Category: Uncategorized

Granton sur Mer will sink without community support

Plans to revitalise derelict land on the waterfront will collapse without the support of the local community, organisers have warned. JUMP (Joined Up Master Planning) organised a public meeting in Telford College last week to harness support for their plans – but only six members of the public attended.

JUMP’s vision for Granton’s waterfront – plans include a lido, a garden festival and an artist’s village – have been on the table for two years now, but it’s been a saga of frustration with no tangible progress. JUMP received lottery funding last year to conduct a local consultation exercise, and Thursday’s meeting was seen as an opportunity to update the local community and take the project on to the next stage. With only a handful of people attending, however, organisers are being forced to rethink their strategy.

Architect Ross McEwan, JUMP’s project manager, said: “Granton Sur Mer is a real opportunity to do something creative with derelict land that is currently lying idle. We have come forward with these ideas – ideas that will bring employment, money and leisure opportunities not just to North Edinburgh but the whole city. Our business plan stacks up and it’s so frustrating that we have been unable to take these ideas forward”.

Ross and partner Shaeron Averbuch recently visited Chaumont sur Loire in France and have seen what can be achieved. He is convinced that, with community support, Granton Sur Mer can become a reality.

“We are a very small community group and we just don’t have the resources for big marketing and public relations campaigns. There are things we could maybe have handled better but it has been very hard to get our message out. We really want to work with local people on these plans – nothing is written on tablets of stone, the project name could change if people don’t like it, our ideas for the land could be adapted if the community comes up with alternatives. But what we really need now is for local residents to show their support for the project – if they don’t, the idea is basically dead and we believe that would be a massive missed opportunity for this community”.

JUMP needs to attract local members to keep their waterfront vision alive. If you support the project’s aims or would like further information, telephone 551 2341 or email info@jump-projects.co.uk. An on-line petition can also be accessed at www.granton-sur-mer.co.uk

Good hair day at Telford

Level Three Hairdressing students let their hair down and imaginations run wild when they took part in a creative theme day at Edinburgh’s Telford College earlier this week.

Students planned their themes using ‘mood boards’ then set to work to create their styles on live models with the help of make-up artist student colleagues.  Themes on the day included Tribal, Urban, Fashion, Weddings, Alice in Wonderland – and even the Eiffel Tower!  The students’ work was then photographed for their portfolios.

Instructor Karen Dyer said:  “This is a popular unit and a lot of work and imagination goes in to these themes.  Today’s session helps students to plan and develop ideas and we have some very creative hairdressers here at Telford”.

Before ..
During ..
.. and after!

Forthview to celebrate Pathways to Pilton

Forthview Primary School will celebrate the culmination of the year-long Pathways to Pilton project with a video and photo exhibition at the school next month (12 March).  The event will mark the end of what has been a remarkably successful project which has captured the imaginations of the young and not so young alike!

The Friends of Forthview parents group received Lottery funding last year to ‘create new opportunities for local children and their families to acquire new skills and develop confidence and self-esteem through participation in exciting and innovative creative activities.’  Since then, groups have been working on three different elements.

Forthview Family Support Worker Tracey Berry, who has worked with the group throughout the project, explained:  “We carried out three projects which were geared towards the development of a caring tolerant and creative school and community. Adults and children worked together in an intergenerational and multicultural context to explore cultural similarities and differences with a focus on equality. The three projects were:-

Family Storytelling: We had two groups – one group for dads and their children, the other mums and their children. Each group worked to create a story book which can be used as a resource in our school. The adults and children were extremely enthusiastic and have produced three fabulous story books, with amazing themes – children shrinking the dads, children being rescued by mums from Volcano Island and Fairyland!  An award from “Cash for Kids” allowed us to print many copies of each book.

Family Photography: Carers and children worked together to produce fun and unusual family portraits.

Film Making: This part of the project introduced Carers to using digital media as a means of expression. A film called “Pathways to Pilton” has been produced which follows the diverse roads our children & their carers have travelled to reach Forthview School.”

It’s a fascinating journey, and all roads will lead to Forthview next month when the school will host a 12 March event to share what the families have learnt and celebrate the success of these projects with the school and the wider community. The families will talk about the project and there will be a screening of the ‘Pathways to Pilton’ Film.

Stockbridge Library open for business

Sir Tom Farmer

Edinburgh’s latest business hub was launched in Stockbridge Library in Hamilton Place last night.  The new facility was officially opened by entrepreneur Sir Tom Farmer and it’s hoped that the hub will prove every bit as successful as it’s predecessor at McDonald Road library.

