Jawbone repair by public subscription

Jawbone arch

Earlier in February I reported in a post that Historic Scotland had declined to list the Jawbone arch in the Meadows.  Listing might have helped access to funds for its much needed repair.    I suggested the failure to list could present an opportunity to raise money for the repair locally.

The Evening News has today published a piece I wrote as a follow up.  You can find the full article here.

The arch was a feature of the Great Exhibition of Edinburgh in 1886. Here are a couple of excerpts from my piece.

The Great Exhibition began on 6th May and closed on 30th October after six months.  I suggest that between those dates this year, in a good old fashioned way, we raise the money necessary to spruce up the Jawbone Arch.  And it can be done by public subscription.

It (the Exhibition) was a sensational showpiece of industry, science and art.  The Grand Hall could hold 10,000 people and featured a 120 foot high dome.  There were 20,000 exhibits and 1,725 works of art on display.   An electric railway plied between Brougham Place and Middle Meadow Walk and a host of other attractions showed off the ingenuity and dynamism of the Victorian era.

Library exhibition of local artist

Exhibition open till 23rd March

Newington Library is this week hosting an exhibition of the paintings by Edinburgh artist Alan Kinloch Mackay.

See here for the location of the library and here for more details of the exhibition. 

Street pastors in Southside & Newington?

I note there is a meeting tomorrow tonight where the above subject will be discussed.

It is in the Community Church Edinburgh in South Clerk Street.

More details here.

Historic Prestonfield papers for sale

Bonhams, the Fine Art Auctioneer and Valuers, has put up for sale historic papers mainly of Sir Alexander Dick of Prestonfield.  Dick (1703-1785) was a physician who also became famous as the propagator of rhubarb - yes rhubarb - in the UK.  He was friend with literary scion James Boswall and the letters have links with Tobias Smollet, Benjamin Franklin, Adam Smith and David Hume.

Rhubarb, of course, is the name of the restaurant at the five star Prestonfield House hotel originally built in 1687.

More information, including extensive historic details, from the auction website here.  The sale takes place on 22nd March at their New Bond Street office in London.

Local hero: James Gall

James Gall

Yesterday I attended the launch of the Edinburgh Innertube Map at the National Library in Causewayside.  Held in the Map Library I found in the displays some books published by Gall and Inglis whose premises were formerly 12 Newington Road.

I have on my kitchen wall a Peters projection map of the world.  In 1974 Peters launched a world map which was more area accurate than the traditional Mercator one.  However Peters was only replicating the map produced by Rev James Gall in Edinburgh in 1855 which became known as the Gall Orthographic.

Gall who came from a map publishing family, was also instrumental in founding the nearby Royal Blind School (though not in its current location) and Carrubbers Close Mission in the Royal Mile.

Gall & Inglis, the publishing company operating at least until the 1960s, published maps and books such as the Contour Road Book of Scotland (below) and Graded Road Maps of Scotland. Maps by Gall and Inglis, as well as by the nearby and renowned Bartholomews were often supported by field work by members of the Cyclists Touring Club - a cycling link to the Edinburgh Innertube and Spokes maps which are currently available.

February has turned out to be a history month for this blog with an earlier post on the Great Exhibition of Edinburgh - of which there will be more next week.

Note the publisher

Ian Maxwell with his own copy

Launch of new 'Tube map' in Causewayside

Folding into less than the size of two credit cards a new Tube style map of Edinburgh for cyclists was launched today.  

The map, which is free, shows all dedicated cycle routes in Edinburgh in the style of the acclaimed map of the London Underground.  It is sponsored by The Bike Station and funded from the Climate Challenge Fund.

Know as the Edinburgh Innertube Map, it was officially launched this evening in the Map Reading Room, part of the National Library of Scotland in Causewayside.

Find more details from the BBC, and from The Bike Station website.

Free speech allowed this time - just

Israeli Ambassador

In a post earlier this month I noted that free speech was snubbed when a guest lecturer to Edinburgh University was shouted down by pro Palestinian demonstrators.

