Category: Leith

‘No one is untouchable’ – but less than five years for ‘significant’ North Edinburgh drugs pair

A man and a woman have today (Thursday, 8 April) been sentenced for the supply of Class A and Class B drugs in North Edinburgh.

Moses Irungu (40) was sentenced to four and half years in prison, and Nontuthuzelo Halana (44) was sentenced to 8 months, at the High Court in Aberdeen following an intelligence led operation that led to the seizure of over £350,000 worth of controlled drugs being taken off the streets.

The operation began in May 2020, during when officers searched properties in Edinburgh on Pilton Drive North and Steads Place in Leith. Twenty-two kilograms of amphetamine, two kilograms of heroin and £10,000 cash were recovered. 

Irungu was subsequently arrested in connection.

A further search at a property in Ferry Gait Crescent in Muirhouse in June 2020 led to the recovery of items including mixing agent, crack cocaine and over £4,000 cash.

Halana was also traced at this address and arrested in connection with this and the previous seizures.

Both previously appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, 1 March, 2021 where they pled guilty to drug supply offences.

Detective Inspector Gary Reid from the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit said: “We welcome the conviction and today’s sentencing of Irungu and Halana for their involvement in the supply of controlled drugs.

“This intelligence led operation resulted in over £350,000 worth of controlled drugs being seized. We would like to send a clear message to anyone who is involved in the supply of drugs onto the streets of Scotland that if you expect to profit from other people’s misery, expect to be targeted by law enforcement.

“It’s clear Irungu and Halana were operating at a significant level in the drugs supply chain and bringing offenders to court, recovering illegal substances and disrupting the supply chain is our highest priority. No one is untouchable.

“The public continue to play a vital role in assisting our investigations into drug related activity and anyone with any concerns about drugs, or who has information about those involved in the drugs, should contact Police Scotland on 101 or make an anonymous report to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Lib Dems announce candidate list and pledge to “Put Recovery First”

As nominations close, Scottish Liberal Democrats have announced their list of candidates for Lothian and are pledging their commitment to make recovery from the pandemic their number one priority as MSPs.

Today the Scottish Liberal Democrats submitted their nomination papers for the upcoming Scottish parliament election to be held on the 6th May.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh Northern and Leith will be Rebecca Bell (above). She is also the mental health spokesperson for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Rebecca Bell said: “People are under huge pressure from the pandemic. There’s a lot of work to be done to recover from this crisis. It will not be easily done and we will need our complete focus on the project at hand.

“As an MSP, I want to focus on cutting mental health waits, a bounce back plan for education, creating jobs and tackling the climate emergency.

“After years of arguing about independence and Brexit, the last thing we need right now is another independence referendum.

“As the MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, I will put the recovery first.”

Willie Rennie said: “This election is about priorities. Liberal Democrats will put recovery first. After the dreadful year we have endured, people want a needle-sharp focus on jobs, mental health, our NHS, schools and the climate crisis.

“With ten years of experience as leader I have won support for areas like mental health, education and nursery education.  For me it has always been about investing in people so they can do great things.

“For the next five years the divided nationalists will put independence first, dividing the country too.

“For the next five years I will put the recovery first, cut mental health waits, help pupils bounce back, create jobs and take action on the climate. The SNP will prioritise another independence referendum.

New housing planned for Salamander Street

Comprehensive Design Architects (CDA) has filed outline plans to build a mixed-use development with 285 apartments on Leith’s Salamander Street.

Landowner John G Russell (Transport) Ltd said properties on the 3.4-acre site are surplus to requirements and plans to demolish these buildings ahead of the redevelopment of the site.

The redevelopment proposes a residential-led, mixed-use development which would offer approximately 300 new residential apartments of which 25% will be affordable homes in line with council planning policy.

Commercial uses will be provided at ground floor level and other ancillary development will include car parking, access, landscaping and associated infrastructure.

