Mercy Corps in Mongolia endurance event

Where do you find 800 horses, the people needed to feed and care for them, as well a well-oiled network of media savvy foreigners ready to help you organize such an unprecedented equestrian event. In this case the organisers of the Mongol Derby went to friends at Mercy Corps.

Started in 1979, the famous charity raised £140m in 2007. It operates in more than a hundred countries, maintains an international headquarters in Portland, Oregon, keeps a major office in Sciennes in Edinburgh and has run an elaborate system of programs from Ulan Bator, the Mongolian capital, for the past ten years. According to Mercy Corps officers in Scotland and Mongolia, the charity is pleased to assist Morgan in organizing the endurance race.

Jennifer Adams, the Event Development Coordinator at Mercy Corps, European Headquarters in Edinburgh, Scotland, explained that the charity has been happily accepting money from the organiser Tom Morgan's motor racers since 2005. That’s why, “Mercy Corps are delighted to be a part of the first ever Mongol Derby,” Adams said..

The full story can be found here.

Correction

Earlier this week the Evening News put me third bottom of a list of councillors' attendance at council meetings and committees. Perhaps I should have ignored it but pride drove me to respond and they have published my letter today (second one down - the first, from Gavin Corbett, is equally relevant). In short, their figures were wrong and they also used a misleading measure (percentage of possible attendance rather than the number of meetings attended). Grumble over.

Salvation Army 100

The East of Scotland Salvation Army Division are celebrating 100 years of their hostel work in the Pleasance. They will be holding a centenary celebration service at the Salvation Army Hall, 1 East Adam Street at 10:45am this Sunday 28th June.

Dog saves owner in Dumbiedykes

John Crossan was saved from an intense fire earlier this week when his Jack Russell woke him just in time. The full story is here.

South Sub buffs & local residents only

A few days ago this newsblog reported on major improvement works to the South Sub falling short of passenger services. Here are details of the improvements and their timing. Babcock Rail are doing the work in July and August. This will remove and replace life-expired insulated block joints. These split the track into different electrical sections to allow the automatic detection/location of trains on the track and control the associated lineside signalling.

The physical work involves cutting and removing sections of rail, and welding new sections in place using grinding machinery, welders and temporary lighting. The work will be confined to between 11:55pm and 9:00am on Saturday/Sundays. For the information of local residents, the work will take place as follows

• 4/5th, 11/12th and 18/19th July: Charterhall Road, Charterhall Grove, Mortonhall Road, Trotter Haugh, Glenisla Gardens and Blackford Avenue
• 11/12th, 18/19th and 25/26th July: W Savile Ter, Blackford Bank, Relugas Road, W Savile Gardens and W Powburn
• 18/19th, 25/26th July: Crawfurd Road, E Suffolk Road and Cameron March
• 25/26th July, 1/2 August: Cameron Toll Gardens

Retirement from 37 years of teaching

Patricia McCall, headteacher of Campie Primary School in Musselburgh and local resident in the Newington is retiring after 37 years of teaching. The details are here.

Council business report

Today the 58 members of the full council met for their monthly meeting - which was the last before the July recess. It was not expected to be a lengthy or controversial meeting but it did result in a first. Council voted to suspend Cllr Andrew Burns, leader of the Labour Group, for accusing the Council Leader Jenny Dawe of being 'untruthful' in one of her replies and declining to withdraw the accusation. It all concerned the restructuring of Council companies and whether correct procedures had been properly followed at Board Meetings of two of the Council companies. The suspension of Cllr Burns was a first of a councillor that anyone present could recall.

More personal today is a list in the Evening News showing a table of councillors' attendance at the main committees. Alas the Evening News made something of a mistake in placing me third bottom of the list. First of all their figures were inaccurate. One of their miscalculations showed me as attending 62 meetings of the Planning Development Sub-committee. Actually I have attended 73 out of a possible 87 in the past two years. In addition, I have attended rather more meetings than those councillors at and near the top of the Evening News list - as I am involved in more committees than many other councillors. The table showed percentage figures - which didn't indicate that I attended more than twice as many meetings as the person the paper put at the top. It should also be remembered that there are more committees and also council business than those surveyed. For the record here is the corrected list of my attendances (with total possible attendances):
Economic Development: 10 (10)
Finance 9 (10)
Neighbourhood Partnership 6 (10)
Full Council 26 (27)
Planning 17 (21)
Planning Development Sub-Committee 73 (87)
Pensions 7 (7)
That works out at 147 out of a possible 172. That is 86% and many of those missed were because I was elsewhere on other council business or meetings.

