Category: Leith

Dreams to Reality: Heart of Newhaven latest

Where have the past two years gone? On 4th October 2018 in Victory Primary School there were lots of ideas on what the Community could do here once the children moved to their new school, then still in the planning stages.

We were warned that our dreams would take time and effort and there were delays. The new school building, first scheduled to be opened last August, will be completed one day despite, like so much else, being affected by Covid 19. We are working steadily on ways to promote a better normal as soon as we can. More on that next time.

Meanwhile the Heart of Newhaven Community with our iconic logo is steadily growing with people like you keen to support our programme of ideas.

This update comes hard on the heels of one you may have just received about Membership of our SCIO – Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. It’s a bit technical, so I’ll try to explain.

We registered the Heart of Newhaven Community SCIO SC049919, as the first step to qualify for the Community Asset Transfer of Victoria Primary School.

Our SCIO constitution allows different categories of membership and the letter sent recently showed which one we think fits you as you register, as I hope you will.

Depending on which category you fall into, membership will give you a vote at meetings and so enable you to have your say in deciding what happens.

The “Asset” (the whole of the current school site) to be “Transferred” will belong to the Charity on behalf of the whole community: so the name Heart of Newhaven Community is apt.

But it’s not just a place. The beating pulse of the whole community already exists in people – YOU! – living human beings. A really good way to help create what the name shows is to register on the form you’ve hopefully been sent.

If you have any questions about membership, haven’t had a letter, or think you received the wrong one, then you can find out more HERE on the website. If you’re still in doubt, please feel free to contact me directly at  chair@heartofnewhaven.co.uk and I’ll try to help.

But you will also continue to receive this more general Mailchimp email at least every month unless you unsubscribe if you no longer want to be bothered. Surely not! This is how you can keep up to date.

I hope the next one will be more exciting but we are definitely not just dreaming the time away and the next two years should be very impressive.

Rodney Matthews
Chair and Vision Facilitator, The Heart of Newhaven Community

Stockbridge and McDonald Road among libraries to reopen today

The first phase of reopening Edinburgh’s libraries will see six branches opening today (Tuesday 6 October).

The six branches are:

•  Central Library

•  Kirkliston Library

•  McDonald Road Library

•  Fountainbridge Library

•  Stockbridge Library

•  Newington Library

Initially at least, services will be restricted. As you might expect, numbers within buildings will be limited and social distancing measures will be in place. Face coverings are mandatory in Libraries.

From Tuesday 6 October you can:

  • return your books
  • pick up Hey Girls sanitary products

You will have to book a slot to:

  • browse and borrow books
  • use a public computer
  • apply for a National Entitlement Card (bus pass)
  • collect hearing aid batteries

You can make your booking online here.

Or by phoning one of the six branches above.

Read our reopening frequently asked questions for further details of how services will work in our reopened libraries.

We appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming you back!

Culture and Communities Convener Cllr Donald Wilson said: “It’s a really positive step forward that these six libraries are opening to the public ahead of schedule as they are invaluable resources for our local communities.

“This phased reopening, which will also see community access to sports facilities in secondary schools start up again next month, is an important step in our plans for a phased reopening of community assets across the city.

“Libraries are a vital requirement in any democratic society, giving access to knowledge and literature, helping to bridge the digital divide and also centres for strengthening local communities.”

Culture and Communities Vice Convener Cllr Amy McNeese-Mechan said: “We really appreciate everyone’s support and patience as we gradually reopen our libraries, welcoming people back into their local spaces.

“Although services will be limited initially due to current restrictions, with an online booking service for some such as browsing and borrowing, I’m sure everyone will fully appreciate that our top priority remains the health of our residents and library colleagues.

“This cautious approach demonstrates our commitment and recognition of the importance of public libraries in this, the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature.”

Lottery success for McDonald Road neighbours

Two people in Edinburgh are celebrating today after winning £1,000 each thanks to their lucky postcode. The McDonald Road neighbours netted the windfall when EH7 4NQ was announced as a Daily Prize winner with People’s Postcode Lottery on Friday.

People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Judie McCourt sent her well-wishes to the winners. She said: “What a fantastic Friday for these lucky neighbours! Congratulations to our winners, I hope they have fun spending their winnings.”

