Forth councillor Elaine Morris will not be standing in May’s local government elections. Cllr. Morris, who defected to the SNP from the Lib Dems last year, was selected to fight the Drumbrae Gyle ward for her new party but has withdrawn for health reasons.
Plans to revitalise derelict land on the waterfront will collapse without the support of the local community, organisers have warned. JUMP (Joined Up Master Planning) organised a public meeting in Telford College last week to harness support for their plans – but only six members of the public attended.
JUMP’s vision for Granton’s waterfront – plans include a lido, a garden festival and an artist’s village – have been on the table for two years now, but it’s been a saga of frustration with no tangible progress. JUMP received lottery funding last year to conduct a local consultation exercise, and Thursday’s meeting was seen as an opportunity to update the local community and take the project on to the next stage. With only a handful of people attending, however, organisers are being forced to rethink their strategy.
Architect Ross McEwan, JUMP’s project manager, said: “Granton Sur Mer is a real opportunity to do something creative with derelict land that is currently lying idle. We have come forward with these ideas – ideas that will bring employment, money and leisure opportunities not just to North Edinburgh but the whole city. Our business plan stacks up and it’s so frustrating that we have been unable to take these ideas forward”.
Ross and partner Shaeron Averbuch recently visited Chaumont sur Loire in France and have seen what can be achieved. He is convinced that, with community support, Granton Sur Mer can become a reality.
“We are a very small community group and we just don’t have the resources for big marketing and public relations campaigns. There are things we could maybe have handled better but it has been very hard to get our message out. We really want to work with local people on these plans – nothing is written on tablets of stone, the project name could change if people don’t like it, our ideas for the land could be adapted if the community comes up with alternatives. But what we really need now is for local residents to show their support for the project – if they don’t, the idea is basically dead and we believe that would be a massive missed opportunity for this community”.
JUMP needs to attract local members to keep their waterfront vision alive. If you support the project’s aims or would like further information, telephone 551 2341 or email info@jump-projects.co.uk. An on-line petition can also be accessed at www.granton-sur-mer.co.uk
Following on from the success of December’s ‘Yes We Can Can’ community cabaret, community theatre is returning to North Edinburgh Arts with director Stephanie Knight .
Stephanie told participants: “I had a meeting with Kate, Director of NEA, last week to discuss how we can go forward after your tremendous achievements last year, and I would now like to meet on Friday 16th March at 6pm at NEA to plan what you would like to do next and how we can take this forward. There are already a number of great ideas and workshops will start on Friday 13th April 6 – 8p.m. in the theatre at NEA. Please get straight back to me with any queries and ideas in the meantime – it will be great to see you again!”
New members will also be warmly welcomed – for further information contact Stephanie on + 44 [0] 1578 750694 + 44 [0] 7817 359703 or email stephaniejaneknight@gmail.com
Inverleith’s young people had their say at last week’s Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership meeting held in Broughton High School. The meeting was dedicated to youth issues, and a varied programme of dance, song and drama highlighted the young people’s talents and made a refreshing change to the usual agenda of reports, presentations and statistics.
Assisted by the local Community Learning and Development team, Inverleith’s young people set the agenda for the day and Broughton High School students introduced the event. As well as music, drama and dance performances there were certificate presentations and Inverleith Youth Forum representatives also put their priorities to Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership members.
The two-hour meeting concluded with a short question time slot, where young people raised a wide range of issues including library services, safer cycling, leisure activities and community safety.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, who officially chaired the meeting, said: “I think the event really worked. On behalf of Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership I would like to say thank you to Broughton High School, and particularly the young people of Inverleith, who made the event such a success”.
Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership now plans to convene an extra meeting to look in detail at the priorities highlighted by Inverleith Youth Forum.
Inverleith’s young people had their say at last week’s Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership meeting held in Broughton High School. The meeting was dedicated to youth issues, and a varied programme of dance, song and drama highlighted the young people’s talents and made a refreshing change to the usual agenda of reports, presentations and statistics.
Assisted by the local Community Learning and Development team, Inverleith’s young people set the agenda for the day and Broughton High School students introduced the event. As well as music, drama and dance performances there were certificate presentations and Inverleith Youth Forum representatives also put their priorities to Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership members.
The two-hour meeting concluded with a short question time slot, where young people raised a wide range of issues including library services, safer cycling, leisure activities and community safety.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, who officially chaired the meeting, said: “I think the event really worked. On behalf of Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership I would like to say thank you to Broughton High School, and particularly the young people of Inverleith, who made the event such a success”.
Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership now plans to convene an extra meeting to look in detail at the priorities highlighted by Inverleith Youth Forum.
