Granton Improvement Society to argue for green space too

‘This morning is another chance for the City of Edinburgh to show they value the environment and the wishes of the people of North Edinburgh’ – GIS secretary Barbara Robertson

North Edinburgh will be well represented at today’s Planning Committee meeting. As well as the aforementioned Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden delegation there will be a deputation from Granon Improvement Society too!

GIS secretary Barbara Robertson said: “Granton Improvement Society have a deputation to the Planning committee this morning to get them to agree to the designation of the Walled Garden area as Green Space being adopted as part of the Local Development Plan going forward.

“The project for a Garden Festival on that site, originally designated in the Llewllyn Davis Master plan as green space in 2002/3, has been developed by GIS over many years (see https://grantonimprovementsociety.wordpress.org for more information).

“We have been doing all we can to prevent the building of houses on this historic site and allow the GIS to make our visionary project come alive. This morning is another chance for the City of Edinburgh to show they value the environment and the wishes of the people of North Edinburgh.”

North Edinburgh Jobs & Information Fair today

THURSDAY 14 MAY

10.30am – 1.30pm

Are you looking for a new job? A change of direction? looking to get some new skills or start a course … need some help?

Find out more about real jobs, training and learning opportunities near you!

Meet representatives from a range of organisations that can advise and support you with applications, updating your skills, volunteering, caring and more. City council Welfare Refrom officers will also be available to provide advice on benefits and housing.

It’s all available today at Muirhouse Library and Pennywell Shopping Centre – check it out!

Walled Garden: growing hope

B-list boost for Friends campaign

A deputation representing The Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden will attend today’s Planning Committee meeting with renewed optimism thanks to an imminent report from Historic Scotland.

Friends group organiser Kirsty Sutherland explained: “Just two days before our Friends Group deputation to the City Chambers we learned from Historic Scotland that they have almost completed the review of Granton Castle Walled Garden – and the great news is that they want to upgrade its status to B-listed!

“We hope this groundbreaking news will help convince the city council’s planning committee members to support our Friends Group aim of safeguarding this historic garden from a luxury housing development.”

The recent Historic Environment Act and planning guidelines issued for Historic Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Edinburgh all recognise the significant contribution heritage landscapes & greenspaces make to our communities sense of place, cultural identity & understanding of history.

Friends Group members and supporters feel that one of the oldest walled gardens in Scotland deserves to be safeguarded, cherished and restored.

Kirsty added: “We’re really excited by the Historic Scotland news – I’m bubbling over! It’s a bit like David and Goliath, trying to stop a multi-million pound business from building houses in the garden.We’d like to thank everyone for their support – the more people that speak up and send in a wee message of support, the better.”

Deputation Letter to Planning Committee 14 May

Muirhouse: mid-market flats to let

Our subsidiary company MH4 has a number of two bedroom flats available for let now. These flats are set within two blocks, all of which are let as Mid Market Tenancies.

To be considered for one of these flats you need to earn more than £18,000 and less than £37,000. And not rely on Housing Benefit to meet the cost of your rent.
The rent is £518 per month, due on the 1st of each month. A deposit of £518 is also required prior to signing the tenancy agreement.

The flats have an open plan living/dining/kitchen, two double bedrooms with built in wardrobes, a bathroom with an overbath shower and ample storage. Carpets are provided in the bedrooms and livingroom, and vinyl in the kitchen area and bathroom.

The flats are available for occupancy from the start of July.
If you are interested in applying please contact MHA on 336-5282 or email info@muirhouseha.org.uk

It is crucial that you apply quickly so that references and employments and bank details can be checked to allow you to move in July.

Home sweet home: thousands benefit from Help to Buy

5000 sales valued at £1 billion – and 2500 more on the way

More than 5,000 families and first time buyers have purchased their home through the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess announced yesterday.

A further 2,500 sales are expected to be completed this year through this scheme and the Help to Buy (Scotland) Small Developers scheme.

