Prestonfield hotel suffers rates rise

James Thomson's Prestonfield hotel has been caught up in a huge rise in business rates. Details here.

The Pear Tree challenges toilets folly

The management of The Pear Tree in West Nicolson Street are amongst a number of businesses challenging a new policy which applies an expectation of equal numbers of ladies and gents loos, not only to new premises, but to all premises. Fuller details here.

Life sentence for Nicolson St murder

Yahya Babiker, a Sudanese national, was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife at 10 Nicolson Street in September last year. He was seen on CCTV in the St Leonard's Street Homebase buying a hammer which was used in the crime. The police press release is here and fuller details can be found here. Previous posts are here and here.

Prestonfield Hotel porter jailed

Alan Weir, who held a position of trust at the Prestonfield Hotel in the position of porter, was sentenced to 218 days in prison for using his keys to steal thousands of pounds worth of wine. This was the subject of a previous post at the time of conviction near the beginning of April. 11 weeks later has now been sentenced.

Should Retromum1 move to Edinburgh?

Whilst reading Mumsnet this morning (!!) the thread from Retromum1 asking whether she and her family should move to Edinburgh from their farm in rural Gloucestershire caught the eye. The ensuing discussion, including recommendations for which part of Edinburgh to move to, provides a fascinating comment on how others see us and, in some cases, how local residents rate differing districts of Edinburgh. It is a very positive view of Edinburgh as a whole and of parts of the Southside/Newington area in particular. View the thread here.

Anarchic cyclists arrest in Meadows

The activity level of the Critical Mass cycling phenomenon has ebbed and flowed in Edinburgh in recent years. Current activity, heralded by an upsurge in flyposting, culminated today in a confrontation with police in the east Meadows about 6:45pm. At least one person was arrested and others are likely to be charged as a result of the incident.

Critical Mass is a rather anarchic monthly event which takes place in a number of cities around the world where participants typically ride in formation and obstruct other traffic, ignore rules of the road and deliberately cause congestion.

Certainly today's incident culminating in the Meadows had attracted at least 15 police officers to respond to the disturbance.

With the availability of a range of more law abiding cycling groups in Edinburgh for those wishing to see improved conditions for cyclists, Critical Mass attracts and encourages the more anarchic of our citizens and, as this occasion has shown, just suck in police resources and get more responsible cyclists a bad name.

Bids in for Newington school

Limited information is contained here on the bids submitted for St Margaret's School.

Finding local news

Edinburgh has long needed an improved local Internet news and comment presence. Whilst there is a scattering of political commentators, few have proved to be lasting and consistent. And whilst the BBC provides some localisation of news it has its limits.

The Guardian Edinburgh has in recent times begun to produce a blog centred news service which has echoes of the mighty Drudge in the US - but is truly local. Recent entries include a map of locations of the barbecue sites in the Meadows and live blogging and tweeting from the Edinburgh Council debate yesterday on the trams.

Guardian Edinburgh is a welcome addition to the Edinburgh blogosphere. And ready for the next local major issue, Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council now have a Facebook page welcoming comments on anything local.

For newcomers, the Southside & Newington Newsblog is just that - a niche blog which confines itself to information for and about residents and events in the ward.

St Margaret's campaign abandoned

The attempt to raise £2.5m to stave off the closure of St Margaret's has been abandoned.

Restrictive regulations blight ward

Yet again restrictive regulations and planning laws have chased away creative business opportunities, this time in Marshall Street at Nicolson Square. The views of Vincent Crolla, one of the capital's top food families can be found here.

Deadline passes for St Margaret's

The 5pm deadline for the parents looking to rescue St Margaret's School passed without the finance target amount being raised. More details here.

Minto Street man jailed for 21 months

Mohammed Jansher Khan of Minto Street was found guilty of assault to severe injury earlier this month. Yesterday he was sentenced to 21 months in prison for a serious assault which took place in Market Street. Details here.

