Concert for earthquake and flood victims

Marchmont St Giles Church Choir are holding a concert to raise money for those who are suffering the effects from the Chilean earthquake and the Pakistani floods earlier this year.   It is on Sunday evening (3rd October) at 7:30 and you can get further details here.

Mercy Corps, a charity with its European Headquarters in Sciennes is co-ordinating a City appeal for victims of the Pakistani floods and is also involved in relief work in relation to the earlier Chilean earthquake.

The Engine Shed: Steiner open day

The Engine Shed is hosting a Steiner Open Day on Saturday 2nd October with the opportunity to explore Steiner initiatives.  As well as running asuperb social enterprise, bakery and cafe, it is linked to the Steiner philosophy.

An excellent cafe and bakery

Activities will include eurythmy, painting, drawing and information sessions on Anthroposophical Medicine, Steiner Education, Social Therapy, Biodynamic Agriculture and more.  Doors open at 10am. Admission is free.  More details here.

Sick Kids move: Summer 2014?

Public works projects do not have a good reputation for delivering on budget and on time.   The latest delay in moving of the Sick Kids from Sciennes to Little France is reported here.

Potholes, potholes, potholes

Credit: Evening News

The Evening News reports on potholes in Clerk Street.  Abdul Jalil at the Indian Mela restaurant cleans out the pothole every time it rains to stop the stone filled spray heading towards his shop.  The report is here.

A significant part of the problem, not mentioned in the article, is that many pothole problems stem from the  buses.  A few years back the standard double decker run by Lothian Buses increased in size by about a tonne.  When the buses are running full, the downward force when brakes are applied, accounts for much of the gouging of potholes in the roadway at bustops.

Of course, this is not the whole story and it underlines the importance of basic maintenance rather than spending money on new initiatives.

Prestonfield nursery may close

The Princess Elizabeth Nursery in Clearburn Crescent, Prestonfield is one of two nurseries which the Education Department of Edinburgh Council is proposing to close.  Fuller details of the proposal can be found in this notice from the Council here.  The last report of the inspectorate is here and you can find the Evening News report here.

Chief Medical Officer at Surgeon's Hall

The Chief Medical Officer for Scotland Dr Harry Burns is the keynote speaker at a 'Living Streets' conference at Surgeon's Hall tomorrow.  The conference ' will explore the relationship between health and the built environment and will look at how health can be better considered within land use and transportation planning decisions'.

Mayfield Road bank to close

The Bank of Scotland is intending to close its branch at 55 Mayfield Road at the beginning of November.

The reality is that more and more of us are in a position to conduct banking business by telephone or via the Internet and the costs of doing so are very much smaller.  On the other hand there are many local business people and  local residents for whom telephone or Internet banking is not the answer.  Difficult decisions.

This link gives current opening times and the nearest alternative branches.  Or use this link to find the nearest Bank of Scotland to your postcode.

I am writing to the Bank to ask them about this and to see if there is any prospect of it remaining open or maintaining the cash dispenser.  Some local residents are writing to the bank in a similar fashion and if you wish to do so the address is below.

Branch Manager,
55 Mayfield Road
Edinburgh
EH9 3AA

September highlights - top ten

• Another Edinburgh World Championship - Duathalon held in the Park
• Epic Sciennes P5 football - 1-6 recovering to 7 - 7
• Boxer Alex Arthur wins - career back on the rails
• Grange Road area housebreakings - man arretsed
• City Finances - Not all bad news 
• 20mph speed limit goes ahead - trial in ward area
• Alcohol ban coming - Nicolson Square
• City Finances - consultation summit
• Doors Open week-end - brochure of locations
• Four  rescued from fire - Kilgraston

Freshers festival in the Meadows

Between 10am and 6pm today the Freshers Festival occupies a marquee and takes over a small part of the Meadows.  Today is the second day of the two day event situated east of Middle Meadow Walk opposite the Sick Kids Hospital..   Details here.

Fire: Four rescued at Kilgraston

A fire in the flats at Esdaile Park about 10:30 last night resulted in a family being rescued.   It is reported to have started after an incense stick set furniture alight.   More details here and here.

Doors Open around Edinburgh

The Cockburn Association organises the Doors Open week-end giving fuller public access to a wide range of buildings in Edinburgh.I was going to list the local premises but the internet seemed to have a traffic jam around the said Association - and their brochure won't download.  I will just give you a link to the page so you can download after the rush hour.   

