Newhaven – Page 10 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Share the Love on Valentine’s Day

FEBUARY NEWSLETTER from Heart of Newhaven

First of all, we have had a magnificent response to our digital appeal which we launched so recently on 25th January.

Thanks to all who have very kindly donated old laptops or tablets to help families in the community who needed help to access online learning. We have already dealt with around a dozen such items, some of which are being wiped and processed while others are awaiting collection and soon they will all be winging their way to Victoria Primary School. Please continue to get in touch.

DIGITAL RESOURCES APPEAL

We understand that others have been delivered directly to the school following our appeal and if you would still like to help but have no old machines you no longer need, you can also donate funds to enable the school to buy more.

An average laptop or tablet suitable for home-schooling could cost around £200 but any smaller contributions that could go towards that would be most welcome.
You can contact the school directly below:

CONTACT VICTORIA PRIMARY

This is such an encouraging example of the community helping each other, just what Heart of Newhaven proposes to expand on once we’re fully operational.

The main news for you this month however is about the launch of our CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN.

This will go live on 14th February. It’s all about the Heart of course – it seemed a very suitable date for obvious reasons.

While we have applied to the Scottish Land Fund for the purchase cost of the site, we still need immediate funds to pay our legal advisers, currently working on the contract with CEC. Then there are the essential repairs to such things as windows and the roof, as well as fire and safety features.

There is also the preparatory work we have to do in the way of design costs to enable us to move into the buildings and get them going with our “meanwhile use” plans to bring the centre “online” stage by stage.

The campaign will go live on Crowdfund Scotland and there will also be links from our website and social media channels.

Please consider donating something, no matter how small, to enable this ambitious project to go ahead – and don’t forget to spread the word among neighbours and friends!

Finally, may we remind you to visit our website regularly. There’s always something new, including several blogs being posted on the different pages, that you might enjoy.

This month for example, the Culture & Heritage page is hosting a contribution from one of our many volunteers, who talks about the Hispanic community in Newhaven and how they’ve adapted and settled in to the local community.

On our new Intergenerational page, there’s not only an explanation of what intergenerational means, but a blog from trustee Judy Crabb.

Of course our regular blog from the chairman will be along soon as well.

Keep checking.

Trams to Newhaven: Revised plans for Stevedore Place unveiled

The city council has been working with representatives of the local community to revise concept designs for the area’s development as part of the Trams to Newhaven project.

The updated layout will see a ‘boulevard’ feel retained on Stevedore Place, with trees planted along the south side of the street and a row of hedges on the north.

We need to remove 30 trees to construct the tram, but as part of the landscaping we’ll be replanting between 75 and 80 trees in the area. Around 60 of these will be in the immediate vicinity of Stevedore Place.

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “We have worked closely with local community representatives to develop new designs for Stevedore Place, which will maintain the ‘boulevard’ feel on the street, with trees and hedges lining both sides.

“As well as replanting between 55 and 60 trees in the immediate vicinity, we’ll also be able to plant even more trees in the wider area.

“We want residents to feel the maximum benefits of this project, and by locating a stop here we’re providing an attractive and accessible option for all users, especially those with mobility issues. These new designs fulfil this while also retaining trees and green space for the people that live here.”

In addition to the trees on Stevedore Place, more will be planted:

In front of the old casino building
On a strip of land next to the development site on Ocean Way
At the Fingal car park on Stevedore Place
On Ocean Way
Around the Ocean Terminal

A tram stop will be located on Stevedore Place to allow local people to easily access the service. The optimal distance between tram stops is approximately 500 to 750m, allowing maximum accessibility to the stop and taking into account the willingness or ability of people to walk.

The forecasted patronage of the new service includes a tram stop at Stevedore Place being in place.

Further discussion will take place on the best species and size of tree to plant in each location, and when the best time to plant them is.

In order to avoid the nesting season, the existing trees will be removed before the end of February 2021.

Find out more on the Trams to Newhaven website.

Councillors to debate new parking controls proposed for Leith, Gorgie and Shandon

The next steps will be taken toward introducing new Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) to help alleviate parking pressures around Edinburgh, if approved by councillors this week.

On Thursday (28 January), Transport and Environment Committee will consider the results of an informal consultation on proposals for new controls in Leith, Gorgie and Shandon, as well as details on the operation of measures. Designs for parking controls have been amended following consultation and, if approved, we’ll commence the legal processes for introducing them.

This is the first of four phases of implementation of parking controls around the city, developed as part of the Strategic Parking Review, which was originally approved in 2018. The review has taken a holistic approach to parking pressures across Edinburgh, assessing the city on a street by street basis.

