News

Solar panels may hold key to revitalizing deprived Scottish community

In Ayr’s Wallacetown area, a community energy initiative is anticipated to generate approximately £1m, with the funds earmarked for local projects.

Ayr's Wallacetown community is among the most disadvantaged areas in Scotland, facing significant social and economic challenges.

Two storey flats with a flagstone courtyard, washing line and telephone cables. — Wallacetown in Ayr is one of the most socially deprived parts of Scotland

Despite these difficulties, a number of individuals in the area are working tirelessly to improve the quality of life and enhance the local environment.

Denise Sommerville is a key figure in this effort, driven by a desire to establish a thriving community where residents feel a sense of belonging and investment.

As part of a local initiative, Sommerville has played a leading role in the installation of solar panels at three schools in the area.

This project is anticipated to generate approximately £1m over the course of 25 years, with the resulting funds earmarked for community-based initiatives and development.

According to Denise, the project has a unifying effect, providing individuals with a sense of direction and optimism for what's to come.

Additionally, it enables residents to manage their own financial resources, which can be allocated to address specific needs within the Wallacetown community.

Denise first highlighted the area's struggles with deprivation, substance abuse, and anti-social behaviour during a community council meeting that took place five years ago.

A woman with blonde hair and dark rimmed glasses in front of a block of flats. — Denise Sommerville says the project brings people together

A community energy initiative was proposed by Alan Roseweir, a local engineering lecturer, as a potential means of generating revenue that could be invested in improving the well-being of local residents.

The UK government has expressed its support for similar initiatives, allocating £1bn to a fund dedicated to enhancing community facilities, including libraries, leisure centres, and miners' welfare clubs.

Installation of solar panels on the roofs of Wallacetown Early Years Centre, St John's Primary, and Newton Primary in Ayr was completed during the summer break, marking the culmination of extensive efforts.

The Scottish government and Scottish Power Energy Networks jointly covered the £320,000 expense of purchasing and installing the solar panels, with the community retaining ownership of the equipment.

Under the arrangement, the scheme supplies electricity to the schools at a reduced rate, while any surplus energy is fed into the national grid.

A drone image of a school with children playing in the centre, surrounding by buildings with solar panels on the roof. — Wallacetown Early Years Centre is one of three schools which are involved.

Since starting operations in August, the initiative has begun to yield profits, which are being channeled into a community-controlled fund managed by local representatives.

The allocation of funds to specific projects is slated to commence once the solar panels have completed a full year of electricity generation.

Residents are being invited to share their suggestions on how to allocate the available funds.

Students at St Johns Primary have begun brainstorming ideas for utilizing the money, exploring various possibilities.

Young children play on a slide in the playground with the school building behind them which has solar panels on the roof. — Young people will be asked their views on projects which could receive funding

Liam, aged six, proposes that the funds be used to purchase additional laptops and iPads for the school, whereas 11-year-old Chaviva suggests allocating the money to support families in need by providing them with essential items such as toys, clothing, and food.

Denise Sommerville is advocating for the establishment of community allotments, aiming to educate children about sustainable practices and the origins of their food.

An engineering lecturer from the University of Strathclyde, who resides in Ayr, has conceived a plan for a community energy initiative.

Following his retirement as associate director of the Engineering Academy, Alan Roseweir reflected on past regeneration efforts, noting that a "top down" approach had led to a sense of skepticism among community members regarding promises of transformation.

Roseweir suggests that leveraging the existing schools as a central hub was a strategic move to foster unity within the area.

Several blocks of four storey, grey coloured flats with a grassed area to the front. — People living in Wallacetown will have a say on how the community fund will be spent

According to Roseweir, this initiative has helped establish trust within the community, a sentiment he witnessed firsthand among the three head teachers involved.

Roseweir recalled the enthusiasm that marked the beginning of the project, as it became clear that it had the potential to captivate the students and inspire meaningful engagement.

The long-term goal for Wallacetown is to develop a 'net-zero village', a concept that outlines a clear vision for the area's future.

To be eligible for community funding, projects must show they can reduce carbon emissions, address fuel poverty, or lead to environmental enhancements.

Initiatives that promote educational growth, with a focus on subjects like science, technology, engineering, and maths, will also be considered for funding.

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Business

US inflation slows as used vehicle prices decline

According to the most recent official data, prices increased by 2.4% over the 12 months ending in January, marking the smallest gain since May.

The US experienced a slowdown in inflation last month, driven by decreases in energy and used car prices.

A person in a black and white striped shirt with a pony tail walks past a parking lot of used cars. There is a large American flag hanging under the sign and a large white truck on display.

According to the Labor Department, the consumer price index increased by 2.4% over the past 12 months, ending in January, marking a decline from the previous month's 2.7% and the slowest rate since May.

This development may support the argument made by US President Donald Trump and others that the central bank has the flexibility to lower interest rates without triggering a surge in prices.

