Drylaw Telford – Page 30 – The NEN

Shop local? Telford housing application faces local opposition

An application to build new homes in Telford is facing opposition.

Port of Leith Housing Association has lodged plans to build eleven flats on the site of the shops on Telford Drive, but one resident has appealed to Drylaw Telford Community Council to challenge the application.

At one time there was a row of shops on the site at the heart of the scheme – older readers may recall a fish and chip shop, a haberdashery and a general store there – but the last remaining convenience store closed last year.

The nearest shops for Telford residents are at Ferry Road ‘shopping centre’ in Drylaw or over the busy Telford Road at Craigleith Retail Park – and at least one Telford woman thinks this is wrong.

She told Drylaw Telford Community Council: “When the shop closed in January 2020 it was to make way for flats and a convenience store included, but with covid that all fell through.

“We have waited on the same plans to re-emerge, only to find out that the council are giving planning permission according to a report in Edinburgh live yesterday , for the flats only.

“I am outraged as our nearest shop is the Today store in Drylaw and it is a long journey for most and to carry shopping is very hard.

“I have lived in this street for over 50 years and we have always had a shop here – Sohil the shop owner was reluctant to give up this land but he was promised a new shop would be built and he would have a choice to come back and run it.

“The residents of Telford Drive need a shop in our street – not everyone has a car.”

Drylaw Telford Community Council will discuss the application at their August meeting.

Defibrillator for Drylaw Church

Drylaw Parish Church has just installed an external defibrillator at the front door of the church for community use.

As you probably know you do not need any training or prior information to be able to use this; instructions are on the unit itself, indicating that anyone wanting to use it should phone 999 and then are given the code to open the unit.

The unit is on the left hand side of the front door, and is bright yellow.

This installation is part of an Edinburgh-wide church project, initiated by the Church of Scotland and now extending to other denominations and other faith traditions.

It reflects the churches’ commitment to support health and well-being. This is in conjunction with St John’s Ambulance Defibs across the city of Edinburgh.

Here in Drylaw Parish Church we are seeking to support health in other ways as well. We are just starting to offer contributions towards mental health, in partnership with Pilton Community Health Project. See below a flyer with information about that:

Capacitar, an internationally used way to support people enabling them to support themselves. This is running on Mondays lunchtimes at 12.30pm and is open to anyone, professionals and local people, who might appreciate 45 minutes of body/mind relaxation and reflection.

In time, we hope this could become a hybrid group, allowing local people to do this in person in the church building. People can refer themselves, simply emailing for the link as indicated.

Minister – Jenny Williams

Groathill Road, North jwilliams@churchofscotland.org.uk
Edinburgh 07935 723 968
EH4 4RG
0131 332 6863

drylawparishchurch@btinternet.com

Scran Academy shortlisted for industry award

Scran Academy is celebrating after being shortlisted for a leading UK industry Award. This week, Scran was announced as a Finalist in the Apprenticeship and Skills category of the Public Sector Catering Awards and the recognition will see the youth-led organisation appear at the Ceremony in London later this year.

Scran Academy’s initial focus was to use the innovative food social enterprise to help young people from North Edinburgh to overcome their learning and life barriers and lead more meaningful lives.

Scran’s community-based school uses food to support learners disengaged from mainstream school to access qualifications and work. Despite being less than four years old, they have grown and scaled their impact to support thousands of people throughout the pandemic and city wide.

This includes the creation of the youth-led Scran Café based at the Comely Bank NHS Centre, which creates a welcoming, relaxing and safe haven for as many as 100 frontline NHS workers and clinical trainees on a daily basis.

Last year Scran also launched the Scran Van, a food truck that provides free healthy food to children and families across the city to combat hunger and increase positive youth activities.

All of these food initiatives puts employability skills, job opportunities and personal development for youth at the heart of what they do.

This award nomination comes as this ground-breaking social venture seeks to empower hundreds more young people with the skills and confidence to lead in the hospitality industry.

At the same time the programme will take a significant bite out of the poverty-related barriers, life challenges and injustices the young people face on a daily basis – being care-experienced, disengaged from mainstream school, at risk of homelessness, unemployed or suffering from poor mental health.