In a planning statement submitted with the plans, CDA wrote: “The varying scale of the proposal looks to add visual interest to the design whilst minimising any potential canyoning effect on the narrow width of Salamander Street.

“By increasing the height of the buildings the overall built footprint on the site can be reduced thus freeing up space for external amenity as well as pedestrian, cycle and vehicle access.

“Although accommodation at ground floor is limited due to flood levels, upper ground floor flats will have private gardens providing amenity as well as defensible zones.”

Revealing the faces of centuries-old Leithers

New images been created showing what people living in Leith up to 700 years ago might have looked like.

Forensic artists have used hi-tech software to reconstruct the faces of remains uncovered during the excavation of the medieval graveyard in Leith, dating back to between the 14th and 17th century, as part of the Trams to Newhaven project.

Masters graduate students from the University of Dundee, working closely with project sub-contractors GUARD Archaeology and as part of an ongoing internship with the Council Archaeologist, used special 3D scanners to build up digital versions of skulls discovered during excavations outside South Leith Parish Church.

These were the basis for lifelike representations created of the former residents, the first step in the aging analysis of bodies.

The first two pictures feature a man and woman both aged between 35 and 50. Early forensic analysis indicates that the woman may have suffered from nutritional deficiencies.

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “These images give us a fascinating insight into the lives of the people who lived in our city centuries ago. The work being carried out now will not only shed light on the area’s past but will help to conserve it for many years to come.

“This is all part and parcel of the broader project to bring trams to Newhaven, and I’m glad that we’ve been able to involve residents in exciting developments like this, as we progress with such a major scheme.”

Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “It’s so interesting to see these images.

“It really makes you think about what life could have been like in Leith all those years ago and I look forward to finding out more from the experts analysing the remains found.”

Council Archaeologist John Lawson added: “These fantastic reconstructions help us connect directly with our forebearers. Often, we as archaeologists just see the physical remains but the work undertaken by Dundee University’s forensic artists helps put the flesh, so to speak, back onto these remains and by doing so I feel brings them closer to us today.”

Excavations were carried out in summer 2020 outside South Leith Parish Church, Constitution Street, where previous investigations showed that in the medieval period the church’s graveyard extended across the road with graves surviving beneath the current road surface.

The team of archaeologists, who were working to remove any human remains that could be affected by the tram works, exhumed more than 360 bodies, dating from between 1300 and 1650, as well as finding the apparent remnants of the original medieval graveyard wall.

The remains are now subject to examination and analysis that will reveal information on the origins, health, diseases and diet of the people of medieval Leith. This has involved partnership work with the University of Dundee and Forensic Art MSc graduate students Viviana Conti and Elysia Greenway, who have created facial reconstructions and have recorded vlogs for the Trams to Newhaven YouTube account, explaining their process.

Lynn Morrison, Lecturer in Forensic Art at the University of Dundee, said: “Elysia and Viviana have done an excellent job reconstructing the faces of these individuals. This internship has given them a great opportunity to develop the skills learnt on the course and gain some valuable experience in the field. I am delighted to see how well they are doing.

The main construction works on Leith Walk from Elm Row to Crown Place are currently underway, with traffic management involving Leith Walk being reduced to one citybound lane between London Road and Crown Place for the duration of the works.

Find out more about Trams to Newhaven on the project website. 

Leith Walk pigeons will be flying home this summer

A sneak peek of the restoration of Edinburgh’s much-loved Elm Row pigeons has been revealed ahead of their reinstatement in the street later this year.

The public artworks, created by sculptor Shona Kinloch, were first removed during the original tram project in 2006. Now, as part of Trams to Newhaven, the seven bronze birds are being refurbished or completely recast before their grand return.

Specialists from Powderhall Bronze have been renovating, sandblasting and applying ‘patina’, which creates the familiar green colouring, to the existing statues, as well as casting three brand new pigeons. This has involved making wax replicas using the original moulds for the sculptures, before pouring in molten metal to produce a finished product.

