Fancy trying something a wee bit different this weekend? See below!
Beach days are good for the soul, apparently
so come along and enjoy some fun, fire, food and art!
Give blood in Blackhall next Wednesday
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service will be at
Blackhall St Columba’s Parish Church, Hillhouse Road
on Wednesday 13 November
from 2.30 – 4pm and 5.30 – 8pm
Make an extra special effort to give blood – for further information visit www.scotblood.co.uk or call 0845 301 7270.
Remember, remember this Guy Fawkes safety advice
Bonfire Safety Tips
Advice from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is to attend a safely organised bonfire and firework display. However if you must have a bonfire at home make sure it is well away from buildings, vehicles, trees, hedges, fences, power lines, telecommunications equipment and sheds – and you must ensure that smoke does not cause a nuisance to neighbours or flying embers endanger neighbouring property.
- Never drink alcohol if you are tending a bonfire or setting off fireworks – remember it is an offence to consume alcohol in a public place.
- To reduce the emission of harmful smoke and combustion products bonfires should comprise of untreated wood and paper based materials only.
- There is a danger of explosion from pressurised containers or sealed vessels amongst bonfire material or irresponsibly thrown on burning bonfires.
- Never throw fireworks on bonfires.
- Never use flammable liquids to ignite bonfires – use proprietary fire lighters.
- Smoke from bonfires must not pose a public nuisance, affect visibility on roads or otherwise inconvenience vehicles.
- Sparks, flying embers or burning debris must not endanger nearby property.
- Never leave a burning/smouldering bonfire unsupervised – make sure it is completely extinguished.
Any bonfire failing to satisfy safety conditions or where people are behaving irresponsibly may be deemed dangerous and as such, subject to being either removed, extinguished or otherwise made safe.
Bonfires and the Law
It is an offence under Section 56 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 for any person to lay or light a fire in a public place so as to endanger any other person or give them reasonable cause for alarm or annoyance or so as to endanger any property.
If you know anything about fires that have been started deliberately in your area, you can call the Crimestoppers Scotland hotline on 0800 555 111. All calls are completely anonymous and do not require names or personal details and you will not be asked to give evidence in court.
Fly tipping during the Bonfire and Fireworks season is a major cause of fire and it is also a criminal offence. If you see fly tipping or know of an area where there is a build-up of refuse or combustible material, contact your local authority cleansing or environmental department to arrange uplift.
You can also contact the Dumb Dumpers Stop Line on 0845 2 30 40 90 or visit www.dumbdumpers.org for more information.
Organising a fireworks and bonfire display
If you are organising a display visit ww.hse.gov.uk/explosives/fireworks/using.htm for guidance and practical advice.
Community event homes in on welfare changes
North Edinburgh Womens International Group have organised an important community event which focuses on changes to welfare benefits. With advice and information stalls and speakers from a range of local and nationwide agencies and organisations, this is your opportunity to find out more about changes to welfare, how you are affected – and what you can do about it.
The event takes place on Thursday (7 November) from 10am – 2pm at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Pilton Drive North.
See attached flyer for details.
Parents can go back to skool tomorrow
Edinburgh’s primary schools are opening their doors tomorrow (5 November) as part of a campaign to get parents to send their children to their local catchment school. Primary Schools Open Day will allow parents with pre-school age children to have a look around and learn more about their local school.
A concerted campaign by the Council resulted in the lowest ever number of parents making out of catchment requests last year as more families sent their child to their local school, and parents should be aware as birth rates continue to rise there is less space in schools which means fewer placing requests will be granted.
Councillor Paul Godzik, Education Convener urged parents to choose their local school and support their local community. He said: “I’d encourage parents to go along and see their catchment school for themselves next week. Sending children to their local school can have many benefits for parents, children and the community where they live.
“A great example is Castleview Primary School which in a recent inspection by Education Scotland was rated as one of the best primary schools in the country.
“More and more families are realising the positive benefits catchment schools offer as shown by the record low number of placing requests last year. I think there is also a growing recognition that the days where you could choose which primary school you wanted your child to go to have gone.
“Next week’s open day is a fantastic opportunity to pop in and have a look around and see your local school in operation. Staff will be on hand to show-off some of the great work taking place as all of our schools offer a high quality education.”
Any parents with children under primary school age are welcome to attend and parents who may be thinking of moving into an area may also find it useful.
Further information on catchment schools and the Open Day, including times for the different schools, can be found on the Council’s website www.edinburgh.gov.uk/primaryschoolsopenday
George Blaikie funeral
George Blaikie sadly passed away last Monday and his funeral takes place on Wednesday (6 November) at 1pm at Warriston, then on to Victoria Park.
Royston Wardieburn Community Centre has organised a minibus for people who require a lift there and back. The bus will leave at 12.30 – people should contact the centre (call 552 5700) if they need a lift.
Thanks to Lynne McCabe for this information.
Letter: Offensive, Darling – bitter together
Dear Editor
I find it offensive that Alister Darling thinks that Scotland is not capable of self-government or of being a nation with full powers. How come small nations similar to Scotland can gain their independence and be successful, look after their people and economy without their neighbours ?
Lets look at what “Better Together ” has really done for Scotland. It has destroyed coal mining and ship building . It has given away our forests to the highest bidder,and our fisheries were sold down the river. Our whisky is taxed to the hilt . Gas, electricity,water and now the Royal Mail have all been privatised,but not for the benefit of ordinary people. Our hospitals ,schools and care homes can’t cope because budgets are cut year in, year out .