On Tuesday night demonstrators were again out in force when this time the Israeli ambassador gave a speech to students in the McEwan Hall.  Police were present in force and, despite a ten minute protest inside the meeting, the lecture by ambassador Ron Prosor went ahead.  Reports here and here.

The meeting was chaired by local academic Owen Dudley-Edwards.

Climate change conference this week end

The Economics Society of Edinburgh University is hosting a climate change conference this week-end in the Appleton Tower.

The programme is over two days (Saturday and Sunday) and aims to take 'a multi disciplinary approach to climate change and climate challenges, focusing particularly on how Scotland can contribute to the global effort'.

Speakers include Professor Gabi Hegerl, Professor of Climate System Science at the University.

Some readers of this blog may not be aware that I publish weekly another blog, Climate Edinburgh. It expresses a different perspective from that likely to be at the heart of this week end conference.  Climate Edinburgh includes articles which address issues involving Edinburgh scientists e.g. here and here.

Missing person sightings appeal by police

Possible route

Police have confirmed that the body found in Cumbria in January  is that of Betty Brown who was last seen in Nicolson Street in May.

They would still like very much to know where she was after that last sighting on a bus on 28th May 2010.  See here for updated information in the Evening News.

Student disciplinary action up

The Journal, a student newspaper covering all four local Universities, reports that around 2% of Edinburgh University students were the subject of disciplinary action in the 2009/10 year.  Around 50% of those actions were for plagiarism.

Edinburgh University has around 27,000 students.

Meadow Bar fire - possible cause

With concerns about the cause of several fires in the Southside area, it is worth noting that the Fire service have suggested a possible cause of yesterday morning's Buccleuch Street tenement fire.  

This report  from The Sun quotes them as investigating 'faulty wiring in the ceiling of the Meadow Bar' or, as this initial press release from Lothian and Borders Fire Service indicates, in the 'first floor function suite'.

Update 1pm: Here is a link to the Evening News account which includes interviews with witnesses.

UK science minister visits BGS

David Willets on left

And finally for the British Geological Survey this week (barring further earthquakes), I missed the visit to Murchison House in West Mains Road earlier this month by David Willets.  Details here.

David Willets is the UK government minister for Universities and Science and visited on 10th February

Yet another fire - Buccleuch Street

Deadline picture from STV

Emergency services this morning attended a large fire in the tenement in Buccleuch Street above the Meadow Bar.  The Fire service attended around 11am.

Details from the BBC here.

Update 5:45pm  The BBC report describes the rescue of top floor resident Heidi Pearson and STV has some dramatic pictures.

Here is a location map.

Danny MacAskill is - "hot property"

Mesmeric MacAskill

The Scotsman has an interview with Danny MacAskill the Dan Dare of stunt biking today.

"It just seemed like he was unbreakable"

See the interview here. Many of his early videos and training was done in the centre of Meadows and George Square area of the Southside & Newington ward.

BGS predict aurora borealis display

The British Geological Survey is also to the forefront of predicting the local effects of a powerful solar flare a few days ago.  Here is their report. 

Here is a report which points out that it is the largest solar storm in four years.

BGS monitors Christchurch and Manchester

Christchurch Cathedral - without spire

The British Geological Survey (BGS), based in West Mains Road beside the King's Buildings is the key monitoring site inthe UK for earthquakes throughout the world.

Commenters from the BGS include 

• Alice Walker - here on Channel 4 News
• Roger Musson - here on the BBC and here on PlanetEarth
• Brian Baptie - here in the Scotsman
• Julian Bukits - here in the Daily Mail on the Manchester (mini) earthquake

Julian Bukits is well known to this blog.  See here for a clutch of articles including his suberb contribution to how the local community looks.

24/7 council tax queries for insomniacs?

Yesterday the Revenues and Benefits section of Edinburgh Council began a trial of a 24/7 telephone service.  Council tax payers (and those in receipt of housing benefit) can now access this service at any time of the day or night by calling the department's contact number 01314695000 and choosing from a menu of services.  

Automated services available include:

• making a payment by debit card
• setting up a direct debit for council tax
• making or checking the progress of a housing benefit claim
• Information will also be available for:
• council tax reminders and summary warrants
• council tax exemptions and discounts, including for students
• landlords with tenants who claim housing benefit.

