Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Community Safety in Forth

Community Safety and young people were the themes of Wednesday’s Forth Neighbourhood Partnership meeting held in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre. Local youth agencies and police officers from the area’s Safer Neighbourhood Team ensured a lively and informative discussion at the teatime event.

The event opened with an excerpt from a drama currently being devised by Forth Youth Theatre. ‘Kieran’s Story’ tells a young local man’s true story and it promises to be a ‘must see’ when it’s performed at North Edinburgh Arts next month.

Pilton Youth & Children Project’s Daniel Rutherford gave a brief presentation on the one-to-one service provided through the local project, and this was followed by a short presentation by young people from Muirhouse Youth Development Group who described – despite a serious collective bout of the giggles – the wide variety of activities they are involved in!

A session of ‘breakout’ workshops in small groups was then scheduled, but Forth Neighbourhood Partnership convener Councillor Steve Cardownie decided instead to invite officers from the local Safer Neighbourhood Team to take questions and comments from the floor. This more informal forum proved to be very successful, with questions and contributions on a wide range of issues both from young people and from members of the wider community.

Neighbourhood Partnership member George Gordon chairs Forth’s Clean, Green and Safe action group. Summing up the event, he said: “The young people’s presentations were first class and we have had a very successful debate. Some specific issues have been flagged up – lighting at the Millennium Park, for example – and we have taken note of these. There have been changes to community policing and it takes a while for these changes to bed in and new faces to get known, but police officers continue to play a very active role in our communities.  Communications need to be improved, but that’s an issue not just for the police but also for Neighbourhood Partnership and the action groups”.

There was only one item of formal business decided by the meeting. Neighbourhood Partnerships allocate Neighbourhood Environmental Project funding, but registered tenants groups are unable to submit applications or propose NEP projects directly. Councillor Cammy Day’s motion to amend the criteria to open this process up to registered tenants organisations was agreed without dissent.

For further information on Community Safety in Forth, telephone 529 7050.

Witnesses sought following Pilton attempted robbery

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses following an attempted robbery in Pilton around 9pm last night.

A 19-year-old man alighted a bus on Crewe Road North and turned onto Pilton Avenue as he walked home. After passing the entrance to Crewe Place, a male approached and engaged him in conversation before demanding his bag. The man refused and the suspect swung a punch, which was blocked before the victim ran off and contacted police.

Officers are now keen to speak with anyone who can assist with their enquiries. The suspect is described as white, 20-25 years old, 6ft tall with a medium build and short blond hair. He was wearing a red and white checked shirt, khaki-coloured trousers and spoke with a local accent. It is believed he was also under the influence of alcohol at the time.

A police spokesman said: “Fortunately the young man was not injured as a result of this attempted robbery, nevertheless, it was an unpleasant experience that left him quite shaken. We believe there were a number of motorists who would have driven past as this incident was happening and they are asked to come forward if they remember seeing anything suspicious.
Similarly, anyone who can help identify the suspect is also asked to contact police immediately.”

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

Millennium Centre celebrates despite tough year

It’s been a tough twelve months for Muirhouse Millennium Centre, but despite ongoing problems with limited funds the Centre’s staff and volunteers have had an impressive year. Members attending today’s annual general meeting heard that Muirhouse was the first community centre in Edinburgh to receive a Healthy Living Award and that careful financial management has seen the Centre’s deficit cut from nearly £18,500 to just under £400!

Millennium Centre vice-chair Jim McGinty told the meeting: “Funding has been a huge challenge for us and we have had to become even more efficient in everything we do. We’ve sharpened up our fundraising efforts and we are also working hard to develop the Centre’s profile, which helps to attract additional income by encouraging outside agencies in need of a satellite office space to use the Centre”.

Manager Peter Airlie said: “What a year it has been! With a budget cut of 54% the Centre had to go it alone, but anyone can see we did manage pretty successfully. It wasn’t easy, but with the support of centre users – who helped generate the extra income needed for heating, lighting, insurance and general running costs – we got there!”

The year ahead looks sure to be as busy and eventful as ever. A new website is currently being planned, and the Centre’s staff and management committee are looking forward to forging new links and new partnerships in the months ahead.

Granton sur Mer will sink without community support

Plans to revitalise derelict land on the waterfront will collapse without the support of the local community, organisers have warned. JUMP (Joined Up Master Planning) organised a public meeting in Telford College last week to harness support for their plans – but only six members of the public attended.

JUMP’s vision for Granton’s waterfront – plans include a lido, a garden festival and an artist’s village – have been on the table for two years now, but it’s been a saga of frustration with no tangible progress. JUMP received lottery funding last year to conduct a local consultation exercise, and Thursday’s meeting was seen as an opportunity to update the local community and take the project on to the next stage. With only a handful of people attending, however, organisers are being forced to rethink their strategy.

