Category: North Edinburgh News

Edinburgh, step up this May for hungry children

Every step taken this National Walking Month can transform a life with Mary’s Meals

This May, Edinburgh residents are being encouraged to ‘step up’ and help Mary’s Meals feed more hungry children around the world.

During National Walking Month, the school feeding charity is calling on people to take part in its Move For Meals challenge, which encourages participants to raise sponsorship whilst keeping active.

Mary’s Meals serves a daily school meal to children living in some of the world’s poorest countries. The promise of a nutritious meal encourages children into the classroom, giving them energy to learn and hope for a brighter future.

The charity reaches 2,429,182 children every school day in 18 countries, including South Sudan, Syria and Ethiopia.

Morven Macgillivray, supporter engagement manager at Mary’s Meals, says: “With the weather getting warmer and the days growing longer, everyone is keen to get outdoors and get some exercise!

“This National Walking Month, you can help to transform the lives of some of the world’s poorest children by simply getting active, making the most of the sunshine and signing up to Move for Meals.”

Throughout May, Mary’s Meals is asking people to walk 10,000 steps a day as part of the Move for Meals challenge.

Morven continues: “It costs just 10 pence to feed a child with Mary’s Meals. So even raising as little as £1 for every 10,000 steps you complete will provide 10 children with a nutritious meal and an education that can be their ladder out of poverty.

“Walking 10,000 steps a day is just a small change you can make that can have a big impact on a child’s life.

“I hope that as many people as possible in Edinburgh will pull on their walking shoes and step up to the challenge this May to help us keep our promise to the 2.4 million children we feed every day with Mary’s Meals.”

It costs just £19.15 to feed a child with Mary’s Meals for an entire school year.

Signing up for Move For Meals couldn’t be easier.

Find out more and get your free Mary’s Meals T-shirt at:

marysmeals.org.uk/move-for-meals 

First shows confirmed for Green Home Festival

The first four shows have been confirmed for this year’s Green Home Festival, with just 100 days to go until the start of the keenly anticipated event which is again being organised by the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV).

Tickets are now available for the second festival, which will run from 14-18 August as part of the official Edinburgh Festival Fringe and once again deliver practical assistance and advice to help Scotland become a Net Zero nation.

Organisers have announced the first four shows in the free hybrid event and say that other events and special guests will be announced shortly, with a special focus on consumer issues.

The first shows to be confirmed are:

  • Ingredients for a Greener Kitchen, a show which will focus on three vital areas that can make kitchens eco-friendly: water efficiency, electrical efficiency and sustainably sourced kitchen units. Delegates will have the chance to quiz experts from SNIPEF, the plumbing employers’ body, SELECT, the electrical trade association and FMB member James Alan Construction, who will all share their first-hand knowledge and advise on what to consider when planning a kitchen.
  • Festival of fabric first, which will help homeowners understand more about the steps to take before embarking on a retrofit project to improve energy efficiency in their homes. The talk will offer tips and insights from a retrofit co-ordinator, architect and builder on what to look out for and the  materials and products to use. It will also feature a discussion on Passivhaus.
  • Garden rooms and offices, which have become increasingly popular in recent years as homeowners change how they live and work. Experts will offer advice and tips on building a garden room and how to make it as eco-friendly as possible. Delegates will also have chance to ask questions relating to their next project.

Gordon Nelson, who is among the organising team from CICV, said: “The second Green Home Festival is shaping up to be as big a success as the inaugural event last year and the planning is firmly on track for another informative and helpful week.

“Once again, in a mix of in-person and virtual presentations, the Festival will highlight issues such as accessible green funding sources, air source heat pumps, electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging.

“All the events will be relevant to the construction industry, which will be at the forefront of delivering net zero, but they will also have a strong focus on the interest of the consumers who will be the end users of the new technologies which are so rapidly being developed.”

Targeting homeowners, professionals, local authorities, housing associations and local authorities, the Green Home Festival is the latest in a string of practical and constructive initiatives launched by the CICV since its creation as the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum in March 2020.

Made up of 29 trade associations, professional services bodies and companies, it has maintained a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector as well as carrying out surveys, producing animations and posters, hosting webinars and maintaining close dialogue with Scottish Government ministers.

  • Tickets for all Green Home Festival events are free and can be reserved here.

