Southside Hotel sweeps streets

10 Hill Place

Ten Hill Place, a hotel owned by the Royal College of Surgeons and situated just off Nicolson Street, prides itself in being environmentally helpful and staff pick up litter and clean the streets in the vicinity.

More details in this article which notes they have a Gold award from the Green Tourism Business scheme.

Pleasance Deaconess building sold?

Lothian Health Board have announced that they have a preferred bidder for the Deaconess building which they recently vacated for new headquarters at Waverleygate at the east end of Princes Street.

New rules mean they will not benefit from the £4m from the sale - which will be swept into the coffers of the Holyrood Government. See this article.

The sale, when it goes through, will be good news for local businesses, which have suffered with the loss of the substantial NHS workforce which used to frequent local shops.

Hockey at Peffermill

Following up last week's mention of hockey at Peffermill, here are reports of CALA Edinburgh being knocked out of the cup and Edinburgh University picking up points in a league match.

First CALA's demise in the cup match and then a report about the University defeat of Granite City Wanderers.

And here is the Scottish Hockey site.

Pleasance tops roadway repairs list

Potholes!

The Council has allocated £90k to be prioritised by local communities in the two wards Southside & Newington and Meadows and Morningside in 2011/12 as capital spending on roads and pavements in the area.  This locally directed spending is addition to the central council spending on road repairs.

I attended last week when representatives from community councils, the Neighbourhood Partnership and one other local councillor met  to choose which repairs should go ahead.  The following are the voting results in order of priority of the work likely to progress over the next 12 months.

1. Pleasance road surface section near to West Richmond Street where the breaking surfacing leads to  considerable traffic noise for nearby residents.  Estimated cost: £20k.
2. Viewcraig Gardens pavement repairs. Est. cost: £10k
3. Findhorn Place pavement resurfacing, west footway. Est cost: £35k
4. East Mayfield carriageway resurfacing near to Dalkeith Road: £45k

Whilst the process does involve some local people, it is far from efficient or equitable as a way of allocating resources and the process should be scrapped.

Measuring emissions from 'green' cars

Electric cars?

Ecometrica is a 'carbon accounting' company based in Kittle Yards in Causewayside. 

Its Operations Director Gray Davies has recently published a paper which analyses the emissions of electric cars. 

With virtually no emissions on the street, the process of charging them with electricity does create upstream emissions at the power station averaging 75g per kilometre. This compares to  89g emissions for the Toyota Prius or 208g for the average UK car.


I note that Kia are marketing their new petrol 2012 Picanto at the Geneva Motor Show this month (launch in UK this spring) boasting emissions 105g per kilometre.  The Nissan Leaf electric car is also due to market shortly with its on street emissions around zero.

There is a small problem, though.  The Leaf will cost you almost £31,000 (though you may get a £5k government subsidy off that figure) compared to the Picanto's cost of around £8,000!

Distressed woman mystery - Causewayside

Police are looking for witnesses and more information after a report of a woman apparently in distress in a vehicle last Wednesday.

The woman was in a dark coloured four door hatchback and seemed to be drawing attention to herself.  Police, concerned for her safety, are keen to establish whether or not she was in distress. The incident took place last Wednesday (23rd March) at the junction of Salisbury Place and Causewayside about 7:25pm.

She is described as in her 50s and wearing a dark headscarf with flowers on it, tied under her chin.  In addition she was wearing a dark red jacket and thick rimmed glasses.

There is also a description of the male in the car with her.  Details here and here.

Update:  The police press release is now available.

Marriott Hotel moving in to Quartermile

Spring erupts round Quartermile

The Quartermile development on the site of the old Royal Infirmary is just outside the ward. It is still worth noting, though, that Marriott is expected to open a 107 room hotel there by the end of the summer.
Further details here.

Resheduled Film and Fireworks

The Film and Fireworks evening, postponed from earlier in March because of forecast snow, has been rescheduled for Saturday 2nd April.

The venue is St Patrick Square (film) and the Meadows (fireworks) and more information can be found here.

