Kirsty Sutherland
Category: North Edinburgh News
Have Your Say On Regeneration
City planners are appealing to Muirhouse and Pennywell residents to have their say on the area’s ongoing regeneration. A public exhibition drop-in session was held last Thursday evening in Craigroyston High School, where members of the masterplanning team were available to speak to residents about the latest plans for the area’s redevelopment.
For those who missed that opportunity, however, there’s still time to have a look at the plans and to make your opinions known – the exhibition will be on display in North Edinburgh Arts Centre in Pennywell Court until Friday 17 February.
Michelle Fraser, Senior Project Manager with the city council’s Housing and Regeneration team, said: “Towards the end of 2011 two masterplan options were prepared for the local community to see and comment on. Consultation events were held in November and December – thank-you if you have contributed to the process so far. Many of the issues raised have now been taken on board by the masterplanning team and this has resulted in key amendments to the preferred Indicative Masterplan Framework. A newsletter that went out out to the community to invite them to the events has a section that can be filled in and dropped off locally. Please make use of this or email any comments that you have to me and I will make sure that these are incorporated within the overall feedback from the consultation events.”
Comments can be emailed to michelle.fraser@edinburgh.gov.uk
Stockbridge Library open for business
Edinburgh’s latest business hub was launched in Stockbridge Library in Hamilton Place last night. The new facility was officially opened by entrepreneur Sir Tom Farmer and it’s hoped that the hub will prove every bit as successful as it’s predecessor at McDonald Road library.
The hub will provide free training and advice to existing local businesses and new starts. A range of courses delivered by professional tutors will cover topics ranging from the principles of how to finance and market your business to classes on how to master social media and develop a competitive edge.
This is the first roll out of the groundbreaking business hub at McDonald Road Library on Leith Walk which has held 68 Business Gatewaycourses with 768 attendees since its opening in May 2010.
This work is part of the Council’s commitment to ‘Building Stronger Town Centres’ through the Economic Development team’s three dedicated Town-Centre Coordinators who work on a variety of projects across the city.
Councillor Tom Buchanan, Economic Development Convenor, said: “In these tough economic times, it is important that we as a Council do as much as we can to support local businesses. Giving them the opportunity to enhance their business skills can only help them develop stronger foundations and therefore a more secure future.”
He went on: “The overwhelming success of the first business hub at McDonald Road Library has demonstrated the high demand for these types of workshops and I hope that we will eventually be able to roll out hubs across the rest of Edinburgh.”
Sir Tom Farmer CVO CBE KCSG DL, said: “I am delighted to be opening the second of Edinburgh’s dedicated business hubs. It can often be very difficult for small businesses to get off the ground and it is centres like these that can help give people in the area the opportunity to come to discuss their various issues and the opportunities that arise. This centre will give businesses a good foundation for success, by not only learning the basics of business but also how to market themselves properly.”
The first nine free weekly workshops at the Stockbridge Business Hub consist of four dedicated to business growth and five dedicated to those wanting to start-up their own business. Full programme information, including booking details, can be found on the Business Gateway website.
One Leith business, GM Cleaning, was started after owner Grant MacCusker attended a Business Gateway seminar four years ago. Now the successful entrepreneur holds talks of his own at the Leith Business Hub in MacDonald Road Library and believes the workshops are proving really popular amongst the local business community.
He said: “Business gateway was a great help in the starting and growing stages of my business. I find it rewarding talking to new and established entrepreneurs, passing on my knowledge and valuable information. With business gateway opening up more hubs and running more workshops it can only be an upwards climb for Scotland and our entrepreneurs coming through.”
The NEN returns
The Board of the North Edinburgh news are delighted to announce that the NEN will return as a publication within the next week.
The NEN has not produced a paper since March 2011 but we are delighted to confirm the next edition will be delivered to 11,000 households between Monday and Wednesday of next week. We will also have the paper available online on this blog.
The paper has been redesigned and we think you will like the layout of the new paper.
Enjoy reading it when it comes and please get back t us with any feedback on northedinnews@gmailcom
Fresh start for Fresh Start!
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Councillor George Grubb received a warm welcome to Fresh Start last week as the local charity held a double celebration. The Lord Provost officially opened Fresh Start’s newly refurbished warehouse in Ferry Road Drive on Friday and the project also received the coveted Investing in Volunteers Award from Volunteer Development Scotland chief executive George Thomson.
The event was also a great opportunity to say thanks to the project’s 200 volunteers, many of whom attended the celebration. Fresh Start director Keith Robertson (pictured below) said: ““Providing a roof over a family or an individual’s head is the first step in ending homelessness but making sure they keep it is the next challenge. Our services are volunteer driven and sometimes just the human touch of a volunteer can help combat the isolation felt by those who have been homeless. As well as our Starter Packs and Hit Squads, we also help provide employment opportunities. For some people, without these things, homelessness can become a recurring problem. Our volunteers make it possible for us to continue to help the numbers of people we do.”
More in next month’s NEN
Police seek help over flooded flats
Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses after properties within a block of flats were flooded. The incident happened between 8pm and 8.30pm last night in West Pilton’s Northview Court. The main water pipe for the building was accessed and then ruptured, causing the landing of the eighth floor and some of the flats below to flood.
Police attended the incident and Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service were contacted to turn off the water. Anyone with information that can assist officers with their enquiries is now asked to come forward.
A police spokesman said: “This mindless act of destruction has caused significant water damage to the properties below the eighth floor and we are eager to hear from any residents or witnesses who can help us identify those responsible. Anyone who saw any suspicious activity in or around Northview Court yesterday evening is asked to contact police immediately.”
Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.
Millennium Centre date set
Muirhouse Millennium Centre will be holding their annual general meeting on Wednesday 7 March at 11am in the Centre at Muirhouse Medway. All welcome. For further information call Muirhouse Millennium Centre on 467 3578.
Name the birdie?
Do any of our readers know what kind of bird this is? It looks like a bird of prey to me, but I’m no expert. It was sitting on my gatepost in Drylaw this morning.
Weekend drama at St. Serf’s
Love drama? Then it’s got to be Goldenacre this month as St. Serf’s Church Halls on Clark Road is the venue for Scottish Community Drama Association’s One Act Festival. With four plays on Friday 17th and three more on Saturday 18th there’s a feast of drama for everyone to enjoy – and you can vote for your favourite performance too.
Tickets, price £8 per evening or £14 for both nights, are available from Elliot Clark Flowers in Montagu Terrace and can also be bought at the door on the night – performances start at 7pm. Call 225 5952 for more information on the One Act Festival.
Weekend drama at St. Serf's
Love drama? Then it’s got to be Goldenacre this month as St. Serf’s Church Halls on Clark Road is the venue for Scottish Community Drama Association’s One Act Festival. With four plays on Friday 17th and three more on Saturday 18th there’s a feast of drama for everyone to enjoy – and you can vote for your favourite performance too.
Tickets, price £8 per evening or £14 for both nights, are available from Elliot Clark Flowers in Montagu Terrace and can also be bought at the door on the night – performances start at 7pm. Call 225 5952 for more information on the One Act Festival.