Over £305 million was allocated to the two schemes – far exceeding the original industry demand for £220 million and target of 4,500 homes.

The value of the 5,000 properties sold under the scheme since November 2013 is now over £1 billion.

Help to Buy (Scotland) has been developed and delivered in partnership with Homes for Scotland and the Council of Mortgage Lenders, representing the industry and lenders. They continue to work with Ministers to monitor the schemes.

Mrs Burgess said: ““Housing is, and will remain, at the heart of the Government’s ambitions to deliver a fairer and more prosperous country.

“By investing £305 million in the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme, £85 million more than the house building industry originally requested, we have also stimulated the economy, created jobs and given the construction industry a huge boost.

“The 5,000 sales achieved has far exceeded the industry’s original target of 4,500 homes. This has provided thousands of families, couples and single people, including first time buyers, the help to move up or onto the property ladder.”

The scheme has proved to be popular all across the country. Elgin couple Cameron & Magdalena McKenzie, who purchased a property through the Help to Buy Scheme, said: “Our family were delighted to use the help to buy scheme to assist us in getting a bigger and more modern property.

“We would never have been able to buy a bigger family home if it was not for Help to Buy. From start to finish, it was also very positive dealing with Bob Milton Properties.”

Bob Milton of house builder, Bob Milton Properties, said: “We were delighted to have sold another home with the assistance of the Help to Buy scheme. The scheme allowed Cameron and Magdalena to fulfil their dreams and move up to a new energy efficient home with their required number of bedrooms for their family needs.

“The people purchasing the plot next to Cameron and Magdalena’s had a son looking for a home. I put them in touch and the son, who was a first time buyer, bought Cameron and Magdalena’s home. Clearly, the Help to Buy scheme had a very positive link in allowing two sales to happen.”

Liz Mallon, Sales and Marketing Manager of City Legacy, the company responsible for marketing the Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village properties, said: “The Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village is a very special development which has really caught the imagination of buyers and bridges that much-needed gap for affordable living in Glasgow’s East End, just a few miles from the city centre.

“The support of the Scottish Government Help to Buy Scheme on this affordable quality private housing development has made a significant difference to the many first time buyers and families who have purchased their first new home in this unique historic housing development.”

Pete Bell, Chairman and Managing Director of Fife-based Campion Homes said: “We are not surprised this scheme has proved so popular. It allows first time buyers to get on the property ladder and shows just how important small and medium sized builders are to the house building industry in Scotland. We are delighted to be part of it.”

Letters: Lessons from the fracking USA

Dear Editor

Fracking – Danger Ahead

Fracking in America has made vast profits for investment companies: it has also caused contamination of the water table, with toxic chemicals making the water impossible to drink or use.

In some areas water is having to be transported and stored in containers by the householders. Imagine that happening in areas already earmarked for widespread fracking in our central belt of West, Mid and East Lothian.

The immediate danger arises – as it did with wind turbines – of private landowners making deals with fracking companies: this must be prohibited now.

The Scottish government must, without any ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’, state clearly that fracking will not be allowed in any shape or form. The potential disaster for the people of polluting our water supply in the pusuit of private profit must be stopped.

A. Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens

Last chance to book your place at Compact forum

Edinburgh’s First Compact Third Sector Forum – last chance to book!

Cllr Maureen Child, Convenor of the Council’s Communities & Neighbourhoods Committee, would like to invite Third Sector organisations from across the city to:

Edinburgh’s First Compact Third Sector Forum
Monday 18 May 10.00am – 2pm
Edinburgh City Chambers, 253 High Street EH1 1YJ

The Forum will provide an opportunity to explore how the Compact’s vision of “A City of active resilient communities where a vibrant Third Sector works in partnership with others to build social value and reduce inequalities”, enables partners working together to face the challenges of the future, enhances coproduction approaches and improves service planning with public sector partners.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity to:

Hear about the new Compact Strategy 2015-20
Explore the key issues facing the city’s third sector at city, locality and neighbourhood levels;
Highlight examples of good practice; and
Aim to build confident partnerships for the future.

