The NEN – North Edinburgh News – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

Don’t let it go to waste: are you recycling all that you can?

Study from Zero Waste Scotland shows 52% of general waste could have been recycled
The interactive Recycling Sorter Tool can help households recycle as much as possible by finding out what can go in their different bins.
In further support, Zero Waste Scotland has funded 41 projects across 26 local authorities to enhance recycling services and facilities through the 5 year £70m Recycling Investment Fund.

People in Scotland are being encouraged to take a closer look at their recycling habits this Recycle Week (14^th to 20^th October) to make sure their efforts aren’t going to waste.

This year, Zero Waste Scotland is putting a spotlight on the efforts people put into recycling at home, acknowledging that we could all probably do more. In fact, research from Zero Waste Scotland found that over half (52%) of what’s in the average general waste bin in Scotland could have been recycled.)52%) of what’s in the average general waste bin in Scotland could have been recycled.)

To address this issue, while also celebrating national efforts in recycling, Zero Waste Scotland has launched its Don’t Let it Go to Waste campaign, which aims to increase positive recycling behaviour.

Over the course of the week, Zero Wast Scotland will be encouraging people across the country to take action on household waste and recycle all that they can. The campaign features a series of helpful resources for communities and schools, including a short film focusing on recycling efforts, animations addressing recycling questions, posters, lesson plans and activity sheets.

With many councils collecting more materials than ever before, a common cause of confusion is uncertainty around which items go in each bin. To help, Zero Waste Scotland’s free Recycling Sorter tool can guide people to understand what can be recycled and in which colour bin for every local authority area in Scotland. In addition to using the interactive tool, Zero Waste Scotland is also encouraging people to check their Council website for the latest recycling information and, importantly, to not let their recycling go to waste.

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Recycling plays a critical role in the circular economy, keeping valuable materials in use for longer and reducing the need to extract new resources. By putting the right items in the right bins, we can significantly reduce waste and minimise our environmental impact.

“Scotland has a strong reputation for environmental awareness and many households already make great efforts to recycle. However, it’s clear that more can be done to ensure our recycling efforts are as effective as possible – and this is when Zero Waste Scotland can help.”

In addition to supporting people in Scotland directly, Zero Waste Scotland supports the Scottish Government in providing funding to local authorities through the Recycling Improvement Fund (RIF), which helps to improve recycling facilities and services across Scotland.

To date, £65 million has been awarded to 41 projects across 26 local authorities. These projects range from improvements to household recycling services and upgrading recycling facilities to introducing recycling in schools and expanding the collection of new materials like mattresses and polystyrene.

The funded projects are expected to divert nearly 60,000 tonnes of material per year for recycling or reuse, resulting in carbon savings of approximately 60,000 tonnes CO2e annually.

HRH The Princess Royal attends RCEM’s Annual Scientific Conference

Patron of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal addressed more than 300 delegates at RCEM’s Annual Scientific Conference in Gateshead last week (10 October 2024).

Her Royal Highness praised the dedication of Emergency Medicine professionals and highlighted the work of the NHS workforce, in particular Emergency Departments, with the Covid outbreak and high workloads.

The Princess Royal was greeted at the conference venue by Dr Adrian Boyle, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and Catherine Feast, RCEM’s Director of Engagement and External Affairs.

Her Royal Highness viewed the winning submissions from the poster competition and met the designers, and then went on to meet the abstract authors, discussing their studies which focused on key issues facing Emergency Medicine.

The Princess Royal further engaged with speakers and delegates before listening to Professor Richard Body from the University of Manchester and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, who delivered his presentation on how to optimise shared decision making for patients with chest pain.

Dr Adrian Boyle, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said: “It was a great honour to welcome Her Royal Highness to our conference.

“Once again, she showed her understanding of the specialty, her interest in the people who work in it, and her awareness of the challenges it faces.

“We are so lucky to have such an engaged and passionate patron, and I know it means so much for those members who were able to meet and chat with her about their work.”

Catherine Feast, Director of Engagement and External Affairs at the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said: “Her Royal Highness’s presence at our Annual Scientific Conference marks the second event The Princess Royal has attended this year and we are so grateful she gives us so much of her time.

“As ever, our delegates were delighted to have her here and to hear her support for the specialty.

“She is a fabulous royal patron, and we are honoured to have had her visit us last week.”

The Princess, who has been royal patron of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine since 2008, previously attended RCEM’s trainee conference, which was also held in Gateshead in February 2024.

