Police were today called to assist in making the area around the scaffolding on Waterfront Avenue safe after the sever gales have caused paneling to become dislodged and some have fallen.
A police spokesperson said “We were called by the contractor when they noticed some planks were unsafe. We are making the area secure whilst the contractor makes the scaffolding secure”
The contractors are currently erecting more scaffolding to make it more secure.
Police in Edinburgh have this morning carried out a series of raids as part of an operation targeting alleged housebreakers in the Capital.
 Over 100 officers have been involved in raids on 14 addresses in the north and west of the city, and 12 people have been arrested. The enforcement activity comes as part of Operation Accessible, a Lothian and Borders Police initiative targeting those suspected of involvement in housebreakings and other acquisitive crime. Officers have recovered approximately £200,000 worth of stolen goods during the operation, which has taken place over the past six months. |
In total, around 200 stolen items were recovered, including cars, jewellery, and electrical goods such as computers, televisions and mobile phones.
Chief Superintendent Gill Imery, ‘A’ Division (City of Edinburgh) Commander, said”Lothian and Borders Police is committed to achieving justice for victims of housebreakings, and preventing such crimes from happening in the first place. This morning’s activity has targeted alleged serial offenders who prey on local communities, and has sent a strong message that their activities will not be tolerated.”
“The Force understands the distressing impact caused by those who break into people’s homes and steal their property, particularly over the festive period. Operation Accessible demonstrates our commitment to protecting the public from those whose activities blight our communities.
“We are continually focusing our efforts on targeting those involved in housebreakings and other acquisitive crime though intelligence, and it’s only a matter of time before they are caught.
“We are seeking information from the public in order to identify individuals involved in such criminality, and we would urge anyone who thinks they have information that can allow us to do so to get in touch. Rest assured that any information received will be acted on, and treated in the strictest confidence.”
Councillor Paul Edie, Health and Social Care Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Operation Accessible is a fantastic example of great police work and I would like to congratulate all of the officers who have been involved.
“This operation sends a strong message to housebreakers that they will be caught and brought to justice for their crimes. Breaking into someone’s house and stealing from them at any time of the year is bad enough, but to do so over Christmas is particularly shocking.
“I am urging people to be vigilant this festive period and take steps to make sure that their homes are secure.”
Anyone who has any information about housebreakers and other criminals operating in their community should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.
You can hardly open a newspaper or switch on the telly these days without reading or hearing about changes to sickness benefits. There’s no doubt about it that reforming sickness benefits is at the forefront of the welfare reform agenda – but what do the changes mean in practice for people who are claiming sickness benefits or are not able to work? Roddy Samson from Granton Information Centre gives a brief update of the changes so far…
What is it?
Employment Support Allowance (ESA) is a welfare benefit which was introduced in October 2008. All new claimants who are unable to work due to illness or disability (including mental health problems) are placed on ESA. The intention is to support people to access appropriate work, with a greater emphasis on what claimants are able to do. ESA has replaced Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Income Support (IS) paid on the grounds of incapacity. The government plans to review everyone on IB for suitability for ESA by March 2014. The review process started in October 2010.
How are people assessed for ESA?
The ESA assessment process usually takes around 13 weeks, but can be longer. During this period the claimant will undergo:
The ESA work capability assessment is carried out by a health care professional contracted by the Department for Work and Pensions at the local assessment centre in York Place. It is designed to assess whether the claimant is capable of work or capable of work related activity.
The Work Capability Assessment
This assessment applies to most claimants and determines whether or not they remain on ESA.
For this test you are assessed on your ability to carry out 17 listed physical or ‘mental, cognitive and intellectual’ activities. Points are awarded on the basis of your limitations with respect to each activity. These points are totalled up and if the total reaches the threshold of 15, you are deemed to have limited capability for work and thus stay on ESA.
Within each type of activity there is a list of descriptors with associated scores ranging from 0 to 15. The descriptors describe related tasks of varying degrees of difficulty. You score when you are not able to perform the activity described. Though more than one descriptor may apply to you, you can only pick up one score from each type of activity; in each case whichever scores the highest.
If you score 15 in any one activity, you automatically pass the test. If your score is less than 15, it can be added to the scores you pick up from any of the other types of activity (in both the physical and the mental parts of the test). If your total score reaches 15, you pass the test.
