Bensons for Beds comes to Craigleith

Bensons for Beds is making big changes in Edinburgh as it opens two new stores in the city in the next 10 days. The sleep experts are opening a brand new store at Craigleith Retail Park and relocating its existing Straiton Retail Park store into a new unit.

Stores teams at both Craigleith and Straiton are getting set to help customers choose the right bed and find the right sleep solutions.

The first store to move will be at Straiton retail park when the bed and mattress retailer moves into Unit 5-6, Edinburgh, EH20 9PW from its old home on the park with the new unit opening today (Friday 25 August).

The new unit will feature more than 7,000 square feet of trading space and employ five   colleagues who’ll move across from the old store.

The second store is a brand new unit which will open in the capital at unit 7a&b, Craigleith Retail Park on Friday 1 September.

More compact, this new location will feature over 4,500 square feet of trading space and employ five new colleagues.

To celebrate the openings, Bensons will be rolling out its iconic purple carpet to welcome visitors who will be offered an additional 10 per cent off items bought over the opening weekends.

The new stores have been designed to showcase the wide range of beds and mattresses on offer at Bensons as it invests significantly to build a portfolio of brands that cater to every sleep need and the majority produced in-house at its own manufacturing centre in Cambridgeshire.

That portfolio includes Slumberland, which has been crafting a superior night’s sleep for over 100 years here in the UK.  Slumberland is the proud owner of Good Housekeeping Institute Awards for its Airstream Memory, Naturals and Eco Solutions mattresses.

Last year it also launched its new Simply by Bensons range to give consumers a great night’s sleep from only 15p per sleep[1]. The affordable, feel good quality range features mattresses, divans and bed frames – all with free five-year guarantees.

Bensons also recently launched a new and exclusive range of beds and mattresses under its heritage Staples & Co brand which has been re-inventing sleep since 1895.  The new ranges are designed to give customers a wide choice of comfort, storage and style features, with over 28,000 potential combinations.

The Staples & Co divan bases and Artisan Collection mattresses are handcrafted to order in the UK at Bensons’ dedicated British Kite Mark quality accredited factory in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

Bensons is the exclusive home of iGel Advance, mattresses with a patented Graphene Technology, that helps customers regulate their body temperature to stay comfortable throughout the night.

As well as its exclusive in-house brands, last year Bensons also it unveiled its first collection of luxury mattresses from leading British maker Hypnos to broaden choice for customers.  Other brands available include Tempur and Silentnight, so that customers can choose the right bed for them to help them get a good night’s sleep.

Bensons’ regional manager, Peter Doyle for Edinburgh said: “We’re delighted to be expanding the Bensons portfolio. Both stores will be showing off the best of what Bensons for Beds has to offer to customers in and around Edinburgh

“The store teams will be dedicated to one thing – giving our customers everything they need to get the best night’s sleep.”

Road closures today

Edinburgh is hosting the UCI World Cycling Championships 2023 Men’s Elite Road Race tomorrow morning – Sunday 6 August 2023.

We will have temporary restrictions on

  • parking
  • waiting
  • loading
  • unloading

along the route, which spans from Holyrood Park to the Queensferry Bridge.

We may need to adjust these timings depending on the event timings.

Road closures

These roads will be closed from 11:59pm on August 5 to 3pm on 6 August:

  • Queens Drive
  • Horse Wynd
  • Dukes Walk

These roads will be closed from 11:59pm on August 5 to 1:45pm on 6 August:

  • Canongate
  • New Street (between East Market Street and Canongate)

These roads will be closed from 11:59pm on August 5 to 11:15am on 6 August:

  • High Street (between South Bridge and St Giles Street)
  • Lawnmarket (between St Giles Street and Bank Street)

These roads will be closed from 11:59pm on August 5 to 12 noon on 6 August:  

  • High Street (between St Mary’s Street and South Bridge)

The following roads will be closed from 8:00am to 9:45am on 6 August:

  • Abbeyhill (between Canongate and Abbeyhill Crescent)
  • Calton Road (between Abbeyhill and Abbeyhill Crescent)  

The following roads will be closed from 9:00am to 9:45am on 6 August:

