Lesley Hinds extends an invitation to a community- focussed follow-up discussion for Northern Edinburgh and Leith
Last December some people living and working in Northern Edinburgh and Leith participated in an Open Space community event which explored how local communities might benefit from or influence the direction of the changes the Scottish Parliament additional powers will allow. Continue reading Towards a Community Manifesto: More Power for Local Communities?
Spartans Community Football Academy have launched their annual Easter Egg Collection – and the Ainslie Park-based team are once again aiming to ensure that no local child goes without an Easter Egg this year.
The Academy donated over 400 chocolate Easter Eggs to local food banks last Spring – an eggstraordinary total! – and they have set a target of reaching at least 300 again this year.
Can they make it? You can do your bit to help by laying donating an egg at the Academy at Ainslie Park by next Thursday (24 March)!
Seems like it all kicks off in March!
Here’s your March Newsletter which includes news of quite a few local events – and there’s still time to catch Art in Granton at Madelvic House today. (See poster, below).
Art in Granton exhibition at Madelvic House
So it’s Spring! Get out there, get engaged and involved in all the good stuff!
Bill Rodger (Trinity Community Council)
Trinity CC met on 14 March. Here’s a summary of the main points:
CRIME
While EH5 (Granton/Pilton/Trinity) remains one of the worst affected postcodes Police Scotland assure us that housebreakings are down more than a third compared to last year but it still hurts if you are the victim.
Aside from all the individual security measures we can help each other simply by keeping an eye open on what is happening in our street. So let’s look out for each other. And you may want to make it easier for your neighbour to look out for you. That hedge that screens your property is also a useful hiding place. Have you got the balance right between security and privacy?
And for those living in Craighall Gardens and Terrace, Police Scotland are providing a Neighbourhood Watch security briefing at 7.30 on 21 March at Trinity Academy. Rumour has it that it’s a big room so even if you don’t live in the Gardens or Terrace you may be able to slip in quietly to pick up a few tips!
DOG FOULING
This seems to be on the rise in Trinity. There are various theories about why this might be, but at the end of the day, if you own a dog or are in charge of taking dogs for a walk, you have a legal duty to clear up any mess because of the health hazard it represents. And if you are one of the 99% of well behaved dog walkers and witness someone failing to clear up, you may wish to challenge them.
TRINITY’s PARKS
Friends of Victoria Park was formally inaugurated on 17 March when some really interesting ideas for the future of the park were discussed. To take these forward, the following were elected:
Chair – Antonia Boyce
Vice Chair – Tim Parker
Secretary – Aileen Ward
Treasurer – Ian Forbes
Other Committee Members – Lynne Lineen and Kevin O’Donnell
FoVP would love to hear from anyone else who would like to become involved, or even join the Committee – especially if they are interested in communications and social media. A membership form is attached. Or get in touch by email on friendsofvp@gmail.com
Friends of Victoria Park Membership Form 2
And on a seasonal note Friends of Starbank Park are holding their annual Easter Egg Hunt for 3 – 8 year olds at 10.30 in Starbank Park on Good Friday 25th March. If the thought of your child working off their energies searching for calories simply to replace them works for you (and who wouldn’t it work for?) then get along there!
All money raised is going to the Hans Christian Andersen themed Children’s Nature Trail to be constructed amongst the trees.
MORE GREEN STUFF
Spring always raises the spirits. Buds pop, shoots shoot and bushes grow. But it has complications. Overhanging trees and hedges can obstruct pavements and are a particular problem for the visually impaired members of our community. They can also attract a fine from CEC. So break out the secateurs and keep on top of the shrubbery.
OCEAN TERMINAL HOTEL
You will doubtless know of Ocean Terminal’s ambitious plan for a bold hotel design to abut the north east corner of Ocean Terminal itself. We heard from the architects that the widely published visualisations were rather misleading as they simply show the maximum volume which the structure could occupy.
In fact, the design will likely be a narrow fin which will nonetheless reach 28 storeys and link to a boardwalk running around the west side of Ocean Terminal while connecting to a future dockside walkway beside the Albert Dock.
We had a productive dialogue with suggestions for direct access to the Terminal and rooftop landscaping for the existing building to add to the conceptual design for conference facilities and 28th floor viewing platform.
