Day: October 22, 2012

Police activity stepped up in Stockbridge

Lothian and Borders Police investigating a sexually motivated assault in the Stockbridge area have carried out a weekend of activity, a week after the attack.

A 23-year-old woman was returning home from a night out in Fredrick Street and had walked onto St Vincent Street when a man grabbed her from behind. The victim was forced to the ground but screamed loudly during the struggle and the suspect made off.

Over the past weekend plain-clothes and uniformed police patrolled the area between 11pm and 4am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.

Officers spoke with members of the public who were returning home or travelling through the New Town and Stockbridge area to establish if they’d been there the previous week and witnessed anything suspicious.

High-visibility reassurance patrols were also deployed throughout Stockbridge to engage with the local community and over 60 questionnaires were issued relating to last week’s assault.

As part of the policing activity, basement areas and secluded spots in and around Stockbridge were searched for anything of evidential value.

The area in and around Cumberland Street was also included during police patrols, as officers continue to investigate whether a similar attack, which took place on Saturday 29 September, is linked to this incident.

Detective Sergeant Lynsey Thomson praised the assistance of the public so far, but urged anyone who can help bring the suspect to justice to come forward.

DS Thomson said: “It’s now been a week since the victim was subjected to this terrifying ordeal and so it seemed appropriate to re-visit the area in the hope of talking to people who may have been there last week.

“Local residents, dog walkers, early morning commuters and taxi drivers were all spoken to during this time to determine whether they were in or around St Vincent Street in the early hours of last Sunday morning and whether they remember seeing or hearing anything suspicious.

“The response from those we spoke to was positive and we will now go through the statements and questionnaires we completed and progress the enquiry from there.

“Our reassurance patrols were undoubtedly a comfort to those who live in and frequent the Stockbridge area and these will continue for as long as is required.

“I would urge anyone who has yet to speak to police, but who may have vital information that can help identify the man responsible for this attack to contact us immediately.”

Anyone with information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Council to bin agency staff ‘within weeks’

The city council will only use agency staff to empty bins in emergencies, North Edinburgh campaigners have been told. The assurance came from Councillor Lesley Hinds in response to questions posed by local campaign group North Edinburgh Fights Back.

The group had challenged council leaders over the use of private contractors in the refuse collection service. Councillor Hinds, who chairs the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee, responded: ” I have had  several meetings with the Director of Services for Communities and now have an  assurance that within the next few weeks, agency staff will not be used in the  cleansing area except in emergency use.  I wish to see permanent staff employed in cleansing.”

She went on: “You will be aware that the Labour Group on the Council opposed ABM (Alternative Business Model) from the beginning and voted on many occasions to stop the privatisation of council services. During this ABM process an in-house bid was submitted, which included changes to how the service was to be delivered. I had a meeting, at my request, with he shop stewards from Unite and we agreed a number of actions we can take to ensure we have permanent staff employed with good terms and conditions.”

A spokesperson for North Edinburgh Fights Back said: “We welcome Councillor Hinds’ statement but we will continue to monitor the situation.”

Open doors at Muirhouse Shopping Centre

The doors are being taken off Muirhouse Shopping Centre today,  21st Century Homes – the team behind the area’s regeneration – has announced. Robert Pearson reports …

Residents are delighted to learn today that the doors of Pennywell Shopping Centre being taken down, It was confirmed on Friday afternoon in an email from newly appointed senior project manager John McDonald of the city’s 21st century
regeneration project.

An email sent to local groups advised that work will start today (Monday 22 October) to remove the doors and glass fronts on the shopping centre, with local shops and residents advised on Saturday about the intended work.

Since the shopping centre was roofed and these doors were put in place many
local residents and shop keepers have highlighted concerns with anti-social
behaviour  over recent months many people have taken shelter within the
area and continued to consume alcohol, throwing rubbish, and generally causing
a nuisance. Many find this behaviour intimidating and Lothian & Borders
police are often seen within the shopping centre tackling the issues.

I spoke to a shopper this morning and asked their opinion in the doors coming
off, she told me that is brilliant and might stop the drunks gathering within
the centre. She also added that they should have never have been put up in the
first place.

Just now walking through the enclosed centre can be very intimidating, but with
the doors removed it will hopefully feel a lot more open and more welcoming.
There have also been talks of the roof being removed; this has been delayed due
to structural.

 

 

Muirhouse says goodbye to Sister Ann

The Muirhouse community said goodbye to Sister Ann Buckeridge at a reception at North Edinburgh Arts Centre last Friday. Sister Ann is moving on to new challenges in Cardiff, but the wee woman with the huge heart will leave a lasting impression on Muirhouse.

Sister Ann belongs to the Daughters of Charity order, and arrived in Muirhouse just two years ago with a simple mission – ‘to help’.  Help she certainly has, and it’s fair to say that there has been very little that Ann hasn’t been involved in – from the community council, various Neighbourhood Partnership Action Groups, the Voluntary Sector Forum and Muirhouse Centipede Project to name a few. Small in stature she may be, but Ann’s boundless energy and enthusiasm have been a real driving force for positive change in Muirhouse and she will be sorely missed.

Community activists, council officials and project workers joined local councillors Cammy Day and Vicki Redpath to present gifts and to thank Sister Ann for her huge contribution to community life in Muirhouse.

Modest as ever, Sister Ann said: “From the moment I came to Muirhouse I received a  warm welcome and people have been so generous and kind. I am really touched by all the kind things that have been said and I have enjoyed working alongside so many dedicated people – it has been a pleasure to have been part of community life here.”

Roy Douglas, chairman of Muirhouse Salvesen Community Council, said: “We really have been so fortunate to have had Sister Ann working alongside us for the last two years. It’s hard to overstate the contribution she’s made – she has been wonderful to work with and we will all really miss her.”

The wee woman hopes to return for a visit one day – and, with the regeneration of Muirhouse beginning to gather pace, Sister Ann may find that some of the seeds she sowed will have bloomed.