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Councillor’s words show ignorance of community

We are incensed at the comments by Councillor Elaine Morris, “Councillor brands anticuts protesters ‘rabid'” (News, September 1).
Greater Pilton is a fantastic place to work and live, and in fact top council workers, councillors, MPs and MSPs all came through and gained a wealth of knowledge from the so called “rabid anti-establishment” folk of Greater Pilton.

Over 65 years ago, brave men and women fought for independence, democracy and free speech, but apparently this does not count if you are living in Councillor Morris’s ward.

The people of Greater Pilton have been in the forefront of any campaign that fights for the rights of the common man/woman. In fact Greater Pilton is proud to have, within their boundaries, an organisation which has been running for over 50 years. From this organisation many other community organisations have emerged and been encouraged to “cut the apron strings” and go it alone. When the people of Greater Pilton make up their minds to do something, they do it, and don’t change their minds halfway through because they think the grass is greener on the other side – can you say the same, Councillor Morris?

One of the definitions of “rabid” is extremely enthusiastic and zealous, well in that case, thank you Councillor Morris, at least we have the community at heart, unlike you, we fight for the whole of Greater Pilton and not just for our own little corner.

For you to threaten (in your political speak) an arts centre with withdrawing their funding if they allow this meeting to go ahead is disgusting.

The Greater Pilton area was built on the blood, sweat and tears of local activists and it will continue to go from strength to strength. Councillor Morris should also remember it was local people who voted her in. They can also vote her out.

This letter appeared in the Edinburgh Evening News from West Pilton West Granton Community Council.

Local Counillor Elaine Morris's comments have upset many local people.

A bit of oomph

“You can go a long way on a bit of oomph”. This was the advice given to the graduating students of Edinburgh’s Telford College by guest speaker Jenny Eclair. Jenny had been invited to the College’s 2011 Graduation Celebration to honour the many students who had graduated after years of hard work.

Friends and family came together last night (Monday 12 september) to see hundreds of students receive their degrees, diplomas and certificates and we were treated to a flavour of the kinds of ability the College nurtures from dancers, actors and musicians. Principal Miles Dibsdall, in his usual enthusiastic and voluble way, paid tribute to the hard work of all the students there.

Jenny Eclair, who admitted to being a bit of an “illiterate goth” at school, told us that she finally achieved her success through writing. The underlying message was that, whatever your ability, you can achieve your goals through identifying what you are good at and going for it.

Despite the well-deserved celebration of achievement, this year’s graduation followed controversial and unpopular cuts in the College’s budget, which resulted in courses being axed and staff made redundant, after the Scottish Government imposed a 10% cut in funding. Shortly we will, coincidentally, also see the publication of the Scottish Government’s pre-legislative paper on the future of further education, which may well result in the merger of colleges throughout Scotland. Telford College attracts 40% at least of its students from the north Edinburgh area. If it is forced to merge with another college, what will be the impact on courses offered and therefore on the number of local students. How local will local colleges be then?

Spartans u19’s see off Dumbarton in tough Scottish Cup tie.

Local football side Spartans u19’s played host to Dumbarton on Sunday at Ainslie Park.

Despite the strong wind and heavy rain showers both teams played some attractive football, but unfortunately this game wont be remembered for the football it will be remembered for the ten players that were yellow carded and six players were sent off, all this despite there hardly being a bad challenge in the game.

Spartans took the lead in the opening ten minutes after some great play for James Cuthbertson, he went on a run down the wing and when he broke into the box his powerful shot was pushed away by the Dumbarton keeper Ryan Malley, Cuthbertsons’s persistence was rewarded and he had the simple task of heading the ball into the empty net.

Cuthbertson got his second of the afternoon when he was played in and as he broke away from the defence his perfectly placed shot nestled low in the corner of the net. On the half hour mark Cuthbertson got his hat-trick when he again broke away from the Dumbarton defence and the cool headed striker slotted the ball home.

Just as it was looking as if it was going to be Spartans day they were reduced to ten men when Daniel Shields was sent off for a deliberately tripping the Dumbarton striker Ryan Metcalf as he was bearing down on the Spartans goal. From the resulting free kick Dumbarton pulled on back when the ball was whipped in and fell to the feet of Gary McKell who smashed the ball past Ian McTurk in the Spartans goal.

