Category: city centre

City for Sale?

The commodification of our public places

One of the defining issues currently in front of the City of Edinburgh is how we value our public places. Should Princes Street Gardens be an oasis of green-ness and tranquillity, or should it be the city’s performance hub, the Go To place for happening events and Festival activities?

Should civic spaces be open for the unrestricted access of City dwellers and City visitors alike; or should they be a gated venue accessible only to ticket holders and promoters?

How we value public space is how we value the city overall. The Cockburn Association has been increasingly concerned about the commercialisation of our squares, our parks and our streets. We are concerned about the erosion of public investment in public places.

We are concerned that the voice of residents is decreasingly heard. We are concerned that this view is shared by many. Is this right?

As the city prepares numerous strategies and policies including City Plan 2030 (a new Local Development Plan) and a new Tourism Strategy, now is the time to galvanise opinion.

On Wednesday 22 January 2020, we will hold a Public Summit in the Central Hall, West Tollcross, open to all who share our concerns (and those who don’t too).

Save the Date. Further details will be available in early 2020.

Terry Levinthal

Director, The Cockburn Association

Edinburgh Civic Trust

 

Puppy love: canine proposal in the capital

Dachshund duo Nova and Ottis proved to be the paw-fect pair of inseparable canines as they take part in a Christmas Day proposal photoshoot at DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre.

The loved-up pups were voted as the winning fur-ever friends from a competition on the hotel’s Facebook page. The four-legged fiancées will be part of a special ceremony at SKYbar in Edinburgh on Sunday 23rd February 2020 at its annual Wedding Showcase event.

Winning couple Nova and Ottis will be given the full wedding treatment and the hotel will help plan their furry-tail ending.

You can follow the journey of Nova and Ottis on social media with #skyBARKwedding.

For more details of SKYbar Wedding Showcase please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/skybar-wedding-showcase-featuring-the-wedding-guru-and-skybarkwedding-tickets-86507366863

‘Re-imagining’ Hogmanay in Edinburgh

Let’s start from the basis that Underbelly’s events have been a disaster and should be shut down immediately (writes MIKE SMALL).

They soak up public money, refuse to be transparent about their profits, cause environmental damage to public parks, and shut down and blight open spaces held in the common good. Continue reading ‘Re-imagining’ Hogmanay in Edinburgh

Final Waverley Sessions of 2019 this weekend

Waverley Mall, Edinburgh and The Youth Radio Network are set to host the final Waverley Sessions of 2019 this weekend – Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd December 2019.

The popular monthly music event, which is a collaboration between the busy city centre shopping centre and youth music organisation, The Youth Radio Network, has been gaining traction over the last 12 months.

This weekend will see a selection of some of the best acts they have seen throughout the year, taking to the stage across the weekend. The event will run from 11am – 4pm on Saturday and 12pm-4pm on Sunday.

Acts taking to the stage this weekend include 14-year-old Lewis Capaldi fan  Evie McDonald from Grangemouth and 21-year-old pop and country singer Liv Dawn from Loch Lomond. Others include Leigh Tiley, Euan Russell, Nicole Carlin, Blair Gilmore and Rebecca Swallow.

Customers are promised a weekend packed with toe-tapping tunes, some festive specials and a fabulously Christmassy atmosphere throughout the Waverley Mall food court as the musicians get them in the mood for Christmas.

Keiran Harvey and the team of volunteers from The Youth Radio Network will be hosting the weekend’s entertainment and while there is no age limit, with the support of the team from The Youth Radio Network, young artists in particular are offered the opportunity gain public performance experience and increase their sense of self confidence.

The Youth Radio Network’s vision is to empower, teach and entertain young people, aged 13 to 25 years, through the power of music and digital technology, opening doors to the broadcast industries, and to become more employable helping them to get the best start in life.

Their role includes teaching young people the ropes of the broadcast industry and helping to prepare them for employment through CV preparation, mock interviews and confidence building.

Through their work with Waverley Mall they are empowering young people – giving them opportunities, skills and equipment as well as hands on experience in a real life setting for a future in the music / broadcast industry.

By providing a platform to perform, Waverley Mall is building on this opportunity with the chance to build personal confidence in performing in public.

Jacquelyn Stewart, General Manager, Waverley Mall says: “We’re looking forward to singing out 2019 in style with the final edition of The Waverley Sessions this year.

“It will be great to see so many familiar faces taking to the stage across the weekend to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.”

Keiran Harvey, CEO, The Youth Radio Network says: “It has been incredible to work with Waverley Mall on The Waverley Sessions this year.

“We’ve uncovered such a huge variety of artists this year, who have done nothing but surprise us with their talent, enthusiasm and energy throughout their stint on our stage.”

City centre opportunity to donate food to help those in need

Once again Edinburgh’s Christmas is teaming up with The Trussell Trust – who supports a nationwide network of food banks – to encourage Christmas Market visitors to donate non-perishable and essential non-food items which will help those in need this winter. 

The donation point is located at the Box Office on The Mound, just in front of the National Gallery and Royal Scottish Academy. Continue reading City centre opportunity to donate food to help those in need

Three women arrested for city centre thefts

Police have arrested and charged two women for pickpocketing in the city centre and a third for theft of a handbag within a licensed premises.

On Thursday (12th December), officers observed two women acting suspiciously on Upper Bow. They were subsequently arrested for attempt theft and are due to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff Court for pickpocketing offences.

In the early hours of yesterday morning, a third woman was arrested after staff at a licensed premises in the Cowgate identified her from CCTV stealing from a customer’s bag.

Inspector Trish Robertson from the West End Police Station said: “We are committed to ensuring that Edinburgh is a safe place to be, particularly at this time of year with the Christmas Market in full swing and people out shopping and celebrating.

“We have officers on patrol in uniform and in plain clothes, and one of our main focuses is acquisitive crime such as pickpocketing and thefts. Thankfully, due to the vigilance of the officers and staff involved in these incidents, three people have been arrested and charged.

“I’d like to remind everyone shopping or visiting the city centre to look after your belongings. Keep all of your bags and valuables safe and with you at all times. If you see anyone acting suspiciously, please report it. Keep your purses and wallets in a zipped inside pocket wherever possible and make sure any bags are closed and are in sight at all times.

“Anyone with information regarding such offences are asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”