I just thought I would set the record straight.

But then effectiveness does not correlate directly with attendance either! I have sent a correction to the Evening News. We shall see if the publish!

South Sub upgrade - but no passengers

Network Rail are spending £1m this summer on upgrades for the South Suburban line between Slateford and Niddrie. But this will secure its use for freight and does not represent a commitment to returning it to passenger use. Details can be found in this Transport News briefing. The line, which runs through the heart of the Southside and Newington ward, last carried regular passenger traffic in1962.

History of the Royal Company of Archers

Earlier this month the Royal Company of Archers held its shoot for the Edinburgh Arrow in the Meadows, the 300th anniversary of the presentation of the Arrow by the magistrates of the city of Edinburgh.

The first formal record of the Royal Company was in 1676 but there are grounds to believe its beginnings were a century and a half earlier. The right to use the Meadows can be traced back to 1813 when the town councillors dealt with a petition from the residents of Buccleuch Place regarding the neglect of a piece of land known as the Archers' Butts. The Royal Company of Archers gave up rights for use of the Butts in exchange for their rights to use the Meadows being approved and secured.

The Archers are currently mulling approval of plans to develop their property off Buccleuch Street

Supporting the Sick Kids - old and new

In just over 3 years the Sick Kids hospital is due to move to Little France. Meanwhile, work in the current hospital is supported by the long established Sick Kids Friends Foundation. A new charity supporting the new hospital has been established - known as the new pyjamas campaign. You can find their website here. Patricia Hess, the Manager of the new pyjamas charity, kindly phoned me to advise that the story last week about Ben Clarke from the Apprentice was wrong. The local report culled form the Evening News and repeated on this newsblog was not accurate and Ben is not working for the charity. Apologies. See further comments from Patricia in the comment section of this post last week.

Will St Crispin's get new school money

The Scottish government has announced some funding for the building of schools which urgently need replaced. St Crispins Special School in Watertoun Road just off West Savile Terrace is one of the schools urgently in need of replacement. This article reviews the implications of the recent government announcement.

Seven Hills of Edinburgh - Results

Yesterday 330 people completed the Seven Hills of Edinburgh Race and Challenge which took place for the 30th year. The course includes the seven hills of Edinburgh including Blackford Hill (the only one fully in Southside and Newington ward). The others are Calton Hill, the Castle, Corstorphine Hill, Craiglockhart Hill (East), Braid Hill and Arthur's Seat.

Apprentice and the New Pyjamas appeal

Ben Clarke who was fired from the Apprentice look like heading for a job helping the Edinburgh Sick Kids New Pyjamas campaign. Find more details here.

Minto Street window cost

The Evening News leads on the £1200 charged to the tax payer for the picture in the window of Nigel Griffith's shop in Minto Street. The story is here. The paper than has a very brief analysis of claims made by the two local MPs Nigel Griffiths and Gavin Strang. You can find these details here.

Moonwalk this weekend

This year Moonwalk, the breast cancer charity, has been moved to Inverleith Park after local pressure to reduce pressure on the Meadows. Two years ago at the end of a very successful event, a day long deluge whilst the huge tent was being taken down resulted in considerable damage which took two years to recover.

So it is Inverleith this year but the 10,000 to 12,000 walkers this year will be travelling a route which includes Dalkeith Road, St Leonards Street, Bernard Terrace, Hope Park Terrace & Melville Drive. There are two events - a half marathon and a full marathon both beginning and ending in Inverleith Park and taking place overnigh on Saturday 20th/Sun 21st June.

Viewing your representatives expenses

Today has seen the heavily censored publication of MPs expenses. Below are links to where you can see the expenses claimed by your local Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South.

But first an update on expense claims by your local councillors. You can find the summaries of claims for 2008/9 here along with summaries for the previous two years. You can find other recent newsblog posts on councillors' expenses here and here. At its May meeting Edinburgh council responded to my ongoing pressure and agreed to post online itemised records of each claim by every councillor in 2008/9 and thereafter in the future on an ongoing basis. This newsblog will provide a link to this detailed information as soon as it is published. Publication is expected within weeks.

Now here are the links to details of the expenses claims by the local Edinburgh South Westminster MP Nigel Griffiths:
2004/05 Expenses and staff
2004/05 Additional costs
2005/06 Expenses and staff
2005/06 Additional costs
2006/07 Expenses and staff
2006/07 Additional costs
2007/08 Expenses and staff
2007/08 Additional costs
Additionally, here is the communications allowance claimed for 2007/08.

