This week, Muirhouse and Salvesen Community Council launched their campaign to stop the Council closing paths that lead from Muirhouse into Silverknowes Eastway. The petition was launched following a public meeting organised by the Davidsons Mains Silverknows Association last month where they have requested the Council look to close off these public footpaths.
As well as closing off the footpaths the Council are also looking at installing up to twelve CCTV monitors in private houses, two of which will be linked to the City in View system which will allow the Police to monitor them at a cost of £4,800.00.
The public meeting which took place on 17th November was attended by over two hundred residents from Silverknowes following a spate of vandalisms and an increase in anti social behavior. Natalie Hoy, Neighbourhood Manager for the West of the City, was in attendance along with Ruth Stanley from the North Office, local Politicians and representatives from the Police.
It was agreed that the Closure of the access points from Muirhouse was the “most important consideration in trying to solve these problems” and according to the Davidsons Mains Silverknowes Association website “there was an assurance this would proceed as quickly as possible”
This is a move, which has angered the Muirhouse and Salvesen Community Council and their Chairperson, Roy Douglas said ” We are disgusted to learn that residents of Silverknowes (who are technically part of Forth Ward) want to close public access footpaths. These footpaths are part of Muirhouse and lead into a newish housing complex that is part of Muirhouse and the Forth Ward. No “Berlin Wall” should be allowed to be built between Communities in this day and age. These paths are used by our school children to get to school safely away from busy main roads and are used by people to access local shops and bus routes.”
We are also disgusted to learn what Police resources have been used and how much is being spent in response to the residents of Silverknowes Eastway complaints. According to a Police representative who attended our meeting said reports have been minor incidents, a smashed window, car keying. In other areas of the Forth Ward they happen every other day. We acknowledge that there is a youth issue in parts of Muirhouse but with the involvement of our local professional Youth Agencies which have great success in engaging with local youth in resolving such issues, and we feel that resources should be given to them.
If the Council allow such division in communities where does the Equality and Diversity policies for our city stand? Peter Strong did apologise that our Community Council was not informed but he should hang has head in shame for allowing another Neighbourhood Partnership to become involved in the affairs of the Forth Ward. We are heading up to a local election and councillors of an adjoining ward want to scare monger and get support to the splitting up of communities and get votes for their parties. Leave our Community alone, do not create more problems with a wall of division.
Our Community Council have circulated petitions for residents of Muirhouse to become aware of this and sign. All we all want for Christmas is Peace and Goodwill lets achieve a New Year with Communities living in Harmony not peering over a wall at each other.”
Inspector John Cooper from Lothian and Borders police said “The main issues are youths passing through Silverknowes to congregate in the Davidsons mains area and this has lead to a number of minor vandalism’s such as car windows being smashed and cars being scratched.
At this moment in time we have not been asked to provide any evidence to suggest that closing these paths will resolve the problems currently being experienced. Over the past few months we have had undertaken a variety of tasks to identify these youths and this has included increased patrols in the area as well as the use of the CCTV van which has been located in the are for the past few weeks.”
Natalie Hoy the West Neighbourhood manager said “To be very clear the Council and Police committed to commissioning a Environmental Survey of the area using Safer by Design which is an accredited and recognised tool for assessing environmental factors in a local area, this survey is carried out by colleagues in Lothian and Borders Police.
I must stress that the council have not committed to closing the footpaths, this will be subject to further discussion and will involve communities from both West and North. A cross neighbourhood summit involving senior officials from the police and council, elected members and community representatives will be convened in the next few weeks.
The Council has committed to offering CCTV provision in domestic properties in the area affected and to explore the Silverknowes Community Representative’s idea that he would like to see further cameras purchased, no cameras have been purchased and these discussions have commenced this week.
Significant work is already underway with young people in both the North and West looking at positive engagement and diversion, action will be taken in cases where this is appropriate jointly in partnership with our Police colleagues however we recognise that the vast majority of young people themselves want to live in a safe community. Council and Police work hard to tailor responses to local community issues and this is part of our neighbourhood working on a day to day basis.”
