Southside & Newington Newsblog

Aged 99 and a 4:40am awakening

2012-01-27T20:01:00.000Z

The smoke alarm at Homeross House signalled a fire in a fuse box at 4:40am on Wednesday morning this week. Homeross House is a supported retirement complex in Strathearn Road with 135 flats.

The 99-year-old lady in one flat suffered from smoke inhalation but not enough to require a trip to hospital.

Details here.

Steptoe heads for the underworld

2012-01-26T11:27:00.001Z

The East Preston Street shop Steptoe's is to close as Tim Jones, the proprietor, has decided to emigrate down under.

Then again, it might not close if a buyer is found. See link below for details. (I'm travelling and having difficulty inserting the normal links).

Click here for the link

Community Council turmoil

2012-01-24T07:30:00.000Z

Last July I posted on the announcement of the expected closure of the Association of Scottish Community Councils, noting many saw it had lost the confidence of many local community councils.

This week a meeting (26th January) will take place at Edinburgh University when the topic Scottish Community Councils: Local Democracy at Stake will be explored. More details here.

It is held in tandem with a fledgling new body, the Network of Community Councils, which involves Terry Tweed of Craigmillar Community Council and Jenny Mackenzie of Leith Community Council. Tony Harris, a Grange/Prestonfield community councillor will also be attending to monitor developments.

Meanwhile see here for a recent post on the folding of Southside Community Council.

Local superfast broadband upgrade

2012-01-23T07:30:00.000Z

Green BT cabinets being installed on pavements around the ward are for Super Fast Fibre Access.

15 months ago I posted on this project designed to upgrade broadband access and speeds in the ward area for residents and businesses. There are nine cabinets (at least I am aware of nine in the current batch) to be sited at the locations below for which approval was given at the Planning Committee last week.

The BT press release from October 2010 with a Q and A section can be found here and more information (from BT) on their Broadband project can be found at this site. Planning process details can be found here.

The pavement cabinet locations:

7 metres east of 2 Buccleuch Street
34 metres southwest of 1 Crawfurd Road
11 metres east of 23 East Crosscauseway
40 metres east of 9A East Mayfield
48 metres west of 19 East Suffolk Park
8 metres west of 18 Marshall Street
14 metres northwest of 19b Queen's Crescent
9 metres north of 3 Rankeillor Street
10 metres north of 17 St Leonard's Lane

Those people looking lost . . .

2012-01-21T07:30:00.000Z

. . are taking part in an orienteering competition today and tomorrow in the Southside area (Meadows, George Square and Holyrood Park). This is the annual Edinburgh University orienteering event. Details here.

Prestonfield in top ten UK luxury hotels

2012-01-20T07:30:00.000Z

Prestonfield Hotel came fourth in this year's Trip Advisor luxury hotels rankings.

See here for details.

Nicolson Square firm fined

2012-01-19T07:30:00.000Z

Map of Nicolson Square

A sign makers firm based in Nicolson Square has been fined £6,500 after one if its employees fell 7 metres at work.

More details here.

Spate of housebreakings

2012-01-18T22:21:00.000Z

Since Christmas Eve there has been around a score of break-ins in the extended Craigmillar Park area.

Most of them have been during the night and, although the police have made arrests, the crimes have continued.

Local police have increased patrols in the area and will appreciate immediate contact from anyone witnessing suspicious behaviour or having any other information which might help with their enquiries.

Preston St pupils Westminster bound

2012-01-17T07:30:00.000Z

Preston Street School

Pupils James Kerr and Eduard Stoica, along with head teacher Ann Moore are heading to a reception in London with Prime Minister David Cameron.

Artistic contributions from pupils at the school are featuring in an exhibition which opens later this week in the Upper Gallery in Westminster.

More details here.

A Head Teacher's blog

2012-01-16T07:30:00.000Z


The tie explanation is in the blog

Donald Macdonald has started a school blog. He is the new head teacher at James Gillespie's High School.

Meet the man, read the blog here.

JGHS is ouside the ward and this blog has a strict (well, fairly strict) ward only policy. However the ward does supply many of the pupils.

Palmerston Road next for gas main work

2012-01-14T07:30:00.000Z

Gas mains replacement work starts in Palmerston Road next Monday (16th Jan).

It is authorised for 7 weeks,

Betty Brown death update

2012-01-13T14:30:00.000Z

Betty Brown

Last seen alive at 11:55am Friday 28th May 2010 on a number 3 bus in Nicolson Street, Betty Brown's death is being treated as suspicious after her body was found in the Longtown area of Cumbria 8 months later.

Another appeal is being made for witnesses or anyone who might be able to supply more information. Details of this mystery - which merits more publicity - can be found in this report or in previous posts here.

One-horse race for rector

2012-01-13T14:04:00.002Z

Some previous rectors

The new rector for Edinburgh University has been appointed - in a race that had just one candidate.

See this report in the Student newspaper The Journal for more details of the uncontested election of Peter McColl.

Congratulations to Peter - an activist for the Green Party.

Tributes to Southside's Mary Devine

2012-01-12T10:20:00.001Z

Many in the Southside will have known Mary Devine who passed away on 3rd January at the age of 86.

A hotelier in her earlier life, she was known in her latter years for managing the WRVS volunteers who operated the refreshment facility at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. She and her team raised many thousands of pounds for charities over the years.