Local MSP pays back thousands in expenses

Holyrood chamber

Edinburgh South Lib Dem MSP Mike Pringle has paid back £2,380 to Holyrood after wrongly billing the taxpayer for delivering 35,000 leaflets.

Pringle is standing for election to the same seat (now known as Edinburgh Southern) at the Holyrood elections in May.

The full story can be found in the Scotsman here.

6-year-old raising money for Sick Kids

Jack Henderson on the BBC

Jack Henderson's brother Noah has been a regular visitor to the Sick Kids Hospital with respiratory problems. 

His Dad is a web designer and Jack, being rather remarkable at artwork, now has a website (www.jackdrawsanything.com) where he takes commissions for artwork to raise money for the Sick Kids.

Read more about this remarkable story here.

University good teaching awards

Edinburgh University Students Association has presented eleven awards s for excellence in teaching.  There were 5,168 nominations for 777 teachers and the winners are:

Best Feedback: Paul Nimmo (Divinity)
Best Director of Studies: Murray Low (Chemistry)
Teach First Innovative Teaching Award: Simon Bates (Physics)
KPMG Teaching Employable Skills Award: Dimitris Theodossopoulos (Architecture)
Vitae Postgraduates Who Tutor: Robert Concannon (Physics)
Best Course: Ethnography: Theory and Practice

Best Department: Chemistry

Kendell Award for Teaching in Medicine: David Apps (Biomedical Sciences) 

Campbell Award for Teaching in Humanities and Social Sciences: Alasdair Richmond (Philosophy)

Van Heyningen Award for Teaching in Science and Engineering: Maria Chamberlain (Biological Sciences)

 Endsleigh Overall High Performer: Yvonne Foley (TESOL, Education)

More details here.

Hockey: Peffermill hosts cup semi

The University playing fields at Peffermill host a range of sports including regular matches in the hockey leagues.

This week-end the Scottish cup semi final takes place between Paisley based Glynhill Kelburne, the cup holders, and second division CALA Edinburgh, based at Meggetland.

More details on what is billed as a David v Goliath match here.

Lecturers strike again today

King's Buildings campus

Edinburgh University looks set to be affected again today as the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) call for strike action.

Pickets are expected at some locations and the action will affect classes for some students.

More details from the BBC and STV.

Leading Edinburgh choir in St Peter's

Cadenza is performing on Saturday evening in St Peter's Lutton Place to raise funds for their forthcoming CD.

Founded in 1992, Cadenza is a small, mixed voice choir with a wide ranging repertoire which tours throughout Scotland.

Ticket details here.

University and College of Art merge

Edinburgh College of Art

The merger between Edinburgh University and the College of Art in Lauriston Place is to go ahead from 1st August.

Details from the BBC here.

Bag snatches: 45 year old man arrested

A man has appeared in court charged in connection with the two recent bag snatch thefts in Mansionhouse Road and Findhorn Place.  Further details can be found here.

Earlier posts on the incidents can be found here and here.

Minto Street woman not guilty of murder

Two men were sentenced this week to 7 years in prison after they pled guilty to a charge of culpable homicide was accepted at the High Court in Edinburgh this week.  The death took place last July in Hawick.

The girlfriend of one of the men, Susan Inglis, had her 'not guilty' plea accepted by the prosecution.  More details can be found here.

"Anxiety" over Grange crimes

Chalmers Crescent

An Evening News Article has reported 'anxiety' in the Grange. This comes in the wake of a murder, two muggings of elderly women and several housebreakings and car thefts.

Here are a list of previous posts on fire and the murders.

Craigmillar Park Golf Club's claim to fame

Nick Faldo and Lee Westwood, both English world No.1 golfers at one point, made their mark in Scotland before turning professional. Faldo won the Craigmillar Park Open in 1976 and Westwood claimed the Amateur Champion Gold Medal at Leven 17 years later.

An Evening News article by Martin Dempster on the story is here.

Surgical ward to become outpatient dept

One of the three surgical wards at he Sick Kids hospital in Sciennes, is to become and outpatient ward.

Details in the Evening News here.

The Space Between - at the Observatory

The Space Between, which was last mentioned here earlier in March, is to be  shown at the Royal Observatory on Blackford Hill on Thursday 24th March at 7:30pm. Details here.

