Accie’s stars raise Stockbridge cheers …

…as they ‘try’ out the new Domino’s store in Stockbridge! It was all work and no play for the boys from Edinburgh Accies Rugby team sponsored by Domino’s Pizza, as they showed their support at the opening of the new Domino’s store launch in Stockbridge on 15 February. Tom Drennan (22) and Jamie Sole (22) volunteered their bodies and painted themselves in the trademark colours to represent the brand.

The new Raeburn Place store comes as a welcome local employment boost with the creation of 30 jobs. Franchisee for the new store, Sean Geddes, has recruited within the community for trainee managers, trainee pizza makers, customer service representatives and delivery experts. He said: “We like everyone who works with Domino’s to demonstrate a sense of fun while working under pressure and we’re delighted the boys from Edinburgh Accies were able to help us ‘try’ out the new store offering for the local community in Stockbridge!”

Community celebrates NEN relaunch

Community activists, business leaders, local workers and politicians joined members of the NEN board to celebrate the relaunch of the community newspaper on 16 February.

The paper ceased publishing last March following funding cuts, but since then the NEN’s voluntary management board has been working to get the paper out once again. The relaunched NEN has now been delivered across the area and the NEN board held a celebration event in The Doo’cot to mark the occasion.

NEN chairman Martin Hinds told guests: “Almost a year ago the last edition of the NEN was published, after 30 years of almost continuous publication – an extremely sad day for us all. We all recognise the value of our community newspaper – I don’t think we can underestimate the importance of the NEN; it binds the community together and gives it identity. It therefore gives us great pleasure to relaunch the newspaper this month”

He went on to thank those who helped to make the relaunch possible – past and existing Board members, community groups, contributors and politicians – but pointed out that there are challenges ahead.

“We have been able to produce the NEN with money left over from the sale of the NEN office and staff redundancy costs have been paid. Longer term, the model that we have hit on will depend on contributions from the community – we have applied to the Neighbourhood Partnerships to allow us to recruit volunteer community journalists. We also need to increase our income to make us sustainable on a long-term basis. This is going to be a challenge for us but I think we’re up for it. Onwards and upwards – and welcome back, NEN!”

The next issue of the NEN is due out next month – and remember, the deadline is this Friday!

Support for Stockbridge hotel restoration

It’s been an eyesore for Stockbridge residents for too long, but The Raeburn House Hotel could be brought back to life if new owner Archie MacLean gets planning permission to restore the run-down building into a boutique hotel.

A public meeting held in Lifecare House last week heard that council officials do not support Mr MacLean’s plans to add two storeys to the existing B-listed building, creating an up-market ten bedroom hotel. The new owner – who paid £1.2 million for the hotel last November – organised the public meeting to gauge local feeling and to harness support for the plans.

Mr MacLean said: “Council officials have suggested a single storey extension that becomes two stories further back, but that wouldn’t work for us. Guests would have to go through the restaurant to use the lift and from an operational point of view that is implausible. We feel that with local support we have a chance of getting planning permission”.

Mr MacLean estimates that restoration work would cost from £1.5 – £2 million.

There was widespread support from the 150 people who attended the 16 February meeting – a show of hands was unanimous.

Architects Aitken Turnbull Architects Limited will submit a planning application later this month, and if permission is granted it’s thought that the revamped Raeburn House Hotel could open in August 2013.

Edinburgh voters urged to register

With the Independence Referendum being the main focus of political discussion across the country it’s easy to forget that the Local Government Elections are now only ten weeks away. Edinburgh residents are now being urged to join the thousands already registered to vote in the Local Government elections on Thursday 3 May 2012 – and you only have until 18 April to make sure you have your say on how Edinburgh is governed.

Almost 60,000 people have already registered to vote by post, out of more than 330,000 electors. This is the highest number of postal voters registered for any council in Scotland.

Sue Bruce, Returning Officer for Edinburgh said: “We are pleased to see that so many people have already registered to vote. For those who have not yet done so, I would urge you to make sure you register by the deadline of 18 April.

“Registering is quick and easy and makes sure that you will be able to vote in a way that is most convenient for you – by post, at a polling station near your home or even in exceptional circumstances, by proxy – so that you can have your say in the elections on Thursday 3 May.”

You can check if you are registered by phoning the Electoral Registration Office on 0131 344 2500. If you are not already a postal voter and wish to apply you can download a form from www.lothian-vjb.gov.uk or phone 0131 344 2500 and ask for a form to be posted to you.

In the forthcoming Local Government election, voters will be electing 58 councillors to represent them across the city’s 17 wards. There are 7 four-member and 10 three-member wards in Edinburgh. The election will be conducted under a voting system called the ‘Single Transferable Vote’ (STV). Voters can vote for as many candidates that they like, ranking them 1, 2, 3 etc in order of preference. A formula then calculates who is elected based on those preferences.

Further details on the 2012 Local Government election will be available on the city council’s website over the coming weeks.

Man treated following chip pan blaze

A chip pan blaze in a West Pilton flat on Wednesday evening left a man in need of treatment for smoke inhalation and suspected burns to his fingers. Firefighters from Crewe Toll, Marionville and McDonald Road stations responded to a call from Northview Court and discovered a chip pan well alight on the seventh floor of the high rise.