She also had particular interest in supporting Scottish Regiments (notably the Black Watch) and 'Help for Heroes', and she will be known to many for her involvement in the Southside Association, Southside Community Council and the Southside and Old Town Crime Prevention Panel. She chaired the latter for many years.

She will be missed.

Planning for Edinburgh's future

2012-01-12T07:30:00.000Z

Every 5 years the Council is required to create a local development plan. This provides a framework for planning decisions in the coming years e.g. how housing will be encouraged and how the green belt will be preserved.

There is a public meeting to discuss the issues and enable people of Southside & Newington (and elsewhere) to contribute to the public consultation - which is open until the end of January. The meeting is on Tuesday 17th January at 548 Gilmerton Road (Faith Mission) and there will be a short presentation at 5pm (repeated at 6pm followed by discussion between 7 and 8pm. There will be planning officers in attendance and details of how to contribute your views to the consultation. Details below:

Local man too heavy for taxi

2012-01-11T07:30:00.000Z

Here is a report from last week about Ronnie Dickson from Prestonfield who, at 33 stones, was declined a taxi ride because he had broken the ramp the previous week.

Blackford Hill dark matter

2012-01-10T14:41:00.001Z

Dr Catherine Heymans

The largest map yet of dark matter in the universe has been created by Dr Catherine Heymans, working at the Royal Observatory on Blackford Hill. Working with the University of British Columbia in Canada she compiled the map and unveiled it at a recent conference in Austin, Texas.

Here is some of the coverage from the astronomy cosmos:

Prestonfield man jailed for 4 years

2012-01-10T10:47:00.005Z

Paul Davidson (20) from a Prestonfield Avenue address was jailed for 4 years yesterday for his part in a robbery followed by a street assault in the Lochend area in May last year.

The STV report from the High Court is here.

Update 13:45hrs: Here are more details in a further article.

Register of Landlords

2012-01-10T07:30:00.000Z

Pic: Marchmont/Sciennes Community Council

Last month I posted about a landlord who had been fined £1000 for not holding an HMO licence for a 'house in multiple occupation'.

I note that there is a national website at which HMO holders are listed and there is a search facility. You can get more information (and do a search) on the Landlord Registration website.

Southside Association is 40

2012-01-09T07:30:00.000Z

Pic: Causey Project

Formed in 1972, the Southside Association is still going strong. It is a charity which meets monthly in the Southside Community Centre hosting talks, events and all things connected to the Southside.

The next meeting is tomorrow at 7pm when you will be welcome.

Day in the park

2012-01-07T12:29:00.001Z

With Gavin Brown MSP

The BUPA Great Winter Run and associated races with a galaxy of international athletes in Holyrood Park today was exhilarating. Superb weather and a great atmosphere with a load of people getting fit. And very positive television coverage for Edinburgh.

Oh and thanks for asking. My time for the 5k was around 28 mins.

New boss for Festival Theatre

2012-01-07T07:30:00.000Z

Duncan Hendry arrives from Aberdeen

Duncan Hendry has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Festival City Theatres Trust. The FCTT runs the Kings and the Festival Theatre on behalf of Edinburgh Council.

Details in The Stage magazine.

Great Winter Run tomorrow

2012-01-06T07:30:00.000Z

Remember the snow last year?

The Bupa sponsored series of events take place in Holyrood Park tomorrow.

The BUPA Great Winter Run website is here and a summary of information, including the Olympic champions taking part, can be found here.

The event of the day is the 5k which sets off at 11:00am. I'll be there.

Brian Taylor in mammoth 2012 challenge

2012-01-05T07:30:00.000Z

Brian Taylor is one of two Edinburgh stalwarts aiming to complete 12 marathon physical challenges in the next 12 months to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Brian lives in the Newington area and you can read more here and donate here.

Bins out again today

2012-01-04T08:25:00.000Z

Any household bins not collected yesterday due to the high winds should be represented today (Wednesday).

If you want regular update texts from Edinburgh Council you can follow @Edinburgh_CC on Twitter.

Blackford Hill records 102mph

2012-01-03T13:50:00.000Z

The Met Office is reporting gusts of 102mph recorded at Blackford Hill this morning. See here. That is 3mph less than the top speed recorded at Malin Heads (Donegal).

Bit windy today

2012-01-03T10:18:00.000Z

Middle Meadow Walk closed 9:45am


Melville Drive closed 9:45am

Rain which had softened the ground left roots less secure

One of many trees down in the Meadows

Summerhall Artistic Quarter underway

2012-01-03T09:26:00.001Z

The former Dick Vet buildings are now operated as an Arts Quarter as the sign in this photo shows.

More details on the website here.

From Edinburgh in Scotland. . .

2011-12-31T22:56:00.000Z

Thank you to all of you who read this blog

Honours list 2012: Local recipients

2011-12-31T12:05:00.004Z

Alan Bundy

Professor Alan Bundy. Professor of Automated Reasoning, University of Edinburgh. For services to Computing Science. Grange.
Professor Niall Lothian. Adjunct Professor, INSEAD. For services to Corporate and Civic Governance in Scotland. Newington.
Professor Stuart Haszeldine, FRSE. Professor of Geology, University of Edinburgh. For services to Climate Change Technologies.

These are the ones I have identified thus far. Feel free to let me know of other local people.

And another:

Gordon Alexander MacKinlay, President of the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons. For services to Paediatric Surgery (Sick Kids in Sciennes). (From Balerno)

Local charities benefit from 91-year-old

2011-12-30T22:32:00.000Z

Tom Gilzean is a 91-year-old military veteran who raises money for charity by shaking a collecting can in the Royal Mile.

