Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Ian is Drylaw’s Citizen of the Year

Ian Moore has been chosen as Drylaw’s Citizen of the Year. Drylaw Telford Community Council members met earlier this week to decide the recipient of the annual Thomas Tierney Award for Good Citizenship, and Ian was the popular winner.

“There was a bit of a delay in making our choice for 2011 because of some other pressing local issues, but we got there in the end! Ian is a well-known figure in the area and we’re sure he will be a very popular choice”, said Mike Clark, Drylaw Telford CC chair.

Ian will receive his award at a reception in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre on 25 April at 7:30pm. All welcome

 

New scheme will protect private tenants

A compulsory scheme to safeguard millions of pounds in deposits paid by tenants renting properties in Scotland has been approved by Housing Minister Keith Brown.

Annually, tenancy deposits amount to over £74 million in the majority of the 273,000 households that make up the private rented sector in Scotland. It is estimated that up to 11,000 tenants have £3.6 million of their deposits wrongly withheld each year.

The first tenancy deposit scheme to be approved is the Letting Protection Service Scotland.

The scheme also aims to protect the reputation of the majority of private rented sector landlords who act professionally and responsibly. Once in place landlords or their agents must pay deposits to an approved scheme and provide key information about the tenancy, the deposit, and the scheme which is protecting it, to the tenant.

The scheme will be free for landlords and letting agents to participate in and will provide access to a free and independent dispute resolution service, where agreement over the return of a deposit cannot be agreed by the tenant and landlord. Two further schemes are being considered with the intention of starting all three schemes, which will operate across Scotland from July 2, 2012. In order to provide landlords time to prepare, the legal requirements to submit deposits into a scheme will come into effect from November this year.

Keith Brown said: “Up to 11,000 tenants annually have £3.6 million of their deposits wrongly withheld, which is why this Government is taking action to ensure tenants receive a fair deal. It is important to stress that the majority of landlords act responsibly. This scheme is aimed at those landlords who continue to tarnish the image of the private rented sector. The new regulations that allow the scheme to operate are also deliberately streamlined with the emphasis on creating a cost effective approach to safeguarding tenancy deposits.”

Kevin Firth, Director of The LPS Scotland commented: “With 5 years of custodial deposit protection experience under our belts, we are delighted to be approved by the Scottish Government to operate a scheme in Scotland. I encourage landlords and tenants to make sure that they understand the legislation and take appropriate action to ensure they are covered.

“It will be compulsory for landlords and letting agents in Scotland to protect their deposits with a Government approved scheme as soon as the legislation launches. It is crucial that those in the private rented sector don’t fall foul of this legislation and take the appropriate steps to ensure that they are prepared for its introduction.”

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “Each year millions of pounds from deposits are unfairly withheld by landlords and agents in Scotland, causing hardship to tenants and the very real threat of homelessness due to a lack of funds to secure their next property. At the same time too many landlords are uncertain about the grounds on which they can legitimately withhold a deposit.

“The introduction of a compulsory scheme to safeguard deposits is a step in the right direction towards protecting tenants, landlords and agents. Against a backdrop of increasing financial hardship and a growing private rented sector we hope the tenancy deposit scheme achieves a transparent and fair system for all.”

Sue Hopson, Brand Standards Director at Martin & Co commented: “I am extremely pleased that the Scottish Government has chosen to back a single type of scheme being custodial. In the eyes of the consumer the rules will be so much easier to understand as every agent and Landlord will be following the same rules, processes and timescales via a transparent custodial method.

“I am sure that the Landlords and Tenants in Scotland will find the scheme as beneficial and as easy to work as we have. Hopefully due to the existing legislation in England and Wales and a more prominent consultation period in Scotland the introduction of Tenancy Deposit Protection will be welcomed by Scotland and not come into fruition quite so quickly as it did for England and Wales 5 years ago. There will be a lead in time for educating Landlords, Tenants and Agents with a generous period of time before all deposits need to be protected”

Local parents plan grassroots gala

It may look quiet just now, but a group of local parents want to see West Pilton Park packed with families having fun this August as they plan a community gala. 

The group first met only last month but plans to resurrect the community fun day are already well advanced.

