Community project awarded grant for Granton Sur Mer

Local community project Joined Up Master Planning (JUMP) have been awarded a grant from the Awards for All strand of the

Granton Walled Garden is for sale.

Lottery to carry out a detailed community consultation on their plans for the Walled Garden area at the waterfront.

Project manager Ross McEwan said “JUMP have just received an Awards for All National Lottery grant of £10,000 to consult with the people of North Edinburgh about the use of derelict land on the Waterfront for the Granton sur Mer project. The main piece of land in question is the Walled Garden just behind Caroline Park House. This major part is owned by City of Edinburgh Council through it’s “arms” length company Waterfront Edinburgh Ltd. They just want to sell it without any community benefit.”

A council spokesperson said “We are working closely on a number of projects aimed at continuing the regeneration of the waterfront area. A developer working with an established national care home operator has agreed terms for the purchase of the walled garden site and proposals are currently being drawn up.”

Ross continued “The £1m now is all they will get and the local community will see nothing from that. What we would be giving over a ten-year period would be £6m. It is short-term economic madness.

“What impact would a care home have? You would have maybe 30 bed spaces, about 20-30 full-time jobs and nothing back into the local economy.

“The benefits are nil if a private care home operator owns one of the best sites in Edinburgh for only £1m.”

The Granton Sur Mer scheme was to include an outdoor swimming pool created from four sea containers sunk into waste ground and filled with solar-heated sea water. Changing rooms and a snack bar were also to be created.

Mr McEwan claims that his own group’s proposals would generate up to £600,000 a year through rental income from artist studios and revenue from a cafe, as well as proceeds from the garden festival.

He said that positive talks had been held with two grant-awarding bodies, while banks had expressed interest in providing funding. Any grant funding would rely on a land agreement being secured.

He said: “It is the most realistic project on the table for the Waterfront and it would not be spoiling the area with yet more blocks of mundane buildings.”

North Edinburgh Fights Back Public Meeting

North Edinburgh Fights Back a local community group campaigning against the cuts in North Edinburgh have organised a public meeting to take place on Tuesday 30th August 2011 from 6.30pm-8.00pm in the North Edinburgh Arts Centre. The group have organised speakers who will talk about the effects of the cuts to the local area.

If you would like more information on this group please search them on Facebook at North Edinburgh Fights Back where you will ind out more about the groups work and also see minutes from their meetings.

You can also visit the groups website at www.northedinburghfightsback.org.uk 

£26m in cuts made by city council in last year

The city council has made £26 million of cuts in the last year, a new report shows.
The authority’s annual efficiency statement shows that it managed to exceed its two per cent savings target by a series of savings made from operational changes.

Among the savings have been freeing up building space, changes to contracts, improving council tax collection, reducing energy costs, providing services in a different way and improving absence management.

Despite the savings, city leaders warned that more cuts are on the way.

Councillor Phil Wheeler, the city’s finance leader, said: “The fact that we have done so well only means that finding other efficiencies becomes harder.

“There will be difficult choices to make, but with ongoing pressure on public finances we will need to face those.”

City council officials are currently investigating options for sharing services with other authorities and organisations and are looking at the potential to privatise some services.

Since 2006/07, the city council has saved a total of around £117m.

Source: Edinburgh Evening News

Community Conference at Telford College – 14 June 2011

There was a healthy turnout from local people and other stakeholders to discuss the direction NEN should take. These are brief notes taken at the meeting. We also carried out a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis, which has been published separately. The meeeting was ably facilitated by Maggie Mellon, for which we aere very grateful. The Board got lots of ideas for the way forward, and we will be working on them. We will keep you informed.

There was general agreement that the NEN represents:

• An information hub for the community
• A voice for local people
• It helps build community well-being

The meeting went on to discuss four key areas: content, funding, marketing and communication.

CONTENT
There should be:
• Local stories from local people
• Pictures
• A place for comments
• Local information
• Advertising
• A place for young people
• A topic of the month
• Campaigns
• Community contact list

FUNDING
We felt that the Board needs to develop a business plan, with short, medium and long-term objectives. Suggestions were:
• Identify big advertisers in the area
• Work closely with Scottish Business in the Community
• Board to build relationships
• Clarify community council grants
• Develop tactic for funding applications, support and expertise
• Identify key local partnership meeting dates for funding applications
• Aim for a “Funday” re-launch
• Consider location options for NEN
• Monthly sponsorship possibilities?
• Web-site development and investment to attract funding and readership
• Consider skills required to implement funding

MARKETING
• Identify who we are, where we are going, etc.
• Keep people informed
• Raise awareness – give people a voice

COMMUNICATION
• Positive identity – NEN should promote positive identity and values
• Local communications hub – It should provide information/communication for the community
• Community development – it should involve the community and help development

The Board will reflect on these views and implement a plan to see the paper published once again.

NEVER GIVE UP! Social History Group launches book on North Edinburgh activism

For some, the names Muirhouse, Drylaw and Pilton conjure up images of run-down housing schemes, drugs and violence, but a group of local people are showing there’s a far more positive story to be told about life in North Edinburgh with the publication of a new book and accompanying DVD.

