Comely Bank – Page 21 – The NEN

Power of Food Festival is fast approaching …

North Edinburgh plays a major part in this month’s Power of Food Festival with events and activities in Blackhall, Drylaw, Granton, Leith, Muirhouse and the Botanics to name just a few …!

Hello everyone!

It’s an amazing privilege to be in a position today to launch the programme of Edinburgh’s first Power of Food Festival, only five and a half months after we decided to turn the original idea into a reality. It’s been a bit of a mad time getting everything in place, but really exhilarating to see it all coming together thanks to the efforts of a wide range of individuals keen to share their resources, skills, energy and passion. And how appropriate to be launching such an initiative on Volunteers Week! Volunteers are at the heart of community food growing and of the centre of the Festival.

We look forward to seeing you in one (or several!) of the 15 gardens of the Festival on 20-21 June and hope you enjoy the celebration!

Best wishes from

The Power of Food Festival Committee

Rebecca Crowther

Christine Giraud

Marie-Amélie Viatte

After months of preparation, The Power of Food Festival is pleased to announce an exciting programme of free events organised by each venue in line with what they do best: connecting people!

From well established award winning gardens, to new grassroot food growing projects, the diversity of the initiatives which feature in the programme will surprise and delight Festival goers. Venues open on the weekend of 20 and 21 June include a library, an office block, a secret garden, and a farmhouse which is undergoing an incredible transformation!

A citywide celebration

From Portobello to Wester Hailes, Granton to Blackhall, Tollcross to Old Dalkeith Road, and many others in between, every corner of Edinburgh will have a garden celebrating the joy of community food growing. There will be a rich menu of events suited for every taste, for children and adults alike, including: children’s poetry writing, bug hunting, storytelling and sharing, choir music, conversations on nature, food and sustainability, wind band, foraging, cooking and eating, as well as practical gardening workshops, and the launch of Edible Edinburgh Food Charter of a Sustainable Food City.

In association with Sustrans, visitors can also join in a guided bike tour of the
gardens (free but ticketed). Bookings can be made online.

Whether on foot or on two wheels, visitors can plan their Festival trip and keep up to date with the latest events and information via The Power of Food Festival website (details below).

A Festival for everyone

Why not invite your friends and family to take part in the first Edinburgh Power of Food Festival? The weekend will give everyone a chance to meet people in their local community, to join those who are transforming the city landscape everyday, and to give a deeper meaning to the word ‘community’. Maybe it will be the beginning of a great adventure: who knows where The Power of Food will take you?

The full programme of events can be accessed here: PoF Programme

Come with family and friends to The Power of Food Festival

Celebrating community food growing and local change makers

summer solstice weekend 20-21 June

W: poweroffoodfestival.wordpress.com E:poweroffoodfestival@outlook.com

Twitter @PoFFest FacebookEdinburghPowerofFoodFestival

Power of food poster 2

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership public meeting

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership

Public Meeting

Monday 25 May 6.30pm

Blackhall Library

Come along to the Inverleith NP meeting on Monday at Blackhall Library!

If crime is an issue for you, please come and hear what’s being done and what you can do to reduce risks!

Unlucky for some: thirteen BoS branches to close

Bye, bye Blackhall: Bank of Scotland branch to close

Bank of Scotland has announced plans to close thirteen branches across Scotland this year. Among the unlucky thirteen is the Blackhall branch on Hillhouse Road. The branches will close by 18 September.

The announcement follows a strategic review of the business which was announced in October last year.

Edinburgh bears the brunt of the closures and is set to lose SEVEN branches. As well as Blackhall the city will lose Fairmilehead, Holyrood, Marchmont, St James Centre, Murrayfield and Sighthill. Four branches will also close in Glasgow and one in Aberdeen. Another branch in Moray closed earlier this month and was replaced with a mobile branch service.

A Bank of Scotland spokesman said: “Our focus has been on urban areas where there is another Bank of Scotland branch nearby. Branches continue to play an important role for us.”

The nearest local branches for BoS customers will be Deanhaugh Street in Stockbridge, 43 Comely Bank or the Barnton branch on Queensferry Road.

The Bank of Scotland news comes hot on the heels of the Royal Bank’s announcement of several branch closures – including Goldenacre – earlier this week. Clydesdale Bank customers – brace yourselves!

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership meets next Monday

Local crime and Raeburn Place issues on the agenda

The next public meeting of the Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership takes place next Monday 25 May at Blackhall Library from 6.30pm. Agenda and papers are now available online and can be found here.