Gavin Brown selected for new local seat

Elections for the Scottish Parliament are due next May. The Boundary Commission for Scotland has added to the confusion of who is in which constituency and the new seat which covers most of the Southside & Newington Ward is now called Edinburgh Southern.

This week, Gavin Brown, currently a list MSP at the Scottish Parliament and well known in the area, was selected to fight the seat for the Conservatives.

You can find a map of the constituency here.

Cycle thefts in Southside & Newington

Last year was a busy year for cycle thefts in the ward. This year is shaping up much worse.

Buried deep in figures just released by Lothian and Borders Police is an 85% increase in bicycles stolen in the ward during April/May 2010 compared to the same two months in the previous year. That is 48 cycles thefts reported in the two months of this year compared to 26 in the same period last year. That compares with 266 stolen in the ward in the period April '09 to March '10 and 199 in the previous year.

City crime falls - but barely in ward

Recorded crime in Southside & Newington was 1% lower in 2009 compared to the previous year. And cycle theft, for which the ward tops the table, was up. All this is against an overall drop in reported crime of 10%. The figures can be found here though the breakdown by ward is buried very deep in the document. Note that the figures are for the accounting year April 2009 to April 2010.

The Evening News carries some of the detail though the table including Southside & Newington is not in the online edition.

There is a quote in the article about cycle theft locally ". . .we've been trying to find ways to combat these thefts by working with student groups, but it is proving particularly difficult". That short quote encapsulates so much of what is wrong in public policy today. With record numbers of police now available, the focus of the justice system must now return to capturing culprits and dealing with them effectively. We are too often sidetracked by a mindset which tends to blame victims or potential victims - doubtless for the spurious reason that they are easier to find and target.

In the meantime, the reduction in recorded crime is welcome.

Fraudster targets St Margaret's rescue

Online attempts have been made to divert donations to the fund to rescue St Margaret's to a fraudulent account. Details here.

Sean Connery in Bristo Square

You can see the action (Sean Connery boogeying) here and read the report here.

Art in Roxburgh Place

This car on the other side of the railings at the Roxy Art House in Roxburgh Place is a piece of art!

Update on St Margaret's rescue plan

Today's media reports include this, which suggests critical decisions on whether to continue the rescue attempt will be made on Tuesday.

St Margaret's donations invited

The group of parents looking to save St Margaret's School are welcoming donations to help them with their bid to take over the school. Today's details here.

Missing Mum last seen in Nicolson St

Fears are growing for a woman last seen alighting from a No 3 bus in Nicolson Street near to Nicolson Square at 11:55am on Friday 28th May. Betty Brown (55) was wearing a black jacket, open neck blouse, blue jeans and black shoes, and was carrying two large Aldi bags. Fuller details in the police press release.

Trams - Updated position and costings

Today an update report has been published by the Council. The tram project is currently mired in a contractual dispute with the contractor, Bilfinger Siemens CAF (BSG).

Here are the highlights followed by the figures:

• Underground gas water and other utilities have been moved (and in many cases renewed) making them much more accessible. The expected 27,000m of cables and pipes is now estimated at 50,000 and the extra work has resulted in a net cost overrun on this part of the project of 10%. The work is around 96% complete.
• Disputes mainly concerning the infrastructure work, largely undertaken by the Bilfinger part of the consortium, have accompanied a severe slowing of the project.
• Orignally due to open for service in July 2011, the estimated opening date is now dependent on a resolution of the disputes with BSC.
• In the light of the lack of progress on the delivery of the principal engineering works, one of the options now being explored is termination of the contract with BSC.
• The trams vehicles are on schedule and budget with one on display in Princes Street

Costs:

• The approved funding stands at £545 of which £500 was committed by the Scottish Parliament. This originally included line 1b (the Roseburn to Granton extension) which has now been postponed.
• Current spend amounts to £348m. The report to council states '. . . it is prudent to plan for a contingency of 10% above the approved funding of £545m.' In other words the total could reach £600m. The Council is responsible for finding any amount above the £500m.
• £16.4m has been raised so far and contingency plans are being explored to bridge the remaining gap.