Do take a moment to look through the Forum programme. Should you wish to attend, please email: Korstiaan Allan.

The Forum will become an annual event – it’s up to you to shape it in the way that’s best for you!.

Book Now

Free haircuts at Granton Campus

Come on, chaps: get your barnets coiffured by college students!

Students from Edinburgh College barbering courses are offering free men’s haircuts at the Granton Campus Hair and Beauty Academy.

The Hair and Beauty department at the college is looking for clients to come along and get their hair cut and styled by the gents barbering classes at the training salon. For a limited time only these men’s haircuts and styling are free!

Frances Bain, curriculum manager for hair, beauty and complementary therapy, said: “Clients will not only be receiving a free haircut, they will be helping the students work towards their assessments and qualifications. This a vital part of these students’ studies, as they work in a salon environment to provide top-quality service and cuts to clients.”

Men’s haircut appointments are available on Tuesdays from 10-11am and 4.30-6.30pm, and Wednesday to Friday from 9-11am until 12 June. To book an appointment please call the Hair and Beauty reception on 0131 559 4050.

The barbering classes are just one of many hairdressing and beauty services available at Edinburgh College. A range of treatments are available at the Hair and Beauty Academies at Milton Road, Sighthill and Granton Campuses. Students offer the latest industry treatments and styles using Elemis, Dermalogica and Wella products.

For opening hours and the list of available treatments and prices visithttp://www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/welcome/leisure/salons/training_academies.aspx

To find out more about Edinburgh College’s hair and beauty therapy courses, and the many more courses available over the college’s varied curriculum and four campuses, visit www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/courses

Police seek Red Bridge robber

Victim ‘left shaken’ by knifepoint robbery

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses following a knifepoint robbery near the red bridge by Crewe Toll on Tuesday.

The incident happened at around 1.30pm.

A 30-year-old man was walking on the cycle path between the red bridge on Ferry Road and the rear of the Morrisons supermarket when a male approached and presented a knife.

The victim was then threatened and robbed of his rucksack before the male made off.

Anyone who can assist police with their investigation is asked to come forward.

The suspect is described as white, early to mid-twenties, 6ft tall with an unshaven complexion and a pronounced Adam’s apple. He was wearing a navy blue hooded top with zipper and white drawstrings, navy blue trainers and scruffy white trainers.

Detective Constable Andy Cory said: “Fortunately the victim was unharmed but is obviously very upset at the theft of his rucksack and was left shaken by this incident.

“Anyone who remembers seeing any suspicious activity in the area is asked to contact police immediately. In addition, anyone who recognises the description of the suspect is also asked to get in touch.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police seek woman following Broughton Road assault

Police are appealing for witnesses following an assault and attempted robbery on Broughton Road near its junction with Redbraes Place. The incident took place at around 1:40pm last Thursday (7 May).

A 34-year-old woman was walking towards the city centre when another woman approached her from behind. The assailant then grabbed her by the hair and attempted to snatch her handbag.

The victim screamed and managed to prevent the attacker from stealing her property. The would-be thief then climbed into the passenger side of a nearby car, which was driven away from the scene and turned left onto Newhaven Road.

Police are very keen to trace the woman and the driver of the vehicle as quickly as possible.

She is described as being white with blonde hair, between 5ft 5in to 5ft 7in tall and aged in her early to mid 30’s. At the time of this incident she was wearing casual clothing including trainers and grey/blue coloured jeans.

It is not clear what the make and model of the car is however police believe it may be red in colour.

Detective Constable Iain Wallace said: “”We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who was in the area of Broughton Road around the time of this incident. This was a brazen attack carried out in broad daylight that has left the victim quite badly shaken.

“Anyone who can assist with our enquiries can contact police on 101 or, alternatively they can contact the crime charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”