However, analysts caution that progress toward the Federal Reserve's inflation target of 2% may be hindered in the coming months if companies begin to pass on tariff costs to consumers more extensively.

Neil Birrell, chief investment officer at Premier Miton Investors, noted that the impact of tariffs remains uncertain and pointed out other data anomalies that could have influenced the January figures.

Birrell stated that the January report is likely to pave the way for a potential rate cut in the near future.

He added that the US economy appears to be performing well, with strong growth, stable inflation, a robust job market, and a Federal Reserve that has the ability to adjust its policies as needed.

News

Service Member Injured in Stabbing Incident Close to Military Base

According to Lt Col Mark Teeton, he considers himself lucky following what he describes as a premeditated and intentional assault perpetrated by Anthony Esan.

Lt Col Mark Teeton recalled the moment his life was put in danger when Anthony Esan dropped his deceptive facade and unleashed a violent attack, saying, "I knew I was in trouble."

Eileen Teeton in a black top and shoulder length brown hair, sits next to her husband Mark, who has short hair and is dressed in a grey suit. — Lt Col Mark Teeton, pictured with his wife Eileen, said the support of the public gave him strength after he was attacked by Anthony Esan in Chatham

On 23 July 2024, at approximately 18:00 BST, Teeton's routine walk home from Brompton Barracks was disrupted when Esan approached him, requesting to borrow his mobile phone to seek help for his broken-down moped.

Within three minutes, Teeton had suffered a brutal stabbing, which was briefly interrupted when his wife intervened, pushing Esan away as he lunged at her husband.

In an interview with the BBC, Teeton reflected on his ordeal, stating, "I was fortunate to have survived."

Esan, aged 25, received a life sentence with a minimum term of seven years and 162 days at Maidstone Crown Court.

During the sentencing, Mr Justice Picken described the attack as having an "unimaginable horror."

The judge also ruled that Esan would be detained in a hospital for as long as necessary.

Prior to the attack, Esan had conducted online searches for knives, a terrorist attack in West Africa, and TikTok videos depicting knife attacks in other countries.

Anthony Esan is seen being held by two police officers, who are wearing uniforms and gloves. Esan is wearing a grey top and has his hands behind his back. — The court heard Esan 'lied' to his mother and said he was going to look for a job

The court heard that Esan had also searched for information on the 2013 murder of Lee Rigby, referred to as the "Woolwich soldier murdered."

Forensic psychiatrists testified that Esan's actions were more likely driven by psychosis, but that he had intentionally targeted a soldier.

Mr Justice Picken stated, "The attack on Mr Teeton was targeted and deliberate."

Addressing Esan, the judge said, "You intentionally sought out a soldier with the intention of causing fatal harm, as evident from your online search of the Lee Rigby killing."

Eileen Teeton, Mark's wife, recounted how she rushed from their home and confronted the assailant, but Esan's gaze followed her.

She described how Esan then turned his attention back to her husband, at which point she realized the victim was her husband.

After Esan ceased his attack and fled on his moped, Eileen's priority was to get her husband medical attention as quickly as possible.

As Teeton drifted in and out of consciousness, guards from the nearby barracks, local residents, police, and paramedics arrived at the scene.

Teeton was rushed to Kings College Hospital in London, where he underwent emergency surgery, while his wife followed, unsure if he would survive.

Following the sentencing, Teeton stated that Esan's life imprisonment reflected the premeditation and planning that went into the attack against him, a British military officer.

He added, "Knife attacks have far-reaching consequences, affecting not only the victim but also their families and the communities where they occur."

Teeton expressed his empathy, saying, "We feel the pain of every knife attack we see in the news, and our thoughts are always with those affected."

Prior to the attack, Teeton, a 26-year veteran of the military, had completed four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wearing combat uniform and dark glasses, Lt Col Teeton smiles at the camera from the interior of a partly-constructed building in Afghanistan — Lt Col Teeton worked with the Canadian armed forces in Afghanistan in 2010/11

He credited the swift response of paramedics, who arrived by air ambulance, with helping to save his life.

Teeton also acknowledged the role of locals who provided first aid, saying, "The immediate care they provided, along with the basic first aid principles they applied, absolutely saved me."

After a three-week hospital stay, Teeton returned home to find that the military had relocated his family to a more private area.

He then spent five weeks at a rehabilitation centre for injured military personnel near Loughborough before returning to work full-time in January 2025.

In January, Esan pleaded guilty to attempted murder, following several delays in the case due to concerns about his mental health.

Esan had previously attempted to join the British Army on multiple occasions, with his first application submitted in 2020.

In the same year, he was referred to mental health services due to apparent mental health issues and reports of hearing voices.

Esan's mother believed that, given his mental state, he should not have been in the community, according to testimony presented in court.

Eileen Teeton, who sings in a military wives choir, expressed relief that Esan had pleaded guilty, sparing them the ordeal of a trial.

She stated, "We felt a massive sense of relief that he had taken responsibility for his actions and pleaded guilty, sparing us and the jurors from reliving the horrific ordeal."