Budget summit report

Tonight a public meeting for the Southside of the City took place.  It was held to discuss the implications of the financial constraints of Council activity for the decisions to be taken in the coming months.  It was for residents from the Meadows/ Morningside, Southside/ Newington and Liberton/Gilmerton wards. (population approx 95,000).

I counted 77 people in the room at Southside Community Centre, of whom 15 were council officials and a further 11 were councillors.  So there were just over 50 members of the public.   The majority of them I knew or recognised which indicated that very few attended from the Liberton/Gilmerton ward.  The majority were people who have contact with the council through Community Councils, Neighbourhood Partnerships or other formal relationship.

The questions and comments were measured and articulate and comments from the Council officials were usually very informative and responses to the point and at times forceful. Dave Anderson, Director of City Development, for example, responded to the strong anti-tram sentiments robustly.  Andrew Unsworth was immediate in answering the question on how much the new (but stuttering) Council website cost. (£300k).

There was the now customary (this was the third of these meetings) criticism of the framing of the questions (too simplistic and imprecise to be answered with a 'Yes' or 'No').    One of the eight questions attracted 45 votes but most were answered by only 28 to 35 of those members of the public present.  (A few left before the end.)

But doubts about the interpretation of the answers and the trams issue did not stop the meeting from going on to cover the issues posed in a broad and lively exchange of information, questions and answers.

And it was well moderated by Kenny Kemp.  All was recorded and at some stage there will be a summary made available.  The background information can be accessed from here - and the questions posed can be found at the end of this booklet.

NB Numbers given for people present may not be exact. I was seated near the front and did not the best of  views.

Budget summit consultation tonight

Double click to enlarge

This post is a reminder of the meeting at Southside Community Centre tonight when the city LibDem/SNP Administration have set up one of a series of consultation meetings in advance of budget decisions.  

Reports of recent 'summit consultations have not been flattering.   See here and here.

My previous post, including links to more information, can be found here.

If you want to go you are asked to book in beforehand by telephoning 01315294425.

I will endeavour to post a brief report after the meeting.

Doors open - community ceilidh

As well as being open to the public from 1:30 - 5:30pm on Saturday and Sunday, the King's Hall in South Clerk Street is celebrating its silver jubilee (25 years) as Community Church Edinburgh.  There will be a community ceilidh at 7:30pm on Saturday 25th when the Auld Reekie Sawbones Band will be playing.

Tickets and more information from their website.

Macmillan coffee morning local venues

Tomorrow is another attempt at holding the world's biggest coffee morning.  Here are the local venues (with times) in the Southside & Newington ward.   You can search for the closest one to you via postcode at this page.

• Craigmillar Park Church - 10:30am
• Craft House Concept, Minto Street - 11:00am
• King's Hall, South Clerk Street (Saturday 25th and Sun 26th, 1pm)
• Southside Community Centre, Nicolson Street - 10:15am
• Ten Hill Place (Hotel), Hill Place - 11.00am

Church festival of prayer

Mayfield Salisbury Church continues its month of special events to encourage prayer and meditation this week.

They have already welcomed the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, David Lunan and Raphael Pavouris, priest of the Orthodox Community of St Andrew in Meadow Lane.  Today there is a service for older people at 2:30pm and the church is open for prayer all day.  More details here.

Primary raises aid for Pakistan

Sciennes Primary school has raised to help relief efforts in Pakistan after the devastating floods.  The money was raised in a fundraising event recently after pupils, parents and staff had begin planning to respond to the need almost immediately after term resumed.

Alcohol ban for Nicolson Square

Evening News photo

The subject of anti-social behaviour in Nicolson Square has appeared in this blog many times.  Today's Evening News reports that the ban is to go ahead in the coming months.  The measure will give additional powers of arrest to the police.  

Here is their a supportive editorial which goes along with the article.

Previous posts can be found  here and here.

20 mph pilot to go ahead locally

Last week I reported on the proposals to impose a 20mph speed limit on roads in a swathe between Morningside Road and Prestonfield and south of the Meadows.

The proposal was passed today at the Transport Committee.  More details of the proposal can be found via the links here.

An international campaign. . . .

Edinburgh Council has embarked on a competitive dialogue process which will likely result in some services  being carried out by non council companies.  One company which is bidding is Veolia.

I have received a trickle of letters and emails from constituents who consider Veolia should be excluded from the tendering process because 'Veolia is assisting Israel in . .  . serious violations of international law' in Jerusalem and on Palestinian land.

Some readers may be interested to know my response:

Dear     ,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me on this issue.

The situation in the Middle East is complex and polarised and I do not profess to have a full grasp of all the issues. 

