Category: Granton

Granton gas holder becomes a ‘beacon of light’

PIC: Fabio Scalici Photography

The sky above Edinburgh has been illuminated by the Granton gasholder with creative light shows designed by students from Edinburgh College working in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council.

Granton’s iconic waterfront gasometer is now a beacon of light on the Edinburgh skyline thanks to the partnership project which provided students from the college with an invaluable opportunity to expand their knowledge and develop their skills working on a live creative project.

Students from across the College’s Creative Industries faculty, from Music and Sound Production to Art and Design, worked alongside 21CC Productions to create the lightshows and designs. They will illuminate the sky over Granton Waterfront for a period of up to two years starting in time for the summer festivals in whatever form they take this year.

The tower has long been an iconic fixture on Edinburgh’s Waterfront for more than a century dating back to 1903. The Council acquired the gasholder as part of the purchase of the wider gasworks site in 2018 and made the commitment to retain and restore it as a central feature within the ambitious £1.3bn regeneration of the Waterfront.

Edinburgh College head of faculty for Creative Industries Jakki Jeffery said: “We’re delighted to be involved in this partnership project working alongside the City of Edinburgh Council to illuminate the sky over Edinburgh.

“This project has provided a fantastic opportunity for students across our Creative Industries faculty to gain experience working on a live project and it’s great to see all their creative ideas come to life.”

Cammy Day, Depute Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, and a local Forth ward councillor, said: “It’s great to see this iconic structure illuminated as it sits at the heart of our £1.3bn regeneration project for Granton Waterfront.

“It’s been a tough year for everyone and we’re all still living through very challenging times so I’d like to thank the students at Edinburgh College for being involved in this project to make the gasholder a beacon of light while development is going on in the area.

“It’s also created a hands on, practical learning opportunity for Edinburgh College’s Creative Industries students to participate in while celebrating the rich history and heritage within the community.”

Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener said: “It is fantastic that the Council can contribute to the night time reimagining of a city landmark into one of Scotland’s biggest and most visible artworks.  

“The illumination will provide a highly visible and beautiful installation at the heart of the Granton Waterfront regeneration. It has been an exciting project and in working with Edinburgh College, something truly special has been produced.”

Culture and Communities Vice Convener Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan said: “The Granton gasholder is already a well-loved landmark on Edinburgh’s skyline and it will now become a prominent feature in our night-time skyscape as well thanks to this partnership project.

“I’m sure there will be quite a buzz on social media as people capture the newly lit-up structure and look towards Granton and its exciting future.”

Choose a name for new public square on the Waterfront

Residents and visitors to the Granton Waterfront area are being asked by the City of Edinburgh Council to vote on suggested names, or propose one of their own, for a new public square.

The square, to be built outside the historic former Granton Station which together with the restoration of the building has agreed funding of up to £4.75m, will be used for community events and recreation. This project is part of the Council’s wider £1.3bn regeneration project for Granton Waterfront.

Cammy Day, Depute Leader, the City of Edinburgh Council, said: The area is steeped in history and heritage and I’d encourage everyone with a connection to Granton Waterfront to read more about why each name has been suggested and cast their vote or offer a suggestion of their own.

“It’s important we get the right name for the new square as it’s our intention that it will become a focal point at the heart of our wider £1.3bn regeneration of the area for the community and visitors to enjoy for generations to come, while creating jobs and homes for citizens.”

The consultation on the new name runs from Tuesday, 19 May until Wednesday, 2 June: 

Suggested names

  • Esparto Square
  • Herring Square
  • Howkins Square
  • Leviathan Square
  • MacArthur Square
  • Queen of Thanet Square
  • William Peck Square
  • Station Square
  • Waterfront Square

GMB Scotland press for proper employment status for 2,800 HM Coastguard rescue workers

GMB Scotland is pressing for proper employment status for more than 2,800 HM Coastguard rescue workers based at 310 rescue stations around the UK.  About 900 of these workers are based in 116 rescue stations around the coast of mainland Scotland and the Islands. 

The duties of HM Coastguard rescue workers include help rescue people trapped on the coast, for example on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water, search for missing people, report and deal with pollution and other hazards and help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding.  