This has led to the identification of areas where parking controls may be required to resolve challenges facing residents, in particular from non-residential parking.

The report also updates on timescales for phase two (Roseburn, Corstorphine, Willowbrae and Saughton), phase three (Southside and Fettes) and phase four (Newhaven, Trinity, South Morningside, Portobello, Stenhouse and Saughton), which have been impacted by COVID-19.

Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “This review responds to the concerns of residents across the city, many of whom have told us that they want to see controls introduced to help limit the impact of non-residential parking.

Thanks to an in-depth, citywide analysis we have been able to identify the areas most in need of restrictions. Of course, the way we travel has changed immeasurably over the last year, but the introduction of new CPZs will be extremely beneficial to managing parking pressures when we eventually return to some sense of normality.

Not only do these controls help residents to park near their homes, but they can encourage those travelling into and around the city to consider alternative, sustainable modes of transport.”

The city council began the Strategic Parking Review in 2018 in response to comments from residents, community councils and ward councillors across the city, which demonstrated increasing support for new parking controls to limit non-residential parking.

An in-depth review split the city into five areas, further subdivided into 124 investigation areas, helping to generate heat maps for each location showing relative parking pressures by street. As a result, a series of new parking controls were approved in 2019, to be implemented in four phases.

On Thursday, committee members will also be asked to agree proposals to commence the legal process for introducing limited parking controls in Sighthill Industrial Estate to help manage parking demand there, as well as restrictions on the availability of permits for new or redeveloped properties.

The report details an approach to consultation for future phases in light of COVID restrictions, with virtual drop-in sessions, detailed plans online and opportunities to feed back on proposals via websites, interactive plans and questionnaires.

Consultation on phase two of the Strategic Parking Review is expected to begin in February.

Read the full report, Strategic Review of Parking – Results of Phase 1 Consultation and General Update, on the Council website.

You can watch Transport and Environment Committee live via webcast from 10am on Thursday (28 January 2021).

Gie’s a hand … on Burns Night

Here’s a hand, my trusty fiere and gie’s a hand o’ thine …

What would Rabbie Burns have made of our digital age? He would probably have loved it. He was a philosopher and a rebel and as a man of humble origins living during the Enlightenment, he would surely have dived right in.

So as we celebrate the birth of our national poet let’s celebrate our digital age as well. We’d like to ask you to “gie’s a hand” in our digital appeal.

DIGITAL RESOURCES APPEAL

Home learning can be an issue for those who do not have access to technology, especially during the unprecedented times we are all living through.

Can you help make significant change in your community?

If you have a laptop, mobile, tablet or any other device that could help us in our mission to help people, we would love to hear from you!

Many local schools are struggling to support families with home learning and children within our community are the future and our hope. They are our next generation of essential workers: doctors, teachers, politicians, engineers, and retail workers.

Victoria Primary School would be grateful for at least ten additional devices to help tackle these issues and to make sure those in disadvantaged situations are not punished long-term for a situation that is not their fault.

We will arrange safe collection of devices and have them cleaned and refurbished if necessary. After which, the school will distribute accordingly.

As you will understand, due to the current situation, we need to act as soon as possible.

If you can assist, we wholeheartedly appreciate any help you can provide at this time.

So “gies’ a hand”, and as you celebrate Rabbie Burns’ birthday, remember to play and watch our online Heart of Newhaven choir sing Auld Lang Syne.

https://youtu.be/yO6XITf5-kk

DIGITAL RESOURCES APPEAL

News from Heart of Newhaven

January 2021 Newsletter

Happy New Year! – Szczesliwego Nowego Roku – Feliz Ano Novo – Un An Nou Fericit -Bonne année – Glückliches Neues Jahr – Eutychismenos o Kainourgios Chronos – Feliz año nuevo -Shuvo noboborsho – Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu – Bliadhna Mhath Ur!

We hope you brought the new Year in in style, including playing our very own version of Auld Lang Syne and by making suitable resolutions.

Saying goodbye to 2020, let’s look forward with positivity and enthusiasm for what is to come, for this is the year we do it.
This is the year we move in to Victoria Primary School and make it the hub the growing Newhaven community wants and needs. How are we going to do this and how can you help?

Things to look out for:

FEBRUARY

The launch of our Crowdfunding campaign:

Help us kickstart our Heart – Help us create a centre for you!

The first phase will identify the immediate essential work required to bring the building into use and our appointed architect will be working with the community to design age-friendly spaces to meet the needs of all users.

