Drop-in public information event at theMurrayfield Hotel, 18 Corstorphine Road on Thursday 8 May between 4pm and 7pm
SCOTTISH Water will be starting a major project as part of our #drainingtherain Improving Urban Waters programme on Corstorphine Road #Edinburgh next month.
Come along to an information event on 8 May to find out more.
Details below:
Project Overview
We are installing new screens and spill chambers to a storm overflow under Corstorphine Road to help prevent sewer related debris from entering the Water of Leith.
Work is due to get underway at the beginning of June 2025 for approximately seven months.
During delivery, Corstorphine Road will be reduced to one lane under temporary traffic lights between Ormidale Terrace and Murrayfield Gardens.
Community Engagement
We are holding a drop-in public information event at the Murrayfield Hotel, 18 Corstorphine Road on Thursday 8 May 2025 between 4pm and 7pm.
Members of the project team will be available to explain more about the work involved and take on board any concerns or questions from the community.
What We Are Doing
New screens and spill chambers are being installed to our storm overflow underneath Corstorphine Road at Ormidale Terrace.
The existing spill pipe and outfall will be retained.
When excess rainwater is discharged, the new screens will ensure any sewer related debris does not end up in the Water of Leith.
Why We Are Doing It
Working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Scottish Water has identified priority storm overflows for improvement or replacement for water quality or aesthetic – sewer related debris – reasons.
Under the banner ‘Draining the Rain, Enhancing the Environment’ the investment will help prevent sewage related debris such as wet wipes from entering the environment during periods of rainfall.
Corstorphine Community Centre is set to receive funding support, thanks to Co-op Members, after being selected to benefit for the latest round of funding through Co-op’s Local Community Fund.
The Community Centre is one of a dozen Edinburgh groups set to benefit, with Co-op looking to support local projects that help create sustainable futures for ‘people’ and ‘planet’.
The Centre explained to Co-op that it would use funds to help it “develop a fun, educational and supportive service that helps young people and children to manage their way through the difficult times.”
Other Edinburgh groups set to benefit include: Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity; The 106A City of Edinburgh Rainbows and Brownies; the 185th A Brownies; Art in Healthcare; Branch Out Together (prev. Lothian Autistic Society); Caledonian Thebans RFC; Capella Charity; Empty Kitchens Full Hearts; Hays Pantry; Teapot Trust and, The Dove Centre.
The Local Community Fund has helped over 38,000 causes across the UK since 2016, sharing £116m. Funding is also boosted through the convenience retailer’s ‘Winners Share It All’ prize draw which offers the opportunity each month to win £5,000 for local causes and £500 for Co-op members.
Co-op members can view local causes and choose a community project close to their own heart via the Co-op membership app .
The benefits to community groups also extends beyond the funding support, with 95% of causes saying that they felt more connected with their community as a result of participating in Co-op’s Local Community Fund and, that participating in the scheme had helped to raise their profile locally.
David Luckin, Head of Community Partnerships, Funding and Impact, Co-op, said:“We’re delighted to support a new funding round of 2,500 local causes across the UK and are now encouraging our members to participate and choose a cause near them – after all, they own our business and get a say in how our profits are shared.
“We know that things can be increasingly tough for communities and this funding will helpdeliver projects that their community needs.”
Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer-owned co-operatives, with its history dating back 180 years. Its 6.2m members own the business and play an intrinsic part in its governance with a say in how the organisation is run. Co-op exists to create value for its membership and communities.
More information about the benefits of Co-op Membership is available by visiting:
Strachan House and Queens Manor in Edinburgh will be opening their doors to the local community for an day of coffee and cakes on Saturday 12th April.
Taking place between 10.00 am – 4.00 pm guests will be able to enjoy home-made cakes prepared by the home’s Head Chef, and will have the chance to meet the team and take a tour of the home.
Frances Fisher, General Manager at Strachan House, says: “I’m excited about welcoming new visitors and existing friends of the home to our open day.
“Looking for care can be a little bit daunting, but our team here at Strachan House will do all we can to provide all of our guests with the guidance and support they may need, and answer all of their questions, big or small.
“Our open day is a great chance to enjoy some delightful entertainment in a homely and friendly setting- hope to see you all there!”
Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care and dementia care from respite care to long term stays.