Almond Councillor Kate Mackenzie said “There have been lots of issues in and around the Silverknowes area caused by young people passing through. These issues have been mainly vandalism and local people have had enough of it. I am unaware what, if any, work has done been to engage with the young people that are causing this problem.”
Local Councillor Cammy Day said “I was made aware of the issues in Silverknowes Eastway, and a public meeting held in Almond ward regarding a few incidents that had taken place. Silverknowes Eastway is in the Forth Ward, and I was surprised not be invited to attend.
It’s important that we take this in perspective, and we take appropriate action to respond positively to any acts of vandalism or anti social behaviour.
I would be keen to have our community safety team and youth street work teams engage with the young people involved for a positive resolution.
A meeting of local representatives is to be arranged later this week to agree a course of action.”
What are your views on building fences to separate communities?
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I have just found this via google. I am really annoyed. I live in Muirhouse, and yes there are problems with some kids here whose parents don’t seem to give a s**t about what time they’re out til or anything like that, but you know what, if we have to just deal with that when we live in the area, the solution isn’t to shut people in so they smash up our houses instead of the more expensive ones next door! The solution is to sort it out properly, not lock everyone into Muirhouse at night- we aren’t animals in a zoo! I have reported young people climbing into electricity substations near me recently and police don’t seem bothered at all even though it’s obviously dangerous and scares my own children (who are, obviously, in before it gets dark every day, because some of us in Muirhouse are decent parents). If we don’t get any police response to problems in the area I don’t see why it’s considered reasonable to have such a costly and disproportionate response to anti-social behaviour migrating out. If the police and council etc dealt with it IN MUIRHOUSE by having patrols, maybe cctv on hotspots of problems, and proper youth facilities in the evening plus forcing social services to actually do something for these kids who are out all hours, then that would help more than gating in the community. I am sick of this snobbery in Edinburgh, I want to move house just because of the area I’m in having a bad reputation and poor schools, and I shouldn’t have to do that when all areas should be given equal resources.
Added, I just wonder why 215 people from all over Silverknowes attended the meeting in the school, would think that over 200 has a some problem over the years, if they did not
why did they come to the meeting, regarding CCTV in homes at a cost of £4,800 where did this come from, the proposal was for 5 not 12 and the cost was £2,000 a lot Les cost than the damage caused to property, I have spoken with the CCTV unit and they were against putting them in, but a new meeting will decide.
Its like living in a war zone, you have to see it for yourself to decide when a half brick comes in your window, you get it repaired and a few days later its broken again, elderly and infirm, are shaking and crying over this, if there was a law stating that no more than 4 youths could come through at one time that would sort it, but sometimes over 50 come,
since the police are attending at the weekend no problems, but they will be gone soon
the winter also helps with rain and cold weather keeping them indoors
if the walkway is not closed some long term solution will have to be done, there is many nice people in Muirehouse its a pity that 50 youths cause all this problem, swearing in the street under age drinking, and vandalising property.
Just to clarify some points in L Fraser comment:
The figures were taken from the minutes of the meeting on the DMSA website.
From information I have seen there have been 241 calls regarding Anti Social behaviour in the Silverknowes area this year so far, the figure is almost double that in the Muirhouse area but yet there is no major response from Council or police.
I understand that the majority of the young people are not even from the Murihouse area and in fact come from all areas including Drumbrae, Clermiston, Barnton and Silverknowes. I assume the 50 youths you reffer too wont all be from Murihosue.
Where did you get the idea one window was smashed and one car was keyed ?
14 windows were smashed over 2 weekends, 1 car window smashed, one car
mirror ripped off, 1 car broken into, 3 cars keyed 7 garages and 4 huts broken into, 30 youths walking on the road
stopping traffic, stones thrown at cats, and at a resident protecting his property
so how is it a minor problem, the youths always run through the walkway (why) if they
live in Silverknowes, the problem is not only in the Eastway but the Gardens and all
over the area, however come up with a better idea other than close the walkway.
