The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 3390 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

Silenced communities?

Public meeting to challenge ‘gagging law’

38 Degrees – a non-party-political, member-led campaigning organisation – is holding a public meeting on Thursday evening to organise support against legislation they say will gag ordinary people and charities but will leave big lobbying firms untouched.

The Westminster government’s Bill is an attempt to clean up the lobbying industry but a wide range of campaigning and charity groups see the legislation as an attack on free speech which, if enacted, would severely curtail the rights of groups and individuals to participate in open public debate and discussion.

To find out more about the ‘Gagging Law’ and how it could seriously damage democracy, why not go along to 38 Degrees’ public meeting this Thursday evening?

The meeting will be held at the Cosla Conference Centre at Haymarket Yards from 7.30 – 9.30pm. Edinburgh West MP Mike Crockart is expected to be in attendance.

For further information visit www.38degrees.org.uk/gagging or check out #gagginglaw on Twitter

Letter: say ‘no’ to pig factory farm

Dear Editor

It has taken many years of public pressure to get improved conditions for factory-farmed chickens, even after their horrendous treatment was exposed.

The vast majority of people who agree all animals should be treated with care will be horrified to learn of a proposal being put to Derbyshire County Council by Midland Pig Producers for permission to build a vast pig factory to confine 25,000 pigs until ready for slaughter. It is well known that pigs are highly intelligent outdoor animals and they would seriously suffer being confined, whatever conditions apply.

This way of treating animals must be resisted and stopped. Please write, email or fax Derbyshire County Council asking them to reject the application.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Six supsended at Western following drink allegations

Six Western General Hospital porters have been suspended following allegations they were drinking while on duty on New Year’s Day. NHS Lothian has initiated an investigation and says it is treating the incident “extremely seriously”.

It is understood that a nurse found the porters drinking in a staff room and alerted management.

George Curley, NHS Lothian’s director of operations, said: “We are investigating allegations into a small number of portering staff drinking alcohol whilst on duty at the Western General Hospital on Wednesday.

“NHS Lothian takes any instances of this nature extremely seriously and as a result of this incident six members of staff have been suspended, and a full investigation is under way. These suspensions had no impact on patients within the hospital and the work of the individuals involved was carried out by other colleagues.”

Witnesses appeal following Granton Ladbrokes robbery

A police investigation is ongoing following a robbery at a Ladbrokes bookmakers on West Granton Road on Thursday evening.

The incident took place just before 9.30pm when two men walked into the bookmakers and demanded that staff hand over money. A three-figure sum was taken during the incident.

A third suspect is believed to have been in the vicinity at the time of the robbery.

The first suspect is described as white, male, 5ft 9in tall, skinny build, late teens to early 20s, local accent, wearing a dark hooded top, dark scarf covering his face, dark tracksuit bottoms.

The second suspect is described as white, male, 5ft 9in, skinny build, late teens to early 20s, dark clothing with his face covered.

The third suspect is described as white male, 5ft 9in, medium build, wearing a black hooded top with the hood up and grey joggers.

Detective Constable Alison Wyllie said: “This was a terrifying incident for the staff member who was working alone in the premises, and we are keen for anyone who was in the area at the time, or who recognises the description of the suspects to get in touch with police immediately.”

Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland on 101, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Recycle your Christmas cards at Sainsbury’s

Local residents are being encouraged not to throw their old Christmas cards in the bin and instead help support the environment. Customers at Sainsbury’s Blackhall can start the New Year by making a positive impact to the environment and recycle their cards at the Craigleith store.

Customers have until Tuesday 14th January to bring in any of their old cards, with a collection box situated at the front of the store. The recycling drive is part of the retailer’s partnership with the Forest Steward Council UK.

The collected cards will be recycled by Sainsbury’s and it will make a donation to the Forest Stewardship Council UK (FSC) in the New Year based on the volume of cards collected in its stores. Last year it donated almost £9,000 to help the FSC with its work to promote responsible management of the world’s forests.

The initiative has grown this year, with collection boxes now in over 1,000 supermarkets and convenience stores throughout the country. Sainsbury’s online customers in Blackhall can also have their cards collected from their homes when they receive their online shop, making it even easier to recycle and help reduce the amount of household waste going to landfill.

Sainsbury’s Blackhall Store Manager George Paton said: “We had a really positive response from our customers last year and with their help, we’re hoping to make an even bigger contribution this time. It’s a great way to continue that goodwill feeling and ensure your cards are put to positive use, which is all part of our No Waste to Landfill commitment”.

Rosie Teasdale, Deputy Director, FSC UK added: “Sainsbury’s donation provides essential support for our education and awareness-raising work, helping us to support people in the UK protect the world’s forests. Recycling paper results in less waste going to landfill, it reduces the pressure on forests, and it’s helping to give future generations the gift of healthy forests.”

