Category: Pilton
More homes available at Varcity North
![Varcity North - living-dining-kitchen (approved)[143433]](https://i0.wp.com/nen.press/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Varcity-North-living-dining-kitchen-approved143433.jpg?ssl=1)
The penultimate campus at Miller Homes’ Varcity North development is now taking reservations for completions in December 2015.
Released now, the Stafford Campus is sixth block redeveloped within the former development and offers one, two and three bedroom apartments over five floors, with prices from £118,000 to £176,000.
Ten apartments have already been reserved, reflecting the highly desirable location, coupled with the extensive open plan living on and value for money on offer at Varcity North.
Anne Marie Britton, Scotland Area Sales and Marketing Director at Miller Homes, said: “Varcity North is a fantastic development, which has proven to be extremely popular location, with a range of buyers including investors for the buy-to-let market and young couples settling into their first home.
“Attractively priced, the open plan living is ideally suited to the market and does not compromise on space throughout the apartments. The apartments released now are already being snapped up for entry later in the year, so early viewing is a must.”
Situated near Crew Toll and with excellent transport links Varcity North combines stylish city living with spacious, practical and affordable homes.
For more information, go to www.millerhomes.co.uk or call 0808 250 6468.
The Germinators!
They came, they saw … they planted!
A top team of green-fingered activists descended on Drylaw on Saturday. Their mission: total germination and much more besides!
The Spring sun was shining and the afternoon was a great success: pictures by Georgia Forsyth Sijpestijn
And, yes … they’ll be back! Hasta la vista, baby …
Congratulations, Hearts – and NEN told you so!
Heart s won the Scottish Football Championship title this afternoon without kicking a ball. Rangers victory over nearest challengers Hibs at Easter Road was enough to ensure the Tynecastle men secured the title.
Hearts topped the league after a victory over Rangers on day one and have never been headed in a remarkable season – the Jam Tarts have been relentless and have built up an unassailable 23 point lead at the top of the league with seven matches still remaining.
Hearts have lost only once during a dream campaign: sitting on 78 points, they’ve won 25 and drawn three of the league matches they’ve played so far, with the one blot being a 3-2 home defeat by Falkirk.
They have scored 84 goals along the way – that tally includes ten scored in a remarkable record-breaking 10-0 victory over Cowdenbeath. Worthy champions indeed – Rangers and Hibs will continue to slug it out for runner-up spot until the end of the season, but who remembers who finishes second?
Hearts’ success is down to meticulous planning, preparation and attention to detail both on and off the pitch, as head coach Robbie Neilson acknowledged. He told fans: “It’s a fantastic achievement and a great day for the club. It’s also testament to the support we’ve had from the fans, it’s also due to the hard work from Ann Budge, Craig Levein and all of the players. Everything that we have asked them to do, they have done it and they deserve every minute of it.
“The key factor has been the hard work from the players. They have bought into the changes made to the training regime. They have worked hard and they deserve everything. I couldn’t ask any more of them, every day at training they give everything. Every game they give me everything and to a man they have been fantastic this season.”
Few would have predicted Hearts’ rags-to-riches revival this season – the pundits, the experts to a man (and woman) predicted Rangers would land the title crown. The Scotsman, Express, The Hun Sun and Daily Ranger Record all said the league trophy would head to Ibrox. BBC Scotland’s Sportsound team confidently said the same.
Only one lone voice spoke from the wilderness:
‘No, it’s Hibs rivals Hearts who are poised to complete a remarkable resurrection. The club now has something the other contenders lack – stability – and the management team, knowing that Hearts were almost certain to be relegated at the end of last season, has meticulously planned this seasons’s campaign with that in mind.
The players brought in appear to have one thing in common – for different reasons, each has a point to prove – and there’s a quiet confidence emanating from down Gorgie way. Whisper it, but don’t be surprised if the Jambos go on to lift the title.’
Yes, you’ve guessed it … step forward your community newspaper North Edinburgh News. NEN – finger on the pulse of Scottish football!
Grown-up debate: meeting to discuss cuts to adult education classes
Campaigners have organised a public meeting to oppose cuts to adult education classes at Craigoyston Community High School. Adult education has always been a key element of life at the local high school – indeed, it’s seen by many as the ‘community’ in ‘community high school’ – but budget cuts now see adult education classes under threat (writes Dave Pickering).
The meeting takes place at the school on Tuesday at 3.30pm.
An online petition at www.change.org has already attracted almost 200 signatures and campaigners now hope to broaden that support.
The change.org petition reads:
‘Day Time Adult Education classes are under threat across the City of Edinburgh. We at Craigroyston Community High School are campaigning to save our day time classes.
There has been a change in the way money raised through lets and classes is allocated. Rather than the money going to the school it will now go directly to The City of Edinburgh Council.
This undermines the incentive for schools to run Adult Day Time classes and this will have a profound impact on Adult Learners.
Please support our Campaign to save Adult Education Day Time classes not only at Craigroyston Community High School but city wide as well.’