If you have concerns about crime / housebreaking in your neighbourhood, come hear from Inspector Happs about some of the work that is taking place to tackle this.

Also, Raeburn Place: what are your views on traffic / waste / street furniture, etc ? Come and share them!

Amnes-T in the Park!

Broughton High School students stage event to support World Refugee Day

On Saturday 20 June (10am– 2pm), Broughton High School’s Amnesty International Youth Group is holding Amnes-T in the Park to raise awareness of World Refugee Day. Get into the summer festival vibe and come along to the school’s rugby pitch for a day of live music, games and food for all the family to enjoy!

New local talent, including Rastafarian White Boys, will bring the field alive as you dig into a delicious selection of home baking. The event will focus on the current issues surrounding refugees through a series of artwork made by school pupils. These will highlight important facts in a fun and engaging way!

All ages are welcome, although primary school children should be accompanied by an adult – and entry is free!

All the money raised on the day will go towards helping Amnesty International carry out their vitally important work protecting human rights worldwide.

Niamh McNulty

Broughton High School Amnesty International Youth Group

Save Stockbridge to discuss next steps

Campaigners call meeting to discuss Accies planning applications

Monday 11 May 6 – 7.30 p.m.
LifeCare Centre, Stockbridge House, 2 Cheyne Street

Residents and businesses in Comely Bank and Stockbridge are invited to a meeting about the Edinburgh Accies licence applications, the Licensing Board meeting and what further steps might be taken.

The Licensing Board has deferred a decision on the Accies licence application for a restaurant, function suites, clubhouse, licenced café, museum, cinema, theatre, gym, stand, etc. They have decided to visit the site before resuming their consideration. They have yet to start considering the three other applications: a licenced restaurant/ice cream parlour, a second licenced restaurant and a licenced supermarket.

There were over 300 objections to each application. That’s a huge number given that the applications were made over the Easter holidays and most people didn’t hear about them until just a few days before the closing date. There were only 75 letters of support.

* This meeting is for those who run businesses or live or in Comely Bank and Stockbridge. It is not a public meeting so it is not open to anyone else. Please respect the needs of those who live or work here and don’t try to attend if you are not local.

Gruffalo enjoys a Big Lunch in Stockbridge!

Edinburgh City Libraries and The Big Lunch organised a special Gruffalo-themed storytime event for parents and children in Stockbridge Library yesterday. The event was launched by Councillor Richard Lewis, City of Edinburgh’s Convener for Culture and Sport.

Toddlers were treated to a Gruffalo themed Big Lunch and Bookbug session. Bookbug sessions are regular free events for babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and their families to enjoy together and meet others in the local area. The children joined in with a reading of the popular story and then enjoyed some songs, rhymes and party treats.

The Big Lunch – the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours – is funded by The Big Lottery Fund and partnered by Halifax and ASDA. Now in its seventh year, the simple idea from the Eden Project aims to provide neighbours with an opportunity to get to know one another better. The Big Lunch takes place on the first Sunday in June each year – this year it’s 7 June.

The Gruffalo is The Big Lunch’s animated ambassador this year and The Big Lunch in Scotland has partnered with the Scottish Book Trust and Bookbug to help encourage more Scottish communities to take part.Councillor Richard Lewis said: “We wanted to tie in with The Big Lunch this year as there is a shared community ethos between the campaign and the work we do in our libraries. Libraries are a community hub and an important local resource. We know that Bookbug sessions are popular with young families acoss the city. This is especially important as being a new parent can be an isolating time and having additional support within the community can really help.”

“Initiatives like The Big Lunch are encouraging people to break the ice with their neighbours in a fun and easy way. We’ve loved supporting the campaign and hope to hear of lots of lunching going on in Edinburgh this June on Big Lunch day!”

Edinburgh neighbours are being encouraged to host Big Lunch events to help build community spirit and connect with those they live beside.

Anyone who is interested in getting involved can get started by requesting a free Big Lunch pack from www.thebiglunch.com. Packs contain invitations and posters to adapt for your community, Gruffalo stickers as well as seeds, recipes and activity ideas.

All pack materials are undated so communities can have a Big Lunch when best suits them if they can’t join in on Sunday 7 June. For more information, please contact Emma at The Big Lunch in Scotland on emma.smith@thebiglunch.com or 0141 559 5066.

Small grants available in Inverleith

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership’s small community grants fund is available again this year to support small, one-off projects. Proposed projects should show how they help progress one of our four key priorities and any group that is constituted and has a bank account can apply.