Additionally, all ‘paper’ wrapping paper can also be placed in the Christmas card recycling collection boxes to support this activity [Sainsbury’s sells over five million rolls of wrapping paper each year – that’s enough to stretch from London to Tokyo and back].

The retailer achieved zero waste to landfill at all stores in 2013 and customers can also recycle batteries, mixed paper and card, mixed cans, mixed glass and plastics throughout 2014 at the Blackhall store’s recycling centre, which complements existing kerbside collections. Meanwhile, customers can also recycle their clothing and other items like DVDs and books at the recycling centre to support Oxfam.

More funding for money advice

Extra £280,000 to help groups who face barriers accessing money advice

Projects which give advice to vulnerable people facing debt and welfare problems will benefit from a £280,000 funding boost. The additional projects will focus on helping the most vulnerable, such as disabled people and victims of domestic abuse.

The extra funding will enable funds to be allocated to a further four projects through the Making Advice Work programme, at the end of January.

Since launching in October, 68 projects have received grants through the Scottish Legal Aid Board’s scheme with £7.45 million spread between projects which help members of the public access the right benefits and avoid debt, and those which offer advice to tackle welfare reform and debt problems.

Among the projects are 12 schemes that provide targeted support to people who face barriers accessing information and addressing money problems.

The new funds will allow more projects provide help to vulnerable groups.

The Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “At a time when people should come together with their friends and family it is vital that the most vulnerable members of our society are protected and cared for.

“Making Advice Work has already helped 68 projects across Scotland and this latest £280,000 investment will strengthen the work of some of these great schemes.

“Westminster has responded to tough economic times by imposing drastic welfare cuts which will affect some of our most vulnerable groups. The impact on disabled people and women is particularly hard, which is why we’ve made this additional funding available.

“This investment is supporting vulnerable people and helping individuals and families make the transition to the new system. I have been clear that this government will not turn its back on vulnerable people.

“As detailed in Scotland’s Future, only with the power of independence can we tackle these welfare reforms head on.”

The grant funding scheme which runs until March 2015 is facilitated through SLAB and jointly funded by the Scottish Government and Money Advice Service.

Lindsay Montgomery, Chief Executive of the Scottish Legal Aid Board, said:

“The Board is delighted that the Scottish Government is making it possible for the Board to support more of the agencies who had applied to us in the summer for funding to help overcome barriers to advice for vulnerable communities

“The additional funding is to enable us to support more of these shortlisted projects and will allow the development of new partnerships and connections between third sector organisations that are already trusted sources of support within these communities, and organisations well placed to provide good quality advice to tackle debt and money problems.”

Money Advice Service’s chief executive Caroline Rookes said: “We are delighted that the Scottish Government has identified additional finances to contribute to the programme of advice funding for marginalised groups that we established as part of Making Advice Work.

“The quality of applications for that programme was extremely high and this additional funding will allow more projects to start and enable more people to resolve their debt problems across Scotland.”

See the attached document (below) for a list of the 68 projects to receive funding through Making Advice Work:

MAW_AllProjects_providers

Christmas tree recycling options

With festivities over for another year, residents wishing to recycle their real Christmas trees have a number of options:

Christmas trees can be recycled at any of the city council’s three Community Recycling Centres.

If you have a brown bin or live in a brown bin area, place your tree at the kerbside, next to your bin, by 6am on your next garden waste day. Collection days can be checked by entering an address or by postcode at http://www.greenboxday.co.uk/.

Trees will also be collected from communal bin areas during January, on the following dates:

• City Centre and Leith – Monday 6, 13, 20
• East – Tuesday 7, 14, 21
• North – Wednesday 8, 15, 22
• West and South West – Thursday 9, 16, 23
• South – Friday 10, 17, 24.

To enable trees to be recycled, residents are reminded to:

• Remove all decorations from the Christmas tree
• Cut the tree in half if it is over 6ft tall
• Do not place trees in plastic bags.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Environment Convener, said: “Whether they put it on the kerbside next to their brown bin, take it to a Community Recycling Centre or leave it out for collection beside communal bins on the designated day, people can ensure that their real Christmas tree is recycled now the festive season is over.”

New Year, new powers for communities?

Plans for greater local decision making

Have your say by 24 January

Communities across Scotland will enjoy greater decision making powers over the use of public sector land and buildings following the introduction of a new bill to Holyrood this year.

A consultation is currently taking place on The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill, which will allow communities to identify and ask for any public sector land or buildings they feel they could make better use of than its current owner.

And decisions over whether such assets should be transferred will be based on which proposed use would provide the greatest community benefit.

A consultation on the bill was launched by Local Government and Planning Minister Derek Mackay in November, and interested parties are being urged to submit their views before the consultation closes on January 24.

In addition to the proposed measures to improve decision making powers for communities, legislation will also be updated and simplified to support local authorities’ provision and management of allotments.

Local authorities will have a duty to provide allotments linked to and triggered by actual demand, and to protect permanent allotment sites from closure.

