Category: Leith

Committee to discuss controversial Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

Proposals for a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in East Craigs will be considered by Transport and Environment Committee this morning (Thursday 1 October).

The temporary measures are being proposed as part of our Spaces for People programme and, following concerns raised by the local community, will be brought to committee for a final decision by councillors.

In response to feedback from residents, the design of the scheme has been amended to ensure that every area in the Low Traffic Neighbourhood can access (entry and/or exit) two of the major distributor roads, Drum Brae, Glasgow Road or Maybury Road.

The council says that by making these amendments, it will alleviate the requirement for right turns across Drum Brae South and Glasgow Road, which have been key concerns of residents. However, it will also ensure that routes used by vehicles to avoid the A8 corridor are closed, particularly during Craigmount High School’s opening and closing times. In addition, it will take traffic away from the West Edinburgh Link north-south cycle route.

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convenor, said: Low Traffic Neighbourhoods allow residents to move around their own areas safely and with more space. They encourage physical activity and reduce through traffic.

“We know through feedback we have received that local people want to see measures improved for walking, wheeling and cycling and this is an opportunity to make this a reality on a temporary basis.

“However, we recognise that a number of people have been opposed to the measures we are looking to implement, so we felt it was right to refer this matter to the Transport and Environment Committee for proper scrutiny by elected members.

“We have listened carefully to local concerns and are proposing a number of changes to address the issues raised by the community. This will make vehicle access easier for local residents while moving ahead with some elements that will bring positive changes for residents. There is also a clear commitment to continue monitoring its effect and to modify it where necessary.

Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convenor, said: “We know that Low Traffic Neighbourhoods reduce emissions and calm traffic due to the number of successful schemes that have already been implemented across the UK.

“Nevertheless, there is local opposition to this scheme and it should be discussed and agreed by the Transport and Environment Committee before we take steps to implement. We will continue to engage with residents and stakeholders regarding this matter and ensure that their voices are heard as we move forward.”

The report will also consider other potential Low Traffic Neighbourhoods across the city, including the Meadows, Leith and the South Corstorphine area.

The East Craigs Low Traffic Neighbourhood involves temporary measures and is not a permanent scheme. Once implemented we will continue to monitor its success and engage with local residents. If a view is taken to make the scheme permanent full consultation with residents would take place.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are used in a number of cities to reduce the impact of through motor traffic. They create people-friendly spaces which encourage physical activity and active travel choices while maintaining local access. Our consultation on the West Edinburgh Link (WEL) project showed support for proposals to improve conditions for active travel. We also received a number of suggestions via our Commonplace online tool on how the area could be made safer for residents.

Read the full report, Spaces for People – East Craigs Low Traffic Neighbourhood, online. Watch Transport Committee live via webcast from 10am on Thursday, 1 October.

The amended measures for the East Craigs scheme include – 

  • Removing the Craigmount Avenue and Craigs Loan modal filters
  • Changing the position of the Craigs Gardens modal filter
  • Changing the North Gyle Terrace filter to No Entry east bound (from Maybury Road)
  • Altering the Craigs Road bus gate so that it always permits one-way westbound traffic and restricts eastbound traffic at peak times (07:30 – 09:30 and 16:00-18:30)

You’re invited to our SCCR Virtual Conference

Cyrenians Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution is holding a month-long, all-digital festival of FREE events in place of our annual conference.

This exciting programme includes several internationally-renowned special guests.

Please feel free to sign up to as many as you wish!

We are honoured that the digital festival will commence with a film screening of ‘Nae Pasaran’. This 2018 documentary is directed, written and produced by our dear friend Felipe Bustos Sierra. He is a BAFTA-winning filmmaker and creative director at Debasers, a production company based in Glasgow.

You may already know Felipe as the cinematic wizard behind the SCCR’s film ‘Phases of Transition’ which premiered at our 2019 Faces of Transition Annual Conference.

In his first cinema documentary, Felipe tells the powerful story of a long-forgotten solidarity action by factory workers in East Kilbride and ‘Nae Pasaran’ has gone on to receive the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Feature.

The stunning film will be screened on the 1st of October at 7pm via Zoom and followed by a Q&A with Felipe himself to launch SCCR’s International Conference: Connections & bridging the divide.

12A/12 – Suitable for 12 years and over. Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film unless accompanied by an adult.

This event will be delivered on the online platform Zoom. If you book on to the event you will be sent the details via email on how to join nearer the time to the event when bookings have closed.

Please note Zoom offers video capability so you can join with your webcam on, but this is entirely up to you and this option can be turned off. However we would love to see your faces and feel it is a more interactive experience with videos on.

We hope to see you online soon!

