Refuse dispute rumbles on

A number of binmen are still working to rule causing continuing disruption for the collection of some bins. 

There have also been some teething problems with the introduction of new rounds and collections.  I believe the ward has been affected with relatively minor disruption.  Let me know if that is not the case for you.

That's been two years now!

Wedding party and bunting found

Nicolson Square royal wedding bunting

A public holiday and not a lot of other evidence in the ward of the royal wedding.

But there is this street party and I did find some bunting in Nicolson Square.

Population of Edinburgh increases more

Yesterday I reported on the figures for the population of Edinburgh up to 2009.

At the same time the General Register Office for Scotland published its mid year estimate for 2010 - adding to the figures in my recent post.

They estimate the population in mid 2010 to be 486,120 an increase of 1.8% on the year before.  More analysis here.

Guardian to close Edinburgh local site

The attempt by the Guardian newspaper to establish a local Edinburgh site has ended in failure.  The one year experiment was led for much of the time by beatblogger Michael MacLeod, with whom I had a very constructive relationship.

Michael frequently featured items from this blog and he did an excellent audio interview with me as a blogging councillor.

I wish Michael best wishes as he moves on.  

There remain other local blogs which have sprung up since I started this one in 2007, including the neighbouring Tollcross Online and The Edinburgh Reporter.  The latter's Edinburgh reach, (my blog is confined almost entirely to events within one council ward), has led it to build a readership which is now not far behind the numbers who visit my longer established Southside & Newington newsblog.  STV local is an even newer attempt to tap into the local news market with a blog.

EUSA hustings report from Teviot

The Teviot debating hall hosted the student hustings for the Edinburgh Central constituency earlier this week.

Here is the report from STV Local.

Golf at Craigmillar Park Golf Club

A qualifying round for the Lothian Championships Golf takes place at Craigmillar Park this Saturday.

See here for the Scotsman's take on it.

Population of Edinburgh

Edinburgh by Numbers is an annual publication from the Council and the latest edition has just arrived on my desk.  Let me just share the population figures (they are growing) with some numbers from earlier years just to give context.

• 1811  -  82,624
• 1861  - 168,121
• 1911  - 320,318
• 1951  - 466,761
• 1991  - 436,320
• 1996  - 444,910
• 2001  - 449,020
• 2006  - 463,510
• 2007  - 468,070 + 1% (on 2006)
• 2008  - 471,650 + 0.76%
• 2009  - 477,660 +1.25%

 Fewer people are dying, 4,266 in 2009, and births increased to 5,052.  The remainder of the increase of 6,010 from 2008 to 2009 is attributed to net migration.

Update:  the GRO have released 2010 figures.   Click here.

Crags Update - 3 bidders

Salisbury Crags

I understand three bidders are being considered for the tenancy of the former Crags sports Centre in Bowmont Place.

This updates the information in previous posts (here and here and here) though I do not know how long it will be before a decision is taken.

Causewayside bagsnatch appeal

A woman fought to hold onto her handbag as a thief grabbed it near the West Preston Street junction with Causewayside just after midnight on Sunday morning.

The male culprit ran off into Sciennes with the bag after dragging the woman a short distance as she tried to hang on.  The culprit was wearing a white or cream tracksuit is described as early to mid 20s, 5ft 8ins to 5ft 9ins tall, with a slim build, short hair, and stubble.

Further details can be found in the police press release.

Meadows Festival need volunteers

The Meadows Festival takes place this year on 4th and 5th June

You can book a stall here and volunteers are always needed. Offer you services here.

The Meadows Festival site is here where you can get details of the latest news, music programme and stalls.

The twitter feed is here.

6-year-old fundraiser faces hassle

Jack Henderson from Prestonpans

Parents of Jack Henderson, whose artwork raises money for the Sick Kids, are struggling to protect him from over enthusiastic clients.

Here are some links for more information:

• Today's news report
• Jack's Facebook page
• Jack's web page
• Donate via Jack to the Sick Kids

Sciennes charity reports from Libya

Steve Haley

Steve Haley's blog reports from Misrata are very moving.

He works for Sciennes based charity Mercy Corps.  He has been based in Lebanon and Cairo, Egypt before now being sent to Libya where he finds himself with the besieged rebels currently holed up in Misrata.  In Steve's blog he tells of his journey there and life as an aid worker close to the battle.

More information in this Evening News article.

Election 7: manifestos

Here are the manifestos of the four main parties (and I have added a link to the Greens one - they seem likely to hold their list seat in the Lothians).

Conservative

Labour

Lib Dems

SNP

Green

Poet and author Alan Spence at Library

Alan Spence

Newington Library will host readings from Alan Spence's new book, Morning Glory, on Friday 6th May at 6:30pm.