It is intended to restore the pigeons on Elm Row during the summer, alongside the London Road Pillar Clock. This is being refurbished by clockmaker Smiths of Derby, involving the removal of any rust, preparing the surface for priming and repainting.

They’ve also constructed a new aluminium deer and repaired the Coat of Arms of Edinburgh, which both sit at the top of the clock.

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: These pigeons are a little piece of Leith Walk history, so I’m delighted that they’ll soon be back in their rightful home as part of the Trams to Newhaven project.

Construction work is continuing apace on the tram line, with tracks being laid along the route. Now, as we begin to welcome some of Leith Walk’s public art back into place, we’re starting to build a picture of what the area will look like once this major project is complete.

Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: Our seven bronze birds are looking beautiful in time for their return to Leith Walk, and it’s been fascinating to see the work that’s gone into their refurbishment.

“I know many people will join me in welcoming them back later this year.”

Kerry Hammond from Powderhall Bronze added: “We were delighted to work on Shona’s cast bronze Elm Row pigeons again after all this time. They have always been very popular and it will be great to see them sited back for the public to enjoy.

Construction on the Trams to Newhaven project continues to progress to schedule, with ongoing track-laying on sections of Leith Walk, Constitution Street and at Ocean Terminal.

Other work underway, or soon to commence, includes the rebuilding of the South Leith Parish Church wall, following a major excavation of the area, and surfacing and public realm works along parts of the route.

A protected cycle lane between the Foot of the Walk and Ocean Terminal, which will complement the Trams to Newhaven project, is also being developed as well as pedestrianising Sandport Place Bridge and creating a bus-only section at the Shore. 

A public consultation on concept designs recently closed.

You can watch videos of Council Archaeologist John Lawson discussing the pigeons’ restoration with Kerry Hammond of Powderhall Bronze and artist Shona Kinloch and of the full recasting of one of the pigeons on the Trams to Newhaven YouTube channel.

Find out more on the Trams to Newhaven website.

Lucky Leithers!

Two neighbours in Leith are celebrating today after learning they have scooped £30,000 each thanks to their postcode.

The windfall comes after EH6 8SF was announced as a winner with People’s Postcode Lottery on Saturday 20th March.

The winners chose to remain anonymous but their prizes will be paid into their bank accounts.

People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Matt Johnson sent his well-wishes to the winners. He said: “Congratulations to our winners in Edinburgh today, what a fantastic surprise to start your weekend! I hope they go and enjoy their winnings and treat themselves to something special.”

People’s Postcode Lottery costs £10 a month to play and there are guaranteed winners every day. People play with their chosen postcode and are automatically entered into all draws.

A minimum of 32% of ticket sales goes directly to charities and players of People’s Postcode Lottery have helped raise over £700 million to date for thousands of good causes across Britain and internationally.

This draw was promoted on behalf of Postcode Justice Trust which supports organisations including Amnesty International, Helen Bamber Foundation and Thomson Reuters Foundation with regular grant funding.

Book Now! Live in Leith starts this Saturday

Live in Leith:

March 20th: Connor Fyfe and Retro Video Club

March 27th: Ransom FA and Nova Scotia the Truth

April 3rd: The Ninth Wave and Lucia & The Best Boys

Tickets (£11.50) on sale now at https://bit.ly/LIVEINLEITH  

Picture: Rory Barnes

#liveinleith

Twitter/Facebook: @LeithTheatre

Instagram: @leiththeatre

Hosted by BBC Radio Scotland’s Vic Galloway, Live in Leith streams over three consecutive Saturdays – starting this weekend with Bellshill boy Connor Fyfe and Edinburgh-based Retro Video Club – via the online platform DICE.