Hundreds join Barnardo’s on top of Forth Bridge

It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has brought joy to those seeking adventure and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Scotland’s leading children’s charity. And now, a precious few were once again able to stand atop the iconic Forth Bridge to help raise money for Barnardo’s Scotland.

The charity’s ‘Your View’ event allows members of the public one of the most sought after and unique experiences in Scotland – namely the chance to ascend 361 feet up the historic bridge and enjoy an uninterrupted 360-degree panoramic view of the Edinburgh and Fife coastline.

Your View is in its sixth year – run in conjunction with Network Rail and Balfour Beatty – and another lucky 900 people travelled from all across the world to take part – including visitors from New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada, Denmark and Portugal.

More than 6,000 visitors in total have experienced the event and there have been no fewer than ten marriage proposals on the vertiginous viewing platform since 2017. Best of all, though, the event has now raised more than £375,000 to fund the work of Barnardo’s Scotland.

The latest couple to get engaged atop the bridge were Laura Dowds, 34, and Connor Robertson 31, from Armadale, in West Lothian. The couple met in 2020, and Laura admitted that she had no idea that she would be engaged by the time she set foot back on terra firma.

Laura explains: “The proposal was a complete surprise! Connor didn’t even tell me that we were doing the bridge viewing until we arrived in the car park, so the whole day was a pleasant surprise from start to finish.

“I was stunned to say the least; I couldn’t believe my eyes seeing him down on one knee! The amazing photographer managed to capture lots of snaps of our special moment, too, and we are so grateful to have these fantastic memories.

“We don’t have a date for the wedding yet, as I’m going to let Connor recover from all the work he put into the proposal! But it will be local and hopefully in the next year. We’re so excited for this exciting new chapter.”

Along with the proposal, Laura said that the couple thoroughly enjoyed their Your View experience: “Your View was one of the best things we’ve done together – getting to be up on top of the bridge and taking in some of the most amazing sights.

“I’d recommend it to anyone. The volunteers were amazing, too, from getting history about the bridge being built, to the friendly and helpful staff joining you as you make your way up in the hoist.

“It was a day we will never forget. Barnardo’s is an incredible charity and we’re over the moon that all of the money from tickets goes straight towards the great work that they do.”

Martin Crewe, Director of Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “Your View proved once again to be a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience for those lucky enough to secure a ticket. We want to thank all of those who joined us over the weekend as this is a crucial fundraiser for Barnardo’s Scotland as we continue to support children, young people and their families throughout the country.

“Your View would not be possible without the generosity of Network Rail and Balfour Beatty, and I wish to thank both organisations and our wonderful volunteers for making this special weekend happen. And I very much would like to congratulate Laura and Connor for their historic moment.”

Barnardo’s Scotland intends to use the funds raised to continue to deliver employability support in 12 local authority areas across Scotland from five hubs in Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Edinburgh and Paisley.

Cliff Graham, Head of Operations for employment, training and skills in Scotland at Barnardo’s, said: “Barnardo’s Works provide employability support and training to 1,100 young people a year in Scotland. We provide one-to-one support, informal group work, vocational training and work experience across a range of programmes.

“Our services aim to provided holistic support with a range of pathways that allows young people to move into a positive destination such as employment, apprenticeships college or further training. We are delighted to benefit from this funding as it will help us provide additional support and IT equipment to our service users across Scotland.”

Alan Ross, Director of Engineering and Asset Management at Network Rail Scotland, said: “We’re so proud to once again have hosted the Barnardo’s Your View event at the Forth Bridge. The event continues to be a valuable opportunity to raise vital funds for young people and their families across Scotland.

“Although the sun wasn’t shining, it was still a fantastic weekend for all involved, and the marriage proposal at the top certainly brightened everyone’s day. Enormous thanks goes to the staff and volunteers for making the day another huge success.”

At Barnardo’s, our purpose is clear: Changing childhoods and changing lives, so that children, young people, and families are safe, happy, healthy, and hopeful. Last year, we worked with thousands of children across Scotland through more than 150 services and partnerships.

Across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we provided essential support to 373,200 children, young people, parents and carers through more than 800 services and partnerships across the UK. This included 173 services in Scotland. For more than 150 years, we’ve been here for the children and young people who need us most – bringing love, care and hope into their lives and giving them a place where they feel they belong.

