of a reinvigorated national vision of post-colonial life. Tempus fugit, so let's all start writing and talking to each other Berwickshire style! Dr Andrew Docherty Selkirk THE evidence on nuclear power disproves Lynn Jamieson's irresponsible jeremiad (Why nuclear power isn't the green energy solution you've been told, May 30). For a start, nuclear requires the least mining of any electricity source, because uranium fuel is the most powerful on earth by far. That is from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. The same commission did a lifecycle analysis of the total carbon footprint of all electricity sources, from mining through to decommissioning of facilities. Again, it found nuclear has the lowest carbon footprint of any electricity source. The industry matches that with an excellent safety record: it is so safe that pregnant women are able to work on top of the reactor pile caps at Torness. To scaremonger to the contrary is an abominable disgrace. There are many more errors of fact, including that nuclear power stations cannot turn up and down. The French nuclear fleet just this past Sunday turned down from 38 gigawatts to 25 gigawatts, to accommodate rising solar power, and turned back up to 40 gigawatts in the evening when solar faded away. Decisions on our energy future should be based on facts. And the facts in Scotland are that Torness is the single largest, cleanest, most reliable electricity generator in the nation, and a vital source of good jobs for local people. That is something we should renew for the next generation. Lincoln Hill, director of policy and external affairs, Nuclear Industry Association NEITHER the SNP nor any of the other nominally pro-independence parties are proposing a way to translate support into a democratic vote. They all defer to Westminster. They are diverting attention from their lack of any plan for restoring independence by promoting totally pointless arguments about 'voting strategy'. And people are falling for it! I despair! Peter A Bell via