As well as providing the opportunity to make enquiries and transactions round the clock this move is designed to reduce peak queues. The trial is set to run till August this year.

Red Bull project onto McEwan Hall

Elph's work will be projected in real time

The McEwan Hall is due to play host to a Red Bull art event on Thursday (24th).  Edinburgh artist, Elph, will have his work displayed  onto a 40ft canvas on the McEwan in a process Stereopticon.

Red Bull's DJs will be playing from 6.30pm. Later this year Red Bull Stereopticon will give artists in Scotland the chance to take their work to monumental new levels.

Red Bull's Stereopticon website is here with more details

Library hosts poet & songwriter

Donny O'Rourke

Newington Library hosts poet, songwriter, broadcaster, journalist, editor and teacher Donny O'Rourke on Thursday.

Donny will be singing and entertaining between 11:00 and 12noon.

More details here.

New Polling Station

The Election Office has asked to use the new Cameron House comunity centre as a polling place on 5th May this year - in place of Prestonfield Primary School.

The Primary School will therefore be open as normal, with no closure.

The Southside brightens up

Buildings in Edinburgh's Southside will be spectacularly lit up on Wednesday 9th March, banishing the gloom of winter and showing some of the great buildings in a new light. It begins with hot drinks and snacks at the South Side Community Centre, 117 Nicolson Street, at 6.15pm, and will finish with refreshments in a local bar at approx 9pm.

Torchbearers must be aged 18+ and dress in warm, dark and waterproof clothing.

Send your name / address / telephone / email / any special requirements as soon as possible to info@thecausey.org to arrive no later than 23 February 2011. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Light show at the Causey

Grange Association AGM

The AGM of the Grange Association will be held at Marchmont St Giles Church Hall, Kilgraston Road on Wednesday February 23rd at 6.30 pm. A talk given by Countryside Ranger, Jessica Murgado, on the history and conservation of 'The Hermitage of Braid' will follow it.


All are welcome to attend.


Hermitage of Braid have a new plan - as blogged here last Tuesday.

Jawbone Restoration Publicity

An article in the Evening News has picked up my previous blog post about the work needed on the Jawbone on the Meadows.

I'm hoping the Evening News will publish an opinion piece in the next few days.

The story was also picked up by STV Local.

Ten February posts

Another fire

A quiet news day sends me back to summarise with ten highlights from February so far - in reverse date order:

1. 2nd Feb - Dick Vet building on market - view post
2. 5th - Trees culled in Meadows - view post
3. 8th - Obituaries for Bill Hogg (SRU) - view post
4. 9th  - Murder Chalmers Crescent (plus links) - view post
5. 10th  - Blindcraft set to close - view post
6. 11th - Odeon still closed, no sale - view post
7. 12th - Meadows Jawbone not listed - view post
8. 17th - Potterrow mosque in difficulty - view post
9. 17th - More Southside fires - view post
10. 17th - Climate change three guilty - view post

Trams #!!@""%%

No, not the line from the airport to Ocean Terminal which is mired in contractual difficulties.  But what used to be called tramline 3 - the proposal for a tram through Southside & Newington to the Royal Infirmary and the now emerging Bioquarter.

A report has been produced which assesses the value of such a scheme.  You can find details here.

Sick Kids team up for award

The paediatric intensive care team at the Sick Kids in Sciennes has been shortlisted for the UK Health Service Journal and Nursing Times Patient Safety Awards (mouthful, that was).

The award is announced on 9th March.  See the NHS Lothian press release here for details.

Nicolson Street breach three guilty

Edinburgh Sheriff Court

Three demonstrators arrested after causing disruption in the Royal Bank of Scotland  in Nicolson Street last August have been found guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Although guilty of a breach of the peace the Sheriff decided to admonish them and did not consider it appropriate to impose a fine or penalty.

The demonstrators were climate change activists demonstrating against the RBS involvement in financing oil production from tar sands in Canada.  Some people have strong views on this matter but there are people with environmental concerns who take a quite different view on oil extraction from these climate change activists.

