Behave!

Antisocial Behaviour & Disturbances in Edinburgh

With temperatures on the rise again today Police in Edinburgh have made a public appeal for people to behave responsibly:

Last weekend saw an increase in antisocial behaviour and disorder, particularly at Portobello Beach and the Meadows. Dedicated officers will be on patrol this afternoon and over the weekend, focussing on engagement and early intervention, particularly in these areas.

Officers would like to remind the public that we still need to control the spread of Coronavirus and follow the guidelines from the Scottish Government.

Superintendent David Robertson from St Leonard’s Police Station said: “Last weekend saw small groups of individuals, intent on trouble, engage in antisocial behaviour, risking public health and disrupting the enjoyment of the Meadows and Portobello beach for those wishing to do so responsibility. Let me be clear that this behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

“Officers will be on patrol in these areas this afternoon and over the weekend and will continue to engage with the public, explain the legislation and guidance and encourage compliance. We will use enforcement as a last resort only where there is a clear breach of the legislation. Our ultimate aim over the weekend is to prevent further disorder.

“Officers have been specifically briefed in respect of early intervention, engagement and will make use of the Edinburgh street drinking byelaw, where it is necessary and proportionate to do so in order to prevent antisocial behaviour. As was the case last weekend, those identified as being involved in antisocial behaviour and disorder will be arrested and charged accordingly.”

“The Chief Constable has made it clear that we are asking people to take personal responsibility to do the right thing and remember the purpose of these measures is to aid the collective effort to stay safe, protect others and save lives by preventing the virus from spreading.

“Aberdeen going into lockdown is a stark reminder that the virus is still very present and posing a threat to our communities. It also underpins the importance of continuing to follow the Scottish Government guidance.”

Coastguard safety tips

PoliceScotland works extremely closely with HM Coastguard to jointly keep people safe on our coastline and beaches.

Ssee some safety tips (below) from our Coastguard colleagues on how to keep safe this summer:

Check the weather forecast & tide times
Read local hazard signs
Leave inflatables at home – as they can very easily drift out to sea
Keep a close eye on your family
Have a fully charged mobile phone
Have a meeting place if you get separated

Lastly – consider taking a photo of your family or group at the start of your seaside day. Should a family member go missing, you will have an up-to-date photo including an accurate clothing description.

In a coastal emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard

#WaterSafety
#999Coastguard
#BeBeachSafe
#FloatToLive
#RespectTheWater
Maritime and Coastguard Agency

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Her Majesty’s (HM) Coastguard are urging every parent to be aware of the potential dangers of rip currents to be beach safe.

RNLI lifeguards can't be everywhere this summer; protect your family, follow safety advice, save lives.
Be beach safe this summer

On Sunday 26 July, seven people, including five teenagers were lucky to be rescued after being caught in a strong, fast moving current in Wales.

And at the start of the month, RNLI lifeguards leapt to the rescue of 12 unsuspecting bathers who were swept off their feet by a rip current into rough seas at a beach in Cornwall.

Last year, RNLI lifeguards dealt with more than 1,500 incidents involving rip currents, saving the lives of 95 people caught in them.

Gareth Morrison, RNLI Head of Water Safety, said: ‘Our coastline is a fantastic place to spend time together as a family but there are also plenty of potential dangers, especially for those who aren’t fully aware of their surroundings.

‘The main one is rip currents which cause most incidents in the water that RNLI lifeguards deal within the UK.’

‘We are seeing a spike in incidents this summer involving these potentially deadly currents, which move even faster than an Olympic swimmer and can quickly drag people into deep water a long way from the shore.

‘It’s important that anybody venturing in or near the sea knows, not just what rip currents are, but how to react if they are caught in one or see someone else in trouble.

‘They are difficult to spot and even the most experienced and strongest swimmers can find themselves caught out so it’s important where possible to use beaches that have lifeguards patrolling on them.’

If you find yourself caught in a rip current, try to remember the following key safety advice:

  • Don’t try to swim against it, you will quickly get exhausted.
  • If you can stand, wade don’t swim.
  • If you can, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore.
  • If you can’t swim – FLOAT to live by leaning back in the water, extending your arms and legs, and resisting the urge to thrash around to gain control of your breathing.
  • Always raise your hand and shout for help.
  • If you see anyone else in trouble, alert the lifeguards or call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.

