The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 3710 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

Blooming good reason to celebrate success

The Lord Provost unveiled a plaque last night to mark Edinburgh’s success in the Entente Florale environmental competition earlier this year.

Following Edinburgh’s success in Britain in Bloom, Edinburgh was invited to represent the UK at the prestigious Entente Florale, Europe’s largest environmental competition – over 22,000 cities, towns and villages entered Entente Florale across Europe this year.

The winners were announced on 26 September: Edinburgh was awarded gold for excellence in landscape and horticulture, environment and tourism and involvement while The Grassmarket Community Project also won the special Lucija Cikes Prize for integration of disabled people in to society through green skills.

A host of city organisations contributed to Edinburgh’s success – these were:

City of Edinburgh Council, Historic Scotland, Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, Edinburgh and Lothian Greenspace Trust, Cockburn Association, Water of Leith Conservation Trust, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Friends of Parks groups, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, Greenspace Scotland, Marketing Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh, Essential Edinburgh, Hilton Double Tree, Duddingston Field Group, Garvald Group and Grassmarket Community Project.

It's a Fayre frenzy!

Lots of festive fayres and events in the neighbourhood this weekend

First off, we have all the fun of the fair at Forthview Primary School this lunchtime and #StrongerNorth’s Christmas Market at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre this afternoon.

On Saturday there are festive frolics at Pilton Youth & Children’s Project’s Greenhouse, St Ninian’s church in Comely Bank,Waterfront Nursery has a Fun Day from 10am – midday and there’s a FACE fundraiser at the Western General Hospital too.

And if that’s not enough seasonal spirit there’s also the big Christmas charity event at Inverleith Park on Saturday AND Sunday!

No doubt there are more – let us know and we’ll share the information

It is indeed the season to be jolly – ho! ho! ho!

Lower drink drive limit now in place

“If you are going out for a drink then leave the car at home.”

Scotland is leading the way across the UK, bringing in a new lower drink drive limit to save lives on our roads. On the day the reduced limit comes into effect drivers are being urged to plan their journey ahead or to take the safest approach – DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE.

On 18 November the Scottish Parliament unanimously voted in favour of a new law to lower the limit from 80mg in every 100ml of blood to 50mg in every 100ml of blood.

Last week the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) published research showing that more than two-thirds (68 per cent) of people would like the Scottish drink-drive limit introduced across England and Wales.

An average of 20 people die on Scotland’s roads every year in accidents involving drivers over the legal limit.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Scotland is leading the way across the UK. The new limit has backing from experts, road safety campaigners and the majority of the public north and south of the border.

“We are following the advice of the independent North Review, commissioned by the previous UK Government, which concluded that a lower limit would save lives. Every year around 20 people die on our roads due to people getting behind the wheel while over the legal limit.

“This change will bring Scotland into line with most of Europe. It’s not about criminalising drivers, it’s about making our roads safer and sending a clear message that even one alcoholic drink will affect the ability to drive. All the evidence from the Republic of Ireland shows reducing the limit means less convictions and lower blood alcohol counts.

“Today we are sending a clear message to drivers who continue to ignore the warnings that there is never an excuse to drink and drive.”

Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: “Our message is don’t risk it, don’t drink and drive. Far too many people die or are injured each year on Scotland’s roads as a result of drink driving and the irresponsible disregard shown by drink drivers for not only their own safety but that of other road users and pedestrians.

“Evidence from across Europe, where the lower limit already applies, suggests we will see reductions in drink driving and a corresponding increase in lives saved.

“Remember if you do drink and drive, it can have long term repercussions for you, your family and your community. It could cost you your job, your reputation or potentially your life not to mention the effect your actions have on innocent parties.’

“There is no safe amount of alcohol in the body if you drive. Even at the new limit, you are three times more likely to die in a crash than if you had taken no alcohol. It is clear when it comes to drinking and driving, that the simple ‘the best advice is none’ message is the right one.