We have £26301 to allocated this year and welcome applications now for our meeting on 25 May. Other applications can be assessed and decided at future meetings.

Please click here for guidance and application form.

Mums know best – two awards for A-Star Sports!

A-Star Sports doubles up in MITK Awards

Over the last two months, local network Mums in the Know has been hosting its awards across the UK. After receiving over 3,000 nominations and 15,000 votes, the network of readers has decided on its favourite local activities for children – and A-Star Sports has won two awards: Best After School Activity Class and Best Class for 2 – 4 Year Olds.

Local organisation TRIM won the MITK Local Star category and Dads Rock was also commended.

The awards have highlighted the talents of Brian Droudge, owner of two A-Star Sports franchises, through a number of parents’ nominations showcased via the Mums in the Know website, which included being a finalist in a third category – MITK Local Star.

Brian said: “It’s so rewarding to have our coaching highlighted in such a positive way and means a great deal that people have taken the time to vote and given such amazing feedback, too. All of us in the Edinburgh team are passionate about what we do and we take a lot of pride in making physical activity and sport as fun, accessible and enjoyable as it can be.”

Having left school at 16, Brian spent the next 15 years working for large life assurance companies. He also played semi-professional football from the age of 18, as well as managed and coached at various clubs. He has now been coaching physical activity and sports to primary aged children for over ten years and has a great pride in seeing their skills and love of sports grow and develop. He explains: “For me, influencing children’s development on a weekly basis gives me a great buzz, job satisfaction and a very positive feeling about the work I do.”

Brian runs A-Star Sports in Edinburgh South & East, Midlothian and East Lothian as well as Edinburgh North, West and surrounding areas, and employs assistant coaches as part of his multi-sports specialist team.

Following the recent merger of A-Star Sports with leading children’s physical activity provider Sports Xtra, Brian and his team will shortly be introducing an additional range of local activities and ‘Xperiences’ for primary aged children.

Award-winning businesses receive a free article in the winners’ section of the MITK website, social media mentions, window stickers, logo and additional advertising offers.

Over 3000 nominations were received and 15,000 votes cast in this year’s Mums in the Know North Edinburgh Awards. The winners were:

Best Soft Play: Clambers at Royal Commonwealth Pool, Edinburgh
with a special mention to Tumbles, Edinburgh Leisure and Tiki Tots who were also nominated.

Best Class for 0 -2 Year Olds: Monkey Music, Comely Bank Murrayfield and Corstorphine
And a special mention to Music with Jackie and Tinies with Daisy Foundation Edinburgh East who were also nominated.

Best Class for 2 – 4 Year Olds: A-Star Sports Edinburgh North, West and Surrounding Areas
And a special mention to Shuffle Dance Edinburgh and Sparkle Arts who were also nominated.

Best After School Activity Class: A-Star Sports Edinburgh North, West and Surrounding Areas
And a special mention to best Step It Up Dance and Zoo Arts Extra who were also nominated.

Best Place to Eat for Families: Pizza Express Stockbridge
And a special mention to Tony Macaroni, Omni Centre and Vittoria Group who were also nominated.

MITK Local Star: Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse (TRIM) ‘this group really go the extra mile to help the residents and local community’.
And a special mention to Brian Droudge, A-Star Sports Edinburgh North, West and Surrounding Areas and to Dads Rock who were also nominated.

Congratulations to you all!

An inconvenience truth

North Edinburgh to loo-se public lavatories?

Toilets at Granton Square and Canonmills are among a dozen public conveniences earmarked for possible closure by the city council. Local residents are being encouraged to take part in a survey to have their say about the closures.

The Council decided in 2011 to reduce the funding of public conveniences in order to make budget savings of £300,000. It’s believed that around ten public toilets must close in order to achieve these savings.

A list of twelve facilities has been identified for closure, based on criteria such as usage, accessibility and condition:

· London Road

· Tollcross

· St John’s Road

· Canaan Lane

· Middle Meadow Walk

· Joppa

· Hawes Pier, South Queensferry

· Granton Square

· Ardmillan

· Currie

· Canonmills

· Juniper Green

Members of the public are being asked for their feedback on how these potential closures would impact on them individually and their communities – this will help the Council to make the final decision about which public conveniences to close.

Residents can now take part in the online survey which will run until Monday 25 May.

There are currently more than 60 publicly accessible toilets across the city and a community toilets scheme is currently under consideration to further improve provision.