The physical activities
The physical functions in the limited capability for work test are grouped into 10 different types of activity. These are:
The assessment takes into account your abilities when using any aid or appliance you would normally use.
The mental, cognitive and intellectual activities
These functions in the limited capability for work test are grouped into sets of activities under the following 7 headings:
Appeals
If the claimant is assessed as capable of work then they do not qualify for ESA. They can appeal this decision. If they appeal they can continue to receive the basic allowance of ESA until a decision is made on their appeal by a tribunal. Recent government figures show that appeals against ESA decisions are more successful if you have an experienced representative.
It’s important to remember that if you get a decision about your benefits that you’re not happy with you should seek advice as soon as possible as strict time limits apply if you wish to challenge them. Granton Information Centre provides free, impartial advice, assistance and representation on all benefit and tax credit matters.
Drop in sessions (Granton Information Centre):
Monday & Wednesday: All HOUSING issues: 9.30 – 12.30
Tuesday & Thursday: BENEFITS & MONEY ADVICE issues: 9.30 – 12.30
Outreach:
Tuesday: 10.00 – 1.00 CREWE MEDICAL CENTRE
(Only for patients of Crewe Medical Centre)
Tuesday: 2.00 – 4.00 MUIRHOUSE MEDICAL GROUP
(Only for patients of Muirhouse Medial Group)
Home visits and appointments may be available on request.
Telephone/Fax: 0131 552 0458, 134 – 138 West Granton Road, Edinburgh, EH5 1PE
Measures are being introduced which could see first-time drink-drivers in Scotland having their car seized.
Drivers who refuse a breath test for analysis without reasonable excuse could also have their vehicles taken from them.
The measures mark the launch of the annual police crackdown on dangerous drivers over the festive period which took place at the Scottish Parliament on Monday morning.
Last year 7,563 people in Scotland were caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, an average of around 20 offenders every day.
Now first-time drink-drivers who provide a sample for analysis which is three times the legal limit or more, and those who refuse a breath test, could have their vehicles taken away for good after conviction.
That would be in addition to receiving a criminal record, a fine and a 12-month driving ban.
The plans come after a forfeiture scheme introduced in 2009 to deal with repeat offenders.
It was extended in summer 2010 to include drug-drivers.
A total of 702 repeat offenders have been caught and 155 vehicles forfeited, with a further 18 vehicles seized pending court decisions.
According to the latest figures, it is estimated that just over one in seven deaths on Scottish roads involve drivers who are over the legal alcohol limit.
After 2 years of working from the Granton Youth Centre building on Granton Square, Volunteer Centre Edinburgh North (VCEN) moved premises at the end of September, to be based at the Community Renewal office.VCEN brings the services of the Volunteer Centre to North Edinburgh, giving people advice about volunteering opportunities both locally and across the city and helping them to overcome barriers to volunteering.
Senior Development Worker Nick Woodhead said “A lot of people who come to see me are looking for work and volunteering is a great way to gain experience, practice skills, improve their CV, get a reference. But others just want to help out and use their spare time usefully. Whatever the reason people can drop in and arrange a chat.”
Community Renewal manager James Riordan said “As an employability organisation, we have referred many clients to the Volunteer Centre over the last 2 years. Volunteering has helped many people get back to work. It’s good to have him so close at hand!”
If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering, drop into the Community Renewal office and ask to speak to Nick or phone 0131 629 4202.
On Friday 16th March 2012 North Edinburgh will be hosting ‘The Yummy Food Festival’. The Yummy Food Festival is currently being developed and organised by a group of local women from West Pilton and Muirhouse who developed the ‘Its Yummy Mummy Cook Book’. They are now developing this unique food festival to celebrate healthy eating, cooking, local talented cooks and culinary delights found in North Edinburgh.
The festival will be held at North Edinburgh Art Centre and will be full of cooking demonstrations, food workshops, healthy eating information, a craft market, gardening tent, food story telling and art making, healthy eating workshops and so much more yummy and tasty delights.
There are various ways you can get involved.
For more information or to get involved contact Lisa at Pilton Community Health Project on 551 1671
A knife attacker left a delivery driver with his insides “hanging out” during an attempted murder outside a Stockbridge shop.