Over the course of the financial year 2023-24, more than 16,000 people volunteered for Barnardo’s across the UK – a total of 1.7 million hours of their time. To donate, volunteer or fundraise, please visit: www.barnardos.org.uk/get-involved/raise-money.

Canal Tow Path attack: Can you help Police?

POLICE are appealing for information after a man was seriously assaulted in Edinburgh.

Around 7pm on Sunday (13 October), a 31-year-old man was cycling eastbound on the Union Canal Tow Path, near Harrison Park, when he was approached by a man, who assaulted him.

The cyclist attended at hospital for treatment and was later released.

The suspect is described as being between 20 and 30 years old, around 6ft tall, of medium build, with dark eyebrows and possible facial hair. He was wearing a blue hooded top, grey tracksuit bottoms and possibly white trainers.

Extensive enquiries are ongoing and officers are appealing for anyone with information to get in touch.

Detective Inspector Gordon Couper said: “A man has been seriously assaulted and it is imperative that we trace the individual responsible.

“A dedicated team of officers are working on this and I would like to reassure the community that we are doing everything we can to trace whoever is responsible.

“We have been gathering CCTV footage from the surrounding area, which is being reviewed.

“But I would also be very keen to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have information which can assist our investigation.

“Please think back – did you see anything suspicious? Or did you see someone matching the suspect’s description in the area on Sunday evening?

“Any information, or footage, could prove vital, so please do pass it on to officers.

“Officers will remain in the area while enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with any information, or any concerns, can speak to them.

“Information can also be passed by calling 101, quoting incident number 2814 of Sunday, 13 October, 2024. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.”

Revealed: Scotland’s most stolen cars

AUDI A3, HONDA CIVIC & FORD FOCUS ARE SCOTLANDS MOST STOLEN CARS

Further research finds that almost 1 in 5 (18%) motorists have had their car stolen before, equating to 7,608,568 UK drivers.⁽¹⁾That’s as 14% of Scots admit to having their car stolen.
More cars were stolen from streets outside the victim’s home (37%) in Scotland than any other location.
With car thefts affecting so many drivers, Confused.com has launched a probability tool. Drivers can use this to find out how likely thieves are to steal the car they’re considering.
Rhydian Jones, car insurance expert at Confused.com shares advice on car theft prevention, and what to do if you need to make a claim

The Ford Fiesta is a firm favourite among drivers, with around 1.5 million on UK roads.However, it’s also the most targeted car by thieves, new data reveals.

The data, released by Confused.com, highlights the number of stolen vehicles since January 2018, with certain models and areas facing a significantly higher risk. This is based on customers who have made a claim for ‘theft of car’ on their insurance in this period.

In total, 10,346 thefts of Ford Fiesta have been reported since January 2018, according to car theft claims declared through Confused.com. This averages around 2,000 thefts per year, making it the most targeted car in the UK. Volkswagen Golf follows, with a total of 9,526 thefts over the same period, and BMW 3 Series ranks third with a total of 9,148 thefts.

Make and model (Car)	Units stolen
Ford Fiesta	10,346
Volkswagen Golf	9,526
BMW 3 Series	9,148
Ford Focus	6,664
BMW 1 Series	6,286
Mercedes-Benz C Class	5,698
Audi A3	5,551
Range Rover Sport	5,472
Vauxhall Corsa	4,992
Vauxhall Astra	4,357

However, the most targeted cars can vary by area of Scotland. For example, in Glasgow, the Audi A3 is the most stolen car. Yet in Edinburgh, a Honda Civic tops the list as the most reported stolen vehicle in the past 5 years.

The Scottish cities with the most stolen cars include:

City	Most stolen car
Glasgow	Audi A3 SE
Edinburgh	Honda Civic S
Aberdeen	Volkswagen Touareg R Line Plus
Motherwell	SAAB 9-3 Linear SE
Kirkcaldy	Renault Clio Dynamique

With so many drivers falling victim to car thefts, Confused.com has launched a new tool which shows the likelihood of a car being stolen.

This is based on the make, model and variant. Users can input the car they own, or are considering buying, into the tool and receive an estimate of its theft risk.

Armed with this knowledge, car buyers can make more informed decisions about their purchases.

In total, more than 250,000 thefts of cars have been reported since January 2018, according to Confused.com’s data. But the issue goes back further than this, as research found that almost 1 in 5 (18%) UK drivers have experienced car theft in the past. That’s equivalent to 7,608,568 motorists.