Calls to do more to support young drivers as learner costs hit £2.5K

Learners are now paying 215% more for driving lessons than they did thirty years ago, with more young people being excluded from getting behind the wheel due to financial pressures.*

Now car insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk are calling for more regulation for the cost of learning to drive. 

This comes after many simply cannot afford the expense as young people are estimated to pay over £2500 to get their licence.

Credit – Shutterstock

Quotezone.co.uk has researched the average amount of money a learner today will end up paying from start to finish.

Before even getting behind the wheel, learners in the UK must apply for a provisional driving licence, costing them £34 to apply online or £43 by post.

Next, the biggest expense, is finding a driving instructor suitable and getting enough practice in to take the test.

The Government’s ‘Ready to Pass’ campaign claims that the average learner will take 45 hours of lessons with their instructor plus 22 hours of private practice.**

Taking into account that the average 1 hour lesson costs £30, learners are expected to fork out £1,350 to pay instructors.***

Paying to actually take the driving test is another expense learners cannot avoid – pupils must pass both the theory test (£23) and the practical test (£62 for weekday tests rising to £75 on the weekend).****

Additional fees at the test-taking stage include paid-for apps to practise theory test questions, and many driving instructors will also require payment for learners to use the car when taking their test.

Overall, learners are now paying £2707 to learn to drive, not including the cost of more driving lessons and more tests if they are unsuccessful after the first try. 

Every year around 1.6 million nervous Brits buckle up to sit their practical driving test, and the pass rate as a whole falls just shy of 50% – dropping to 46% on average for female drivers.

Comparatively, reports show that learners in the 1980s and 90s paid an average of just £10 an hour – meaning lessons alone are costing pupils today £900 more.

Greg Wilson, Founder and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk said: “Learning to drive is a rite of passage and the worry is young people aren’t getting the option to learn, as the rising costs are making it unaffordable.

“More regulation on the cost of driving lessons and other mandatory fees would help young people get out on the roads and also help ensure they don’t cut corners.

“Having a more affordable pathway to learn to drive will also encourage pupils to take their time before booking a test and in turn help reduce the growing driving test backlog seen across the country.”

Learners also have to tax and insure the vehicle and indeed the vehicle cost itself if they don’t have access to a family car, it’s beginning to make driving unattainable for young drivers.

As a price comparison site, Quotezone.co.uk is designed to help young drivers find competitive costs by comparing products and exploring alternative options such as black box or telematics products.

For all types of competitive car insurance including temporary learner drivers and provisional drivers insurance, Quotezone.co.uk can help. 

Driving Essentials for LearnersEstimated Cost
Provisional driving licence £34 to apply online (or £43 by post)
Driving lessons £1,350 (£30 per hour x 45 hours)
Driving theory test £23
Driving practical test £62 for weekday tests (rising to £75 on the weekend)
Revision materials Revision app £5
Instructors car for the test £60 (£30 per hour x 2 at lesson fee rate)
Vehicle Tax £145 (although tbc on vehicle specifics)
Average Insurance Estimate17-24 year olds £1028 (tbc on driver/vehicle specifics)
Estimated Total £2707

Not including the cost of the vehicle itself, assuming most learners have access to a family vehicle initially

*https://www.nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk/car-leasing/young-drivers/guides/uk-driving-test-report

**https://readytopass.campaign.gov.uk/helping-learner-driver/

***https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence

****https://www.gov.uk/driving-test-cost

Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers tackle the Great Glen Way

The Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers was set up in 2002 and its 50 members organise and take part in accessible scooter rambles in scenic places situated between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay in East Scotland.

As the cost of organising events and maintaining its scooter fleet has increased, the charity needs to raise more donations to keep going. Their latest ramble, along the 79-mile Great Glen Way, aims to raise awareness and funds whilst offering an unforgettable experience for the riders.

The Great Glen Way is regarded as one of Scotland’s greatest trails. It stretches from Fort William in the south-west to Inverness in the north-east and includes famous places such as Loch Ness.

The scooter users embarking on this dramatic journey will be accompanied by a team of twenty volunteers who will walk with them for six days. Their route follows the greatest geological fault in UK and parts of Thomas Telford’s historic Caledonian Canal. The group aim to reach the ‘capital of the Highlands’ Inverness on the 6th May.