It is to be regretted that they feel their views give them the right to ignore the rule of law.  It is also to be regretted that one of my fellow councillors supports them in doing so.  And, that physical violence did not ensue, does not justify what was clearly illegal, albeit not in the more serious category of crime.

"It's not often Southside/Newington ward is the setting for non-violent direct action but it was great to see the video your peaceful and good humoured protest at RBS Nicolson Street branch against their investment in oil extraction from tar sands."  Cllr Steve Burgess, Southside/Newington Ward.

More details here.

Police need information on fires

South Clerk Street on Tuesday 15th Feb

Following two significant fires within yards this year (in Rankeillor Street and South Clerk Street), reports of other incidents involving fireraising in the vicinity have been surfacing.

Here is a report giving some detail and it is clear the police would appreciate local information which helps them piece together a fuller picture enabling them to trace the culprits.  It is noted that they are following a positive line of enquiry.

Anyone with further relevant  information is encouraged to pass it to the police.  Email them here or call 01313113131 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers if you wish to remain anonymous.  I am also happy to pass information on to local police contacts.

Mosque difficulties

News of disputes within the Central Mosque in Potterrow has reached the Evening News and they make it their front page lead today.

Police have confirmed an investigation is taking place - though none of the sources for the information given is named.  There is a dispute between Pakistani and Saudi influence in the mosque.

Another fire

Emergency services attended in force

A basement fire in Clerk Street around 8pm this evening (Tuesday) resulted in Clerk Street and part of Nicolson Street being closed by emergency services.

It is understood no one was hurt.  The fire is thought to have begun in the basement near to number 10 (USA Nailz) and affected the three floors of occupied flats above.  CID were in attendance and there are concerns that the circumstances may have been suspicious.

The scene of tonight's fire is only yards away from the suspicious basement fire in Rankeillor Street just over a month ago.

Update 14:00 16.2.11:  Further details from the BBC, STV and Evening News.

New Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill plan

The City of Edinburgh Council Countryside Ranger Service has produced a new 10 year Management Plan for the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve.

The plan will describe and evaluate the current condition of the park and make recommendations to benefit both people and wildlife.

The City of Edinburgh Council Countryside Ranger Service is also looking for individuals to consult on the proposed Management Plan. They are interested in views and welcome comments on all aspects of the plan.

Here is the plan and the Friends of Hermitage of Braid & Blackford Hill website

Danny MacAskill back in town

Stunt cyclist Danny, who did much of his early work in the Southside & Newington ward, is back in town on 20th February for showing of a documentary on the making of  'Way back home', his 2010 You Tube sensation.  Details  here.  And so enjoy 'Way Back Home' one more time.

Free speech snubbed at University

Ishmael Khaldi

A guest lecturer at Edinburgh University was interrupted and prevented from speaking on Wednesday when demonstrators barged on to the stage at the Appleton Tower.   

Ishmael Khaldi, who is of Bedouin origin, and is a senior aide to the Israeli foreign ministry, had been invited to give a lecture.  About forty demonstrators supporting a pro-Palestinian group physically prevented the lecture from going ahead.

In Egypt the trend this week seems to be from dictatorship towards free speech and democracy.  In Edinburgh University, some would have us move from free speech and democracy to intimidation and bullying.

More details here.

Mev Taylor's Music Shop for sale

Mev Taylor's Music Shop at 58 Clerk Street is up for sale.The advert can be found here.

The business was established in 1946 and only 18 months ago moved to the bigger premises in Clerk Street.

Prestonfield nursery for closure

In November last year I reported on the statutory meeting called on the proposal to close the Princess Elizabeth Nursery in Clearburn Crescent.

A full record of that meeting, the consultation and of the recommendation has now been produced.  It will be made available for the the meeting of the Education Committee on 10th March.

The recommendation to be discussed is for closure at the end of the current academic session in July 2011.  The papers, giving the reasoning, will be available online here prior to the March meeting.   (The Evening News gives coverage here.)

Jawbone narrowly avoids listing!