  • George IV Bridge (between Lawnmarket and Victoria Street)
  • Lawnmarket (between Bank Street and Castlehill)
  • Bank Street
  • North Bank Street
  • The Mound
  • Hanover Street
  • Queen Street Gardens East
  • Heriot Row (between Dundas Street and Howe Street)
  • Howe Street (between Heriot Row and South-East Circus Place)
  • South-East Circus Place
  • Circus Place 
  • North-West Circus Place

These roads will be closed from 9:10am to 9:45am on 6 August:

  • Kerr Street 
  • Deanhaugh Street
  • Raeburn Place
  • Comely Bank Road
  • Craigleith Road

These roads will be closed from 9:15am to 9:50am on 6 August:

  • Queensferry Road (between Craigleith Road and Hillhouse Road)
  • Hillhouse Road

These roads will be closed from 9:20 to 9:55am on 6 August:

  • Queensferry Road (between Hillhouse Road and Maybury Road)

These roads will be closed from 9:40am to 10am on 6 August:

  • Queensferry Road / A90 South-eastbound (between the dual carriageway section and Whitehouse Road)

These roads will be closed from 9:40am to 10:40am on 6 August:

  • Queensferry Road / A90 North-westbound (between Maybury Road and the boundary of City of Edinburgh Council’s responsibility).

Vehicle crossing points on closed roads

On Sunday 6 August, traffic will be held at the junctions with the race route for up to 10 minutes while the race passes. Once the final support vehicle passes, traffic will be able to flow as normal.

The timings may change slightly to fit with the event as it passes through Edinburgh.

  • St Mary Street – Jeffery Street at Canongate/ High Street 9:25am to 9:35am
  • North Bridge – South Bridge at High Street 09:25am to 9:35am
  • Princess Street at The Mound/ Hanover Street 9:25am to 9:35am
  • Queen Street at Hanover Street/ Queen Street Gardens East 9:25am to 9:35am
  • East Fettes Avenue – Comley Bank Avenue at Comely Bank Road 9:30am to 9:40am
  • Orchard Brae – Crewe Road South at Comely Bank Road 9:30am to 9:40am
  • Telford Road – Strachan Road at A90 Hillhouse Road 9:30am to 9:40am
  • Quality Street – Craigcrook Road at A90 Queensferry Road 9:30am to 9:40am
  • Whitehouse Road – Maybury Road A90 Queensferry Road 9:45am to 9:55am

Please note that these planned restrictions and closures may be subject to change.

UCI Cycling Men’s Elite Road Race: Road closures announced

SUNDAY 6th AUGUST

The route for the UCI Men’s Elite Road Race has been announced. This forms part of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, the “biggest cycling event ever.”

The race will begin in Edinburgh on Sunday 6 August 2023 at 9.30am. We expect the event to attract many visitors from across the world to follow the race as it makes its way from the capital to Glasgow. The city will be busy and some roads will be closed as the event passes through.

Route

Competitors will start off in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat and the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood Park. The race then heads up the Royal Mile and through Edinburgh’s Old Town, passing under Edinburgh Castle.

They will then head down the Mound and towards Stockbridge before moving onto Queensferry. Competitors will then cross the Firth of Forth via the Queensferry Crossing. The race will eventually finish in Glasgow’s George Square, covering a distance of 270km.

Road closures

These roads will be closed from 6:30pm on August 5 to 12 noon on 6 August:

  • Queens Drive
  • Horse Wynd
  • Dukes Walk

These roads will be closed from 11:59pm on August 5 to 1:45pm on 6 August:

  • Canongate
  • New Street (between East Market Street and Canongate)

These roads will be closed from 11:59pm on August 5 to 11:15am on 6 August:

  • High Street (between South Bridge and St Giles Street)
  • Lawnmarket (between St Giles Street and Bank Street)

These roads will be closed from 11:59pm on August 5 to 12 noon on 6 August:  

  • High Street (between St Mary’s Street and South Bridge)

The following roads will be closed from 8:00am to 9:45am on 6 August:

  • Abbeyhill (between Canongate and Abbeyhill Crescent)
  • Calton Road (between Abbeyhill and Abbeyhill Crescent)  

