Category: North Edinburgh News

Have your say on ‘ambitious vision’ for Edinburgh’s city centre

Residents, businesses and other interested groups in the Capital are being asked to comment on a strategy to revitalise Princes Street and the wider ‘Waverley Valley’ to be more vibrant and welcoming.

The new vision will guide the long-term regeneration of this part of the city centre, providing a mix of shops and services for residents and visitors, attracting investment and jobs and supporting businesses within an exceptional historic and climate resilient environment. 

A 12-week consultation on the Council’s draft Princes Street and Waverley Valley Strategy began this week. It aligns with Edinburgh’s Net Zero 2030 ambitions, City Mobility Plan, Edinburgh City Centre Transformation (ECCT) and City Plan 2030.

The Princes Street and Waverley Valley draft strategy is part of our bold plans to transform the city centre. The ECCT was approved in 2019 and includes the George Street and First New Town, Meadows to George Street projects. www.edinburgh.gov.uk/citycentretransformation

As well as Princes Street the Waverley Valley area covers East and West Princes Street Gardens, Waverley Station, Waverley Market and East Market Street. 

 The draft strategy aims to:

  • Create a more accessible city centre

The masterplan for comment recommends guiding the area from the West End of Princes Street along to Waverley Station to become more accessible, with improvements such as additional ramp access to Princes Street Gardens, a footbridge over the Waverley Valley, more public spaces to enjoy, an improved crossing and pedestrian improvements to Castle Street, the Mound Precinct, and Waverley Bridge.

  • Protected green spaces

The strategy looks to integrate climate resilience and biodiversity measures to protect the existing Waverley Valley and Gardens from climate change and to plant more trees and flowers – also promoting sustainable transport options and the retrofitting of historic buildings in line with Edinburgh’s net zero aims.

  • Revitalise Princes Street

Working with developers, the strategy suggests improvements to Princes Street with temporary pop-up premises, building wraps and artwork and encourages mixed-uses for the prominent high street. Improvements to historic buildings, including the Ross Bandstand, are also suggested to create better opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy the area.

  • Make improvements to Waverley Station

Shape the future of Waverley Station and the area around it. Its key position between the Old and New Towns makes the station a vital connection between the Old and New Towns. Network Rail’s Waverley Masterplan recognises the need to restore and modernise the station.

Councillor James Dalgleish, Planning Convener, said: “We have published a draft ambitious vision for the Capital’s iconic Princes Street and surrounding area which sits within our internationally renowned World Heritage Site.

“I’d encourage everyone living in or interested in our beautiful Capital city to comment on it by answering the questions we’re asking around accessibility and public space in area, the future of the Gardens and the area in and around Waverley Station.

“As we put together the draft vision we listened to views about all of these important sites for Edinburgh. And as we move forward developing it, we need to make sure we balance our city’s rich heritage with the urgent need for sustainable and accessible spaces, and with new development. This will allow us all to continue to appreciate the charm of our city centre as well as the facilities it provides.

“The area is well used by Edinburgh residents, businesses and visitors from across the world and we plan to breathe new life into it, protecting and invest in it, to make sure that this will be the case for many years to come.”

One million visits to Change.NHS.UK

  • Public health minister and NHS national director visited Wigston, Leicestershire as more than 100 people from across the Midlands took part in a debate on future of NHS
  • The second national event will ensure views from the communities in the Midlands help to shape the government’s plans to build an NHS fit for the future
  • Over one million visits to change.nhs.uk, after rallying cry was issued to ‘entire nation’ to help shape 10 Year Health Plan

The biggest ever conversation about the future of the NHS came to the Midlands yesterday (Saturday 23 November) as part of a nationwide series of public debates about how to fix the health service.

More than 100 people from the region visited Wigston in Leicestershire to discuss their views of the NHS, share their experiences, and offer their suggestions for delivering an NHS fit for the future.

Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne and NHS England’s National Director for Urgent and Emergency Care Sarah-Jane Marsh both attended. They asked people for their opinions on NHS reform and how the government’s 10 Year Health Plan can help tackle disparities in the region.

Addressing the event, Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention said: “I want to say a big thank you to so many people coming out so that you can be part of this 10 Year Health deliberation. 

“We can’t change the NHS and make it better without you. When we say that the NHS is broken but not beaten, it’s not beaten because the staff are incredible, it is because the NHS is not where we need it to be.

“The NHS makes me proud to be British, it’s still the incredible service that was set up after the Second World War. But the NHS of 1948 is not an NHS that is fit for the future, with people living longer now and with more complex conditions.

“This opportunity allows us to recreate an NHS that’s fit for the future. Central to this is our three shifts from: hospital to community; analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. 

“It’s exciting times and we’ve got a big task ahead. You are part of it and we can’t do it without your ideas. Let’s fix our NHS for the better.”

 Sarah-Jane Marsh, National Director of Urgent and Emergency Care and Deputy Chief Operating Officer for NHS England said: “As someone with over 20 years’ experience working in the NHS in the Midlands – including almost 14 years as CEO of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital – I know how vital it is to hear from patients and their families directly, so it is truly fantastic that more than a million people have already come forward to let us know about their experiences.

“The 10 Year Health Plan is our chance to help the NHS continue to innovate and adapt, and make best practice, normal practice across the country.

“That’s why we want even more people to come forward and share their views, so if you work for the NHS or are a patient, family member or simply someone with a good idea, please share with us what we do well, what we need to do better, and your ideas for the future – we are waiting to hear from you.”

The minister and national director also visited a mobile vaccination unit in Loughborough, met a super vaccinator, who offers a full range of childhood vaccines and seasonal and adult vaccines. They saw first-hand the impact that the mobile vaccination unit and super vaccinators are having on the community.

Last month, the government issued a rallying cry to the nation – including all 1.5 million NHS staff, patients, experts, and the wider public – to visit the online platform change.nhs.uk to share their experiences, views and ideas for fixing the NHS and to help shape the plan.

Change.nhs.uk has already received over one million visits. It will be live until spring 2025 and is available via the NHS App. 

Thousands of ideas to fix the health service have been submitted, with suggestions including:

  • Establishing an NHS research health company that can be used to get insights on early prevention
  • Digital records, so records from all hospitals are available to view at all GP surgeries 
  • Pop-up / mobile clinics to meet surge demand for services in areas of need
  • Stop giving out paper leaflets and sending letters, and limit this to those who do not have access to IT to reduce waste

All submitted ideas will be carefully considered as part of the engagement process so that we can better understand the priorities of the public, patients and people working in health and care.

It comes after the government announced a package of tough reforms to cut wasteful spending and ensure the health service delivers greater value for money – so more goes back to the frontline of care to benefit patients and staff everywhere.

People in the Midlands – an NHS region – are being affected by a range of health issues. The latest data shows there were:

  • over 1.4 million patients on the waiting list in the Midlands, with nearly 50,000 waiting more than a year
  • over 100,000 patients on the waiting list at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, with more than 2,000 waiting more than a year
  • nearly 130,000 patients on the waiting list at Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board, with more than 2,500 waiting more than a year
  • over 300,000 patients waiting for diagnostic tests and scans in the Midlands
  • there are over 25,000 patients waiting for diagnostic tests and scans at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

At the end of September 2024, data shows there were:

  • over 100,000 patients waited more than four weeks for a GP appointment in the Midlands
  • nearly 15,000 patients waited more than four weeks for a GP appointment at NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB

The public engagement exercise will help shape the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, which will be published in spring 2025 and will be underlined by 3 big shifts in healthcare:

  • hospital to community
  • analogue to digital
  • sickness to prevention 

As part of the first shift from ‘hospital to community’, the government wants to deliver plans for new neighbourhood health centres, which will be closer to homes and communities. Patients will be able to see family doctors, district nurses, care workers, physiotherapists, health visitors or mental health specialists, all under the same roof. 

