September 2014 – Page 2 – The NEN

Masked men raid family home in Crewe Road South

Police are appealing for information following an armed robbery in Crewe Road South during the night. Four armed men wearing masks broke into a house just before 2am and attacked a terrified Chinese couple and their ten-year-old son. The raiders – who spoke with Scottish accents – escaped with a four-figure-sum of cash and jewellery.

Police are carrying out inquiries in the area and have increased high-visibility patrols in Craigleith.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Houston, who is leading the investigation, said: “The occupants of the house were awoken in the night to four masked intruders, who threatened them with a weapon and demanded cash. This was obviously a terrifying experience for them, and we are looking for any information to help us trace those responsible.

“I would be particularly keen to trace the drivers or occupants of any vehicles that were within the area at the time of the incident.

“We don’t have a clear description of the men as they were wearing masks, but they were all wearing dark clothing, and we are working to establish further details.”

If you have any information please call Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The jam in Edinburgh’s planning sandwich?

Trinity Community Council has commented on Edinburgh’s latest Local Development Plan:

The City of Edinburgh Council’s latest Local Development Plan shows more than 17,000 new houses to be built on either side of the Trinity area. Trinity comprises about 4,000 houses currently so that is a very significant increase in nearby housing stock. There will also be two new Primary Schools, additional shopping at Granton and Leith and major industrial development at Leith docks.

Despite this, the plan contains no corresponding transport proposals. Will Trinity be the jam in the sandwich between developments at Leith and Granton? The previous plan depended on the tram to Newhaven taking the strain but the scrapping of that extension has not been replaced by any alternative.

Unless the plan recognises the need, transport will only be reviewed piecemeal as developments are built – with all that implies for impatient motorists taking shortcuts through residential areas.

There is also concern about possible impact on parking – already causing a number of problems and made worse by apparent lack of enforcement. One suggestion is to introduce Priority Parking but this would cost residents for their permit. More info at

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20083/parking_permits/451/priority_parking

We will push for a review of roads, transport (including bus services) and parking in north Edinburgh as part of the Plan rather than as an afterthought.

Trinity Community Council

NOTE:

Comments on Edinburgh’s Local Development Plan must be received by this Friday – 3 October

Building New Futures

Forth Neighbourhood Partnership and local community councils organised a conference to discuss regeneration initiiatives in North Edinburgh at Edinburgh College Granton Campus yesterday.

Report to follow, but some pictures to give you a flavour of the event in the meantime …

Winter festivals funding announced

£315,000 to support for festive events across Scotland

The Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop has announced an award of £315,000 to support events across Scotland as part of the Scotland’s Winter Festivals programme.

Scotland’s Winter Festivals events run across St Andrew’s Day, Christmas, Hogmanay and Burns Night in a celebration of Scottish culture and creativity, spread across the country.

The funding will be awarded to 16 events in total, comprising seven St Andrew’s Day events, five regional Hogmanay events and four Burns celebrations.

Across the country, these events will welcome locals and tourists to celebrate with them this winter – from the Highlands to Dumfries and Galloway.

St Andrew’s Day will kick-start this winter’s festive season with major city centre events in Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as regional celebrations in East Lothian, Oban, St Andrews and Perth. Storytelling, music and traditional Scottish food and drink, at festivities across the country, this St Andrew’s Day has something for everyone to enjoy.

Ms Hyslop said: “Scotland’s Winter Festivals comprise a dynamic events programme, spanning the significant national dates of St Andrew’s Day, Christmas, Hogmanay and Burns Night.

“The Scottish Government is delighted to deliver this funding which enables EventScotland to showcase the best of Scottish music, arts, food and drink, innovation and entertainment to a wide audience.

“We are a country renowned for our warm hospitality and in 2013 alone, almost 15 million overnight stays were spent in Scotland. St Andrew’s Day, Christmas, Hogmanay and Burns Night offer great opportunities for visitors and residents alike to celebrate our rich culture and distinctive heritage here, while our special dates are also marked around the world.”

www.scotland.org/winter

Fowl! Abandoned birds need new homes

Abandoned cockerels need new homes

The Scottish SPCA is appealing to find loving new homes for a number of cockerels in their care. Scotland’s animal welfare charity has seen a rise in the number of cockerels being abandoned.

The most recent incident saw four Transylvanian cockerels dumped in woodland in Biggar, South Lanarkshire. The Scottish SPCA’s Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre currently have 11 cockerels looking for new homes.

Assistant centre manager Kenny Sharpe said, “The majority cockerels come into our care after being abandoned.