This year he has given £4,000 to the Prestonfield Neighbourhood Centre and £25,000 to the Sick kids Friends Foundation.

More details here.

£3m funding bid to improve Southside

2011-12-29T13:25:00.001Z

A suggestion for East Crosscauseway?

The St Patrick Square and West Crosscauseway areas are up for a bit of renovation if a Council bid for Lottery funding is successful.

More details here.

Dick Place: average price FALLS to £1.5m

2011-12-29T13:00:00.001Z

The BBC, Evening News and many other news sources are reporting that Dick Place is the most expensive street in Scotland with an average house sale price of £1.5m. Edinburgh has 13 of the top 20 most expensive streets in Scotland. The information comes from a 4 year average of properties sold.

But wait a minute. Did this blog not report similar figures already this year? Indeed here is the post from March and it provides interesting comparisons. The average sale price for then for Dick Place was £1,628,000. Now, nine months later, it is quoted as £1,506,000. That is a fall of the 4 year average (over 9 months) of 6.27%.

Yet at the same time Dick Place has gone from third in the league table of Scotland's most expensive streets to top. And Edinburgh has fallen from having 15 in the top 20 in March to 13 in the reports today. So perhaps the headline should be. . .

Housing prices in Edinburgh falling.

You can find out who some of the residents are in other articles covering the story:

Daily Record
Evening News ~~(not online at time of post - but~~ the Kings and Becks are interviewed)
Deadline News

Leeds, Norfolk, Teeside and Lincolnshire

2011-12-28T13:44:00.001Z

These are the destinations for much of the domestic waste we recycle.

Edinburgh's recycling goes, according to this investigation, to:
Batteries: Garlaston, West Midlands
Glass: Leeds
Paper: Norfolk
Plastics: Teeside then Lincolnshire

Council policies are significantly directed by the EU driven landfill tax, and the Scottish Government's target of 50% of waste being recycled by 2013.

When you factor in the time and effort of separating everything at source (in our homes) it does beg a question or two about how efficient we are being.

In our desire to reduce excess waste this all leaves some questions around the policies which we are following. Views welcome.

Festive: bins and parking

2011-12-27T08:41:00.001Z

Parking regulations are back to normal today - as are refuse collections. See here for collection details of all types of bins and here for the parking arrangements.

Note that next week there is no relaxation of parking regulations on Monday 2nd January.

Happy Christmas

2011-12-24T22:05:00.000Z

Merry Christmas to everyone. Here is a picture of carol singers in Nicolson Square earlier this evening.

They were from the nearby Methodist Church.

Holyrood Park closures

2011-12-24T07:30:00.000Z

The park is closed to motor vehicle traffic on Boxing Day and 2nd January as well as Christmas Day and New Year's Day (it is usually closed on a Sunday)..

The reason: so children can try out their new bikes.

Closure times are between 8am and 4pm. More details here.

Nicolson Street fast food turned down

2011-12-23T16:41:00.001Z

Over-provision of fast food shops is the reasons cited by the Government Reporter in upholding the decision of planning officials earlier in the year, to turn down permission to create another cafe at 77 Nicolson Street.

Brief details here.

Crags Community Sports Centre

2011-12-22T17:30:00.000Z

The Crags is up and running under new management. The building, just off St Leonard's Street, will be operating fully from the beginning of January but there have already been lets to community groups and the key partners working together are now making use of the premises.

There will be five trustees and the 'key partners are

More details of the back story here.

Grange landlord fined

2011-12-22T16:10:00.000Z

Landlord Yousef Mohammed has been fined £1000 for failing to have an HMO licence for a house he was renting out in the Grange. Licences for Houses in Multiple Occupation are required for rented accommodation containing more than three separate people who are not related.

Details here on the STV Local website.

Inventor: from wi-fi to li-fi

2011-12-21T21:15:00.001Z

An Edinburgh professor has been hailed for his team's work to provide a communication medium which transfers data by means of LED light. The system uses electronics to harness the variable light intensity in the bulbs to transmit data wirelessly.

See here for more details of the work of Professor Harald Haas who works in the Institute for Digital Communications, based in the Faraday Building at the King's Buildings.

Police seek Nicolson Street victim

2011-12-21T07:30:00.000Z

A man has been arrested in connection with an Nicolson Street assault around 6am on Saturday last. The problem the police have is in finding the victim.

Details here. Earlier this week I reported this incident in the same vicinity earlier.

Christmas lunch

2011-12-20T22:45:00.000Z

Know who these are? Click here

I confess I had a Christmas lunch last week courtesy of the Sheraton. Streetwork had invited me to their Christmas lunch for the homeless. It was served in their offices by staff from the homeless.

Here is a report.

3:45am Nicolson Street assault

2011-12-19T14:49:00.002Z

A 25 year old man had his jaw broken in an incident in Nicolson Street early on Saturday morning (17th Dec). It is thought he had intervened in an incident between two men and a security guard near to Scotmid. A police spokesman is quoted:

In a totally unprovoked attack, this man received a serious facial injury. We are appealing for anyone who witnessed this vicious assault or has any information to contact us.

Some more details here.

Royal Blind School

2011-12-17T07:30:00.000Z

On Thursday I attended a wonderful performance of Alice in Wonderland at the Royal Blind School in Craigmillar Park. It was a special performance by very special people - both young people and staff with a full house of parents relatives friends and local residents. Those with whom I spoke were rightly proud of the School and the atmosphere which enabled the high standard of performance to be achieved.

