Category: North Edinburgh News

Council urged to ‘dive in’ to save Waterworld

Campaigners plan a springboard for success?

Splashback, the Edinburgh residents’ campaign seeking to re-open Leith Waterworld, will this morning submit a bid for a community-led re-opening of the leisure pool. Waterworld was closed in January and subsequently put up for sale by the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC).

Back in February, councillors postponed a decision on the sale for six months following the submission of a 6500 signature petition by campaigners.

The community bid, which comprises a detailed business case and offer letter, will be handed in by campaigners to council headquarters at Waverley Court this morning. the site.

Campaigner Johnny Gailey said: “Today we’re taking our community bid to the Council, handing over the torch to the Council. It is only fitting that, during this exciting Olympic time, the future of such a well-loved and accessible pool is secured for the people of Leith, all of Edinburgh and beyond. We are providing a proposal, a springboard, for a new beginning for Waterworld, and we hope the Council will take a leap of faith and dive in.”

Fellow campaigner Ida Maspero said: “We believe our business case and supporting documents demonstrate that best value – in the broadest sense, not simply financial – will be achieved by giving the community a chance to re-open this unique and much-loved leisure pool.”

The business case draws heavily on the results of an extensive user survey run by Splashback between mid-May and end-July.  The survey, which saw over 800 responses, is part impact study and part market research. It reveals the damaging impact of the closure in January, with 74% of respondents saying that they are now swimming less since Leith Waterworld closed.

Maspero continued: “Waterworld’s unique features – particularly its warmer water temperature and shallow beach area – made it particularly popular with parents of young children to gain early water confidence, and for those with disabilities to enjoy the freedom of water. The survey has seen a good number of responses from people with disabilities or their carers, identified by respondents as a user group for whom Waterworld was particularly important.”

One respondent wrote: ‘I attended Leith Waterworld almost every saturday and sunday for the last 5 years.  I am a carer for a young man with Down Syndrome and we loved coming along every weekend, sometimes both days.  Then I had my daughter 2 years ago and brought her every weekend too.  It is very badly missed!’

For more information on the Splashback campaign visit their blog www.splashbackedinburgh.blogspot.com or visit the Facebook page at www.facebook/com/SaveLeithWaterworld

Inverleith set for Foodie Festival

Inverleith Park’s the place to be this weekend for food fans. The local park is the venue for Edinburgh’s Foodies Festival, a chance to meet top chefs and experience the most exciting mix of food, drink and culinary talent.

You will see cooking demonstrations from Michelin starred and top chefs including Ed Baines, Levi Roots, Martin Blunos, Rachel Green and Cyrus Todiwala who will prepare their favourite recipes for you and show you how to prepare these dishes at home.

You can sample and buy artisan food from over 100 exhibitors, indulge in signature dishes from top restaurants and sip summer cocktails shaken by expert mixologists.

Enjoy cuisine from around the world, showcased in the Street Food Avenue; relax in a deckchair and enjoy an ice cream on the Jamie magazine City Beach; children can enjoy hands on cookery classes in the brand new Childrens Cookery School.

Make a full day of it with a unique mixture of masterclasses from top experts in the Food and Drinks Theatre,  entertainment and music on the live stage.

Edinburgh Foodies Festival, Inverleith Park

  • Friday Aug 10th, 11am – 7pm
  • Saturday Aug 11th, 10am – 7pm
  • Sunday Aug 12th, 11am – 7pm

For further information visit www.foodiesfestival.com/

 

Billy Anderson

The NEN is sad to report the sudden death of Muirhouse activist Billy Anderson this morning. Billy, who was 60, is thought to have suffered a heart attack.

Billy was a hugely popular figure in North Edinburgh community circles and in recent years may perhaps be best known for his work in Muirhouse Millenium Centre’s cafe.

We will publish funeral information when we have it.

The Council’s talking rubbish!

Well, recycling anyway!

