Proposals for a seven-storey 394-bedroom student scheme set to go to committee tomorrow have received the backing of local councillors and a local community group. Continue reading More student flats proposed … this time it’s Westfield Road
Tag: city council
Car-free Sundays return for autumn
Open Streets is set to return to the Capital tomorrow with a packed programme of activities planned to bring the Old Town to life.
Council budget: more cuts ahead
Capital Coalition braced to implement further cuts of £36 million next year
Streets Ahead: City’s young drivers learn risks and responsibilities
Hundreds of new and aspiring young motorists are being given a thought-provoking insight into the risks and responsibilities faced by drivers this week.
Sixth-year pupils from schools across the Capital are taking part in the ninth annual Streets Ahead Edinburgh Young Driver event, which aims to raise awareness of the dangers posed to newly-qualified drivers.
Amongst the hard-hitting, interactive activities highlighting the potential hazards of driving are the opportunities to try on drunk goggles, crash simulator headsets and seatbelt slides. Pupils will also watch dash-cam footage from Police Scotland and immerse themselves in Digby Brown Solicitors’ ‘mock court’, which recreates the aftermath of a road traffic collision.
The ever-popular event, which is attended by more than 2400 pupils from 31 schools, is hosted by Forth 1 DJ Grant Thomson and is jointly run by all partners in Streets Ahead Edinburgh: the City of Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland, NHS Lothian, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Scottish Safety Camera Unit (East).
The event is supported by Digby Brown Solicitors with other participants including the Scottish Ambulance Service, British Transport Police, Brain Rehabilitation Trust and Child Brain Injury Trust.e
Returning this year to speak to the young drivers is Laura Torrance. Laura, 35, has been a wheelchair user since 1999 when she was seriously injured in a car accident at the age of 16.
As well as thought-provoking presentations and interactive activities, sixth-year pupils attending the four-day event will learn about Operation Close Pass, which demonstrates safe distances for overtaking a cyclist on the road and, thanks to participation from Edinburgh Trams and Lothian, will get the chance to sit behind the wheel of a stationary electric bus to highlight driver visibility first hand.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “It’s fantastic to see so many young people engaged in this event, which every year helps highlight the importance of safe and responsible driving amongst some of our youngest and least experienced motorists.
“The interactive element may be fun, but there’s no ignoring the hard-hitting messages it conveys. As a Council, we are committed to keeping everyone safe from the risk of being killed or seriously injured on our roads, and the Young Driver event is a great way of instilling this ethos in the next generation of drivers.”
Inspector Roger Park from the Road Policing Unit in Edinburgh said: “We believe it is vital to engage with young people who have recently passed their driving test, who are working towards their test and who are looking to start driving for the first time.
“Police Scotland are pleased to be supporting this important event and to be working closely with our partners in a multi-agency approach to promote safe driving. We hope that giving young people advice and guidance will give them an insight that will help them be safe on the roads.
“There is also a safety message to all drivers, as reducing the number of people seriously injured or killed on our roads is a key priority for Police Scotland and Edinburgh Division. We want everyone, young or otherwise, to be aware of the dangers of speeding, drink driving and driving under the influence of drugs. Awareness will contribute to reducing casualties in the future.”
Kenny Rogers, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Local Senior Officer for the City of Edinburgh, said: “Young drivers need to be equipped with the knowledge to stay safe on our roads and this event provides a great opportunity for all emergency partners to talk about the potential dangers of being behind the wheel of a car.
“It’s important to show young people how they can take measures to avoid being in a collision in the first place.”
For live updates from the event, check out Edinburgh Young Drivers on Twitter @edinyoungdriver and follow the hashtag #edinyd.
Young drivers: The facts
Young drivers are much more likely to be involved in an accident than older drivers. 17-25 year-olds account for 10% of licence holders, but over 20% of accidents.
The types of accidents which young drivers are involved in are different from older, more experienced drivers. Young drivers are more likely to be involved in:
- Single vehicle accidents
- Accidents as a result of the driver losing control of the vehicle
Find out more about the Young Drivers event online.
Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals: The more you spend, the more you save, says Underbelly
Underbelly shares annual report on Edinburgh’s world-renowned Winter Festivals – Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay
- Combined contract for Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay saves the city £1million per year.
- 183,857 people attended Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and there was a 3% rise in total attenders from Edinburgh.
- 2018 registered 929,219 unique visitors to Edinburgh’s Christmas
- 28,000 tickets to Edinburgh’s Christmas given away to young people, community groups and charities in the city
- Edinburgh’s Christmas raised £44,000 for charity
- 99% of people rated Edinburgh’s Christmas very good or good.
- Community benefit calculated as £1,176,000
Council seek your views on pre-school education
Tell us about your experience of pre-school education in Edinburgh – what you like and what you think could change or improve. Continue reading Council seek your views on pre-school education
“A major, modern, capital”: Transport Convener talks city centre transformation
Continue reading “A major, modern, capital”: Transport Convener talks city centre transformation
Brown Bin Permits are in the post
Residents who have signed up for the next garden waste service year in Edinburgh have started to receive their permit stickers through the post.
A total of 68,705 households registered for the fortnightly brown bin collections during the six-week sign-up period over the summer.
More than 75,000 individual permits were applied for, meaning a proportion of applicants paid for more than one brown bin.
Residents who have signed up to the service are urged to get in touch with the Council if they haven’t received their permits by Monday evening [30 September].
Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “We’re almost at the start of our new service year for garden waste collections, so if you signed up over the summer, look out for your permit sticker landing on your doormat in the coming days.
“Last year, green-minded residents helped us send more than 9,000 tonnes of garden waste to be turned into compost for gardens, parks and farmland and we hope to recycle even more this coming service year.”
The next opportunity to sign up to the garden waste service will take place between 20 January and 3 February 2020.
What’s on at Museums & Galleries Edinburgh this October half term
Museums & Galleries Edinburgh, the collection of 13 venues and monuments across the city, are full of exhibitions, events and experiences to keep the kids entertained this half term.
From climbing the steps of ancient monuments, to catching the final weekend of a 5* art exhibition, there’s something for all interests and ages. Continue reading What’s on at Museums & Galleries Edinburgh this October half term
City council encourages residents to get the recycling habit
This Recycle Week, the City of Edinburgh Council is urging residents to get into the food waste recycling habit with a new video showing how easy it is to do.
Continue reading City council encourages residents to get the recycling habit