Seasonal sale at Saint Nicholas

Saint Nick’s celebrate Saint Nick!

Port of Leith Housing Association’s (PoLHA) St Nicholas Court sheltered housing complex raised £1500 at its Christmas fayre held last Saturday (1 Dec). All funds raised will go towards supporting activities for residents including day trips, theatre trips, exercise classes and lunch clubs.

The complex, on Leith’s Ferry Road, had an array of stalls including a raffle, tombola, home bakes, bric-a-brac, books and toys. There was also the opportunity to buy gifts hand-made by the residents, including decorations, necklaces, knitting and aprons.

Maureen Tait Senior Sheltered Housing Co-ordinator with PoLHA, manages the complex. She said: “The annual Christmas fayre is always great fun for the staff and residents and a great chance for us to interact and have a good time with the local community. We’re delighted to have raised £1500 and are grateful to the all those people who came along to support us. Many of our residents are young at heart and really enjoy getting out and about on trips and this fundraising event helps make it happen for them.”

Pictured: St. Nicholas resident Frances Veitch displays festive treats

Looking for an NHS dentist in Edinburgh?

The following dental practices are currently accepting new NHS patients:

9 Dean Bank Street, Stockbridge EH3 5BS 0131 332 5510

4 Inverleith Gardens, Inverleith EH3 5PU 0131 552 4024

4 Howard Place, Canon Mills EH3 5JZ 0131 556 7232

4 Great Stuart Street, West End EH3 6AW 0131 225 3911

264 Morrison Street, Haymarket EH3 8DT 0131 229 6633

212 Morrison Street, Haymarket EH3 8EA 0131 229 7899

42 Earl Grey Street, Tollcross EH3 9BN 0131 221 9535

1D Pennywell Gardens, Muirhouse EH4 4UA 0131 315 2666

3 Quality St, Davidson’s Mains EH4 5BP 0131 336 1785

32 Duart Crescent, Clermiston EH4 7JP 0131 339 7446

65 Ferry Road, Leith EH6 4AQ 0131 554 1791

163 Great Junction Street, Leith EH6 5LG 0131 554 8589

116 Ocean Drive, Leith EH6 6JG 0131 208 2222

120 Ocean Drive, Leith EH6 6JG 0131 555 0376

80/1B Commercial Quay EH6 6LX 0131 553 5959

57 Constitution Street Leith EH6 7AF 0131 555 2020

6 East Hermitage Place, Leith EH6 8AA 0131 554 5028

1 Bellevue Place, Newtown EH7 4BS 0131 556 3240

15 Earlston Place, Meadowbank EH7 5SU 0131 659 5670

Boroughloch Med. Cent, 1 Meadow Place EH9 1JZ 0131 656 4525

59 Ratcliffe Terrace, Newington EH9 1ST 0131 667 4433

39 Mayfield Gardens, Newington EH9 2BX 0131 668 1521

125 Mayfield Road, Newington EH9 3AJ 0131 667 5656

147 Bruntsfield Place EH10 4EB 0131 229 7999

1 Millar Crescent, Morningside EH10 5HN 0131 447 0606

27 Comiston Road, Morningside EH10 6AA 0131 447 2722

3C Washington Lane, Dalry EH11 2HA 0131 337 8272

14 Ardmillan Terrace, Gorgie EH11 2JW 0131 337 2771

296 Gorgie Road, Gorgie EH11 2PP 0131 337 3936

176 St. John’s Road, Corstorphine EH12 8BE 0131 334 2704

9 Bughtlin market, East Craigs EH12 8XP 0131 339 2992

302 Oxgangs Road North EH13 9ND 0131 441 3231

132 Colinton Road, Colinton EH14 1BY 0131 443 4050

1 Hailsland Gardens, Wester Hailes EH14 2QN 0131 453 1151

Westside Plaza, Wester Hailes EH14 2SW 0131 442 4084

38 Balerno High Street EH14 7EH 0131 449 5545

274 Portobello High Street EH15 2AT 0131 669 1193

216 Portobello High Street EH15 2AU 0131 669 2995

310 Portobello High Street EH15 2DA 0131 669 3333

23 Duddingston Park South EH15 3NY 0131 669 9977

198 Peffermill Road, Craigmillar EH16 4DT 0131 661 3424

1 Parkside Terrace, Newington EH16 5BN 0131 667 0500

173 Dalkeith Road, Newington EH16 5BY 0844 387 8333

1 Bellstane, South Queensferry EH30 3PU 0131 319 1879

Information correct on 1 December 2012

Edinburgh’s green forever (and that’s nothing to do with Sunday’s Cup result either!)

Edinburgh has been recognised for protecting most parks and green spaces in the UK at a prestigious award ceremony. The City of Edinburgh Council was awarded Landowner of the Year at the inaugural Fields in Trust Awards 2012 ceremony that celebrated the achievements of the charity’s Queen Elizabeth Fields Challenge programme, and the city was also given £10,000 from Fields in Trust to spend on further improving the city’s parks.

The city received the award for dedicating more sites as part of The Queen Elizabeth Fields Challenge than any other UK landowner – a total of 25 sites across Edinburgh. This commits the Council to dedicating the named sites for the purposes of public recreation, in perpetuity, for the use of the residents of Edinburgh.

Councillor Jim Orr, the city’s Environment Vice-Convener, said: “Here in Edinburgh we have no shortage of beautiful outdoor spaces and this Council recognises the important role they play in boosting the well-being of communities. I’m delighted that Fields in Trust have recognised our efforts in dedicating many of our green spaces as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. This will have a lasting legacy for Edinburgh and reaffirms this city’s commitment to protecting our parks and green spaces for future generations.”

The dedicated sites are (local parks highlighted):

Easter Drylaw Park
Ravelston Park
Ravelston Woods
Starbank Park
Victoria Park
Figgate Park
Lochend Park
Rosefield Park
Portobello Golf Course
Braidburn Valley Park
Hermitage of Braid
Blackford Hill
Morgan Playing Fields
Morningside Park
Seven Acre Park
Colinton Mains Park
Easter Craiglockhart Hill
Hailes Quarry Park
Harrison Park
Saughton Park & Gardens
Ferry Glen
St Margaret’s Park
Union Park
Montgomery Street Park
Pilrig Park

Fields in Trust was founded in 1925 and is the only national charity working to safeguard and improve outdoor recreational spaces. The Queen Elizabeth Fields Challenge aims to protect outdoor recreational spaces as a legacy from HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A clear festive message – don’t drink and drive

Police in Scotland are giving their clearest ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’ message yet this festive season and pledging to use every means at their disposal to track down those who fail to heed the warnings.

The basic message from the country’s senior officers is that while they support any plan to reduce the drink drive limit those who plan to get behind the wheel should not drink any alcohol.

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) is backing a four-week campaign, starting today (Monday 3 December), which will target those who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Across Scotland, officers in marked and unmarked vehicles will be on the lookout for offenders as will all officers who are on patrol in their own local areas. Information and intelligence will be gathered on possible trouble spots and potential drink or drug drivers.

Police are urging the public to help end the scourge of drink and drug driving by reporting suspected offenders to the police or to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland (part of Transport Scotland) are supporting ACPOS annual festive drink and drug drive campaign. A television and radio advertising campaign is being aired to emphasise the consequences of drink driving by underlining the message that “if you choose to drink and drive, you choose to lose your licence”.

Deputy Chief Constable Tom Ewing from Fife Constabulary, who speaks on road policing matters for ACPOS, said: “Throughout my career I have found it astonishing that people are prepared to risk not only the serious consequences of losing their licence but also the threat to life and limb, by taking to the wheel under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Last year we saw 7445 people charged with being over the limit, which is a simply unacceptable figure.

“We will use every means at our disposal to track down those who drive after taking alcohol or drugs and, with our law enforcement partners, will ensure that they face the consequences. That is likely to mean a fine, loss of driving licence for at least a year and, for repeat offenders and those who give a high reading, the chance of losing their vehicle.

“Many serious crashes happen as a result of drivers drinking or taking drugs and as many as one in nine road deaths is related to a drink or drug driver. That is simply not acceptable and we must work together to end the scourge of drink and drug driving. ACPOS fully supports the idea of reducing the limit for drink driving, which has been the subject of recent consultation but would stress that our clear advice remains that no alcohol or drugs should be taken before driving a vehicle.”

Kenny MacAskill, Cabinet Secretary for Justice added: “If you choose to drink and drive, you choose to lose your licence. But the consequences can be devastating for victims, their families and our communities. On average, an estimated 30 lives are lost on our roads every year due to drink driving.

“The Scottish Government andRoad Safety Scotland are supporting the ACPOS annual festive drink and drug drive crackdown with an advertising campaign to remind people of the dangers and the consequences.

“This Government has made it clear that we want a lower drink driving limit as we believe it will help make Scotland’s roads safer. Our consultation, that sought views on reducing the drink driving limit to a level which would bring Scotland into line with most of Europe and which will help save lives on our roads, closed last week. Consultation responses will be independently analysed and we will publish our consultation report early next year. We will continue to work with the police and road safety partners to consider new measures to tackle the scourge of drink driving on Scotland’s roads.”

The Lord Advocate, the Right Honourable Frank Mulholland QC said: “As the festive season comes around again parties and celebrations will be commonplace. Across Scotland many people will be enjoying time with their families, catching up with old friends and making new ones.

“For some though it may well be a tragic and upsetting time, their lives devastated as family die needlessly because selfish drivers get behind the wheel while under the influence. One in nine deaths on the road is as a result of a drink or drug driver, which is totally unacceptable.

“While we would encourage all involved to enjoy themselves we urge them to act responsibly and not spoil their celebrations, or those of others, by driving under the influence. The message is simple; if you are driving do not drink and do not take drugs.”

Transition Group to hold capacity building event

North Edinburgh’s BME Transition Group has organised another information event – and this time the focus is on capacity building.

Group coordinator Adil Ibrahim said: “The purpose of this event is to support North Edinburgh-based black and minority ethnic (BME) community groups to access information about funding, setting up and developing local community groups. It should be another exciting event and we’re looking forward to meeting a lot of participants.”

The Transition Group’s Capacity Building Event will be held on Thursday 13 December from 11am – 2pm in the Heritage Lottery Fund, 38 Thistle Street.

To register or for further information please contact Adil or Deborah, email adilabuelseed@hotmail.com or dclark@elrec.org.uk

Capacity Building Event Flyer

Light a light tomorrow night

St Columba’s Hospice has a special way of remembering family and friends who are unable to be with us at Christmas time. Every year, thousands of supporters gather in Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square Gardens to watch as the lights of the Tree of Remembrance are switched on – each light on the tree is dedicated to the memory of a loved one, as St. Columba’s Sister Margaret O’Hara explains:

Dear Friend,

My colleagues and I working on the wards at St Columba’s Hospice have been thinking for a few weeks now about how we can make Christmas this year precious for our patients and their families. Christmas is a time when we all look forward to having our families and friends close, sharing in the joyous Festive Season. But for many of us the season can bring sadness as we remember loved ones no longer with us.

Here at St Columba’s Hospice we always mark the beginning of this special season by Lighting a Light on the Tree of Remembrance in Charlotte Square Gardens. Light a Light allows all of us to celebrate life and the memories of those we are unable to hold close.

On behalf of all the nursing staff and volunteers, I invite you to join us in dedicating a light to your loved one on our Tree of Remembrance this Christmas. And, I also ask you to consider making a donation to help to pay for the costs of care during Christmas and into the New Year.

We really hope that you can join us at 6.30pm on Monday (3 December) in Charlotte Square Gardens, when we Light a Light for all those whose memories we cherish.

With warmest regards,

Margaret O’Hara, Sister, St Columba’s Hospice

NEN – record breaking November stats

November was a record month for North Edinburgh News – there were 10, 496 visits to the NEN blog last month, our best figures yet. The daily average – 350 – is also our highest ever.

The most popular articles in November were the rise of Blackhall Athletic, the BBC DIY SOS refurbishment of The Yard and the Welcome to Muirhouse photo exhibition – three very different stories from different geographical corners of our readership area but with one thing in common: they’re all positive, good news stories!

Makes you think …?

Bank interest in North Edinburgh News

The NEN has received a cheque for £500 from The Royal Bank of Scotland. The banks’s charity committee agreed to support an application by NEN board member Eddie Thorn.

Kevin Havelock, Regional Director for Corporate and Institutional Banking at Royal Bank of Scotland, explained: “Following the difficulties that RBS experienced in recent years we are looking to reconnect with the communities that we all live and work in.”

He went on: “We are very fortunate at RBS to have many staff who have been with us for twenty, twenty-five even thirty years and many of them are active in their communities. We established a system of grants to support local charities and community initiatives nominated by our staff.

“The Edinburgh Community Partnership Board has representation from every division of the bank – there are eleven people in all on the committee, each with an equal vote. We were delighted both with the volume and the great variety of nominations that came in, and we agreed our first round of grants in October. We are supporting a very broad spectrum of good causes, from supplying sports equipment to groups to helping local health charities.”