From where I view the situation, the specific instances to which you refer are set in a larger context of breaches of international law and ethical codes. For example, both the Iranian president and elected representatives of Palestinian people have indicated a wish to wipe out Israel and there is evidence that such a threat is not an idle one.

In the light of such complexities I make no commitment to support the campaign you have espoused and I will respond to the decisions we have to make in the light of the evidence available.  You can rest assured that justice and law will be in the forefront of my considerations.

Cameron Rose

Councillor, Southside & Newington ward

And the following PS:

If you have any influence with the above local campaign, I have many constituents who, along with me, would appreciate an end to the illegal flyposting associated with it.

Budget: local meetings - local views

The administration  is holding seven meetings at which views can be expressed directly to senior administration and council officials.  There is a consultation pack which gives background information.

The meeting for the Southside & Newington (and 2 other) wards takes place next Thursday (23rd Sept) in the Southside Community Centre between 7pm and 9pm.   Details of the other meetings, including a city wide one at 9am on Friday 15th October, can be found here.

Here's what you need to know about going to the meetings.  Numbers are limited and the Administration has issued invitations to specific people to attend.  In addition, at least 20 places have been reserved for members of the public.  If you wish to book a place, email councilbudgetATedinburgh.gov.uk (replace AT with @) or call 01315294425.

You will get more information here and here.

I'll see you there - though it is not a meeting for councillors to speak but for public views to be received. The first meeting held last week did not go well and there will be a number of changes to the format.

Bikes for students - and others

Tomorrow (Saturday 18th) the Bike Station is open for the sale of reconditioned bikes between 10:30am and 4:30pm.  These are bikes which have been donated or recovered from various sources for recycling. Prices are from £45 - £50 with the average around £75. Full details here.

But best be there early.  Last year a very long queue developed as this post from the time records.

Get there early!

City finances: It's not all bad news

Why not sooner?

One of the effects of the very considerable financial pressures on Edinburgh Council is that it concentrates the mind on deciding what is important.

Yesterday, the Council approved the first tranche of savings (well all but one of the 63 savings brought forward by Council officers.   There was something remarkable about some of these savings.  We had details of each one in a format which included a standard field for comment on 'impact on outcomes'.   I looked more closely at the 6 savings in the Education Department (my particular brief).   Do you notice anything striking about the expected outcomes after these savings are taken?  I have italicised the last one because it is special!

1. Minimal
2. None
3. None
4. Reduction in management support would reduce the level of direction/monitoring of local service delivery in relation to service priorities
5. Priority to front facing and statutory functions will ensure that a focus on strategic objectives and outcomes . . . will be maintained as far as possible
6. . . . This could result in improved service for users with opportunities for making significant savings and potential for improved performance management of functional delivery

Which all begs the question of why we have been spending this £2.35m annually up to this point.

Note:  This is the first of the recently promised occasional posts which address Council or broader Edinburgh issues.

St Albans Road man in court for break-ins

44 year Kenneth McLennan from St Albans Road pleaded guilty in court on Tuesday in connection with housebreakings in the Grange area.  The guilty plea follows yesterday's post recording incidents in the Grange/Sciennes area. 

Further details are contained in this brief article in today's Evening News.

Benedict calls: what you need to know

The Council website has a load of information and detail about Pope Benedict's visit to Edinburgh which  begins tomorrow morning.

It includes details of

• route and times
• travel and transport
• viewing areas and advice, and the
• St Ninian’s day parade.

as well as other general information including a Papal visit by numbers  page which tells you how many para medics on cycles will be on duty, how many no waiting cones are to be used and how many JCBs will be involved!

New all day parking proposed in Grange

Sixty short stay parking bays in the Grange area are set to be converted to nine hour bays if proposals being brought before the Transport Committee next Tuesday are approved.  This follows the successful trial conversion of forty two bays earlier this year.  Full details are in the report which can be found here where there are also maps showing the location of the bays which are proposed for change. 

Please note that the there will be changes in the charges at the bays according to demand and location - the charge for all day parking in the less used bays will rise to £3 per day.   Some of the bays which are currently barely used but are in higher demand (on or north of Beaufort Road and Grange Road) will cost £5 for a full day.

The 2006 introduction of S1 cleared up the parking congestion in the area - but resulted in a whole slew of streets with hardly any parked cars.   Meanwhile the areas on the periphery of S1 suffered the knock on effect of the displaced parking problem.  I have been calling for this more sensible use of road space since 2007 and applaud my ward colleague Cllr Gordon Mackenzie (Transport Convener) for at last pushing to bring forward these sensible measures.