Shelia Batchelor, Chairperson, will be one of the scooter explorers driving a TGA Breeze that was recently funded by the National Lottery. This scooter is particularly ideal for Sheila as she has MS. With limited movement in her right arm, it was becoming harder for Shelia to join in on rambles. Now with a Breeze, that has been adapted to have left hand controls, she can explore in complete control whilst enjoying the company of fellow ramblers.  

Sheila says: “I was on a ramble with Brian, our charity secretary, when he came up with the idea for the Great Glen Way challenge.

“I was immediately excited and said we must make it happen…and it has. We have managed to sort accessible accommodation, scooter transportation, scooter charging, dietary requirements and appropriate driving times so now we are raring to go.”

“To take on this challenge is something I never thought I would be able to do. Not only will completing The Great Glen Way be a significant challenge, I will also get an enormous sense of achievement. 

“Our scooters such as my Breeze are built to tackle canal towpaths and forest tracks so we will be able to comfortably enjoy all the stunning views our offroad route has to offer. Add to this our aim to gather donations along the way, we hope this journey will help us continue fulfilling our motto – being ‘hooked on freedom’.”

Donations to the Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers can be made here.

Life’s a beach: Make the move to Edinburgh and the Lothians this summer with Barratt Developments

Homebuyers who’ve always dreamt of living by the sea can reserve now and move in in time for summer, with a range of new properties available near the coast in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Barratt Developments – which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes – is encouraging first time buyers and downsizers to take advantage of the homebuilder’s cost-saving initiatives and find their new ideal home, located a stone’s throw away from a number of coastal walks and beaches.

An array of two and three-bed properties at Cammo Meadows in Edinburgh, The Strand in Portobello and St Clements Brae in Wallyford, East Lothian are now ready to be moved into ahead of the warm weather, with each development less than a ten-minute drive from golden sands.

Ideally located close to the City Bypass, the properties are perfect for first time buyers looking for work-life balance or those downsizing to quieter surroundings. According to Moneybox, the Edinburgh area is also the fifth most popular hotspot for first-time buyers.

Interior showhome photography of The Ashworth at David Wilson Homes Cammo Meadows development in Edinburgh

To make the move seamless, Barratt Developments, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, is currently offering buyers £1,000 for every £20,000 spent, plus flooring included. This cash from the initiative can be used towards a deposit, mortgage repayments or moving costs. A number of selected homes also include upgraded options.

In addition to a high-quality finish, buyers can expect their home to be energy efficient. According to Barratt Developments’ Tackling the Cost of Living Crisis – 2023 Report, more than 55% of Scots are considering buying a new build home to save on energy bills.

The recent ‘Watt a Save’ report from the Home Buyers’ Federation (HBF) showed that around 84% of new builds have an energy efficiency rating of A or B, compared to just 4% of existing housing in the UK. Thanks to advanced systems and technologies, all Barratt homes are now up to 63% more energy efficient, which could save homeowners up to £3,100 per year on bills.

Anne Ross, sales director at Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, said: “Location is key when we build our homes, so we’re proud to be able to offer a selection of ‘ready-to-move-into’ properties in some of the most popular areas in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“These homes are perfect for first time buyers or downsizers looking to mix the hubbub of the capital with suburban living.

“If people reserve now, they can be moved in in time for summer and the process is made even easier with our current incentives – which include mortgage repayments and flooring, in addition to improved energy efficiency. Homebuyers are urged to move quickly, as we expect these homes to be snapped up fast.”

Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes in the North and West of Scotland also have limited availability on homes ready to move into before summer.

For more information on available homes or on Barratt Developments in Scotland, visit https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/scotland-east/

Holyrood Committee to drill down on Scotland’s NHS dentistry recovery

The Scottish Parliament’s COVID-19 Recovery Committee has launched a new survey of Scotland’s dentists as part of a snapshot inquiry examining the recovery of NHS dentistry services.

The inquiry will track progress by the Scottish Government on the aims set out in the NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026, which includes a commitment to return Scotland’s NHS dentistry services to pre-pandemic levels.

Dentists who provide NHS services are being invited to share their views and experiences on the recovery of services through an on-line survey which runs from Friday 5th May to Wednesday 31st May.