Founded in 1835, the royal Blind School provides specialist education, term-time residential care, therapies and support for youngsters up to 18. As background, here are some of the previous posts about the Blind School.

Improving health of 'local people'

2011-12-16T09:48:00.001Z

My efforts in the snow, Jan 2011

Almost £2m is being made available from a NHS related charity for projects which will improve the health of local people. The money comes from donors and bequests made to hospitals and health care over many decades - and is now available to anyone who can propose a project which will improve the health of people local to the Lothians. The charity is the Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation.

More details here. Your application must be in by 31st January 2012.

Speaking of health, anyone care to join me for the Great Winter Run in Holyrood Park on 7th January?

Tourist tax illegal

2011-12-16T07:30:00.000Z

The Scottish Government has no intention of giving Edinburgh powers to raise a tourist tax. So said the Tourism minister Fergus Ewing in the Scottish Parliament today. More details from this BBC report.

Background and previous post here.

Holyrood power blackout

2011-12-15T22:35:00.002Z

Parts of the Holyrood Road area, as well as Broughton, St Andrews Square, Leith Walk and parts of the Old Town lost electricity for much of the afternoon today. Supply was restored early evening.

More details here.

Stunning road casualty map

2011-12-14T20:36:00.002Z

A map of road casualties shows locations and details of deaths in the ten years from 2000 to 2009 inclusive.

The interactive map can be found here. It looks like two pedestrians and a cyclist have died in the ward in the last ten years. See here.

Definitely worth a look.

Bed tax - no thanks

2011-12-12T20:33:00.000Z

The clue is in the word 'tax'! A bed tax for Edinburgh hotels and guest houses is not a good idea. It is better to knock down barriers for visitors coming to Edinburgh rather than put prices up. In any case there is the layer of bureaucracy involved in the collection of such a payment/tax.

The policy, which has now been adopted in principle by Edinburgh Council, subject to further investigation, will affect the many bed and breakfast and hotel establishments in the Southside and Newington area particularly.

I thought comments of Steve Cardownie, the SNP deputy leader of the Council were particularly ill-judged. He is quoted in this report as saying amongst other comments which will be hard to bear by many local businesses:

"The hotels make no contribution to festivals and events in this city."

Edinburgh struggles for accommodation at peak times and the wide range of accommodation available is a key part of the offer for visitors coming to this city. Besides, this recent report gives just one example of a very practical contribution by one hotelier to keep the Princes Street Gardens Skating Rink alive.

Prominent amongst those pushing the proposal is another Steve, my fellow Southside & Newington councillor, Steve Burgess of the Greens, as this example of the coverage shows.

The Evening News today suggests that imposing such a charge may be beyond the council's powers.

Squeezing The Grapes

2011-12-10T16:11:00.001Z

Locals to The Grapes pub in South Clerk Street will know the reputation it has.

That reputation attracted the police who swooped at 1pm yesterday according to this article. Not that they reported finding any crimes.

Less bovver with a hovver

2011-12-10T15:04:00.001Z

I suspect we will hear a little more about the Council's decision earlier this week to reject proposals for a hovercraft service from Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh. In the interests of transparency I was on the Planning Committee which took the decision by a narrow 6 votes to 5.

I was one of the five who voted to grant the planning application. The opportunity to open up a new route with the Stagecoach company shouldering the investment risk (they had already invested significant effort to get to the venture before the planning committee) has now been passed up.

Who can say if the venture would have been a success in the long run, but the risk to Council funds was low and the potential of providing a valuable service which would save travel time for many and relieve the congestion of the Forth Bridge bottleneck was very attractive.

Certainly the site was not ideal (further west would have reduced distances to busy parts of the city) and provision of park and ride facilities would have helped, but for me at least, the opportunity to improve the city's transport links for travellers was a considerable prize which far outweighed any down sides.

Stagecoach have said they will not appeal. I think the second and third bullet points at the head of their press release here sum up the key points rather well. Another report here.

Council proposals

2011-12-09T08:32:00.001Z

School Meals are included

There is a drop in session at Newington Library today to enable sight of proposals to deliver a chunk of building maintenance and services through a contract with a company. The details can be seen and discussed between 10:00 and 12 noon.
The services include:

maintaining public buildings like community centres, libraries and schools
janitorial and security services
cleaning services
providing school meals

The Council are set to take a decision on whether to sign the contract on 19th January. More details on this page under the IFM section.

More lights to be switched on

2011-12-09T08:13:00.001Z

The Mound

Prestonfield: 6pm today (9th Dec) at the War Memorial in Prestonfield Avenue
Marchmont/Sciennes: 4:30pm tomorrow (10th Dec) in Warrender Park Road outside Scotmid then at the German Speaking Church in Chalmers Crescent

Birlinn book blast on subsidies

2011-12-08T16:55:00.001Z

Birlinn Ltd is a book publisher based in Newington Road. Its managing director is Hugh Andrew. Today he has an excellent article in the Scotsman raising important issues about subsidies.

Particularly, he railed against Amazon being paid £10m to locate in Scotland when local firms loose jobs and do not get such subsidy largesse. Whilst all companies need to adapt to changing demands - and Amazon have a business model which is superbly efficient for customers who increasingly buy books online - he makes some excellent points about subsidies and the corrosive effect they have. Here below are a couple of extracts but the full article is well worth a read.

