One third of people hospitalised last winter had heart condition
People with heart conditions and other underlying health conditions are being urged to get their flu vaccination as early as possible this winter to protect themselves from an unpredictable virus. Continue reading Heart condition? Get the flu jab!
City of Edinburgh Council tenants’ views are being sought on the Housing Service’s five year improvement plan and 2017/18 budget.
The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information a cat was abandoned in its carrier on a busy Edinburgh Street. Scotland’s animal welfare charity was alerted on Saturday (8 October) when the cat was discovered next to Holyrood Park in the city centre. Continue reading Cat found dumped in Holyrood Park
An election is to be held for membership of Leith Links Community Council due to the volume of nominations submitted, but it’s a different story for two local community councils: both Drylaw Telford and Muirhouse Salvesen CCs failed to attract sufficient nominations to reform.
The nomination process closed on 26 September and membership has now been confirmed for the city’s other community councils.
Police, politicians and community representatives met at Drylaw Police Station yesterday to discuss ongoing problems with joyriding and associated antisocial behaviour in North Edinburgh. Continue reading Constructive talks on motorbike problem
Please see the above poster advertising a drop by event at Pennywell Shopping Centre tomorrow Thursday 13 October from 2 – 4pm and Friday 14 October from noon – 3pm.
The Council and their design team will be on street to ask people’s views on proposals for phased redevelopment of the shopping centre and surrounding area.
The proposals will also be available to view in Muirhouse Library and North Office, West Pilton Gardens from 14-28 October where there will be opportunity to have your say.
You can also comments online here
Children embrace love of books
More than 1,000 schools across Scotland have signed up to an initiative to get children reading for pleasure. Backed by the Scottish Book Trust, the First Minister’s Reading Challenge, which encourages youngsters to enjoy books, has so far been rolled out in 1,277 primary schools. Among them is Forthview Primary, and Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop visited the school yesterday to join the children for a reading session. Continue reading Forthview up for reading challenge
Residents are being encouraged to attend a Question Time event being organised by the City of Edinburgh Council as part of wider engagement about changes to Council services.
Taking place in the City Chambers on Thursday, 10 November (7.15–8.30pm), the event is part of a seven week engagement period, asking people to play their part by giving their views through various channels including an online survey and dialogue page where residents can speak to other people in their local area.
The engagement period which started on Friday 30 September ends on Friday 18 November.
The event is being run in partnership with the Edinburgh Evening News for the third year running and will be chaired by Euan McGrory, Deputy Editor of the Evening News, Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday. Residents who are unable to attend can watch via the Council’s webcasting service.
Those attending will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance or ask questions on the night, which will be answered by a panel of six senior councillors. The panel will include Council Leader Cllr Andrew Burns; Deputy Leader Cllr Frank Ross; Finance and Resources Convener Cllr Alasdair Rankin; Culture and Sport Convener, Cllr Richard Lewis; Transport and Environment Convener, Cllr Lesley Hinds and Health and Social Care Convener, Cllr Ricky Henderson.
Cllr Alasdair Rankin, said: “We have an increasing population, inflationary pressures, decreased budgets and greater demand for our services so it is really important that we get residents’ views on how we can more efficiently deliver services.
“We’ve had an excellent response to our Question Time event over the last two years and I would encourage residents to attend and take the opportunity to have their questions answered about our services in person.
“Of course, for those that can’t make it, they can tune in live and ask questions, via the Council’s website.”
Last year’s event was well attended with an additional 237 tuning in live via our webcast and was subsequently watched by 3,759 people via the archive.
Further information on wider engagement:
Social media – use the #playyourpart
Email – playyourpart@edinburgh.gov.uk
Phone – 0131 200 2305 (8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 3.40pm Friday)
Write – Freepost, RSJC-SLXC-YTJY, Budget, Council Leader, City Chambers, High Street Edinburgh EH1 1YJ
GMB calls for more social housing
Workers on average earnings in Scotland are priced out of the housing market in 21 out of 32 areas, according to the GMB trade union. Their new report shows current average house prices are up to 7.6 times average earnings, making it impossible for may to buy a home. Edinburgh workers face the toughest challenge. Continue reading Many Edinburgh workers priced out of home ownership
New weekly soft play sessions for children with additional special needs
Edinburgh Leisure believes that play is for everyone and that some children and families may need more support than others to get active and stay active … so they are introducing a specific soft play session for children with additional support needs.
The sessions will take place every Wednesday from 9am-10am at Clambers at the Royal Commonwealth Pool.
These sessions have been specifically designed to provide an inclusive service and will be appropriate for families of children with additional support needs including autism, cerebral palsy, sight and hearing impairments, global developmental delay, and genetic disorders.
Clambers offers opportunities for all children to have an amazing adventure with carefully designed baby, toddler and junior zones. There’s a comfortable café with uninterrupted views serving quality coffee with tasty and healthy treats for both parents and children.
Sessions cost £1.10 for children aged 0-11 months, £4.20 for children aged 12 months – 3 years, £5.20 for children aged 4 years and up. Siblings without additional support needs are very welcome to attend the sessions too.
