Meadows funfair in August

Last year's licence came just in time

I have had correspondence asking for comments on the application for a funfair in the Meadows during August. This is a regular feature of the festival period though, in the past, I have had  representations from local residents who would appreciate it being situated rather further away from the houses in the Melville Terrace area (or not allowed at all).

The application is for 8th to 23rd August (including set-up/take down).

Let me know if you have strong views or send them direct to Cathy Dignan at the Parks Department.   Comments need to be in by the 7th February.  

Last year the decision taking process was a little late to say the least, with the licence being granted on the day of set-up.

Amended 18:15 to correct wording and add link to previous post.

Meadows Marathon gets sponsor

ESPC, the Edinburgh property centre, has moved in to sponsor the Meadows Marathon this year.

The event takes place on 6th March and is not actually a marathon.   There are two events:  one is a 13 mile run - a half marathon, and the other is a 5k.

Some more details here.

Allotments - blogging the cost

Sarpo Mira potatoes 

Mal runs a blog on his Lady Road allotment.  He comes across town to enjoy it.

And he blogs about it.  With superb pictures, plans and illustrations.  Take a look.

This year he is paying £70 for the privilege of the allotment and he has loads of interesting information about the costs of hiring and running the allotment.

His latest post here is especially interesting.

Melville Terr robbery: owner's reactions

The robbery of the recently opened Meadows Wines at the foot of Sciennes was reported here yesterday.

Here are more details focusing on the reactions of the owner.

Police are looking for any information which might lead to arrests.

Correction:  Link to 'more details' (in the Evening News) corrected.  The wrong link had been added.

Consultation: traffic changes

Mayfield Road at West Savile Terrace

Three traffic orders have been lodged for consultation on proposed work in Viewcraigs, Craigmillar Park and Mayfield Road.

• Viewcraigs: 20 mph restriction - details here;  download map
• Craigmillar Park:  Removal of 20mph school limit - details here;   download map
• Mayfield Road:  Extension of 24hrs waiting/loading - details here; download map

Melville Terrace armed robbery last night

Meadows Wine opposite the Dick Vet

Two men, apparently with handguns, entered Meadows Wine on the corner of  Sciennes and Melville Terrace last night around 8pm.

The culprits are described as running off westwards in the direction of Victor Hugo's delicatessen. 

Descriptions of the culprits and further details are contained in the police appeal for witnesses and on the STV website.

Another blog; local photos

Here is an example from a local blog of Edinburgh photos, mainly in the Southside & Newington area.  Good work.  From a student called Margaret.

More photos from this promising blog here.

New: recycling of plastics and batteries

Plastics and batteries now collected

From 31 January, you can recycle plastic bottles and household batteries at your kerbside.

If you live in an area with the red and blue kerbside recycling service, you will receive a calendar and reusable plastic bag in the next few days.

Use the reusable plastic bag for plastic bottles and place at the kerbside with your red box.

For household batteries, place them in a sealed clear plastic bag, for example a freezer bag, and put them in your blue box.

Remember that the Green Box Day website gives details of your collection days and will even send you a reminder email. The Council's recycling website provides more information.

Student blog wars erupt

With Edinburgh University Students Association (EUSA) elections coming up there is a lively line in blogs from Eusalicious and Eusavicious.

Taste of Edinburgh return to Meadows?

After a year at Inverleith, Taste of Edinburgh is looking to return to the Meadows in 2011.

The application is currently under consideration.

Royal Blind School extension approved

Current Craigmillar Park campus

Today the Planning Committee approved the current proposals for phase one of the extension to the Royal Blind School in Craigmillar Park.

Approval was prematurely reported last month in the Evening News.  Detailed documentation can be found here (Application Ref: 09/03075/FUL).  

Bernard Terrace realignment to begin

  

Work to realign the junction of Bernard Terrace at St Leonard's Street is due to begin on 14th February.

It will provide easier crossing for pedestrians on the west side of St Leonard's Street.

April may learn Welsh

Heading for Wales

Professor April McMahon, Vice Principal for Plannning, Resources and Policy at Edinburgh University is causing a stir.