Scotland’s oil has been squandered to the extent that Mr Darling and his ilk say it’s running out, yet we are assured by experts there are still ample oil reserves. Denis Healey admitted to the people of Scotland that they were lied to in the 1970s about the oil supply running out then. New oil fields are being opened daily , weekly, monthly.
Under “Better Together ” Scotland has nothing – it all goes to Westminster! Our old , young unemployed , disabled , vulnerable are being driven into deeper poverty by a ‘better together’ UK Great Britain, whether you are a Tory, Labour or Lib/Dem.
As for George Osbourne telling the Scottish nation that should we get independence we would not be able to use the pound sterling? Have any Scottish people tried to exchange Scottish monetary notes in England ? It’s near impossible!
Another myth is having to use a Scottish passport to travel to England? Passports are not required to travel to the Republic of Eire. Yes identification is required but not necessary a passport.
As for defence Better Together have used their savage cuts to the MOD therefore Scotland has seen their regiments disappear. Teresa May’s recent comment that Scotland would be a target for terrorism. Scotland has been attacked once . We are more than capable of defending our country. How many times has England been attacked? Go back to the 1970s and as recent as the London bombings in 2012.
Any other nations who have gained their independence have never asked to be returned to their original countries.If the people of Scotland want more welfare cuts, ruled from Westminster, job losses, and unfair treatment of our nation , then I dare you never to be poor, ill, young, unemployed or old.
The Better Together campaign are scaremongering our nation. Scottish people have to realise that in the referendum we are NOT voting for any political party but to have the right to rule our own country . All I have heard from political parties has been the back stabbing of Alex Salmond for suggesting we can achieve independence . Joanne Lamont is one of the worst offenders. Having listen to her at the Labour Party Conference she put down Alex Salmond 23 times . ” Better Together “? More like “Bitter Together!”
Finally just to inform people I do NOT vote SNP – however I do want independence.
Stand up, Scotland and be a proud nation!
Anna Hutchison (by email)
Halloween Safety Tips
Police Scotland have issued some advice to help everyone to enjoy Halloween safely …
It’s Halloween tomorrow, so we are asking residents of all ages to make Halloween a safe and enjoyable celebration.
We are issuing some simple guidance for young people to ensure that Halloween passes safely and that anti-social or irresponsible behaviour is avoided.
The past few years have seen Halloween pass quietly in the area but there are still residents who are affected by the minority who behave anti-socially and ruin what should be a fun and family orientated time of the year.
Parents and young people are asked to consider the following advice:
- Stay in well-lit areas and consider carrying a torch.
- Don’t frighten elderly people or younger children.
- Don’t enter a house unless you know the person. Young children should always be with an adult. Older children should ensure they are with friends.
- If a sign says ‘No trick or treat’, respect that person’s wishes and move on.
- Be visible, it will be dark and it’s important that passing traffic can see you.
- If you have a mobile phone make sure you look after it so that parents/guardian can keep in touch.
- Tell your parents or guardian where you are going and what time you will be back.
- If you are given money keep it hidden away in a wallet or clothing.
- Remember that it might be raining so wear appropriate clothing that keeps you dry but still lets you show off your costume.
Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership meets next Wednesday
The next public meeting of Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership takes place on
Wednesday 6 November at 7.30pm in Blackhall Library.
As well as regular Neighbourhood Partnership business of small grant awards and roads funding, next week’s event will also be an opportunity to hear more about the Council’s budget proposals and find out how to have your say on this.
MoonWalk boost for Western’s Mammography Unit
MoonWalkers transform Edinburgh’s Mammography Services!
Care for breast patients in Edinburgh will be transformed thanks to the opening of a state-of-the-art Mammography Department at the Western General Hospital.
The upgraded and extended department at the Western General Hospital was funded by donations of £1.4 million raised by the annual MoonWalk Scotland in Edinburgh and the unit was officially opened by Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk Worldwide on Friday.
Walk the Walk, the charity which organises The MoonWalk, has been working in partnership with NHS Lothian and The Breast Cancer Institute to improve facilities and care for breast patients.
Over the last eight years, Walk the Walk has donated £1.5m for the construction of the new theatre in the breast unit, with NHS Lothian funding the remaining internal work. Another £500,000 from the charity has gone towards the £1 million revamp of Ward Six at the hospital, to transform it into a dedicated breast surgery ward.
Elaine Anderson, Clinical Director of Breast Services, said: “The opening of our extended Mammography Department will enhance the specialised diagnosis and care which we are able to offer to our patients. The Edinburgh Breast Unit has been at the forefront of developments in the treatment of breast cancer for 30 years and Walk the Walk’s assistance will ensure it stays there.”
Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk Worldwide, (pictured above (centre) and below) said: “All of the Walk the Walk Team are delighted to see the completion of the new Mammography Unit at the Western General. “We have been granting funds for the projects at the Western for almost eight years, so with a new operating theatre, and the re-designed breast care ward, we have been able to help transform the facilities not only for the patients, but also the staff, so that those receiving and those giving care, feel supported by a nurturing and healing environment. MoonWalkers should feel very proud of what they have achieved for Edinburgh.”
Brian Houston, Chair, NHS Lothian, said: “It’s great to see the scope of facilities here in the mammography department. Patients from across Lothian will receive diagnostic care and treatment in a world-class facility.
“We are committed to providing patient-centred effective care and we recognise the importance of working in partnership with Walk the Walk on this particular project.”