In transforming the NHS from analogue to digital, the government will create a more modern NHS by bringing together a single patient record, summarising patient health information, test results and letters in one place, through the NHS App.

By moving from sickness to prevention, the government wants to shorten the amount of time people spend in ill health and prevent illnesses before they happen.

Colinton and Fairmilehead by-election to be held in January

A by-election will be held in the Colinton and Fairmilehead ward following the resignations of Councillor Marco Biagi and Councillor Louise Spence (who resigned after just ONE WEEK in post).

Residents will go to the polls on 23 January, 2025 to select two new councillors to represent the ward, which also covers Bonaly, Dreghorn, Oxgangs and Swanston. The current electorate is 19,907. 

On Friday 6 December, the formal Notice of Election will be published, and the Election Timetable, Election Notices and Nomination Papers will all be accessible on the Council website.

Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said: “On 19 November I received the resignation of Councillor Marco Biagi, and we immediately began making arrangements for a by-election in the ward of Colinton and Fairmilehead.

“Having now received the resignation of Councillor Louise Spence – who represented the same ward, voters will now be asked to select two councillors instead of one when they go to the polls on 23 January.

“The formal notice of election will be updated and published as scheduled on Friday 6 December. The process and timetable will remain the same.”

Candidates will be confirmed when nominations close at 4pm on Thursday 17 December.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 23 January.

The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system where voters can rank candidates in order of preference rather than using a single cross. Voters can give a rank to as many or as few candidates as they like.

Find out more about elections in Edinburgh and how to register to vote on the Council website.

Swinney to set out his vision for Scotland in St Andrew’s Day speech

FM’s pledge to ‘create the conditions for every person in Scotland to thrive’

First Minister John Swinney will this week pledge to ‘create the conditions for every person in Scotland to thrive’, as he urges the country to pull together in a spirit of collaboration to remove barriers to economic and social progress.

In a major speech to representatives from organisations across the public and private sectors ahead of St Andrew’s Day, Mr Swinney will reflect on his approach to leadership and why challenges must be ‘understood and solved from the bottom up’.

In the speech – which will be delivered one week before the publication of the 2025-26 Scottish Budget – the First Minister will say he is “here to do the hard work” in finding lasting solutions to improving people’s lives.

The First Minister is expected to say: “Every single day, I meet inspirational people from all walks of life – people who are doing their bit to make their community, their business or their country that wee bit better today than it was yesterday.

“When added together, those efforts form the engine of progress that is driving our country forward. For me, unlocking that potential is what government is about – it is about creating the conditions for every person in Scotland to thrive.

“I do not believe in trying to solve problems from the top down. Rather, I believe they need to be understood and solved from the bottom up. I am not here to dictate from on high to those on the front line.

I am prepared to roll my sleeves up every single day to properly understand barriers to their progress and to find solutions. And in identifying those solutions, I am not looking for quick-fixes or sticking plasters.

“I am here to do the hard work, to lay the foundations for lasting improvements to our country, our economy, and our society. I do not pretend that this style of government is always headline-grabbing, but I do believe it is effective. And, in the long run, I know the results will speak for themselves.”

Aldi Scotland to sell Scottish-grown Nordmann Fir Christmas trees for less than £15

Aldi Scotland is set to sell the cheapest real Christmas trees this festive season, as it announces the return of its freshly cut Nordmann Fir trees, with prices starting from just £13.99.

The festive trees will be sprouting into stores from Thursday 21 November for medium trees, with large trees following on Sunday 24 November, offering customers a chance to get their hands on a fresh Christmas centrepiece as the countdown to Santa Claus ramps up.

Priced at £13.99 medium (5-6ft) or £19.99 large (6-7ft) trees, the hand-selected Nordmann Firs are available across Aldi’s 107 Scottish stores while stocks last.

