Malls say no to Mortonhall petition plea

PARENTS affected by the Mortonhall baby ashes scandal have expressed disappointment after being banned from taking their petition into local shopping centres.

The Mortonhall Ashes Action Committee (MAAC) launched a petition in December calling on Holyrood to launch a public inquiry which has attracted thousands of signatures.

Sarah Velzian, 29, secretary of MAAC, emailed the Gyle, Ocean Terminal, Cameron Toll, The Centre in Livingston, St James Shopping and Princes Mall to ask if they could approach shoppers in the centres with their petition.

However, she has received only two replies – from the Gyle and St James – which both said their policy did not allow petitions on the premises.

Dorothy Maitland, operations manager for bereavement charity Sands Lothian, said: “I think in this case it would be quite nice if they could make an exception to the rule.”