If you can give even a small amount to ensure our plans for the community go smoothly, then please do so and encourage all your friends and neighbours to do the same. Whether it’s contributing towards the necessary lawyers’ fees or for the installation of a lift to the first floor, everything will be put to good use. You’ll be able to read all about it in the next newsletter.

SPRING

The launch of our ‘gardening and greening project’ still to be named – watch this space project, a brand new community project run by our ever-expanding group of volunteers. Several of our volunteers who ticked “gardening” in the volunteer choices, have been busy working on this and we look forward to being able to introduce it to everyone very soon.

Then there’s our very first AGM as a SCIO. Members will be able to have a real say in what happens next. Watch out for an announcement about the date and time and method.

JUNE

The next round of the Scottish Land Fund grants. Our application will be among the many to be decided once the new Scottish Parliament to be elected in May gives the go-ahead for the fund to get going again. We’ve already had very positive vibes from the SLF so we have great hopes that our application will meet with success.

That’s just the first half of the year. Imagine what the second half has in store!

Our New Year’s Resolution was to take HoNC from strength to strength and for that, as usual, we need your help.

We want to know what you thought of the community initiatives we ran before Christmas. Did you participate in Newhaven Neighbours (still running, by the way), Newhaven Sings or Newhaven Lights Up ?

We want to know if we’re getting it right or, if not, what we could have done better.

Please can you feed back here

Let us know how we can improve.

Finally, remember to keep watching the website.

There’s always something new, including the View from the Chair, our Chairman’s blog.

Advice and support still available at Granton Information Centre despite latest lockdown

Following the latest coronavirus guidelines announced on Monday, Granton Information Centre staff are working from home and our office on West Granton Road will remain closed for the foreseeable future – BUT PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT WE ARE STILL OPERATING!

You can contact us by email at info@gic.org.uk or by calling 0131 551 2459 or 0131 552 0458.

Any messages left on our answering machine will be dealt with as soon as possible – please ensure you clearly leave your full name and telephone number when leaving a message.

Let’s all play our part in keeping each other safe, stopping this terrible virus and getting life back to normal!

Heart of Newhaven: December newsletter

Welcome to your December newsletter.

Since the last newsletter, your Board of Trustees and their many volunteer consultants and helpers have been busy working on various projects, as we continue to spend most of our lives online. Hopefully by now you have read about Newhaven Neighbours, Newhaven Sings and Newhaven Lights Up.

The board members have been joined by around three dozen active volunteers to bring these projects to fruition as examples of how we can bring the community together under the Heart of Newhaven umbrella as we continue to work towards acquisition of Victoria Primary School.

However we do have some sad news to share with you.

We have to report the death of Joan Davidson. Joan was instrumental in helping to launch the Heart of Newhaven Community. Present at the first public meeting at Victoria Primary School in 2018 she preserved the charts produced that night of what was later called “Blue-Sky Thinking”. She introduced them with great enthusiasm when the interim Steering Committee was set up later that year and helped plan the very first meeting.

Joan continued as a member of the Steering Group progressing the plans and helping to define the area of benefit but then sadly had to step back through illness. Despite that, she never lost her interest or failed to give her support.

At the outset she was interviewed for a short video which can be viewed at online where her ideas are recorded. We will miss her but with gratitude for helping to ‘get the show on the road’!

In our last newsletter we told you about Newhaven Neighbours.

Many of you answered the call and are now working together with one of our partners, Pilmeny Development Project to help support the isolated and vulnerable within the community.

Thank you all for your support. Thanks to you, Newhaven neighbours are receiving support in all manner of ways. There is always room for more of course, so it’s never too late to sign up to help out.

Following on from Newhaven Neighbours, we have been working on Newhaven Sings Auld Lang Syne in collaboration with several local choirs and individual singers.

Perhaps you have already recorded your contribution but if you haven’t, don’t be bashful. It’s simple to do and will provide such pleasure. The deadline to send in your recording has been extended till Saturday 19th TODAY), so there’s no excuse! All the instructions are on the website.

Hot on the heels of Newhaven Sings, came Newhaven Lights Up, created in collaboration with local artist Johnathan Elders and with help from Men’s Shed.

You may have seen the delightful light boxes on the railings round Victoria Primary School. Help light up Newhaven by creating your own window display. Instructions for this are also on the website.

So although it may seem that little is happening on the wider front of the purchase – look out for more news on that front in the spring – everyone is still working hard behind the scenes.

If you would like to join in and help, or have any ideas for projects you would like to discuss, do get in touch with our volunteering team or any of the trustees via the website.

Don’t forget to check the website too, for updates of all kinds and regular blogs, including from our Chairman, Rodney Matthews View From the Chair

Christmas is only a few days away and New Year of course follows closely after.