“If you are going out for a drink then leave the car at home.”

Sir Peter North CBE QC said: “I am delighted to see Scotland leading the way in implementing the findings of my report. The power to set the drink drive level in Scotland was devolved to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 2012. Those who responded to the consultation on a proposed reduction from 80mg in every 100ml of blood to 50mg in every 100ml of blood supported the measure three to one.

“The Scottish Parliament has now implemented this move to a new limit. This means that, as from today, Scottish roads should be that much safer. Given this important further step to reduce deaths and injuries on Scottish roads, Scotland is now a great example to the rest of the United Kingdom.”

PIC: Edinburgh Police Division

Princes Street Gardens was transformed into a racetrack yesterday as Formula 1 stars visited the city to take part in a driving event to promote responsible drinking and raise awareness of the dangers of drink driving.

Former World Champion Mika Hakkinen was joined by 2014 McLaren Mercedes F1 drivers Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen to take part in the Join The Pact event, a global JOHNNIE WALKER initiative which encourages people to pledge to never drink and drive.

Councillor Steve Cardownie, Edinburgh’s Festivals and Events Champion, got behind the wheel. He said: “The sight and sound of three of the world’s top Formula 1 drivers circling a track in the middle of Princes Street Gardens has been spectacular and importantly, free for the public to enjoy.

“The Council is thrilled Diageo’s Join the Pact campaign has launched in Edinburgh. As the home of Hogmanay, we welcome thousands of people to celebrate in the city’s streets, and the safety of everyone who joins in is hugely important to us. We are glad to support the initiative to pledge never to drink and drive.

“People joining Edinburgh’s Hogmanay will benefit directly from the campaign too, because in return for pledges that have already been given, Johnnie Walker is providing free Lothian Bus journeys home.”

To find out more about the campaign and how to pledge never to drink drive, visit Join the Pact of follow Twitter hashtag #gethomesafely. Each pledge will provide free public transport miles for events in the UK.

For better or worse? Mixed views on Autumn Statement

Predictably mixed opinions over the Westminster government’s Autumn Statement yesterday. Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael says Scotland is strengthened by the announcements but the Holyrood government says Scotland’s poor will pay the price for further austerity measures.

The Scottish Government will benefit from additional funding of £213 million through to 2015-16 as a result of spending decisions taken by the UK Government at this Autumn Statement, bringing the total amount of additional spending power granted to the Scottish Government since 2010 to over £2.3 billion.

That’s good news for Scotland, said Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael MP. Speaking after the Chancellor’s announcement, Mr Carmichael said: “This Autumn Statement sets out the next steps in the UK Government’s long term economic plan to secure a sustained recovery and a more resilient economy. By backing businesses, helping more people into work and supporting families in communities across the country Scotland is benefitting from the action we are taking to help our economy grow.

“These measures will give the Scottish Government an extra £213 million of spending, taking the total of additional spending power to over £2.3 billion since we came to office. This means they can crack on and spend more money such as on funding for the NHS, more childcare places or more funding for schools or colleges.

“Scotland chose to retain a shared currency, pensions, single market and the economic stability and security that comes from being part of the UK. With more funding provided to the Scottish Government today and more powers and great responsibility for the Scottish Parliament on the way, Scotland is strengthened by today’s Autumn Statement.”

Not so, according to Holyrood’s Finance Secretary John Swinney. The Deputy First Minister said today that Scotland is continuing to pay the price of UK Government’s austerity agenda .

In his autumn budget address Chancellor George Osborne admitted to the House of Commons that the Government had missed key targets on economic recovery. In the last substantial finance statement before next year’s General Election, the Chancellor confirmed that his forecasts on deficit reduction were off target, with borrowing higher and tax revenues lower than expected. More austerity, to ensure future prosperity, was the government message.

Finance Secretary John Swinney warned that the Chancellor’s decisions were continuing to hit the poorest in our society hardest with the Treasury confirming that those in the lowest 20% will face some of the hardest impacts of the austerity plan.

