Info from EVOC

EVOC Annual Review Survey

Please spare five minutes to complete this short survey to help EVOC review its work over the last year (closes 30th April 2015).

Why Localities?

The city’s Third Sector must both prepare for the shift to localities as well as influence the shift to localities. To engage, inform, and gather views EVOC is hosting a series of thinkSpace events during April and May. We’re keen for as many Third Sector voices as possible to come together. Register to attend via our Eventbrite page.EVOClogo

City Chambers advice event for gala organisers

bunting

Councillor Gavin Barrie, Convenor of the Licensing Regulatory Committee would like to extend an invitation to a meeting on Wednesday, 29 April 2015 from 6pm – 7.30pm in the European Room at City Chambers.

There have been many queries from organisers so this evening should provide lots of useful information for those of you who are thinking of organising a Community Event or Gala Day.

Councillor Maureen Child will join us to sit on the panel for the Question & Answer session along with Catherine Scanlin, Licensing Manager and Gordon Hunter, Licensing Policy & Project Officer.

Agenda:
6pm Coffee
6.15pm Introduction from Councillor Barrie
6.25pm Presentation from the Licensing Service
6.45pm Questions and Answer Session
7.15pm Closing remarks

Could you please confirm your attendance by emailing isla.burton@edinburgh.gov.uk   

Please let us know if you require any assistance to attend or take part e.g. large print, disabled access requirements, travel arrangements, hearing loop, etc. We look forward to meeting you all!

Fiveways to have a wheely good weekend!

It’s all happening on our local cycle paths on Sunday

Launch poster 26 04 2015

Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust is running an event on the cycle paths in North Edinburgh this coming Sunday (writes ELGT’s Mark Sydenham).

Over the past few months we have been working at Fiveways Junction on some landscaping improvements to make Fiveways a landmark on the cycle paths.

Volunteers from Pilton Equalities Project and MYDG have been hard at work carrying out some woodland management and undergrowth clearance in the surrounding woodlands, opening the area up and cutting back overhanging ivy and branches to make the paths brighter and safer.

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre have been working on a six week project on the cycle paths with one of their groups, which has included learning about the paths and their history, and planting some fruit bushes.

Inv Quest Drylaw 26 April 2015

This coming Sunday, we are inviting everyone to come along and take part. We have fruit and other bushes to plant, as well as other activities. We will have prizes and goodies to give away too!.

To win one of the prizes, we have a little quiz/treasure hunt – to get the questions, turn up to either the Crewe Toll bridge (over Ferry Road) or King George V Park (Canonmills) between 1pm and 1.30pm and then search out the answers on your way to Fiveways (make sure you get there by 1.30!).

Or just come along to Fiveways and join in the activities between 1pm and 4pm.

There is more information here:

http://www.innertubemap.com/2015/04/26-april-fiveways-junction-makeover-day/

and we will be putting more things up on our Facebook page too

(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Edinburgh-Lothians-Greenspace-Trust/192106231309?ref=hl)

We hope to see some of you on Sunday!

Mark Sydenham, Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust

Telephone 445 4025  

www.elgt.org.uk

Letter: Capitalism – making millions miserable

capitalist-democracy

Dear Editor

Most people have felt the effects of the latest economic crisis; many people have experienced more than one.

The population needs to work regularly to be able to care for their families; they need good pay, decent conditions of work and security of employment.

We live in a capitalist society where the owners of money wealth control where and when to invest. More important to them is their right, if they find profit too low, to withdraw money from industry and business – even to the extent of closing them down – regardless of the effects on employees. This investment and disinvestment happens every day on a large scale, and the system allows a relatively small number of wealthy people to have power over the lives of many people. This cannot be right and must be changed.

As a first step in changing the sytem, the industries on which all people rely – electricity, gas, water supply and sewerage – should be excluded from private profit making as they are essential to every home. Rail and road passenger transport services are also essential in getting to and from work and for social mobility. Again, these industries are needed by everybody so it is essential they should be operated for the benefit of everyone, not for the private profit of the few.

Other essential universal services could also be ncluded, making furthr changes to the system of capitalism that has caused so much hardship to millions of people: people who are now being forced to pay for the crisis they did not create.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens 

The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

Row over ‘extraordinary’ claims in Lib Dem newspaper

cammo

The SNP has accused the Liberal Democrats of misleading voters in Edinburgh West, claiming plummeting poll ratings have ‘driven their opponents to a new low.’

With the general election now just two weeks away the SNP have challenged claims about the controversial Cammo planning application made in a Liberal Democrat newsletter.

An SNP spokesperson said: “Not content to openly ask Tory and Labour supporters to vote for them in order to stop the SNP candidate Michelle Thomson from winning Edinburgh West constituency, they are now trying to mislead and panic local residents over the housing application which has been referred to Cabinet Secretary Alex Neil for determination.

“The Liberal Democrat candidate Mike Crockart is quoted: ‘The SNP can’t run away from their record on Cammo. Their local councillors voted for the housing development. Only the Liberal Democrats can be trusted to work with residents to stop these plans going ahead.’ This statement is totally untrue. No councillors voted for the proposed housing development. The development was appealed by the developers on the grounds of non determination by the City of Edinburgh Council.

“The Liberal Democrats also ask three questions:

1. Why did the SNP put this in the hands of their housing minister Alex Neil from Airdrie, over our locally elected councillors? This is factually incorrect. No one from the SNP directed this to Alex Neil. The application was appealed on the grounds of non-determination by the Council and the legal pathway is being followed. The Council Planning committee was bypassed by the developers appeal.

2. Why has the SNP delayed the decision about Cammo until after the General Election? This is factually incorrect. The SNP have no part to play in this legal process: if the SNP were involved in trying to influence a live planning application this would be inapropriate and illegal. There is no date known as to when the determination will be made public.

3. Why did SNP councillors on the Council Planning Committee vote for the inclusion of housing at Cammo in the local development plan last year? This is factually incorrect. Councillors on the Planning Committee at last years meeting could not agree on a new local development plan which would have identified areas to be released for development. As a result, a fresh consultation on land available all over the city of Edinburgh was undertaken by the City Council of which Cammo was a part. It should be noted that no Liberal Democrat Councillor accepted a position on the Planning Committee and as a result have made absolutely no meaningful input into the planning deliberations.”

SNP MSP for Edinburgh Western Colin Keir said: “This is an extraordinary newspaper from the Liberal Democrats. It would appear that the blind panic caused by local polls which show the Liberal Democrats in freefall is clouding any good judgement they may have once had. They are now clearly misleading residents. While the SNP candidate Michelle Thomson has been following a positive agenda, the Liberal Democrats are suffering through a lack of trust because of their coalition with the Tories.”

Mr Keir added: “Mr Crockart has had all this explained to him. Cabinet Secretary Alex Neil even wrote to him some weeks ago explaining the process regarding the Cammo housing appeal, which is on record. Obviously Mr Crockart either doesn’t understand the process, or the lack of trust shown in polls to the Liberal Democrats is well founded as residents are clearly being misled.”

Edinburgh West was once a Conservative stronghold but the Lib-Dems have held the Westminster constituency – which covers a wide area from Drylaw and Muirhouse out to South Queensferry – since 1997. The SNP currently hold the equivalent Edinburgh Western seat in the Holyrood parliament.

Candidates contesting the Edinburgh West seat on 7 May are: Patricia Black (Greens), Mike Crockart (Lib Dems), Cammy Day (Labour), Otto Inglis (UKIP), Lindsay Paterson (Conservative) and Michelle Thomson (SNP).