Chief Constable praises local residents who ‘make a difference’
Recently-appointed Chief Constable Phil Gormley said community is they key to tackling crime during a visit to Leith with Justice Secretary Michael Mathieson last week. The visit coincided with news that reported crime in the North Edinburgh area has dropped by almost a quarter, with over 1700 fewer crimes reported in the last nine months. Continue reading Community ‘the key’ to tackling crime
Edinburgh North and Leith MP Deirdre Brock is calling upon constituents to sign a petition which seeks to scrap the UK Government’s rape clause. Continue reading Brock calls for support to scrap ‘appalling’ rape clause
Trinity CC met on 11 January. Here are the main points:
Goodwill to all men?
Happily criminal activity was subdued over the Festive period. But for the unlucky few, and there were some, a housebreaking is still traumatic. Thieves now seem to be targeting houses with sash and casement windows i.e. much of Trinity! So take care to secure tools like spades which might be used to lever open sash windows. And remember all those other security messages about locks, burglar alarms, keeping car keys out of sight etc. Jewellery seems to be the current target.
Clean, Green, Safe & Engaged Report
This quarterly report from Forth Neighbourhood Partnership sets out how well local services are being delivered and our environment maintained.
Unsurprisingly, Trinity’s parks shine brightly in these statistics and, despite a couple of recent headlines, we can claim to be rather a safe place to live with reasonable levels of community engagement.
Street cleanliness was generally close to target but we are pursuing CEC for clarification on its policy for clearing leaves. This appears to happen in a rather random fashion and, if not cleared e.g. Clark Road, Craighall Rd, Denham Green Pl, the new tennis courts, cycle path, South Trinity Rd, leaves have quickly succumbed to recent weather and deteriorated into a slippy, slimy mess.
But overall it was clear that the issue of greatest concern to residents was rubbish and recycling and the new recycling arrangements in particular. This is crystal clear from the level of complaints with the most recent figures being more than three times the target level – a substantial rise on the previous month. While this appears to be starting to settle down there are still problems with bins not being emptied on the scheduled day. Big green bins are seen as a bit of a problem for the elderly.
Victoria Park – Gourmet Destination?
CEC is tendering for food outlets at several sites including a mobile unit in Victoria Park. We have not been consulted but believe it is to some extent a response to the recurring suggestion of using either the Bowl House or the Pump house as a café. We are informally advised that as/when any bid is received, we will have an opportunity to feed in comments and concerns.
We will monitor developments closely to ensure that the promised consultation is delivered and we hope that by then that Friends of Victoria Park is up and running and will be able to comment in its own right. Concerns include increased litter and sale of burgers and fizzy drinks to school children but overall, the proposal seems to have general support as, among other things, it would provide a focus for people to meet up for coffee etc.
Do you have a view? Write and let us know – or grab a word with your local community councillor.
Fringe Benefits 1: Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop
The final phase of Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop’s new building opened in March 2015, marking completion of a world class arts facility right on our doorstep in Hawthornvale (pictured, top). As well as 26 artist studios it has specially equipped workshops to enable artists and organisations to test ideas and develop projects. Across the building, indoor and outdoor spaces support a range of different sculptural activities and provide viewing areas to enable visitors to see work in progress.
Want to know more? You can join a contemporary sculpture course or just drop by to see what free exhibitions and talks are on. Maybe just relax in the new café, accessible directly from the cycle path or Hawthornvale and open seven days a week? Tours of the building can be arranged for groups or individuals by phoning 0131 551 4490.
Fringe Benefits 2: Ocean Terminal
Ocean Terminal Ltd has plans for a major hotel development. At present we only know the outline. If, like us, you’d like to know more, there will be a public exhibition of the proposals on 10 February at Ocean Terminal Community Room, First Floor besides Debenhams, 3.30 to 7.30pm.
Street Lighting
Regular readers can’t fail to have noticed the repeated concerns about the effectiveness of the new street lighting in some, particularly wider, streets. Some problem sites, but not all, have been picked up. The CEC replacement programme is now moving to its next phase and we are asking for clarification of what this means and how the earlier problems will be tackled in this new phase.
Neighbourhood Environment Fund
It’s that time of year again where we put forward ideas bidding for funds to invest in our local environment. Current candidates include the Vennel to the north of Trinity Academy, Trinity Road Tunnel and Wardie Bay Foreshore. Have you got any ideas? Also time to start planning our annual Walkabout. Is there a particular part of Trinity which needs to be looked over? Do let us know if you think there’s something we should be looking at.
Goldenacre Planters
As 2016 begins, discussions continue concerning funding of planters outside the old RBS Goldenacre branch. We live in hope!
Much more at our next meeting on Monday 8 February at 7 pm in Wardie Parish Church, Primrose Bank Road. Open to all. Come along and give us your thoughts, 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.
Western Harbour development will ease city’s housing crisis
The National Housing Trust initiative (NHT) will deliver almost 900 affordable homes for rent in Edinburgh, Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil revealed at Western Harbour yesterday.