Sean Gardiner, a parent involved in the steering group, explained: “The idea really just came out of the blue. We were talking about how other areas – Davidsons Mains for example – have very successful fun days and galas and we thought: why don’t we have one? At first we were thinking about West Pilton alone but, when people talked about the great Muirhouse Festivals and more people came on board, we thought we would extend it to Muirhouse too. We’ve come up with lots of ideas for the day and we’ve been really pleased with the number of organisations, businesses and individuals who have signed up to be part of the day itself. The response has been brilliant”.

The group plans to combine the family fun element with information stalls too.

“There are an awful lot of organisations in the area doing great work, but some residents don’t even know they’re here. We’ll set up tents and stalls on gala day to give organisations the chance to publicize what they do, and we plan to introduce a ticketing system for the bouncy castles and things like that. If we set that up in the information area that would mean that families will get a see the information stalls before they go on to the fun activities for the kids. We think that combination of information and fun will work well – it should be a great day”.

West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre Community Learning and Development worker Alan Addison is supporting the group – not that they need much support!

“This is a really enthusiastic group and I think what they have in just a few short weeks is pretty incredible. They’re not setting up in competition with anyone else, this is just a grass-roots community idea that’s come from local parents who are now taking on the responsibility for organising the event themselves. It’s a lot of work but their commitment and energy is incredible”, he said.

The community fun day will take place on Sunday 26 August in West Pilton Park. We’ll keep you up to date as plans progress.

Credit where it's due …

With financial crashes, economic meltdown and banking bailouts still fresh in the memory it’s good to know that alternatives to the big banks and finance companies are available. A safe place to save, loans at realistic rates, a dividend for members – and it’s right on your doorstep!  

Members attending last week’s North Edinburgh Credit Union annual general meeting heard that the organisation has had a steady year and that, in a volatile financial world, the local credit union remains a safe haven for savers and borrowers.

Chairperson Betty McVay told the meeting: “This is our Credit Union’s 26th year of operation and we are still going, when many people said we wouldn’t last! I won’t deny that at times it has been a hard struggle but with some dedicated volunteers and loyal members we are still around. The business of the Credit Union has once again continued to grow from strength to strength and now has an increasing membership. With the current economic climate we continue to exercise caution and take steps, through our Credit Committee, to protect our members and their savings”.

The meeting adopted rule changes that will see North Edinburgh Credit Union fall into line with other credit unions across the country, including the introduction of corporate membership and expand membership criteria to those people working in North Edinburgh. Members also agreed to pay a 1% dividend on shares in the credit union.

If last year was about stability and consolidation, the year ahead promises to be a more dynamic one. North Edinburgh Credit Union has appointed a consultant to boost the organisation’s profile and seek out new opportunities to help the credit union to grow. Banks may come and banks may go, but North Edinburgh Credit Union goes on forever!

North Edinburgh Credit Union is based in Wardieburn Drive. Business hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 4 – 7pm. For further information on how the credit union could help you, telephone 466 5006.

 

 

Credit where it’s due …

With financial crashes, economic meltdown and banking bailouts still fresh in the memory it’s good to know that alternatives to the big banks and finance companies are available. A safe place to save, loans at realistic rates, a dividend for members – and it’s right on your doorstep!  

Members attending last week’s North Edinburgh Credit Union annual general meeting heard that the organisation has had a steady year and that, in a volatile financial world, the local credit union remains a safe haven for savers and borrowers.

Chairperson Betty McVay told the meeting: “This is our Credit Union’s 26th year of operation and we are still going, when many people said we wouldn’t last! I won’t deny that at times it has been a hard struggle but with some dedicated volunteers and loyal members we are still around. The business of the Credit Union has once again continued to grow from strength to strength and now has an increasing membership. With the current economic climate we continue to exercise caution and take steps, through our Credit Committee, to protect our members and their savings”.

The meeting adopted rule changes that will see North Edinburgh Credit Union fall into line with other credit unions across the country, including the introduction of corporate membership and expand membership criteria to those people working in North Edinburgh. Members also agreed to pay a 1% dividend on shares in the credit union.

