Day: December 4, 2011

Bulb Planting To Go Ahead On Tuesday

Organisers are keeping their (green) fingers crossed that a bulb planting event will go ahead in Easter Drylaw Gardens on Tuesday.  The ‘big dig’ was scheduled to take place last week but was postponed due to the horrible weather.

The bulb planting will take place from 1 – 3pm; all welcome, but wrap up warm!

For further information contact Moray Penman at North Edinburgh Local Office, email moray.penman@edinburgh.gov.uk

Let There Be Light!

Drylaw Telford Community Council is to raise concerns over the quality of recently-introduced lamp standards across the area.  Members at the community council’s latest meeting in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre on Wednesday said that the new streetlights are not powerful enough and do not light pavements adequately, and the group plans to raise safety concerns at forthcoming Neighbourhood Partnership meetings.

The city council embarked on a rolling programme of replacing street lights earlier this year, but community council members believe the new lights are not as effective as the older lamp standards they are replacing.

Community councillor Jackie Brown also manages Drylaw’s Rainbow Daycare Centre for older people, and she says members are feeling less safe at night as a result of the lighting replacement programme.

“The new lights are lower and less powerful so don’t shed nearly as much light.  Older members of the community are feeling vulnerable.  Some of them are carrying torches so that they can see where to put the key in the door lock when they get home, while some others are avoiding going out altogether when it gets dark.  It’s not only older people who are affected by the new lights, though – lots of people are not happy with the new lights”.

The city council is introducing the new units to reduce cost, energy use and light pollution.  In October the council’s Planning Committee approved a draft version of the Edinburgh Lighting Strategy for consultation and the closing date for comments is 31 December.  Drylaw Telford Community Council will formally respond to the consultation and also plan to raise concerns at December meetings of Forth Neighbourhood Partnership and the local Clean, Green and Safe action group.

What do you think of the new street lights?  Let us know!