Her appointment as vice-chancellor at Aberystwyth University is notable because she doesn't speak Welsh.  Yet.  See here for details

It seems she has had to commit to a crash course in the language as part of her new job.  She is currently based at the Dugald Stewart building in Charles Street, just off George Square.

Burns meets 16 year old Scott

Burns had local connections

Robert Burns is in the news for what is, no doubt, a carefully timed story about the discovery of a previously unknown manuscript.  The 220 year old letter was found in the Duke of Roxburghe's castle at Floors in the Borders.  See the BBC report here.

All of which provides a good opportunity to remind readers of a meeting Burns had with the 16 year old (later Sir) Walter Scott in what is now Sciennes House Place. Elsewhere the BBC tells the story of this meeting:

Perhaps the most tantalizing meeting that Burns ever had took place sometime during the winter of 1786-87. At Sciennes Hill House, the home of Professor Adam Ferguson, the 16-year old Walter Scott, later to be the great novelist, caught the eye of Robert Burns by being the only person in the room who could identify the lines of verse written under a print of a dead soldier which hung on the wall.

Update 6pm:  A reader writes:

Incidentally, his dad was apparently employed for a time on the drainage of the South loch and the early construction of the Meadows - another local connection.

h/t Ben

Metropole coffee shop sold

Metropole interior

The Metropolke Coffee House in Newington Road has been sold by current owners Ed and Lucy Van Der Ven.  They have been owners since 2003 and have sold to Circle Cafe Ltd who have a cafe in Brandon Terrace.

The leasehold interest was for sale at offers over £130,000.  More details here.

I'm not sure if the police ever did detail a culprit for the robbery I reported here in October.

Islamic Centre in newington

St Margaret's School

Last Saturday I reported on progress and proposals to set up an Islamic Community Centre in Newington making use of some of the buildings of the former St Margaret's School.

The Evening News has picked up the story and adds a few additional details.

Missing woman - body found

Possible route from Edinburgh to Longtown

A number of appeals have been made following the last known sighting of a woman in Nicolson Street on 28th May last year.  Betty Brown from Gorgie was picked out by CCTV on a number 3 bus alighting near Nicolson Square.

Now police have discovered a body near Longtown in Cumbria which they believe may be the missing woman.

More details here and at the BBC.

New publication: Dalrymple Crescent book

Published 27th January 2011

Local resident Joanne Lamb is the author of a book published next week on the history of Dalrymple Crescent in the Grange.  Covering 40 years from when the first house was built in 1862, the book dishes the detail on some of the 140 families who lived there along with a fascinating snapshot of Victorian Edinburgh.

You can see a preview on pages 6 and 7 of the Grange Association Newsletter and there is a presentation and book signing in the Newington Library on Wednesday 2nd February at 7pm. 

Fringe dominates George Square Gardens

Bill Burdett Coutts

The move of the Assembly Theatre venue from George Street to George Square for this summer's Fringe cements a gravity shift southwards for the Fringe events from 2011.

It will mean three Fringe theatre spaces and two Speigeltents in the George Square area run by Assembly Theatre's Bill Burdett Coutts.

Fuller details here.

Employment case began at Sciennes School

Kamaljit Kaur

An employment tribunal is hearing a case against Edinburgh Council by Kamaljit Kaur, an Additional Language teacher. Her case alleges she suffered racial discrimination beginning at Sciennes Primary School in 2005.  

Head Teacher Alison Noble and Council leader Jenny Dawe have been amongst the witnesses.  It will be some weeks at least before a judgement is forthcoming.

More details of the case are reported here by Deadline News Agency.

Big week end for local orienteering

Edinburgh University Orienteering have their big week end event on 22/23 January with events in and around Holyrood Park and parts of the Southside. With around 300 people participating they usually create a stir in the area.
More information here.

George Square prof in Holyrood dustup

Prof Drew Scott

Professor Andrew Scott is co-director of the Europa Institute, which is billeted at 21 George Square.  The Europa Institute studies EU law, policy and politics.