The City of Edinburgh Council has already delivered more than 400 NHT homes with hundreds more in the pipeline. The latest 234-home development at the Western Harbour brings the total number of NHT homes approved across Scotland to more than 2,000.
The Scottish Government’s financial innovation is unlocking strategic sites for housing development across the country, delivering more homes for less public investment.
The City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Futures Trust and the Forth Ports Group are spearheading the Waterfront development, which is being built by Hart Builders.
Mr Neil said: “The contribution from innovative financing approaches, such as NHT, using government guarantees, loans, grant recycling and new sources of private funding is substantial and growing.
“Edinburgh has wholeheartedly embraced the NHT, the first guarantee-based model for housing in the UK, as one that can help ease the city’s housing pressures.
“People in the capital will have access to a quality home at an affordable rent, and the NHT model allows them to save for a mortgage whilst staying in the home that they may be able to buy.
“NHT, which is providing affordable homes without the need for grant subsidy, has reached a milestone with over 2,000 homes approved for construction.
“More generally, we have exceeded our target to deliver 30,000 affordable homes in this Parliament including over 20,000 homes for social rent.
“Our new target to deliver 50,000 affordable homes over the next five years is bold, credible and affordable. This is a 67 per cent increase in completed homes over the next five year period.”
Councillor Norman Work, City of Edinburgh Council said: “The City of Edinburgh Council is delighted to work in partnership with Scottish Government, Forth Ports and Scottish Futures Trust in enabling this development, which includes the 2000th National Housing Trust home across Scotland.
“The Council has committed over £100 million for NHT in Edinburgh, and this will deliver almost 900 affordable homes throughout the city. Edinburgh has a shortage of affordable housing and this 234-home development will make a significant contribution towards the regeneration of Western Harbour and creating an integrated sustainable community.
“Edinburgh is a growing city and meeting the need for new, good quality and good value homes is a major part of the Council’s Capital Coalition commitment to ensure that the city’s residents are well housed. The Council will continue to seek innovative funding solutions through collaborative working partnerships to deliver affordable homes”.
Christa Reekie, commercial director at the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), explained: “Today’s announcement clearly illustrates the huge impact SFT’s award-winning National Housing Trust programme is having and further consolidates the partnership between the City of Edinburgh Council and SFT even further.”
Colin Macdonald of Hart Builders, part of the Cruden Group said: “We are delighted to be working with Forth Ports, Rettie & Co., the Scottish Government, Scottish Futures Trust and City of Edinburgh Council to deliver this development at Western Harbour.
“It will not only provide a secure and sustainable environment, but will also enable Hart to maintain current employment and training opportunities over the lifetime of the construction period.”
Nick Watson, Director at Rettie & Co. said: “Over the last three years Rettie and Co has enabled and coordinated the delivery of much-needed new rental stock for the City of Edinburgh delivering 296 new units.
“We are delighted to have been working constructively on the Western Harbour development with Forth Ports, Cruden, Hart Builders, the Scottish Government, Scottish Futures Trust and City of Edinburgh Council.”
Members of the Power to the People group are calling on local groups and individuals from North Edinburgh to join them at a lobby of the full council meeting on Thursday 21 January to protest against what Unison describe as the “worst cuts in living memory”. Continue reading SOS – Save Our Services!
‘Libraries are often the hub of a local community’ – Cabinet Secretary for Culture Fiona Hyslop
She may be too young to read, but Halle Edwards has become Edinburgh’s youngest library member – at the tender age of three weeks! Continue reading Meet Halle – Edinburgh’s youngest bookworm!
Ahoy, matey: is this the face of a salty sea dog?
The skeleton of a man discovered in a school playground could be that of a 600 year old criminal or pirate. The remains were found by the City of Edinburgh Council at the Capital’s oldest working Primary School last year while survey work was being undertaken to build an extension.
Victoria Primary School is situated close to Newhaven harbour, one of Scotland’s historic fishing villages. Workers had expected to find remains of the original harbour and shipbuilding but instead uncovered human bones.
Archaeologists first believed the remains were Bronze Age because they were in such a poor condition and found alongside 4,000 year old shards of pottery, but the bones were carbon dated to the 16th-17th Centuries. AOC Archaeology with forensic artist Hayley Fisher then created a facial reconstruction of the skull, which they believe belonged to a man in his fifties.
Councillor Richard Lewis, the city council’s Culture Convener, said: “Edinburgh has an undeniably intriguing past and some of our archaeological discoveries have been in the strangest of places.
“Thanks to carbon dating techniques, archaeologists now know that the skeleton was likely to have been a murder victim – and quite possibly a pirate. It’s fantastic that through the Council’s archaeology and museums service, we are able to investigate such discoveries and add to our understanding of Newhaven’s heritage.”
A gibbet – commonly used to execute witches and pirates – stood on the edge of Newhaven dockyards 600 years ago and it is believed the man could have been murdered in the device for criminal behaviour or piracy and discarded in nearby wasteland.