A minimum of 32% of ticket sales goes directly to charities and players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised over £600 million to date for thousands of good causes in Britain and beyond.

This draw was promoted on behalf of Canal and River Trust which has received more than £10 million in funding thanks to players. It cares for over 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England & Wales and believes waterways have the power to make a difference to people’s lives.

Many good causes close to the winners have also benefitted from players’ support, and local charities can apply for funding next year.

For more information onPeople’s Postcode Lottery, please visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk or Facebook and Twitter.

Iona Street campaigners hopes dashed

A STATEMENT from SAVE IONA STREET

A decision was reached last week on the Iona Street development by the council’s Development Management Sub-Committee and unfortunately it has been approved to go ahead.

This is obviously disappointing news for many of us but it’s worth remembering that together we have made a difference. While many of the broader changes we were calling for have not been recognised, some aspects of the development have been changed as a result of all of our efforts.

A huge thank you for your support over the past year. Our local community feels stronger as a result of the campaign.

Let’s Grow a Garden Here to launch on Leith Walk


Edinburgh based Community interest Company Edible Estates is launching a new community growing project in Leith and is inviting everyone to join in to grow food and community in Leith. 

Edible Estates is building on it’s ‘Leith & Lochend Home Grown’ initiative over the past 6 months to launch a new community growing and green space project in Leith.

In partnership with the Leith Walk Police Box, Out of the Blue, Foundation Scotland, Port of Leith Housing Association and Action Earth the ‘Lets Grow a Garden Here’ initiative aims to encourage community growing projects led by local people this autumn and winter.

The project has also been supported by Ocean Outdoor (advertising) to promote the project on the big screen on Leith Walk and expect that to encourage local people to want to get involved. The advertisement is live until 11th October.

Patrick Dunne, who is co-ordinating the Lets Grow a Garden Here project, wants to see as many people as possible sign up, join in and develop a new grassroots, local, urban food growing initiative including everything from edible streets and doorstep planters to skill sharing and community meals over the next year. 

Patrick explained: “We are really excited to have a chance to develop an emergency Covid response into a new and exciting opportunity for community growing in Leith.

“We hope to be a part of the local food networks and community activity in the winter. Leith has so many great ideas and resourceful and creative people and is full of interesting projects. We are really proud to be a part of it ”

If you are keen to grow your community, learn new skills, improve your local environment and have fun, contact patrick@edibleestates.co.uk to get involved.

Committee to discuss controversial Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

Proposals for a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in East Craigs will be considered by Transport and Environment Committee this morning (Thursday 1 October).

The temporary measures are being proposed as part of our Spaces for People programme and, following concerns raised by the local community, will be brought to committee for a final decision by councillors.

In response to feedback from residents, the design of the scheme has been amended to ensure that every area in the Low Traffic Neighbourhood can access (entry and/or exit) two of the major distributor roads, Drum Brae, Glasgow Road or Maybury Road.

The council says that by making these amendments, it will alleviate the requirement for right turns across Drum Brae South and Glasgow Road, which have been key concerns of residents. However, it will also ensure that routes used by vehicles to avoid the A8 corridor are closed, particularly during Craigmount High School’s opening and closing times. In addition, it will take traffic away from the West Edinburgh Link north-south cycle route.

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convenor, said: Low Traffic Neighbourhoods allow residents to move around their own areas safely and with more space. They encourage physical activity and reduce through traffic.

“We know through feedback we have received that local people want to see measures improved for walking, wheeling and cycling and this is an opportunity to make this a reality on a temporary basis.

“However, we recognise that a number of people have been opposed to the measures we are looking to implement, so we felt it was right to refer this matter to the Transport and Environment Committee for proper scrutiny by elected members.

“We have listened carefully to local concerns and are proposing a number of changes to address the issues raised by the community. This will make vehicle access easier for local residents while moving ahead with some elements that will bring positive changes for residents. There is also a clear commitment to continue monitoring its effect and to modify it where necessary.

Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convenor, said: “We know that Low Traffic Neighbourhoods reduce emissions and calm traffic due to the number of successful schemes that have already been implemented across the UK.