Alan Spence, a Scottish author who has written short stories, novels, plays and poems, is also Professor in Creative Writing at Aberdeen University.  His latest book takes forward his interest in Japan with a new collection of haiku poems which have been illustrated by Dame Elizabeth Blackadder.

Both Alan Spence and Dame Elizabeth Blackadder will be present.

Dame Elizabeth Blackadder

Events marking a local painter's 80th birthday take place in various locations this year.

Dame Elizabeth Blackadder, who resides in the Southside and Newington ward, is in her 80th year and the National Gallery is devoting a major summer exhibition to her works from July 2nd to the end of the year.

She is also due to appear at Newington Library on Friday 6th May when she will sign copies of a new book by poet and author Alan Spence.  But that is for a post next week.

Food waste recycling pilot underway

Some streets in the ward will be included in the pilot which starts this month.

The pilot is trialling different sizes, shapes and brands of food waste bins.  All pilot properties will be given a starter pack that includes a kitchen caddy, food waste bin (for kerbside collection areas), compostable liners (for the kitchen caddy) and an information leaflet/calendar.

The Scottish Government have instructed that all councils provide a food waste collection service by 2013 and government and the EU have increased the pressure with substantial landfill penalties.  The food waste collected will be composted.  The landfill tax on 20,000 tonnes of food waste would amount to £1m which equates to 5p per kilo.  Of course there are collection costs to offset against that

Details of streets included in the pilot will be included in the Green Box Day website in a few days.

Wedding street party

Montague Street (on a dull day)

Montague Street will host a street party on 29th to celebrate the royal wedding.

Organised by a Montague Street resident, this is the first street party I have heard of in the ward.  Let me know if you know of any more.

Crags update

Salisbury Crags

Closing date for bids for tenancy of the Crags Sports Centre is today.

The Council is testing the interest by offering the premises to a not-for-profit body who can show a viable business plan which offers some element of community use.  The premises may be offered for a nominal annual rent.

The initial advert attracted 12 expressions of interest from 11 organisations and today is the deadline for submission of business plans and sample programmes.   There will be a local community representative (Morag Innes) who sits on the selection panel as an observer.

More background information can be found in this report to next week's Culture and Leisure Committee of the Council.

Update: The Crags is currently being used for election trainning and counting of postal votes.

Barbecue signs are up

Map of barbecue sites

New signs showing barbecue sites are now in place on the Meadows.

Barbecues on the Meadows are actually banned in the bye laws.  However, as they have become so popular and as it would be almost impossible to police a continuing ban, the Council, after consultation with some local groups, has created these sites to minimise damage to the surface.

Alas, it was not my stolen bike

Neither me nor my bike!

Hope was rising about the possible recovery of a bike of mine stolen over a year ago (see earlier post).  After a visit to Gayfield Square Police Station, I have to report that, although similar, it was definitely not my bike.

At least the Search and Recovery officers are trying.

Blackford Hill on Good Friday

There is a Good Friday service on Blackford Hill at 10am tomorrow.  It is organised by Newington Churches Together and the meeting point is just up the hill (westwards) from the Observatory car park.

Details here.

Recovered stolen bike?

Um. . .neither me nor my bike

A call today from a kind policeman in the Search and Recovery team at Gayfield Square Police Station has raised hopes that my pedal cycle - which was stolen 16 months ago - may have been recovered.

 I'll need to go down and try and identify it in the next few days.   Will keep you updated!

It was taken from outside the EICC (Conference Centre in Morrison Street) and the culprit was caught on video.  Hopefully he has been caught proper!

It is not that I need the bike back - I bought another one - it is just that I would like to be reassured that the police do catch the criminals from time to time.

Election 6: postal vote forms arrive

Over 61,000 postal voting forms have begun arriving in homes today.  That is around 20% of the electorate in Edinburgh.

Now if you are one of the new people on the electoral roll the Electoral Commission have provided a guide for  you.

Forgive me for the further advice but

• on the purple/lilac ballot an X in the box beside Gavin Brown (if you are in the Edinburgh Southern part of the ward) or Iain McGill (if you are in the Edinburgh Central part of the ward) will be appreciated
• on the peach/buff coloured ballot paper an X beside the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (fifth box down) will be most welcome
• On the referendum - the grey ballot paper - I will be putting my X beside the 'No' vote for reasons which you will find here.

Commonwealth Pool update

Currently under extensive refurbishment, the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Dalkeith Road is due to reopen in early Spring 2012 when it will be used for training and preparation for the Olympics - as well as being available to the public.

See here for a recent Council press release.

Economics lecture from Gordon Brown

Former prime minister Gordon Brown is giving a talk at Edinburgh University tomorrow evening. 

The Future of Jobs and Justice is the title of the lecture and it is in the McEwan Hall, Bristo Square tomorrow (Tuesday) at 5:30pm.  Details from Edinburgh University here.