Drive-through flu vaccination clinics open in Edinburgh

Drive-through clinics have been opened by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (EHSCP) in Edinburgh this weekend to make it as quick, safe and easy as possible for people to get their flu vaccine.

The clinics will continue to operate on weekends in October and November and each site can vaccinate up to 500 people a day.

As well as over 65s, pregnant people and those at risk due to existing health conditions, this year unpaid carers and those who lived with people who shielded during lockdown will be offered a free flu jab.

By developing flu drive throughs, everyone entitled to a free flu vaccine from a household can attend at the same time. For those who don’t have access to a car, a series of walk through clinics are being arranged and Edinburgh locations will be available on the NHS Inform website once confirmed.

Keeping the people of Edinburgh safe and healthy is a priority, so before the jab is administered, a nurse will ask some questions to make sure it is safe to administer the vaccine. The person receiving the jab doesn’t need to leave their car and will also be asked to wait 15 minutes before leaving the clinic to ensure there’s no reaction to the vaccine.

If you are eligible for a free flu vaccine, or for more information, go to www.nhsinform.scot/flu to find out where you can get your jab in Edinburgh. If you qualify for a free vaccine you’ll be given a time to attend a clinic after completing a short questionnaire.

Judith Proctor, Chief Officer for the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “As part of our mission to support a caring, healthier and safer Edinburgh, we’re committed to making it even easier to get a flu vaccine this year. The flu vaccine is an important health protection measure and we want to make sure that everyone who is eligible has access to the vaccine.

“To keep the people of Edinburgh safe, and to respect physical distancing measures, we have confirmed a range of Edinburgh venues to offer access to the flu vaccine, including a drive through service at sites across the city. This is the first time a drive through model has been used for vaccinations in Scotland, and could provide a blueprint for how to deliver vaccination programmes successfully in the future.

“Details of where people can go to receive a flu vaccine will be available on the NHS Inform website.”

Blackhall Medical Centre, Muirhouse Medical Group, Crewe Medical Centre and Davidson’s Mains Medical Centre patients will be directed to a walk-through facility at Pennywell All Care Centre or the drive-through at Scottish Gas HQ on Granton waterfront.

Crunch and Munch: Hibs challenge poverty at Hermitage Park

Hibernian FC takes part in ‘Challenge Poverty Week’ by ensuring no child goes hungry at Hermitage Park Primary School. 

Hibernian Community Foundation are delighted to launch ‘Hibs Crunch and Munch’ with local partner school Hermitage Park Primary in an exciting initiative that will see every pupil at Hermitage Park Primary School receive a free piece of fruit every school day.  

 2020 has seen Hibernian Community Foundation and Hermitage Park Primary work together on a number of programmes which have supported pupils and families in the local area.

Throughout lockdown Hibs have provided weekend food parcels to pupils at home and developed digital educational resources to ensure learning can continue away from the class room. Hibs have also delivered ‘Score Goals’, an eight week project with primary 6 pupils with a focus on football, exercise and healthy eating.  

 Hibs Crunch and Munch will become a significant element of Hibs Class at Hermitage Park as the school aims to support pupils learning in the classroom in as many ways across a number of curriculum areas including literacy, numeracy, and wellbeing. 

 Hibs Crunch and Munch will also support Hibernian Football Club’s pledge to be the greenest club in Scotland as they have already identified ways in which extra resources can be shared. Over the summer Hibernian Community Foundation has saved over 2300kg of CO2 by sharing food that would otherwise go to waste. 

 Lisa Black, Deputy Head Teacher at Hermitage Park Primary School said: “We are proud to be a Hibernian partner school. The ‘Hibs Crunch & Munch’ is another example of how they are helping Hermitage Park Primary students thrive emotionally, socially and behaviourally.

“Hibs are helping us tackle childhood obesity, reduce playground litter and offer an opportunity for the pupils to develop social skills by sitting down together to eat the fruit.

“Hibernian Football Club has a long and proud tradition of working to support local communities and we are grateful to be supported by them”.  

Charlie Bennett Hibernian Community Foundation CEO commented: ‘We’re really excited to be working with pupils and teachers at Hermitage Park and we’re pleased we can support the health and wellbeing of the pupils in this way.

“Like the school we want to ensure children in our communities are healthy and we hope the ‘Hibs Crunch and Much’ will make a significant contribution to this’. 

Annette tackles Kiltwalk challenge to support RNIB

Leith resident Annette West has helped to raise £2,250 for sight loss charity RNIB Scotland after taking part in the Virtual Kiltwalk last Sunday.

Annette (above, left)was one of eight people who walked six miles along the Water of Leith, in two groups of four to maintain social distancing.

“I have experienced sight loss for over 30 years but have always been helped and supported by RNIB Scotland,” says Annette (60). “I just wanted to do the Virtual Kiltwalk to help give something back.