Architect Ross McEwan, JUMP’s project manager, said: “Granton Sur Mer is a real opportunity to do something creative with derelict land that is currently lying idle. We have come forward with these ideas – ideas that will bring employment, money and leisure opportunities not just to North Edinburgh but the whole city. Our business plan stacks up and it’s so frustrating that we have been unable to take these ideas forward”.

Ross and partner Shaeron Averbuch recently visited Chaumont sur Loire in France and have seen what can be achieved. He is convinced that, with community support, Granton Sur Mer can become a reality.

“We are a very small community group and we just don’t have the resources for big marketing and public relations campaigns. There are things we could maybe have handled better but it has been very hard to get our message out. We really want to work with local people on these plans – nothing is written on tablets of stone, the project name could change if people don’t like it, our ideas for the land could be adapted if the community comes up with alternatives. But what we really need now is for local residents to show their support for the project – if they don’t, the idea is basically dead and we believe that would be a massive missed opportunity for this community”.

JUMP needs to attract local members to keep their waterfront vision alive. If you support the project’s aims or would like further information, telephone 551 2341 or email info@jump-projects.co.uk. An on-line petition can also be accessed at www.granton-sur-mer.co.uk

Community theatre encore at North Edinburgh Arts

Following on from the success of December’s ‘Yes We Can Can’ community cabaret, community theatre is returning to North Edinburgh Arts with director Stephanie Knight .

Stephanie told participants:  “I had a meeting with Kate, Director of NEA, last week to discuss how we can go forward after your tremendous achievements last year, and I would now like to meet on Friday 16th March at 6pm at NEA to plan what you would like to do next and how we can take this forward.  There are already a number of great ideas and workshops will start on Friday 13th April 6 – 8p.m. in the theatre at NEA. Please get straight back to me with any queries and ideas in the meantime – it will be great to see you again!”

New members will also be warmly welcomed – for further information contact Stephanie on + 44 [0] 1578 750694 + 44 [0] 7817 359703 or email stephaniejaneknight@gmail.com

Forth Neighbourhood Partnership meets on Wednesday

The new Royston Wardieburn Community Centre in Pilton Drive North is the venue for Forth Neighbourhood Partnership’s public meeting on Wednesday from 5 – 7pm.
Partnership Development Officer Jim Pattison said: “The meeting will focus on Community Safety issues across Forth and will include a performance by Forth Youth Theatre and presentations by young people from Pilton Youth & Children’s  Project and Muirhouse Youth Development Group. There will also be a chance to talk about  issues in your local area and  meet with local Safer Neighbourhood Officers”.
For further information call Jim on 529 5082 or email jim.pattison@edinburgh.gov.uk

 

Youth has it's say in Inverleith

Inverleith’s young people had their say at last week’s Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership meeting held in Broughton High School. The meeting was dedicated to youth issues, and a varied programme of dance, song and drama highlighted the young people’s talents and made a refreshing change to the usual agenda of reports, presentations and statistics.

Assisted by the local Community Learning and Development team, Inverleith’s young people set the agenda for the day and Broughton High School students introduced the event. As well as music, drama and dance performances there were certificate presentations and Inverleith Youth Forum representatives also put their priorities to Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership members.

The two-hour meeting concluded with a short question time slot, where young people raised a wide range of issues including library services, safer cycling, leisure activities and community safety.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, who officially chaired the meeting, said: “I think the event really worked. On behalf of Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership I would like to say thank you to Broughton High School, and particularly the young people of Inverleith, who made the event such a success”.

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership now plans to convene an extra meeting to look in detail at the priorities highlighted by Inverleith Youth Forum.

Youth has it’s say in Inverleith

Inverleith’s young people had their say at last week’s Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership meeting held in Broughton High School. The meeting was dedicated to youth issues, and a varied programme of dance, song and drama highlighted the young people’s talents and made a refreshing change to the usual agenda of reports, presentations and statistics.

Assisted by the local Community Learning and Development team, Inverleith’s young people set the agenda for the day and Broughton High School students introduced the event. As well as music, drama and dance performances there were certificate presentations and Inverleith Youth Forum representatives also put their priorities to Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership members.

The two-hour meeting concluded with a short question time slot, where young people raised a wide range of issues including library services, safer cycling, leisure activities and community safety.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, who officially chaired the meeting, said: “I think the event really worked. On behalf of Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership I would like to say thank you to Broughton High School, and particularly the young people of Inverleith, who made the event such a success”.

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership now plans to convene an extra meeting to look in detail at the priorities highlighted by Inverleith Youth Forum.