Festival of Cycling gets underway today

The first ever Edinburgh Festival of Cycling – the UK’s biggest cycling festival – gets underway today. Running until 23 June, the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling boasts a packed calendar of events from exhibitions, films and talks, to rides and races, workshops and the world’s first cycling poetry slam, Bike Slam.

Heels on Wheels, a ‘Ladies day’ of cycling, will be held at The Meadows next Saturday (22 June) from 11am to 3pm and aims to be a fun and educational event for the whole family. This event is free and all are welcome.

Copenhagen’s bicycle ambassador, Mikael Colville-Andersen, will give a talk on “Bicycle Culture by Design” this evening in the Assembly Hall, Mound Place at 7.30pm. Tickets are £15 (£13 concessions).

In ‘The Fastest Woman to Cycle Around the World’, Juliana Buhring will give a talk about setting the first women’s world record for fastest circumnavigation of the world by bicycle, which she achieved in just 152 days, finishing in December 2012. This talk will be at 7.30pm on Saturday 22 June at George Square Lecture Theatre – tickets are £12 (£10 concessions).

The city council has provided £8,000 in funding, as well as advice and support, to the organisers of the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling. Councillor Jim Orr, Vice Convener of Transport and Environment, said: “There is so much to do, see and hear in this exciting festival programme – I would encourage anyone with an interest in bikes to check it out, you never know what you’ll discover. It’s not just for cycling enthusiasts, either – there are plenty of events for families and for people who don’t already cycle but are keen to take it up.

“Having just been on an inspirational visit to Amsterdam, where cycling is such an intrinsic part of urban life (half of all journeys in the city centre are by bike), I’m very keen to build on Edinburgh’s already-established reputation as a cycling city. Events like this terrific Festival of Cycling are exactly the kind of collaborative, forward-looking initiatives which will help us do just that.”

Kim Harding, Festival Director, said: “We set out with the aim of creating a real Edinburgh-style festival, something that would act as a showcase for all aspects of bicycle culture and the host city. From rides (sporty and otherwise) to family activities to a range of cultural events, we hope that the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling will truly have something for everyone. Let the fun begin!”

The Council has committed 6% of its Transport budget to cycling, with current projects including the A90 cycle route from Haymarket to Forth Bridge and the resurfacing and widening of North Meadow Walk.

Festival of cycling

Arise, Sir Baldrick!

images[3]At last, a ‘cunning plan’ has come together – and in British honours system hierarchy Baldrick now outranks his master Blackadder! Blackadder actor Tony Robinson has been knighted while his co-star Rowan Atkinson receives a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Among the other well-known names to receive honours are Adele, Rob Brydon, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, Clare Balding, golfer Paul Lawrie and former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell, but the majority of recipients are unsung heroes – of the 1,180 people who appear on the Birthday Honours list, almost three-quarters are people who are actively engaged in charitable or voluntary work within their local communities.

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Edinburgh’s top, say tenants

Edinburgh tenants have given Council housing in the city a vote of confidence in a new survey. Over 1000 Council tenants took part in the survey, which showed that satisfaction ratings are among the highest of any similar landlord in the UK.

Of those questioned, 89% were satisfied with the quality of their home, giving Edinburgh the highest score among similar landlords. 90% of participants responded that they are happy with the housing service they receive and only 4% responded that they are dissatisfied.  Satisfaction levels with key services, customer care and engagement were either equal to or higher than other large landlords in the UK.

Neighbourhoods were also rated highly with 92% of tenants stating that they are happy with their neighbourhoods and only 2% were not.

Housing Convener, Councillor Ricky Henderson, said: “This feedback from tenants reinforces the high reputation of the Council’s housing service and is a real vote of confidence.

“The Scottish Housing Regulator has already awarded our housing service the highest grade of any local authority, so it is encouraging to see that our tenants are also satisfied with their homes and the service they receive.”

The Council has worked closely with Edinburgh Tenants Federation in designing the survey. Both organisations will work together to develop an action for any necessary improvements identified from the results.

Betty Stevenson, Convener of Edinburgh Tenants Federation, said: “The Federation has been closely involved in developing the survey and we are pleased with the results showing high satisfaction. We will be working with the Council to make sure that any identified improvements are put in place.”

Do you agree with those survey results? Are you saisfied with the city council’s housing service? Let us know!

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For one night only … the fabulous Timebank Temptations!

The Timebank Temptations is the local singing group formed by members of North Edinburgh Timebank.

Fresh from their appearance opening the Volunteer Awards ceremony at the City Chambers last week, they are doing a free show for all their supporters, friends and families tomorrow evening. All welcome!

 Friday 14 June at 7pm in North Edinburgh Arts 

catch them before they go global!

No, not those Temptations - the Timebank Temptations!
No, not those Temptations – the Timebank Temptations!

 

Police seek help over Corstorphine Hill murder

CorstorHillDetectives investigating the discovery of human remains on Corstorphine Hill in Edinburgh are appealing for help from the public in identifying the female victim. A member of the public reported finding part of the body last Thursday when cycling on Corstorphine Hill.

Since then a detailed and careful excavation of the site has been undertaken by forensic experts and a post mortem was carried out on Tuesday (11 June).