Grown in the heart of Aberdeenshire by Lovania Nurseries, the Nordmann Fir trees are renowned for their glossy pines, strong branches and symmetrical shape, making them ideal for decorating with festive frills.

Sustainability is at the root of it all, with Lovania planting more than two trees for every tree harvested, ensuring these festive favourites are as environmentally friendly as they are beautiful.

Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “Having proven a great hit in recent years, we’re excited to bring back our Scottish-grown Nordmann Fir Christmas trees this year and provide our customers with the cheapest real Christmas trees available.

“Christmas is an expensive time of year for families, so we’re proud to offer outstanding value on our products that allow our customers to get into the festive spirit without having to sacrifice on quality.”

Aldi recommends placing your tree in a bucket of water to keep it hydrated and letting the branches settle before decorating them with ornaments or baubles. It’s also best to keep trees away from radiators or any other heat source.

You can find your nearest Aldi here.

As part of its commitment to supporting customers this Christmas, Aldi Scotland is also assisting shoppers this year through its ‘Heidspace’ campaign, which offers handy tips and tricks on getting prepared for the festivities early, to ensure the day is as stress-free and merry as possible.  

Heidspace assets are all available to download for free from Aldi Scotland’s Instagram and Facebook, with more being added throughout the season. 

Fresh Start Festive Food Collection

Please donate festive food items to Fresh Start!

Fresh Start support hundreds of families and individuals with festive food hampers for Christmas time so that everyone can enjoy a Happy Christmas 🎄🎅

If you can, please donate festive food items that will be distributed across Edinburgh in the run up to Christmas.

Fresh Start is open for donations Monday to Thursday 9am-4pm and Fridays 9am-1pm

Thank you 😊

#festivefood

#edinburghfood

#donatefoodedinburgh

#edinburghchristmas

Quality assured for race goers at Musselburgh with new AA grading

Musselburgh Racecourse underlined its position as one of Scotland’s leading racecourses with an “exemplary” rating in four categories of a leading quality assurance scheme.

The East Lothian track received top tier rankings in the AA’s Quality Assured Racecourse Scheme, with an impressive overall score of 94.03% across all judged categories.

The AA’s Quality Assured Scheme has replaced the previous VisitScotland Quality Assured Scheme in which Musselburgh consistently achieved five star status each year.

The AA assessor found Musselburgh to be “exemplary” in four categories – Spotless and Sparkling, Staff Customer Services, Warmest Welcome and Taste of the Racecourses – Food.

The report said: “Musselburgh Racecourse is an appealing venue that offers regular racegoers, families, and casual visitors an excellent day out. The course is immaculately maintained, with a stunning coastal and countryside backdrop that creates an excellent first impression.”

The racecourse achieved a score of 94.4% in the general Racecourse assessment, 94.6% for its Catering, 95.2% for Bars, and an outstanding 98.8% for its Staff, which included customer care, efficiency and knowledge of the racecourse. In all other categories – Pre Arrival, Arrival & Departure, Cleanliness and Toilets, it was given a 90% approval rating.

The AA assessor said: “The staff at Musselburgh Racecourse play a significant role in creating a welcoming and enjoyable experience for visitors.

“From the moment visitors arrive, they are met with friendly and professional team members eager to assist and ensure everything runs smoothly throughout the visit. The level of customer service is impressive.

“The staff are approachable, polite, and well-informed about the races and the venue. Their warm and approachable nature makes visitors feel comfortable and well looked after. The hospitality staff, including those at the bars and restaurants, provide excellent service. They are attentive and ensure that food and drinks are served quickly and to a high standard.”

Musselburgh Racecourse Commercial & Operations Director, Sarah Montgomery, said: “The consistently high scoring across key categories underlines our commitment to giving race goers, owners and regular and casual visitors alike, an experience to remember when enjoying a day at the races at Musselburgh.