The following roads will be closed from 9:00am to 9:45am on 6 August:

  • George IV Bridge (between Lawnmarket and Victoria Street)
  • Lawnmarket (between Bank Street and Castlehill)
  • Bank Street
  • North Bank Street
  • The Mound
  • Hanover Street
  • Queen Street Gardens East
  • Heriot Row (between Dundas Street and Howe Street)
  • Howe Street (between Heriot Row and South-East Circus Place)
  • South-East Circus Place
  • Circus Place 
  • North-West Circus Place

These roads will be closed from 9:10am to 9:45am on 6 August:

  • Kerr Street 
  • Deanhaugh Street
  • Raeburn Place
  • Comely Bank Road
  • Craigleith Road

These roads will be closed from 9:15am to 9:50am on 6 August:

  • Queensferry Road (between Craigleith Road and Hillhouse Road)
  • Hillhouse Road

These roads will be closed from 9:20 to 9:55am on 6 August:

  • Queensferry Road (between Hillhouse Road and Maybury Road)

These roads will be closed from 9:40am to 10am on 6 August:

  • Queensferry Road / A90 South-eastbound (between the dual carriageway section and Whitehouse Road)

These roads will be closed from 9:40am to 10:40am on 6 August:

  • Queensferry Road / A90 North-westbound (between Maybury Road and the boundary of City of Edinburgh Council’s responsibility).

Vehicle crossing points on closed roads

On 6 August, traffic will be held at the junctions with the race route for up to 10 minutes while the race passes. Once the final support vehicle passes, traffic will be able to flow as normal. The timings may change slightly to fit with the event as it passes through Edinburgh.

  • St Mary Street – Jeffery Street at Canongate/ High Street 9:25am to 9:35am
  • North Bridge – South Bridge at High Street 09:25am to 9:35am
  • Princess Street at The Mound/ Hanover Street 9:25am to 9:35am
  • Queen Street at Hanover Street/ Queen Street Gardens East 9:25am to 9:35am
  • East Fettes Avenue – Comley Bank Avenue at Comely Bank Road 9:30am to 9:40am
  • Orchard Brae – Crewe Road South at Comely Bank Road 9:30am to 9:40am
  • Telford Road – Strachan Road at A90 Hillhouse Road 9:30am to 9:40am
  • Quality Street – Craigcrook Road at A90 Queensferry Road 9:30am to 9:40am
  • Whitehouse Road – Maybury Road A90 Queensferry Road 9:45am to 9:55am

Please note that these planned restrictions and closures may be subject to change.

You can find more information, on the event website 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. I

f you have any questions, please email events@edinburgh.gov.uk

Appeal for information following wilful fire raising in Craigleith

POLICE in Edinburgh are appealing for information after a car was deliberately set on fire in the Craigleith area.

The incident happened around 5.35pm on Monday, 13 February 2023, on Queensferry Road, close to the junction with South Groathill Avenue. A Volvo XC40 was significantly damaged. 

DC Fiona Murray said: “We are keen to speak to two men seen in the area at the time. “The first is described as late teens to early twenties, slim build, wearing dark jogging bottoms, a grey hooded jumper and dark coloured trainers. 

“The second is described as late teens to early twenties, slim build, wearing a dark coloured tracksuit and dark trainers.

“Officers have been carrying out enquiries and are keen to speak to anyone who may have been within the area at the time and saw anyone acting suspiciously before or after.

“The road was busy with traffic at the time and a passing dash cam footage may assist with our investigation.”

If you have any relevant information then please contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2803 of Monday, 13 February, 2023, or make a call to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Scottish Youth Parliament: Edinburgh elections results

The Scottish Youth Parliament election results 2021 were announced on Monday 22 November. Eleven new Members of the SYP will now represent young people in Edinburgh.

Ten of those elected are from state schools in the city, seven are young women and three are from a Black and Minority Ethnic background.

One remaining seat, in Northern and Leith, will be contested in the new year.

Edinburgh registered the highest number of expressions of interest in Scotland from potential candidates and fielded the most candidates (26) of any local authority.

