An inconvenience truth

North Edinburgh to loo-se public lavatories?

Toilets at Granton Square and Canonmills are among a dozen public conveniences earmarked for possible closure by the city council. Local residents are being encouraged to take part in a survey to have their say about the closures.

The Council decided in 2011 to reduce the funding of public conveniences in order to make budget savings of £300,000. It’s believed that around ten public toilets must close in order to achieve these savings.

A list of twelve facilities has been identified for closure, based on criteria such as usage, accessibility and condition:

· London Road

· Tollcross

· St John’s Road

· Canaan Lane

· Middle Meadow Walk

· Joppa

· Hawes Pier, South Queensferry

· Granton Square

· Ardmillan

· Currie

· Canonmills

· Juniper Green

Members of the public are being asked for their feedback on how these potential closures would impact on them individually and their communities – this will help the Council to make the final decision about which public conveniences to close.

Residents can now take part in the online survey which will run until Monday 25 May.

There are currently more than 60 publicly accessible toilets across the city and a community toilets scheme is currently under consideration to further improve provision.

Postive parenting at Royston Wardieburn

TRIPLE P

Positive Parenting Programme

Are you the parent of a 3, 4, or 5 year old?
Do they hit, fight or argue a lot?
Do they find it difficult to make friends?

Short courses are starting locally, offering support and help with behaviour goals for you and your child. Free crèches are provided.

Want to find out more?

Come along to a welcome morning on

Tuesday 28 April

anytime between 9.30-11am

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

11 Pilton Drive North

Free filled rolls and refreshments, and crèche!

For more information call Sarah on 552 5700

email sarah.neal@ea.edin.sch.uk

– or just turn up!

poster local

City Chambers advice event for gala organisers

Councillor Gavin Barrie, Convenor of the Licensing Regulatory Committee would like to extend an invitation to a meeting on Wednesday, 29 April 2015 from 6pm – 7.30pm in the European Room at City Chambers.

There have been many queries from organisers so this evening should provide lots of useful information for those of you who are thinking of organising a Community Event or Gala Day.

Councillor Maureen Child will join us to sit on the panel for the Question & Answer session along with Catherine Scanlin, Licensing Manager and Gordon Hunter, Licensing Policy & Project Officer.

Agenda:
6pm Coffee
6.15pm Introduction from Councillor Barrie
6.25pm Presentation from the Licensing Service
6.45pm Questions and Answer Session
7.15pm Closing remarks

Could you please confirm your attendance by emailing isla.burton@edinburgh.gov.uk

Please let us know if you require any assistance to attend or take part e.g. large print, disabled access requirements, travel arrangements, hearing loop, etc. We look forward to meeting you all!

Fiveways to have a wheely good weekend!

It’s all happening on our local cycle paths on Sunday

Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust is running an event on the cycle paths in North Edinburgh this coming Sunday (writes ELGT’s Mark Sydenham).

Over the past few months we have been working at Fiveways Junction on some landscaping improvements to make Fiveways a landmark on the cycle paths.

Volunteers from Pilton Equalities Project and MYDG have been hard at work carrying out some woodland management and undergrowth clearance in the surrounding woodlands, opening the area up and cutting back overhanging ivy and branches to make the paths brighter and safer.

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre have been working on a six week project on the cycle paths with one of their groups, which has included learning about the paths and their history, and planting some fruit bushes.

This coming Sunday, we are inviting everyone to come along and take part. We have fruit and other bushes to plant, as well as other activities. We will have prizes and goodies to give away too!.

To win one of the prizes, we have a little quiz/treasure hunt – to get the questions, turn up to either the Crewe Toll bridge (over Ferry Road) or King George V Park (Canonmills) between 1pm and 1.30pm and then search out the answers on your way to Fiveways (make sure you get there by 1.30!).

Or just come along to Fiveways and join in the activities between 1pm and 4pm.

There is more information here:

http://www.innertubemap.com/2015/04/26-april-fiveways-junction-makeover-day/

and we will be putting more things up on our Facebook page too

(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Edinburgh-Lothians-Greenspace-Trust/192106231309?ref=hl)

We hope to see some of you on Sunday!

Mark Sydenham, Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust

Telephone 445 4025

www.elgt.org.uk

Forthcoming events at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

Three important events coming up at Royston Wardieburn

CORAL CAFE

Development Meeting
at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre
Thursday 30 April at 10am – 1pm

Come along and have your say on the future development of your café

Soup and fruit will be provided. All welcome.

Coral Café Development Meeting poster

FUN DAY

Family Fun Day
Saturday 30 May 11- 3pm

Raffles, Tombolas, Bouncy Castle, face painting, Water Slide, Bungi Run, Soft Play, Familiar TV Characters, Table Top Sales.
Food & Refreshments available & Music throughout the day.

There will be a small entrance fee and Table Hire

The Fun Day has been organised by the kids -they need to raise £2,000 for M&D’s (P5-P7) and East Links (P1-P4).

fun day poster

TABLE TOP SALE

Saturday 30 May 11am – 3pm

£5 per table

To book a table or for more information contact Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on 552 5700 but HURRY! TABLES ARE LIMITED!

Table top Sale flyer

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

Management Committee

Sudanese Community to hold AGM on Sunday

We would like to inform you that the Sudanese Community in Scotland’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) wll take place on

Sunday 26 April from 2 – 4pm

at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

Pilton Drive North

We have attached a copy of the annual report and a membership form for 2015-16 (below).

Annual Report 2014-2015

Membership Form 2015

We hope that you can make it. Many thanks and kind regards

The Management Committee of the
Sudanese Community in Scotland

Happy birthday, Roberta!

A very Happy Birthday to Royston Wardieburn stalwart Roberta Blaikie, who celebrates her 70th birthday today.

Roberta has been at the heart of community activities across North Edinburgh for many years and friends, family and colleagues from over the years joined Roberta for a surprise party at a packed Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Sunday.

Crime prevention event at Trinity Academy

Police Scotland will be hosting a crime prevention and domestic security event to raise awareness of domestic property security and the effective measures which can be taken to protect your home and property on

Monday 27 April – Forth Event – Trinity Academy 6.30pm

The evening will consist of presentations from Police Scotland, Neighbourhood Watch Scotland and other partners. The event aims to offer constructive advice regarding personal safety and the protection of your property and will afford attendees an opportunity to ask questions.

Last call: register to vote!

Deadline for registration is MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

Alex Robertson, Director of Communications at the Electoral Commission, said: “If you aren’t registered by 20 April then you simply won’t be able to vote on 7 May so do it now at www.gov.uk/registertovote. It takes just a few minutes and is far easier than the old, paper based process. There’s been a great response so far and we don’t want anyone to miss out on having their say on polling day.”

The Electoral Commission said recent applications included almost 470,000 online applications from 16 to 24-year-olds but added that its research also suggested there may be as many as 7.5 million unregistered voters.

The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 20 April. Register now at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Other important dates:

The deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2015 and the deadline for proxy vote applications is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2015.

www.gov.uk/registertovote.

Royston Wardieurn double stabbing: Teenager arrested

Police have arrested a sixteen year old boy in connection with the attempted murder of two men in Wardieburn on 8 April. The boy is currently in police custody and is expected to appear in court next week.

Earlier this month, brothers James and Peter Stewart, told police they had travelled down from Aberdeen to buy a car in Wardieburn. The pair were subsequently attacked and stabbed and both men required hospital treatment.