20mph speed limit - report available

Last week it was reported that the Administration are developing a proposal to pilot a 20mph speed limit throughout the city except on arterial routes and feeder roads.  The report can now be inspected here.

The decision to be taken to the meeting on Tuesday 21st September is whether the pilot should be allowed to go out for public consultation.

Note:  With the closure of St Margaret's School, the recently established variable 20mph zone in Craigmillar Park is now subject of a revocation procedure.  Details can be found here and this will also be on the agenda for the meeting next Tuesday.

16.9.10: Links updated

Male in court for housebreakings

Around 3:30pm yesterday a male was arrested by police following a series of calls from members of the public regarding housebreakings in the Sciennes and Grange Road areas.  The male, who is understood to be around 44, will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court later today in connection with the incidents.

Police have been investigating a series of housebreakings in this area over the last six weeks.

Revised Grange parking proposals

Another revision of the proposed parking proposals for the area south of S1 is now being brought forward.   You can see the maps here or here.  The revision follows a lengthy consultation and you can also see the new maps on display at the Newington Library.

Update14.9.10: The report and further details can be found here.

New Pyjamas cleared of misconduct

In February this year this blog carried reports of difficulties at charity appeal in connection with the new Sick Kids hospital. (See here and here and here.)

At the end of last week the BBC carried this report that the Charity Regulator had found no evidence of misconduct - though there were 'governance recommendations' in the report.

Bramble bonanza

Brambles in Holyrood Park

Autumn is looking very good in Southside & Newington for fruit.   Apple and plum trees are generally well laden and wild and cultivated fruit bushes in the area have generally been productive.

None of that prepared me for the brambles.   Never have I  seen such a profusion of unpicked wild brambles as are available this year in Holyrood Park.   Others will have local favourite spots but there is plenty for everyone at the location described below.   

If you are rushing out to pick some, (and they won't last long), approach from the Low Road in Holyrood Park at the entrance to Duddingston village.  Climb the steep path from the car park which runs up towards Dunsappie Hill.   The bushes furthest up the hill are best. See the map here.

Reformation parade today

John Knox

The parade to mark the 450th anniversary of the Reformation is due to depart from the Meadows at 12:30 today.   The route is up Middle Meadow Walk, along George IV Bridge and down the Royal Mile. 

1560 was a key date for the Reformation in Scotland.

Is your recycling box beyond repair?

My recycling boxes need replacing as you can see.

Actually it is surprisingly easy to do.   You can order online at this webpage.   You can also order box covers, blue bags for paper and full size bins.

Further information about the Council's recycling can be found here.

Middle Meadow Walk art being renewed

Pedestrians and cyclists using Middle Meadow Walk will see signs of renewal at the Celtic weave compass which was created on the ground back in May.

The artist, Victor Fraser deliberately did not 'seal' the work, and over the last three months it has largely faded.  It looks like Victor is back. There are signs that he is touching up the artwork which was generally well received at the time.

20mph speed limit proposals

There has been some recent publicity about a proposal for a speed limit of 20mph in the area between Melville Drive south of the Meadows to Blackford Hill.  The proposed affected area is bounded on one side by Morningside Road and on the other side Holyrood Park.  The approximate area is shown here.

The proposal comes before the Transport Committee on Tuesday 21st September for approval for consultation.  In other words there will be an opportunity for public views before it comes back to the Transport Committee to decide whether or not to proceed to the proposed trial scheme.

Early days yet - but local residents should sharpen their pencils to make their views known.  The paper containing the proposals will be available online by Wednesday next week at the Council Papers Online (CPOL) website.

Online auction at St Margaret's

520 lots go under the online hammer at next week's auction of items from St Margaret's School.  They include a grand piano and a minibus.   The online auction begins on Tuesday 14th and finishes at noon on Thursday 16th September.   Full details and a catalogue can be found here.

"The only world class fighter in Scotland"

The claim above was made last month by local boxer Alex Arthur who lives in the Southside area.  At 32 he has re-signed with boxing promoter Frank Warren and, after a period of illness, is being tipped for a fight with Ricky Burns, WBO super-featherweight champion.  Burns, from Coatbridge, won his title at the weekend and will be disputing Alex Arthur's claim.   The Record reports today that Arthur won at the week-end and the quote below was just before Burns won the WBO title:

"Former world super-featherweight champion Alex Arthur had a comfortable win over Peter McDonagh at lightweight and made a characteristically flamboyant departure from the building, saying: "I'm back. It was a great feeling to be out in front of a big crowd again. I'm the best boxer in Scotland."" 