The majority of spending announcements simply recycle existing money meaning the Scottish Government will receive around £200m in Barnett consequentials. This makes up only 8% of the £2.7bn of real terms cuts that have been removed from Scotland’s budget since 2010 and have taken 25% of Scotland’s capital budget.

Commenting on the Autumn budget statement, John Swinney said: “The Scottish Government is focused on securing economic growth, tackling inequality and protecting our public services. The Chancellor’s budget fails to pass the test on all of these measures.

“Today’s budget shows the failure of the UK Government’s austerity policy and it is clear that we in Scotland are paying the price. In 2010 the Chancellor embarked on his austerity programme and instead of putting the finances on a sound footing we are seeing borrowing this year of over £50bn higher than expected, lower tax revenues and austerity extended by atleast a further two years.

“Just last week I wrote to the UK Government to ask them to use the Autumn statement as an opportunity to ensure that the benefits of economic growth are not only sustained but are made accessible to all. The Chancellor has not listened.

“The lowest earning households in Scotland will be among the hardest hit by the UK Government cuts.

“And while the Chancellor gives Northern Ireland the power to cut corporation tax his government is continuing to block the job creating powers Scotland needs.

Commenting on the Barnett consequentials which will come to Scotland as a result of today’s announcements, the Finance Secretary said: “Additional spending for Scotland is always welcome but the consequentials of around £200m we have received today cannot compensate for the £2.7bn of real terms cuts we have faced since 2010. And with a further £25bn of cuts in the future the Westminster Government is locking Scotland into austerity against our wishes.

“The £125m of consequentials we have received from frontline NHS spending in England will be passed to Scotland’s NHS as they have been in every year of this parliament.”

Have you heard about Healthy Start?

Healthy Start is a food and vitamin scheme scheme for families on low income (families on income support or Child Tax Credit recipients with household income less than £16,190). Pregnant women under 18 years old are also eligible, regardless of income.

Vouchers can be spent on fruit, veg, milk or formula feed. Supermarkets and many local shops and food coops accept them. They are worth up to £899 (if eligible all the way through from week 10 of pregnancy to 4th birthday).

A quarter of eligible families don’t currently receive vouchers so it’s worth checking your entitlement. Ask your midwife, health visitor or GP practice.

Watch a video about the vouchers here: http://vimeo.com/m/102126052

Check eligibility on website: http://www.healthystart.nhs.uk

Thanks to our friends at Dads Rock for passing on this information

Ten years on, EMRS still has STARring role in saving lives

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Shona Robison, met members of the Emergency Medical Retrieval Service (EMRS) and ambulance paramedics to mark the 10th anniversary of the life saving service yesterday.

Originally set up as a pilot with just eight volunteer consultants from emergency medicine, anaesthetics and intensive care backgrounds, EMRS now operates a 24/7 service across the country from the heliport in Glasgow with 27 consultants, and is an integral part of Scotland’s new national retrieval service, ScotSTAR.

ScotSTAR is the world-class national specialist transport and retrieval service for critically ill NHS patients in Scotland, which was launched in April this year. The £9.5 million initiative brings together the three transport and retrieval services: the Scottish Neonatal Service (SNTS), the Transport of Critically Ill and Injured Children Service and the Emergency Medical Retrieval Service with the Scottish Ambulance Service, which co-ordinates the teams using road and air ambulances.

EMRS doctors take the resuscitation room to the patient wherever they may be, working closely with ambulance crews on Service air ambulance aircraft, MOD/Coastguard helicopters and by road. The service has completed more than 3,000 retrievals since it’s launch in 2004. The team also responds alongside ambulance staff to trauma cases, serious accidents and major incidents in the Greater Glasgow area and beyond using their own rapid response cars.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Critical illness or injury can strike anywhere, at any time, and patients can often be some distance from the essential medical treatment they need. Scotland’s Emergency Medical Retrieval Service have, for the last decade, provided these people with a lifeline.

