Views of North Edinburgh on the box

A couple of items you may have missed recently:

You may recall we gave a wee plug to Granton Youth Theatre’s Fringe debut. Well, STV covered the story here:

http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/magazine/113534-the-fringe-spotlight-illuminates-the-life-and-crimes-of-north-edinburgh/

The BBC also aired a fascinating documentary, ‘My Lives and Times’, by Muirhouse filmmaker Garry Fraser (pictured below)last month. If you missed it, you’ll find it at:

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01l5fvn

or

wwwbbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01l5fvn/My_Lives_and_Times

 

 

Teddy Time at Muirhouse Library

All local teddy bears and their families are invited to Teddy’s Rhyme Time at Muirhouse Library on Monday (13 August) from 11 – 3pm.

Part of the Total Craigroyston initiative, Teddy’s Rhyme Time is a fun event that  children aged 3 – 6 years old and their families – and teddies, of course – can enjoy.

Among the fun activities on offer are Rhyme Time, finger-puppet making, face painting, Fingernotes Music, PEEP for babies, badge making and Lickety Spit. The Play Talk Read bus will be there too, and bring along a packed lunch for a Teddy Bear’s Picnic!

Sounds like fun!

Olympic fever grips Craigroyston!

If tickets are hard to come by in London, Craigroyston Community High School’s Early Years Olympics were even more exclusive – by invitation only!

The great event took place today and the NEN was delighted to be there. Thanks to Lorraine Grant for the invitation, the Early Years volunteers for the organisation and attention to detail, the spectators (mums, dads and carers) for creating that unique Olympic atmosphere and most of all to the brilliant wee participants – maybe there’s a wee future Hoy or Ennis in the following pictures!

Billy Anderson

The NEN is sad to report the sudden death of Muirhouse activist Billy Anderson this morning. Billy, who was 60, is thought to have suffered a heart attack.

Billy was a hugely popular figure in North Edinburgh community circles and in recent years may perhaps be best known for his work in Muirhouse Millenium Centre’s cafe.

We will publish funeral information when we have it.

Another PLAY OUT this Friday!

It’s fun – even when it’s raining! Last week’s Play Out in Muirhouse

Go on – play out in the street! Following last weekend’s inaugural Play Out in Muirhouse on Saturday, the Total Craigroyston team has organised another fun day this Friday – and this time it’s in West Pilton.

This Friday, from 11 – 3pm, part of Ferry Road Drive will be blocked off to traffic and will become a fun family playground!

Among the activities planned are water balloons, traditional street games, water slides and puppet theatre with Licketyspit.

Last weekend’s event was a great, make Friday’s even better. Go on – play out in the street!

For further information about Play Out contact Sarah Low on 552 5700, and to find out more about the Total Craigroyston initiative check out the blog at http://totalcraigroyston.wordpress.com

 

 

Family Fun Event next Thursday

Save the Children are running a free community event at North Edinburgh Arts Centre on Thursday 9 August from 1 – 5pm For further information please contact Fiona Morrison at Save the Children; contact details:
M:  07764560939
T: 0141 763  2872 

Councillors to decide on Silverknowes access

It may not be up there with the Berlin Wall or Northern Ireland’s ‘peace barriers’, but North Edinburgh’s own long-running dispute over local access and antisocial behaviour could soon be over. Members of the city council’s Transport, Infrastructure and Environment (TIE) Committee will decide whether Silverknowes and Muirhouse are to be separated by closed-off barriers at their 13 September meeting. 

Following anti-social behaviour and disturbances in part of the Silverknowes area last autumn, representatives from community organisations in Almond and Forth wards met with local politicians, council and police officials to discuss the possibility of closing off accesses at Silverknowes Eastway.

It proved impossible to reach agreement, however, with community groups and residents in Almond (i.e. Silverknowes) overwhelmingly in favour of closing off the accesses, while Forth community groups and residents are equally vehement in their opposition to closure.  Council officials have also indicated that their policy recommendation must be to keep the accesses open.

Council officials are now compiling a report for the next meeting of the TIE committee, and local groups and individuals have been invited to make submissions for inclusion in the report by 27 July.

Among the options councillors will consider will be the possibility of closing off the pedestrian and cycleway access between Silverknowes and Muirhouse at Silverknowes Eastway/Muirhouse Gardens and Silverknowes Eastway/Muirhouse Drive in the evenings.

Davidsons Mains and Silverknowes Association is one of the Almond groups pressing for closure of the access. The group points to a survey they conducted earlier this year to gauge public opinion on the access issue. In a newsletter to residents DMSA point out:  ‘The DMSA has previously advised residents on the outcomes from the residents opinion survey but it is worth repeating that there were 235 responses from Silverknowes and only 44 from Muirhouse. The Silverknowes return represented a remarkable 40% response and, of those who replied, 65% were in favour of complete closure and 15% wanted some form of restricted access, for example, by closure in the evening and overnight.’

The group is expected to make both formal written submission and to send a deputation to the forthcoming transport committee meeting to argue the case for closure.

Opponents of the proposals, however, argue that closing off and separating communities is not the answer. Roy Douglas, chairman of Muirhouse Salvesen Community Council, confirmed: “We will be making a submission and plan to send a deputation to the TIE meeting. The access must remain open and we will be putting that case strongly to councillors”.

Grant Stott to open community gala

West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala organisers have announced that Forth One’s Grant Stott will be opening the event at West Pilton Park on Sunday 26 August.

In a statement on their website, the committee said: ‘We have just had confirmation that Forth One’s Grant Stott is going to come and officially open the first West Pilton & Muirhouse Community Gala Day. The committee are very excited at having the “puss on a bus” main man come down and charm all the locals with some punchy one liners and give out some prizes!’

All stall spaces have now been booked for the big day; as the organisers say:  ‘All we need now is some sunshine and some people!’

To keep up to date with how Gala planning is progressing, visit the group’s website at www.westpiltonandmuirhousegala.co.uk