Off-duty Aberdovey lifeboat crew member Arwel Jones was one of those who sprang into action on Sunday afternoon after his wife spotted two teenagers struggling in the water.

Together with some lifeguard friends and former lifeboat crew who happened to be wind and kitesurfing, they pulled seven people to safety.

‘They were just so lucky the right people happened to be in the right place at the right time,’ said Arwel. ‘There was even a doctor on the beach by chance, when we got them out of the water.

‘It’s a scary thought but a few seconds here or there and it could have been a very different outcome.’

While rip currents are not the only danger at the coast with tidal cut-offs and inflatables also the cause of many emergency calls, they make up the majority of incidents in the water for RNLI lifeguards and are a major cause of accidental drowning across the world.

The RNLI and Coastguard strongly advise against taking inflatables to the beach and urge people to be aware of the tide times and local hazards to avoid getting into trouble.

Director of HM Coastguard Claire Hughes said: ‘We’ve seen so many times how easy it is to get caught out by the sea.

‘That is why it is important to swim or bodyboard on lifeguarded beaches, stay within your depth, swim parallel to the shore and keep a close eye on friends and family at the beach and in the water.

‘Make sure you are always contactable at the coast by carrying a fully-charged mobile phone and if you get into trouble or see someone else in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’

For further information on the beach safety campaign visit: rnli.org/beach2020

A full list of lifeguarded beaches can be found here: rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches

Stay safe in the sun

A report will be published by the City of Edinburgh Council today outlining plans for councillors to consider reopening more public toilets.

The Policy and Sustainability Committee will consider the report next Thursday (6 August) following a city-wide review and a proposal to reopen public toilets in ‘hot spot’ areas near busy parks and beaches, which was approved by the Committee earlier this month.

With warm weather forecast from today and lockdown restrictions having eased considerably in recent weeks, people are reminded to use the nearest open public toilet if they are caught short in areas such as the Meadows and Portobello Beach as these have become increasingly popular.

The council’s street cleansing teams are also working extremely hard to keep the city clean and tidy under pressure and we need everyone to help us keep Edinburgh beautiful by binning their litter or taking it home with them to put in their own bin.

Adam McVey, Council Leader, said: It’s fantastic that people will have the chance to enjoy some lovely weather in our beautiful parks and beaches in the coming days as restrictions have eased considerably but if you are, please remember to follow Scottish Government social distancing guidance.

“People should also remember to plan ahead and take any rubbish home with you or use bins provided. Please also be respectful if caught short and use a public toilet or your own at home if no other facilities are open nearby.

“It’s really important that we protect public health at the moment and we will open more public toilets when we can. I would ask everyone in the meantime to plan ahead to minimise use of public toilets where they are open and keep our parks and beaches clean and tidy for everyone to enjoy.”

Depute Leader, Cammy Day, said: “It’s great that we have so many beautiful spaces across the city where people can enjoy the sunshine but we need your help to keep them clean and tidy.

To try to stop people from littering in the city we’ve teamed up with Keep Scotland Beautiful and Zero Waste Scotland this summer as more and more people are now enjoying our parks, beaches and other open spaces.

“We’re supporting Keep Scotland Beautiful, who have wrapped our bins at Portobello with anti-littering and dog fouling messages to help to keep the water clean and we’re putting Zero Waste Scotland anti-littering messaging on some of our bins in other hot spot areas.  We’ve also put around 40 extra bins out at the Meadows/Bruntsfield links and Newhaven.

Public toilets currently open until 30 October:

  •         Pipe Lane in Portobello
  •         Hope Park in the Meadows
  •         Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens
  •         The Courtyard at Saughton Park
  •         Bruntsfield Links
  •         Hawes Pier, South Queensferry
  •         Cramond

My Beach Your Beach campaign relaunched at Portobello

Environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful, has kicked off its “My Beach, Your Beach” campaign for the third year at Portobello Beach.