The Space Between at the Royal Observatory

Scottish Opera at Sciennes

Scottish Opera is on tour.  On Monday they spend the day at Sciennes Primary School.

Pupils and teachers have been rehearsing to take part in the Opera Scotland, Our Scotland.

The story line includes a bendy bus, the stone of Destiny and a plunge into Loch Ness.

Here are more details and here is the Scottish Opera site.

From prison to Prestonfield (Hotel)!

Steven Loughton

Steven Loughton has spent time in prison, has been homeless and on drugs and addicted to alcohol.

After gettingon a course with the Princes Trust he has been hired by the Prestonfield Hotel.

Congratulations to the Hotel and to Steven.  More details here.

Update:  Here is the Princes Trust account of this turn around.

Battle to extend George Sq to George St

Will the operators of the Underbelly, which uses the McEwan Hall, and the Udderbelly, which uses Bristo Square, during the Fringe in August, take control of the Assembly Rooms when the refurbishment is complete in 2012?

This report assesses the companies who are bidding.

Traffic regulation consultations

There are two current consultations on proposed traffic regulation orders (TROs) in the ward:  The first relates to the bus gate in Prestonfield Avenue.  The remaining four concern parking and the proposals to being in parking controls between 10:00am and 11:30 in the areas mapped out.

• Peffermill Road - the bus gate.  See here for the map and here for the explanation and here for the TRO. Consultation ends 29th March.
• South Oswald Road to Blackford Avenue. See here for the plan and here for the explanation and here for the TRO
• Blackford Avenue to South Lauder Road.  See here for the plan (the explanation and TRO is the same as the above).
• South Lauder Road to Mayfield Road.  See here for the plan (the explanation and TRO is the same as the above).
• Mayfield Road to Dalkeith Road.  See here for the plan  (the explanation and TRO is the same as the above).

The consultation for the latter four ends on 12th April.   See this link for contact details for letters/emails of comment or opposition

Holyrood: HMO amendment passed

HMO territory

Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) or private rented flats have for long been an issue of tension within flatted areas such as make up part of the Southside & Newington ward.  Despite legislation introduced in recent years frustration has remained that it has not been effective in limiting anti social behaviour or maintaining the mixed character of some areas.  On the other hand others have expressed concern that the legislation has added regulation, increasing rental costs and discouraging potential landlords form making accommodation available.

At a debate in Holyrood yesterday on the Private Rented (Scotland) Bill, an amendment from Conservative MSP Ted Brocklebank was passed by an overwhelming majority.  In his words:

What this amendment does not seek to do is reduce the number of HMOs or champion community associations at the expense of landlords, students or other tenants. What it would do is give licensing authorities the unequivocal right to refuse applications in areas where they believe there are already too many.  The legislation is not retrospective, but over time it does seek to achieve more balanced communities where tenants in HMOs can live in closer harmony with existing tenants."

More details from here from STV and  here from the Edinburgh Reporter which includes opposing views from Liam Burns, the President of the National Union of Students.

Why I blog?

Guardianlocal journalist Michael MacLeod interviewed me on the above subject earlier this week.

You can hear the result (10 minutes) from this link or you can look at the article he wrote to go with it here.  A short extract follows:

 "I read things in the media or that come across my desk as a councillor that may well be of interest to other people. To bring them together on one site which has its unique selling point of being local to the ward I thought was a useful thing to do as a service to the public."

Another bag snatch - Mansionhouse Road

Beanie type hat

Following last Saturday's bag snatch in Findhorn Place, reported on this blog on Monday,  another theft took place yesterday in Mansionhouse Road near to Hatton Place.

This time an 87 year-old lady, having alighted from a bus in the Roseneath Street area, made her way into Hatton place and Mansionhouse Road where the attack took place.

Police have issued a description which is not dissimilar to that issued in connection with the similar incident on Saturday with the culprit on both occasions described as wearing a beanie hat.   See the police press release here.

Newington Library graphic novel workshops

Newington Library is hosting workshops by Metaphrog on Saturday 19th March.

Metaphrog is the creator of graphic novels such as Night Salad, seen in picture.

