Day: April 24, 2017

Raeburn Place Foundation: Paving the way for change

Update 
We would like to share with you the improvements RPF is making to the local area. The enabling works have been underway for eight weeks. During that time, and as part of RPF’s investment in this project and the area, significant progress has been made to improve the local environment for residents and visitors alike.
Tree Protection
Careful breaking out of the existing pavement is taking place in order to safeguard and enhance the health of the trees, and at the same time install a new footway which caters for the future growth of these trees.
Minimal Disruption for Local Residents & Businesses
These works are phased across both Portgower Place and Comely Bank Road, in order to cause the least disruption possible to local residents and businesses.
Portgower Place:  
  • The wall is being repaired where necessary
  • Creation of new openings in the wall for the car park in the new development
  • Pavements are being resurfaced
Comely Bank Road: 
  • Site levels on the playing field side have now been brought up to match the levels on Comely Bank Road
  • A temporary footway has been created on Comely Bank Road.
If you would like any further information, please contact Robertson’s site manager, Andy Somerville, who will be on site full-time to manage the works and is available to assist members of the public who have any queries. 
Andy can be contacted via the site office or his mobile 07887 630612.

Tackling abusive behaviour and sexual harm: new laws come into force today

Four new laws aimed at tackling abusive behaviour and sexual harm come into force today. These include a requirement for judges to direct juries when dealing with trials relating to certain sexual offences. Continue reading Tackling abusive behaviour and sexual harm: new laws come into force today

STV2 launches tonight

STV2 will launch this evening with a ‘distinct and exciting schedule, featuring a variety of new programmes for Scotland including an enhanced hourly news service, a live daily magazine show, an award winning soap, features on local sport, the best of UK and international drama as well as classic movies’. 

The new channel will broadcast the first integrated Scottish, UK and international news programme, STV News Tonight.  Anchored by Halla Mohieddeen live from Glasgow, the half hour programme will air weeknights at 1900 on STV2 and offer a comprehensive news service featuring Scottish, UK and international news from a Scottish perspective.

The channel will also provide a weekly insight into political life in Scotland with Scottish Politics This Week, giving viewers the opportunity to catch up on the week’s debates from Westminster and Holyrood. 

A range of quality acquisitions will form part of the new schedule, including Ireland’s most popular soap Fair City.  A daily diet of classic and acclaimed movies will bring Hollywood stars like Hugh Grant, Gary Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow and Bette Davis to the STV2 small screen.  Every weekday at 9pm, the channel will offer top quality UK and foreign language drama including Finnish hit drama, Black Widow and acclaimed UK drama Secret State.   Viewers will also have the opportunity to watch much loved classic dramaTaggart, still one of the most popular crime dramas in Britain.

Popular weekday magazine show Live at Five will expand its reach on STV2 with outside broadcasts from across Scotland.  Presented by David Farrell, Hayley Matthews and Jennifer Reoch, the family friendly programme introduces great guests, cooking from local chefs, live performances by local bands and features reflecting what’s going on across Scotland.  

The STV2 schedule will also bring viewers live guests, and music and entertainment news. Weekly show E… presented by Laura Boyd and Gerry Cassidy will provide a guide to what is going on across Scotland with celebrity interviews, features and reviews of live music, TV and film.  And Ewen Cameron will host The Late Show, a tongue-in-cheek weekly chat show every Thursday on STV2. 

The channel will also provide a home for many of the cultural events around Scotland, kicking off with a one hour special from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in its first week. Conservatoire Sessions will showcase the work of the academy’s keyboard department, with some of the school’s top students performing pieces by composers including Rachmaninoff and Stravinsky. 

The channel will create a platform for local sport as well as providing the latest from the football world each weeknight and weekends throughout the football season on Peter and Roughie’s Football Show.

The STV2 schedule will also include hourly news bulletins with stories from across Scotland in three dedicated half hour news programmes at 1300, 1800 and 2200.

Bobby Hain, director of channels at STV, said: “STV2 is the new channel for Scotland designed to reflect life across the country.  The channel will provide a unique opportunity to broadcast content that isn’t available for viewers anywhere else, including in-depth coverage of local sport and live events and exciting acquisitions including soap and drama, alongside an enhanced news service with local, UK and international stories.”

STV2 will broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will reach approximately 85% of viewers in STV’s transmission area. In addition to Freeview, access will be available online and via Sky and Virgin.  The service will also be available online via the STV Player.

Outgoing council leader has the last word

City of Edinburgh Council Leader Andrew Burns has issued his final Leader’s Report. Cllr Burns is one of a number of experienced city councillors who will not be seeking re-election next month.

He said: “As you may be aware, many councillors, including myself, have chosen not to stand on 4 May. I haven’t done the maths, but the cumulative experience leaving the Council must add up to many hundreds of years.

“As current Council Leader, and on behalf of all the Group Leaders, I’d like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all the retiring councillors who have given dedicated public service to their local communities over so many years.

“I’d also like to wish all remaining councillors, and new candidates, all the very best of luck. It really is a privilege to serve your local community – and you never know how long that privilege will last – so please do enjoy it while you can.

“Huge thanks also to our dedicated workforce, who have shown nothing but enormous understanding, adaptability, and sheer dedication to public service, over recent years. It’s been my pleasure to work with you all.

“And finally, many thanks to the people that matter most: the residents of Edinburgh. You have given us the chance to make a contribution to the ongoing evolution of this most beautiful city; one which I’ve had the good fortune to call my family home for the last 24 years.”

Protecting children online: Action Plan launched

A new national action plan to help protect children and young people online has been launched by Minister for Childcare and Early Years Mark McDonald. The refreshed plan will help children and young people develop the skills they need to stay safe on the internet and support parents and carers to be more aware of the potential risks that their children face online. Continue reading Protecting children online: Action Plan launched

Minister visits Mental Health Information Station

The Mental Health Information Station (MHIS)  in Palmerston Place played host to Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt recently. Lead Occupational Therapist, Community Mental Health Services Jane Sutherland guided the Minister round the service, where she met with some of the project’s partners and Ms Watt went on to speak with a number of people who have benefited from using the service. Continue reading Minister visits Mental Health Information Station