And according to the research by Confused.com, thieves aren’t always being particularly cautious with their methods, which suggests anyone could be at risk. In fact, more cars were stolen from streets outside the victim’s home (28%) than any other location, followed by their driveway (15%).

And it seems thieves are using a range of methods to successfully steal cars. Almost 1 in 4 (23%) stolen cars were hot-wired, 1 in 4 (22%) had their windows smashed and unfortunately 1 in 10 (10%) had their house broken into to steal the keys.

But it’s not all bad news as almost 9 in 10 (87%) of those who had their cars stolen said it was retrieved. Almost 2 in 3 (62%) said the police found it and 15% said they found it themselves. And technology clearly plays a role.

Over 1 in ten (14%) said they had security footage that showed the car being stolen, either from their own devices or their neighbours. A further 12% said they had a tracker on their car when it was stolen, which enabled them to find where it had been taken to.

It shows that having additional security pays. And as we head further into the winter season, getting closer to the clocks coming forward, drivers are being reminded to use car theft prevention devices. However, worryingly 28% of drivers admit they don’t use any additional security on their car.

But for those taking extra precautions, the most popular were found to be steering locks (19%), GPS trackers (17%), parking in a garage (17%) and putting car keys in a faraday pouch (12%). One in 10 also said they use a car key signal blocker as keyless car theft seems to be on the rise.

But it isn’t just the stress of having their car stolen which affects victims. In fact many were also left with significant financial burdens. Whilst the majority of cars are returned, almost 9 in 10 (87%) said their cars were returned damaged. On average, drivers had to spend £364 to repair damages and £671 to top up the cost of a new car.

With car thefts having such a significant impact on victims, it’s important that drivers are considering extra measures to keep their car as secure as possible – especially if their car is among the most targeted by thieves.

Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance, comments: ““Having your car stolen is a stress on both your life and your living costs too. And with general car insurance costs at extreme highs, the impact of having your car stolen is proving to be a burden on drivers and the price they pay for their car insurance.

“That’s why it’s important that drivers do all they can to protect their cars from thieves. And there are many ways to do this. These include:

Checking your car is locked – This might sound like an obvious one, but this is especially important with more modern cars having keyless locking systems. It’s easy to forget to double check or lock your car in the first place. It’ll also impact your claim if your car is stolen and you’re not sure if you locked it or not.
Hiding valuables in your car – don’t leave any valuables like handbags, tech or money visible in your car. This could make it more attractive to break into and steal.
Investing in car security – steering wheel and handbrake locks are effective ways to protect your car from thieves. The brightly coloured locks also act as a visual deterrent.
Installing a tracking device – although this doesn’t prevent your car from being stolen, it can improve its chances of being recovered.

“Taking measures to protect your car can help ensure that it doesn’t become a target. And if you’re changing your car, use our car theft probability calculator. This can help you work out how likely thieves in your area are to steal that car model.”

City council by-election details

Colinton/Fairmilehead by-election candidates announced

The candidates standing in the forthcoming Colinton/Fairmilehead Council by-election have been confirmed.

Twelve candidates have been nominated to stand in the by-election, which is due to take place on 14 November.

The candidates standing for election are –

Bonnie Prince Bob, Independent
Mev Brown, Independent
Mairianna Clyde, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Neil Cuthbert, Scottish Conservative and Unionist
Sheila Gilmore, Scottish Labour Party
David Ian Henry, Independent
Tam Laird, Scottish Libertarian Party
Grant Lidster, Reform UK
Richard Crewe Lucas, Scottish Family Party
Daniel Aleksanteri Milligan, Scottish Greens
Louise Spence, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Marc Wilkinson, Independent

Returning Officer for Edinburgh Paul Lawrence, said: “With nominations now closed and a month remaining, residents of the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward can start considering who they will vote for in the upcoming by-election. It’s important to make sure you’re registered to vote by 29 October in order to participate.

“Councillors play a vital role in our democratic system, making key decisions that impact our city. I encourage as many residents as possible to take part in this by-election.”

“The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, where voters rank candidates in order of preference by assigning numbers rather than just marking a single cross. You can choose to vote for as many or as few candidates as you wish.”

Poll cards will be delivered to registered voters in the area from today (Tuesday 15 October) including further information on when and where to vote.

If you live in the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward you must register to vote by 29 October and anyone wishing to vote by post can sign up for a new postal vote up until 30 October.

You can also apply for someone to vote on your behalf via proxy voting, with the deadline for new proxy vote applications on 6 November (for registered voters).