We also achieved the highest voter turnout in Edinburgh since 2015, despite many of the usual campaigning activities being curtailed because of the pandemic.

Councillor Ellie Bird, Young People’s Champion, said: “I want to commend the astonishing achievements and contributions of all 26 candidates that stood across Edinburgh in the Scottish Youth Parliament election, and warmly welcome the eleven new MSYPs into our city’s elected member family.

“The success of this year’s election is a testament to the commitment and passion of everyone involved in prioritising the voice of young people, at a time when it’s never been more important.

“Due to the restricted access to schools, youth clubs and community centres, candidates have had to rely on their own ingenuity, creativity and sheer dogged persistence to get their message, and their vote, out.

“The determination that these young people have demonstrated in standing up for what they believe in by putting themselves forward for election and to be accountable to their electorate, especially during such a challenging period for young people, is nothing short of inspirational.

“I know they all have a lot to offer their communities and the causes they care about most, and I can’t wait to see what they do next and look forward to working with Edinburgh’s newest group of elected representatives to place young people at the heart of policy and decision making.”

For more information about the election and the successful candidates, please see @edinburghMSYPs

Inverleith Neighbourhood Network to meet on Tuesday

Dear Inverleith Neighbourhood Network (NN)

The next meeting of this group is Tuesday 17th August at 6pm on Teams (link below)

Please find attached:

  • Minute of previous meeting of 24th June 2021
  • Agenda for meeting of 17th August 2021
  • NEP report (Roads and Housing Revenue Account HRA)
  • Transport Infrastructure Investment report

We have no Community Grants applications to consider at this meeting, but Cllr Barrie is still looking for volunteers to join a Funding Panel that will consider any applications in future.

We are particularly keen to have anyone representing projects in the Drylaw Telford area.

Please get back to me if you are willing to assist in this.

Click here to join the meeting

Elaine Lennon

North West Lifelong Learning Development Officer, City of Edinburgh Council

8 West Pilton Gardens, Edinburgh, EH4 4DP

Tel: 0131 529 5270 / 35270

Voluntary Sector Forum to meet next week

Forth and Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum will meet on Tuesday 20 July at 1pm via Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84802007045?pwd=WmU3REQrL2ZNa3NEVDg4Zlp3TkVGdz09

Meeting ID: 848 0200 7045

Passcode: 991758

We will use this following agenda to guide our discussion:

1 Welcome and Introductions

2 Pilton Community Health Project and ASH Scotland present on new work addressing smoking rates in areas of deprivation (see below)

3 Evaluating Third Sector contribution to LIP priority 3 – tackling poverty and inequality

4 LOG Update

5 Training Opportunities for third sector (EVOC)

6 Member update

Hope to see you there,

KATE BARRETT

EVOC Development Worker – Community Planning

M&S stores across Edinburgh share plans for retail reopening

·         M&S stores across Edinburgh, including M&S Gyle and M&S Princes Street, get ready to welcome more shoppers back in store as customers look ahead to brighter days

·         New services launched to help customers Shop Their Way – from contact free bra fit to easier payment options

·         Sparks to boost rewards for customers for two weeks from 26th April – one customer every day in every store will win their shopping for free 

With retail reopening across Scotland this week, M&S is sharing how stores across Edinburgh, including M&S Gyle and M&S Princes Street, are set up to offer customers the inspiration and flexibility to Shop Your Way.

M&S has been continually adapting its store experience, offering products and services that local customers want after a year of significant change.

M&S stores across Edinburgh are offering a range of exciting new products and services to make shopping with M&S easier, convenient and more rewarding – from digital payment options to rewards and treats for shopping through our Sparks loyalty programme. All of this supported by standout M&S customer service in a safe and clean store.

M&S Scotland Central and East Regional Manager, Scott Munro, said: “We’re excited to welcome more customers back into our stores and look forward to continuing to serve our local community.

“Whether you’re looking for our latest Dine-In family feast or those must-have wardrobe staples to see you into summer, we have everything to help you Shop Your Way.

“With exciting new services like our contact-free bra fitting and the Scan & Shop service on our Sparks mobile app, we’re supporting customers however they choose to shop. Whether that’s browsing in store or using our click & collect service, our local team is ready to help.”