“The overall rating of 94% and 90% plus ratings across all categories in the AA’s Quality Assured Racecourse Scheme is the icing on the cake of another successful year for the racecourse.

“These ratings speak to the wonderful efforts of racecourse staff at all levels who pull together each and every race day to provide excellent service, value for money, and an enthusiasm which translates into a hard-to-beat visitor experience.

“We, of course, will take on board all of the AA’s recommendations and pointers to ensure we improve year on year and continue to perform at the highest level.”

Musselburgh Racecourse has consistently been recognised for the high standards it sets and in 2023 was named the UK’s Champion Racecourse in the industry-wide Racecourse Association’s Showcase Awards.

Castle of Light and Christmas at The Botanics: CANCELLED TONIGHT

Important information ❗

📆Saturday 23 November

We are sorry to advise that due to adverse weather and with the health and safety of all visitors and staff in mind, Castle of Light has been cancelled tonight, Saturday 23 November.

Your tickets can be used at your original booked timeslot on any of our remaining event dates, which can be found on our website. You do not need to get in touch, just show your tickets when you arrive for your timeslot and our castle team will be able to help.

We are sorry for the inconvenience caused but we hope to welcome you to the event at a later date✨

Due to extreme weather #ChristmasAtTheBotanics is closed today, Saturday 23 November. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.  

Today’s ticket holders will be contacted shortly by Ticketekand informed of the re-booking process.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

@TheBotanics

Festive favourites back on the big screen at Vue venues in Edinburgh

 To mark the countdown to Christmas, some of the most loved holiday classics are being brought back to the big screen at Vue venues in Edinburgh this festive season.  

Providing a yuletide treat for film fans and families alike, this year marks milestone anniversaries for a variety of iconic Christmas films – all returning home to the big screen this November and December.  

A festive animated adventure that everyone can get on board with, The Polar Express returns to Vue on 29 November after its initial release 20 years ago. Following the enchanting tale of a young boy who goes on a magical adventure to the North Pole, The Polar Express is a charming tale about believing in the magic of Christmas which has become a family favourite over the past two decades.  

Christmas critter caper Gremlins is also celebrating an anniversary at Vue this year, marking 40 years since Gizmo and the gang made their debut on the big screen. 

In the small town of Kingston Falls, teenager Billy Peltzer gets an unusual present that comes with a lot more responsibility than he ever expected – the fuzzy Mogwai, a creature he needs to follow a specific set of instructions for or else. This beloved holiday creature comedy returns to Vue on 6 December.  

At Vue Edinburgh Omni, a true cinematic Christmas classic returns as this year also marks the 70-year anniversary of Bing Crosby’s White Christmas. This legendary festive favourite follows a group of singers who hope to plan a yuletide miracle to help a local country inn owner in a fun-filled musical extravaganza that is sure to put you in a jolly mood when it returns to Vue on 20 December.   

Some more festive favourites heading to Vue include the heartfelt romantic comedy Love Actually, screening from 13 December, and the iconic It’s A Wonderful Life, screening on 20 December. 

There’s also a handful of comedy crackers coming to Vue include Will Ferrell’s Elf, screening from 22 November, andJim Carrey’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas, screening from 6 December. 

Family favourites such as Home Alone (from 22 November), The Muppet Christmas Carol (from 13 December) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (from 20 December)wrap up the schedule of winter classics, all of which can be enjoyed at Vue with the ultimate seat, screen and sound experience. 

There’s also the opportunity to give the gift of big screen entertainment this year with a Vue Gift Card – the ultimate present for film lovers and for families looking to spend quality time together. 

A Vue Gift Card can be redeemed towards film tickets, as well as all ticket upgrades, refreshments and snacks to share whilst enjoying the best that the big screen has to offer. 

Robert Smith, General Manager of Vue Edinburgh Omni, said: ‘Christmas is all about spending quality time with friends and family, creating treasured moments to last a lifetime.