Epic performance at Sciennes

Here is a report of an epic performance by the Sciennes P5 football team at the week-end.  I'll not spoil it by giving the result in this post - go to the match report - but Sciennes REDs were 1-6 down at half-time.

The match report itself is a bit of an epic!

Parish News - part 1

This blog has supplied news local to the Southside and Newington ward of Edinburgh Council for three and a half years.  My priority has always been to maintain a steady stream of posts containing local news.

Only occasionally has it strayed into Edinburgh wide news or into my own opinions.  It is a political blog - in that I am a local Conservative councillor - but political opinion is relatively rare.  Indeed, when the postings increased on one subject of controversy, they were moved into a brand new blog - Climate Edinburgh - leaving this site principally for local news.

Edinburgh City Chambers

Some people have requested more news of city wide issues eg major planning applications - such as the Primark premises in Princes Street, or transport issues such as the proposal to create 20 mile per hour speed limits on swathes of roads throughout the city.  Some have even requested more information on the trams.

From Monday, rather than the very occasional reference to issues which are not anchored in the Southside and Newington Ward, I will post on city wide issues more frequently.  Don't expect them all at once - it will be a gradual process, but they will certainly include Primark, speed limits and trams.

Posts about the city will appear in a distinctive form (watch this space) and will be filed under the current "Edinburgh" label in the right hand side of the page (down a little).

News from my local ward will still have pride of place and posts will continue to be filed under the appropriate label down there on the right side of the blog.  

Thank you especially to my regular readers, and to those who have expressed appreciation for the posts to date  (1,800 in total).  I hope you appreciate the extended coverage.

In the next few days Parish News - part 2 will include some details about why I blog and who reads it.

Susie's Diner gives way to Noodles

The Red Box Noodle Bar has moved into West Nicolson Street.  The following is from the Istockanalyst website:

". . . Red Box Noodle Bar has taken over the West Nicolson Street premises occupied for years by Susie's Whole Food Diner.

It is a sort of do it yourself noodle bar that allows you to choose exactly what combo of noodles, meats, vegetables and sauces you would like.

All the noodle dishes are a ver while the snack or starter selection of dishes like chilli wings, ribs and won ton are all pounds 2.80. The Red Box is next to Edinburgh Uni and it will be a big hit with the students." 

Sciennes pupil sets off 4 tons of explosives

Deadline Press agency

Tomas Brough, aged 10,  has been chosen to set off the 100,000 fireworks in the extravaganza tomorrow night which closes the Edinburgh International Festival.  Full story here.

September Community Councils

1. Southside Community Council meets on Wednesday 8th.  In the Nelson Hall at the east end of Bernard Terrace. Agenda. 
2. Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council also meets on Wednesday 8th.  The meeting starts at 7:30 in the St Catherine's Argyle Church Hall and a panel led discussion on back greens and gardens will be led by Cllr Mark McInnes.
3. Grange/Prestonfield Community Council meets on Wednesday 15th at 7pm in Cameron House Community Centre in Prestonfield Avenue.

Prestonfield celebrity charity auction

James Thomson has arranged another high profile charity auction today at the Prestonfield Hotel.  Organisers of Lunch with the Old Bag hope to raise £100,000 for the Prince's Trust.   More details here.

Duathalon in Park this weekend

The Duathlon World Championships take place over this weekend in Holyrood Park.   The course in Holyrood Park is expected to be one of the most testing ever used in this event.  The competition consists in a 10km run followed by a 40kn cycle and concluded with a 5km run.

Parking will be restricted in Holyrood Park Road from 10am today through to the early hours of Monday 6th.  Pollock Halls will serve as the athletes' village.

Update 12:30:  I should have pointed out the road in the park will be closed to vehicle traffic for three days.

Front Gardens annual awards

The Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council awards for front gardens and containers will take place at 3pm on Saturday. The venue is the German-Speaking Church in Chalmers Crescent.

Judging has already taken place - there was no need to enter as the judges completed their walkabout and selected winners from the categories here.

Marketing films to 8½ yr olds in Newington

Logo of  8½ Foundation

Yes, that is the line taken by a company based at 37 Newington Road.  They are supported by Creative Scotland.  Here is their mission:

The 8½ Foundation is a Scottish-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to introducing world cinema to children. Its aim is to create a new birthday: a film birthday, at the age of 8½, that celebrates the power of cinema to expand children’s horizons and welcomes children into the wider world of movies, beyond what is normally available to them at the multiplex or on their TV screens.

 Fuller details here and their list of movies is here.  Great excuse to organise a children's party!