As the report states, '. . . the current position remains highly unsatisfactory'. The dispute resolution is key to getting the project back moving. Termination of the agreement is being considered.

The BBC report is here and the report to council can be seen here.

Sciennes win Scottish chess title

Sciennes Primary School pupils became champions in the Scottish Primary Chess Championships earlier this week. They also came second in the P5 and under section. Great achievement. Well done.

Watertoun Road bogus workmen crime

Here are descriptions of the two men who targeted a 93 year old woman in her home in Watertoun Road (off West Savile Terrace) on Tuesday. The victim of the incident made sure she did not give them room to get out of her sight.

Edinburgh Film Festival

Herewith a postscript to yesterday's post on what is the 'Opening Film' of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. The film was premiered yesterday at the Festival Theatre. It gains a five star review in The Times today. (Unfortunately accessing The Times now requires registration and will soon require payment - so here is the review in full.)

It’s hard to imagine a picture more perfectly suited to the slot of Opening Film of the Edinburgh International Film Festival than Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist. Not only is this gorgeous animated feature an eloquent and cine-literate homage to the cinema of another era — specifically that of Jacques Tati, whose unproduced screenplay provided the basis for the film — but, crucially, a large proportion of the story unfolds in the Edinburgh of the late 1950s.
And the city has never looked more enchanting. Chomet was captivated by the mercurial play of light and gothic capriciousness of Edinburgh when he showed his first feature, Belleville Rendez-vous, at the film festival in 2003. Edinburgh made such an impact that he moved his studio there, the better to familiarise himself with the city’s fickle moods. The result is almost painfully lovely. Working almost entirely with hand-drawn animation rather than computer-generated techniques, Chomet uses light and colour with the visual articulacy of the cinematographer Jack Cardiff at his most expressionistic.
The story is unashamedly nostalgic. A down-at-heel French conjuror called Tatischeff — in name and in mannerisms clearly Tati’s animated alter-ego — scrapes a living at the end of an era that has already written him off as a quaint irrelevancy. He hauls the trappings of his fading career — a moth-eaten top hat, a neatly rolled poster, a savagely ill-tempered white rabbit — increasingly far afield in search of a stage on which to perform. His audience, meanwhile, seem far more interested in the burgeoning rock’n’roll scene, particularly a bunch of braying, limp-wristed fops called Billy Boy and the Britoons (a piece of gentle Brit-ribbing designed to strike a chord with the Scottish audience).
So when Tatischeff arrives on a distant Scottish isle to perform at a party to celebrate the arrival of electricity, he is delighted to discover that, for one young girl at least, his magic is absolutely real.
Alice is a wide-eyed innocent on whom the kindly illusionist takes pity, “conjuring up” a new pair of shoes to replace her worn hobnail boots. But when Alice follows him to Edinburgh Tatischeff finds that the expense of maintaining the illusion with increasingly lavish gifts becomes ruinous.
And life for the small community of performers lodged in their guest house is equally tough. At the close of this poignant paean to the age of the stage performer, Tatischeff leaves a note to Alice, telling her: “Magicians do not exist.” In fact, the beguiling spell that Sylvain Chomet has woven on screen proves that they most certainly do. - Wendy Ide in today's Times.

'Illusionist' premiere at Festival Theatre

The Illusionist is the latest film from Sylvain Chomet, who set up a studio in the Scottish capital after visiting the film festival seven years ago. It has been described as a "fairytale depiction" of Scotland. The backstory, which can be found here, is a must read. And some clips can be viewed here.

St Margaret's rescue plan under way

Details are beginning to emerge of the very considerable efforts being made to salvage the school. This article gives some details of the consortium, their potential financial backers and some of the options being considered. Here is yesterday's BBC coverage.

I wish them well.