It is this story that reveals the utter moral and economic bankruptcy at the heart of Scottish government. . .

. . . Ultimately business flourishes not because of subsidy but profit, and it is the creation of a flourishing economic ecosystem which enables that profit to be generated. Every distortion, every subsidy represents not an enhancement of that ecosystem but its slow death. And to add insult to injury, it is indigenous business that will pay for its own destruction through a 5.6 per cent increase in business rates in the worst recession in our lifetimes.

Storm damage

2011-12-08T14:23:00.001Z

An old picture from the Meadows

Well, the nurseries closed first and all Edinburgh Council schools closed at lunchtime. Lothian Buses have scaled back services substantially, First Bus are withdrawing double deckers and Scotrail are operating a temporary timetable. All libraries and community centres are closed.

And if you lose electricity, here are the emergency electricity numbers (Scottish Power is second on the list).

Camping, the Meadows and the Scotsman

2011-12-08T13:51:00.000Z

There is an article in the Scotsman today grandly suggesting the Meadows might become a campsite during the Edinburgh Festival.

What happened was this. A few months ago the Edinburgh Festivals Challenge - a online brainstorming of ideas to improve Edinburgh's festivals came up with 25 ideas. One of them from Judy M of Edinburgh was the suggestion to use the Meadows as a campsite. The idea took a bit of flak and Judy M agreed that the Meadows was not such a good idea though other sites could work. Nonetheless, a panel of seven of the great and the good (see here) selected 5 of the ideas as worthy of a bit of further investigation as to whether they might contain something viable.

In today's Scotsman an inventive journalist has written the story up a bit, conjuring the prospect of a kind of T in the Park in the Meadows.

It won't happen, though. The Meadows is already busy enough in the summer. The idea somewhere might have merit in principle, but it won't happen in the Meadows. The Council's events team are now doing all they can to scotch the possibility.

2500 posts - and more to come

2011-12-07T17:30:00.000Z

This week has seen the 2500th post on this news blog.

For almost five years - from Monday 5th February 2007 - this blog has provided daily news and information, almost entirely local to the Southside and Newington area of Edinburgh.

Thank you to those many readers who follow it and especially those who have been kind enough to feed back to me its usefulness.

The blog also provides a handy archive of events in the area - either via a Google search or the blog search field at the top left of every page.

Bristo culprits on CCTV?

2011-12-07T15:37:00.001Z

Police believe these two males may be responsible

Police have released CCTV footage of two men (above) wanted in connection with a serious assault in the Bristo Square area which took place back in August.

The incident took place on 27th August at 2:30am when the 45 year-old male victim, walking from the underpass towards Bristo Square, was left with a fractured skull, cheekbone and jaw.

Fuller details can be found on the police press release here and in the BBC report here.

Christmas lights switch on

2011-12-06T13:54:00.001Z

There are three ceremonies switching on Christmas tree lights in the ward this week.

First in St Patrick Square at 6pm this evening followed by refreshments in the Southside Community Centre. Edinburgh Maker Ron Butlin is pressing the switch.

Then Friday in Prestonfield, at the Prestonfield War Memorial in pPrestonfield Avenue at 6:30pm

And finally the Christmas tree in Marchmont will be lit outside the Co-op in Warrender Park Road at 4:30pm on Saturday. There will be a choir and refreshments afterwards in the nearby German Speaking Church.

Meadows assaults: Man arrested

2011-12-05T12:46:00.001Z

A male has been arrested and charged in connection with a number of sexual assaults within the Meadows area. He will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow (6th December). I understand enquiries are still ongoing.

Here is my post regarding an assault which took place near the tennis courts on 22nd November. Police have not indicated if the charges relate to this incident.

Update 8.12.11: The Evening News has an article (not yet online) on the appearance in court of a 41 year-old-man charged with assaults in the Meadows (November 15th) and Causewayside (Dec 1st).

Pandamania

2011-12-03T15:59:00.001Z

Add caption

The countdown until giant pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang arrive in Edinburgh is almost over with just hours to go.

Full details here.

And for those of you looking for the Southside & Newington connection, there is none. I just thought you might want to visit them before long.

Edinburgh Makar lights up

2011-12-03T07:30:00.000Z

Ron Butlin, the Southside based Edinburgh Makar, will switch on the Christmas Tree lights at St Patrick Square on Tuesday (6th). There will be a short carol service at 6pm followed by light refreshments in the Southside Community Centre in Nicolson Street. All welcome to both.

The Makar is Edinburgh's equivilent of the Poet-Laureate

MOD comes to Nicolson Street to consult

2011-12-01T07:30:00.000Z

Wide and varied are the happenings in the Southside and Newington ward.

This month you can learn about (and give your views) to the Ministry of Defence on its (nuclear) submarine dismantling project. The venue is Surgeon's Hall in Nicolson Street beginning on Friday 9th December.

For dates, times and more details see here.