Every summer since 2018 the campaign has worked to raise awareness of bathing water quality and the role that people can play, whether on the beach or at home, to protect the sand and sea at Portobello. From feeding gulls to leaving litter and dog mess behind, seemingly simple habits can cause pollution and put both water quality and beach experience at risk.

In previous years, the campaign has been successful in significantly reducing the incidence of litter and dog fouling – with a 55% reduction in litter between the first and second year of the campaign.

My Beach Your Beach will continue to raise awareness of the potential impact on water quality by dog fouling and encouraging gulls by feeding and leaving litter. In addition, this year, My Beach Your Beach aims to ensure that beaches are not negatively impacted by increased use by locals and visitors alike as lockdown eases.

Portobello Beach joins five others selected for the 2020 campaign, all of which have faced challenges in improving the quality of their bathing water as measured by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Research confirms the strong link between behaviour on the land and the cleanliness of the local seawater, so this year the campaign is more poignant than ever, as we see some of our favourite sites facing unprecedented pressures as more people holiday in Scotland, consume more single-use and take-away food and find services, such as toilets and bin provisions, limited.

Paul Wallace, Campaigns and Innovation Manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful said, “We are delighted to be bringing My Beach Your Beach, with a difference, back to Portobello Beach this year. 

At a time when we have all reconnected with our local spaces, and are starting to visit sites further away for leisure, we know that if the sun comes out our beaches could bear the brunt of a wave of anti-social behaviour.

“The 2020 campaign will take community engagement on-line and encourage those who live locally to get involved and celebrate their beach. But we will still be ensuring the campaign has a presence on the beach too – with the familiar campaign artwork appearing on bins and at key business locations.

“We’re calling for people who are #LuckyToLiveHere and love their local beach to get involved and celebrate what is on the doorstep – starting with a call out to share images and stories about the beach they love with us.”

In addition to old campaign favourites like the doggy ambassador competition and business support packs, new activities for 2020 will include surveys for local people to monitor the litter and dog fouling levels, a Young Reporters competition and educational resources that celebrate the beach. 

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “We’re pleased that My Beach, Your Beach will continue to focus on Portobello Beach this year.

“It’s wonderful that we have such a well-loved beach in the city, particularly in recent months, but as we’ve seen lately, the litter and dog fouling that result from its popularity are unacceptable. By involving local people in celebrating their waterfront, this campaign will help spread the word on the impact antisocial behaviour can have on water quality.”

The campaign, funded by the Scottish Government and supported by SEPA, is being led by Keep Scotland Beautiful to sit alongside its Upstream Battle and Clean Up Scotland campaigns and annual Beach Awards.

Find out more about how you can get involved and contribute to the campaign on your local beach at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/mybeachyourbeach  

Councillors to consider reopening public toilets

A proposal to reopen public toilets in ‘hot spot’ areas near busy parks and beaches has been published by the city council following a city-wide review.

Councillors on the Policy and Sustainability Committee will consider a report on Thursday ( 9 July) which outlines how some public toilets could be reopened safely following government guidance, having been closed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With lockdown restrictions being gradually relaxed in recent weeks and the weather improving, areas such as the Meadows and Portobello Beach have become increasingly popular. Unfortunately, this has also led to people relieving themselves outdoors and in the vicinity of people’s homes causing a significant health hazard.

Adam McVey, Council Leader, said: “The city is slowly starting to return to a ‘new normal’ and as more restrictions are gradually eased we know a lot of people are out enjoying our beautiful parks and beaches, and more recently returning to visit the many and varied quality shops and other businesses Edinburgh has to offer.

“We are reopening some toilets to ease the situation but I would ask that everyone is respectful they’re when out and about. Plan ahead and if you’re caught short, get home to use your own facilities if there are none open nearby.

“It’s only possible to reopen some public toilets in busy areas as we must make sure we’re following government guidance and putting in all of the necessary measures required such as additional deep cleaning and physical distancing to keep everyone safe. The cost of reopening can’t be underestimated but it’s important that we do all we can to support our communities and combat the negative anti-social behaviour some of our residents have experienced.”

Depute Leader, Cammy Day, said: “We know the situation is far from ideal, but we have limited resources and the priority here must be protecting public health.