Photo:  Lisa Jarvis

An attempt to have the Meadows Jawbone Arch listed has failed.

I understand the attempt to have it listed was with a view to accessing funding via a WREN grant. Listing is thought likely to have improved chances of such a grant.  Scotland's listing team notified Edinburgh Council's Conservation Officer earlier this month of the result of their investigations:

"The Jawbone Arch is considered to be a component feature in defining the character of the Meadows . . . and is affiliated with the Edinburgh international Exhibition of 1886 rather than the whaling industry. . .
"A number of standalone whalebone arches survive across the United Kingdom and are not normally considered to meet the criteria for listing - there is one exception found in Lewis.
"Although a rare survival, the arch is a lightweight structure, one of several surviving commemorating a major Edinburgh event, with a historical association at a regional level.  However, the historical association is considered of regional interest and the arch is considered of regional interest and the arch is not considered to be of special architectural interest."

Which opens the way for a local business or donor to assist in sprucing up this striking and well loved  landmark.

NB Although part of the Meadows, the Jawbone is just outside the Southside and Newington ward.

Lynsey Methven regains consciousness

Murder victim Stewart Taylor

The survivor of the Chalmers Crescent murder and fire incident on Monday has regained consciousness.  

The police have made another appeal for witnesses - in particular to trace the driver of a second white van seen near the location on Monday morning about 7:30 to 7:40am.

See here for the police press release (with more details) and here for the BBC report.

No sale of Odeon and DHP plan back

Odeon:  vacant since 2003

Offers for the Odeon did not match the independent valuation of just under £3m.  Duddingston House Properties (DHP) have now indicated it is likely they will resubmit their application for a new arts type hotel and associated facilities.

The BBC reports the background rather well and the Evening News states that the three offers were for less than half of the independent valuation.  More background can be found here where there is also some interesting (I think) discussion of the issues (in the comments).

200+ year enterprise set to close

Blindcraft is a social enterprise with noble roots going back 217 years.  The mainstay of its business is the making of beds.

Today the Council finally took the decision to embark on the statutory 30 day consultation with a view to closure.  

In the last 10 years the organisation has been a huge loss maker and repeated efforts to turn it into a successful organisation have failed.  Over recent years it has been dogged with fierce competition to its core business, inefficiency issues, poor industrial relations, along with some ill fated attempts to diversify (one such was windows).  Significant efforts were made to streamline the business and improve the management - but none of these had the desired effect of putting the organisation on a viable footing.

The business had been slimmed down to 53 employees, only a proportion of whom had a debility.  The rather absurd situation had been reached that, in order to maintain the organisation, the council was subsidising Blindcraft by an amount significantly over £30,000 per annum for each person with a debility.

Efforts to save Blindcraft have been long drawn out and extensive and I know there has been a huge investment of Council energy and resources to keep the organisation running .  All but 4 of the employees were members of three unions involved.  An earlier move (November) to save the organisation by exploring the possibility of moving to a 3 day week was stymied when a union ballot of the employees met with over 30 of the workforce voting against this possible rescue route.

There have been accusations that the Council had not done enough to save the enterprise.  The reality is that neither the previous (Labour) administration nor the current council had been able to make realistic headway against a clutch of adverse circumstances described above. 

Considering the subsidy of £30,000 per person per annum could have provided very significant services to those involved - and others in need of support, the situation was becoming surreal.

It seems likely that employment protection legislation (TUPE) would have deterred potential white knights from rescuing the business and statutory redundancy payments are likely to we welcomed by some of the workforce.

NB Blindcraft operates from premises in Peffer Place just outside the Southside & Newington ward.

Edinburgh Cycle Corridor

20% of King's Buildings users cycle

A NEW £300,000 bike "corridor" for the south of the city has moved a step closer after winning public support. Consultation by the city council found that 75 per cent of respondents supported the scheme.

The route will link Edinburgh University's George Square and King's Buildings campuses. Edinburgh has signed up to the Charter of Brussels, a rather ambitious commitment which would see bikes account for 15 per cent of all journeys in Edinburgh by 2020.