St Margaret's school and the Council

Yesterday at the Education, Children and Families Committee Convenor Marilynne MacLaren brought forward an emergency motion in response to the recent difficulties of St Margaret's School:

• Committee notes the announcement by St Margaret's School that it is due to close.
• Committee is asked to note that the Director of Children and Families has already made contact with the management of the school with offers of assistance during this difficult time.
• Committee instructs the Director of Children and Families to identify the pressures the closure of the school may place on local authority provision of education in the city.
• Committee also instructs the Director to identify the opportunities for local authority education in the city that may arise from the closure of the school.

All well and good - except the wording of the last clause sounds as if the Council is waiting to swoop like a vulture to take advantage of St Margaret's difficulties - though it was not clear in what way that could be contemplated given the current situation in the Children and Families Department.

I proposed an amendment to delete the words 'local authority' from the last clause to show that the council's interest is the interests of the education of all children in Edinburgh. This is particularly so as many pupils move between council and private education in Edinburgh.

Cllr MacLaren saw the amendment as a threat to her bailiwick and ensured that it was voted down.

Murray mania at Sciennes

Well - it's Judy Murray coaching Sciennes pupils on the Meaows tennis courts.

Mapping Edinburgh

Edinburgh Council has maps of the city with overlays for a variety of features. Public access (though no instructions) can be found on this here where there is a large range of infrastructure and service features. It will take you some time to explore.

Battle to save St Margaret's goes on

A group of parents met with the liquidators last night and it is reported that they have been given 3 weeks to raise the necessary money. Details here, here and here.

More on student deaths tragedy

There are further reports and information on the tragic deaths of two Orkney students at Edinburgh University here and here.

Crunch meeting today on St Margaret's

Parents have drawn up a business plan in a bid to take over the running of St Margaret's School in Craigmillar Park. Peter Cochrane, and economist with the Bank of Scotland is leading the bid and is extensively quoted in this article. A further meeting is expected today between representatives of the parents and the liquidators. Previous posts here and here.

Local people honoured

The following two local people living in the Southside & Newington ward have been honoured in today's Queen's birthday honours list.

• Professor Veronica van Heyningen OBE, who resides in Newington area.
• Dr Simon Gage OBE, Director of the International Science Festival, who also resides in the Newington area

Apologies to others not identified here.

Causey transformation project continues

The Causey project to design and transform a part of West Crosscauseway has moved forward to the next stage. Details here.

Edinburgh students found dead in hotel

Two students have been found dead in a hotel in Ayr in what was apparently a suicide pact. It is understood they were students at Edinburgh University, both studying maths and physics. They have been identified as James Robertson and Robert Miller from Orkney. Details here.

Lutton Place victory over England

In 1901.

This year Lutton Place Bowling Club (beside St Peter's Church in Lutton Place) is 150 years old. One of the highlights was the first international bowling match took place between Scotland and an England team skipped by the legendary cricketer W G Grace. The Scottish team, with a large number of Lutton Place members, won the match.

More accounts from the history of the Bowling Club can be found here.

Attempts to salvage Newington school

Vigorous attempts are being made to salvage education at St Margaret's School after the announcement earlier this week that it had gone into administration. An indication of some of the efforts is given in this article in today's Herald.

Missing person last seen in Nicolson St

Elizabeth Brown was last seen getting off a No 3 bus in Nicolson Street at 11:55am on Friday 28th May. After alighting from the bus she crossed the street and withdrew money from the Royal Bank of Scotland cash machine in Nicolson Street. Police have issued an appeal for anyone who may have seen her or who might have information as to her current whereabouts to contact them. Full details and an appeal from her family are contained in the police press release here. Can you help?

Sick Kids Friends Concert

This weekend Edinburgh is hosting the 11th European Doctors Orchestral Concert in aid of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation. The Charity is based in Millerfield Place and the concert is on 13th in Greyfriars Kirk.

Barbecue assistance on the Meadows

New barbecue plinths have been provided on the Meadows . You can see their position here.

Actually barbecues are not allowed on the Meadows (park bylaws) but this social activity has been so popular in recent years that it is now commonplace on a hot day. Breaching the bylaws offends the propriety of residents - but a more significant issue is the scorchmarks left on the turf. Of course the blackened ground will recover but this may take up to a year or even more. So the barbecue sites have been introduced to encourage people to do it in particular sites where they will do no damage.