Pensions

2011-11-30T14:59:00.001Z

I appreciate it has proved diffiult to get a grasp of the many issues in the debate over pensions. Here are a few facts which are not always understood:

Public sector pensions will remain among the very best available – a guaranteed level and inflation proofed.
Most will see no reduction in the pension income they receive at retirement and many low and middle income earners will in fact receive a larger pension income at retirement.
Low earners making under £15,000 a year (FTE) - that’s 15 per cent of the workforce - will not have to make increased contribution. Another million workers earning up to £21,000 will have their total increase limited to 1.5 per cent over three years.
The pension people have built up so far will be protected: a guaranteed benefit in retirement free from market fluctuations or fees - something all but eliminated elsewhere.
No-one within ten years of retirement will see any change in the age they retire or in the amount of pension they will receive on retirement.
Only one in three workers in the private sector have an employer contribution at all, while nearly nine in ten in the public sector do.
Only 2.1 million people in the private sector, around 10% of private sector workers, are active members of a defined benefit pension scheme, with guaranteed benefits in retirement.
Added 30.11.11: It should be noted that a very significant factor in the increasing cost of pensions is good news: on average we are living longer and benefit from pension payments for longer.

Rugby: Mike Blair at Sciennes

2011-11-30T07:30:00.000Z

Scotland scrum-half Mike Blair visited Sciennes Primary this week drumming up support for Edinburgh's crunch match against Aironi this week-end at Murrayfield.

More details here.

Edinburgh Council closed

2011-11-29T22:59:00.001Z

Edinburgh Council services are pretty well closed for business on Wednesday 30th. Here is a guide to what's open and what's closed in the Council.

However, buses should be running as normal.

Here is a post I wrote a year ago showing the unfair public sector pension burden on taxpayer.

Baxterbear at Prestonfield

2011-11-28T08:26:00.001Z

That is. . . Baxterbear was at Prestonfield House Hotel raising funds for the St Columba's Hospice charity!!

More about him here.

Dynamic Earth: harassment unchecked

2011-11-26T11:22:00.001Z

Dynamic Earth employers have been ordered to pay £27,750 in compensation to a woman cleaner for failing to deal properly with her complaint of sexual harassment.

The details are in this BBC report. (The report is notable for its bizarre headline, "Dynamic Earth . . . wins case" at the time of posting.)

Last year another employee was convicted of assault and dismissed. This post tells the story.

Southside Community Council folds

2011-11-24T16:07:00.001Z

Disputes amongst members of Southside Community Council led to the majority of the members resigning.

Insufficient volunteers came forward to replace them and the Coummunity Council is now formally being dissolved.

Here is my post about the developing situation from October.

Strike next Wednesday

2011-11-24T15:39:00.001Z

All Edinburgh schools and many council premises will be closed next Wednesday (30th) as teaching and other unions strike. The strikes are part of a national 'day of action' and the strike has been called by the EIS, UCATT, GMB, Unison and Unite.

Here is the link for updates on whether Council premises will be open.

Efficiency savings thrown out

2011-11-24T13:06:00.001Z

After amost three years of research, negotiation, bidding and analysis, Edinburgh Council this afternoon rejected outsourcing a range of services which had offered very considerable improvements in services at a saving of £72m over the contract period of 7 years.

The LibDem/SNP administration fell apart on the issue - despite having been united in approving the process for the past two years - a process which itself has cost £3-4m.

As on the recent trams vote, the SNP changed tack at the last minute and, rejecting assessments of the best value and improved services which would result from the move, voted down the deal.

The Council is now faced with a considerable gap in its planned budget and will now have to find savings by rationalising in house.

It is not clear what changed the mind of SNP Group. It may be that it is a convenient opportunity to break the coalition with the Lib Dems in advance of the local government elections next May.

It has also been suggested that they have been instructed by the tightly run SNP national hierarchy, that electoral advantage would be obstructed by upsetting the unions in the run up to the elections. Whatever the reason, it is difficult to see how the decision could have been taken on rational grounds in the light the very considerable advantages offered to the Council through the outsourcing process.

They joined Labour and the Greens in voting against the proposals.

Previous posts here and here.

Assault near Meadows tennis courts

2011-11-24T09:42:00.001Z

Tennis courts pinpointed above

On Tuesday evening between 6:50 and 7:00 pm an incident took place near the tennis courts in the East Meadows when a 21-year-old jogger was sexually assaulted.

Police want to hear from anyone who can provide information. The suspect is described as being around 30-years-old, 5ft 10ins tall, andis dark-skinned, possibly Indian appearance. He was clean-shaven atthe time and was wearing a grey hooded top and is believed to have made off towards Buccleuch Street.

More details in the police press release.

There is no indication at this point that the incident was related to the incident in the West Meadows reported earlier this month.

Busy, busy

2011-11-23T23:33:00.001Z

A few days of light blogging are in the offing as I'm committed to a busy spell - mainly council business - and in addition, I'm spending any spare moments reading other people's emails. . . . some of whom are local residents.

Local resident continues as Makar

2011-11-22T23:09:00.001Z

Only a few days after making his first appearance in this blog, local resident Ron Butlin is in view again as his tenure as Edinburgh Makar has been extended for a further three years.

Effectively, he is Edinburgh's Poet Laureate. See here for the report which was approved at the council's Culture and Leisure Committee earlier this year and here for the STV report of his appearance before the Committee today.

Time almost up for temporary lights

2011-11-21T11:12:00.001Z

It used to look like this!

The contractor working on gas mains work in the Minto Street/Newington Road area is due off site (at least on the main road) by the end of this week. This is because of the Christmas embargo of work on most main roads - and the contractor will take up the work again around Wednesday 4th January.

In the meantime that doesn't mean there won't be continuing work in the area - it will just be concentrated on the side roads in the Grange Road area.

In the meantime, the temporary lights at Minto Street, Newington Road are manually controlled during the day with a view to minimising queues.