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm and will be at:

Charwood
Fairmilehead Parish Church Hall
St. Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church Hall
Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre
Pentland Community Centre

The electronic election count will take place on Friday 15 November starting at 9:30am.

The by-election follows the resignation of Councillor and former Transport and Environment Convener Scott Arthur, following his election as the MP for Edinburgh South West on 4 July 2024.

Find out more about the Colinton/Fairmilehead by-election on the Council website.

George IV Bridge assault: Do you know this man?

Police have released an image of a male they wish to speak to who may be able to assist with their enquiries into an assault which took place on Saturday, 14 September, 2024 on George IV Bridge. The incident took place at around 8pm.

The male (pictured above) is described as a white male, medium build, mid-30s, approximately 5ft 9” tall with short dark hair. He was seen to be wearing a red short sleeved polo shirt, dark skinny jeans and white trainers.

Detective Constable Adam Campbell said “I would urge the male pictured or anyone who may recognise him or has information about this incident to contact us as soon as possible.

“Anyone who can assist is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 3442 of 14 September 2024. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.”

Edinburgh rail users and tourists get chance to learn vital lifesaving skills

St Andrew’s First Aid to deliver free CPR demonstrations at popular locations to mark Restart a Heart Day.

Scotland’s only dedicated first aid charity, St Andrew’s First Aid, is providing Edinburgh locals and tourists with a chance to learn lifesaving CPR skills at open demonstrations held in the heart of the city this month.

To mark ‘Restart a Heart Day’ (16^th October), an initiative led by Resuscitation Council UK to increase the number of people who survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, St Andrew’s First Aid will be delivering free public demonstrations across three city centre locations.

Passers-by will be invited to get involved with CPR demonstrations, as well as learning how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

They will also be encouraged to practice what they have learned, gaining insightful feedback from St Andrew’s First Aid Community Engagement Trainers and Volunteers, to ensure they are prepared to step in and help, if they witness someone having a cardiac arrest.

Jim Dorman, Director of Operations and Community Engagement at St Andrew’s First Aid said: “We usually mark Restart a Heart with one day – but this year we decided it needs to be noticed – so we’re carrying out a roadshow across the full month of October, with free demonstrations taking place up and down the country.

“The importance of knowing how to administer CPR correctly can really be the difference between life and death for those receiving it. It’s our ambition to have as many people as possible learning these vital skills that could ultimately save a life.”

St Andrew’s First Aid Community Engagement Trainers and Volunteers will be in attendance at the following locations:

Edinburgh Castle: Wednesday 16^th October: 11am-4pm
Edinburgh Haymarket Train Station: Thursday 17^th October – 11am-2pm
Edinburgh Waverly Station: Saturday 19^th October – 11am-4pm

Between April 2022 and May 2023, there were 3,161 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Scotland*. Charities such as St Andrew’s First Aid are making it their mission to create a nation of lifesavers, by providing easy to access and free training to the public.

To find out more about St Andrew’s First Aid please visit: www.firstaid.org.uk

* https://www.scottishambulance.com/media/10dn0df0/ohca-report-2022-23.pdf

Tabletop Sale at Royston Wardieburn

SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 10am – 12 noon

Our Tabletop Sale is on Saturday 26th October 10am-12noon

We would love to see you all there!

As well as all out amazing sellers, the management committee will also be running a tombola to raise funds to support the work we do within the centre (community meals/outings etc,)

If anyone would like to donate anything for our tombola then please get in touch/drop off at centre by Thursday 24th.

Granton Church marks 90 years in Boswall Parkway

A Granton church is this week marking 90 years since, on Monday 22nd October 1934, the foundation stone was laid by the Duke of York (later King George VI).

Under the foundation stone there is a cavity holding a casket containing ‘The Scotsman’, ‘Life and Work’, extension scheme documents, architect’s description of the Church Buildings, a list of contractors, the name of surveyor and Clerk of Works, note of the cost of building and a copy of the programme used at the ceremony when the foundation stone was placed in position.

The move from the old Granton Parish Church building at the foot of Granton Road up to Boswall Parkway was seen as an opportunity to be closer to the new housing schemes of Wardieburn, East Pilton, Royston and Boswall, and the new church was opened in February 1936.

The church has been serving that new community ever since. Today’s work now includes lunches, coffee mornings, Friday drop-ins, and the hugely popular Share ‘n’ Wear service.

For more details, including an archive film of the Duke of York’s visit, go to the church’s website at grantonchurch.org.uk.