This action is for a trial period. But if the sites are full or not near where you want to be, then it will be helpful if your barbecue tray is elevated above the grass to prevent the damage.

It has been good to see so many people enjoying the Meadows in the summer weather in recent weeks.

Fuller details from Tom Allan's excellent guardianedinburgh blog with the relevant article here.

St Margaret's School to close

After some years of falling rolls St Margaret's School in Craigmillar Park is to close. Details here and here.

Fred Goodwin moving on

Local Grange resident Fred Goodwin has just bought a new home elsewhere in Edinburgh. More details here (or the more sensationalist version here)

Community councils tonight

The Southside Community Council has its June meeting in Nelson Hall at 7pm tonight.

The AGM of the Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council takes place in St Catherine's Argyle Church in Grange Road, also at 7pm this evening. It will be followed by the June meeting at 7:30pm.

The Grange Prestonfield Community Council meets next Wednesday on 16th June

New president of Student Association

Liz Rawlings takes over as as the new president of the Edinburgh University Students Association next week

Bovril's roots in the Southside & old Town

This article in the today's Scotsman salutes the local inventor of Bovril, John Lawson Johnston who invented the drink in his Canongate butcher's shop. It was so successful that he opened another shop in West Preston Street before moving across to Canada in 1871.

Festival Theatre extension proposal

The proposals for the extension to the rear of the Festival Theatre in Nicolson Street are now available.

Roadworks notifications

Scottish Power have an emergency failure problem in Mayfield Road which is resulting in excavations near to Ross Road and Blackbarony Road. These last two road are expected to be closed (near to Mayfield Road) for up to a week.

Meanwhile extensive renewal of gas mains is beginning today with the Rankin scheme in the vicinity of Langton Road which will be closed in places for a period of 10-13 weeks.

Further gas main renewal work is due to begin next week in West Mains Road at its junction with Langton Road and stretching along West Mains Road and down to Eva Place. This will also last for a lengthy period (6-7 weeks) and will be followed by further work in the same stretch by Scottish Power.

Phew!

Meadows funfair appeal for theft return

About 4am on Wednesday morning there was a theft of costumes and equipment from Taylor's funfair which is currently operating in the west Meadows in the run up to the Meadows Festival tomorrow. A reward for their return is on offer. More details here.

Some local residents suggest the incidence of theft and vandalism increases when the fair is in place - though others recall with appreciation how about 25 years ago it was fair staff who alerted and evacuated residents in the middle of the night from the tenement at Roseneath Place when a major fire broke out.

University suspend conference organiser

Earlier this week I reported the centenary event celebrating the 1910 World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh. Today the Evening News reports further details of the suspension of one of the organisers Daryl Balia.

MacLeans heading for Kilimanjaro

Grange father and son Archie and Ross MacLean are in training for an August assault on Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. Archie and Ross have an excellent website where you can donate (with the chance to win a car) as they aim to raise £100,000 for the charity. More details here.

Minto Street man guilty of serious assault

21 year old Mohammed Jansher Khan of Minto Street was found guilty of assault to severe injury earlier this week. Fuller details can be found here.

1910 conference celebrated at local venues

The 100th anniversary of the 1910 World Missionary Conference which saw 1200 delegates from all over the world gather in Edinburgh, is being marked this week by numerous events locally.

Edinburgh 2010 is being held at a range of venues, including St Peter's Episcopal Church in Lutton Place and Nicolson Square Methodist Church as well as the Pollock Halls (a ceilidh). Details of events can be found here.

Here is how Professor Andrew Walls described the significance of the original event.

"The World Missionary Conference, Edinburgh, 1910, has passed into Christian legend. It was a landmark in the history of mission; the starting point of the modern theology of mission; the high point of the Western missionary movement and the point from which it declined; the launch pad of the modern ecumenical movement; the point at which Christians first began to glimpse something of what a world church would look like."

The current event will attract fewer delegates and organising it has not been without some problems.