“We’ll keep everyone updated as soon as it is possible to reopen all of our toilets safely. Until then we’ll be using signage, our website and social media to keep everyone up to date with health and safety measures we’re putting in place and which toilets are open when.”

Assuming the report is approved, and all health and safety measures are put in place, selected public toilets would reopen on Monday, 13 July.

This would be on  a temporary basis until 30 October from 11am to 6pm, seven days a week. A further review will be carried out in September and an update report will be considered by councillors in October. This report will outline details of customer numbers, costs incurred, and any updates on public health advice.

Public toilets to reopen 13 July – 30 October:

  • ·         Pipe Lane in Portobello
  • ·         Hope Park in the Meadows
  • ·         Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens
  • ·         the Courtyard at Saughton Park
  • ·         Bruntsfield Links
  • ·         Hawes Pier, South Queensferry
  • ·         Cramond

Appeal following Portobello robbery

Police are appealing for information after a 15-year-old boy was robbed in the Portobello area. The incident happened around 7pm on Sunday (14 June) on Mount Lodge Place.

The teenage boy was approached by two men, one of whom threatened him with a knife before stealing his silver and red Carrera mountain bike.

The two suspects left the scene on bikes towards Portobello High Street.

The men are described as follows:

Man 1 – late teens, 6ft 1in tall, straight black hair with fringe, tanned complexion and black bushy eye brows. He was wearing a black buff covering lower face/nose.

Man 2 – white, late teens, of skinny build and was wearing a black balaclava showing eyes only, black puffer style jacket and black joggers.

Detective Constable Christina Yeoman, of Edinburgh CID, said: “This was an appalling and traumatic experience for the victim and his friend and on this occasion no-one was seriously injured.

“Officers are carrying out extensive enquires in the area and would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this incident take place or any information regarding the whereabouts of the bike.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101, quoting incident 3351 of 14 June. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.

What a first year for The Portobello Bookshop!

When Jack founded The Portobello Bookshop in July last year, never could he have imagined that he’d be celebrating Portobello’s one-year anniversary in the midst of a global pandemic!

While the physical shop might be currently closed, Jack is determined to keep the activity going (safely!) and keep bringing books to his wonderful customers.

After weeks of hard work and planning, the bookshop set up a new online order system, and they will soon be launching a click-and-collect service.

In spite of the current challenges, Jack and his team are remaining hopeful and creative, and are still planning to celebrate Independent Book Week, in whatever form might be safe to do so.

Their current plans involve a virtual event with children’s author Emily MacKenzie, whose latest book Beware! Ralfy Rabbit and the Secret Book Biter (Bloomsbury) is published this month.

Emily will also be curating a stunning shop window for Portobello.

Jack said: “For the time being we don’t plan to open as a physical shop, but instead to run a click and collect service, as we keep an eye on things and open at a time when we feel it is ok to do so. 

We’re going to make sure our shop is as safe as possible. This will include distancing signs around the interior of the shop, a shield for our till area, and of course hand sanitiser always available.

“The interior of our shop was always designed for easy access and navigation and the flow of it from left to right will allow us to hopefully ensure people can move around safely and browse easily.”

 

Jack talked about their plans for Independent Bookshop Week: “IBW is a wonderful thing and we’re pleased that it will be possible for us to do something for it with the lockdown having been lifted a little.

“We’ve got local author and illustrator Emily MacKenzie popping in to the shop to do an inspiring window featuring characters from her latest book Beware Ralfy Rabbit and the Secret Book Biter, a book all about books, reading and the love of literature.

“She’ll also be doing an online event, most likely streamed via our Instagram, which both children and adults are welcome to join!”

From online events with bestselling authors, to a picture book celebrating key workers, to virtual bookshop crawls, Independent Bookshop Week 2020 will go ahead this year, taking place 20-27 June as planned.

Organised by the Booksellers Association (BA) and sponsored by Hachette, the annual celebration of independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland this year has adapted to include online events to give book lovers across the country access to authors and books during lockdown.

The week will celebrate the role indie booksellers have continued to play in building a sense of community during the pandemic, as well as encouraging customers to support their local highstreet by shopping local at what is a particularly challenging time for small retailers.

