Five star lifesavers!

Woman rescued from icy water off Gypsy Brae following boys’ prompt action

Officers in Edinburgh have commended the actions of five 11 and 12 year-old boys after they saved a woman’s life.

Last Sunday, at around 4.30pm, a woman entered the very cold waters at Gypsy Brae and started to swim out towards Fife, despite advice from Wacka Ceesay (11), Andrew Bell (11), Tyler Jay Anderson (12), Aleks Czernecki (12) and Kian McGee (11) not to do so.

When the boys were unable to persuade the woman against swimming, one of the lads raised the alarm with an adult and asked for the Coastguard be called.

Police and Coastguard arrived and the boys were able to identify the area where the woman was and provided footage of the woman entering the water to assist the emergency team.

The woman was rescued from the water and taken for treatment and is now recovering from her ordeal.

The boys were very helpful to police and they were taken for a tour of Drylaw Police Station as a reward – officers then took them home and praised them in front of their parents.

The boys told police that they knew what to do due to what they learned at The Risk Factory, a Police Scotland-sponsored interactive safety centre. The Edinburgh-based initiative is sponsored by local authorities and emergency services in the Lothians area, and is available to all local children in Primary 7.

Police Sergeant John Brock said: “This incident could have quite easily had a tragic ending. Due to the swift and conscientious actions of these boys a woman’s life was saved. Police Scotland commends them for their bravery and quick thinking. Thank you to these five boys for demonstrating outstanding community spirit.”

So long, summer – hello, Halloween! News from Trinity

TCC resumed its meetings on 14 September – Summer is officially over! But as (admittedly meagre) compensation, here’s the September newsletter!

And remember, we would really like to have your feedback on what’s good around Trinity, what’s not so good and what could be better. How else can we represent your views? Look forward to hearing from you!

Bill Rodger, Trinity Community Council

Trinity CC September Bulletin

TRINITY COMMUNITY COUNCIL – SEPTEMBER UPDATE

Twenty five people came along to TCC’s first meeting after the summer break. Here are the main points …

Police Report

No representative available but a written report was received:

Enquiries are in hand concerning recent housebreaking reports including incidents in Larkfield Gardens.
Several people have been charged with break-ins in Forth. Some are in custody whilst others are on bail curfews.
Three addresses in north Edinburgh searched for stolen property to try to identify perpetrators and return property.
Overall domestic housebreakings in Forth are down 2% over the same period in 2014 (which was lower than 2013).
Detection rates are also increasing with more culprits being taken to court.
Additional Police resource has been deployed City-wide.

We can do a lot ourselves using security measures such as alarms, locks, lighting etc. Crime prevention advice or a personal visit with more specialist advice can be arranged through the local Forth Community Policing Team.

Waterfront Developments

Cllr Hinds provided a map showing the ownership pattern for the development area following our concerns about piecemeal development and potential impact on Trinity residents. We will be discussing this with Granton CC. The Second Regeneration Conference has been scheduled for 2.30pm on 30 September at Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre. All are welcome to attend.

Traffic Issues

Feedback about East Trinity Rd suggests that the improved Lower Granton/Trinity Rd junction has improved matters and that no further measures are needed meantime. The knock-on impact to the west end of Lower Granton Rd will continue to be monitored with the 20mph limit expected to be very helpful in the first instance. An application for a pedestrian crossing on Craighall Rd has been assessed and turned down and we are seeking further information on the reasons for that.
CEC officials have advised that nothing is scheduled to review the North Edinburgh Transport Strategy. Cllr Hinds has undertaken to review that position with them in light of previous assurances.

South East Scotland City Region Plan (SESPLAN) Major Issues Report (MIR)

This is the VERY IMPORTANT first stage of a new 20 year strategic plan for 1.5m people living in Edinburgh, Lothians, Borders and southern Fife. It is a consultation document and open for comment until 30 September. You can make your thoughts known at

http://sesplan-consult.objective.co.uk/portal/mir/mir

Alternatively pass them on through TCC as we will be making a representation. Or do both!

Other Planning Matters

Application to trade vehicles from 144 Newhaven Rd resubmitted. We have repeated our previous objections and trust that CEC will maintain the firm stance it took last time.
No further movement regarding 127 Trinity Rd or Sainsbury.

Reduction in Local Banking Services

Following RBS Goldenacre closing its doors on 13 August, Bank of Scotland has now advised a reduction in its opening hours. This is disappointing news for local customers and businesses.

Your Parks Need YOU!Keep Scotland Beautiful has awarded a Green Flag to Starbank Park recognising the magnificent efforts of the Friends and CEC staff in restoring the park to its place as a jewel in Trinity’s crown. So now both Trinity’s parks have a Green Flag. Celebrate by coming along to see for yourself. Party on Halloween! (see above)

And on the Glorious Twelfth, Victoria Park’s renewed basketball and tennis courts were formally opened by Cllrs Lesley Hinds and Richard Lewis together with Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport. Our parks are really going from strength to strength!

To get the best use of the courts, discussions are in hand about booking but we must ensure these and other amenities stay high grade. We are therefore looking for people to join a Friends of Victoria Park group.

Email tcc-comms@outlook.com if that’s you!

