Category: Leith

North and Leith candidates do ‘blindfold walk’ to get better idea of sight loss issues

Four Prospective Parliamentary Candidates for the Edinburgh North and Leith constituency took a stroll along Leith Walk wearing spectacles that simulate sight loss conditions yesterday. 

Gordon Munro (Labour and Co-operative Party), Iain McGill (Scottish Conservatives) and Heather Jane Astbury (Renew) were joined by Alan Dudley and guide-dog Gemma, with Deirdre Brock (SNP) doing the walk later with Alan Simpson.

All four candidates were aiming to gain a better idea of the everyday hazards faced by blind and partially sighted people.

Catriona Burness, campaigns manager for RNIB Scotland, said: “We know streets can’t always be free of clutter. But we can do more to make them accessible. That’s why we are urging elected MPs to help ensure that blind and partially sighted people are able to get out and about independently.

“Shared space developments, for example – which remove separations between cycleways, roads and pavements – are hazardous for blind and partially sighted pedestrians. We want MPs to act on growing concerns about these and deliver on the recommendations on accessible street design set out in Westminster’s  Women and Equalities Committee Report, ‘Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment’.”

Not again? Concerns over new student housing development in Leith

Residents have raised concerns about new plans to build yet another block of student flats in Leith.

Developers are about to submit proposals for a six-story building on Iona Street, off Leith Walk, which would house over 500 people across student accommodation and residential flats.   Continue reading Not again? Concerns over new student housing development in Leith

Ditch yer auld baffies at Big Slipper Event!

Older residents in Edinburgh are being encouraged to trade in their old slippers for a brand new pair, free of charge.

Big slipper event!

As part of a community initiative in Leith, a ‘Big Slipper’ social day is taking place this Monday (18 November) at Easter Road stadium. Continue reading Ditch yer auld baffies at Big Slipper Event!

Leith’s Good With Food!

Residents are being encouraged to adopt smart kitchen and shopping habits as part of a new campaign to tackle the climate crisis by reducing food waste in Leith.

Leith’s Good With Food, a new campaign from Zero Waste Leith, encourages the local community to shop smart, cook just the right amount and use up or share any leftovers.

The campaign is delivered by leading environmental charity Changeworks as part of the Zero Waste Leith project, with funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

Food waste is one of the top contributors to greenhouse gases – and throwing away food waste means you’re throwing away money too. Right now, 60% of the food we waste in Scotland could be avoided, and that’s something the campaign is looking to change. If food can’t be reused, it can be turned into energy through Edinburgh’s kerbside food recycling service.

The campaign kicked off with a launch event at the Leith Walk Police Box yesterday.

Hannah Milne, Zero Waste Leith Co-ordinator at Changeworks said: “Leithers are already leading the way towards zero waste in Scotland and now they are adopting food waste savvy habits in their kitchens, shops and streets with our new campaign, Leith’s Good With Food.

“Our team of volunteers gave out our new Good with Food kits which contain tools, tips and recipes to help Leithers avoid food waste and a kitchen caddy for collecting food waste recycling.”

The campaign is modelled on the successful anti-flytipping campaign, Flyspotting, which featured portraits and messaging from local Leithers and halved flytipping in ten test streets surrounding Dalmeny Street Park.

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Environment Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council said:  “Food waste is a big greenhouse gas emitter, but it’s something households can tackle easily and help make a real, positive contribution.

“All food waste collected in Edinburgh goes to our state-of-the-art facility at Millerhill to be converted into energy – just one food caddy can generate enough electricity to power a TV for five hours!

“I welcome this new campaign from Changeworks and look forward to even more people getting into the food waste reduction and recycling habit.”

Local restaurants shortlisted for British Curry Awards

Edinburgh restaurants recognised as they face fresh concerns with continued Brexit delays and uncertainty 

Leith curry restaurant, Mint Leaf in Bernard Street, has been shortlisted for the Best Restaurant Scotland award at the trailblazing British Curry Awards in association with Just Eat. 

Additionally, Dishoom, located in St Andrew Square (below), has been shortlisted for the Best Newcomer award.  Continue reading Local restaurants shortlisted for British Curry Awards

Constitution Street to close for tram works

Constitution Street will close on Saturday 16 November and work will begin in two sections of from Monday 18 November 2019. These are:

  1. Foot of the Walk to Coatfield Lane – scheduled to be completed by Spring 2021
  2. Queen Charlotte Street to Constitution Place – scheduled to be finished by Summer 2020.

Lothian bus services 12, 16 and N16 will be diverted during this time as follows:

  • Service 12 (towards Seafield) between Leith Walk and Links Place, buses will be diverted via Duke Street, Academy Street, Wellington Place and John’s Place.
  • Service 12 (towards city centre) – between Gladstone Place and Leith Walk, buses will be diverted via East Hermitage Place, Vanburgh Place and Duke Street.
  • Services 16 and N16 – between Leith Walk and Commercial Street, buses will be diverted via Great Junction Street, Henderson Street and The Shore in both directions.

Enabling works will also take place on Leith Walk from Mid-November. No services are expected to be disrupted, however some bus stops may be moved a short distance.

For further information on Trams to Newhaven, please visit www.tramstonewhaven.co.uk

Labour launch North & Leith general election campaign

Scottish Labour and Co-operative party candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith, Gordon Munro, launched his campaign at The Prentice Centre in Granton Mains Avenue yesterday. 

The launch was attended by members, activists and supporters who then started out on the campaign trail, canvassing and speaking to local people about the issues that matter in this election (see below).   Continue reading Labour launch North & Leith general election campaign

Port of Leith Housing Association: Shaping the Next Five Years – community consultation

Do you live in Leith? Join Port of Leith Housing Association’s community consultation ‘Shaping the next 5 years’ for a chance to see our 2020 – 2025 draft plan in progress . 

You can  take part online at www.polha.co.uk/the-future or visit one of the pop-up consultations (see below). Continue reading Port of Leith Housing Association: Shaping the Next Five Years – community consultation