“I found the walk very easy and relaxing. I also found that pathway easy to get around as there was not too many steps. Socially distancing was only a problem when the path was narrow and when people in the opposite direction were trying to pass by. I think the route is very popular for walkers on Sundays.

“It was really good to meet up and spend quality time with friends before we all went back to our own lockdown homes. It gave me a sense of freedom by being out in the open. I also felt re-connected with nature and that it was great to meet other human beings.

“After the walk I felt that my spirits had been lifted and that going back home, I was mentally and physically in a good place.”

You can still donate to Annette’s fundraising page for RNIB Scotland until Monday 21 September:  https://edinburghkiltwalk2020.everydayhero.com/uk/netwalk2020

Heart of Newhaven’s on the box!

An STV item about our plans went out on the 6 O’Clock news bulletin on Friday (11th September).  It included an on-site interview filmed outside Victoria primary School and was very upbeat.

Please pass the word around so that those who haven’t seen it can watch it on whatever catch-up services they have available.

We need you! Now the Hard Work Begins !

Anyone under the impression that it’s all over bar the shouting must think again. We’ve barely started!

In my last Update I was delighted to confirm that the City of Edinburgh Council had agreed to our request for the Community Asset Transfer of Victoria Primary School. But that word request is crucial. Without the Council’s agreement under the Community Empowerment (2015) Scotland Act no one could do anything.

Now no one can prevent us succeeding unless we ourselves fail – and we certainly don’t intend to fail. The important word here is WE because that includes YOU.

Why has the Council granted our request? The official statement on their website says:The community benefit is substantial compared to the value of the asset.The request will make a significant positive contribution to The City of Edinburgh Council’s aspirations and values.

We can now reveal “the value of the asset” – £785,000. But the Council can’t give it away. They need money from its sale to build the new school in Western Harbour. However, before they could put it on the open market they were required by the 2015 Act to offer it first to “the community”.

If we could show we would use it to meet their aims they would give us a discount. So they reduced the price by £85,000. 

The £700,000 we will pay will help build the best Primary School in the Edinburgh whilst we go on to create Scotland’s first specifically dedicated Multigenerational Community Hub. That should make YOU feel very proudand very determined to succeed in the huge challenge ahead. 
We’ve already started fundraising. We had to begin our Business Plan long before we succeeded in our CAT application – and before the challenge of a global pandemic.

Our charity, The Heart of Newhaven Community SCIO, has already applied to the Scottish Land Fund for the entire cost of purchase and fees. This Fund is provided by the Scottish Government to make grants for exactly the kind of thing we are doing.

But it is not a bottomless purse and there are many applications. We will know the degree of our success before the end of November but in addition to buying the site we need money for changes – including a lift to make the imaginative Heritage Suite more accessible. 

We are working NOW so that if by next March the purchase is complete, an arrangement can be made for the children to continue to use it until their new school is ready.

Every stage needs planning, so we are preparing ways for the Heart of Newhaven Community to grow together, supporting each other to create that Better Normal that is going to characterise life after Covid19.

You will shortly receive a personal invitation to become closely associated as a MEMBER of our dedicated SCIO SC04419.  But you needn’t even wait for that.
A growing number of people are volunteering and asking “Is there anything I can do now?” You won’t be left waiting for long for an answer!

In fact, you could answer the question for yourself and tell us what you would like to do. Look at our developing website heartofnewhaven.co.uk to get a bright idea and tell us what you think.

Rodney Matthews

Chair and Vision Facilitator, The Heart of Newhaven Community

Police seek witnesses to Pier Place motorcycle accident

SERIOUS ROAD CRASH – PIER PLACE, NEWHAVEN

Officers at Edinburgh Road Policing Unit are appealing for information after a road crash in Pier Place, Newhaven on Tuesday (8 September).

At around 3.20pm on Tuesday afternoon, a 56 year-old woman was crossing the road in Pier Place when she was struck by a Triumph motorbike being driven by a 61 year-old man.

Police and Ambulance attended – the woman was taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where she is being treated for leg injuries. Her condition is described as stable.

The 61 year-old man was also taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was released after treatment for a leg injury.

Officers at Edinburgh Road Policing Unit are appealing to any witnesses to the crash, or anyone with information to contact them. They would also like to hear from anyone driving on the road who has dash-cam footage.

Information can be passed to officers through 101 quoting reference number 2039 of Tuesday, 8 September, 2020.

New partnership offers hope to people with experience of homelessness and addiction

A new partnership has paved the way to Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) leasing a two-bedroom property to Steps to Hope, a charity which supports people experiencing homelessness and addiction. This will give Steps to Hope service users who, having achieved sobriety, are ready for a fresh start in a home of their own.