“Over the last ten years, this service has meant the difference between life and death to some people – and it is important the heroic efforts of the team are recognised.

“Since the EMRS was initially established, it has grown and developed in to a national service that now provides care to patients across Scotland. This Government has supported that roll-out, demonstrating our continued commitment to providing a world-class dedicated transport and retrieval service to patients in remote and rural communities.”

David Garbutt, Chairman, Scottish Ambulance Service said: “Since its establishment in 2004, EMRS has proved to be a pioneering life-saving service, internationally recognised and now an integral part of Scotland’s new world class national retrieval service, ScotSTAR.

“ScotSTAR’s co-ordinated approach brings greater efficiencies and ensures there is consistency across Scotland for how our most critically ill adults, babies and children are transported.”

Dr Stephen Hearns, Clinical Lead, Emergency Medical Retrieval Service, said: “The EMRS service, which started as a pilot ten years ago, has proved its value as a specialist life saving service that delivers critical pre-hospital care wherever it is needed across Scotland, whether on a remote island or at the scene of a road accident.

“It is a fantastic example of cross specialty working with consultants in emergency medicine, anaesthesia and intensive care from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee. They work closely as a team with ambulance paramedics and Bond’s pilots to provide a first class service that meets the challenges of Scotland’s geography and rurality.”

On primary retrievals the EMRS team can provide advanced interventions at the scene such as intubation and ventilation, surgical airway, surgical chest intervention, joint and fracture reduction, blood transfusion and triage to the most appropriate hospital for definitive care.

ScotSTAR expects to undertake around 2,200 cases every year in Scotland where specialist, highly skilled, clinical teams are required to manage the care of patients during transport by air and road. These specialised retrievals are clinically complex and take much longer than a normal emergency response.

Setting the agenda: North Edinburgh's Physical Activity Forum

How can we improve access to open spaces in North Edinburgh?

Looking forward to seeing you at next weeks’ NEPAF meeting where the theme will be ‘How can we improve access to open spaces in North Edinburgh?’ Response to this months’ forum meeting has been really positive; here is the agenda so far:

Presentation, sharing good practice- ‘Friends of Dalmeny Park’- Tom Hoon/Out of the Blue
West Pilton Park- Lianne Pipskyj/Clare Symonds PCHP
Community Growing- Kate Wimpress/NEAC
Informal/structured play on local green/brown sites- Kate Wimpress/NEAC
Forth Neighbourhood Partnership Community plan (physical activity priority)- Jim Pattison/FNP
Edinburgh Physical Activity and Sports Strategy- Active Lives- Sean Webster/ECC

The meeting takes place on Wednesday 10 December from 2 – 4pm

at Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway

It looks like it’s going to be a good one, can’t wait! It would be very helpful if we have an idea on numbers so if you could confirm attendance and add any agenda items by this Friday ( 5 December) that would be great!

Lianne Pipskyj (on behalf of NEPAF)

Development Worker- Physical Activity, Pilton Community Health Project

0131 551 1671

liannepipskyj@pchp.org.uk

www.pchp.org.uk

Fire officer warns of stairwell dangers

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service would like to remind tenants to keep their stairwells clear – especially in the run up to Christmas:

Group Manager Steve Gourlay, the City of Edinburgh Prevention and Protection Manager, said: “We would urge people not to leave rubbish or bins in the common stairwells of tenement blocks. This can be very attractive to fire setters and increases the risk of a fire. Discarded items of furniture and rubbish can produce large amounts of toxic smoke and also impede access for emergency responders.

In Edinburgh, roughly 100 deliberate property fires occur every year with many of these involving combustibles in stairwells – the casualties and damage caused are preventable and we need to reduce them.

“You can reduce the risk of fire for yourself and your neighbours by keeping common stairs clear and free from obstruction and making sure main doors are kept locked. Steps should be taken to ensure the door entry/intercom system is working.