An economist, Professor Scott was called to a Holyrood committee examining the Scotland Bill, because of some of his research was deemed relevant to devolution of powers.  His examination was, ahem, rigorous from MSPs Wendy Alexander and David McLetchie as they probed the oft quoted research.

Now Professor Scott and a colleague have complained to the Presiding Officer about their treatment.

In another twist Alex Salmond is accused of doctoring quotes of the research.

£10.3m for efficiency projects!

Local community groups and organisations are invited to bid for over £10m of public funds allocated for projects which improve efficiency or encourage healthy lifestyles.

The money is being made available in 2011-12 as part of the Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund.

Those of you who know me will be aware that I believe scientific evidence for human induced global warming is extremely uncertain.  An attitude of climate hysteria* has led to a series of unwise public policy decisions, especially in Scotland, including the extremes of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act, 2009.  The Climate Challenge Fund, whilst having co-incidental benefits, is a manifestation of that climate hysteria.   (For these reasons, I also write the blog Climate Edinburgh.)

So why am I posting about the Climate Challenge Fund?  Two reasons.

1. The objectives of the Climate Challenge Fund often coincide with efficiency or other public benefit. It is possible to kick start efficiency or encourage healthy lifestyles, for example, by means of projects using this seed corn money.  You could set up a project to encourage cycling or healthy lifestyles or energy efficiency at a local level**.   Here is one case study of a project which has previously won money from the fund.
2. Secondly this is an allocation of public money. Our money.  We will do well to ensure it is used for worthwhile purposes.  In the last three years some £27m has been spent by this fund. Some of the money has created networks of 'climate champions'.  Surely we can do better than spend money so wastefully.

The funds are administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful.  You can find out how to get a slice of these funds for something worthwhile by going to their website for more information of how to apply.

This blog has previously reported a £0.75m grant to Causewayside charity, The Bike Station from the Climate Challenge Fund.   So there is serious money available for projects.  The Grange Association received a smaller received £10k award for its  award for its GEARS project in September 2009.

*  Professor Richard Lindzen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a climate scientist with impeccable qualifications, uses this term and is one of many scientists who do not subscribe to the scientific conclusions which currently drive our public policy.  See this article for more on his use of the term 'climate hysteria' and a summary of the evidence for his (and my) position.
** You might need to estimate by how much your project will reduce CO2 emissions - but if the project is for a worthwhile cause, that shouldn't be too much of a burden.  Of course, I appreciate some readers may disagree with me and feel sure CO2 is a clear and present danger. It is a government sponsored scheme.  I hope to encourage projects which put the money to a worthwhile use!

Two thousand up

2000

At noon today the 2000th post will appear on this blog.  Since Monday, 5th February 2007 this blog has provided local news almost entirely related to  events associated with the Southside and Newington ward.

Thank you for reading!

S Clerk St petition gets 558 signatures

The Newington Traditional Fish Bar had no problem getting a late hours catering licence but apparently, the Council advised the owner there was no need for planning permission changes.  There was.  As it is in a residential 'area of special sensitivity' the proprietor needed planning permission to serve food after 8pm.

The planning permission was duly granted last week - but only after an extensive (and costly) delay and a week long petition which gathered 558 signatures of local patrons, backing the bid to regularise late opening.

So this post is just a little extra publicity to help after a difficult period for the owner.  And apparently, the fish and chips are special.  It is at 23 South Clerk Street.   And a restaurant selling fish teas in the downstairs section is also planned.

Islamic community centre for Newington

A group of local Islamic businessmen are well on their way to raising just short of £0.9m to purchase premises and start an Islamic community centre and academy in part of what was St Margaret's School.

St Margaret's School closed last year and one of the buildings, in East Suffolk Road, has been purchased by the consortium - subject to raising the purchase funds by 21st January 2011.  The latest news release on their website indicates they still need £200,000 before that date. 

The website includes a couple of fundraising videos one of which can be seen here.  Details of the nature of activities proposed can be seen here.

Refuse work to rule goes on - and on!

The work to rule which has dogged refuse collections for 18 months is to continue after a vote by Edinburgh's binmen today.

Some estimates are putting the cost of the failure to deal with the dispute at £10m, an extraordinary figure in the light of current budget pressures.

