'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.

Steptoe heads for the underworld

The East Preston Street shop Steptoe's is to close as Tim Jones, the proprietor, has decided to emigrate down under.

Then again, it might not close if a buyer is found.  See link below for details. (I'm travelling and having difficulty inserting the normal links).

Click here for the link

Community Council turmoil

Last July I posted on the announcement of the expected closure of the Association of Scottish Community Councils, noting many saw it had lost the confidence of many local community councils.

This week a meeting (26th January) will take place at Edinburgh University when the topic Scottish Community Councils:  Local Democracy at Stake will be explored.  More details here.

It is held in tandem with a fledgling new body, the Network of Community Councils, which involves Terry Tweed of Craigmillar Community Council and Jenny Mackenzie of Leith Community Council. Tony Harris, a Grange/Prestonfield community councillor will also be attending to monitor developments.

Meanwhile see here for a recent post on the folding of Southside Community Council.

Local superfast broadband upgrade

Green BT cabinets being installed on pavements around the ward are for Super Fast Fibre Access.

15 months ago I posted on this project designed to upgrade broadband access and speeds in the ward area for residents and businesses.  There are nine cabinets (at least I am aware of nine in the current batch) to be sited at the locations below for which approval was given at the Planning Committee last week.

The BT press release from October 2010 with a Q and A section can be found here and more information (from BT) on their Broadband project can be found at this site.  Planning process details can be found here.

The pavement cabinet locations:

• 7 metres east of 2 Buccleuch Street
• 34 metres southwest of 1 Crawfurd Road
• 11 metres east of 23 East Crosscauseway
• 40 metres east of 9A East Mayfield
• 48 metres west of 19 East Suffolk Park
• 8 metres west of 18 Marshall Street
• 14 metres northwest of 19b Queen's Crescent
• 9 metres north of 3 Rankeillor Street
• 10 metres north of 17 St Leonard's Lane

Those people looking lost . . .

. . are taking part in an orienteering competition today and tomorrow in the Southside area (Meadows, George Square and Holyrood Park).  This is the annual Edinburgh University orienteering event.  Details here.

Prestonfield in top ten UK luxury hotels

Prestonfield Hotel came fourth in this  year's Trip Advisor luxury hotels rankings.

See here for details.

Nicolson Square firm fined

Map of Nicolson Square

A sign makers firm based in Nicolson Square has been fined £6,500 after one if its employees fell 7 metres at work.

More details here.

Spate of housebreakings

Since Christmas Eve there has been around a score of break-ins in the extended Craigmillar Park area.

Most of them have been during the night and, although the police have made arrests, the crimes have continued.

Local police have increased patrols in the area and will appreciate immediate contact from anyone witnessing suspicious behaviour or having any other information which might help with their enquiries.

Preston St pupils Westminster bound

Preston Street School

Pupils James Kerr and Eduard Stoica, along with head teacher Ann Moore are heading to a reception in London with Prime Minister David Cameron.

Artistic contributions from pupils at the school are featuring in an exhibition which opens later this week in the Upper Gallery in Westminster.

More details here.

A Head Teacher's blog

The tie explanation is in the blog

Donald Macdonald has started a school blog.  He is the new head teacher at James Gillespie's High School.

Meet the man, read the blog here.

JGHS is ouside the ward and this blog has a strict (well, fairly strict) ward only policy.  However the ward does supply many of the pupils.

Palmerston Road next for gas main work

Gas mains replacement work starts in Palmerston Road next Monday (16th Jan). 

It is authorised for 7 weeks,

Betty Brown death update

Betty Brown

Last seen alive at 11:55am Friday 28th May 2010 on a number 3 bus in Nicolson Street, Betty Brown's death is being treated as suspicious after her body was found in the Longtown area of Cumbria 8 months later.


Another appeal is being made for witnesses or anyone who might be able to supply more information.  Details of this mystery - which merits more publicity - can be found in this report or in previous posts here.