“I would like to stress the importance of having a working smoke alarm. Every household should have working smoke alarm and test them every week. We provide free home fire safety visits and fit smoke alarms where required. If you know someone who can benefit from our service, why not get them to give us a call? It is important that you know what to do if a fire does occur in the stairwell and how to keep safe. We can advise on this as part of the visit.

“If you or someone you know could benefit from a visit, please join Scotland’s fight against fire and request a visit by calling the SFRS freephone number 0800 0731 999, or by contacting their local fire station.”

A wide range of tips on how to keep yourself and your home safe from fire are available on the SFRS website: www.firescotland.gov.uk

Did you witness D Mains hit and run?

Police are appealing for witnesses following a hit and run incident in Davidson’s Mains last Sunday (30 November).

A thirteen-year-old boy was on a push-along scooter in Main Street at around 8.10pm when the collision occurred after the car mounted the pavement. He sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.

The vehicle failed to stop at the scene of the incident and was last seen heading towards the Drylaw area, and anyone who can assist officers with their ongoing enquiry is asked to come forward.

The vehicle is described as a dark-coloured people carrier type similar to a Citroen C4 hatchback.

Inspector Chris Scobbie said: “Fortunately, the boy was not more seriously injured as a result of this incident, but he still required treatment at hospital. The driver failed to stop and we are conducting local enquiries to trace this individual.

“We are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time of the collision and who may have information relevant to this investigation. In addition, I would urge the driver to come forward as soon as possible.”

Anyone with any information regarding these incidents should contact Police Scotland immediately on 101 or through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

One-stop money advice service portal launched

Credit Unions play key role in tackling debt

A new Financial Health Service offering a one-stop-shop for money advice services has been launched by Business Minister Fergus Ewing. Scotland’s Financial Health Service website provides links to a range of organisations offering information and advice on debt, managing money, housing, homelessness and ethical lending.

A key part of the new website is a Financial Education module which aims to help people to manage their money to stop any future problems.

The website also allows users to search for their local credit unions and find out about the products offered by them, and to search for approved money advisers.

A new law, the Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Act, which comes into force in April 2015, ensures appropriate debt relief and management and includes mandatory provision of money advice.

Launching Scotland’s Financial Health Service in Edinburgh yesterday Mr Ewing said:

“It is important that we take action to help those people in Scotland who are struggling under the burden of debt. We have developed Scotland’s Financial Health Service because we must ensure that people who need to access debt and budgeting advice, do so easily with credible sources.

“Last year, the Accountant in Bankruptcy’s ‘12 Days of Debtmas’ campaign targeted people who may get into financial trouble over the festive period by using high interest, short-term credit.

“During the six months between October 2013 and March 2014 – during which time the ‘12 days of Debtmas’ and ‘Helping Hand with debt’ campaigns ran – 14,307 new members joined credit unions in Scotland. This is a 4.2 per cent increase in total membership.

“People across Scotland can join credit unions – all sorts of people from all walks of life use credit unions to save and borrow responsibly, and the most successful attract a diverse membership.”

Welcoming the launch Paul Walsh, CEO of CUNA Mutual said: “With the ever widening protection gap continuing to spread – leaving 86 per cent of Scottish residents in trouble if their income was lost – it is vital that the right support is provided to those who become financially vulnerable.

Initiatives like this government website, supporting those shouldering the burden of debt, are imperative alongside the practical credit and protection solutions offered by credit unions throughout Scotland. “The credit union movement in Scotland both funds and protects thousands of Scottish residents and has become a solid part of the Scottish financial community.”

ABCUL Scotland Policy Manager Frank McKillop said: “Since Scotland’s first credit union was founded in 1970, generations of volunteers, directors and staff have been focused on helping people in their communities and workplaces to get on top of – and stay in control of – their finances.

“By encouraging a responsible approach to saving, borrowing and budgeting, Scotland’s credit unions are well placed to play their part in building the nation’s financial health.”