Day: May 2, 2012

Polling Day information

With the local council elections tomorrow (Thursday 3 May), the City of Edinburgh Council is reminding voters what they need to know to have their say on polling day:

  • Check where you should vote. Details of your local polling station will be on your poll card or are available from the online maps. If you have not received it or are unsure of where to go call: 0131 200 2315. Polling stations will be open from 7am – 10pm.
  • Bring your poll card with you to the polling station, it may speed things up. But don’t worry if you don’t have it, you can still vote without it.
  • Remember that this year you vote using numbers instead of using an X. Just put a 1 next to your first choice, a 2 next to your second choice, a 3 next to your third choice and so on. You can choose how many candidates to number from one, to as many as you would like.
  • If you’re unsure of how to complete your ballot paper, a member of staff will be able to help you. You can also watch a video of Victor the Voter, who can show you how.
  • If you applied for a postal vote, make sure it is returned by 10pm on Thursday 3 May. If you have left it too late to post back, you can drop it off at your local polling station or at the City Chambers on the High Street or to reception at the Council Headquarters on East Market Street.

City of Edinburgh Council

Local firefighters get on their bikes for Oaklands

A team of local firefighters will set out to cycle the length of the country to raise funds for Oaklands School this week. The officers from Crewe Toll’s White Watch plan to pedal from Lands End to John o’ Groats – a distance of 845 miles – over nine gruelling days.

The firefighters hope their efforts will raise enough sponsorship money to purchase at least one specialised Petra Running Bike, which give children a totally new experience of freedom when they use them, for the school.

David Dourley, who was White Watch commander, explained: “We have a team of ten cyclists, plus two support drivers who are retired colleagues, and we set off down south on Thursday. We decided to support Oaklands because we have a very good working relationship with the school – being on Ferry Road it’s very close to the Fire station and we’re regular visitors. Some of the children and young people at Oaklands have severe and complex additional support needs and we know the staff do a really fantastic job here. When we heard Oaklands needed support to raise money for these amazing bikes we were delighted to offer our services. I hope we’re all still feeling the same way after the trip!’

Colleague Ali McKay added: ‘We’ve got all levels of experience in the team – some guys cycle regularly, while one of our blokes only bought a bike a couple of weeks ago! We’ve been training, but none of us have done anything like this before – eight to ten hours per day for nine days – so it will be a real challenge. It’s for a great cause though and we’re really looking forward to it – honestly!’

Good luck, White Watch. We’ll let you know how the guys get on.

Fabby Food at West Pilton

Forth councillor Cammy Day opened West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre’s new food co-operative yesterday. The Fabby Food Store offers quality fresh produce at competitive prices and the West Pilton Grove location is convenient for local shoppers.

Cammy Day said: ‘People will remember Barri Grubb, the food co-op based at the Health Project, had to close because of council cuts. That project is a real loss so I am delighted to see this new resource – a partnership between the city council, Community Learning and Development and local people – open here today. I hope many local people will use the new shop and I wish the venture every success’.

He went on to present a basket of goodies to local woman Johann Boyle (pictured below), who won the competition to name the new co-op – Fabby Food Store.

Fabby Food Store opens on Tuesdays from 10am – 2pm. For further information call West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre on 551 3194.