International Women’s Day Saturday 8th March. Calling all women, pop in and join us for a day of inspirational Speakers, crafty bits n pieces, cake and coffee, collective art making, as well as making our voices heard to “Accelerate Action” the theme for 2025 IWD.
An OPEN LETTER from ALISON NOLAN, chief executive officer of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC)
Did you know that over the past decade, 53 public libraries across Scotland have closed their doors for good – without replacement ?
The same public libraries which provide essential access to trusted information and education for all, which ignite a lifelong love of reading from early years, and which serve as warm, welcoming spaces where everyone is welcome without any expectation to spend. The same public libraries which, time and again, deliver enormous value to communities across the country, only to find themselves at risk when budgets are debated.
I’ve written to councillors across Edinburgh, before crucial budget decisions are made for the next financial year, to remind them what investment in public libraries truly means.
At the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), the advocacy body for Scotland’s network of over 500 public and mobile libraries, we understand the delicate financial situation that councils must navigate but we would urge those considering cuts to their library services to think again.
It’s no secret that the cultural sector is under unprecedented pressure but the narrative that austerity measures justify these cuts is shortsighted. This isn’t just a story of diminishing buildings and bookshelves; it’s a story of lives disrupted.
These closures are deeply felt because libraries represent so much more than the sum of their parts. Public libraries remain the most popular service local government delivers. Closing these doors means cutting off opportunities — a cost far greater than any savings achieved.
Libraries are proven to deliver significant economic and social returns, with research from Suffolk Libraires revealing a £6.95 return of economic benefit for every £1 invested through improved literacy, better mental health and stronger communities. And of course, when this investment figure is flipped, we see that the closure of public libraries will result in the community losing out on £6.95 of economic and social benefit for every £1 that is invested elsewhere.
The troubling trend of closures and cuts to library services across the country all too often disproportionately affects rural communities, exacerbating existing inequalities by stripping away vital access to education, digital resources and safe spaces for social interaction.
For these communities, libraries are not a luxury but a necessity. They provide essential services to support job applications, digital literacy training and social connection. To lose them is to deepen the isolation already felt by many.
Ask yourself: where else can citizens turn for support with their health, finances and employment? Libraries do it all under a single roof. They make real change to people in communities right across Edinburgh and play a central part in how the council brings about change.
Libraries drive forward crucial national agendas including preventative health – with the Health on the Shelf research report showing they save NHS Scotland £3.2m every year, bridging the digital divide by offering free access to PCs, Wi-Fi and digital support for a range of essential services, and fostering social cohesion by hosting a diverse range of community events. And this is all in addition to their core function: to encourage reading and provide a range of trusted reference materials.
As cuts and closures loom across the country, we’re urging local decision-makers to prioritise sustainable investment in libraries. Cutting library budgets is a false economy. The cost of losing libraries extends far beyond financial savings, impacting education, mental health and community cohesion. But it’s not just closures that we’re concerned about.
The slow, salami-slicing effect that has been seen over recent years, with opening hours cut – decreasing by 13%, on average – budgets slashed and staffing numbers reduced is felt across communities, with 1 in 3 voicing fears that their whole service is at risk.
Where councils have embraced the importance of libraries, the benefits are clear. 22 out of the 32 local authorities have not made any cuts to their library services in the last decade; instead, they are choosing to invest in their future, from creating learning hubs which have seen unprecedented loan figures, to developing dedicated ‘Maker Spaces’, reinforcing the role that libraries play as the originators of the sharing economy by offering access to emerging technology, such as 3D printers and laser cutters, as well as sewing and embroidery equipment.
In a recent survey from the Association of Public Libraries in Scotland, over 93% agreed that using the public library improves their quality of life, reminding us of the immense value that a public library holds, evolving to meet the needs of modern Scotland with the emergence of whole-community assets that can be used by educators, small businesses, community groups, and individuals to help people right across Edinburgh achieve their potential, while retaining their fundamental purpose: to connect, inspire and empower.
These services are a source of inspiration, but they remain the exception rather than the rule. To fulfil this potential, they need more than goodwill — they need sustainable funding.
No other community asset can deliver the vast economic and social benefits that a thriving public library service can, and so we would urge decision-makers to prioritise investment in their communities.
Anything less would be a failure we cannot afford.
ALISON NOLAN
Chief executive officer of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC)