VIRTUAL EVENTS

Confirmed events taking place during IBW include:

  • Meg Rosoff, bestselling author of How I Live Now, will be joining the series of virtual events “At Home with 4 Indies”, created by booksellers from Book-ish (Crickhowell), Linghams (Wirral), Forum Books (Corbridge) and Booka Bookshop (Shropshire). The series, which since the lockdown began has included guests such as Joe Wicks, Robert Webb, David Baldacci, and Marian Keyes offers all book-lovers a new, special kind of author event. The event with Meg Rosoff will be live on the At Home with 4 Indies Facebook page on Tuesday 23rd June at 8pm.
  • Maggie O’Farrell, bestselling author of the Women Prize nominated novel Hamnet, will join At Home with 4 Indies on Friday 26th June at 8pm.
  • Cressida Cowell, Waterstones Children’s Laureate will be a holding a virtual bookshop tour on her social channels, featuring each of the following indies on a different day for the duration of IBW. Bookshops confirmed so far are Mainstreet Trading (Melrose), Little Ripon (North Yorkshire) and Silverwood Events (Kirkham, Preston).
  • Steve Chambers, co-author of Resist: Stories of Uprising, a collection of stories and essays exploring two millennia of British protest, will be doing a virtual event with Bookmarks Bookshop (London) on Friday 26th June.
  • Julia Bell, novelist, essayist, poet, creative writing course director and author of Radical Attention will be taking over the social channels of Newham Bookshop (London) and sharing her bookshop picks during the week.
  • Tim Burgess will be curating a special book-inspired playlist, released on his Twitter channel at 3pm on Sunday 21st June.
  • To celebrate National Reading Group Day, which coincides with the first day of IBW, The Reading Agency will be encouraging reading groups across the UK to read The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri. There will be a discussion with the author on Facebook on Saturday 20th June.

INDIE BOOKSHOPS AND PUBLISHERS PAIR UP

To underline the many ways in which small businesses are supporting each other at this difficult time, IBW wills see independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland being “twinned” with indie publishers, in a series of special events and exclusives.

Confirmed twinned bookshops and publishers include:

  • Saraband Books (Glasgow and Manchester), indie publisher of fiction, nature writing, and environmental reads will be twinned with Sam Read Bookseller (Grasmere, Lake District).
  • Publishers of “the best of Chinese literature”, Alain Charles Asia (West Sussex) will be promoting 11 indie bookshops from Sussex throughout the week via its social channels.
  • Indie publisher Wrecking Ball Press (Hull) will be partnering with The Rabbit Hole (Brigg) and will be hosting virtual events with a selection of their authors, providing signed titles and more.

EXCLUSIVES

An early release of Meg Rosoff’s new children’s book, The Great Godden will be available exclusively in indie bookshops during Independent Bookshop Week, with signed copies and tote bags available for customers, before its general release in July.

Thank You, Heroes, a new picture book celebrating key workers by Patricia Hegarty and Michael Emmerson will be release exclusively in indies from 20th June, ahead of wider publication in July. Little Tiger will be donating all publisher profits on UK sales to NHS Charities.

INDIE BOOK AWARDS

The shortlist for the Indie Book Awards 2020, this year in their fourteen edition, has been revealed, as voted for by independent booksellers across the UK and Ireland.

Spanning four categories – Fiction, Children’s Fiction, Picture Book and a new Non-Fiction prize – the awards celebrate the paperback books of the year, as chosen by independent bookshops, and are part of Independent Bookshop Week (20 – 27 June 2020), the annual celebration of indie bookshops organised by the Booksellers Association.

Included in this year’s shortlist are Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo (Girl, Woman, Other), international best-selling author Elif Shafak (10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World), Baillie Gifford Prize winner Hallie Rubenhold (The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper), former Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson (Animalphabet) and Irish Children’s laureate Sarah Crossan (Toffee).

Chosen by a judging panel of independent booksellers, authors and industry influencers, the Indie Book Awards winners will be announced on Friday 26 June 2020, the penultimate day of Independent Bookshop Week.