If last year was about stability and consolidation, the year ahead promises to be a more dynamic one. North Edinburgh Credit Union has appointed a consultant to boost the organisation’s profile and seek out new opportunities to help the credit union to grow. Banks may come and banks may go, but North Edinburgh Credit Union goes on forever!

North Edinburgh Credit Union is based in Wardieburn Drive. Business hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 4 – 7pm. For further information on how the credit union could help you, telephone 466 5006.

 

 

What a difference a week makes!

Last week we basked in record March temperatures, this week – we’re back to winter!  BBC Weather is forecasting a cloudy morning across the area with snow heaviest over Lothian, Borders and  the M74. Blizzard conditions are possible as the snow will be accompanied by strong northeasterly winds. It’s expected to become drier and brighter this afternoon, but snow showers are expected again overnight.

There you have it – put away the flip-flops and dig out those winter woolies!

Inverleith Hustings

Two Inverleith Ward community councils have organised hustings for the forthcoming council elections, giving you an opportunity to meet and hear the candidates and get your questions answered.

Craigleith Blackhall CC will hold their hustings on Thursday 19 April at 7.30pm in St. Columba’s Church on Queensferry Road, while Drylaw Telford CC’s election event takes place on Tuesday 24 April at 7pm in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre (off Groathill Road North).

All welcome.

Get in touch if you know of any more hustings events in Forth or Inverleith.

Rare micropig discovered in Drylaw

A rare ‘micropig’ has been discovered in a Drylaw garden. The tiny beast is barely two inches long, and it’s thought that ‘Babe’ may have journeyed for days to reach his destination.

A Drylaw man, who asked not to be named, said: “I was out early to start work in the garden this morning when I came upon what I thought at first was a snail. On closer inspection it turned out to be a tiny pig – I was astonished!”

Micropigs have become very popular as unusual family pets and it’s thought that this is one who got away.

“I understand there’s a bloke over in Ravelston who breeds micropigs and it could just be that this wee chap escaped from there”, said the pig’s finder. “If I can’t track down the owner, I’ll keep the pig and I’m calling him – or her, it’s too wee to tell – Babe. I’m hoping to teach the pig how to do wee tricks. I don’t think they grow very big so for the moment I’ll make up a wee bed in a matchbox and take it from there”.

A local vet said: “This is quite fascinating. If the animal did indeed travel from Ravelston all the way to Drylaw, that’s a huge trek for such a wee beast – it could have taken weeks and would have been fraught with danger. The Drylaw micropig certainly has a fascinating ‘tail’ to tell!”.

If you’ve lost a micropig please let us know.

 

CORE's Soundkidz performing today

 

CORE (Community Organisation for Race Equality) is inviting you to a music group event this afternoon in North Edinburgh Arts Centre from 3.30pm.

CORE Youth and Children’s Development Worker Hazel Lyons explains: “CORE started a music-making group last December at North Edinburgh Arts Centre and children from the Greater Pilton area have been focusing on music making and discovering different types of music. Throughout the sessions youth workers have been working with the children to explore new forms of music and improve their music skills, with the help of different guest musicians coming along each week.”.

She adds: “The children have been working towards putting on a performance and would love to show you everything that they have learned. CORE would therefore like to invite you to this event on Saturday 31 March at North Edinburgh Arts Centre. The performance will last from 3.30-4.30pm and there will also be refreshments. The children have worked so well together, learned new skills and had lots of fun – we are all really looking forward to the performance”.

 

CORE’s Soundkidz performing today

 

CORE (Community Organisation for Race Equality) is inviting you to a music group event this afternoon in North Edinburgh Arts Centre from 3.30pm.

CORE Youth and Children’s Development Worker Hazel Lyons explains: “CORE started a music-making group last December at North Edinburgh Arts Centre and children from the Greater Pilton area have been focusing on music making and discovering different types of music. Throughout the sessions youth workers have been working with the children to explore new forms of music and improve their music skills, with the help of different guest musicians coming along each week.”.

She adds: “The children have been working towards putting on a performance and would love to show you everything that they have learned. CORE would therefore like to invite you to this event on Saturday 31 March at North Edinburgh Arts Centre. The performance will last from 3.30-4.30pm and there will also be refreshments. The children have worked so well together, learned new skills and had lots of fun – we are all really looking forward to the performance”.