Shop Your Way: Easy and Rewarding Ways to Pay 

Following the relaunch of the M&S Sparks loyalty scheme in July last year, M&S stores across Edinburgh are marking the return of retail by offering one Sparks customer every single day for two weeks from 26th April, in every store, their whole basket or trolley of shopping for free.

As well as offering regular rewards and treats for shopping through Sparks with M&S, the mobile App also allows customers to shop in store with their phones with the Scan & Shop with Sparks service offering a quick way to pay without using the till. This follows the recent extension of Sparks Book & Shop to help customer plan ahead and book a slot to shop at a time that suits them.

Shop Your Way: Great new services and stand out service  

Outstanding customer service remains and will always be a defining feature of the M&S experience and is a key reason why customers choose to shop with M&S – from the welcoming host on the door and the brilliant operations teams behind the scenes, to the valuable in-store services offered in-store.

Bra Fit

Bra fit is back at M&S including at M&S Princes Street, the Gyle and Fort Kinnaird, allowing customers to choose between a contact-free bra fit from M&S’s expert colleague by appointment or the new option of accessing M&S’s expert service from home via a virtual appointment. M&S virtual bra fit appointments are available for any customers across Scotland.

M&S Gyle is also improving its Bra Fit service by offering customers on-the-spot payment service Pay With Me – so customers can purchase lingerie straight after their appointment from M&S’s expert Bra Fit colleagues without visiting a till.

Click and Collect

More and more customers are looking to take advantage of the flexibility and convenience of shopping with M&S across both its website and their local store. M&S is making this easier by blending these services and offering local customers free next day collection when ordered by 8pm.

M&S Cafés

M&S Cafés, including at M&S Gyle, Fort Kinnaird and Ocean Terminal, are now open as of 26th April.

All customer toilets will also be back open, with strict cleaning protocols in place to ensure the highest levels of hygiene. 

An update from Sainsbury’s Chief Executive Simon Roberts

With tighter restrictions and national lockdowns back in place, I want to reassure you that we are doing everything we can to keep you and our colleagues safe when you shop with us (writes Sainsbury’s Chief Executive SIMON ROBERTS).

Everyone must wear a mask in our stores

Keeping you and our colleagues safe is our absolute priority and we are looking again at all of our safety measures in stores.

We continue to limit the number of people in our shops at any one time and we have greeters outside every supermarket to help with this.

We are also asking all customers to please wear a mask and to shop alone. This will help us limit the number of people shopping at any one time and help everyone shop and work safely.

We’ll also have posters and tannoy messages making it really clear that everyone must wear a mask, unless you have an exemption.

Convenience stores will also have colleagues at the store entrances to help customers and manage numbers. All our stores have hand sanitising stations available for you to use at the entrance and please be assured our colleagues continue to regularly clean trolleys and baskets.

Ramping up online capacity

As people are being asked to stay at home, more people want to shop online and we’re doing everything we can to support you with this. We have increased slots from 340,000 last March to over 800,000 per week now and we’re doing everything we can to increase that number, across both home delivery and click and collect. We continue to give elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers priority access to these slots.

Please shop for others and only buy what you need

We have good availability of products in our stores and online and we have new stock arriving from our suppliers every day. You can still feel confident that you can find what you need at Sainsbury’s and if we all continue to buy just what we need, there will be enough food for everyone.

It’s been really heartening to see so many of you and our colleagues doing what you can to help elderly and vulnerable people in your communities. With clinically extremely vulnerable people required to shield once again in many areas, I would like to encourage everyone to please shop for others if you can. Our Volunteer Shopping Card can help you do this without needing to use cash.

Supporting our communities

With your help, our ‘Help Brighten a Million Christmases’ campaign raised nearly £6 million for over 800 local charitable partners as well as Comic Relief and FareShare. Thank you for all of your support and donations.

To continue to support our communities as we head into this third lockdown, I’m pleased to let you know that we’re creating another £1 million local community fund for all our stores to donate to charities and other good causes in their local area over the coming months.

We are also continuing to support the government’s free school meal vouchers scheme, helping children who qualify for free school meals have access to these meals while schools are closed.