There are also plans to introduce traffic measures on roads which link to the cycle corridor, including George IV Bridge and Melville Drive.

Here is the full Scotsman article.

Sick Kids Friends Foundation latest

Today's Evening News reports on the costs of the above charity before it was closed.

Background details can be found here.  The article is here.

Chalmers: Accused in court

Stewart Taylor (Daily Record)

A 43 year old male has been arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder of Stewart Taylor in Chalmers Crescent on Monday.  He will be appearing in court this afternoon

Below is a list of recent  reports and sources.

• Police press release announcing arrest
• BBC
• Daily Record
• Edinburgh Evening News featuring an interview with the father of seriously injured victim Lynsey Methven.  He resides in the Prestonfield area.

3:30pm Update:  The accused, who appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court this afternoon, is 43 year old Frank Moore from Newtongrange.   STV update here.

Chalmers Crescent murder victim named

Police have named the victim as Stewart Taylor (33) originally from Aberdeen.

His 30 year old girlfriend, Lyndsey Methven remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Details in this BBC report.

Chalmers Crescent: van driver sought

Picture from Deadline

Lothian and Borders Police have issued a press release giving a description of a male they wish to identify.

The man was seen driving a small white van from the car park before the Fire service attended.  He is described as white, of medium build,5'7" tall, 40 to 50 years old, scruffy appearance and wearing a dark three-quarter length jacket and a dark Beanie hat.

A man answering the same description was seen in suspicious circumstances about midnight on Sunday night.

The injured woman, who is now reported to be 30 years old, is reported to be in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Police also report a disturbance at the block of flats about 7am yesterday.

The press release can be found here and further reports here and here.

'Bloodbath' death in Chalmers Crescent

It is reported this morning that the woman pulled from the fire at 18 Chalmers Crescent had suffered stab wounds and the deceased male had been 'battered' to death.

The fire related incident yesterday morning took place around 450 yards from the scene of a tragic fire in December in Argyle Park Terrace where 79 year old Berit Mountain died.

The crime scene is part of a small block of flats managed by Viewpoint Housing Association. It is situated in Grange Road just to the north of St Catherine's Argyle Church and the building is somewhat out of character with the houses (as in the picture) traditionally associated with this part of the Sciennes/ Grange area.

Further details of yesterday's events can be found in the Scotsman, which describes the scene as a 'bloodbath', and the Daily Record  which places the incident in the context of other violence elsewhere in Scotland over the week-end. 

1 pm update: In this afternoon's Evening News they report the police are waiting to interview Ms Methven over the incident and are reportedly poised to launch a murder investigation.

Obituaries for Bill Hogg

Last week I posted on the death of Mayfield Road resident Bill Hogg,  at the age of 70.   He was a stalwart of the Scottish Rugby Union.

Here are a few of the obituaries which have been published,

• Scotsman
• Independent
• Herald
• International Rugby Board

Suspicious fire death - Chalmers Crescent

Photo from STV

The body of a man was found in a flat in Chalmers Crescent this morning after a suspicious fire.  Emergency services arrived at 8:20am.

The recovery was made in the ground floor flat of a block of four.  The fire service and police are conducting an investigation. 

Further details in this article from the BBC, Deadline and Daily Record.

7:30pm Witness appeal  Det Insp George Thomson is quoted as appealing for witnesses:

"We are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Chalmers Crescent at the time the fire broke out, who noticed any suspicious activity, to contact police immediately on 0131 311 3131, or anonymously through Crimestoppers in 0800 555 111.”

Surgeries and community councils this month

Nelson Hall

Southside & Newington has three Community Councils.  Two meet this week and one next week:

• Marchmont & Sciennes meets in St Catherine's Argyle Church Hall on Wednesday at 7:30pm
• Southside  meets in the Nelson Hall on Wednesday at 7pm
• Grange/Prestonfield meets on Wednesday 16th at 7pm in Cameron House Community Centre

I will be available at surgeries on Wednesday this week as follows:

• Butterflies Cafe at 12:30pm

• Southside Community Centre in Nicolson Street at 6pm 

• Cameron House Community Centre at 6:45