The binmen have attracted support from extreme left wing groups as this article indicates.

More details from the BBC.

Now police investigate Sick Kids charity

Elaine McGonigle

2010 was a bad year for the Sick Kids New Pyjamas fundraising campaign.  After allegations of mismanagement and dissension the campaign was closed down. In September the charity regulator found no evidence of misconduct but made comment on 'governance issues'.

Elaine McGonigle, the appeal's director had been suspended and then made redundant.  Previous posts with links to the full story can be found here.

In advance of an employment tribunal next week police have been called in and an investigation into alleged fraud is being undertaken.

Fuller details can be found here.

Cameron House Avenue to be resurfaced

Cameron House Ave from Peffermill Rd

Work is due to begin this week on resurfacing Cameron House Avenue.

The work is expected to take up to four weeks.

Dick Place and BBC 'Case Histories'

Filming of Kate Atkinson's crime novel 'Case Histories' transformed Dick Place recently.

The BBC are producing a six-part series filmed in Edinburgh based on Atkinson's novel.

More details on page 3 of the Grange Association winter newsletter.

Rankeillor Street fire drama

Evening News photograph

Several people were rescued from the fire which began last night in a basement near to Clerk Street last night.

Eyewitness student Adam Smith said: "Smoke was pouring from the building as the crews arrived. They used a 50-foot turntable ladder to get to the people on the upstairs floor. I saw one child being rescued and he looked pretty shaken." (Evening News)

Two people were detained in hospital and others were treated for smoke inhalation.  The fire, which was reported around 11pm last night was not brought under control until 2am.

Fuller details can be found on the following websites: BBC; Evening News; STV; Edinburgh Reporter.  And here is how it was reported by a US News agency.

A Fire Service investigation is under way and, although I know of no suggestion of criminality at this stage, there have been reports of vagrants sleeping in common stairs in parts of the Southside in recent months.

Melville Drive at head of pothole queue

Filling in potholes in Melville Drive

The race to repair the potholes on our roads is on.

Today's Scotsman does a roundup of the issues.  It uses this photograph to illustrate the work which has begun and indicates 1200 potholes are on the list for repair in Edinburgh.   

The article is here.

Resurfacing West Savile Terrace

Section to be resurfaced

Resurfacing of the carriageway is scheduled for West Savile Terrace from Wednesday 12th for four days.  

The area concerned is between Langton Road and Savile Place.  It will, of course, be weather permitting.

Blackford man raises Gillespies money

It was run in snow last year as well

Jeremy Hughes from Blackford  is one of around 2,000 runners in today's BUPA Great Winter Run in Holyrood Park.  The 5k event is going ahead on a contingency course to avoid the high road in today's rather snowy conditions.

He is raising money for the James Gillespie's Trust, of which he is the chairman, in order to support extra mural activities at Gillespies High School.   Here for more details and here for a previous post on the event.

Snow tonight - or not

The weather forecasts for tonight present some interesting contrasts.  See the screenshots below all taken about 1545 this afternoon:

1. The BBC (Met Office) predict 12 hours from 9pm tonight to 9am tomorrow with heavy snow, bracketed before and after by 3 hour periods with light snow
2. Accuweather are predicting rain with cloudy periods
3. Netweather give no snow before 9pm with a 30-38% probability of snow from 9pm tonight and a 30% to 45% chance of very light snow after 9am tomorrow.

Update 10:30am 08.01.11

 1.  BBC/Met office:  70% acccurate - the snow came though not quite on cue and they over egged the 12 hours with heavy snow.

2.  Accuweather:  30% accurate -predicted precipitation about right but it was rain, not snow.

3.  Netweather:    50% accurate - precipitation was about right but the probability of snow was on the low side. 

Let battle commence. . . .

BBC prediction at 1545 070111

BBC through to 1500 080111

Accuweather

Accuweather

Netweather

Netweather

Bike Station received 6,000 bikes in 2010

Celebrating its 25,000th bike received for recycling in six years, the Bike Station announced that number 25,000 was a British-built ladies bike from the 1950s in good working order.