Other Improvement Matters with CEC

Bins installed at Trinity Academy Vennel. Surface improvements under discussion.
 Enforcement of yellow lines at Boswall Rd to be pursued.
 Ownership of Lower Granton Rd foreshore being clarified.
 Denham Green lighting to be investigated.

Clean, Green, Safe & Engaged?

This report from Forth Neighbourhood Partnership compared us against the rest of Edinburgh. Measures cover North: i.e. Forth + Inverleith unless stated. The good, the bad (+ some ugly!):

Street Cleanliness (Trinity): Well above target. Some litter on Granton Road.
Refuse Collection Complaints: Roughly double target (in common with rest of Edinburgh)
Park Quality: 100% achieved across all North¡¦s 5 parks!
Safety: Anti-social behaviour orders are low for the size of our population but a disturbing number go unresolved and we suffer a lot of repeat ASB¡¦s.
Satisfying Place to Live (Forth): Third worst in Edinburgh.
Community Engagement (Forth): Best ward in Edinburgh.

Come along and give your thoughts to our next meeting on

Monday 12 October at 7 pm

in Wardie Parish Church, Primrose Bank Road.

We need to know what you think!

Did you find this bulletin useful or informative? If so, why not show it to a neighbour? Anyone in Trinity can subscribe to the bulletin simply by emailing tcc-comms@outlook.com Or drop us a line and tell us what you think could be better.

We’ll support you evermore?

Consultation launched to give fans greater voice

A consultation into the best ways of increasing supporter involvement in football clubs is being launched today.

The Scottish Government is launching the exercise to inform potential future legislation to protect the rights of football fans. The consultation, which will run until 15 January next year, seeks to gather the views of supporters and other stakeholders involved in the game.

Respondents will be asked to consider a number of different options that could be included in future legislation. These include a right to influence the way the club is run, to govern the club or to bid for ownership when it comes up for sale. The final option is to introduce a right to buy, where fans would have a right to buy their football club.

The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament in June 2015. As part of the final legislation, the Scottish Government gave an undertaking to consult on a range of different options to enhance supporter involvement in football clubs.

Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, said: “I believe that football clubs are stronger when supporters are involved in the way they are run. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that fans have the chance to be involved wherever possible.

“It’s important to increase supporter involvement, but we also need to consider the long term stability of our clubs. We must make sure that whichever option we pursue does not result in any unintended consequences.

“This consultation is about gathering a wide range of views so we can decide the best way to achieve this. I want to hear from fans, supporters’ organisations, players and the clubs themselves – anyone who cares about this great game.”

The consultation paper can be downloaded here:

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/09/8222

Dobrou noc!*

*That’s ‘goodbye’!

Yesterday we welcomed the Zumba for people with disabilities session, our Boys Club, our residential Craighall Project our Crafting Group and a special Birthday party to end the day as we waved goodbye to the students from the Czech Republic and their tutors (writes James McGinty).

The students lined up at 8.15 as usual (classes start at 9am) Students from Czech Republic arrive here every week through to December due to the additional funding allocated to students by their Government.

Zoo sleepover raises over £24,000

Cold comfort: Fundraisers get a taste of what life’s like for Edinburgh’s homeless people

Edinburgh’s Lord and Lady Provost and 126 hardy local fundraisers braved the elements through Thursday night at Edinburgh Zoo to raise funds for charities supporting homeless people.

Together they raised £24,340 – and counting – to be split between the Rock Trust and Four Square.

The open air sleep out, which took place close to the popular Penguins and Lemur Walkthroughs, was compered by Grant Stott. Featuring talks with charity workers, some of the city’s youngest rough sleepers and comedian Susan Morrison, participants were moved by stories of teenagers living without a home.

The brainchild of Edinburgh’s Lady Provost Elaine Brand, the event was the first of its kind for the Zoo. She said: “I’m overwhelmed by Edinburgh’s fundraising efforts. So many people got behind the event and raised vital funds for charity.

“Homelessness in Edinburgh remains a pressing issue and while nobody can truly experience the struggle of sleeping rough based on one night in the cold, everyone who took part will take away the knowledge of just how difficult this year’s colder months will be for our young homeless people.”

The Lord Provost Donald Wilson added: “I’m so glad that together, we were able to make a difference. Our sleepover at the Zoo was certainly a challenge and leaves you feeling so thankful to have a warm bed with a roof over your head to go home to.

“That is something some of Edinburgh’s young people wouldn’t have without the efforts of the Rock Trust and Four Square. These charities are hugely important for Edinburgh’s struggling young people who find themselves with nowhere else to turn.”

Heather Arni, Chief Executive of Four Square, said: “On behalf of myself, The Board, staff and importantly our young people I would like to extend a huge thank you to the Lady Provost and her team, the staff of RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, all the individuals who attended and those who have donated.

“Such an event has enabled both charities to raise awareness of young people’s homelessness in Edinburgh and the services that work tirelessly across the city working with vulnerable, disadvantaged young people.”

Kate Polson, Chief Executive of the Rock Trust, added: “We hope that the people who slept out understand that because of the amazing amount of money raised, some of our young people won’t have to go through other nights like that.

“The Sleep Out participants have contributed to the provision of vital services which will help young people to overcome homelessness and build better futures. We are overwhelmed with the enthusiasm of all of those involved.”