May we wish you and yours a happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year. Remember to bring it in by playing Auld Lang Syne!

Heart of Newhaven

Lighting up Newhaven

Have you started decorating your windows for Christmas?

Hopefully by now you’ve seen our latest project – Newhaven Lights Up.

We want to create a trail of decorated, “stained glass” windows throughout the area.

A part of Glasgow created some splendid decorated windows around Halloween, and various places across the world are doing something similar at the moment as well.

Edinburgh of course has already switched on some Christmas lights. Let’s help Newhaven compete!

If you haven’t seen it yet, head to our website and check out the wonderful example
supplied by local artist Johnathan Elders. Johnathan gives simple instructions and materials are easily obtainable from local shops or online (see below).

️🧡🖤🤎

Let’s light up Newhaven and share the new sense of hope that the news of the Covid vaccines have brought in the run-up to Christmas.

Men’s Shed have also been helping, by creating light boxes where you can see designs hanging on the railings of Victoria Primary School.

Don’t forget to let us know that you’re participating!

Simply press the button on the web page and email us your photos and location to be included in a trail.

️🧡🖤🤎

Newhaven-Windows-1 Download

Newhaven sings on St. Andrew’s Day

Three cheers for the patron saint of Scotland!

Are you celebrating? Perhaps virtually, this year.

Fitting for those who live around Newhaven, that Andrew was also the patron saint of fishermen. Did you know that the Newhaven fishwives were famous for their singing?

They formed two choirs and the village became known as “a nest of songbirds”.

Those who trudged up the hill to sell their fish in the city of Edinburgh used to sing as they went and they probably included songs by that famous Scottish songster and poet, Rabbie Burns.

Now you too can sing like Newhaven songbirds and celebrate Burns!

Heart of Newhaven Community is collaborating with several local choirs and numerous individual singers to celebrate together by recording Auld Lang Syne.

Recorded individually in your own home, each recording will be melded together and the result will be a community choral work, ready in time for Christmas.

Check out Newhaven Sings on our website where you will find easy-to-follow instructions on how to download the accompaniment and send in your own recording.

Recordings should be sent in before the 13th of December and the final work is expected to be ready by the 23rd December.

Join in.

Join Newhaven Sings.

Trams: ‘Business case remains sound’

First track laid on Trams to Newhaven route

The controversial Trams to Newhaven project passed another milestone this week when the first tracks were laid in Leith – on Friday 13th.

Contractors have begun constructing the 2.91 mile line and are currently working on the sections next to Ocean Terminal and in Tower Street, Leith.

Thursday’s full council meeting approved the continued construction of the line in light of an updated Final Business Case (FBC) reflecting on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the project.

The report includes a series of scenarios, developed to stress-test the FBC, each of which demonstrate the economic case for the project remains positive, and in all but one scenario the impact on Council reserves if the project is cancelled would be greater than continuing construction.

On Friday, Council leader Cllr Adam McVey visited the site at Ocean Terminal to see work progressing.

He said: “It’s fantastic to see tracks in the ground in Leith – it’s a real milestone for this major project. We’re already beginning to see the route take shape and get an idea of just what a positive impact it will have on the local community.

“It’s particularly encouraging to know that the economic and business cases for Trams to Newhaven remain sound, despite the challenges of this year. Now we can progress with this exciting stage of the scheme safe in the knowledge that it will deliver the maximum benefits for local residents and the city as a whole.”

Despite the council facing mounting financial challenges the Trams to Newhaven project has the full backing of the Labour group, the SNP’s partners in the ‘Capital Coalition’.

Depute Leader, Labour’s Cammy Day, said: “It’s essential that we continue to invest in sustainable, clean transport and Trams to Newhaven is a key example. There is no doubt in the positive effects this scheme will have on the environment, the local economy and in encouraging development along the line.

“I’m delighted that the updated business case supports this as progress with construction continues apace.”

Work on the Trams to Newhaven project was instructed to stop on 25 March following guidance from the First Minister on COVID-19 and recommenced in June. An updated programme shows that the project is still working towards Spring 2023 for completion and is forecast to be delivered within the agreed £207.3m budget.

The council says the project’s completion will play a key role in the future growth and development of the city.

Delivering the tram line to Leith will unlock a large area of the city for housing and economic development, while providing a low-carbon, clean mode of transport to densely populated communities, they maintain.

Meanwhile rumblings persist that all is not well with the project’s finances, and Lord Hardie’s inquiry into the original Edinburgh Trams fiasco – years late, tens of millions of pounds over budget and delivering far less than was promised – rumbles on …

Find out more about Trams to Newhaven online.