Nominee and Founder of Scran Academy and social entrepreneur, John Loughton BEM, said: “This nomination is a real vote of confidence in our community work and a recognition in the power of food to change lives.

“Will Bain and his team work magic at Scran to ensure food is positive for all people, not just those that can afford it. At Scran we do hand-ups, not just hand-outs and young people go on to change their own lives once they realise people believe in them.

“Scran’s story shows is that if we support local community organisations that are run with passion and authenticity, we can develop creative solutions to social inequality. It also shows that unlike the stereotypes so often in the media, young people make a real and positive contribution to society and your postcode does not have to be your destiny.”

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

Smoking-Information-Document Download

Hope to see you there,

KATE BARRETT

EVOC Development Worker – Community Planning

Have you seen Skye?

UPDATE: SKYE HAS BEEN TRACED SAFE AND WELL

Original Story:

Police are appealing for information to help trace Skye Fraser, a 13 year old girl ale missing from the Ferry Road Avenue area.

Skye was last seen around 4pm yesterday (Thursday 8th July) and her family are concerned as they have not heard from her since then.

She is described as 4’0, slim build with blonde hair, usually in a ponytail. She has blue eyes and was wearing a black jumper when she was last seen.

Inspector Forrester, Drylaw Police Station, said, “We are concerned for Skye’s welfare, therefore if anyone has information that could help us find her, please call us on ‘101’, quoting reference 0078 of 9th July 2021.

“Likewise, if Skye sees this appeal, please call your family or police on ‘101’ to let us know you are safe, thank you.”

Attempted murder in West Pilton: police renew appeal

A renewed appeal has been made to trace the movements of a vehicle believed to be linked to an attempted murder in West Pilton.

Detectives in Edinburgh have renewed an appeal for information as enquiries continue into the attempted murder of a man in North Edinburgh.

The 34-year-old man was found seriously injured in a common stairwell at West Pilton Grove around 5pm on Friday, 18 June.

He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.

Extensive enquiries are ongoing and officers are particularly keen to identify the movements of a dark blue Volkswagen Golf GTI which is believed to be linked to the incident and was later found on fire in the city later on the Friday evening.

Detective Inspector Alison MacDonald said: “We would be particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the vehicle in the Granton, Newhaven or Drylaw areas leading up to Friday, 18 June.

“Enquiries have established the car was driven in those areas leading up to that date, as well as in Gorgie and Sheriffhall, before it was later found burnt out near Shawfair Railway Station.

A dark blue Volkswagen Golf GTI was seen driving at speed in the Drylaw area before the incident and a similar vehicle was then seen being driven erratically Sheriffhall Roundabout around 5.30pm on Friday 18 June.

“It is possible that the vehicle may have been parked up in one of those areas prior to the incident. If you believe you may have seen the car in the lead-up to Friday, 18 June but have not seen it since then please get in touch.

“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident and anyone with any information can call 101, quoting incident 2690 of 18 June or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Attempted murder in West Pilton: Police renew appeal

Detectives have renewed an appeal for information as enquiries continue into the attempted murder of a man in north Edinburgh.

A 34-year-old man was found seriously injured in a common stairwell at West Pilton Grove around 5pm last Friday (18 June). He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.

Officers investigating the incident are now appealing for sighting of a car believed to be linked to the incident.

A similar vehicle was later found set alight later that evening.

Detective Inspector Alison MacDonald said: “We are keen to speak to anyone who saw the vehicle or who may have dashcam or private CCTV footage showing this vehicle.

“We would also be keen to hear from anyone with information about a similar car which was set alight near Shawfair railway station later during the evening on Friday, 18 June.

P1 – P2 Tuesday 15.15-16.45

P3 – P5 Wednesday 15.15-17.15

P6 – P7 Thursday 15.15-17.15

Wednesday is currently full but there is a reserve list.

Due to restricted numbers we are only allowing two weeks no show before spaces are given to a young person on the reserve list.

Places must be pre booked and registration is currently only by phone – speak to Lynda on 315 4989.

Category: Drylaw Telford