The full Indie Book Awards 2020 shortlist:

FICTION SHORTLIST

The Offing by Benjamin Myers (Bloomsbury)

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak (Penguin)

You Will Be Safe Here by Damian Barr (Bloomsbury)

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Picador)

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (Corsair)

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo (Penguin)

NON-FICTION SHORTLIST

Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner (Hodder & Stoughton)

War Doctor by David Nott (Picador)

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold (Black Swan)

Extraordinary Insects: Weird. Wonderful. Indispensable. The Ones Who Run Our World by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson (Mudlark)

Mudlarking by Lara Maiklem (Bloomsbury)

No Win Race by Derek A Bardowell (Mudlark)

CHILDREN’S FICTION SHORTLIST

Toffee by Sarah Crossan (Bloomsbury)

Deeplight by Frances Hardinge (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Chinglish: An Almost Entirely True Story by Sue Cheung (Andersen Press)

The Star Outside my Window by Onjali Q. Rauf (Orion Children’s Books)

The Somerset Tsunami by Emma Carroll (Faber & Faber)

The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson (Usborne)

PICTURE BOOK SHORTLIST

Animalphabet by Julia Donaldson & Sharon King-Chai (Two Hoots)

Greta and the Giants by Zoe Tucker & Zoe Persico (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)

Don’t Worry Little Crab by Chris Haughton (Walker Books)

Alfie on Holiday by Shirley Hughes (Puffin Books)

I’m Sticking With You by Smriti Halls and Steve Small (Simon & Schuster)

Franklin and Luna Go To The Moon by Jen Campbell, illustrated by Katie Harnett (Thames & Hudson)

The final winners of the Adult categories will be chosen by a panel chaired by bookseller Matt Taylor (Chepstow Books & Gifts) and including Elizabeth Perry (Daunt Books), Zool Verjee (Head of Marketing and Publicity at Blackwells), Sarah Shaffi, (freelance journalist and #BAMEinPublishing co-founder) and Hachette author William Shaw.

The judging panel of the Children’s categories will be chaired by bookseller Vanessa Lewis (The Book Nook) and includes Layla Hudson (Round Table Books), Jessica Paul (Max Minerva’s Marvellous Books & More), Jonathan Douglas (CEO of National Literacy Trust) and Hachette author Piers Torday.

For updates and to join the conversation on social media, follow @booksaremybag and #IndieBookshopWeek.

Council mapping tool: £5 million ‘doon the pan’?

A new online platform enables people to share suggestions for creating safer spaces for walking, cycling and wheeling safely in Edinburgh as the current restrictions begin to be lifted – but one local business owner says the city’s plans are ‘a disgrace’.

  • Mapping tool launched to help people suggest improvements to make active travel easier and safer
  • £5m funding from Transport Scotland via Sustrans will support changes across the city
  • Package of measures already underway to help people walk, cycle and wheel as restrictions are lifted

In collaboration with Sustrans, the city council has launched the  Commonplace mapping tool, which, throughout June, will allow residents to highlight ‘pinch points’ where emergency measures could help people maintain physical distancing safely on foot, bike or wheelchair.

Earlier this month the city council announced a package of suggested interventions to make it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to move around the Capital.

As well as providing extra space, the proposals recognise a rise in active travel since lockdown began and aim to facilitate this as the phased lifting of lockdown continues. On Wednesday, Edinburgh was granted £5m Transport Scotland Spaces for People funding, administered by Sustrans, to help deliver measures to achieve this.

Over recent weeks the council has received many suggestions for road closures, widened pavements, segregated cycle lanes and other possible actions from across the city.

Now, the public will be able to highlight specific areas on an interactive map and provide feedback on barriers experienced, as well as identifying improvements. This, along with ideas already shared, will help shape council efforts over the coming weeks and months.

Cllr Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “We’ve hit the ground running with an extensive programme of measures to help people observe physical distancing while walking, cycling and wheeling, and to support them to continue to do so once restrictions are eased.

“This week we were delighted to receive a fantastic £5m funding award from Transport Scotland, via Sustrans, which will help us to go even further to achieve these aims.