Started rather prudently but fell away rather badly, I recall!

Election 5: voting by proxy

Register for a proxy vote by Thursday this week (21st April).  

Proxy votes for the elections on 5th May are available for a number of reasons where you cannot vote in person.   Forms are available here for proxy votes for disability, educational, employment or other reason.

The final date for registering for to be on the electoral roll has passed.  If you wish to check if you are on the electoral roll, call the number shown at this link.

Mosque Kitchen moving

Move reflected in Iman's Grill window

The acclaimed Mosque Kitchen restaurant is moving in the next few weeks.

Its new location is in the Iman's Grill premises in Nicolson Square.  

The move follows reports of a dispute within the Edinburgh Central Mosque, with the Mosque Kitchen currently situated adjacent to the mosque building.

Gill family loss leads to Sick Kids charity

Oliver Gill, 5 months, died last Christmas Day.  His parents Andy and Jennifer Gill have donated funds from the Love Oliver charity they set up, to the Sick Kids and the CLIC Villa children's cancer centre in Hatton Place in Sciennes.

More details here from the STV local site.  There is also a Facebook page here. 

Election 4: hustings this weekend

Here are the hustings for the forthcoming Holyrood elections which will take place in Southside & Newington this weekend:

• Sat 16th April 11am-1pm  Age Concern Edinburgh held at 95 Causewayside
• Sun 17th April 3pm-5pm Newington Churches Together held at King's Hall, South Clerk Street

'Korrika' run in Meadows

There is an organised run in the Meadows due tomorrow between 11:30 and 2:00pm.

It is a 'Korrika run for minority languages'.  Helpfully (I hope), include here a link to more information about the concept.  Apparently it is an exhibition run held bi-annually to celebrate and support the Basque language.

Now we know.

Miss Edinburgh tonight at Pleasance

Fiona Dickie won last year

The Miss Edinburgh 2011 competition takes place tonight at the Pleasance Theatre.

There are eleven finalists and you can find their details here. 

Livingston Place offender in custody

A prison sentence is expected

Yeoman Smith, a forensic IT consultant from Livingston Place, yesterday appeared at Edinburgh High Court when he pled guilty to the possession at his home of over half a million child pornography pictures and videos.

He also pled guilty to committing a sex act in front of a child in Penicuik. He has been remanded in custody for sentence. 

Here is the account in the Shetland Times, where he was arrested whilst attending his mother's funeral last year.  Here is the Scotsman report.

Top Kiwi cricketer en route to Grange Loan

Photo: Ben Fraser

Here is how his local newspaper in New Zealand is reporting the departure of one of their local stars, Jason Trembath, to play for Carlton Crticket Club in Grange Loan.

Carlton plays in the Scottish premier league and has over 400 members and 22 year old Trembath has an initial contract in Edinburgh until September.

July in Meadows begins with Taste

Taste of Edinburgh returns to the Meadows from 1st-3rd July. Tickets are on sale already.

The BBC are giving the organisation some publicity as well.  See here.

It is back after a two year gap.

Gillespies plans - primary and high schools

The last chance for the public viewing of the initial plans for the new James Gillespies High School, and for the extensions and changes to James Gillespies Primary, is tomorrow.  

The viewing will be held between 2pm and 4pm on Friday at Newington Library.

Further details can be found on the Council website.  The viewing is part of a public consultation and comments can be made up to 22nd April.

Update: It should be noted that this request for views is part of the planning pre-application public consultation process.  There will be further iterations of the plans - and further public meetings and opportunities to comment in May and June and beyond.

Statutory repairs: five suspensions

Edinburgh tenements

There are many within the Southside & Newington ward who are, or who have been, involved in having a statutory notice imposed on their property.  Usually for tenements, the use of such repair notices has increased in recent years. 

The city wide problems have been under investigation for some time and the March suspensions appear, at first blush, to be a result of management action regarding concerns.  However, there is also a police enquiry ongoing. Beyond that there is not much else I can say at this stage - other than point you to other reporting of the matter e.g. this BBC item or this Scotsman article.

£500 fine for drunk local student

On 1st January this year 19 year old local resident  Jamie Anderson was drunk.  He threw a traffic cone over George IV Bridge into Merchant Street below.  Thankfully it missed those in the street below.  Nearby police officers arrested him and Anderson appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this week where he pled guilty.

Fine: £500.

From this BBC report, Sheriff McColl clearly gave consideration custody as she called for background reports before sentence.  A few others need to appreciate that drunkenness is aggravation to an offence, not mitigation.

Sports update

Grange Ladies - not from the Grange!

As I have been out of town (with my wife, for those who wondered), here is the belated follow up to last week's posts drawing attention to hockey and golf in the ward.

First, the results of the Scottish Hockey cup finals at Peffermill at the weekend can be found here. Edinburgh University lost the women's final to Grange (who, of course, are not from the Grange but from Stockbridge).