“Nevertheless, there is local opposition to this scheme and it should be discussed and agreed by the Transport and Environment Committee before we take steps to implement. We will continue to engage with residents and stakeholders regarding this matter and ensure that their voices are heard as we move forward.”

The report will also consider other potential Low Traffic Neighbourhoods across the city, including the Meadows, Leith and the South Corstorphine area.

The East Craigs Low Traffic Neighbourhood involves temporary measures and is not a permanent scheme. Once implemented we will continue to monitor its success and engage with local residents. If a view is taken to make the scheme permanent full consultation with residents would take place.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are used in a number of cities to reduce the impact of through motor traffic. They create people-friendly spaces which encourage physical activity and active travel choices while maintaining local access. Our consultation on the West Edinburgh Link (WEL) project showed support for proposals to improve conditions for active travel. We also received a number of suggestions via our Commonplace online tool on how the area could be made safer for residents.

Read the full report, Spaces for People – East Craigs Low Traffic Neighbourhood, online. Watch Transport Committee live via webcast from 10am on Thursday, 1 October.

The amended measures for the East Craigs scheme include – 

  • Removing the Craigmount Avenue and Craigs Loan modal filters
  • Changing the position of the Craigs Gardens modal filter
  • Changing the North Gyle Terrace filter to No Entry east bound (from Maybury Road)
  • Altering the Craigs Road bus gate so that it always permits one-way westbound traffic and restricts eastbound traffic at peak times (07:30 – 09:30 and 16:00-18:30)

You’re invited to our SCCR Virtual Conference

Cyrenians Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution is holding a month-long, all-digital festival of FREE events in place of our annual conference.

This exciting programme includes several internationally-renowned special guests.

Please feel free to sign up to as many as you wish!

We are honoured that the digital festival will commence with a film screening of ‘Nae Pasaran’. This 2018 documentary is directed, written and produced by our dear friend Felipe Bustos Sierra. He is a BAFTA-winning filmmaker and creative director at Debasers, a production company based in Glasgow.

You may already know Felipe as the cinematic wizard behind the SCCR’s film ‘Phases of Transition’ which premiered at our 2019 Faces of Transition Annual Conference.

In his first cinema documentary, Felipe tells the powerful story of a long-forgotten solidarity action by factory workers in East Kilbride and ‘Nae Pasaran’ has gone on to receive the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Feature.

The stunning film will be screened on the 1st of October at 7pm via Zoom and followed by a Q&A with Felipe himself to launch SCCR’s International Conference: Connections & bridging the divide.

12A/12 – Suitable for 12 years and over. Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film unless accompanied by an adult.

This event will be delivered on the online platform Zoom. If you book on to the event you will be sent the details via email on how to join nearer the time to the event when bookings have closed.

Please note Zoom offers video capability so you can join with your webcam on, but this is entirely up to you and this option can be turned off. However we would love to see your faces and feel it is a more interactive experience with videos on.

We hope to see you online soon!

Drive-through flu vaccination clinics open in Edinburgh

Drive-through clinics have been opened by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (EHSCP) in Edinburgh this weekend to make it as quick, safe and easy as possible for people to get their flu vaccine.

The clinics will continue to operate on weekends in October and November and each site can vaccinate up to 500 people a day.

As well as over 65s, pregnant people and those at risk due to existing health conditions, this year unpaid carers and those who lived with people who shielded during lockdown will be offered a free flu jab.

By developing flu drive throughs, everyone entitled to a free flu vaccine from a household can attend at the same time. For those who don’t have access to a car, a series of walk through clinics are being arranged and Edinburgh locations will be available on the NHS Inform website once confirmed.

Keeping the people of Edinburgh safe and healthy is a priority, so before the jab is administered, a nurse will ask some questions to make sure it is safe to administer the vaccine. The person receiving the jab doesn’t need to leave their car and will also be asked to wait 15 minutes before leaving the clinic to ensure there’s no reaction to the vaccine.

If you are eligible for a free flu vaccine, or for more information, go to www.nhsinform.scot/flu to find out where you can get your jab in Edinburgh. If you qualify for a free vaccine you’ll be given a time to attend a clinic after completing a short questionnaire.