Here is more information from Tales of One City blog. Metaphrog's own blog is also available here.

The first session runs from 10am-1pm and the second is from 1:45-4:45pm and Newington Library (529 5536) are the people to phone to book a place.

Census: Too soon - or online error?

The census form dropped through the letterbox yesterday.

The information leaflet advises that the questionnaire should be completed on or around 27th March but, being 28 pages long, I thought I would get as much of it done as soon as possible as it can be completed online

Alas, it can't be done online yet.  On entering my post code, and the 12 digit Questionnaire Access Code from the form the following message displays:

If the system is not allowing access until closer to the time I would have expected the error message would say so rather than the above message.

Or perhaps there is an online fault in the matching of the Access Code to postcode.  Mmmm.  Anyone else encountered this?

Waste: which do I put out when?

We find the greenboxday system helful in reminding us which box or bin to put out on which day.

Edinburgh is signed up to the greenboxday system and so, by entering your postcode and email address, you will get an email reminder every time a collection is due and you will know which box/bin to put out.

Here is the site.

Garden waste collection changes

For those who have garden waste collections (the brown bin), a return to a fortnightly service begins on 28th March.  Households should have received a printed calendar showing fortnightly brown bin collections from 28th.

The number of homes using the brown bin collection has increased significantly and the runs (and collection days) may  have changed

My wife and I have found another way to remember when to put out what and on which day.  See the next post later today for a reminder system some of you will find helpful.

In the meantime here is the council web page on garden waste with more details.

Dynamic Earth employment case

Our Dynamic Earth from Parliament building

Visitor attraction Our Dynamic Earth, beside the Scottish Parliament, is the location of a series of incidents being played out at an employment tribunal this week.

James Tuff, who is at the heart of the case, was last year found guilty of assault at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last year and placed on the sex offenders register.  The case involves the use of CCTV cameras.  Details here.

The Southside and Newington ward takes in Dynamic Earth but not the Holyrood Parliament.

Cash available for community groups

This post draws attention to grants of between £500 and £1000 available to community groups in Edinburgh.  The deadline for applications has been extended Friday 18th March.

The funds come from money raised through previous Red Nose Day activities.  Applications can be made online. Conditions and categories, can be found at the Scottish Community Foundation website here.

The Causey Coverage

An article on last weeks event by The Causey has appeared in Guardian Local.

Here is the article previously blogged about last week with links to more in-depth posts.

84-year-old robbed in Findhorn Place

Findhorn Place in the Grange

Police have issued a description of a man wanted in connection with a bag snatch from an elderly woman on Saturday (12th) at 3:35pm.  Her handbag and groceries were stolen.

The wanted man is described as white, in his twenties, slim build.  He has a rounded face, fresh complexion, dark eyes, short hair and a beanie hat.  He was wearing a dark waterproof jacket and dark trousers.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0131311311 or Crimestoppers. 

More details  here.

Temp forecasts reduce overnight

Forecasts for Saturday temperatures in the Edinburgh area have fallen overnight.  This means the mixture of heavy rain and heavy snow forecast is increasingly tending towards snow.  Much of the rain predicted from 6am - 9am has fallen as snow.  It remains to be seen if the band of precipitation remains over Edinburgh up till midnight, as predicted in the screenshot below.

 Cancellation of today's St Patrick Square event was a sound call, especially as technical support personnel would have had to travel from England.

Note fall in predicted temps compared to yesterday's post

Update 9:00pm:  For the record, here's what actually transpired - at least in Southside & Newington - (compared to the predictions above).

0600 Heavy snow (predicted heavy rain)

0900 Rain (heavy snow)

1200 Very light rain (heavy snow)

1500 Occasional light rain (heavy rain)

1800 Cloudy but dry (heavy rain)

Hmmm.  Perhaps the St Patrick Square event could have gone ahead!

St Patrick Square film event postponed

The film and fireworks event based at St Patrick Square tomorrow evening (Sat 12th) has been postponed because of the predicted snow.

Southside Community Council has called off the showing of Local Hero after the forecast for tomorrow morning predicted heavy snow.

The event is likely to be rescheduled.