Trinity CC is supportive in principle of a landmark development which will reinforce the critical mass which a retail centre of the scale of Ocean Terminal’s needs. However, we cannot give unqualified endorsement and reserve our position until a more detailed design is available and, in particular, a full visual impact assessment has been undertaken. We expect to hear more on that by the end of April.
SAINSBURY CRAIGHALL ROAD
Work has started on the site and should complete in the summer. The store is expected to open in November
ANNUAL WALKABOUT
Final planning for the 2016 Trinity CC Walkabout now in hand. Expect this to happen on the morning of 23 April and, to celebrate the establishment of its Friends Group, we plan to tour Victoria Park and its immediate environs. Any thoughts? Get in touch!
More on Facebook or TCC website or at our next meeting on Monday 11 April at 7 pm in Wardie Parish Church, Primrose Bank Road. Open to all. Come and give us your opinions. Or contact a Community Councillor. We need to know your views so that we can represent them!
Did you find this bulletin useful or informative? If so, why not show it to a neighbour? Anyone in Trinity can subscribe to the bulletin simply by emailing tcc-comms@outlook.com or drop us a line and tell us what you think could be better.
TUESDAY 22 MARCH 6 – 8pm
CRAIGROYSTON COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
SOCIAL JUSTICE QUESTION TIME
North Edinburgh’s Power to the People group is hosting a session to discuss human rights tonight in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre tonight. Continue reading Power to the People talks Human Rights tonight
The sun is shining, summer is on its way and life in the northern hemisphere re-emerges (writes Bill Rodger). Among the green shoots to know about are: Continue reading We all need Friends – even Parks and Houses!
Robin McAlpine, director of The Common Weal – a vision for a better Scotland, is speaking at an event organised by the Power to the People group taking place this morning at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.
The event runs from 10am – midday: it’s free, no booking necessary – all welcome!
For more information visit the Living In Harmony Facebook page, e-mail Luke Campbell at student@pchp.org.uk or call Lynn McCabe on 552 5700 – email lynn.mccabe@ea.edin.sch.uk
Please see below publicity advertising two information and discussion sessions being hosted by the Power to the People group this week. Continue reading Power to the People: double event this week
£900k for schemes that support local communities
Over £900,000 of grants have been awarded to voluntary organisations working to improve Scotland’s health.
Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, Jamie Hepburn, announced the awards during a visit to the Food Train in Dumfries, one of the successful bidders, on Friday.
The funding has been awarded as part of the Section 10 grants scheme. Including on-going grants, this year’s pot of £912,990 brings the current Scottish Government investment in this scheme to £2.7 million.
The Food Train, which received a grant for £42,890, delivers food to older people who are unable to go shopping. It started in Dumfries in 1995 and now helps more than 1,400 people a year across Dumfries and Galloway, West Lothian, Dundee, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Stirling and North Ayrshire. This additional funding will help them to expand their services to help more older people in Scotland.
The full break down of grants is as follows:
Headway, various locations, £80,000
SAMH, Glasgow, £90,000
Scottish Huntington’s, Paisley, £73,000
PAMIS, Dundee, £100,000
People First (Scotland), Edinburgh, £79,568
Sandyford Thrive, Glasgow, £35,000
Stop it Now, Edinburgh, £90,000
Arthritis Care Scotland, Glasgow, £30,000
COSCA, Stirling, £70,000
SDEF, Alloa, £80,132
Contact the Elderly, Kilmacolm, £42,400
Food Train, Dumfries, £42,890
Alzheimer Scotland, Edinburgh, £100,000
Mr Hepburn said: “Through these grants the Scottish Government helps the third sector in its vital work in Scotland’s communities. These organisations are all working to improve health, reduce inequalities and build social inclusion. Many are run largely by dedicated volunteers, who give up their free time and expertise to help others.
“I’m delighted to be here in Dumfries to visit the Food Train, which has been doing excellent work for more than two decades, both here in the south west and now right across Scotland. Food Train is typical of the kind of organisation that want to help through this scheme. They help their members to live independently and to play a full and active role in society.”
Michelle McCrindle MBE, Chief Executive of the Food Train said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding support from the Scottish Government who continue to play a key role in the national expansion of our food access service to older people.”
PEOPLE FIRST is based on Easter Road – click on link below to find out more about the member-led organisation
https://youtu.be/eCBpNiwSMls
Edinburgh North & Leith MP Deidre Brock has called for the disused Pelamis Building in Leith docks to be converted into film studios and production facilities. Continue reading Brock calls for film studio in Leith