Vanessa Cousins, who initiated the local campaign, said: “Thank you everyone for signing up to our campaign – the response has been really encouraging. I am also setting up a Facebook page called Adult Learners Unite and I hope that this and our public meeting at the school will highlight our concerns even more. It’s important that we get the message about as widely as possible – we are short of time as changes could be taking effect as soon as April.”
Dave Pickering
Perfect weather conditions to view solar eclipse
Bright, sunny … and no cloud! Conditions are perfect to experience this morning’s solar eclipse, one of the natural world’s most stunning phenomenon.
At around 9:35 Edinburgh will briefly be plunged into a eerie darkness as the the Moon covers up the Sun. The whole process will start at around 8:30 as the moon slides in front of the sun and will end at 10:44 when the sun’s full brightness is restored.
It’s an event the ancients believed signalled the end of the world but I am confident we will return to post later today …
However, be careful when trying to view the eclipse:
WARNING. NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITH THE NAKED EYE, OR WITH CAMERAS, TELESCOPES, GLASSES OR DEVICES OF ANY KIND UNLESS SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.
LOOKING AT THE SUN WITHOUT PROPER PRECAUTIONS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS EYE DAMAGE.
March 20, 2015 — Total Solar Eclipse
Spartans benefits from old school ties!
Local businessman Daren Henderson went back to his roots when he presented a £1000 cheque to Spartans Community Football Academy last month. Daren, who owns the Edinburgh Driveway Company, is a Muirhouse laddie, and he handed the cheque over to his old Muirhouse Primary pal – and now Spartans Community youth work manager -Kenny Cameron: the pair were P1s together! (writes Dave Pickering)
Daren explained: “When I watched the Spartand video NEN posted on YouTube (see below) I couldn’t help but listen to the youngsters and think: that was me! I was that young boy with nothing to do but hang around the street corners of Muirhouse and Drylaw.”
Daren immediately decided to support the Spartans Community Football Academy, which provides opportunities for local young people that weren’t so readily available when he and Kenny were growing up.
“The Spartans Community Football Academy is very close to my heart and it was a pleasure to hand over a cheque – this money goes straight into the coffers of the academy and helps take local kids of the streets of North Edinburgh and into much more meaningful activities”, he said. “As an extra, The Edinburgh Driveway Company will be funding go-karting and combat activities as part of Spartans summer programme AND one lucky kid gets to come and work with us for a whole week as part of his/hers work experience to give them that much needed experience of working life.”
Daren’s generosity won’t end here. “This relationship is ongoing and I will continue to support this fantastic organisation – the work they do throughout the whole north Edinburgh community is absolutely second to none.”
Kenny Cameron said: “It was great to see Daren and his support is really appreciated by everyone here at the Academy.”
For more informaton on the Edinburgh Driveway Company visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theedinburghdrivewaycompany
Dave Pickering
On film: Oor Wullie and the great Pilton clean up!
This video of last month’s community clean up event in Pilton was made by Alex Godlewski for the Action for Pilton community group.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDyTdOY8A0w (Preview)
You can find more about the group and what they are doing by visiting:
www.actionforpilton.org.uk
Get growing in Drylaw this weekend
News from Granton Community Gardeners
The sun’s out today and Spring is slowly underway …
We’ve been busy in the gardens, including building a greenhouse, and planting a small orchard with the children at Granton Early Years Centre. We got our first potatoes planted on Saturday.
It’s a great time of year to get involved in community gardening. And this Saturday (21st) we are joint-hosting an event that will be great for getting inspired! (see flyer (above))
‘Germination’
At DRYLAW NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
Saturday 21 March
1pm – 5pm
FREE EVENT
ALL WELCOME!
A celebration of community gardening with a DIY and collaborative spirit.
See flyer for list of workshops.
Also confirmed: Meet a man who has designed and built a bike powered flour mill, have a go and cook pancakes with the result!
Lifts available from Garden at top of Wardieburn Road. Meet 12.30.
Gardening drop-ins are continuing every Tuesday and Saturday. Meet 11am at the garden on the corner of Wardieburn Road and Boswall Parkway. All welcome! No previous gardening experience required!
Gardeners Cafe is now on Tuesdays 3pm-6pm at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre up until the Easter Holidays. Free veggie soup and bread and chat. On Tuesday 31 March we will have a workshop on foraging and herbal medicine from Grassroots Remedies. Please RSVP if you’d like to come to that.
Tom,
Granton Community Gardeners
http://www.facebook.com/grantoncommunitygardeners
General election: North & Leith hustings tonight
It’s now less than fifty days until the general election – it’s seven weeks today – and tonight you have an opportunity to hear the candidates for the North & Leith constituency.
The hustings is being held at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre and the debate kicks off at 6.30pm. The event has been organised by Pilton Community Health Project and will be chaired by Harry Woodward.
Why not go along to hear what the politicians have to say – and get your questions answered?