BBC forecast 2045hrs 110311

Homebase supports Cameron Toll bridge

A Homebase articulated lorry failed to make it under the bridge at Cameron Toll this afternoon.

See this BBC article for the details.

STVlocal has an excellent picture.

King's Building road race tomorrow

Edinburgh University's Hare and Hounds Running Club has organised a 5 mile road race tomorrow at 1pm.

The route begins at the King's Buildings House Union and proceeds on roads round Blackford Hill. Here is the route.

BGS monitoring of Japan earthquake

Seismograms of the Honshu earthquake

The British Geological Survey, based at the King's Buildings in West Mains Road, is the UK monitoring point for earthquakes worldwide.

Comments to the media world wide have been made from BGS concerning the disastrous event in Japan which measured 8.9 on the Richter scale.  A few have been brought together at the BGS webpage devoted to the Japanese earthquake here.

The MailOnline explores whether the earthquake could be linked with the 'supermoon' phenomena with a section inset explaining the background by Dr Roger Musson of the BGS.

Update  9:00pm And as an off topic bonus, for those interested in the last  paragraph (above), here is a primer on issues around possible linking solar activity to earthquakes from the BBC's Paul Hudson.
Update 8:00pm:  And here is an interview with David Kerridge.

Princess Elizabeth Nursery to close in June

The Council voted to close the Princess Elizabeth Nursery, in Clearburn Crescent from the end of June.

Parents will have the choice of Cameron House Nursery, a few hundred yards away, or Prestonfield Primary School in Peffermill Road, which is also just a few hundred yards away.  There are also private nurseries nearby in the Prestonfield area.

The Council report can be found  here.

Odeon: update

Artist's impression

Today's Evening News reports on the plans of Duddingston House Properties for the Odeon site in Clerk Street.

The article is here.  

Dick Place near top of house price league

House sale prices in Dick Place in the Grange have averaged £1.6m over the last four years.  That makes it the third most expensive street in Scotland according to Bank of Scotland research.

You can see the league table in this BBC article which places Belmont Drive and Ettrick Road (also in Edinburgh) as top and second respectively in this particular league.

Edinburgh love story premieres

'The Space Between' is an Edinburgh love story and redemption tale that premieres on Thursday 10 March and will be screened across the city during the rest of March.

It follows two strangers brought together and given a chance to turn their lives around. The city provides the catalyst for the action, and the soundtrack is provided by Edinburgh-based musicians - from classical piano/fiddle to contemporary electronic and guitar.

It will also be shown at South Side Community Centre on Friday 18th March at 7pm.

Closing date for Crags Sports Centre offers

Today was the closing date for offers for the Crags Sports Centre which closed at the end of last year.  Having been handed back to the Council it has now been marketed and it is understood there has been some interest.

The Crags was the result of a community campaign a decade ago but it was unable to meet its costs and was bailed out by the Council in 2006 when it was handed to Edinburgh Leisure to run, subsidised by a grant from the Council.  However, with a reduced subsidy from the Council, Edinburgh Leisure could no longer afford to run it at a loss and handed it back to the Council.

It remains to be seen whether there is interest in taking over the premises and in what form.

Here is a post   on the background (with links to further posts). 

Student politics:

EUSA President-elect Matt McPherson

Last week I reported the result of the Edinburgh University Student elections with Matt McPherson taking the top job.  This article in The Journal, the fortnightly newspaper for Edinburgh students, fills in some of the background including what proved to be the dividing line on graduate contributions.  Here is an extract:

"The president-elect has been vocal in his support for a graduate contribution in Scotland, but Defend Edinburgh have taken a vigorous stance in favour of continued free education."

Photo of Warsi visit to Nairn's

As reported here, Nairn's Oatcake factory was visited by Baroness Warsi on Friday. Here is a photo with the Minister without Portfolio, MSP Gavin Brown and MD Mark Laing.

Prestonfield's new business

Prestonfield Park, the relatively new industrial estate off Peffermill Road, is being touted as a success after another company has taken occupancy of premises there.

The industrial estate is administered by King Sturge, an international property management company.

Learn more about King Sturge here.