The Grange and Goodwin

Another take on the story of Fred Goodwin, the Grange and Edinburgh society this time from the weekend reviews.

Here.

Community Cafe loyalty scheme

Square Centre

The Edinburgh Community Cafe Network has launched and includes three cafes in the ward.

The idea is that there is a loyalty card which brings benefits, with an emphasis on cheap and healthy food.

Of the 15 cafes in the scheme, the three below are local.  Get more information here.

• Square Centre, 25 Nicolson Square, EH8 9BX
• Fairtrade Cafe, Chaplaincy Centre, Bristo Square,  EH8 9AL
• Southside Community Centre Cafe, 117 Nicolson Street, EH8 9ER

Vandalism spree last weekend

Nineteen vehicles were damaged in the early hours of last Saturday morning.

The vandalism took place in Duncan Street, Minto Street, Grange Loan, Upper Gray Street and Causewayside.

Yesterday's police press release includes descriptions of four persons who are known to have been in the area at the time.  If you were in the area around 2:00am to 2:30am (Saturday 28th January) and can give any information which might help trace the culprits, the police would like to hear from you.

The police number is 0131 311 3131 or you can contact them anonymously at the number at the bottom of their press release.

Occupy eviction: court delay

Edinburgh Council's application to the Sheriff Court for an eviction order has been continued until next Friday to allow Occupy to gain legal advice.

Sheriff Kathrine Mackie said she would grant them time to obtain legal advice 'on a matter which in not necessarily straight forward'.  Details here from the BBC.

Meanwhile, if their spokesman Mike Ferrigan has been reported accurately, it is unfortunate for Occupy to resort to a threat against the Council if they are not granted alternative premises.  The threat of 'direct action' is certainly not something I have heard from those various members of Occupy with whom I have spoken.

If true, it rather nails the expressed desire for 'democracy' which characterised my discussions with them earlier in the week.  They are, of course, free to obtain the use of council or other empty property on the same terms as anyone else - namely that they pay the rent and convince the owner that they are responsible occupiers.

Day 5: Occupiers threaten 'Direct action'

New tent added (now 8)

Eviction papers have been served on the occupiers of the Occupy camp in the Meadows.  Today a sheriff is considering whether to grant an eviction order.

It is reported that one of the leaders of the group have threatened 'direct action' against the council in response. They want the city to provide a site for them.

Occupy: Day 4 - minus SEVEN

Warmer times

I use the Accuweather app on my phone.  Last night it was predicting an overnight temperature of  minus 4.  This morning at 6.30am it was reporting a current temperature of minus 7.

Better check our friends in the tents are OK today.

Another cricket story - in January

After yesterday's report on the establishment of local women's cricket at Carlton Cricket Club in Grange Loan, here is another Carlton story.

It concerns the retirement after 14 years of South-African born Cedric English from the club.  He was a key part of their recent success in winning the Scottish National League title last year.

Woman cricket now at Grange Loan club

Carlton Cricket Club is looking to start a women's team.  The Grange Loan club, who won the men’s Scottish Premiership and national T20 championships last season, are looking to get the team under way for the coming season.

“Cricket is a first-class game for girls, and I’m not surprised to hear that it is the fastest growing sport in Scotland. .  ."  Liz Smith, MSP

 More on this story here.

30+ trees replaced in Meadows

This tree came down on 3rd January

January has been the month for planting trees in the park after 15 months when there has been a considerable natural loss - mainly from wind damage.

Thirty trees have been planted in the last few weeks.  And the Parks Department are looking to plant more  soon if they can get funds.

After a windless 2010 - and 2011 (along with the first couple of weeks of this month) where there were some very windy days, many trees were lost. They were either blown down or cut down in the control programme for Dutch elm disease.  It's all part of the ebb and flow on nature.

I've been in regular contact with parks staff (eg see here) and the initial moratorium on tree planting (mainly for budget reasons) has now given way to the current crop of planting.  Looking back, blog posts here provide something of a record of the storms of recent months as this search of the blog for 'trees' shows.

Thank you to the Parks and Neighbourhood staff for all the good work they do.

Occupy in the Meadows: Day 2

So they believe the world is imperfect (agreed) and they want to 'restore democracy' .  

Imperfect though it is, our democracy compares pretty well to Syria just now and to most of the rest of the world.  Ignoring democracy and breaching the Park rules which apply to everyone else doesn't seem like a good start to improving the world.  The majority of local people will want them moved on and so do I.

Legal action is required and I have made it clear to the Council staff that I support action to move them on.  I am reassured legal processes are under way.

£150k claim for Meadows accident

5 years ago Kara Murray, whose home is in the ward, was walking in the Meadows.  Her claim currently before the Court of Session avers that she was struck in the face by a piece of metal thrown up by a council lawnmower causing facial injuries.

More details here.

'Occupy' in the Meadows

 Liam playing his guitar

Evicted from St Andrews Square, overnight a small part of the 'Occupy' movement took over a small patch of the Meadows.  There are half a dozen tents situated to the west of Middle Meadow Walk.


So why are they here?  That was the question in my mind when I visited and spent a good while chatting to Liam and John.  Lovely guys, by the way, and we had a good chat - which I'll post more about later when I get a few moments.


But the summary is that they think there is a lot wrong with society (lots of agreement, there, then!) and that getting publicity - and especially publicity that encourages people to be nice to each other - will contribute to the social glue needed to build a better society.   And that will help regain democracy.  Two very big problems there.

• Action outwith the very precious (though fragile and imperfect) democracy we enjoy is hardly consistent with 'restoring democracy'.
• The evidence this morning is of a protest movement who have no real idea what kind of society it wants to build - other than being nice to each other.  

I suggested they move on.  But Liam was not keen on my advice.   Now to check out the legal position.  But I'll call again.

20mph scheme preparations

Work paving the way for the launch of the South Edinburgh 20mph scheme on Friday 23rd March gets under way today.

The scheme covers much of the ward south of Melville Drive, Hope Park Terrace, Bernard Terrace and Parkside Street.  A map of the area covered can be found here (though a few additional streets within the area have been changed  to 20mph - see item 31 in this minute of the Transport Committee).


The installation of poles and signs - along with '20' surface markings will be carried out between today and the March launch date.

I will be interested in your views as the scheme gets under way.  The public consultation gained quite a bit of support - but it has not been done before on such a scale in Scotland.  It is a pilot and your views will be crucial.

Surgeon's Hall Museum Course

It says: Executed 28th January  1829

There is a course to enable you to get familiar with the contents of the well hidden museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.  It starts on  21st February and you can learn about how surgery has developed in Edinburgh over the last 500 years - as well as see some distasteful sights.

Details here.

Aged 99 and a 4:40am awakening

The smoke alarm at Homeross House signalled a fire in a fuse box at 4:40am on Wednesday morning this week.  Homeross House is a supported retirement complex in Strathearn Road with 135 flats.

The 99-year-old lady in one flat suffered from smoke inhalation but not enough to require a trip to hospital.

Details here.