“We’re glad to be marking the merry occasion with a line-up of some of the most iconic Christmas classics, specially curated to for our customers to enjoy and help them get in the festive spirit ahead of the big day. There’s no better place to watch the likes of Home Alone and The Polar Express than the big screen.’ 

Tickets available from just £6.99 when booked online. To find out more visit: 

myvue.com 

Christmas Season Line-up at Vue 

Home Alone – From now  
Elf  – From now 
The Polar Express (20th Anniversary) – From 29 November 
How The Grinch Stole Christmas – From 6 December 
Gremlins (40th Anniversary) – From 6 December 
The Muppets Christmas Carol – From 13 December 
Love Actually – From 13 December 
Home Alone 2: Lost In New York – From 20 December 
White Christmas (70th Anniversary) – From 20 December 
It’s a Wonderful Life – From 20 December  

STUC Disabled Workers’ Conference 2024: Usdaw seeks a social model understanding and action to end bullying and harassment

Retail trade union Usdaw has a delegation of members, reps and officials attending the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) Disabled Workers’ Conference in Glasgow on 23 and 24 November.

Usdaw is calling for delegates to adopt a social model understanding of disability and to support action to end bullying and harassment of disabled people.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary says: “We are deeply concerned that large numbers of disabled workers are exposed to bullying and harassment at work. Young workers, women, LGBT+ and Black disabled workers are disproportionately impacted because of their unique combination of protected characteristics.

“While bullying and harassment takes many forms and affects workers differently, it can have a profoundly damaging impact on mental and physical health, on an individual’s personal and working life and on workplace cultures. Stereotypes about disabled people fuel discrimination and less favourable treatment.

“They prevent disabled people getting into work, remaining in work and getting on in work. They also have broader implications and can limit how disabled workers behave in the workplace as they seek to avoid situations and people that might put them at further risk.

“Harassment and bullying at work are part of a larger pattern of discrimination experienced by disabled people. Disabled workers, disability organisations and trade unions need to be consulted about the design and implementation of effective and preventative workplace interventions.”

Usdaw is asking the STUC to lobby the Scottish and Westminster governments to:

  • Take positive action to change the way disabled people are viewed, valued and included in society.
  • Consult on extending the new preventative duty to sexual harassment to other forms of harassment including disability harassment.
  • Reinstate standalone protection from third-party harassment and enact Clause 14 of the Equality Act 2010 providing protection against discrimination that occurs for reasons related to a combination of protected characteristics.

Paddy Lillis continued: “The social model of disability is fundamental to eliminating discrimination and achieving equality and inclusion for disabled people. However, the medical model continues to dominate the law and the way in which employers understand and respond to disabled workers.

“This maintains and condones continued exclusion and inequality in the workplace. In Scotland, although the disability employment gap has reduced, disabled people still have a significantly lower employment rate than non-disabled people.

“Employers’ continued focus on ‘adjusting’ the worker – rarely the workplace – and removing barriers reinforces the widespread stereotype of disabled people as creating a ‘burden on business’.

“This shifts the onus onto the disabled worker to repeatedly demonstrate what they can’t do, rather than on employers to make workplaces accessible. Disabled workers are increasingly seeing adjustments removed, including adjustments to absence levels and performance targets, leading to disciplinary action and dismissal.

“Where this happens, the failure of employers to adopt a social model understanding ‘individualises’ disabled workers’ responses to discrimination and pushes them into seeking justice via internal grievance and legal procedures where the odds are stacked against them.”

Usdaw is asking the STUC, in consultation with the Disabled Workers’ Committee, to encourage unions to:

  • Make collective bargaining on disability equality a priority, including ensuring reps and officials are trained on the social model.
  • Regularly review employer policies, practices and publications, ensuring where possible that they are free of medical model approaches to disability.
  • Hold employers to account for failures in their duty to make reasonable adjustments.