While current allotment provision is not sufficient to satisfy demand, the local authority will be under a duty to keep waiting lists below a specified target whether by acquiring land or otherwise.

There will be new duties to strengthen Community Planning, so that public sector agencies work as one to deliver better outcomes for communities.

Views will also be invited on how communities might benefit from legislation to improve the national and local focus on improving outcomes, currently implemented through Scotland Performs.

The bill also proposes:

Streamlining and extending the existing community right to buy to cover urban and rural communities as part of our ambition to have 1 million acres in community ownership by 2020
Providing new powers to help councils deal with defective and dangerous buildings, and to provide local relief schemes on business rates
Increasing transparency about the management and use of Common Good assets.

Local Government and Planning Minister Derek Mackay said: “Scotland’s people are its greatest asset, and it is only with the confidence that comes with independence that people will be able to fully determine their own futures.

“The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill is about people and communities taking their own decisions about their future, and its introduction will build on the support of the Scottish Government, set out by the First Minister in the Lerwick Declaration, for subsidiarity and local decision making.

“The Bill will help community groups to take over public land and buildings where they think they can make better use of them than their current public sector owners.

“This Bill will also reform the community right to buy, giving urban communities in Scotland the same rights as rural communities, where it is in the public interest.

“Rules on Scotland’s allotments will also be simplified. Allotments foster a community spirit and provide a range of benefits such as a cheap source of fruit and vegetables, and therefore a healthy diet.

“The consultation on the bill comes to an end on January 24th, so there is still time left for interested parties to submit their views on this important piece of legislation.”

The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill Consultation document can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/Current

Let’s make this a Hogmanay to remember

Chief Medical Officer calls for responsible drinking over Hogmanay

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer, Sir Harry Burns, has urged revellers to take care this Hogmanay.

Sir Harry said: “Whether you are seeing in the bells at one of Scotland’s outdoor parties or in the company of close friends and family, Hogmanay is a wonderful time of the year to be enjoyed.

“Everyone should have a night to remember and this means taking responsibility for your drinking.

“There are simply too many people across Scotland drinking too much alcohol and putting their health at risk. You shouldn’t think this happens only to other people, alcohol misuse affects people across society. There’s nothing wrong with having a drink, as long as it’s done safely and not to excess.

“If you are planning to drink this New Year’s Eve then enjoy a good meal before you go out. It’s also important to keep track of what you are drinking. Cocktails and generous home pours can contain much more alcohol that you might think.”

“Missing a round of drinks is absolutely fine. It’s good to be sociable but don’t let others dictate your pace. You don’t need to drink alcohol throughout the night, having a soft drink or a glass of water will help you feel much better in the morning and let you enjoy the festivities until much later.

“Many people will be setting themselves the challenge to lose weight or to become healthier next year. One of the easiest ways to achieve both is to cut back on the how much and how often you drink. Small changes in your alcohol consumption will make a big difference to your health at the end of 2014.”

“I want everyone to enjoy Hogmanay and remind them this can be done without drinking too much. Keep warm, keep safe and remember if you are planning to drive the next morning be very careful the night before”

The message comes the day after Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill met representatives from Best Bar None and Police Scotland to hear their plans for ensuring everyone in the capital and beyond enjoys a safe and happy Hogmanay 2013.

For more information on responsible drinking visit http://www.drinksmarter.org/

Business as usual for rescue centres over Christmas

The Scottish SPCA’s Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre had 212 animals in their care this Christmas Day. It was business as usual for the dedicated staff at the charity’s centre in Balerno, which is open to the public all year round.

Manager Diane Stewart said, “It’s a heartbreaking reality that there are
lots of pets without loving homes to call their own this Christmas time.
“However, thanks to our dedicated staff, no animal in our care spent
Christmas Day alone and we even made sure they all got a little treat
from Santa.

“The animals here are relying on us as they don’t have anywhere else to
go, so it’s simply not an option for us to close over the holidays. We’ll be here for them throughout Christmas and New Year, ensuring they’re fed, watered and exercised every day as usual.

“There’s also the task of washing down the kennels, cleaning out the catteries and other enclosures and making sure animals receive any necessary vet treatment.

“Our inspectors and animal rescue officers will continue to rescue abused, abandoned, injured and neglected animals throughout the festive period so we also need to be on-hand to take in any new arrivals and offer them a place of safety.

“We aren’t rehoming young animals such as puppies and kittens between 19
December and 3 January to prevent them being taken on by someone who
just wants a new pet for Christmas, but those genuinely wishing to offer
a young animal a permanent home can come along to meet them and they can
be reserved.

“There are also lots of other pets in our care who are ready and waiting to find their forever homes right now.

“People are always welcome to pop in to our centres, whether it’s to meet an animal they’re interested in rehoming, donate food or toys for our homeless pets, or simply just to say hello.”

The Scottish SPCA’s Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre is open from 10am-4pm seven days a week.