On Wednesday (20th July), members of Police Scotland’s #OperationSoteria arrested and charged a 14-year-old boy with a number of offences in relation to the robbery of a motorcycle from the Drylaw area on the 19th July 2022 and a number of road traffic offences.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
Officers from Operation Orbit have also been out and about on patrol with their off-road bikes, assisting #OperationSoteria with tackling motorcycle crime and anti-social behaviour in Edinburgh.
Operaton Orbit improves their ability to prevent and respond to incidents, whilst providing a high visibility patrol and improving engagement with local young people.
Anyone with information about motorcycle crime or the dangerous use of motorcycles in the city can speak to officers confidentially and anonymously on 101, or through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
TWO North Edinburgh community centres were saved from closure following a last-ditch intervention by councillors at a marathon council meeting yesterday.
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre was braced for closure this summer following months of uncertainty over funding, while the voluntary management board of West Granton Community Trust announced on Monday that the Prentice Centre also faced closure due to spiralling running costs.
Councillors unanimously agreed a composite motion after three similar motions were submitted on Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre:
Noting that there are three motions tabled on Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, this amendment is to composite motion 8.3 by Councillor Day (Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre) with motion 8.4 by Councillor Osler (Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre) and motion 8.12 by Councillor Nicolson (Save Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre). Amends the text of motion 8.3 as follows:
“Council;
notes the work towards a model of 20-minute neighbourhoods across the city which requires the development of strong local community facilities that are locally and easily accessible for all residents.
recognises the critical role that neighbourhood and community centres play in our communities, not only providing services to those of all ages, but also in maintaining safe places for people to meet and spend time.
notes the board of Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre have made clear that the centre is not going to survive financially beyond summer without one-off funding support from the council.
thanks officers for their actions so far in offering advice and some practical support to the organisation but regrets this has not managed to help the centre reach a positive outcome.
agrees that officers should work with Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre’s Management Committee to create a sound and sustainable financial arrangement that allows the Centre to continue over the long term.
Yesterday’s marathon full council meeting also agreed the following Addendum, which was moved by new Forth SNP councillor Stuart Dobbin and seconded by his SNP collague, Invereleith’s Vicky Nicholson, who was also elected in May.
The Addendum reads:
Notes the decision by West Granton Community Trust (announced on June 27th) to close the Prentice Centre in a matter of months unless immediate action is taken.
Recognises the critical role that the Prentice Centre plays in the community it serves, not only providing services to those of all ages, but also in maintaining safe places for people to meet and spend time.
Agrees therefore to also delegate to the Director of Education and Children Services to award £50,000 from Council Unallocated Reserves for the Prentice Centre to ensure the Centre can remain open and continue serving the community in the short term. The award of grant is subject to appropriate due diligence, including grant conditions on expenditure and assurances from the Centre on additional funding being secure.
Agrees that due to the number of community-run centres facing closure due to financial strain, that a report is brought to Council in one cycle identifying those under financial strain and where additional resources can be made available to keep valuable community resources open. This report should also consider the state of management in the community-run centre sector and recommend principles for the relationship between CEC and centres on financial matters.
The eleventh hour funding agreement does not guarantee that either Centre will remain open long term, but it does at least give both of these valuable community resources some time and support to explore other options to ensure their survival.
The council decision of short-term financial support will come as a huge relief to staff and management committees in particular but also the hundreds of residents of all ages who support their local community centres.
The work must begin now to ensure that both Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre and The Prentice Centre can look forward to sustainable futures.
UPDATE:
West Granton Community Hub Manager Moira Fanning has been in touch (Saturday 2 July) to say that the Prentice Centre “remains CLOSED as negotiations with the Council have not been finalised”.
I will post more information when it becomes available.
Aldi is on the hunt for new store locations in Edinburgh as part of its rapid expansion drive.The priority areas where it is looking include Bonnyrigg and Drylaw.
Aldi, which already has more than 960 stores across the UK, is looking for freehold town-centre or edge-of-town sites that are around 1.5 acres.
Each site should be able to accommodate a 20,000 sq foot store with around 100 parking spaces. Ideally the location will be near a main road with good visibility and access.
The UK’s fifth-largest supermarket even offers a finder’s fee for people who recommend a site, including members of the public – which is either 1.5% of a freehold price or 10% of the first year’s rent for leasehold sites.
George Brown, National Property Director at Aldi UK, said: “By opening more Aldi stores, we can provide affordable, high-quality food to even more people.
“But despite our growth in recent years, some people still don’t have access to a local store, which is why it is our mission to continue on with our ambitious plans and change that.
“Our finder’s fee is available to anyone who can find Aldi an appropriate site so we’d encourage people to share any suitable suggestions and get it touch.”
park!