Detective Chief Inspector Keith Hardie of the Specialist Crime Division’s Major Investigation Team said: “The victim’s body had been dismembered before it was buried on Corstorphine Hill. We believed this may have been within a time frame of a matter of a few weeks but possibly as much as six months. This is a murder investigation and our immediate focus is on identifying this woman, and establishing the circumstances around her death. We need the public’s support to achieve this.

“This is someone’s daughter, it may be someone’s mother and I am appealing today to the public to consider if there is a mother, a daughter or a friend you have not seen or heard from  for the past few weeks or months, and the person fits the following description I would urge you to contact us now.

“We know the lady  was white, middle aged, slim and of medium build and short in height.. She has had significant cosmetic work on her teeth. We have also recovered a number of rings and two of these are distinctive, both are gold in appearance with one in the design of a daisy and the other is heart shaped. I feel confident that someone will recognise the description of the lady’s teeth and the rings, together with the general description of a slim middle aged lady who has disappeared.”

Mr Hardie is also convinced that the body was dismembered elsewhere and later taken to Corstorphine Hill. He is asking people who use this popular nature reserve to consider if they may have seen anyone who, on reflection, could have been involved in depositing the body in the area.

“Can you recall, anytime since the end of last year, seeing a person or individuals on the hill with particularly large rucksacks/backpacks or carrying tools, If so, please get in touch with us.”

Chief Inspector Murray Dykes, of Police Scotland Edinburgh Division, said: “This is a distressing case but I want to reassure people that it is also a very unusual one. Corstorphine Hill is very popular, well used and a safe place to walk, cycle and enjoy some leisure time. While there are very few reports of crime relating to that area, I have had high visibility patrols in place since Thursday to provide reassurance and these will continue for the time being. These officers will be engaging with members of the public and people can pass on information through them if they wish or at the Police Command vehicle which is currently situated on Balgreen Road.”

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Armchair view of Botanic Gardens’ sparrowhawks

Birdwatchers can get close up and personal with a beautiful bird of prey – without having to leave the comfort of their armchairs

A webcam was mounted in a sparrowhawk nest within the Botanic Gardens on 29 May, and since then there’s been live online video of activity at the nest. This is the third year in succession with live video coming from a sparrowhawk nest in the Garden.

Research is showing that the Garden is a key breeding site for these magnificent birds – the regular successful breeding in the Garden is a reflection of a healthy songbird population in this part of Edinburgh as these small birds make up the key prey items of sparrowhawks.

The project is the result of a partnership involving the Garden, RSPB Scotland, Lothian and Borders Raptor Study Group and the Scottish Seabird Centre. RBGE is particularly delighted to see the return of the sparrowhawk in this the Year of Natural Scotland, a celebration of our country’s wildlife and natural assets.

To see the local sparrowhawks in action go to

www.rbge.org.uk/the-gardens/edinburgh/sparrowhawk-nestcam

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Broughton pupils on Question TIme

Two senior Broughton High School pupils are to appear on BBC’s Question Time tomorrow evening. Daniel McIvor and Tom Bagshaw were inspired by the recent ‘Question Time’ style event run by the school, are they were selected for the BBC programme for questions they submitted about the  Scottish independence referendum.

The show – which tomorrow comes from Edinburgh and features an audience of 16 and 17 year olds –  screens on BBC1 at 10.35 p.m.

BroughtonHS

30 June date for West Pilton & Muirhouse Gala

This year’s West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala, which takes place on Sunday 30 June, will feature a procession and gala court.

The procession will include local groups, schools, nurseries, a marching band plus much more. The procession will start leave Craigroyston Primary School at 11:45am and parade through the streets of Muirhouse and West Pilton to arrive at West Pilton Park at 12pm.

For more information on all things Gala email wpmcgala@gmail.com

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Complaint over LACK of council cuts in ‘forgotten estate’

Muirhouse in June - a 'forgotten estate'?
Muirhouse in June – a ‘forgotten estate’?

Usually, community groups and voluntary organisations are up in arms over council cuts to services in their area. However one Muirhouse man is on the warpath over a lack of cuts!

TRIM (Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse) member Robert Pearson has written to the local council team to demand action over the state of local green spaces – weeds, long grass and the general state of the area.

He said: “Yet again I feel it necessary to email you regarding Muirhouse, I am absolutely fed up with the way Muirhouse is being left to rot by you, Edinburgh City Council. It was you who caused the area to fall apart in the first place and now you are leaving us in a mess.”

He goes on: “Back in March this year local children join the Centipede project and planted over 2000 bulbs which spelt Muirhouse Is Home (pictured below). It looked fantastic, the children loved it and it was never vandalised. Unfortunately we are not able to see it anymore as the grass and weeds have taking over the place. Walking around the estate the green areas are all overgrown and basically in a mess; why is this happening again? Does this happen elsewhere in the city? Or does it just happen in the forgotten estate?”

North Neighbourhood Team Business Manager Mandy Rudden said she has requested information from her Regeneration and Task Force colleagues and will update Robert when this has been received.

Muirhouse blooms in March
Muirhouse blooms in March