Fiddles in the Southside

2011-11-21T08:59:00.001Z

This weekend was the Scottish Fiddle Festival in Edinburgh. The three venues were all in the Southside & Newington ward:

Queen's Hall in Clerk Street
King's Hall in South Clerk Street
South Hall, Pollock Halls

Subaru donation to Sick Kids

2011-11-18T23:05:00.001Z

Before being badged up!

The Royal hospital for Sick Children in Sciennes has taken delivery of a Subaru Forester XC. The vehicle will be used to transport doctors, nurses and lifesaving equipment from the intensive care unit to wherever they are needed. The Subaru has been donated by A F Noble and Sons of Bilston.

More here.

Snow wardens

2011-11-17T22:01:00.001Z

Clearing snow creatively

Still there is no sign of a big freeze - but if you wish to volunteer to be a local snow warden - now is the time to do so.

With three consecutive winters of below average temperatures - and the last two classed as severe - I thought you might like to look at the local arrangements for local self help volunteers. The number to phone - and more information, is to be found at this link.

Local Makar imprisoned

2011-11-17T07:30:00.000Z

Ron Butlin lives in the Southside. He is also Edinburgh's Makar - or put another way, Edinburgh's Poet Laureate. Earlier this week he was in prison - on behalf of PEN. You can find the whole story here.

Meadows assault at 3:30am

2011-11-16T12:23:00.001Z

Lothian & Borders Police have a press release out about a sexual assault on a 19 year old victim in the Meadows early yesterday morning. The location appears to have been in the West Meadows north of Melville Drive. Details here. Police are requesting anyone with relevant information to contact them.

A Prestonfield business is born

2011-11-15T18:30:00.000Z

An Armands Sprogi photo

Armands Sproggi from the Kirkhill area (Prestonfield) has set up a photography business even before he finished his course at Stevenson College.

STV have this article on him and his experience - and if you want him to take your wedding photographs, you will find his website here.

Causewayside cycle traffic up 15%

2011-11-15T16:32:00.000Z

Today was the day when The Bike Station did a count of cyclists using Causewayside during the morning rush hour. The figure showed a 15% rise on numbers taken on the same day (third Tuesday) last year when the weather was similar.

Time to register your child?

2011-11-14T07:30:00.000Z

School registration starts on Monday 14 November
If your child is five years old before 28 February 2013 you can register them for a primary school place at one of the Edinburgh Council schools. Registration in starts on Monday 14 November and your catchment school will be able to tell you when they are registering pupils.

Details here.

And while we are on the subject letters will be issued by pupil post from mid-November to parents of primary seven pupils who are attending a council primary school. This will confirm the secondary school serving your home address.No action is needed unless you want to send your child to a different school. A non catchment placing request will have to be completed and will be available from your primary school from 14 November.

Prestonfield Remembrance

2011-11-13T12:49:00.001Z

Today over 100 people attended the local Remembrance ceremony in Prestonfield.

The location is immaculately kept and, as well as appropriate signage, there is now a box hedge spelling our Prestonfield War Memorial which is growing in nicely.

Rev Jared Hay from Priestfield Church led the ceremony which included the reading out of the names of local people who had died - ending with that of Cpl Mark Wright who died in Afghanistan.

Last year's post is here and more information on Mark Wright who was killed in service in 2006 can be found here.

West Savile footway reconstruction

2011-11-12T07:30:00.000Z

There will be parking restrictions in West Savile Road from Monday 14th November for up to a week to facilitate foot way reconstruction.

Bin dispute ends at last

2011-11-11T12:23:00.001Z

Edinburgh's refuse collection dispute which has gone on for almost two and a half years is to be ended. The refuse staff, who were 'working to rule' and refusing to work overtime have now agreed to resume normal working. The work they declined to do went to other refuse companies.

A Unison representative explained:

". . .they recognise that, in the current climate, their terms and pay are better protected by trying to work with management in making the service as efficient as possible."

Hello! So this group of public employees recognise after two and a half years that an efficient service is in everybody's interests. Welcome to reality.

So where are we now. Currently, before the Council is a proposal, brought forward by the SNP and Lib Dem Administration, to employ a company to deliver street cleaning, refuse collection and ground maintenance. Contracted savings are an eye watering minimum of £51m over 7 years with significantly more in prospect, even after very significant legal and employment protection for current employees. And in addition, improvements and capital investment in the service are contractual.

Most of the Lib Dem councillors are in favour. SNP rejected the proposals last month saying they want the services done in house with the current employees and management. Labour, although they have previously contracted services out in Edinburgh, have said they will vote against the proposal. As is usual in these issues, the Greens are allied with Labour.

And I (and my fellow Conservatives) will be voting for the option, brought forward by the Lib Dem and SNP Administration, which is by a long way, the best value for the people of Edinburgh.

Having voted to delay the decision last month (how typical!) the Council will decide how to proceed on Thursday 24th November. We shall see then who has have changed their minds.

The irony is that, with all the legal and employment guarantees that exist, it will almost certainly be the best option for most of the Council staff who have just agreed to end their dispute. It is in their interests as well for Edinburgh to have better and more efficient services.

Happy 11th birthday, Daniel

2011-11-11T07:51:00.001Z

To be 11 today is the happy lot today of Daniel Hinton who lives in the Mayfield Road area. Congratulations.

More information in this BBC report which notes that Bryony Turner from the Canongate shares the birthday. Congratulations.