The city council has organised a series of recycling events to raise awareness of imminent changes to refuse collection and recycling services. The recycling roadshow rumbles into North Edinburgh’s Local Neighbourhood Office in West Pilton Gardens on Wednesday 15 August from 10am – 2.30pm and again on Wednesday 29 August (same venue and times).

For further information visit: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20048/waste_education/480/recycling_roadshows_and_events

 

 

TeamGB wins Play2Learn Olympic football

More than forty children took part in Play2Learn’s Olympic football competition at the Royal High School yesterday.

Ranging in age from four up to teenagers, it was a fun day for all of the youngsters who represented the footballing nations of the world at the event.

And the champions? In a hard-fought contest it was – you’ve guessed it – local heroes Team GB who came out on top to lift the trophy!

Sun comes out for Granton gardeners’ BBQ

What a difference some sunshine makes!

A steady stream of local residents – and at least one wee visitor from Pilton! – popped into the Granton Community Garden this afternoon to enjoy a barbecue. Much of the food was grown in the community garden – doesn’t it always taste better when you’ve grown it yourself?

The garden’s looking good and it’ll look even better with a few more days sunshine. Here’s hoping …

Stolen school files recovered

Dozens of school pupil files that were stolen from a city council worker’s home during a burglary have been recovered. The files contained information about  Broughton High, Granton and Forthview Primary School pupils who have had contact with the Education Welfare Service.

It’s understood that the data records, stolen during a break-in last month, concerned the childrens’ school attendance.

A city council spokesperson said: “The files were recovered on Wednesday after the car that had been used in the robbery was found. The files do not appear to have been tampered with and we have sent a letter out to all the families to let them know this.”

Social History Group’s site on show at local libraries

North Edinburgh Social History Group will be giving demonstrations of their ‘Never Give Up’ on-line archive at Granton and Muirhouse libraries next month.

The social history group spent three years researching North Edinburgh’s proud history of community activism, amassing a huge volume of material in the process. The group’s ‘Never Give Up’ book received great reviews when it launched last year, and all the background information – and a lot of great material that didn’t make the book due to size constraints – was digitised and launched on-line by charity SCRAN in April for all to share and enjoy.

Members of North Edinburgh Social History Group will be visiting the local libraries to publicise and demonstrate this amazing resource at two local libraries next month – at Muirhouse on Thursday 6 September from 10am and then at Granton on Wednesday 12 September from 1pm.

It’s well worth a visit – a treasure trove of community memories which can be accessed for free by using your library card!

For further information on Scran visit www.scran.ac.uk

Share your story – join NEN’s social media workshops

Would you like to use social media like Facebook, Twitter and blogging but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you know a little but would like to know more? Wahtever your level of knowledge, help is at hand – starting later this month, NEN is running a series of five informal social media workshops at Stockbridge Library. The sessions are informal, fun and they’re FREE!

Funded by Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership’s Community Grants Fund and hosted by the NEN, new media experts Tom Allan and Emily Dodd will lead the workshops and help you find your way through the multimedia maze at your own pace.

It’s an exciting new initiative for NEN, offering local people the opportunity to learn new ways to communicate and how to share their stories with the wider community.

The first workshop, ‘Share Your Story – an introduction to Blogging’, takes place on Thursday 30 August from 5.45 – 7.30pm and subsequent sessions will focus on topics like safety and security, video blogging, the joy of stats and how to build an online community.

Interested? To find out more or to sign up visit http://nengage1.eventbrite.co.uk/

All sessions are free, but register early to avoid disappointment!

 

 

Granton youth production’s on the Fringe

Granton Youth Theatre will be performing their powerful production ‘Just Like Everybody Else’ at the Holyrood Road’s Bongo Club this weekend.

The drama was devised and developed by Granton Youth Centre participants and the group’s performance was highly praised when ‘Just Like Everybody Else’ premiered at North Edinburgh Arts Centre in April.

Jut Like Everybody Else can be seen at The Bongo Club, Holyrood Road on Saturday and Sunday at 2.30pm. Tickets are only available at the venue box office or through www.thebongoclub.co.uk . The performance is suuitable for ages 12+.