Judith Proctor, Chief Officer for the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “As part of our mission to support a caring, healthier and safer Edinburgh, we’re committed to making it even easier to get a flu vaccine this year. The flu vaccine is an important health protection measure and we want to make sure that everyone who is eligible has access to the vaccine.

“To keep the people of Edinburgh safe, and to respect physical distancing measures, we have confirmed a range of Edinburgh venues to offer access to the flu vaccine, including a drive through service at sites across the city. This is the first time a drive through model has been used for vaccinations in Scotland, and could provide a blueprint for how to deliver vaccination programmes successfully in the future.

“Details of where people can go to receive a flu vaccine will be available on the NHS Inform website.”

Blackhall Medical Centre, Muirhouse Medical Group, Crewe Medical Centre and Davidson’s Mains Medical Centre patients will be directed to a walk-through facility at Pennywell All Care Centre or the drive-through at Scottish Gas HQ on Granton waterfront.

Crunch and Munch: Hibs challenge poverty at Hermitage Park

Hibernian FC takes part in ‘Challenge Poverty Week’ by ensuring no child goes hungry at Hermitage Park Primary School. 

Hibernian Community Foundation are delighted to launch ‘Hibs Crunch and Munch’ with local partner school Hermitage Park Primary in an exciting initiative that will see every pupil at Hermitage Park Primary School receive a free piece of fruit every school day.  

 2020 has seen Hibernian Community Foundation and Hermitage Park Primary work together on a number of programmes which have supported pupils and families in the local area.

Throughout lockdown Hibs have provided weekend food parcels to pupils at home and developed digital educational resources to ensure learning can continue away from the class room. Hibs have also delivered ‘Score Goals’, an eight week project with primary 6 pupils with a focus on football, exercise and healthy eating.  

 Hibs Crunch and Munch will become a significant element of Hibs Class at Hermitage Park as the school aims to support pupils learning in the classroom in as many ways across a number of curriculum areas including literacy, numeracy, and wellbeing. 

 Hibs Crunch and Munch will also support Hibernian Football Club’s pledge to be the greenest club in Scotland as they have already identified ways in which extra resources can be shared. Over the summer Hibernian Community Foundation has saved over 2300kg of CO2 by sharing food that would otherwise go to waste. 

 Lisa Black, Deputy Head Teacher at Hermitage Park Primary School said: “We are proud to be a Hibernian partner school. The ‘Hibs Crunch & Munch’ is another example of how they are helping Hermitage Park Primary students thrive emotionally, socially and behaviourally.

“Hibs are helping us tackle childhood obesity, reduce playground litter and offer an opportunity for the pupils to develop social skills by sitting down together to eat the fruit.

“Hibernian Football Club has a long and proud tradition of working to support local communities and we are grateful to be supported by them”.  

Charlie Bennett Hibernian Community Foundation CEO commented: ‘We’re really excited to be working with pupils and teachers at Hermitage Park and we’re pleased we can support the health and wellbeing of the pupils in this way.

“Like the school we want to ensure children in our communities are healthy and we hope the ‘Hibs Crunch and Much’ will make a significant contribution to this’. 

Annette tackles Kiltwalk challenge to support RNIB

Leith resident Annette West has helped to raise £2,250 for sight loss charity RNIB Scotland after taking part in the Virtual Kiltwalk last Sunday.

Annette (above, left)was one of eight people who walked six miles along the Water of Leith, in two groups of four to maintain social distancing.

“I have experienced sight loss for over 30 years but have always been helped and supported by RNIB Scotland,” says Annette (60). “I just wanted to do the Virtual Kiltwalk to help give something back.

“I found the walk very easy and relaxing. I also found that pathway easy to get around as there was not too many steps. Socially distancing was only a problem when the path was narrow and when people in the opposite direction were trying to pass by. I think the route is very popular for walkers on Sundays.

“It was really good to meet up and spend quality time with friends before we all went back to our own lockdown homes. It gave me a sense of freedom by being out in the open. I also felt re-connected with nature and that it was great to meet other human beings.

“After the walk I felt that my spirits had been lifted and that going back home, I was mentally and physically in a good place.”

You can still donate to Annette’s fundraising page for RNIB Scotland until Monday 21 September:  https://edinburghkiltwalk2020.everydayhero.com/uk/netwalk2020