Day: June 27, 2012

Minister welcomes crime rate fall

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill yesterday welcomed official statistics which show that recorded crime fell again last year to its lowest level since 1975. Tuesday’s Recorded Crime statistics show that the number of crimes recorded by the police in 2011/12 fell by three per cent compared to the previous year – a decrease of around 9,000.

The figures also showed that the number of crimes involving handling offensive weapons have fallen by 10 per cent since 2010/11, and by 44 per cent since 2006/7. The number of crimes involving handling an offensive weapon is now at its lowest level in 18 years.

Mr MacAskill said: “These figures are further good news for Scotland and underline that our communities are becoming increasingly safer and stronger. This is the fifth year in a row where recorded crime has fallen – to a 37-year low – and with police numbers remaining well above our pledge to put 1,000 extra officers on our streets.

“I congratulate every one of the more than 17,000 police officers across Scotland for their excellent work to prevent and detect crime and catch criminals. What we are seeing is that recorded crime continues to fall at a time when police officer numbers are strong.

“Next year will see the introduction of a single police service which will strengthen local policing. Reform will protect the frontline and strip costly and unnecessary duplication out of the current structures, delivering estimated savings of £1.7 billion over 15 years.

“There are many pleasing aspects to today’s statistics. I am particularly pleased to see a 10 per cent reduction in crimes involving handling an offensive weapon, an area where we’ve seen crimes fall by 44 per cent since 2006/7.

“We have invested heavily in this area, specifically in our efforts to reduce knife crime. We have rolled out our highly successful No Knives, Better Lives education campaign across the country to get the message across to young people about the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife, and encourage more positive life choices.

“I am pleased we are seeing positive results, and will continue to spread that message and work to reduce knife crime even further.

“However, there is no room for complacency. We take the safety of our communities very seriously, and we will continue to support the outstanding work of our police, prosecutors and courts to bring those responsible for crime to justice.”

Pirniehall artwork brightens promenade

 

Pic: City of Edinburgh Council

Artwork designed by local children was installed yesterday (Tuesday) by the City of Edinburgh Council on the Granton stretch of the Edinburgh Promenade. The Rubbings Trail is a pilot and aims to provide a fun activity for everyone using the walkway to enjoy.

It hopes to draw people  along the walkway to collect three themed bronze plaques based on the history and heritage of Granton.  It is proposed that the collection is extended to run along the full length of  the promenade in the future.

The  plaques were designed by Pirniehall P4s Jason Bateman, Erinn Tyler and Alexander Trainer and include a shoal of  fish; an oyster catcher; and boats and a seal at Granton  Harbour. Local artist Kate Ive, winner of the  British Medal Society’s ‘New Medallist  Scheme’ 2011/12, translated the original  designs into bronze.

Cllr Tom Buchanan, Convener of the Economic Development  Committee, said: “The Council is committed to delivering a high quality  Promenade between Cramond and Joppa. Over  the last five years, in excess of £400,000  has been invested completing the section between Cramond and Granton. The Rubbings Trail is a fantastic addition to this stretch of  the Promenade, which is now being heavily used by walkers,  cyclists and visitors. I  look forward to many thousands of people each year enjoying this new  artwork produced by our talented school children alongside the excellent views  to Fife.”

The Edinburgh Promenade runs for 17km  and stretches from Cramond in the west to Joppa in the East. As well as forming  part of the Scottish Coastal Path it is also part of the North Sea Trail.

The Promenade is a vital  part of the waterfront regeneration and has the support of a wide range  of stakeholders.

City of Edinburgh Council

Muirhouse Centipede's going green!