These HM Coastguard rescue workers can be called out at any time of the day or night so they work irregular hours. They may have to work in hazardous situations for long hours and may have to carry out physically demanding tasks. 

HM Coastguard rescue worker can have other employment. Required skills include: first aid, water rescue, map work, search techniques, communications and skills needed in for local area, for example rope rescue, mud rescue etc. 

GMB Scotland is demanding that their status as workers is properly recognised and the work they do is properly valued and recognised.

Like for other recent high profile workers in irregular employment across the UK the union is prepared to litigate to obtain justice for these brave men and women. 

Numbers of HM Coastguard rescue workers on irregular hours by Areas across the UK 

Area 1 Scotland & Orkney Islands 137 
Area 2 North Scotland 126 
Area 3 East Scotland 97 
Area 4 Inner Clyde to River Tay and East Scottish Border 134 
Area 5 North East England 122 
Area 6 East of England (Yorkshire, Humberside & Lincolnshire) 134 
Area 7 East Anglia 155 
Area 8 South East England 152 
Area 9 : Southern England including Isle of Wight 202 
Area 10 : South West England 175 
Area 11 : Cornwall including Isles of Scilly 162 
Area 12 : North Devon including Severn Estuary 176 
Area 13 : South East Wales to Mid-Wales 203 
Area 14 : North West Wales 162 
Area 15 : Great Orme to West Scottish Border including the Lakes 152 
Area 16 : Solway to Firth of Clyde including Northern Ireland 190 
Area 17 : Kintyre to Mull, Isle of Arran and Inner Hebrides 159 
Area 18 : Loch Linnhe to Outer Hebrides including Skye & the Small Isles 160 

 Gary Smith, GMB Scotland Secretary, said: “These 2,800 brave men and women who work in all weathers to rescue people and save lives are denied even the most basic rights of respect and recognition by their employer HM Coastguard. 

“Staff with over 30 years experience are being axed without the basic right of being represented by their Union. The HM Coastguard rescue workers risk their lives to help and save others but are treated worse than any other Government worker. Urgent action needs to be taken to show respect for these unsung heroes. 

“The union is prepared to litigate for these workers, so they can be properly recognised as part of the HM Coastguard rescue workforce and to ensure their basic employment rights are respected.” 

Granton Castle Walled Garden reopens today

News from Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden

The Walled Garden is reopening to the public this weekend!

The garden is coming into bloom and bursting into life and we would like to welcome the public back to this little haven. We will be opening our doors to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, 2 to 4PM, from 8th May. 

Our enthusiastic team of volunteers and trustees have been hard at work preparing the garden for the coming year and we are investigating ways to restore our valued, historic structures. We have plenty of ideas for the garden, so many thanks to our supporters and funding bodies. When visiting the garden, we will have our donations box at the entrance, please feel free to support us if you wish so. 

We are putting in place a one-way system and will have sanitising gel available to make our walled garden a safe, green, space to come and enjoy the open air.

Volunteers and staff will be on hand to answer questions and tell you about the exciting past, present and future of one of Edinburgh’s oldest walled market gardens.

Development Officer Appointment

The Friends have appointed their first Development Officer!

Georgia Forsyth Sijpestijn has worked and volunteered in north Edinburgh for almost a decade and is excited to have started last month. With a background in community gardening, organic farming and communications, we welcome her to the new role.

She will be on hand to answer any questions, manage social media and communications. You can find her most days in our Bothy, so please do come say hello!

AGM Date Set

We are holding our AGM online, open to all members for voting on 26th May at 5:30PM.

More details will follow but please get in touch if you would like to become a member of the charity or renew your membership and have your say in what goes on.

We are always growing and exploring new ideas, so please email us at grantongarden@gmail.com to request a membership form and sign up for free

Opening Hours for Visitors

2 – 4pm Saturday and Sunday.

Our Volunteer Hours

Please contact us through our Facebook, email or Volunteer Edinburgh to sign up.

11am – 1pm: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Like us on Facebook to be kept updated

Wardie Bay’s Seal of Approval on Star Wars Day!

