One o'Clock Gun cash probe was just 'a storm in a teacup'

THE One o'Clock Gun Association has called an inquiry into its finances "a storm in a teacup" after the Big Lottery Fund said they had done nothing wrong.

The investigation was launched after bank staff raised concerns about their accounts. It was alleged there some "financial irregularities" surrounding an £8000 lottery grant for their website under the Awards for All scheme.

The lottery fund said there is no evidence of irregularities though, and they hope to conclude the inquiry as quickly as possible.

The cash was given to the group to set up a website which was launched at Christmas.

The association was founded in 1998 to promote the story of the historic gun at Edinburgh Castle. It established a permanent exhibition, and regularly holds talks and discussions about the city's history and promotes tourism.

Derek Watters, treasurer of the association, said he believed one of the members had wanted to "blacken his name". The association were due to meet yesterday following a meeting with lottery officials on Friday.

Mr Watters said: "The police were never involved in this. The lottery fund are going to clear us and we just want to carry on with our work.

"The accounts were totally clear – there was really nothing in the allegations. I think this has been quite malicious."

The allegations arose after bank staff noticed that the association had taken out three accounts in its name. Staff at TSB in Hanover Street contacted members and advised them to call the police.

Mr Watters said: "One of these was for the grant money and another was a savings account. It made sense to keep the money separate."

They have now spent £6200 on their website, to bring their story to a wider audience.

The association has now returned the remaining £1800 to the Big Lottery Fund. They sent the receipts, accounts and invoices to them in June.

Mr Watters said there was also no truth in rumours that the association had formed a new committee following a vote of no confidence in the existing one.

"That would be against our constitution," he said. "The committee is the same as before."

George Robinson, an honorary member of the association, said none of the members had been accused of any wrongdoing.

He said: "There is nothing going on. I knew all along it was just a storm in a teacup. Our members just want to safeguard public money."

A spokeswoman for the Awards for All scheme said: "We hope to conclude the investigation as soon as possible."