From potty planters and community barbeques to picture competitions and labyrinth mazes … Linda Dunbar gives an update on the Centipede Project …
A multi agency Steering Group has been formed which includes representatives from St Paul’s RC, North Edinburgh Arts, Fable Vision (Govan) and Link Up – and we are hopeful the representation will get wider.
We now have a plan of activities for the next nine months, kicking off with a Peculiar Planter Competition! We are looking for folk to bring along a potted plant (or plants) to the West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala on 26 August – but for the planters to be more than your bog standard terracotta pot – as the title suggests – the dafter the better! We want folk to write a few lines on a postcard, explaining their planter, or naming their planter, or telling up why they chose it. We will be working with local schools, nursing homes and community groups to ensure a big entry to the competition.
For those who are struggling for ideas, there will also be a chance to ‘plant up’ at the free Community BBQ and Summer Fair that will be held in Muirhouse St Andrew’s Parish Church the day before, Saturday 25th from 11am – 1pm. This will be the third year that Muirhouse have hosted a FREE community BBQ, but this year it will be enhanced by peculiar planters and summer fair stalls! Judging of the planters will take place during the Gala Day and prizes will be announced at 3.30pm.
This is just the start of a big programme of events – all made possible through Pilot Project Funding from the Parish Development Fund of the Church of Scotland. Also in the pipeline are:
‘A Time for Peace’ – a chance to step back and reflect on the peaceful sites within the Muirhouse and west Pilton Area – hosted by North Edinburgh Arts some time in October/November – date to be confirmed
12/12/12 Photo competition – take a digital photograph some time during the 24 hours of 12/12/12 that depicts one of the Advent themes of ‘love’, ‘joy’, hope’ or ‘peace’. In mid-late January there will be a display of the winning entries, again hosted by North Edinburgh Arts – date to be confirmed
Running over autumn and winter we will be engaging a community artist to design something ‘big and beautiful and spectacular’ in flowers or bulbs which we hope to work with the council in identifying one of the brown field sites within the Muirhouse area, to plant up (with the help of the community) and wait and watch for the grand display blooming in the spring.
In the church gardens, and elsewhere if we can identify suitable sites, we are going to install a labyrinth maze – we also hope to install small sensory/peace gardens at two or three sites in the area.
So – you can see the Centipede has got its boots on!
Folks can check out updates on Facebook’s Marvellous Muirhouse Page, and on www.centipedeproject.co.uk
Linda Dunbar

Muirhouse Centipede’s going green!

From potty planters and community barbeques to picture competitions and labyrinth mazes … Linda Dunbar gives an update on the Centipede Project …
A multi agency Steering Group has been formed which includes representatives from St Paul’s RC, North Edinburgh Arts, Fable Vision (Govan) and Link Up – and we are hopeful the representation will get wider.
We now have a plan of activities for the next nine months, kicking off with a Peculiar Planter Competition! We are looking for folk to bring along a potted plant (or plants) to the West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala on 26 August – but for the planters to be more than your bog standard terracotta pot – as the title suggests – the dafter the better! We want folk to write a few lines on a postcard, explaining their planter, or naming their planter, or telling up why they chose it. We will be working with local schools, nursing homes and community groups to ensure a big entry to the competition.
For those who are struggling for ideas, there will also be a chance to ‘plant up’ at the free Community BBQ and Summer Fair that will be held in Muirhouse St Andrew’s Parish Church the day before, Saturday 25th from 11am – 1pm. This will be the third year that Muirhouse have hosted a FREE community BBQ, but this year it will be enhanced by peculiar planters and summer fair stalls! Judging of the planters will take place during the Gala Day and prizes will be announced at 3.30pm.
This is just the start of a big programme of events – all made possible through Pilot Project Funding from the Parish Development Fund of the Church of Scotland. Also in the pipeline are:
‘A Time for Peace’ – a chance to step back and reflect on the peaceful sites within the Muirhouse and west Pilton Area – hosted by North Edinburgh Arts some time in October/November – date to be confirmed
12/12/12 Photo competition – take a digital photograph some time during the 24 hours of 12/12/12 that depicts one of the Advent themes of ‘love’, ‘joy’, hope’ or ‘peace’. In mid-late January there will be a display of the winning entries, again hosted by North Edinburgh Arts – date to be confirmed
Running over autumn and winter we will be engaging a community artist to design something ‘big and beautiful and spectacular’ in flowers or bulbs which we hope to work with the council in identifying one of the brown field sites within the Muirhouse area, to plant up (with the help of the community) and wait and watch for the grand display blooming in the spring.
In the church gardens, and elsewhere if we can identify suitable sites, we are going to install a labyrinth maze – we also hope to install small sensory/peace gardens at two or three sites in the area.
So – you can see the Centipede has got its boots on!
Folks can check out updates on Facebook’s Marvellous Muirhouse Page, and on www.centipedeproject.co.uk
Linda Dunbar