The inquiry will also consider the impact of additional funding for equipment and ventilation in NHS dentistry practices and the availability of access to services in communities experiencing health inequalities.

Commenting, Committee Convener, Jim Fairlie MSP said: “The COVID-19 Recovery Committee want to get the root of the issues facing Scotland’s NHS dental recovery in the wake of the pandemic.

“This inquiry will scrutinise the Scottish Government’s commitment to improve the provision of dental services as set out in the Recovery Plan.

“Scotland’s NHS dentists, who work daily on the front-line, are best placed to tell us how services are recovering, and we are encouraging them to share their experiences and views directly with Committee to inform our scrutiny and assist us in tracking progress towards recovery.”

Edinburgh confirmed as on of the UK’s official UFO hotspots, according to research by National Geographic

National Geographic has announced the results of a fascinating new study looking into the UK’s top UFO hotspots and uncovering the top three cities in the UK for UFO sightings: Edinburgh, London, and Leicester.

The study, which surveyed 2,000 adults, found that 18% of Edinburgh’s residents claim to have had a legitimate UFO sighting. The survey also revealed that almost half (48%) of those polled believe in the existence of aliens, with 10% claiming to have witnessed something unusual. Of those who claimed to have witnessed something unusual, 59% believe it was of alien origin.

The research was commissioned by National Geographic ahead of the launch of “UFOs: Investigating the Unknown,” an intriguing new documentary series taking viewers on a journey to uncover the truth behind the mysterious UFO phenomena. The series exposes the top-secret Pentagon programme on UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) of the US government.

Nick Pope, a former UFO investigator for the MOD, commented on the findings: “UFOs are big news now, and a lot of people are reporting – and sometimes filming – extraordinary things. While many people are convinced these sightings involve alien life, most cases turn out to be misidentifications.

“The chances are that there’s intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, and even though the vast distances make direct contact a challenge, encountering an alien civilization would be the biggest story in human history.”

The study also found that cities in the north were more likely to have UFO sightings, with only Bristol and London appearing in the top ten from the south. Furthermore, 31% of all adults surveyed believed that humankind will at some point make contact with aliens from another planet or galaxy.

Over four in ten (42%) of those surveyed suspected that the government is concealing information about UFOs, and one in three respondents would like to see the Ministry of Defence’s UFO Project, which investigated reports of UFO sightings, reopened.

In 2008 in Stephenville, Texas a local pilot sees lights in the sky over his ranch coming from something huge. He is not alone: hundreds of people saw the craft, and a local reporter makes it her life’s work to tell their stories. From this classic encounter we head back several decades to the beginning of the UFO phenomenon in America and the launch of Project Blue Book to study the country’s growing “UFO problem.” (2022 Vice Media LLC)

If aliens visited earth, 41% of those surveyed believe they would be here to carry out scientific study, while 21% fear they would be harvesting the planet for raw materials. Furthermore, if aliens asked their earthling counterparts to join the Galactic Federation, Sir David Attenborough was the top choice among Brits to represent the third planet from the sun, followed by Professor Brian Cox and Barack Obama, according to the survey.

The documentary series “UFOs: Investigating the Unknown” premiered on National Geographic on Tuesday 2 May.

TOP 10 UK CITIES WITH THE MOST UFO SIGHTINGS:

1. Edinburgh       

2. Leicester        

3. London       

4. Sheffield        

5. Newcastle        

6. Leeds        

7. Manchester     

8. Birmingham

9. Bristol

10. Glasgow       

TOP 10 CELEBRITIES BRITS WANT TO REPRESENT THE EARTH:

1. Sir David Attenborough

2. Professor Brian Cox

3. Barack Obama

4. Elon Musk

5. Boris Johnson

6. Greta Thunberg

7. Bear Grylls

8. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

9. Will Smith

10. Ricky Gervais

Strikes looming in Scotland as junior doctors vote for industrial action

Junior doctors in Scotland have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action over pay following a five week ballot of BMA Scotland members.

With more than 5000 junior doctors in Scotland eligible to vote, turnout was in excess of 71% – with a total of 3610 votes cast, and almost 97% in favour of strike action.

While negotiations with the Scottish Government over pay are ongoing BMA Scotland will use this clear mandate for strike action to push forward in our ongoing efforts to reverse the unacceptable pay erosion junior doctors in Scotland have suffered for more than a decade.