‘Never Give Up – A community’s fight for social justice’ took over two years to produce and highlights the campaigns and celebrates the achievements of community activists in North Edinburgh since the housing estates were built in the 1930s. The book and DVD, alongside a photo exhibition, were launched at North Edinburgh Arts Centre in Pennywell on 23 June.

The project has been a real labour of love for the members of North Edinburgh Social History Group, who have been meeting weekly in Granton’s Prentice Centre since December 2008. Over the months the group – Roberta Blaikie, Brian Eddington, Anna Hutchison, Ian Moore and Brian Robertson – sifted through thirty years of back copies of local community newspaper North Edinburgh News – which folded in March this year – and researched a wide range of other archive materials to build up their story. The group – all volunteers – also interviewed over twenty local people to record their recollections of the campaigns and events that have shaped North Edinburgh’s history.

The result – a beautifully illustrated 52 page publication which documents the struggle of local working class people over seventy years – was unveiled at a celebratory launch event at North Edinburgh Arts Centre last night. Around 100 guests – many of whom feature in the book and accompanying DVD – attended the launch, which was introduced by former Pilton councillor, Edinburgh District Council leader and Craigroyston High School teacher Alex Wood, who wrote the foreword for the book.

Welcoming the publication of the book, Alex Wood said: “This has been a hugely important exercise and the group has produced an enormously important piece of historical research. This is a great example of working class people telling their area’s story – it shows to all that our communities have a proud history and as they have a history they will have a future”.

The project was supported by the respected international Community Development Journal following an approach by Edinburgh University’s Mae Shaw. She told the meeting: “This book, and the DVD, are tremendously important and a deeply moving record of the struggles of working people to have a voice in their communities. The book will be reviewed by the Community Development Journal and I am sure that it will become a valuable educational resource not just in this country but across the world”.

Roberta Blaikie, an enthusiastic member of the social history group, explained: “We first got together because we thought it was important to record the history of activism in the area because this has not been documented anywhere else. During the course of our research more funding cuts made it even more important to create a record, as valued projects that are an important part of our area’s history were being slashed and some, like NEN, forced to close down. It’s been a fascinating project – going from the TB campaign, damp housing and rent rise protests right up to the present day Fairer Scotland Fund cuts – and we’ve learned an awful lot along the way. I think we really need to remind ourselves how capable we are as a community – we are organisers, campaigners and people with knowledge, experience and skills. In the past we had the confidence to take on the establishment when we were unhappy about things – and we can do that again!”

Community Learning and Development (CLD) worker Lynn McCabe, who has supported the Social History Group throughout the process, said: “I don’t think any of us knew the size of the task we were taking on when we set out all those months ago. The project has just grown and grown and while we’ve had our setbacks it really has been an incredible experience for everyone involved – there was so much enthusiasm. The launch of the book and video is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the many ordinary people – past and present – who have done so much to make North Edinburgh a better place to live. It’s a proud story and the group has told that story very well”.

The book is now being distributed to projects and schools in the area and copies of the DVD will be available soon. The group also plans to make their considerable research archive available free to all through the creation of a website – currently under development – in the near future.

Meanwhile, ‘Never Give Up’ may be written,but the story – and the fight – goes on. At the launch event local campaigner Willie Black announced the formation of North Edinburgh Fights Back, a new grass-roots community organisation which aims to tackle cuts being imposed on the area, while North Edinburgh Arts’ drama worker Stephanie Knight invited people to sign up to workshops for a new community drama based around the theme of community activism, due to launch in September. It’s clear we are far from reaching the end of North Edinburgh’s story, and local activists won’t be ‘giving up’ any time soon!

Dave Pickering

Secret Millionaire Comes To North Edinburgh

North Edinburgh News understands that the Channel 4 programme Secret Millionaire has been filming inNorth Edinburgh. We believe that 3 local projects have all received donations from the Secret Millionaire.

NEN understands that the Millionaire, whose identity has still not been released, was living in West Pilton Rise and that he volunteered with local projects.

Its reported that one local project received a donation of £20,000 towards the work they deliver inNorth Edinburgh.

Rachel Davison from Zodiak Media, the company behind the programme, said “At this early stage we are not in a position to give out any details, but a press release will be sent out in due course”.

This Weeks Community Councils Meetings

This weeks Community Council meetings in north Edinburgh are:

Granton & District Community Council meets on Wednesday 25th may 2011 7.00pm at The Spartans Football Academy and on the same night its the AGM of the Drylaw & Telford Community Council at 7.00pm in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.

Eddie Thorn from the North Edinburgh News is a guest speaker at the Drylaw & Telford Community Council AGM. Come along and hear all about the exciting news from the NEN.

Are you going along to either of these meetings? if so would you be willing to report on the what has happened? If yes then please get in touch with us.

What else is going on in North Edinburgh this week? Please leave a comment below and we will try and get along to cover it.

Mark Rylance Challenge Cycle Aims To Raise £25,000

A cycle challenge  in memory of The Forthquarter project manager aims to raise  25,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Challenge Team. Picture: Ann Confrey

A team of intrepid cyclists have undertaken an epic journey from John
O’Groats to Lands End in memory of Mark Rylance of National Grid who
passed away in September 2010.