I want to thank all of our colleagues who continue to deal with these challenges that affect their everyday lives while also carrying out a vital role in helping to feed the nation. Thank you too for helping us to keep you and our colleagues safe.

As always, if there is anything you think we could be doing better please let me know.

Best wishes

Simon

Craigleith Homebase is among first in the country to host new kitchen range

Home and garden expert Homebase has teamed up with Country Living and House Beautiful magazines, published by Hearst UK, to create an exclusive range of kitchen designs – and Homebase Edinburgh Craigleith is amongst the first stores in the country to be fitted with this new and exciting range.

The collection consists of two Country Living kitchens and four House Beautiful kitchens. It brings together stylish designs, inspirational colours and trends with the practical, functional requirements customers need today in a kitchen that’s often used in a multitude of ways.  

Both design ranges are made in Yorkshire, and the units in the Country Living range are hand painted making it easier for the customer to request a more tailored, unique style and design, without compromising on clever storage designs.

Ian Penney, Room Solutions Business Unit Director for Homebase, says: “Kitchens are often at the centre of any home, and even more so today as they can be an office, a school and a zoom-hub as well as somewhere to cook and eat!

” The Country Living and House Beautiful ranges, along with our expert kitchen designers who provide virtual kitchen consultations, can help customers find a style, design and functionality that suits their way of living today without compromise, to deliver them a kitchen of their dreams.”

The Country Living range

The Country Living range comprises of two designs – The Country Living Whitstable which takes its influence from the popular ‘Shaker’ kitchen design, but with subtle modern touches such as adding copper coloured handles to darker units, to create a more modern yet timeless British-inspired design. 

Inspired by nature and named after British coastal towns, the range represents a more relaxed and simpler way of living, which embodies the ethos of the Country Living way of life.

The Country Living Whitstable in emerald green with copper coloured handles gives a modern look to a timeless classic design.

The Country Living Hastings kitchen has its design roots firmly in the farmhouse, countryside designs and is the epitome of English country chic. This kitchen mixes traditional styles with modern space saving ideas, offering the customer large larder cupboards and deep pan draws making it a very practical kitchen with a cosy feel

The Country Living Hastings is available in three natural colours: milk, biscuit and clotted cream.

The House Beautiful Kitchen Range

The four House Beautiful kitchens are well suited to today’s modern living. They’re beautifully modern, sleek, on-trend and incorporate a range of smart technology options. They also offer clever storage designs and soft close cupboards and drawers that can cope with the demands of any busy, family household.

The handleless House Beautiful Islington kitchen has a modern and elegant streamlined look, which is especially in the darker shades such as this Cocoa and Gunmetal with Copper Trim.

House Beautiful Islington makes a striking statement with its handleless doors and dark Cocoa cupboards, giving any kitchen a modern, sleek look.

The House Beautiful Camberwell is a contemporary style kitchen, blending high gloss doors with matt wood to create an ultra-modern finish. It’s a versatile design, as it has a wide range of finishes and handles that can be mixed and matched to complete the look. The range is available in six neutral tones that keep the style modern and sophisticated and offers plenty of storage options hidden away behind its sleek exterior.   

The House Beautiful Camberwell is available in six different shades: oyster, snow, mist, soft stone, milk and driftwood

The House Beautiful Bermondsey comes in a choice of five, high gloss neutral colours which go towards giving it a more relaxed, easy going look.  It’s available in the following shades: chalk, soft ivory, clay, ash and slate.

This kitchen can be easily mixed and matched with its integrated handles and unit colours creating more look options.  

The House Beautiful Westbourne has fused together the best of the classic ‘Shaker’ style with some very modern features, including integrated handles. Together with its differing paint options including a matt finish, this is a bespoke kitchen that can truly be tailored to any style and any space of kitchen.

Customers can choose to browse The Country Living and House Beautiful kitchens the instore or online. Customers can book an appointment to visit the store in a safe, socially distanced way, alternately, Homebase kitchen designers are available to host a virtual design consultation, where they can share their screen to create kitchen designs all from the comfort of your own home.

To find a Homebase showroom and kitchen designer near you, visit Homebase.co.uk/our-range/kitchens