“We’ve seen a real increase in cycling and walking since the beginning of lockdown and we want to help this to continue as we return to a sense of normality.

“We’ve already had an incredibly enthusiastic response from residents who also want to see calmer, safer conditions maintained as we return to normal. This new tool is a great opportunity to involve the very people who use our streets to help shape our plans.”

Cllr Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice-Convener, said: “Our transport officers are working extremely hard to implement these changes as quickly as possible, and we’re delighted that the measures already in place have received such a great response from residents.

“We’ve received lots of ideas from across Edinburgh for further interventions, and this tool will help even more people highlight areas for improvement. We’d also like to reassure everyone who has already submitted suggestions to us that there is no need to resend them via this new tool, as we are reviewing all suggestions collectively no matter how they come to us.”

Dave Keane, Infrastructure Manager, Sustrans Scotland, said: “The City of Edinburgh Council has shown great ambition to make it easier for people to get around safely on foot, by bike or wheelchair during Phase 1 and beyond.

“We hope people living in Edinburgh will engage with the Commonplace mapping tool – it’s really simple, clear and easy to give feedback. Most importantly, it will help the council get a clear picture of where temporary interventions are needed most.”

Responses received through the Commonplace platform will be recorded and used to inform plans, though temporary interventions that will have the greatest benefit to public health and can be delivered in a short timeframe will be prioritised. The website will close for comments on 29 June.

A council spokesperson said: “While we welcome every response, we won’t be able to deliver all the improvements suggested, with any work dependent on available funding, procurement of materials and the availability of contractors.

“We’ll soon be sharing information on schemes that have been suggested alongside those that are being progressed on our website.”

A programme of changes is already underway across the city. The latest measures to be implemented include the partial closure of Stanley Street and Hope Lane (between Stanley Street and Christian Grove) and the closure of Warriston Road to through traffic.

The first will provide a low-traffic corridor for people to walk and cycle and access nearby green spaces like Figgate Park while the latter will create a wide pedestrian and cyclist-friendly space leading to access to the North Edinburgh path Network.

The council says existing temporary road closures in Silverknowes, Greenbank, Cammo and Leith have been welcomed by community members, creating welcoming and safe spaces for pedestrians and cyclsts of all ages and abilities – but at least one business owner is furious over ‘bungling council road closures’ (see below). 

The Council’s overall approach will be implemented to support the Scottish Government’s phased approach to lifting lockdown.

All measures that are introduced will be closely monitored and refined or adapted in response to any issues, where necessary. The design process for any intervention will consider all road users, particularly people with mobility or visual impairments, and will seek feedback from organisations including RNIB, Edinburgh Access Panel and Living Streets.

At least one less than complimentary suggestion will be winging it’s way to the council. Boardwalk Beach Club, located on Silverknowes foreshore, is furious over a council decision to close local roads and is calling for consistency across the city.

In a statement on Facebook, Boardwalk Beach Club said:

*** COUNCIL BUNGLE WITH MISMANAGED CLOSURES DISCRIMINATING AGAINST DISABLED, ELDERLY, YOUNG FAMILIES, BUS USERS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ***

“Road of Cramond Glebe Road and Silverknowes Road and closure of Cramond Car Park leave only one road access to Silverknowes and Cramond Beaches via 50 Marine Drive EH4 5es accessible via Silverknowes Parkway/Pennywell Road/Lower Granton Road).

“A disgrace and terrible for businesses and disabled, elderly people and young families in the area. Expect Cramond to have no businesses or services very soon. The village has been dying with less shops and businesses than the 1960’s and this will continue with the loss of Cramond Car Park.

“A total disgrace to businesses who didn’t open during Lockdown to help the community and who are now being hit with a double whammy as this disgraceful council discriminates against Cramond Beach/Silverknowes Beach while Portobello Beach is huge crowded with people and cars with little or no traffic restrictions.

“It doesn’t make sense that elderly, disabled people, young families and others can now not access two major roads leading to the safest, widest, most beautiful Promenade in Edinburgh within the second largest park in Edinburgh and largest coastal park and deny them access to buses within one mile (removing the 29 Lothian Bus from Silverknowes Promenade).

