Category: Granton

Knots: A Community Walk

GRANTON:HUB – SATURDAY 26th SEPTEMBER 1.45 – 3pm

We are pleased to invite you to ‘Knots, a community walk for all the family’ on Saturday 26th September, 1:45pm-3.00pm. It is part of the Granton:hub / Madelvic House Doors Open Day.

We will walk, play, do an art activity, and learn about nature too. This event relates to our neighbour, United Wire, and one of our other historical and contemporary industries, fishing. You will learn some basic knotting practices (appropriate for children and adults), making a joint artwork, and also something to take home with you to help you remember the walk and what you have seen.

Starting and ending at the Granton Hub / Madelvic House.

Places are limited for participants’ safety and enjoyment. Suitable for those with wheels / sticks. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Tamsin Grainger is a Paths for All walk leader. In 2024/5, she was the Granton Archive Community Development Worker, and she is an experienced pedestrian.

This event is free to attend but booking is required via Eventbrite.

Local arrests following drug raids

POLICE have recovered drugs with an estimated street value of over £1.4 million in Edinburgh and Uphall.

On Tuesday, 1 September, 2026, officers executed warrants at addresses in the Leith, Granton and the Uphall areas where cannabis, cocaine and a six-figure sum of cash were seized.

Two men aged 37 and 62 were arrested and charged in connection with this recovery. They are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

A 52-year-old man was arrested and released pending further investigation.

Detective Inspector Gavin Howat said: “This significant recovery highlights our commitment to tackling dangerous and illegal drugs in our communities.

“We are determined to protect the public from this harmful criminality by disrupting the drugs trade and preventing them being circulated on the streets of Scotland.

“This operation underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.

“Information from the public is crucial. Anyone with information or concerns about drugs should contact Police Scotland on 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Trams to North Edinburgh: Open letter from Granton & District CC

Granton & District Community Council has sent an open letter to members of the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee (TEC), who will discuss the future of proposed tram extensions at their meeting on 10 September.

Read the full letter here: https://grantoncc.scot/…/trams-to-from-granton…/

We believe that future construction of the Granton section is vital in bringing much-needed economic, social and environmental benefits to the communities of North Edinburgh.

Our part of the city faces significant socio-economic challenges, along with imminent population growth resulting from the Granton Waterfront development.

Development of a rapid transport link is essential to improving quality of life for those already living here, and ensuring that the new Granton Waterfront precinct becomes a thriving, sustainable community, rather than an isolated ghetto at the northern edge of the city.

Both the current route options for the Granton leg have their merits and drawbacks. However, we fear that the complexities and public controversies around both have led to a position where it may seem easiest for Councillors simply to ‘kick the can down the road’ and de-prioritise the Granton leg in principle – without due consideration of the socio-economic impact on present and future communities here in North Edinburgh and reneging on two decades of promises.

NEN COMMENT

THE change in priority from delivering the North Edinburgh section first may indeed have been caused by the ongoing stushie over the best route (i.e Orchard Brae vs Roseburn Path); yes, it’s divisive and there are council elections next year!

But whatever route councillors do eventually decide for North Edinburgh (and assuming that a robust business case can be made), there is a strong argument that the tram remains a key element, economically and socially, in the ongoing regeneration of the waterfront and wider North Edinburgh.

Failure to deliver this section (AGAIN!) would be seriously detrimental to progress which has been stop/start for years already; for it to happen again now is hardly a vote of confidence in what remains one of the UK’s biggest regeneration projects and sends out the wrong message both to both potential investors and communities that have been let down too often before – Ed.

Granton Nature Map

Stitching Wildlife Together

grantonnaturemap.org 

grantonnaturemap@proton.me 

Funding has been secured for a multi-cultural and inclusive community project to stitch a wildlife map of Granton. Spearheaded by Tamsin Grainger, Community Artist, and Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, this project welcomes involvement from those interested in nature, beginners and experienced stitchers. 

Creating a citizen map, the Granton Nature Map will represent the plants, animals, insects and birds of the area and those which featured in participants’ lives before moving here. Using found materials where possible, the finished wall hangings will feature embroidery by local people of all ages and nationalities, New Scots and local residents. 

There are three key aspects of the project: Nature walks; visits to the National Galleries Artworks and The Palestine Museum to be inspired by Scottish and Palestinian artists and craftspeople; and Stitching Circles. Events will be held geographically across wider Granton, and at a range of days, dates, and times in order to try to be as accessible as possible. All activities are free of charge. 

Nature walks will be held over the next few months, including Sunday 6th September 2pm meeting at the Granton Community Garden gate; Thursday 24th September 5.30pm meeting at Wardie Bay. Each will last an hour. 

Stitching Circles will be held at a variety of venues, starting with September 7th at Granton Library 6 – 7.30pm (drop-in); and Granton Community Garden on Wednesday 9th September 1.30 – 3pm (outdoors, under cover, whatever the weather).

We encourage skill and story sharing, and new stitches and support will be on offer. 

All details, plus an introduction to the project, are to be found on the regularly updated blog: grantonnaturemap.org 

Funding has come from The Community Grant Fund, the Scotmid Foundation, and Royston Wardieburn Community Centre. 

Granton Nature Map: Get involved!

Would you like to take part in a textile art project in your community?