“People often buy chicks thinking they are hens and unfortunately when they realise they are cockerels they often dump the birds as they don’t lay eggs and can be quite noisy.

“Cockerels are very territorial birds, so ideally we are looking to rehome them singly or in small groups to a home with a number of hens.

“The birds would also need access to a secure run or a fully enclosed garden.
“We’d encourage anyone who thinks they can give any of these birds a fresh start to contact us for further information.”

Anyone who can offer any of the cockerels a new home is being urged to contact the Scottish SPCA’s Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.

Pictures: SSPCA

Women: Breaking the mould

Breaking the Mould is a new project which aims to record and celebrate inspirational women from North Edinburgh who have made a difference to the lives of others locally, nationally, internationally. The project is particularly interested in identifying and publicising those women from our community who have ‘broken the mould’.

The achievements of many Edinburgh women are well known to us. Names such as Elsie Inglis and Helen Crummy have been celebrated with honours and memorials. There are many other women out there, however, who may have been forgotten about who really deserve to be remembered.

The group who are undertaking this research live locally and will be supported by a local Community Learning and Development worker and a tutor from the Workers Education Association. The group will be meeting every Wednesday from 10 – 12 in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre – first session is next Wednesday (1 October). A free crèche is provided for participants’ children.

Our short list of women who ‘Broke the Mould’ will be included in a new Edinburgh-wide booklet which will be launched at a special event at the Scottish Parliament next year. We also hope to create an exhibition displaying the images of all our inspirational local women. The exhibition will be launched at a community event in North Edinburgh Arts Centre next summer.

If you are interested in joining the group or would like more information about how you can get involved call Lynn McCabe at Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre on 552 5700 or Isobel Hart, from the Workers Education Association on 225 2580.

Alternatively, check out the North Edinburgh Breaking the Mould Facebook page. For more information about the project in other areas of the country contact: https://www.facebook.comWEABreakingthemould

Lynn McCabe

NEN: it’s deadline day

Just a reminder that today is deadline day for NEN’s autumn edition, so if you want to share your news with the North Edinburgh community in the October paper: HURRY!

Email us at northedinnews@gmail.com

In another development, NEN’s mobile phone was switched on at a moving private ceremony last night. The mobile phone has been silent for some time due to lack of funds, but the device is now active once again and awaits your calls!

The number? 07925 405 972.

Letter: lessons of the past will safeguard the future

Dear Editor

This year, France, Belgium and Holland are celebrating the seventieth anniversary of their liberation. After all the time that has passed, their joy and gratiiude is expressed not only by the elderly who suffered the oppression of occupation but also by each succeeding generation – they joy can be seen and felt in these countries.

I was part of the British forces advancing from France through Belgium into Holland. Near the town of Budel, there was torrential rain and I sought shelter in a farmer’s barn – much to the interest of the farmer’s children! I have kept in touch with the children since 1944 and have visited from time to time.

This September I was delighted to receive an invitation from the town of Budel to attend their Liberation Ceremonies as a guest of honour. These events were linked with the publication of a book entitled ‘Memories from the Past’, told by citizens of the area to the author Rene Vos, detailing the history of the occupation over the years 1940 – 44. I was asked to write the foreword for the book:

Citizens of the Cranendonck Community

To remember and to celebrate is not to glorify militarism but to show the united will of the people for a peaceful world.

It is important that events of the 1930s and 1940s are told to each generation so they can avoid the ‘mistakes’ made during that period: the ‘mistake’ of tolerating racism, the ‘mistake’ of ignoring the fascist states’ determination to expand their control over others, all of which led to world war.

It was the ordinary people of all lands who finally defeated that eveil; it is the ordinary people of all lands, armed with the knowledge of the past, that will safeguard the future.

The kindness, friendliness and hospitality expressed to me as a World War II representative was overwhelming. This is the main reason for this letter; to tell you of the great feeling of gratitude to the people of the UK and of their joy of liberation and freedom from fear and suppression.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Caution in the kitchen

Over the past few days The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) have been called out to a number of kitchen fires across the East of Scotland. Thankfully these fires were relatively minor, but officers are taking the opportunity remind the public to take extra care in the kitchen …

Group Manager Alex Smart said: “Our advice to anyone who does experience a fire within the home is to get out, stay out and call us out. Close the door behind you and never try to tackle a fire yourself.

“More fires begin in the kitchen than in any other room of the house and traditional chip pans are a particularly high fire risk. We would urge everyone take a few simple steps to keep themselves and those around them safe.