Note that the 2008/09 claims have not been published.

It should also be noted that the Green Book and other rules in force are also available here.

Expenses claims for Gavin Strang (Edinburgh East) which covers the Southside and Prestonfield parts of the Southside & Newington council ward, can be found here.

Expense claims for local MSPs Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) and Kenny MacAskill (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) can be found here.

Class size of 25 at Sciennes breached

The Evening News reports that a number of successful appeals by parents have resulted in Sciennes Primary School being obliged to increase the size of P1 classes beyond the guideline of 25. The full story can be found here.

Dumbiedykes vandalism

The St Ann's Community Centre memorial seat was vandalised earlier this month as this report relates.

Archers shoot 300 in Meadows today

This year marks the 300th anniversary of the first competition for The Edinburgh Arrow which is a prize competed for by the Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland - The Royal Company of Archers. The official date that The Royal Company was founded is 1676 although some members appear to have been competing for archery prizes as early as 1603 as shown by the medallions on an earlier prize - The Musselburgh Arrow. However, it was in 1709 that the Magistrates of Edinburgh presented a silver arrow to be competed for by members of The Royal Company as an archery prize. Originally a prize of five pounds was given to the winner by "The Magistrates" of the City but this fell into abeyance after 1716.
Early records show that The Royal Company used to march with its drums and colours to the location for the shoot - something which that will take place on 16th June this year, but although those competing will have a pipe band to lead them, colours will not be carried. The competition will take place on The Meadows on the north side in East Meadow Park in an area which is normally roped off by the City Council. The prize is shot for over a distance of 180 yards with two targets or 'clouts' as the aiming mark - one at each end of the range.
The above is an extract from the website of the Royal Company of Archers and the shoot is this afternoon between 2:30 and 5pm

Anorexic Alfie missing

In a post a couple of weeks ago Alfie the tortoise was featured, having disappeared from Palmerston Road (off Grange Road). He is still missing and here is an article giving a bit more of his background from his owner, Susie Agnew.

Guest houses have good spell

Local owner of the Allison House Hotel David Hinnrichs makes comments today on a report which suggests April was a relatively good month for guest house owners. Mr Hinnrichs, whose hotel is in Mayfield Gardens, is spokesman for the Edinburgh Hotel and Guest House Association. Last week's post concerning 41-43 Craigmillar Park relates to a proposal for a Travel Lodge.

St Patrick Square shop fines

Edinburgh Bargain Stores failed a test purchase exercise last November and two members of staff pled guilty to selling fireworks to children under the legal age of 18. More details here.

Craigmillar Park hotel work under way

Work began this week on the refurbishment of the villas at 41-43 Craigmillar Park (the old Oratava and St Margaret's School premises at the junction with Lady Road. The contractors expect to be on site until around April 2010.

Astronomy now at Dynamic Earth

Yes, Our Dynamic Earth is part of Southside & Newington. And they now have a full dome 360 degrees digital planetarium show entitled 'We Are Astronomers' which looks for answers to some of the unresolved questions of the universe.

Marchhall Place closed next week

Footway maintenance works are to take place in Marchhall Place next week and the road will be closed to vehicle traffic for much of the time from 7am on Monday 15th to 2pm on Friday 19th.

Surgeries

My surgeries are this evening. Click here for details. It is of interest to note that on Friday (12th June) local police will conduct a surgery at 5 Nicolson Square between 1:30 and 3pm. Designed for those who are reluctant to go to a police station or make a more formal report to police, the surgery is nonetheless available to anyone.

Preston Street School incident

Following a racist jibe made at a pupil by a passer-by on Monday this week police are investigating. More information here.

Community Councils meet tomorrow

Two of the three Community Councils in Southside & Newington meet tomorrow evening (Wed 10th). Southside Community Council meets at 7pm in Nelson Hall whilst Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council meets in St Catherine's Argyle Church hall at 7pm for their AGM followed by their ordinary meeting. Public are welcome at both meetings.

Tuesday 9th June - Liftshare day

There is an Edinburgh website where you can arrange to share transport to and from work. Look here for further details.

Innocent Railway history

RCAHMS* have recently added updated information about the St Leonard's Bank railway tunnel which runs under Holyrood Park Road down to the Wells o' Weerie.

* Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments.

Threats scupper Prestonfield event

Telephone threats against the organisers have caused Winning Entrepreneurs business network to cancel today a visit by a US prison governor due to have taken place today in the Prestonfield Hotel. The threats came at a time when some campaigning groups have expressed opposition to the visit of Burl Cain. It is worth pointing out that whatever the views certain pressure groups may have about the prison and its work in the US, threats are simply illegal in this country and an unfortunate challenge to free speech. It is ironic that the left of centre BNP has just been allowed to elect two MEPs to represent UK voters in the recent European election. More here.

Edinburgh South Euro election votes

Edinburgh South produced a 41.3% turnout, the highest of the five constituencies in Edinburgh. The votes in order were:
Conservatives 5291
Lib Dems 5213
Labour 4266
SNP 4145
Green 2880
UKIP 721
Others 611
SSP/SLP 501
BNP 258
Rejected 70
Electorate 59314

Conservatives top Edinburgh South

The count in the EU elections is by local authority area. So here are the Edinburgh figures:

SNP 24,417

Con 21,823

Lab 20,330

Lib 19,799

Gre 15,589

This can be broken down further and I understand Conservatives were top of the poll in Edinburgh South. We will get confirmation later in the day. Details of the UK results can be found here.

Meadows Festival this week-end

Last minute this year, the Meadows Festival continues its revival this week-end. Alas, the weather does not look good.

Sources of news

Here are some news sources to keep up with what promises to be an eventful few days in UK politics.

English local elections: Try playradiouk.com where you will get live commentary (The BBC are not doing live commentary of the results coming in this morning).

Breaking news and commentary from a Conservative perspective: ConservativeHome (you might see the occasional article from me there).

Iain Dale' blog: Up to date breaking news and comment from Iain Dale's Diary.

The Spectator blog: Known as Coffee House this blog is amost always up to the minute with breaking news and comment

You will have Sky News and the BBC bookmarked and you will finds links from the above to many other sources.

European elections

Scotland is a single constituency and will elect 6 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). If, like my daughter, you are voting today for the first time click here for a basic guide.   The two Conservative candidates at the top of the list are Struan Stevenson and Belinda Don.  You can see the results for Scotland in 2004 here and UK wide here.  If you read the Guardian and wonder about the scare stories about who the Conservatives will link with in the European Parliament read this blog post by Daniel Hannan (especially the links).   And finally, if you want read on one Conservative councillor in Edinburgh who has voluntarily taken a pay cut - read here.   For breaking news on the elections with a Conservative slant read ConservativeHome.

Odeon decision on hold - again

Today Historic Scotland have published at statement from Mike Russell the Culture Minister on the Odeon. The decision taken by the Planning Committee last October to approve the Duddingston House proposal has been called in for further consideration. For the recent background see here. I have issued a brief statement below. There is much more to be said but I will return to this with a future post.

"Delays in deciding on the Odeon reveal a planning system which is not fit for purpose. For Historic Scotland to take 7 months to conclude that another look at this controversial issue is necessary, is inefficiency which cannot ever be justified - never mind in the current economic climate.

For six years this building has been unoccupied - effectively planning blight on the Southside community.

The proposal is certainly controversial and needs fair scrutiny. My view is that a viable project retaining the auditorium is unlikely to be found. That is an arguable position and I will be happy to be proved wrong by events. There comes a point where a judgment has to be made and that should not be in isolation from events in the community and economic reality."

Girl Geeks Edinburgh launch locally

Last month saw the sell out launch of Edinburgh GirlGeeks in the Informatics Centre in Potterrow. GirlGeeks is a community for women and girls interested in technology, creativity and computing.   See more information here.

Final month for Commonwealth Pool

The Royal Commonwealth Pool is scheduled to close its doors to the public at 7:00pm on Sunday 28 June 2009. Edinburgh Leisure will decommission the facility and building contractors John Graham (Dromore) Ltd will start on site on 3 August 2009. The closure is to allow Edinburgh Council to refurbish the venue. Works are scheduled to take up to 2 years with the facility reopening to the public around summer 2011. Built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games, the building was listed in 1996. The cost of the refurbishment is £37m.

Dog Aid Society fun run

The Dog Aid Society for Scotland based in Blackford Avenue, have been in touch looking for voluteers to run a 5k in Holyrood Park fun run to raise money for their funds. The Edinburgh run is on Sat 3rd October.
I note Victim Support Scotland, another national charity based locally, is one of the charities you can support by running in this event.

Prestonfield Club members conned

Members of Prestonfield Golf Club booked a September holiday using Wizard Gold Tours run by David Griffin.  This article reports that the company is not all it seems.