Police are investigating after a man in his 30s was the victim of an assault by a group in Wardieburn Place West at around 20:20 tonight
Its understood the male suffered face and head injures and was taken by ambulance to ERI.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said “Police were called to Wardieburn at around 20:20 after reports of a male being assaulted. He was taken by ambulance to ERI and we would ask anyone with information to get in touch with us on the non emergency number 101”
A major project to rebuild the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s (RBGE) 18th century centre of research and education has been awarded £708,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The Botanic Cottage is one of five significant natural heritage projects to benefit from £2.78million HLF funding, bringing HLF’s total support for Scotland’s natural environment to over £50million.
From 1764 to 1821, the Botanic Cottage was the “gateway” to the previous RBGE site on Leith Walk (site pictured above). Here, Professor John Hope, a botanist of international renown and a leading character in the Scottish Enlightenment, taught students about the emerging science of botany. The vision of RBGE is for the building, designed by John Adam, to be rebuilt and used once more as an educational facility.
The cottage had been threatened with demolition but as a result of a tireless community campaign, led by the Botanic Cottage Trust, it was painstakingly dismantled stone by stone in 2008.
RBGE’s Regius Keeper, Professor Stephen Blackmore welcomed news of the funding and commented: “The support of the HLF, with that of many generous individuals and a number of other foundations, will breathe new life into a building with a remarkable and important history. When the Botanic Cottage follows us to Inverleith, almost two centuries after we moved from Leith Walk, it will become the centrepiece of our rapidly expanding programme of voluntary and education activities helping to transform out public engagement. The award is wonderful news for the Botanics.’’
The HLF award allows RBGE to move forward with the final stage of planning and fundraising to close the final funding gap, before the official project start date in July. Construction work for the rebuild is anticipated to start in spring next year.
Since its inception, the Heritage Lottery Fund has invested £52.12million in over 310 projects which conserve Scotland’s landscape and biodiversity, from the Flows of Caithness to the valleys of the Tweed.
Commenting on the latest awards, Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “This year, the Year of Natural Scotland, brings into focus the natural beauty and biodiversity that surrounds us. It is one of our greatest national assets, attracting visitors from home and abroad and making a valuable contribution to our tourist economy.
“However it’s not just visitors that benefit. With a bit of innovative thinking, we can protect our natural heritage in a way that helps people and communities. We want people to have the opportunity to get involved, to have a say in how the environment is managed, to learn new skills and apply new technologies. We want to help ignite passion for our natural world and its long-term conservation.’’
For further information on the Botanic Cottage Appeal or to donate, visit www.rbge.org.uk/supportus/donate/appeals-projects/botaniccottage
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That referendum – made your mind up yet? If leaflets, TV debates and party political broadcasts leave you unmoved, maybe a drama performance will spark some interest and generate debate? Inverleith CLD worker Callum McLeod is certainly enthusiastic about a forthcoming event:
I’ve attached a poster advertising performances by Inverleith Youth Theatre which will take place in Broughton High School and North Edinburgh Arts theatres of in two weeks time (details in the poster).
The ‘Stuck In The Middle’ storyline concerns a teenage male’s journey and his subsequent thoughts towards becoming “Independent”. However, I’m sure the audience will find various other messages and subplots – and perhaps even a wider social issue for them to explore through the watching the performance!
We’re also planning the event so that there’ll be space at the end for discussion and so folk will have time to discuss the piece further, and share their thoughts with other audience members – and we do imagine that the subject matter will carry over for some time!
Without doubt, I’m slightly biased towards Inverleith Youth Theatre’s performances but they are usually of a good standard and so I can honestly say that I’m sure this will be a fab performance and well worth attending!
The main aim of the performance is to get as many people as possible talking and thinking about the actual issues raised, so we’ve made the event free. We’ll still be taking donations though as this youth group are trying to take it’s members – and the performance – to a youth drama camp over the summer, so any contributions towards this will be welcomed!
Inverleith Youth Theatre’s ‘Stuck In The Middle’ performance dates:
Tuesday 16 April 7pm Broughton High School
and
Thursday 18 April 7pm North Edinburgh Arts
Callum McLeod
Inverleith CLD, Broughton High School
The worst of winter may at last be over, but with sky-high utility bills dropping through the letterbox people across Scotland are being urged to seek assistance to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, helping to reduce household energy bills.
Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess has outlined that households can apply for financial assistance from the Scottish Government of up to £1,200 to pay for energy improvement measures such as cavity and loft insulation, double glazing, a new boiler or draft proofing.
Getting loft insulation can reduce energy bills by up to £175 per year, while replacing single-glazed windows with double glazed ones could save the average home around £165 per year. And taking simple steps to draught proof can cut £55 per year off the average property’s energy bill, while getting a new, energy efficient boiler could save a three bedroom home owner up to £300 annually.
Mrs Burgess said: “It is my belief that everyone in Scotland should live in a warm and safe home that doesn’t cost the earth to heat. In these current economic times, it is more important than ever that people take advantage of money saving opportunities like these when they can.
“Rising energy bills are a huge concern for this government, and fuel poverty is an absolute scandal in a country like Scotland. There is a wide range of financial support and offers available to Scottish households to support them when it comes to making the decision that is right for them.
“As well as perhaps being eligible for up to £400 towards the cost of a new boiler, householders could access up to £500 towards the cost of insulation measures, and up to £300 towards other measures such as double glazing or draft proofing if recommended as part of a Green Deal assessment. I would urge anyone who would like to reduce their energy bills to contact the Hotline as soon as possible to find out about how to get a Green Deal assessment and to find out about the offers available to them.”
You can find out more and apply for a Green Homes Cashback voucher by visiting
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland
or by calling the Scottish Government’s Home Energy Scotland free hotline on 0800 512 012.
A man has died in Hospital after being found unconscious in Cumberland Street this morning.
The area is currently closed off and police forensic teams are working to establish the cause of death.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said a Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police were called to Cumberland Street around 5am today, after a man was discovered unconscious in the street.
“The man, who is believed to be in his thirties, was taken by ambulance to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he passed away.
“Enquiries are at a very early stage, and the man’s death is being treated as unexplained. Cumberland Street has been closed off to traffic to allow enquiries to take place at the scene.”
Muirhouse is the place to be for culture vultures next Friday, with not one but two big arts events planned:
North Edinburgh Arts is hosting ‘Echoes’ on Friday 12 April at 7pm
A new version of Mamma Mia has been written by a community group fighting the city council’s plans to close Castlebrae secondary school.
The Abba track IT, will be sung by members of the Save the Brae campaign group during a performance of a play that they have written called Echoes, which will express their opposition to and frustration over the council’s proposals for the school next summer.
Among those taking part in the play is Kevin Finlay, chair of the Save the Brae group, who said: “I think if you go back in history, any local issues like this have been tackled by using arts to get points across.”
Around eight men and women, most of whom are members of Save the Brae will perform the 55-minute play at North Edinburgh Arts on Friday 12 April at 7pm.
Susan Heron, 54, plays Ina in the play – a fictional character who has lived in Craigmillar all her life and doesn’t want the school to close. Susan says the play was a “powerful statement of how Castlebrae school life was and is”.
Tickets are £3 or £2 Good Neighbours (GN) price. To book tickets please call Box Office on 0131 315 2151
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and in the afternoon …
Travelling Gallery visits Craigroyston High School on Friday 12 April 1 – 4pm
with ‘feel-good’ art exhibition
The Travelling Gallery will be visiting Craigroyston High School on Friday 12 April, with its latest exhibition ‘Turquoise Heid’ on board. This curiously named exhibition is a busy group show of established and emerging artists from both home and abroad.
Working in a broad range of media including drawing, animation, film, sculpture, photography, performance, collage and painting, the exhibition will include artists who use a playful, childlike, feel good essence in their work, sometimes hiding darker depths but more often making us smile. The simplicity and low-tech nature of many of the artworks disguises sometimes complex processes and skills but also makes the exhibition instantly accessible to audiences of all ages.
’Turquoise Heid’ includes work by artists Matthew Barnes, Olivia Bee, Yeodoo Jung, Peter McDonald, Alex Millar, Jock Mooney, Kim Rugg, Yukako Sakakura and David Shrigley.