Firstly, Where is the evidence that it is kids from muirhouse damaging vehicles? It could be kids from silverknowes! Secondly, how is a wall going to solve the problem? The root of the problem is alienated young people in the Forth Ward. Smashing windows and keying cars is a symptom of a wider problem that walls wont fix. For example, funding to youth provision is being cut, and money would be better spent ensuring our kids are included and supported.
I agree with jonb on the comment he has left. They don’t have any proof it was the kids from Muirhouse damaging the vehicles and it might be the kids from Silverknowes or elsewhere. Just to let you know that i was at a Edinburgh Youth Issues Forum Consultation about budget and youth was mentioned in my group as most young people felt that they didn’t feel included. But i will be getting the report from this meeting in the next few days/weeks.
Having lived on Silverknowes Eastway i can verify that the amount of youths that cross into the street is very troubling. They come from both the park path at the bottom of the street the entrance in the photo above. They vandalised my car, and i was robbed by a man from Pennywell and he came to my house via one of these paths. This could have been heavily with a ‘Berlin style’ wall.
I now no longer live there and do not have to worry about my children socialising with children who truthfully i would not want my kids to be around.
I think a wall would be a bloody good idea. Keep them out, or make it harder for them to get in, either or SIlverknowes is a lovely area and i’d like to keep it that way.
What really struck me was the fact that it is assumed that smashing a window and keying cars are “minor incidents”. Its not minor when you are the one paying £200 excess on your insurance, loosing your no claims and ultimatly being out of pocket for some low life that doesnt work … why should the hard working people in life pay for low life scum that not only cost us through taxes but then when they decide to damage your property … stick a big 30ft wall round them and make all our communities a safer place to life without the fear of damage to your property or yourself!
Edited slightly for publication purposes.
How dare you label residents of Muirhouse Scum…..shame on you . Let the Police and the youth organisations do thier job.Comments like this just cause more division and damage communities.
This was not infact a comment aimed at the residents of Muirhouse but more the youth that seems come from here. I often seem to ask myself where the parents are at the time there kids are destroying property? I just feel us the hard working people get the short end of the stick. We have to pay for people who cant be bothered working. I have no issues with people who cant work or unemployed for a short period of time, but when peoples job is going to the dole office, this is just unacceptable. I work hard for what i get, then some kid that has no boundaries, I am not saying that it is the kids of this areas faults they are the way they are, but the parents that dont seem to manage to control there children.
Anyway … i do not think the residents of muirhouse are scum, far from it … alot of them are extremely hard working people, but lets be honest, there is alot of people who are put there by our faithful council who are … undesirable …
GB : The very fact that you made this statement that residents living Muirhouse are ‘ Low life Scum’ is that you MEANT IT ! regardless of your slight backtracking in your lastest post. Building a 30ft wall will not solve any of the problems it could have a bigger detrimental effect on relations between both neighbourhoods. The only way to solve it is by all local Community Councils, Associations along with Police, Council reps & all local councillors from both wards (remember your problem is in Forth) to sit down and try to get a solution to the it. The Clean Green & Safe Group for Forth Ward would be the best place to start. Looking at past minutes DMSA have never sent a rep on behalf of the residents of the Eastway who are sreved by the Forth Ward maybe they should now.
Seperation is not the answer if it was the whole city would have ‘Berlin Walls popping up all over the place ’cause every neighbourhood have the most of the same issues.
I would urge you to withdraw your offensive comments and apoligies to the good people of Muirhouse.
This is a personal view and not that ogf DTCC.
Excuse me but why should my kids be locked in with anti-social ones just because I am unlucky enough to have lost my home when my partner went off with another woman? I’ve worked nearly all of my adult life just like you, I don’t see why just because I am not as lucky as to live in a posh area that my children should be treated like ‘scum’ when they are in from 5pm every day and are considered extremely bright at school, participate in voluntary work and gifted programmes, etc.