Despite this setback Spartans still managed to sneak another goal before the halftime interval thanks to Callum Donnelly, he got on the end of a long ball forward and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper. Dumbarton felt they should have had a penalty just before the interval when the ball appeared to hit the hand of Lawrence Kidd but referee Ralph Gordon judged it to have been accidental.

On the hour mark Dumbarton were also reduced to ten men when Metcalf appeared to take a dive in the Spartans box and the young striker gave the referee no option having already been cautioned earlier in the match. Dumbarton started to get on top for a spell and Reece Pearson picked the ball up in midfield and his powerful shot beat McTurk but crashed of the woodwork before the danger was cleared.

Pearson did get one back when he got on the end of a cross and his shot beat McTurk and landed up in the net. A melee then ensued in the Spartans goals and Dumbarton’s Gary McKell lashed out at McTurk leaving the Spartans goalkeeper lying on the ground and the referee had the simple task of producing the third red card of the afternoon.

Pearson got his second of the afternoon when he broke into the Spartans box and as the danger looked to be cleared by the defender the ball came off Pearson’s leg and over the McTurk and into the net.

Chris Keddie was then played but the assistant referee had judged the ball was out off play, Keddie made his feelings about the decision clear and after a verbal tirade at assistant referee Peter Peace promptly became the fourth player to be dismissed.

With only a few minutes remaining Alan Longmuir almost levelled it when he got the end of a cross and his powerful header from close range went just wide of the target.Into injury time and just as it appeared all the action was over Dumbarton’s Glen Campbell put in a wild tackle on Paul Henderson leaving the player requiring treatment and Campbell became the fifth player to be set packing. After his challenge there was a coming together of a few players and on receiving advice from his assistant referee, Ralph Gordon produced a sixth red card to Spartans Isaac Imrie.[slideshow]

Spartans will now face St Johnstone in the next round of the Scottish Cup.

Embarrassed patients 'putting lives at risk'

MEN and women in the Lothians are putting their lives at risk because of embarrassment, a bowel cancer charity has warned.
Research by Bowel Cancer UK found that 40 per cent of residents would rather not talk to their GP about a concern, despite the risks of staying quiet. It is an issue that is proving a huge obstacle to health chiefs, who say the cancer is highly treatable if caught early.

Chief executive of the organisation, Deborah Alsina, said: “I can’t stress enough how important early diagnosis is. It saves lives.” Last week the Evening News reported how a project to send self-testing kits to everyone in the Lothians aged between 50 and 74 has potentially saved more than 150 lives – the number of people who began treatment having not known they had the disease.

NHS launches online help for addiction

HELP on drug and drink addiction is now available online thanks to investment from NHS Lothian.
The health board has revamped its Edinburgh Alcohol and Drug Partnership (EADP) website, which it runs with the city council. The resource provides in-depth information about addiction and recovery, as well as links to support in the area.

Nick Smith, EADP’s joint programme manager, said: “We have made the most of the partnership and drawn all the available knowledge together on to one site.

“People concerned about their drinking, or that of a family member or friend, will find advice on the issues caused by alcohol and drugs and, importantly, information on the wide range of local agencies which offer help to aid recovery.”

Kids aged ten set fire to flats in city’s ‘Wild West’

CHILDREN as young as ten are said to have set fire to a derelict building in Muirhouse – as besieged locals tell how the area is fast becoming the “Wild West” of the Capital.A gang of 15 youths was seen scaling the disused building in Muirhouse Avenue on Friday afternoon before breaking through metal security shutters on the first floor and running amok inside.

Residents reported hearing the yobs ransacking empty homes on their way to the top floor, where it is thought they started a fire. Fire crews said it was the second suspected fire-raising incident in the building in as many days, while locals told how the external wall of a neighbouring building, which is also abandoned, had been torn down by vandals.

In May, yobs set fire to a block of flats in nearby Muirhouse Parkway while continuing to search for scrap metal as the building burned.
One Muirhouse resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the area was blighted with relentless antisocial behaviour and called for the two derelict buildings to be demolished.”This kind of this has been going on for months,” he said. “And it seems there’s nothing to stop them, they aren’t afraid of anything. “When these yobs managed to get access to the building, they did so in full view of everyone but they just didn’t care.

“They took the side of a house down the other week and the hole was so big you could have driven a van through it. It’s like something from the Wild West or maybe even Monty Python, because it’s so crazy.”