Mark was project manager at The Forthquarter project in Granton for a
number of years before being diagnosed with cancer
A key member of the Waterfront Partnership Board Mark ensured National
Grid were active partners in joint initiatives including the
Waterfront Accord  – a project  to help local people benefit from the
jobs and opportunities being created and provided land and  office
accommodation for the Waterfront Recruitment Centre.

Mark was also keen to ensure that the local community should benefit from the regeneration and actively encouraged groups and organisations to make
use of the Forthquarter Park. The ride, taking the least popular route from North to South, will cover 976 miles in 14 stages and be completed over 14 days.

The journey aims to take the most scenic route via quieter roads through
many of the UK’s most picturesque areas such as Altnaharra,  Glencoe,
the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales., Wye Valley and SW Coastal areas.
Members of the team undertaking the Scottish leg of the challenge
include Fiona McKenzie of National Grid,  Neil Fyfe of WYG
Environmental based in George Street and Ann Confrey of Proscot PR
based  in Leith.

All three have been involved in The Forthquarter project since the initial clean up of this former gasworks as well as being involved in a variety of other Scottish site remediation projects.

National Grid remediation manager Fiona McKenzie said: “Those who
worked with Mark remember his warm smile and sense of mischief. He
would certainly be smiling if he could have seen his colleagues
setting off in the rain wearing multi-coloured lycra!”

The team aim to complete the ride in 14 days and have been keeping a
blog during the challenge with lots of photographs showing the many
highlights of the journey.

See how they are doing at http://markrylancechallenge.wordpress.com
Help the team reach their goal by donating at
http://www.justgiving.com/TheMarkRylanceChallenge

Million Pound Pot For Retiring Council Man

A senior director of the city council has left his role – triggering a huge pension pay-out. Jim Inch has stepped down as director of corporate services after agreeing to take early retirement.

Council officials say that there are no direct costs to the council of his retirement from his £120,513-a-year post. But he will start benefiting from a pension pot now worth over £1.3 million, and his retirement will automatically trigger a £160,390 lump sum payment.

Mr Inch sent a message to all council staff, thanking them for their work and support.

His retirement follows that of former chief executive Tom Aitchison, who stood down at the end of last year and received a £209,845 lump sum from his pension. Director of finance Donald McGougan will also leave his post in June, which will earn him a payment of at least £170,802.

The pension deals have been labelled “obscene” by taxpayer groups. A review is underway into the posts held by Mr Inch and Mr McGougan. Temporary appointments are to be made for six months as chief executive Sue Bruce decides whether to revamp the corporate services and finance departments.

Source: Edinburgh Evening News

HELPFUL HENRY KEEPS IT IN THE FAMILY!

Drylaw man Henry MacDonald received Drylaw Telford Community Council’s annual award for good citizenship last night (Wednesday 27 April). Sixty-eight year old Henry was following in his father’s footsteps – dad Harry was the first recipient of the award which was established in 2000!

Drylaw Telford Community Council introduced the annual award for good citizenship following the death of local campaigner, activist and enthusiastic community councillor Tam Tierney in 1999. Since the launch of the award there have been dozens of nominations and eleven recipients, but father and son Harry and Henry are the first members of the same family to receive the award.

Drylaw Telford Community Council hosted a reception at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre last night and Henry was joined by friends and family (including identical twin brother George and dad Harry), church members and community councillors at the celebration. Guests included Tam Tierney’s widow Cath and their son Thomas, and all four Inverleith councillors – Lesley Hinds, Stuart McIvor, Tim McKay and Iain Whyte – also attended.

Councillor Tim McKay, convener of Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership, presented Henry with a plaque and said: “Henry was cited by six nominees for his work as a volunteer with Drylaw Church. His helpfulness clearly shines through, and Henry is obviously following in a family tradition! I am delighted to present this well-deserved award on behalf of the community council”.

Drylaw Parish Church minister Pat Watson added: “Since I arrived at Drylaw over five years ago Henry has just been so helpful. As well as welcoming guests to the church and preparing lunches Henry is always helping out – you can be sure that if anything is left lying around for too long our Henry will dispose of it! People dropping in will also be offered a cup of tea and a bacon roll, too, so as well as being warmly welcomed they will be well-fed too! Henry really makes a valuable contribution to church life just as Harry did. Harry kept the church grounds looking beautiful until just a couple of years ago and Henry is keeping up the good work – if Henry is able to do even half the work his dad did over the years Drylaw church will be well served for years to come. Many congratulations”.

It’s been quite a year for the local McDonald clan – as well as Henry’s award, mum and dad Harry and Nan celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last month.

While he was delighted to receive the award, Henry won’t be resting on his laurels – on Sunday he’ll be putting his best foot forward when he takes part in an annual sponsored walk over the Forth Road Bridge for the Christian Aid charity. It’s an event Henry’s supported for many years and he took the opportunity to add quite a few names to his sponsor sheet at the Drylaw event!

Dave Pickering