Due to the condition of the bones and location of his burial close to the sea and gibbet rather than any of three nearby graveyards, it is believed the man was likely killed before being displayed in plain sight of ships to deter fellow pirates. An unceremonious burial in a shallow, unmarked grave suggests he had no relatives or friends in the area.
Laura Thompson, Head Teacher at Victoria Primary School, added: “As the oldest working primary school in Edinburgh, we are proud of our history and heritage and the school even has a dedicated museum to the local area.
“The pupils think it’s fantastic that a skeleton was found deep underneath their playground. The archaeologists will hold a special lesson with some of the children about how they have used science to analyse the remains and it will be a good learning opportunity for them.”
Trinity Community Council met on 14 December. Here are the main points:
Crime Down, But …
While there have been a few house break-ins this month, numbers are down on last year. Police believe this is because several known perpetrators are behind bars or subject to curfew arrangements.
But statistics are no comfort if your house is broken into – so take all reasonable precautions including those in Police Scotland’s leaflets (see below). If you have an alarm make sure its switched on and if you would like to be kept fully up to date with real time Police alerts sign up here.
A notable trend has been to break into houses in order to steal the owner’s car rather than the house contents. This is likely done to order so take extra care about where you leave your car keys.
Just outside our area, two people were arrested after an altercation on Ferry Road while investigations into an attack at Steadfastgate are ongoing. If you’re at all worried about being on the street in the dark evenings you might wish to purchase a personal alarm as a useful deterrent. A possible stocking filler at roughly £5!
Make Friends with Victoria Park!
The meeting this month to set up a Friends of Victoria Park group was well attended with presentations on what was involved and what the potential might be. After an enthusiastic and lively Q&A, a number of people volunteered for a Steering Group to complete the formalities of forming the new Friends Group.
A further public meeting, probably in February, will sign this off, whereupon all interested can then become Friends of Victoria Park (still time to join!) This is really encouraging – 2016 looks like being a great year for Victoria Park!
Trinity Academy Students Council
TCC had a further meeting with Trinity Academy Student Council which again proved lively with the students themselves eager to raise points.
These included:
lack of litter bins in Victoria Park and on the pathway between Newhaven Road and the school,
existing bins not being emptied sufficiently frequently
safety on the Walkway, especially after dark,
occasional motor/quad bike on the Walkway, (call 999 as these have almost always been stolen)
enthusiasm for the new tennis courts in Victoria Park
interest in engaging with a Friends of Victoria Park group.
agreement to run a competition for the design of a logo for TCC.
We will be pursuing many of these points with CEC and look forward to a continuing constructive relationship with TASC in 2016.
Goldenacre Planters
Discussions continue concerning the placing of planters outside the old RBS branch at Goldenacre.
Second Hand Car Dealing – 144 Newhaven Road
Far less encouraging, two meetings of the Licensing Sub Committee heard but dismissed the arguments from objectors (including Trinity CC). We are deeply unhappy about how the process has been conducted which has felt very one sided including keeping (unpaid) objectors waiting for several hours and only token notice of a site visit. A licence has been granted with conditions, similar to those attached to the 6 months temporary licence in 2012/13.
We are concerned about the implications for a conservation area and that an unfortunate precedent has been set. We believe that planning permission may also be necessary in this case and will be discussing the matter with local residents before deciding whether to pursue this point.
Edinburgh Association of Community Councils
This body represents all of Edinburgh’s 45 community councils and should fill important roles in encouraging best practice and projecting a common voice to the city council on shared concerns. A new Constitution is being developed and a new Chair (Eric Dobbie) and Secretary (David Bewsey) elected. We look forward to working with Eric and David to help them fulfil this crucial role.
Denham Green
After discussions with council officials, trees have now been trimmed and – hopefully by the time you are reading this – the damaged streetlight at the north end of Denham Green Place will be back in operation. Further work on these lights and the pavements is planned for 2016.
Lower Granton Road
Run by Sustrans under the auspices of CEC, a walkabout and two workshops were held this month to discuss how Lower Granton Road and its immediate surrounds might be improved and made safer. Various suggestions were floated which will hopefully enable some improvements to be designed.
While supportive of this initiative, we highlighted to the CEC officials present that there is a wider and deteriorating east-west traffic problem in North Edinburgh and reminded them of previous council studies which could usefully be revived. Unfortunately we still have no word of any activity to review the 2008 North Edinburgh Traffic Plan.
Much more at our next meeting on Monday 11 January at 7 pm in Wardie Parish Church, Primrose Bank Road. Open to all. Come along and give us your thoughts. 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.
City council extends No Smoking policy
Smoking will no longer be permitted in play parks, car parks and courtyards, as well as in Council premises, as the new Smoke Free Policy comes into force. Continue reading Last gasp as council stubs it out completely
Friends of Starbank Park
Christmas Carols and Lights in the Park
with Newhaven Choir
Saturday 5th December
4.30 – 5.30pm
Mince pies and hot drinks