Visitors can also look out for artist Ellie Harrison’s Early Warning Sign which the Travelling Gallery is hosting in 2013 and which will sit outside the vehicle. Utilising the brazen marketing techniques of capitalism, the sign attempts to grab the attention of passers-by: to remind them of the consequences of excessive consumption and to force climate change back on the agenda. The harder the wind blows, the faster they go! www.ellieharrison.com.
The Travelling Gallery is a custom-built, mobile, contemporary art space inside a big beautiful bus. Supported by Creative Scotland, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Museums and Arts Division of the City of Edinburgh Council, the Travelling Gallery brings high quality contemporary art exhibitions and events to schools and communities throughout Scotland.
North Edinburgh Arts has arranged for the gallery to be open to the public on Friday afternoon at Craigroyston High School. The Travelling Gallery’s visit has been supported by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Children and Families Department.
See www.travellinggallery.com for all the details or ‘like’ on Facebook
Muirhouse man Robert Pearson is confused:
Over recent weeks, months and years contractors and Edinburgh City Council have been completing demolition in the Muirhouse area. Other than the odd articulated vehicles going the wrong way through the estate and driving past Craigroyston Primary school at 8.30am, I can say there hasn’t been any real issues.
But now that the contractors have completed their work the diversion, instruction and warning signs still remain in place, many of which now make no sense at all.
Recent high winds have dislodged the signs from there places high up on lamposts and now many are low down causing a danger to pedestrians and others are turning around when it’s windy.
Photographs show Safedem route out pointing in to the estate and others pictures show diversion ends which ended weeks ago. More dangers sign is the Pedestrians warning is at a height which if caught with the wind could easily strike a passerby.
Muirhouse View is still closed according to signage but in fact it has been open for some weeks, albeit it the road is still like a 4 x 4 track.
Hopefully Edinburgh City Council will arrange for these to be removed as soon as possible, but will they leave the large block of concrete which many of these signs poles are housed in?
Robert Pearson
A public consultation on proposals to ‘transform’ Edinburgh’s city centre has been launched.
The Council has developed a proposal for improving the City Centre, particularly in the area around Princes Street and George Street, which aims to make the area a better place in which to live, work, visit, invest and study.
The proposed scheme has been shaped by a working group chaired by Planning Convener Councillor Ian Perry, who said: “I think many people recognise that for all its architectural beauty and wealth of enticing shops and amenities, the City Centre is still not yet achieving its full potential. With this public consultation, we’ve got the chance here to really do something for the city centre and we’re determined to find a solution which works best for everyone. I would urge everyone with a stake in Edinburgh’s future prosperity to have their say.”
The Council is keen to hear residents’ views on the proposal and how they would like to see the space used.
The consultation process will also shed light on how the proposals might impact on different users and stakeholders.
The findings of the consultation will be the subject of a future report and any changes will then be trialled to test how they work.
The online survey, which will run until Thursday 9 May, can be accessed at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6G7MWW9
Two public drop-in events will also be held:
* Friday 19 April, Assembly Rooms George Street, 12-6pm
* Saturday 20 April, Assembly Rooms, George Street , 10 -2pm
Comments can also be sent via e-mail to:
citycentre.vision@edinburgh.gov.uk
Further information about the consultation can be found at: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/citycentrevision
What’s your views on Edinburgh’s city centre? What do you mean, Glasgow’s Miles Better!
Let us know!
Dear Editor
Every indicator shows that sources of gas, oil, fresh water and the growing of food needs international cop-operation to secure them for the future; this co-operation is urgently needed now: no one country can solve these problems, particularly the destruction of the world’s forests, widespread flooding and climate change.
Despite all of this, David Cameron continually talks about competing with other nations in an ‘Economic Race’. We know from bitter experience that unrestricted competing ends in fewer people employed, with industries closing in both our and other countries.The ‘economic race’ may benefit investors, but in the long run very little good happens to most people.
Without co-operation, the problems outlined above will become more acute in the next decades. ‘Economic Racing’ will pitch nation against nation with disastrous results for ordinary people.
A. Delahoy
Silverknowes Gardens