“And removing more than half of the free car parking at a time when Lockdown was lifted and Phase One measures allow people to meet in parks and on beaches in groups of up to eight people when people are travelling by car to congested garden centres and supermarkets.

“Please can The City of Edinburgh Council explain why Cramond Beach and Silverknowes Beach continue to be discriminated against when other beaches are accessible and open?

“Ten years without a bus, three years with no JustEat Hire Bicycles on a 3 mile promenade which is now flooded with people cycling, Noddy small roadside bins which constantly overflow with rubbish, six cycle racks along a 3 mile promenade when 15 were put in outside small shops elsewhere, uncut grass, roads closed in order to cause traffic jams to justify more roads being closed.

“The Council is a disgrace discriminating against elderly, young families and disabled people wanting to enjoy the amazing Cramond Beach and Promenade. Marine Drive is now fully open but disabled people have to search for a place close to the entry and for some this is too much.

“Please reconsider for beach access for all, especially since the 29 Lothian Bus service to Silverknowes Promenade was removed due to your closure of Silverknowes Road.

“It looks like the monies from The Scottish Government will be going DOON THE PAN!

“Edinburgh Council are turning the situation into “Go oot, dinnae go oot”. Why deny access to amazing safe social distancing setting and shoehorn people into tight areas? It makes no sense, especially when people are allowed to cram into small garden centre car parks and rammed supermarket car parks.

“It’s utter nonsense. Let’s make this place awesome. Please contact your Councillors, MP and MSP to make your voice heard. Live the dream.”

Submit suggestions on the Commonplace tool online, by 29 June.

Into The Blue at Porty!

Scotland has some of the most beautiful and diverse marine ecosystems in the world and, in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters, this large-scale outdoor photography exhibition will take you on a fascinating journey around some of Scotland’s most remarkable coastlines.

Revealing the beauty of coastal landscapes, introducing some of the weird and wonderful inhabitants of the world beneath the waves and exploring the role seas and oceans play in our lives, Into the Blue is the story of our oceans‘ scale and majesty, their biodiversity and potential as well as the threats they face.

The exhibition is free and open all day, every day until Monday 27 April.

Edinburgh Science Festival cancelled

Following close monitoring of the ever-changing situation regarding the global spread of COVID-19 and having held discussions with key partners, Edinburgh Science is sorry to announce the decision to cancel this year’s Edinburgh Science Festival, scheduled for 4-19 April.

With the Festival less than three weeks away from opening and a programme of over 270 events, this has been a complex process for the organisation to manage, but the health and wellbeing of the visitors, participants and staff remains Edinburgh Science’s number one priority.

The Festival’s key venue partners, the National Museum of Scotland, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and City Are Centre managed by Museums and Galleries Edinburgh on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council have all announced their closures today until further notice.

All customers will be refunded immediately. Should anyone experience a delay they are advised to contact boxoffice@scifest.co.uk.

The board and directors of Edinburgh Science would like to pay tribute to the hard work of the Festival’s core team in developing this programme and to the much wider network of dedicated and creative people they rely on for the successful delivery of all projects.

Festival and Creative Director Amanda Tyndall said: “Now more than ever it is imperative that the public have access to robust, evidence-based science, delivered in a manner that is accessible to them.

“The Science Festival remains committed to that goal and to working with our wonderful partners across the science sector to help connect people with the latest science in these unsettling and challenging times.

“We are exploring how we might do more online and whether any elements of the Festival might potentially be run later in the year and will keep you informed as plans develop. For now, we would like to thank our funders, sponsors, partners, participants and audiences for their loyalty, support and understanding in these unprecedented times.’’

Into the Blue, large-scale outdoor photography exhibition showcasing the beauty, biodiversity and fragility of Scottish coasts and seas, will go ahead as planned. It opens today on Portobello Promenade (Wednesday, 18 March).

This exhibition is curated by Emily Raemaekers from the Science Festival with support from Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020. It’s a free, family-friendly and drop-in activity, open every day until 27 April.

Through a series of arresting images, Into the Blue invites its audiences to consider the human impact on and responsibility for water, one of the most precious resources on Earth, and ask how we can live in harmony with our watery, blue planet?