“By never leaving pans unattended while in use and by keeping any flammable materials, such as kitchen towels, etc., away from sources of ignition, we can dramatically reduce the chance of fire starting.

“Chip pan fires very quickly spread flames, toxic smoke and heat so having early warning is vital to preventing serious injury or worse. There is much less chance of someone being seriously hurt or killed by fire if a house is protected by working smoke alarms.

“Having a smoke alarm fitted can limit the damage to property by allowing firefighters the chance to respond earlier to extinguish the fire. Working smoke alarms provide householders with an early warning that will enable them to escape the property during the early stages and can prevent injuries and deaths caused by fire.

“Crews in every community throughout Scotland routinely visit members of the public in their own homes to offer FREE advice and to fit smoke alarms to help them stay safe from fire.

“If you or someone you know could benefit from a visit, please join Scotland’s fight against fire and request a FREE visit by calling the SFRS freephone number 0800 0731 999, by texting ‘check’ to 61611 or by contacting their local fire station.”

A wide range of tips on how to keep yourself and your home safe from fire are available on the SFRS website: www.firescotland.gov.uk

Who’s your favourite coffee companion?

With the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning organisers putting the finishing touches to fundraising plans, Macmillan has revealed the celebrities you’d most like to have coffee with. And the winner is … Stephen Fry (and he’d take you for a lemon polenta cake with a strong black coffee!)

Macmillan Cancer Support has revealed that Stephen Fry is the nation’s ideal coffee date, as the charity releases research around the nation’s hot drink and cake habits ahead of flagship fundraising event, the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning taking place this Friday.

Macmillan’s research, conducted by One Poll, suggests that national treasures are the coffee flavour of the day, with Stephen Fry, David Attenborough Nigella Lawson, Joanna Lumley and Julie Walters coming out top of the list of people Brits would most like to go for a coffee with, ahead of young guns like Miley Cyrus, Nick Grimshaw and Jay-Z.

Stephen Fry said: “I’m delighted to have been named as the person the Great British public would most like to go for a coffee with – what a lovely lot they are! In case you were wondering, we’d go to a quiet coffee shop, I’d have a strong black coffee and we’d both indulge in my favourite cake, a hefty slice of Lemon Polenta.

“The work Macmillan does really is invaluable and the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is a fantastic way of getting people together to raise money for such a worthwhile cause – I wish everyone taking part the best of luck!”

Further insights show that coffee has (just) knocked tea off its perch as the nation’s favoured hot beverage, with 51% of those surveyed saying they’d pick a cup of coffee over a brew, and are most likely to have one at 10.48am. The research also shows that Brits enjoy an average of 2.63 coffees every day, with over a quarter (27%) gulping down least 4 coffees a day, the equivalent of 91,980 mugs in a lifetime[2]!

Whilst lattes (20%) and cappuccinos (15%) are popular choices, over half (55%) of those polled admitted that they were most likely to go for the easy instant option when making it for themselves.

A hard habit to kick, over a quarter of Brits (26%) said that they would rather abstain from social media than go without coffee for the week, whilst one in five (20%) would be prepared to give up booze and 15% would even give up sex.

One in ten (11%) of those surveyed also admitted to spending up to £25 a week on coffee – that’s £81,900 in a lifetime – over three times the UK’s average salary[3]. Despite having the highest ratio of tea drinkers (53%), Londoners spend the most on coffee each week at £8.81, whilst people in the South West spend less than half that amount, with a respectable weekly coffee budget of just £4.26.

Moving on to sweet treats to accompany our coffee habits, the survey revealed that chocolate cake (21%) was the number one choice, closely followed by carrot cake (18%) and Victoria sponge (16%). Nearly a third of Brits (30%) also admitted to dunking their biscuit, with 16% going for the ‘all at once’ tactic.

Hannah Redmond from Macmillan Cancer Support said: “It’s really insightful to see how the nation takes their coffee and cake ahead of the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning this Friday. At 24 years old, it’s the most successful charity fundraising event of its sort, having raised over £113million to date. This year we estimate that 5 million coffees will be drunk, 10 million slices of cake eaten and you’ll never be further than half a mile away from a coffee morning[4]. It really will be the world’s biggest coffee morning!”

Some more fascinating facts:

• Brits are most likely to raise a mug of coffee at 10.48 with chocolate cake as the perfect accompaniment

• 1 in 4 Brits have at least 4 coffees a day and 1 in 10 will spend up to £81,900 on coffee in their lifetime (over three times the average salary)

• Fifteen percent of Brits would rather give up sex than coffee

• Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning takes place on Friday 26th September

For more information go to www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee.