North Edinburgh News – Page 3643 – The NEN

Council calls for tougher penalties for dog fouling

The City of Edinburgh Council is calling on tougher laws to help crack down on the issue of dog fouling in the city.

A report to next week’s Transport and Environment Committee urges the Scottish Government to raise the Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) currently handed out to dog fouling offenders, and calls for an increased maximum fine for dog owners taken to court.

The report also recommends a new approach to monitor perpetrators’ future behaviour, designed to bring about a long term change and reduce dog fouling in Edinburgh.

Measures would add to a series of campaigns held by the Council to tackle the issue, which is consistently identified by local residents as one of their top priorities.

Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “Dog fouling is an issue which continues to blight our streets, creating not only an eyesore but a potential health and safety risk.

“We are committed to tackling this, and it is important that we do everything in our power to deter irresponsible owners from committing the offence.

“That’s why we’re calling on harsher punishments for offenders, as well as long-term monitoring, to reflect the significance of the crime but also to discourage repeat offending.”

If approved, the Council will formally approach the Scottish Government to request an increase to the amount charged for on-the-spot FPNs, currently £40 (rising to £60 after 28 days) in line with FPNs for littering and fly-tipping, which were updated earlier this year.

In addition, the Council will request an increase in the maximum fine on summary conviction in court, currently £500, to reflect “the seriousness or prominence of the offence”.

Proposed measures also include investigating a long term approach to persistent dog fouling, similar to the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010, which was introduced to address the behaviour of dogs deemed to be out of control. This involves the issue of Dog Control Notices imposing specific requirements with which offending owners must comply, followed by a monitoring period to address the behaviour of owners who repeatedly fail to pick up after their dogs.

As well as lobbying for legislative changes, the Council plans to work with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Scottish Court Service with the aim of securing Publicity Orders for convicted dog fouling offenders in Edinburgh. It is hoped the use of the Order, requiring individuals to publicise their conviction in a specific way, would discourage repeat offending.

In the last year, 231 FPNs have been handed out to dog owners across the city, with 82 people reported to the Procurator Fiscal for dog fouling offences.

On Tuesday, councillors will consider the various approaches to resolving the issue, as well as assessing ongoing campaigns like the South Neighbourhood’s Don’t Blame the Dog initiative, which aims to raise awareness of the problem as well as targeting enforcement action in hotspots identified by the public.

For more information on the Council’s approach to dog fouling, and how to report it, visit the Council website.

You can also watch the report being discussed at next week’s Transport and Environment Committee meeting by tuning in to the city council’s live webcast.

For one night only – Lockerbie: Lost Voices at North Edinburgh Arts

Friday 31 October: Lockerbie, Lost Voices comes to North Edinburgh Arts

“They may have silenced us, but there will be others, at first a few, then hundreds, thousands, millions…” from Lockerbie – Lost Voices.

The Elements World Theatre, an Edinburgh-based new writing company, launches the Scotland tour of Lockerbie – Lost Voices, that premiered to great acclaim during the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe.

Written by Lee Gershuny, directed by Corinne Harris and designed by Scott Anderson, the play gives voice to six hypothetical passengers both before and after Pan Am 103 explodes over Lockerbie on 21 December 1988.

The play takes them out of the anonymity of a statistic and reveals their courage, love and humour in their very real family relationships just moments before they die. Their personal conflicts draw the audience into the intimate, thought provoking issues raised in the characters’ personal lives, making the actual explosion even more shocking.

In the final scenes, the dead passengers honour the lives they have lived while presiding over their own funeral and creating an opportunity for the audience to participate in a dramatic requiem for this deep collective wound.

Speaking from the neutrality of death, the characters also give voice to those whose published reports challenged the official version of the disaster, but were “lost” or ignored.

The Cast: James Bryce, Kristy Halliday, Corinne Harris, Clunie MacKenzie, Doreen McGillivray and James Sutherlan.

Coming to NEA on Friday 31 October, 7.30pm.

To buy tickets, call box office on 0131 315 2151 or email admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk

http://www.northedinburgharts.co.uk/events.php

Dads Rock out with Lottery success

Dads Rock, an Edinburgh-based charity which supports bonding time for dads and their children, is set to expand thanks to a Big Lottery Fund award of £287,096.

Dads Rock will now be able to provide additional support for 180 dads and male carers over the next three years through its Scotland network of free playgroups for dads and kids. The project will create new playgroups, both in the community and within a prison setting, as well as a new counselling service and more father and child social outings.

Thomas Lynch, a founder member and current Dads Rock Board Member, said: “This award from the Big Lottery Fund is amazing. It will allow us to support so many more families, and give stability to our current playgroups. It will also allow us to employ staff and expand our services, by running playgroups during the week as well as the weekend, offering free counselling, working with young dads, and taking Dads Rock into the Prison setting.”

Dads Rock was set up by volunteers three years ago and has gone from strength to strength. Hundreds of dads and their kids have spent quality time together at the charity’s sessions at The Prentice Centre in West Granton and at WHALE in Wester Hailes.

David Millar has been attending the organisation’s Wester Hailes playgroup with his one year old son Matthew since May 2014. David said: “It’s great to talk to other dads and get the benefit from their experiences. I’ve learned a lot of new hints and tips that have really helped with our family life at home. I go every Saturday and last week was the first time I took Matthew and our six week old twins, Mark and Jacob along with me. Groups like this are a great idea as there’s not a lot out there for fathers, especially those who are struggling for help. I look forward to going every week as it’s exciting, informative and I get to spend quality time with my boys.“

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “As a charity set up and run by dads, Dads Rock knows exactly what support fathers need to be able to enjoy positive and rewarding relationships with their children. This funding will reach out to those men who might not otherwise have the confidence to attend a playgroup session or speak openly about their concerns as a parent. I’m delighted that this investment will enable their work to expand, helping many more fathers like David to develop their confidence and self esteem.”

Dads Rock is one of nine groups receiving funding, totalling £4,566 678, from the Big Lottery Fund’s Investing in Communities fund. The others are:

Scottish Autism
Award: £548,662
The ‘Get Set 4 Autism’ project will work in partnership with Autism Argyll to provide post-diagnostic support to families with children up to the age of 18 who have received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Senior Centre Castlemilk
Award: £168,360
This project will work with vulnerable older people in Castlemilk to provide a series of social activities, learning opportunities, information and advice, assistance with appointments and help with shopping and household repairs.

Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association
Award: £356,469
This project will support 90 older people who live in a newly build flat development in Moredun, Edinburgh. The group will employ a full time Community Capacity Builder and part time staff to help people settle in and personalise their homes.

PEEK – Posibilities for Each & Every Kid Ltd
Award: £605,776
This project will extend the group’s current Play Ranger model throughout the north and east of Glasgow.

Home-Start Angus
Award: £297,427
The “Bumps and Beyond” project will improve links with antenatal services and health and childcare services leading to increased confidence, self esteem and understanding of parenting skills. Volunteers will be recruited and trained to deliver the home visiting service families who need help.

Annexe Communities
Award: £629,696
This project will support up to 900 isolated older people in North West Glasgow over five years with a range of social events and healthy activities.

The Royal National Institute for Blind People
Award: £516,235
This project will work in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeenshire to support blind and partially sighted young people, aged between 15-25 years, helping them to move into training, employment, or further and higher education.

Muir of Ord Hall & Facilities Company
Award: £1,156,957
This project will refurbish and extend the existing Old Tarradale School, to create a community hub which will improve the centre of the village and provide a quality facility for the 3,300 residents as well as visitors to the village.

A further 22 projects will share over £20,000 of grants from Big Lottery Fund Scotland’s Investing in Ideas programme. A full list of those grants is available here.

Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @BIGScotland #biglf
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundScotland

Bow-Tow: a Newhaven celebration

Citizen Curator is proud to announce the performance of ‘Bow-Tow, a Newhaven Story’. Presenting storytelling, theatre and a carnival of traditional music set alongside performances by local residents young and old.

To be a Newhavener is to be Bow-Tow. This affectionate nickname symbolises the
working partnership between the fishermen and fisherwomen, one that is at the very heart of this historic community.

Taking inspiration from the history of Fishwives and Fisher-lassies choirs in the area, this event will seen musician Jed Milroy and the newly formed Newhaven Community Choir present a rich mixture of traditional music, song, solo performances and storytelling starting with a spectacular lantern parade each evening.

On Saturday night we will be joined live by special guest Hamish Moore, performing his new work “Bow-Tow” on the bellows blown pipes. In addition, there will be singing in St. Andrews Church (now Alien Rock) for the first time in exactly 40 years.

After the performances there will be an opportunity to explore Newhaven and the meaning of Bow-Tow:

– Displayed in windows along the High Street, ‘Street of Voices’ presents
audio memories and archive footage compiled by Jed Milroy and Rebecca
Milling.
– ‘Beer, Cake and Craic’ (from 8pm Friday and 7.30pm Saturday) will
follow at local venues alongside energetic live music sessions.

Venues include: the family-friendly Peacock Inn, Porto and Fi, The Old Chain
Pier and The Harbour Inn.

These free events are a celebration of a vibrant community and its place in the
21st century. For more information, see ‘Newhavener Bow-Tow’ on Facebook

‘like’ us on Facebook

Shopping? Remember your carrier bags!

Charge for single use carrier bags begins today

Scotland aims to slash its huge consumption of single-use carrier bag through the introduction of a minimum 5p charge on every bag dispensed.

With over 800 million given out every year, Scots currently use the most per head of any part of the UK and a significant number of these end up as litter.

The charge covers all retailers, no matter the size or type. So it’s not just supermarkets and other food retailers, but high street stores and smaller outlets like corner shops and takeaways. It will apply equally to bags made from plastic, paper and biodegradable materials. Shoppers can avoid the charge by remembering to re-use bags or bringing bags for life for their purchases.

Speaking at Tesco Elgin, which is pledging the funds raised to Keep Scotland Beautiful, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “I’m extremely proud that this landmark legislation is now in force. Our carrier bag addiction is symptomatic of our throwaway culture and has serious implications for the environment. Huge numbers of these bags end up as litter, blighting our communities and clogging up our seas and natural habitats, affecting many sorts of wildlife and marine species in particular.

“We want that to change and for people to stop and think about whether they really need to take another bag. Alternatives like bags for life are easy to get and are much more sustainable.

“It’s extremely heartening to see so many retailers have signed up to the Carrier Bag Commitment, which includes a pledge to donate money raised through the charge to good causes around Scotland. Preparations for the charge coming in have been months in the planning and my thanks go to all those involved.

“We’ve seen that similar charges have been extremely successful in other countries such as Wales and Northern Ireland. I’m confident that Scotland can experience similar benefits and look forward to seeing a significant reduction in our use of carrier bags over the coming months and years.”

Iain Gulland, Director, Zero Waste Scotland said: “In Scotland we use hundreds of millions of single-use bags a year – an absurdity when you consider the resources used to make and transport an item for one use, before ending up as landfill or litter.

“The Carrier Bag Charge is an extremely positive step to cut the number of bags in circulation and prevent them ending up as litter, as well as encouraging re-use habits among shoppers.

“Zero Waste Scotland has been working with retailers across Scotland to help them prepare for the charge. We’re delighted so many have already registered for our Carrier Bag Commitment, agreeing to donate proceeds from bag sales to good causes, and we look forward to many more coming on board.”

One month on: delivering ‘The Vow’

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael says pledge to devolve further powers to Scottish Parliament is on track

One month on from Scotland’s decision to remain part of the UK, Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has said the UK Government has hit the ground running on its pledge to devolve further powers to the Scottish Parliament.

He called on First Minister-in-waiting Nicola Sturgeon to adopt a similar approach and show real leadership in making things happen, and said it was vital that people in Scotland accept the result of the fair, legal and decisive referendum and move on in the best interests of all of Scotland.

On 18 September 2,001,926 people in Scotland voted for Scotland to stay in the UK, nearly 400,000 more than voted for the independence option. The turnout, at almost 85%, was the largest in UK election history.

Mr Carmichael said: “Nicola Sturgeon will take the reins at a time where most Scots are moving on with their lives after the long and passionate referendum campaign. We have hit the ground running and are already working hard to deliver the further devolution which we promised.

“During the referendum campaign we set out a timetable for the devolution of further powers and we’re not only meeting it, we’re beating it.

“I would call on Nicola Sturgeon to show genuine leadership and accept the result. There have already been cries of reneging on the more powers vow even though the Smith Commission hasn’t even proposed anything yet. The betrayal bandwagon is already getting dusted down. This is simply not good enough. The Scottish people have made their democratic decision and it must be respected.

“I appreciate the emotional intensity of the campaign but the UK Government respected the victory of the nationalists in 2011, recognised the will of the Scottish people and took measures to devolve the power to hold the referendum. Both sides signed the Edinburgh Agreement in good faith and it is that good faith which we need to see from the new First Minister.

“The referendum gave us a decisive result. This was the most democratic decision we have ever made in Scotland. More than 3.6 million people voted. One question was put to the electorate and the overwhelming majority of people in Scotland answered by saying they want to remain part of the United Kingdom.

“We are now working to build a stronger Scottish Parliament. Calling for a second referendum and reflecting on what could have been is entirely inappropriate. The Scottish Government wanted to divide the United Kingdom but if they carry on as they have for the past month then they risk dividing Scotland.”

Scotland’s deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The Scottish government intends to play a full and constructive part in the process to deliver substantial new powers for the Scottish Parliament.

“This will include working to ensure that the outcome meets the high expectations of the people of Scotland as expressed in the referendum, given the various promises of ‘devo max’, ‘near federalism’ and ‘home rule’ which were made.”

She said that the UK parties were falling out over more powers for Holyrood and introducing Englishvotes for English laws’ at Westminster.

“In the month since the referendum, we have produced our submission to the Smith Commission, continued our engagement with the people of Scotland on more powers and witnessed a phenomenal rise in SNP membership as more and more people realise that it is the SNP that delivers for Scotland. It’s time for the Westminster parties to show the same spirit of co-operation and compromise, to stop squabbling with each other and to join us in working for Scotland’s best interests instead of their own.”

News from North Edinburgh Childcare

Annual General Meeting

North Edinburgh Childcare’s Annual General Meeting will be held on

Monday, 27 October 2014 at 4.30pm

within the Childcare Centre at 18b Ferry Road Avenue.

Into Childcare Programme

We are holding another information session for our Into Childcare Programme on Wednesday 29 October. If you would like to attend please see attached poster and contact details.

Into Childcare Nov 14 Publicity 2

Childcare Academy

We are now recruiting 16 and 17 year olds for our Childcare Academy, which starts on Monday 23 February 2015. See below for further information.

Feb 2015 CA Publicity Poster

26.11.13 Updated Childcare Academy Standard Information (1)

Edinburgh College shortlisted for national awards

Edinburgh College has been nominated in three categories in the Scottish further education sector’s flagship national awards. The College Development Network’s Annual Awards recognise the achievements of staff and students at the country’s colleges.

The college is nominated in the following categories:

The Changing Colleges Award, for the college’s groundbreaking partnership working agreement with Edinburgh College Students’ Association (ECSA), the first of its kind for one of the country’s newly merged colleges. The agreement formalises how the college and ECSA work together, giving the students’ association a strong voice to influence decision making at all levels of the organisation. This award category recognises leadership and innovation in the development of regional colleges.

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award, for ECSA’s commitment to reaching, representing and supporting some of the most under-represented and hardest-to-reach groups in the local community. In close partnership with the college, ECSA has developed a range of events and initiatives to ensure that all students are treated fairly and with dignity, and that their rights are respected.

The Sustainability Award, for the continuing development of the college’s solar meadow project at its Midlothian Campus, which includes an increase in student involvement. The £1.2m, 2,560-panel solar meadow launched in 2013 in partnership with energy firm SSE and generates the equivalent energy for the campus to meet its electricity needs and reduce its carbon emissions by 300,000kg per year. Engineering students have been using data generated from the solar meadow in their studies to learn about renewable energies. This year, the use of the facility as a teaching tool will be expanded and more students from other subject areas will have the chance to use it.

Edinburgh College principal Mandy Exley said: “Receiving three nominations shows the range, quality and creativity of the work our students and staff are doing, and it’s great to receive this recognition from the college community.

“I’m particularly pleased that our close partnership with our students’ association has been commended as we pride ourselves on how students are involved in all aspects of strategic decision making across the college, and how we work closely to make sure they have the best education experience possible. ECSA’s nomination for the equality award is also a great testament to their initiative, energy and dedication to representing all our students effectively.

“The solar meadow nomination reflects the college’s commitment to innovative sustainability projects. Already, it has brought benefits to the college, our students, industry partners and the wider community, and we’re delighted that more students from across the curriculum will have the opportunity to learn from it.”

Last year, Edinburgh College won the College Development Network Awards’ Health and Wellbeing category for its Milton Road Campus Community Garden. The college was highly commended in the Sustainability category for its electric vehicle research project. And it was commended in the Learning and Teaching category for the HND Visual Communication: Graphic Design course’s innovative student induction programme.

This year’s winners will be announced at the College Development Network Annual Awards dinner on 27 November 2014 at The George Hotel in Edinburgh.

Saturday sales

A reminder of two local fundraisers taking place this weekend:

There’s a table top sale at Old Kirk & Muirhouse Church in Pennywell Gardens tomorrow from 10am – 1pm. Tables still available, £5. Come along and grab a bargain!

Also tomorrow, LifeCare in Cheyne Street is the place to be to pick up some early Christmas gifts – they are holding a Craft Fair from 10.30 – 4.30pm, and there’s soup, rolls and snacks too.

Happy bargain hunting!

Eyre Place attack: man to appear in court

A man will appear in court today following an alleged sex attack on a woman in Canonmills.

Police confirmed a suspect aged 35 is being held in connection with the attempted rape of a 21-year-old woman near Smithies pub in Eyre Place.

He is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

The victim was said to have been subjected to a serious sexual assault at about 4am on 8 October.