The hub will provide free training and advice to existing local businesses and new starts. A range of courses delivered by professional tutors will cover topics ranging from the principles of how to finance and market your business to classes on how to master social media and develop a competitive edge.

This is the first roll out of the groundbreaking business hub at McDonald Road Library on Leith Walk which has held 68 Business Gatewaycourses with 768 attendees since its opening in May 2010.

This work is part of the Council’s commitment to ‘Building Stronger Town Centres’ through the Economic Development team’s three dedicated Town-Centre Coordinators who work on a variety of projects across the city.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, Economic Development Convenor, said: “In these tough economic times, it is important that we as a Council do as much as we can to support local businesses. Giving them the opportunity to enhance their business skills can only help them develop stronger foundations and therefore a more secure future.”

He went on:  “The overwhelming success of the first business hub at McDonald Road Library has demonstrated the high demand for these types of workshops and I hope that we will eventually be able to roll out hubs across the rest of Edinburgh.”

Sir Tom Farmer CVO CBE KCSG DL, said: “I am delighted to be opening the second of Edinburgh’s dedicated business hubs.  It can often be very difficult for small businesses to get off the ground and it is centres like these that can help give people in the area the opportunity to come to discuss their various issues and the opportunities that arise.  This centre will give businesses a good foundation for success, by not only learning the basics of business but also how to market themselves properly.”

The first nine free weekly workshops at the Stockbridge Business Hub consist of four dedicated to business growth and five dedicated to those wanting to start-up their own business. Full programme information, including booking details, can be found on the Business Gateway website.

One Leith business, GM Cleaning, was started after owner Grant MacCusker attended a Business Gateway seminar four years ago. Now the successful entrepreneur holds talks of his own at the Leith Business Hub in MacDonald Road Library and believes the workshops are proving really popular amongst the local business community.

He said: “Business gateway was a great help in the starting and growing stages of my business. I find it rewarding talking to new and established entrepreneurs, passing on my knowledge and valuable information. With business gateway opening up more hubs and running more workshops it can only be an upwards climb for Scotland and our entrepreneurs coming through.”

 

 

Fresh start for Fresh Start!

Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Councillor George Grubb received a warm welcome to Fresh Start last week as the local charity held a double celebration.  The Lord Provost officially opened Fresh Start’s newly refurbished warehouse in Ferry Road Drive on Friday and the project also received the coveted Investing in Volunteers Award from Volunteer Development Scotland chief executive George Thomson.

George Thomson presents award to Fresh Start volunteer Caroline Stewart

The event was also a great opportunity to say thanks to the project’s 200 volunteers, many of whom attended the celebration.  Fresh Start director Keith Robertson (pictured below) said: ““Providing a roof over a family or an individual’s head is the first step in ending homelessness but making sure they keep it is the next challenge. Our services are volunteer driven and sometimes just the human touch of a volunteer can help combat the isolation felt by those who have been homeless. As well as our Starter Packs and Hit Squads, we also help provide employment opportunities. For some people, without these things, homelessness can become a recurring problem. Our volunteers make it possible for us to continue to help the numbers of people we do.”

Fresh Start director Keith Robertson

More in next month’s NEN

Drylaw attack victim named

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HAPPIER TIMES: Evelyn Crawford pictured with Drylaw Church minister Pat Watson at the Tierney Award reception in 2007

Police have confirmed that the victim of Sunday’s attack in Groathill Road North was 75-year old Evelyn Crawford of Wester Drylaw.  Mrs Crawford remains sedated in hospital with serious injuries including broken ribs, a punctured lung and broken fingers following the vicious attack – thought to be a handbag snatch that escalated – which took place at around 6pm near Ferryhill School.

Evelyn Crawford is a much-loved figure in the local community.  A Drylaw Parish church elder and a willing helper at Girl Guiding and youth clubs, she has also been an enthusiastic member of Drylaw Telford Community Council for many years.  Her dedication to her community was rewarded in 2007 when she was awarded the community council’s Thomas Tierney Award for Good Citizenship.

News of the attack on a much-loved local pensioner has left the community stunned.  A spokesman for Drylaw Telford Community Council said:  “We are all shocked and sickened at this news.  So many people knew and liked Evelyn – put simply, you couldn’t meet a nicer or more helpful person.  Our heartfelt best wishes for a speedy and full recovery go to Evelyn, and we appeal to anyone who has any information at all about this horrific attack to urgently contact the police.  This person must be caught”.