Royal Bank of Scotland will donate £100,000 in a rolling programme in the East of Scotland, and one of the first forty grateful recipients is North Edinburgh News.

North Edinburgh News treasurer Eddie Thorn said: “The Royal Bank of Scotland is to be commended for their wide contribution to local communities. It is particularly pleasing that they recognised all that the NEN strives to achieve, and we are very grateful for the bank’s generous support – it’s much appreciated.”

Kevin added: “We will be offering practical and sometimes even physical support, too – we want the charity to get more from the bank than just a cheque. Working with and providing support to the charity is a natural progression.”

NEN’s Eddie Thorn and RBS’ Kevin Havelock are pictured outside the NEN’s base at Edinburgh College Granton Campus.

Help yourself! Free sandbags for flood-threatened homes

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue service has teamed up with the city council to help Edinburgh residents protect their homes from flood damage. The initiative offers free sandbags NOW to residents who are concerned about potential flooding, rather than waiting for heavy rainfall.

Sandbags are now available to collect from specially built storage sheds at a number of locations across the city, including locally at Crewe Toll Fire Station on Telford Road and Powderhall Depot at 165 Broughton Road.

Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “It is understandable that, after the floods we have already seen this year, people in Edinburgh are concerned about what will happen if their homes are affected. Our advice is to be prepared and not wait for heavy rain as is often more difficult for us to reach people during or immediately before a flood.

“The fact that residents can now collect sandbags at their convenience will make it easier for them to feel confident that their homes are protected. I would also encourage people who are worried about flooding to have a look at the Council website for advice on how to protect their properties effectively.”

In recent years a number of Edinburgh neighbourhoods have been affected by extremely heavy rainfall, which led to the severe damage of some local homes.

John Dickie, Local Senior Officer for Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Every year people are affected by flooding and it can cause significant disruption and damage for householders. One of the best things you can do is think about your risks before adverse weather strikes and take what steps you can to be prepared.

“We are delighted to be able to host self-service sandbag storage sites at our fire stations in Edinburgh. The public can help themselves to sandbags if they anticipate the need to protect their homes from flooding.

“You should also consider signing up for Floodline Scotland which will keep you informed about flood alerts. Preparing a plan for what to do if flooding strikes will also mean you are better able to react quickly in an emergency. Pack an emergency flood kit and make sure your home insurance is up to date.”

Residents who are unable to collect sandbags in person can contact the Council for assistance, by calling 0131 200 2000.

History to be made when councillors debate petition on Monday

The first valid petition submitted by a member of the public will be considered by councillors in Edinburgh on Monday (3 December) at a meeting to be webcast live from the City Chambers.

The petition, on ‘Kirkliston Public Transport Provision’, received 785 signatures of support.

Taking part in or creating a petition is one way that individuals, community groups and organisations can get involved in what the Council does. It allows people to raise issues of public concern and gives Councillors the opportunity to consider the need for change.

The Committee is part of a package of measures and a new committee structure aimed at creating a more accessible and transparent organisation by opening up decision-making and improving scrutiny of the Council’s work.

Members of the public and local businesses can make use of the Council’s e-petition facility. Paper petition forms can also be downloaded from the Council’s webpages and are available from libraries and other Council buildings.

Convener of the Petitions Committee, Cllr Maggie Chapman (pictured above), said: “It is a great start that we have a valid petition to consider in our first meeting. I hope that this will encourage others to come forward use this new opportunity to participate in local politics and to help improve the lives of people living, working and visiting our city. I am pleased that, in addition to the meetings in the City Chambers, we will also be taking the committee ‘on tour’ to reach a wider audience, and we will also ensure our young people are included by having youth focussed events.”

There is a range of agreed criteria for a petition to satisfy prior to confirmation of validity and consideration by the Committee. Matters that will not be considered include those currently being considered by a committee, included in a work programme or those that relate to a council or committee decision that has been made in the previous six months.

Further information:

* Petitions from individuals require at least 500 signatures though in some cases petitions with 250 signatures can be accepted.

* Petitions from local businesses need the support of at least 20 other businesses within Edinburgh before they can be considered.

* If a petition is invalid, the petitioner will be advised of the reason and given the opportunity to refine and resubmit it.

* Hashtag to use if tweeting about the Petitions Committee is #edinpetitions