Harbour (common) seal numbers are declining in some parts of Scotland by up to 95%. The Fife Seal Group counted just 100 individuals in the Firth of Forth in 2019 and have stated a decline here of 40% since the 1990s (writes KAREN BATES of WARDIE BAY BEACHWATCH).

Numbers did not improve in 2021. Over the Covid-19 crisis, we have seen a notable increase in wildlife disturbance at Wardie Bay and Granton Harbour.

Indeed, the story is the same all around the coast, prompting Marine Scotland to publish new guidance for interacting with seals. We are understandably reconnecting with nature on our doorstep and may not be aware of the effect of getting too close to wildlife such as seals.

At Granton Harbour and beyond, the situation for harbour seals has become serious enough that signage has become necessary to help inform those not aware of the consequences of their actions.

Our pontoons are designated for wildlife conservation in this special protection area. Local people have responded by collaboratively creating a sign to help inform visitors and nudge away from behaviour that is causing the ‘flight’ response in the local seal population.

There is enough danger out there for this species. We do not need to cause them more harm. They clearly want to use the designated platform provided for them, but not when humans threaten to get too close.

The #SaveOurSealsSign challenge was sent out to four local primary schools: Wardie, Granton, Trinity and Victoria. 117 children returned some amazing and fun designs.

The public and a panel of seal experts were invited to vote on their favourites to be made into a final sign, which was installed yesterday – May the 4th, Star Wars Day.

The final #SaveOurSealsSign is a collage of the top three voted for designs. Congratulations to Sumaira (Trinity P7), Ella (Wardie P3) and Izzie (Trinity P7) and all the children and teachers for their fantastic work.

Huge thanks go to Kevin of TRAC engineering for coordinating the installation, to Steve and Sarah at Glasgow’s Logo Labels Ltd for their experience and for making the sign for us, and to Sam, Marion and Gregory of P1 Solutions for installing it!

They definitely get the Seal of Approval!

Logo Labels said, “We are proud to help bring awareness of issues in the greater community.

“As a lover of wildlife, owner Stephen McNeil jumped at the chance to help manufacture a sign to support this cause and make people aware of the issue for seals that inhabit the area”.

Wardie Bay Beachwatch said: “We now hope that people will see what local kids have to say, so that we can all enjoy these amazing animals – from a distance – for many years to come. May the 4th be with you!”

PICTURES: KAREN BATES

What does living in North Edinburgh mean to you?

Fresh Start, with the Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership, are running online events on 12th & 13th May to allow residents to discuss how our services can adapt to fit what matters to you, the people that live and work in the area!

Join the conversation on Wednesday 12th May, 1-2.30pm by registering here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/…/tZYsd…

Or Thursday 13th May, 7pm – 8.30pm, by registering here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/…/tZ0qcu…

Please share around your networks and get the conversation going!

Lib Dems announce candidate list and pledge to “Put Recovery First”

As nominations close, Scottish Liberal Democrats have announced their list of candidates for Lothian and are pledging their commitment to make recovery from the pandemic their number one priority as MSPs.

Today the Scottish Liberal Democrats submitted their nomination papers for the upcoming Scottish parliament election to be held on the 6th May.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh Northern and Leith will be Rebecca Bell (above). She is also the mental health spokesperson for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Rebecca Bell said: “People are under huge pressure from the pandemic. There’s a lot of work to be done to recover from this crisis. It will not be easily done and we will need our complete focus on the project at hand.

“As an MSP, I want to focus on cutting mental health waits, a bounce back plan for education, creating jobs and tackling the climate emergency.

“After years of arguing about independence and Brexit, the last thing we need right now is another independence referendum.

“As the MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, I will put the recovery first.”

Willie Rennie said: “This election is about priorities. Liberal Democrats will put recovery first. After the dreadful year we have endured, people want a needle-sharp focus on jobs, mental health, our NHS, schools and the climate crisis.

“With ten years of experience as leader I have won support for areas like mental health, education and nursery education.  For me it has always been about investing in people so they can do great things.

“For the next five years the divided nationalists will put independence first, dividing the country too.

“For the next five years I will put the recovery first, cut mental health waits, help pupils bounce back, create jobs and take action on the climate. The SNP will prioritise another independence referendum.