The unnamed resident, who has lived in Muirhouse for 40 years, said he watched youths climbing to the first floor balcony at around 4pm before breaking in and sparking a blaze. “There were about 15 of them aged between ten and 16 breaking in,” he said. “The next thing a neighbour came up and asked me to call 999 because they had set fire to it.

“There had been a lot of smashing and banging coming from the rear of the building but then there was thick black smoke pouring out from the top floor. My house is only about 30 metres from the flats and I could smell the smoke inside my own house. “As soon as they heard the fire brigade sirens they scarpered.”

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Border Fire and Rescue Service said: “We had already attended a small fire at the property on Muirhouse Avenue the previous evening.

“We are yet to establish whether it was started deliberately but derelict properties often attract a rogue element.”

Ward councillor Steve Cardownie called on residents to help police identify the culprits but said the vast majority of the community were “law-abiding and hard-working” people.

“There is obviously a distinct lack of parental control if parents are letting ten-year-olds get up to such wilful acts of fireraising and vandalism,” he said.

“It beggars belief that kids as young as ten are putting themselves and others in great danger by getting involved in this kind of activity and we need to nip this in the bud before something tragic happens.”

Source: Edinburgh Evening news

Botanics left red-faced as plant fails to blossom

STAFF at Edinburgh’s world-famous Royal Botanic Garden have been left red-faced after the horticultural event of the decade fell flat.

The institution has been waiting eight years for its giant “corpse flower” to bloom and confidently predicted the event would happen this summer – the first time ever in Scotland.

So sure were staff, they printed T-shirts and set up a webcam, and even prepared to borrow a thermal imaging camera from the fire brigade to monitor the flower at night.

But all the 154kg monster produced was a giant, spindly leaf.

It is hoped that the plant will flower next time around which will be around March 2013.

Source: Edinburgh Evening News

It's stall kicking off in Stockbridge.

A NEW twice-weekly open-air food market could soon be established in Stockbridge, despite fears raised by residents over rodent infestations, noise and the impact on local businesses.
The Stockbridge Market will feature a range of food products, with confirmed producers including Ridley’s Fish and Game, Cheesee Peasee and Au Gourmand Artisanal Bread.

It is also set to sell non-food items, including crafts, vintage clothes, jewellery and CDs.

Proposals for the market, to be held in Jubilee Gardens, have been recommended for approval by city planners, but still have to be approved by councillors next week.

• Do you support the plans for a twice-weekly food market in Stockbridge? Vote here

If granted permission, it will be held every Thursday from 2pm to 8pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 6pm, and will feature a total of 26 stalls.

However, the plans – submitted by the French Food Company – have been met with resistance from some local residents who believe the Jubilee Gardens site, which is bordered by Saunders Street and Kerr Street, is unsuitable for such a market.

Anne Harrison, a resident of Saunders Street, wrote in a letter to the council: “Last year there was a major infestation (of rodents] resulting in the seated area at Jubilee Park being stripped out to eradicate rodents.

“The proximity of the park to the Water of Leith also contributes to this problem.

“I fear that a food market will only exacerbate the rodent problem.

“There are serious health and safety implications here.”

She added: “Stockbridge already has many local businesses providing the types of food the market will offer.

“In the current climate their business might suffer drastically from a regular market event.”

Concerns have also been raised about the loss of the gardens as a public space during the market’s operating hours.

Saunders Street resident Helen Walker added in an objection to the proposal: “The site of the proposed market is one of only a few open landscaped gardens available to the public in this area and the accessibility of this area would be greatly reduced by the operation of the market.

“Jubilee Gardens is closely overlooked by the bedrooms of the first block of residential dwellings in Saunders Street.

“The market is to be opened on a Thursday evening and Sunday morning and will increase the local noise levels and disturb the sleep patterns of local residents, especially those of young children and shift workers.”

A statement on the website for the Stockbridge Market says it plans to start operating “really soon”.

Heritage group The Cockburn Association backed the plans.

Director Marion Williams said: “We support the proposal of an open-air food market in this location and believe it could contribute to the vitality of the Stockbridge neighbourhood shopping streets.”

Source: Edinburgh Evening News

Man United Come To North Edinburgh

Local football side Spartans will face one of their toughest challenges of the clubs history when they face a Man United team tomorrow afternoon at Ainslie Park. The game is being played to mark the clubs 60th Anniversary.