The attacker is described as in his early 20s, around 6ft tall with a skinny build. He was wearing dark clothing and a hat.  It’s understood that he tried to seize Mrs Crawford’s handbag in the attack which took place in Groathill Road North, near the junction with Easter Drylaw Avenue. The attacker was then pursued by a member of the public who chased him towards Telford Road before losing him in Easter Drylaw Drive.

Anyone with information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Governments clash over independence referendum

Who should choose the timing of the independence referendum?  Who should be allowed to vote, and what should the questions be?  A furious row has broken out between Holyrood and Westminster governments over Scotland’s future – the Scottish government says it has a mandate from the Scottish people, but Westminster argues that the Scottish Parliament does not have the constitutional powers to conduct the referendum, and cannot do so without it’s approval.

The row broke out last weekend when Prime Minister David Cameron made clear that he wanted to resolve the ‘legal uncertainty’ surrounding the vote and said:  “We want to work with the Scottish government to give the people of Scotland of a fair and more decisive question”.

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was quick to respond, accusing Mr Cameron of ‘a blatant attempt to interfere in a decision that should be for the Scottish government and Scottish people’.  She added:  “It’s the attachment of conditions that gives the game away – this is Westminster trying to interfere.  Perhaps I should be relaxed about that because the more a Tory government tries to interfere in Scottish democracy, then I suspect the greater the support for independence will be, but there is a key issue of democratic principle here”.

Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore weighed in to the debate on Tuesday when he outlined the Westminster government’s position, but he struck a more conciliatory note.  “I think the important point is that we would not want to carry out the whole referendum process, make the decision at the ballot box and then discover somebody somewhere wanted to challenge that.  Isn’t it better to resolve that potential, get rid of any risk – which I think is clear-cut risk?  Let’s get on with it”.

He went on:  “I am happy to work with Alex (Salmond) to sort out the legal issue and then let’s have a debate about whether or not Scotland should be part of the UK or not – that is the crux of this matter”.

Since it’s election victory in May the SNP government at Holyrood has said that the referendum will take place in the second half of the current parliament.  Last night, that position was firmed up when the First Minister announced that the referendum will be held in autumn 2014.

Mr Salmond said:  “The date for the referendum has to be the autumn of 2014.  That’s because this is the biggest decision that Scotland has made for 300 years.  If you are going to do things properly and have the debate in the way it must be had then that is the date we are going to move towards”.

The Scottish government plans to launch a consultation on the referendum later this month.

Westminster and Holyrood disagree over a number of issues.  The UK parliament favours a straight yes or no question on the ballot paper, while the Scottish government favours a third ‘devo-max’ option that would give more powers to Scotland short of absolute independence.  The Scottish government would also like 16 and 17 year olds to take part in the vote, but this is opposed by Westminster.  Also disputed is the timing of the referendum vote.  Westminster wants the ballot to take place as early as possible while the Scottish government believes the ballot should take place in autumn 2014.

Unless a consensus is reached, it’s likely that these constitutional issues could well end up being decided by the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land.  Scotland’s biggest decision for over 300 years may yet be delayed beyond 2014.

One in three local children living in poverty

A report published today says that nearly one in three children living in the Forth ward are living in poverty.  The report shows that 13 Scottish councils have wards where more than 30% of children live in pockets of severe poverty, and campaigners are urging  politicians to do much more to tackle this ‘shameful’ social problem.

The Campaign to End Child Poverty has produced a map of child poverty for every ward, council and constituency in the country.  Scottish members of the Campaign to End Child Poverty include Action for Children Scotland, Barnardo’s Scotland, Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, Children 1st, the Church of Scotland, One Parent Families Scotland, Poverty Alliance and Save the Children.

The map classes children as living in poverty if they are in families on out of work benefits or work tax credits where income is less than 60% of median – before housing costs.  The Campaign to End Child Poverty said the latest official figures showed that overall in Scotland 20% of children live in poverty on this measure.

In Edinburgh, Sighthill/Gorgie shows the highest levels of poverty at 36%, followed by Forth (30%), Portobello/Craigmillar (30%), Leith (29%) and Liberton/Gilmerton at 28%.

Child Poverty Action Group’s John Dickie, speaking on behalf of Scottish members of the campaign, said: “It is shameful that in almost every part of our country there are children who are missing out and seeing their future life chances seriously harmed.  With public spending budgets under severe pressure the need to invest to prevent the numbers of children living in poverty spiralling is greater than ever.”

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: “We are determined to address the root causes of child poverty.  That’s why last year we launched Scotland’s first ever national strategy to tackle child poverty, which will see Scotland’s poorest families benefit from help to increase their household incomes and improve their children’s life chances.”