Two new tenants have already been identified by Steps to Hope, who having previously been homeless and had recent experience of addiction, have demonstrated that they are ready for this next step, alongside continuing with regular recovery meetings and contact with experienced support workers.

Heather Kiteley, Group Chief Executive of Port of Leith Housing Association, (above) said: “We are proud to be the first housing association to pilot providing accommodation support for Steps to Hope.

“Through the scheme, people who have clearly demonstrated that they are well on the path to full recovery will have the stability of a high-quality place to call home. Having a home is something many of us take for granted, and it’s fantastic to be able to work with Steps to Hope to give this security to their service users.”

Richard Roncero, Founder and Operations Manager of Steps to Hope, said: “We are absolutely delighted Port of Leith Housing Association have leased us this aftercare property. It will provide continued support to those who have engaged with Steps to Hope and achieved sobriety.

“This homely environment will give them the opportunity to continue to maintain their recovery whilst having somewhere safe and secure as a base. We aim to get those living in this property their own tenancy down the line which will complete the picture of homeless/addiction to housed/recovered.”

Annette will do Kiltwalk along Water of Leith to say thank you to sight loss charity

Undeterred by lockdown, the Edinburgh Kiltwalk is happening in virtual form this year, and still inviting people to raise funds for their favourite charity, money that will be topped up by a further 50 percent from Sir Tom Hunter’s Foundation.

Clearly, tartan-clad hordes can’t descend on the streets of the capital as in previous years. Instead, this September the Virtual Kiltwalk can be completed in your local area, keeping within social distancing guidelines. Over the weekend September 11-13th you simply don some tartan, go for a walk of any length, and raise funds for your chosen cause.

But if walking isn’t your thing the organisers invite you to create your own Kiltwalk challenge. You can skip a mile in tartan, do a kilted ‘trampoline-a-thon’, or even an all-day Highland fling!

Annette West is both walking and talking the walk. She will be raising much needed funds for sight loss charity RNIB Scotland, which is based in Edinburgh.

“I have experienced sight loss for over 30 years but have always been helped and supported by RNIB Scotland,” says Annette (60). “Since having two successful eye operations to restore my sight four years ago my life has changed again. I now feel that I want to give back something to RNIB Scotland by taking part in the Virtual Kiltwalk.”

Annette  aims to walk the Water of Leith on Sunday, September 13th, starting from Cannon Mills and finishing at Colinton, a distance of six miles.

“People can either join me at the start and do the whole walk to the finish, or join me anywhere along the route,” she says. “I was inspired by listening to Kings Church Sunday service on YouTube and they talked about walking along the Water of Leith. It was a light-bulb moment as I live in Leith and can invite a few of my friends to join me along different sections and make my way back home.

“The Water of Leith is beautiful and local so, taking into account social distancing and restrictions which may still be in place, I can do a mini walk.

“I decided to do the Virtual Kiltwalk after a conversation with a friend, Irene, who I have known and have worked with for many years but who is terminally ill with cancer. She suggested to me that I could get a piece of paper and write whatever came into my head relating to why I might want to do the virtual Kiltwalk.

“So I thought, firstly, this is my way of saying thank you to the RNIB Scotland for all the years that they have helped me on my sight loss journey. I want to help other people with sight loss by sharing my story, knowledge and experience. I want to help them feel confident about themselves in order to live happy, meaningful and purposeful daily lives.

“I also believe that staying mentally healthy is essential. During this period of lockdown we all have to take responsibility for our own mental state and this has given me something to focus on. I feel that a healthy mind and body go hand in hand. During lockdown, I have found it very difficult to take exercise and stay motivated. But since hearing about the Virtual Kiltwalk, I have become re-energised and it has rekindled my passion for walking.

“And as a radio presenter with the Heart Song Live station, I can appreciate the value of sharing my story and hope that it can help to inspire, encourage and help others to fully live their lives.”

To sponsor Annette, please donate to her page at 

https://edinburghkiltwalk2020.everydayhero.com/uk/netwalk2020

Police appeal following serious assault on Leith Walk

Police are appealing for information after a 35-year-old man was seriously assaulted in the early hours of the morning on Thursday, 27 August, 2020.

The incident happened around 1am outside Spey Lounge on Leith Walk.

The victim was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment to a serious head injury.The suspect is believed to be male.

Detective Inspector Clark Martin, of Edinburgh CID, said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the area around the time of the incident and witnessed the assault but has not yet spoken to police to come forward.

“I would also ask anyone who was driving in the area and has a dash-cam to check back and see if there is any footage that may be able to assist our investigation.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 101, quoting reference number 0307 of 27 August, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.