Looking ahead to tomorrows game Spartans co-manager Mike Lawson said

“We had a short session this morning, gave Chris Flockhart a feel of the ball after his holiday, worked out who was available for tomorrow and generally gave me a chance to say hello after three weeks in the Spanish sun. From our first team pool of 23 players only 4 are unavailable for tomorrow so Chris Smith, David Etale, Jonathan Seeley and Keith “The Hoff” McLeod are the only players to miss out for various reasons.  That leaves 19 players who will strip although there are doubts about Ali MacKinnon who has a slight strain and we’ll leave it up to him whether he wants to take to the park or not.

How do Sam and I approach the game? Do we set up our stall with our fittest 11 players and battle out as respectable a score as we can or do we have a go? Let’s face it tomorrow is more than likely the only time any Spartans player is ever going to get the chance to play Manchester United so we have to let the 19 available players time on the park. Do we start strong then bring the younger boys on? do we mix it up?  do we accept that this is not your normal pre-season friendly and just go out and enjoy it?

Actually as I write this I’m wearing a top which says Spartans v Manchester United XI on our 60th Anniversary in the “Ronnie Swan Challenge”. I think we should let them win and go down to Old Trafford and let them defend their trophy next summer.

Seriously tomorrow is a great day for our club. Tomorrow is a great game for our players. Tomorrow could also be an uncomfortable afternoon for Sam and myself. We will shape the team to go out and compete and we’ll change things around to accommodate all our players. We have to enjoy the occasion, enjoy the atmosphere but if we don’t compete to the best of our ability I won’t be a happy co-manager.

Let’s hope Sam and I have a smile on our faces after 90 minutes.”

Man Untied havehe squad which is coming north to face the Seniors this coming Sunday. The squad includes a couple of first team players in Republic of Ireland International Darron Gibson as well as Polish International keeper Tomasz Kuszczak. The squad also includes Oliver Norwood, who has been capped by Northern Ireland as well as a number of exciting young players including 18 year olds Paul Pogba from France and Rafael Leao from Brazil.

Tickets are available for the game and can be bought from the Academy up until 12pm on Sunday.

All the action kicks off at 3pm at the Academy

Talented Telford student has designs to expose Granton’s secret garden

Edinburgh’s Telford College student Michael Kerr submitted the winning design in a challenge set by National Grid to create signage that will help more people discover its new public park at The Forthquarter. Despite playing host to the Granton Community Gala for two (soon to be three) years running and more recently an Active Schools Outdoor Adventure event, there are a great many people unaware of this urban oasis.

So when National Grid decided they wanted to erect signs to help residents and visitors to discover and enjoy the open space nestled behind Telford College and Morrisons supermarket they didn’t have far to look for fresh ideas.

Four first year HND Visual Communication students responded to the brief but is was 24 year old Michael Kerr from Galashiels, who wowed project manager Jim Moore.

“I was enormously impressed with all of the ideas put forward, but Michael’s designs really stood out. Not only had he understood what we were looking for on this occasion, he has created a new set of innovative and useable ideas to market wider aspects of the park” said Jim.Michael receives £500 in prize money and will see his ideas become reality when information points are installed at the three main gates to The Forthquarter Park: West Granton Road, Waterfront Broadway and West Shore Road.

 

“I am really thrilled to have my designs chosen. it was great to have an opportunity to work on a live project and I can’t wait to see how the information points turn out. As a student I will obviously find a good use for the prize money!” said Michael. National Grid also contributed £1000 to the college in recognition of costs and  resources required to ensure the students were fully supported and encouraged to participate in the initiative. The 20 acre Park officially opened to the public in April 2010 and is a firm favourite with the locals that know about it.

“National Grid wanted input from people who use the park and have come to know the area, Telford college students were an obvious choice” added Jim

Michael completed his National Certificate in 2010 and this year completed his first year of a two-year HND Visual Communication (Graphic Design) with his design for National Grid helping him achieve an A+. David Hiddleston, Curriculum Manager at the college said: “We are delighted with Michael’s success. Challenges like this are fantastic for developing learners’ skills and provide valuable experience of working to a creative brief with a real client.

National Grid will now request quotes from local sign makers to produce Michael’s designs and the information points should be installed at each of the three park gates later this year. With The Forthquarter Park featuring in Robin Howie’s new book 100 Scotsman Walks and National Grid sponsoring further signage to be installed along Granton Promenade as part of Scottish National Heritage’s bio-diversity trail, Granton’s secret garden’ won’t be a secret for very much longer.