Aaron Gray, 23, left Mark Miller, 26, bleeding heavily from wounds following the assault near Pizza Hut in Raeburn Place, Stockbridge, on 3 April.
Surgeons carried out an emergency operation on Mr Miller to repair his injured bowel and blood vessels.
The judge deferred sentence on Gray until January for background reports.
Gray admitted attempting to murder Mr Miller.
He had changed his plea during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Mr Miller, a hospital worker who also worked as a delivery driver for the restaurant chain, said he was heading back to the outlet when he became aware of a male shouting, whom he did not know.
He said he had ignored him and the man left the scene in a car, but returned minutes later and emerged from a passenger door.
Mr Miller said: “He came running towards me. It happened that quick,” he said before the pair got involved in “a scuffle”.
He said: “I managed to get up on to my feet. I was still holding on to him. Then I just let go of him. Then I put my hand down on to my stomach and I realised I had been stabbed. My insides were hanging out.”
Advocate depute Graeme Jessop said Gray claimed he knew Mr Miller which the victim denied.
Mr Jessop said the surgeon was of the opinion that the injuries were actually life-threatening if it was not for the immediate medical intervention.
Police made attempts to trace Gray at several addresses following the attack, before he later handed himself in at a police station.
The victim suffered anxiety and depression following the assault. He said he now finds it very difficult to go out on his own and remains off work following the attack on him, the court heard.
A knife attacker left a delivery driver with his insides “hanging out” during an attempted murder outside a Stockbridge shop.
Aaron Gray, 23, left Mark Miller, 26, bleeding heavily from wounds following the assault near Pizza Hut in Raeburn Place, Stockbridge, on 3 April.
Surgeons carried out an emergency operation on Mr Miller to repair his injured bowel and blood vessels.
The judge deferred sentence on Gray until January for background reports.
Gray admitted attempting to murder Mr Miller.
He had changed his plea during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Mr Miller, a hospital worker who also worked as a delivery driver for the restaurant chain, said he was heading back to the outlet when he became aware of a male shouting, whom he did not know.
He said he had ignored him and the man left the scene in a car, but returned minutes later and emerged from a passenger door.
Mr Miller said: “He came running towards me. It happened that quick,” he said before the pair got involved in “a scuffle”.
He said: “I managed to get up on to my feet. I was still holding on to him. Then I just let go of him. Then I put my hand down on to my stomach and I realised I had been stabbed. My insides were hanging out.”
Advocate depute Graeme Jessop said Gray claimed he knew Mr Miller which the victim denied.
Mr Jessop said the surgeon was of the opinion that the injuries were actually life-threatening if it was not for the immediate medical intervention.
Police made attempts to trace Gray at several addresses following the attack, before he later handed himself in at a police station.
The victim suffered anxiety and depression following the assault. He said he now finds it very difficult to go out on his own and remains off work following the attack on him, the court heard.
Funding has been awarded by The City of Edinburgh Council to enable Places for People, on behalf of Castle Rock Edinvar, to complete their development at West Pilton, just off the Granton Access Road. With the start on site being planned for Spring 2012 the build period is likely to be around 18 months, and the first homes should be available in Spring 2013.
Alister Steele, Managing Director at Castle Rock Edinvar, said “We are delighted that with the funding now in place we can complete this site. It has been a long process as a result of issues with access coupled with changes to economic conditions, leading to the need to revise our plans. The City of Edinburgh Council has worked closely with us to help us to find solutions”.
The proposals comprise 93 units, a mixture of houses and flats. There will be a mix of tenures, social rented homes, mid-market rented homes and low cost home ownership. The design of the new buildings will be similar to that of Castle Rock Edinvar’s adjacent development to ensure the two developments complement each other with a few changes such as the replacement of the timber cladding with a different finish which looks similar and a buff coloured brick finish instead of white render.
The new development will have secure back court areas, with drying greens, children’s play areas and seating, as well as careful lighting to enhance security. There will be trees between the development and Granton Access Road. Private gardens will be provided to the front and back of most ground floor properties, with the majority of front gardens to be provided with low maintenance durable planting and clearly laid out public and private spaces.
For further information, please contact Diana Harries, Development Manager, Places for People Developments (diana.harries@placesforpeople.co.uk, Tel 559 2200) with any queries regarding the development.