2010 saw 6,000 bikes donated. A host of other interesting statistics from the Causewayside based charity can be found in their press release.

Edinburgh perspectives exhibition

Two photographers and a painter make up the cast at the Newington Library.

The exhibition runs from today through to 28th January and features paintings and photographs of Edinburgh.

John McCurdy is the painter and Stewart Fowler and Eric Bower are the photographers.

More details including opening hours here.

Stunning stars from Blackford staff

Lagoon Nebula (Messier 8)

 

Professor Ian Robson of the Blackford Observatory is one of a team of Scottish astronomers involved in the work of the VISTA telescope in Chile.  This recently released image comes from the project. The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh press release has more information.

Southside news roundup

Queen's Concert Hall, South Clerk Stl

• Chilli milkshake - the latest in a long line of apparently outlandish offerings from the Kismot Restaurant in St Leonard's Street
• Smoke alert - from an electrical fault at the Queen's Hall
• Odeon bids closed yesterday - but there is no information from Duddingston House on how the bids stand

Great Winter Run this Saturday

The annual BUPA Great Winter Run takes place this Saturday in Holyrood Park.

The BUPA Great Edinburgh Cross Country will feature an impressive list of competitors and there is no charge to spectators.  BBC 1 TV will cover it from 1pm.

 But the real attraction is the 5k which begins at noon, when some of us will be starting the New Year the way we mean to continue. See you there!

Local climate scientist apologises

Professor Tom Crowley

An influential Edinburgh University climate scientist, based at the King's Buildings, has made a public apology over untruths he published in a major scientific publication.

The apology concerned a 2005 article in which he wrongly accused a critic as corresponding with him in a 'peremptory' and 'threatening' manner. He had also mischaracterised key aspects of a research paper from the critic. 

The apology, from Professor Tom Crowley, also relates to correspondence he had with the same critic following Professor Crowley's comments on a New York Times blog on 31st December 2010.

Find the full story here (and in the link at the end of the linked  post).

Edinburgh trams in Melville Drive!!

Trampoles now lampposts?

I note a rail enthusiast has uploaded a picture of two street lights in Melville Drive with an interesting assertion that they are a legacy of Edinburgh's earlier tram system. David Panton, on the Railscot website writes:

"The most obvious remnants of Edinburgh's once extensive tram system are some former trampoles which were converted to street lighting after the routes closed in the mid 1950s.  Melville Drive, which runs through the Meadows, has a complete set of these and a facing pair are pictured on 3 January.  The fact that they are facing is a giveaway: lamp posts are usually staggered."

Do you agree?

Prestonfield Hotel owner en route to Africa

James Thomson

A few days ago I trailed an upcoming trip to enjoy a Burns Supper on Kilimanjaro involving a representative from the Prestonfield House Hotel.   It is the boss himself who is doing the trip to raise money for the Hospitality Industry Trust. 

James Thomson, who owns the hotel and the Witchery is one of six Edinburgh people in a team of 20 who are heading for the eight day climb and the Burns supper at the top.  It's cold up there and temperatures can reach as low as minus 20.  Training by climbing Munros and Arthur's Seat, James Thomson will have found the Edinburgh temperatures in the last month suitable for acclimatisation as well.

More details here.

Tenement fire death - Argyle Park Terrace

Argyle Park Terrace fire

Berit Mountain (79) died after a fire in a flat in Argyle Park Terrace (just outside the ward).  It was reported around 5pm on Monday evening.

More details can be found in the BBC report here.  Three other people were treated in hospital but their injuries are not serious.  A further report  can be found on the Daily Record website here.

Bike storage: tenements and elsewhere

The search for cycle parking?

Storage of bikes in tenements has long been a problem - though there are now in some common stairs helpful bits of kit which help store them efficiently.  There is currently a project aiming at developing equipment and procedures to help cyclists co-exist better with limited parking space.  See here for details from the Spokes website.

In addition, Edinburgh Council is soon to order some cycle storage equipment and if you are in a position to purchase some for your dwelling you may be able to obtain it more cheaply by piggy backing on the Council's bulk order.  See here for more details (order deadline 17th Jan).