At the age of 14, Connor Fyfe is the youngest artist ever to sell out King Tut’s in Glasgow, finding out that he had done so on the day of his 14th birthday. He started playing guitar around the age of 8 and song-writing around the age of 12. He picked up the harmonica aged 11 back when he was a regular on the Scottish open-mic scene, playing it on stage the same day that he had bought it. Connor was due to support Kaiser Chiefs last year.

Edinburgh outfit Retro Video Club have been a band since 2015 but after a year spent refining their sound they took off on the local and then the national scene in 2017, selling out The Liquid Rooms twice, 3 nights at Sneaky Pete’s (a record for the venue) and the Assembly Rooms amongst others.

Their most recently released single ‘Checkmate’ came out this month. They have supported the likes of Bastille, The Vaccines and We Are Scientists.

Quotes:

“We’ve known about this venue for years and obviously it’s derelict (…) so to be able to somewhat play it is good enough the now. To be honest I’ve never actually been in before (…) It just makes you want to play here. It’s like an academy…it’s kind of like the O2 Academy, it has that kind of vibe. We just need to have it.” – Sam McGill, Retro Video Club

“I’ve not been in a venue for a long time, especially one as grand as this…so it feels strange to be honest – but in a good way.”   – Lucia Fairfull, Lucia & The Best Boys

“Un. Real. It’s so nice (Leith Theatre). I can’t believe I’ve never been here before.” – Millie Kidd, The Ninth Wave

“This place is amazing. Obviously, I didn’t know what to expect when I first came in and I’m like ‘woah’. Can’t wait to fill this place up.” – Ransom FA

“I like a bit of reverb on my mics but you don’t even need to ask for it in here. It’s just a nice big hall.” – Connor Fyfe   

Beat Hunger campaign launched

Police Scotland, in partnership with Edinburgh North East Foodbank and Edinburgh Community Foods have launched the ‘Beat Hunger’ Campaign.

The North East of Edinburgh contains some of the highest levels of poverty in Scotland and this campaign is aimed at tackling food inequality and poverty funded by Police Scotland’s Local Partnership and Initiative Fund.

Local Community Sergeant Elaine McArthur-Kerr of Leith Police Station said: “As an organisation and as employees, we have a responsibility to improve the lives and futures of our community, particularly our children.

“This campaign will initially be open to identified groups within the foodbank community and thereafter extended to the wider community through referrals nominated by our partners.

“Recipients will be supplied with free additional support in the appropriately titled ‘Beat Box’, which will include a community cook book with recipes by Michelin Star Chef Martin Wishart.

“This book contains simple nutritious meals, which can be cooked using the most basic cooking facilities and includes step by step instructions and tips on food management. The recipes cater for those with no cookery skills and will provide an at home activity for families.

“Each week there will be fresh ingredients, supplied by Capital Wholesalers and the utensils required to cook a meal from the book. For example, this week launches with a butternut squash soup and following weeks will include main meals and a pudding.

“Information on family, financial and mental health support literature will also be included.

“Promoting wellbeing is key to ensuring the health and safety of our community and this is a fantastic opportunity to support some of the most vulnerable during unprecedented times and encourage positive lifestyle choices.

“Working together with partners, we can improve the quality of life for the people we serve.”

Assault in Montgomery Street: Do you know these men?

Police have released a CCTV image of two men they wish to speak to as they may have information which could assist with ongoing enquiries into an assault that occurred around 1.30pm on Monday 2 September, 2020 on Montgomery Street.

One of the men is described as being white and in his late 20s to early 30s. He has short dark hair, stubble and was wearing black casual clothing.

The second man is white, in his mid-20s, 6ft to 6ft 4in tall and of slim build with fair hair. He was wearing a grey jumper, dark bottoms and black body warmer jacket.

Detective Constable Philip Wright of Gayfield CID said: ” As part of the investigation, we are eager to identify the two men in the CCTV footage and would urge them, or anyone who recognises them, to get in touch with us immediately.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 1528 of the 2nd September 2020, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.