Should the Scottish Government not put forward a credible offer that the BMA believes could be put to members, junior doctors in Scotland would then begin preparations for a 72-hour walkout at dates to be confirmed in due course.

Dr Chris Smith, chair of the BMA’s Scottish Junior Doctors Committee, said: “This ballot result shows, beyond doubt, that junior doctors in Scotland have had enough.

“Years of pay erosion have seen the take home salary of a newly qualified FY1 doctor decline by 23.5% in real-terms compared to 2008, and the pay of an average registrar reduced by 23.9%. This is simply unacceptable, and we are no longer prepared to stand aside, feeling overworked and undervalued, while witnessing so many junior doctors seeking employment abroad or outside the NHS where our considerable skills are properly valued.

“Investing in today’s junior doctors by paying them the salary they deserve is essentially making a down payment on the future of Scotland’s NHS – today’s junior doctors are the GPs, specialist doctors and consultants of the future. Without a serious plan to reverse pay erosion, these doctors will go on leaving Scotland’s NHS, undermining any plans to build a sustainable NHS for generations to come.

“We have made, and continue to make, progress with Scottish Government in formal negotiations on pay, but there is still some work to do before there is an offer that we believe could be credibly put to members.

“In the meantime – we will use this mandate to urge the Cabinet Secretary to signal a clear commitment to investing in the future of Scottish junior doctors, to make Scotland’s NHS an attractive place to train, grow and progress our careers, and show us that the work we do is finally properly, and fairly, valued and appreciated.

“We are not asking for huge pay increases – we are simply asking for a tangible step towards addressing the pay erosion our profession has suffered for well over a decade, combined with a clear plan for this to be reversed and restored.

“Should a credible pay offer not be forthcoming in the wake of this overwhelming mandate, our members are clear that they would have no choice but to stage a 72-hour walkout of all services across Scotland’s NHS.”

Health Secretary Michael Matheson said that he was disappointed with the junior doctors’ ballot decision but said the Scottish Government will continue to negotiatw with BMA Scotland to find a resolution.

Police seek witnesses to Clermiston dog attack

VICTIM SUFFERS LIFE-CHANGING FACIAL INJURIES

Detectives in Edinburgh are appealing for information after a man was seriously injured following a dog attack.

The incident happened around 8.10 pm on Thursday, 4 May, 2023 near to the junction between Drum Brae South and Duart Crescent.

The 24-year-old man suffered severe facial injuries and was taken to The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.

Detective Constable Stephen Nelson of CID said : “The injured man suffered life-changing facial injuries due to this dog attack.

“Our enquiries into the circumstances of what happened are under way and we reviewing CCTV in effort to trace the owner and dog.

“We are keen to speak to anyone who knows of a large dog in the area. We would also be eager to hear from motorists travelling in the area who have a dash-cam. Please check the footage, as it may have captured something which could prove vital to our ongoing enquiries.

“Any small piece of information could assist our enquiries, so please pass it on. Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting 3727 of 4 May, 2023.”

Book launch at granton:hub

Join us at granton:hub to launch Kenneth G. Williamson’s book, Edinburgh, Granton and Leith Railways, a collection of historic photographs on Sunday 28th of May 2023 from 2pm – 4pm.

Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/book-launch-edinburgh…

With a wealth of superb rare and previously unpublished images, Kenneth G. Williamson tells the story of Edinburgh, Granton and Leith railways.

‘In 1861, the Caledonian Railway, in its efforts to gain a foothold in Granton and Leith, opened a line from Slateford to Granton with a connection to Granton Harbour, where the Edinburgh, Dundee & Perth Railway (NBR) was already established. The CR further built, at great expense, an elevated line to Leith Docks in an effort to establish itself in one of Scotland’s busiest ports. Significant dock traffic never materialised and the CR’s 1903 Leith New Lines failed. The North British Railway meanwhile, in their attempt to keep the CR out of Leith, opened Leith Central station in 1903 – the largest station constructed in Britain from scratch in the twentieth century. The station was much larger than necessary and as such was never used to its full potential. It was converted in 1955 to a Diesel Maintenance Depot and in 1972 closed completely.’

This is one story, come along on the day and enjoy many others!

A small number of books will be available for purchase or bring your own copy for signing.