The winner of the Craigmillar Park Open was Greg Paterson.  Details here.

Light blogging

Blogging may be light for a few days as I am out of town - probably beyond the reach of the Internet - in the company of someone special.  To be continued in a few days.

Princess Royal new University Chancellor

Princess Anne has been elected Chancellor of Edinburgh University to take the place of Price Philip who held the post from 1953 to 2010.

Details here.

Craigmillar Park Open - 50 this weekend

Nick Faldo

With a history of illustrious golfing names - such as Nick Faldo, Ronnie Shade and Andrew Oldcorn - the fiftieth Craigmillar Park Open takes place this weekend.

More details here and here and click here for the course location.

Peffermill cup finals tomorrow

Saturday is cup final day

From 10am though to almost 6pm tomorrow four hockey cup finals take place at the Peffermill playing fields.

The all Edinburgh final for the Scottish Ladies Plate prize kicks off the day at 10am.  Grange EL and Edinburgh University Ladies contest that.  The day ends with the men's Scottish Cup final at 4pm between Glynhill Hotel Kelburne and  Western Wildcats.  

Entrance for the day is £5 for adults with under 16s free.  More details here.

Business School students win

Picture from Kate Gillon

Five students at the Edinburgh University Business School, based in Buccleuch Place, have been awarded an HSBC cash prize for marketing.

The fourth year students, left to right, are Scott Donnelly, Danielle Cullen, (Andy Fraser, HSBC), Lauren Williamson, Daniel Cairns and Dani Sawalti.

More details here.

Sick Kids news

Several Sick Kids related bits of news have appeared recently.

• Sick Kids fundraising:  20 Edinburgh bands; Facebook page; Jack Henderson; Dame Ellen MacArthur;
• Finance for move to Little France: Extra cash from NHS Lothian for move
• New Pyjamas:  aftermath:

Bees

Margarita Vazquez Pont

A local photography blogger has posted this picture of a bee on Blackford Hill, with the Observatory in the background.

Having had an enormous bee in our house last week-end I thought I would share this local picture with you.

Ceilidh Culture in the Southside

Edinburgh's Ceilidh Culture festival is currently taking place (till 16th April) - with some of the events in local venues.  Ceilidh Culture aims to celebrate traditional arts through music, song, dance and storytelling.  There are many other venues and events elsewhere in Edinburgh and you can see them here.

• Nelson Hall:  events  - map
• Pleasance Caberet Bar:  events  - map
• Pleasance Theatre: events  -  map
• Pollok Halls (South Hall):  event  -  map
• Teviot Row House:  event  -  map

Bus fares up and down (mainly up)

This week bus fares in the area are going up.

Lothian Buses have their increases here.

First Bus have followed suit and implemented similar increases (though a few return fares have decreased).

Force Edinburgh are Silverstone bound

James Tuchel - team director

A team of Edinburgh University mechanical engineering students have set up a team to enter a student car 'design and race' competition at Silverstone.

Starting from scratch they are designing a formula racing car to race against student entries from all over the world in the Formula Student event later this year.

The team, Force Edinburgh Racing, is led by 3rd year mechanical engineering student  James Tuchel and is based at the King's Buildings and sponsored by Shell and the University.  More here.

James has previous form for designing cars. 

Election 3: Edinburgh Central candidates

Iain McGill

Here is a list of the candidates for the Edinburgh Central seat in the Holyrood election on May 5th.

Edinburgh Central constituency takes in the Southside & Dumbiedykes part of the Southside & Newington ward extending from Drummond Street and Teviot Row to Melville Drive, Minto Street and Salisbury Road.  The map of Edinburgh Central can be found here.

Marco Biagi - SNP
Sarah Boyack - Labour
Alex Cole-Hamilton - LibDem
Iain McGill - Conservative

Clearburn Crescent bogus workmen report

Baggy green jumper -
probably not like the one worn
by suspect

Police are searching for a suspected bogus workman who tried to get entry into a house in Prestonfield on Tuesday (29th March).

A male claimed to a householder that he had come to fix a leak but was turned away by the householder.  He is described as white, in his 40s, medium build, rugged complexion and with short dark hair.  He was wearing a baggy green jumper and had an Eastern European accent.  On being refused access he met up with a male  described as white, with short light ginger hair and a dark three quarter length dark jacket.

Details here in the police press release. Anyone with information, or an unreported similar incident, should contact police (0131-3113131) who are investigating other similar incidents throughout Edinburgh.

Engine Shed celebrates 21 years

This year marks 21 years since the establishment in 1989 of The Engine Shed as an innovative training project for people with learning disabilities.

They have announced a series of events over the summer to mark the anniversary.  See here for latest details.

Do support their various enterprises if you can.