Lindsay Bruce

3 weeks ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Lindsay Bruce

Torry families Trapped by Raac charged us with pinning down Aberdeen City Council co-leader Christian Allard – to answer their questions on the concrete crisis. After spending months with these Balnagask homeowners, we’ve heard their concerns and criticisms, shared their stories and launched a campaign to join them in a fight for justice. In an exclusive interview with Lindsay Bruce – for the first time since the Raac bombshell dropped – we put Councillor Allard in the hot seat.

3 weeks ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Lindsay Bruce

Little Women at His Majesty’s Theatre gave me pre-show jitters. You know, where you straddle the eager anticipation of seeing something long-awaited, with the very real worry that it may tarnish a story you love so much? Yeah, that was me. Spoiler: My fears were not founded. From the first boom of an American Civil War cannon, and a mere bar of Glory Glory Hallelujah, within the first 30 seconds, I was utterly absorbed.

3 weeks ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Lindsay Bruce

“They’ll have to break down the door and drag me out of Torry. I’ll not be going without a fight.”These are the indignant words of 64-year-old Michael Sweeney, who shares a home with his son Mark, on Pentland Crescent, one of Torry’s streets earmarked for demolition due to Raac. The retired chef and RAF veteran gave up his home in a sheltered housing complex when news of Balnagask’s concrete crisis broke, and his son became Trapped by Raac.

3 weeks ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Lindsay Bruce

It’s not just homeowners who are Trapped by Raac… it seems Aberdeen City Council is also between Raac and a hard place. The local authority has revealed it has only managed to acquire four privately owned Raac houses through its voluntary acquisition scheme. The Press and Journal has reported extensively that many of the homeowners have opted not to engage with the council scheme to buy back their homes, due to low offers and hopes of other solutions being offered.

4 weeks ago | pressandjournal.co.uk | Lindsay Bruce

It was a dreich day in the waters surrounding Skye when it became clear to skipper James Robertson that his unlikely young apprentice, Brooke Lamond, “had what it takes” to become a master fisherwoman. The captain of the Kayvari, a prawn, lobster and crab fishing vessel from Elgol, watched as his long-haired 20-year-old trainee wrestled with a heavy creel. “It was such a poor day out there. Brooke was carrying a creel from one part of the boat to another. They’re heavy. Creels can be 20-30 kilos.