Share and gain stitching skills, meet other people and exchange knowledge and stories in this fascinating project facilitated by local artist Tamsin Grainger.

Members of the Granton community are invited to participate in stitching / embroidering a large collective map of Granton featuring plants and wildlife from participants’ places of origin and Granton.

The final Granton Nature Map will be hung at Royston Wardieburn Commumnity Centre and Granton Hub.

You can meet Tamsin at the library for a starter session on 7th September at 6.30pm.

Please note – You do not have to be confident in sewing to take part.

Images released as police investigate serious assault at The Pitt

POLICE have released CCTV images of a woman they wish to speak to as part of an ongoing investigation into a serious assault which occurred within The Pitt, West Shore Road, at around 1am on Saturday, 27 June, 2026.

The female pictured is between 25-35 years old, white, with long blonde hair, tattooed arms and legs. She was wearing a white vest top, dark coloured shorts, white trainers and white socks pulled up.

Detective Constable Lindsay Johnston said: “Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 2259 of 26 June, 2026. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be maintained.” 

granton:hub to take part in Doors Open Day

SATURDAY 26th SEPTEMBER from 11am – 3.30pm

FULL PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES AT MADELVIC HOUSE

We are delighted to announce our participation in Doors Open Day 2026 on Saturday 26 September, between 11am and 3.30pm.

Our main exhibition will focus on the industrial heritage throughout the 18th, 19th and 20th century, keeping Granton’s heritage alive and highlighting what was once a hive of activity. We are pleased to confirm that local historian Kenneth Williamson will be providing more insights and stories of his own experiences.

The Granton Archive Project (GAP) will offer informal drop-in sessions between 11:00am-2:00pm. We have photographs, films, newspapers and much more that will bring the past alive, and we’d like to invite you to come and explore, guided by our local volunteers.

Also on display will be a selection of the Quiet Heroes photo exhibition. These striking portraits celebrate these individuals and invite us all to reflect on the hidden contributions that keep a community strong.

Our collaboration with Edinburgh College of Art entitled ‘Cultural Heritage in the Metropolitan Peripheries’ records and celebrates Granton’s shifting heritage and the creative work by students from Craigroyston Academy and Edinburgh University.

The project will be launching HOPE, a new digital resource for people seeking to learn about how these urban peripheries mark and celebrate their cultural heritage and contemporary identity.

A family friendly walk (1:45-3pm) will start and end at the Granton Hub and free spaces are limited. PLEASE BOOK. Check the link for further details.

https://www.eventbrite.com/…/knots-a-community-walk…

There is no formal requirement to book a space for visiting granton:hub but it will assist us with planning the logistics.

https://www.eventbrite.com/…/doors-open-day-saturday-26…

Feel free to get in touch via gina@grantonhub.org if you have any questions.

Granton & District CC comments on ongoing traveller situation

UPDATE ON TRAVELLER ENCAMPMENT

WE (Granton& District Community Council) are aware of community concerns around the continuing occupation of Scottish Government land at Waterfront Avenue / Granton Park Avenue, which is earmarked for The Art Works development.

The Community Council acknowledges the frustration felt by local residents about the length of time it is taking for this complex issue to be resolved.

An appeal hearing in relation to the eviction order took place in early August, and the judgement was issued at the Court of Session on Thursday (27 August). It found in the Scottish Government’s favour, upholding the eviction order. However, it is worth noting that a further appeal is possible.

As a Community Council, we hope to receive further updates on next steps once available, and will do our best to communicate this to residents in good time.

View the news reports about the judgement:

BBC News (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgwd9l5210o)

and STV News (https://news.stv.tv/…/traveller-family-to-be-evicted…).

GRANTON & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Donald McDonald: Funeral Details

WARRISTON CREMATORIUM – FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER at 2.30pm

Community activist Donald McDonald’s funeral will take place at Warriston on Friday 11 September at 2.30pm.

ODE TO DONALD

Donald McDonald, what can we say?

He’s been involved in this community

 in every single way 

supporting local groups,

listening to what they say,

providing support for 

our buses, trains and boats.

He’s lived in Granton all his life

knows the area and all  its strifes.

He’s always fought for local people

doesn’t ask for recognition, 

questions all our Councillors’ decisions.

The community centre is his pride,

through the years,  watching funding slip away

he battled on no matter what.

We realise that the war’s not  done, 

but his spirit has never broken.

Three cheers for Donald for all the times he’s spoken.

Donald we are all so proud of you 

And how you’ve coped with  your trials and tribulations.

The time has come to accept your knowledge,

the centre will now have a room called

The Donald McDonald

to thank you for your time and toils  

You will never be forgotten.

Poem by Anna Hutchison

Thanks to Lynn McCabe for supplying this information.

Granton and District CC AGM

MONDAY 31st AUGUST 6.30pm at ROYSTON WARDIEBURN

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NEXT MEETING MON 31 AUG – INCL. OUR AGM!

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All welcome at our monthly meeting on Monday 31 August, 6.30pm at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre. This is our first meeting back since the summer break and will also include our Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Do feel free to come and raise issues for discussion. If you’d like to attend online, please get in touch for the MS Teams link.

Alternatively, we can raise any issues for discussion on your behalf. Simply email engagement@grantoncc.scot