Politicians in Prestonfield

2011-11-11T07:41:00.001Z

Salmond at Prestonfield

At the Politician of the Year awards at Prestonfield House Hotel last night, the main award went to Alex Salmond.

The full list, which includes Murdo Fraser for the 'Political Impact' award and Ruth Davidson for the 'Newcomer' award, can be found here.

New site, new Boroughmuir - on track

2011-11-10T12:32:00.002Z

Earlier proposals for the site

Although outside the ward, Boroughmuir School has a catchment area which includes parts of the Southside & Newington ward.

So it is worth reporting that Edinburgh Council has taken a significant step towards solving the thorny question of whether to refurbish the school or rebuild it on a new site.

The state of the property market has led Lloyds Banking Group to sell the Fountainbridge site originally planned for its headquarters. Eyeing up part of the site for the needed new school, the Council put in a bid which looks on track to be accepted later this month.

The Council has secured ‘preferred bidder’status. The successfulpurchase is conditional on the conclusion of missives and Council approval atthe Council meeting on 24 November.

Update: The BBC have now put up a report - here.

High profile night for Prestonfield

2011-11-10T09:51:00.002Z

The Scottish Politician of the Year awards take place tonight at Prestonfield House Hotel. They are sponsored by the Herald newspaper whose online access policy makes links laborious - so here is a selection of my posts from the events over the previous four years:

Trouble at mosque

2011-11-09T09:13:00.000Z

The ongoing dispute at the Central Mosque in Potterrow is reported in The Herald today (free registration required).

The current case, being heard before the Court of Session today, is a claim for expenses and costs incurred by Imam Muhammad Sajjad Asim during the period from May 2006 until he was sacked earlier this year.

I understand the Imam won an unfair dismissal case against the mosque earlier this year.

The future shape of Edinburgh

2011-11-09T07:30:00.000Z

Previous two plans will become one

There is a draft Local Development Plan out for consultation and public views at the moment. It is described as a Main Issues Report and it lays out the options and proposed priorities for the guiding the shape of Edinburgh in the coming 8 years.

Interested? You can find it here.

Local resident hosts safety campaign

2011-11-08T19:00:00.000Z

Pic: Deadline

Last month I reported on a fire in Cobden Crescent when an electric blanket ignited. Harriet Fulford rescued her five month old baby and, as this report details, has now agreed to front a fire safety campaign.

Local resident hosts 'Scotland Tonight'

2011-11-08T07:30:00.000Z

Rona used to work for Sky

Rona Dougal, a resident in the Newington area is the new co-anchor of the TV news programme Scotland Tonight.

More here.

New Head Teacher for Gillespies

2011-11-07T14:00:00.000Z

Bruntsfield House, part of Gillespies

Donald MacDonald is the new Head Teacher at James Gillespies High School following the retirement of Alex Wallace.

He takes up the post on Monday 9th January 2012. He is currently a very highly regarded head teacher at Liberton High School.

Daniel is 11 on 11.11.11

2011-11-07T07:30:00.000Z

Just as it says. Daniel Hinton who lives in Newington.

More (brief) details here.

Local scientists in fracking debate

2011-11-05T22:17:00.001Z

British Geological Survey scientist Dr Brian Baptie, based at Murchison House in West Mains Road, has contributed to the debate on whether the extraction of shale gas contributes to earthquakes.

Suggestions that huge finds of shale gas may become a game changer in UK energy supplies have been dogged by recent links to small earthquakes recorded in Lancashire. Baptie commented:

‘The proposed maximum acceptable earthquake of a magnitude 2.6 earthquake might, at a depth of 3km, result in an intensity of shaking that would not be expected to cause any damage but would be widely felt by people indoors and out, and may displace objects on shelves.’

In response to a report playing down the dangers of the fracking method of extracting shale gas, Professor Stuart Haszeldene (of Edinburgh University) countered with a more cautious assessment:

‘Although this is a very thorough report, I would be very cautious before proceeding with more commercial drilling.'

More details can be found here along with a discussion of fracking.

Ruth Davidson new leader

2011-11-04T18:16:00.000Z

Ruth Davidson is the new leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

The results were as follows:

First round:
Davidson - 2278
Fraser - 2096
Carlaw - 980
Mitchell - 472

2nd Round:
Davidson - 2469
Fraser - 2180
Carlaw - 980

3rd Round:
Davidson: - 2983
Fraser - 2417

OK, not the result I voted for but the people who mattered in this election have spoken.

'The Grapes' gain extension

2011-11-04T15:12:00.000Z

The Grapes in Clerk Street, a troubled pub which lost some of its opening hours at a hearing of the Licensing Board in April this year, has won back its morning opening hours from 9am at another hearing this week.

It is difficult to comprehend this decision of the councillors on the Licensing Board earlier this week in the face of the evidence presented by the police which is contained in this news report. Below are some extracts of the evidence presented:

"Council officers were also said to have been prevented from inspecting the premises by drunk punters whilst staff made "no attempt" to intervene during the incident in May. . . on entering the premises, they were approached by two hostile patrons, who prevented the officers from carrying out their duty"

"In his police report, Inspector Gordon Hunter added: "The incidents detailed that staff had poor control of the patrons, an issue that was exacerbated by the cheap pricing of alcohol. The detection of cellophane wraps within the toilet indicated that persons were involved in the misuse of drugs on the premises. . . . He urged the councillors to keep the ban in place."

In vain.

If any local residents or others have a story to tell I will be interested to hear it. See here for my contact details.