Occupants of the floor were evacuated from the immediate vicinity and residents on the sixth and eighth floor were checked by crews because of smoke in the common stairs. Firefighters extinguished the fire and the 41-year-old occupier was given oxygen at the scene and examined for suspected minor burns to his hands before being taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for further treatment.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said an investigation into the cause was underway.

““Chip pans are a common cause of kitchen fires. We would strongly advise replacing your chip pan with a thermostat-controlled deep fat fryer. The safety cut-out device controls the temperature to stop the oil or fat overheating. Even if you don’t own a chip pan remember any type of cooking with oil can lead to a fire – whether you are using a wok, grill or frying pan. Take care in the kitchen and make sure you have a working smoke alarm in your home.”

She added: “Remember our kitchen fire safety tips:

When deep frying, dry the food before you put it in oil
Never fill a pan more than one-third full of oil. If the oil starts to smoke, it’s too hot so turn off the heat and leave it to cool

If you must use a deep frying pan:

Never deep fry with fat or oil when you’ve been drinking alcohol
Don’t leave cooking unattended – even for a few seconds
Turn the pan handle to the side so the fat or oil doesn’t get spilled by accident

If you can, turn off the heat and put a damp towel over the pan to smother the flames, but don’t take risks.”

Countdown to CORE's World Cafe carnival

Local community organisation CORE’s themed World Cafe events in North Edinburgh Arts Centre have proved very popular since they were established nearly two years ago. This month’s World Cafe celebrates the Mardi Gras festival and takes place on Friday 24 February from 5.30-7.30pm.

Foods from all over the world are on offer this month, with seasonal traditional pancakes as dessert. As always, World Cafe provides a friendly, family atmosphere to bring local people together so pop down for some tasty food, fun and friendship and celebrate in true carnival style!

The price is £5 (adults) or £2.50 (kids) and it promises to be a busy night, so to reserve your table call 467 7990 or email administrator@coregb.org.uk

Countdown to CORE’s World Cafe carnival

The price is £5 (adults) or £2.50 (kids) and it promises to be a busy night, so to reserve your table call 467 7990 or email administrator@coregb.org.uk

Good news – NEN relaunch celebration

It’s nearly a year since it last appeared, but the NEN’s back at last and is now being delivered across North Edinburgh. We’re sure you’ll agree that that’s good news, and there’s more … the NEN Board is hosting an informal reception to celebrate the NEN’s relaunch – and you’re all invited!

The event takes place tomorrow (Thursday) from 5pm in The Doo’cot on Ferry Road. The celebration offers an opportunity to discuss the new paper with Board members, hear plans for the future and to find out how you can help support your NEN.

It’s great to report good news – and everybody loves a celebration – so come and join us tomorrow evening!

For further information contact NEN Chair Martin Hinds, email mhinds@blueyonder.co.uk or the NEN on northedinnews@gmail.com

Have your say at North Edinburgh Arts!

What is your favourite creative activity? What creative skills do you wish you had? What would your ideal community garden look like? North Edinburgh Arts wants to know what you think about the state of the arts in Muirhouse and beyond.

This Saturday, 18^th February, North Edinburgh Arts will host its first annual ‘Have Your Say’ day, an event chock-full of fun, creative activities for the whole family, and a fantastic platform for you to tell NEA what is important to you.

Activities will run from 10am – 2pm, and will include drama with Lyceum Youth Theatre and North Edinburgh Theatre group, DIY Muirhouse with Community Renewal, dance with Charan Pradhan, creative play for under 5s, and take your own portrait. There will also be graffiti walls, breakdance displays, drop in arts and crafts and the opportunity to speak to Big Brother in our own Diary Room – a full programme of activities will be available to pick up on the day.

Kate Wimpress, Director of North Edinburgh Arts, said: “The ‘Have Your Say’ Day will do exactly what it says on the tin. NEA is a great asset for Muirhouse and for North Edinburgh, and it is vital that we, as an organisation, know how to make the most of this fantastic resource for the many people who already use it, and for those who will use it in future”.

So why not go along and see what North Edinburgh Arts has to offer, grab a bite to eat at the café and chat about how to make the arts thrive where you live?

For more information on this event, visit http://www.northedinburgharts.co.uk or follow their page on Facebook.

Young people to have their say in Inverleith

Local young people have been heavily involved in the planning of the next meeting of Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership. The meeting, which will held on Friday 2nd March at Broughton High School from 1.30 to 3.30pm, will offer an opportunity to see some of the young talent on display and also to view a selection of artwork created by local older people.

INP development officer Elaine Lennon explained: “We are holding an afternoon event to try to attract a wider range of people, and are holding this meeting in the local High School to showcase the talents and to highlight the issues of local young people. We will also be displaying a selection of artwork by local older people, so we hope that you can join us. Please contact me if you would like more information and feel free to pass this on to anyone you think may be interested”.

Elaine can be contacted at North Local Office on 529 5270, email elaine.lennon@edinburgh.gov.uk