city council – Page 143 – The NEN

Edinburgh College students show ‘X’ marks the spot

Edinburgh College students have joined the city council to encourage those studying in colleges and universities to make sure they’re registered to vote in the forthcoming UK Parliamentary General Election.

With just three weeks until the country goes to the polls, Edinburgh College students have shared why they think it’s important for people of all ages and backgrounds to have their say.

According to the Electoral Commission, one in three young people risk missing out on their opportunity to vote – national research shows that only 66% of 18 to 19-year olds are registered correctly compared to 94% of over-65s.

Anyone wanting to vote in the General Election on 12 December must make sure they’re registered to vote by Tuesday, 26 November and can do so online by visiting www.gov.uk/registertovote.

People who think they may be registered but want to check should contact the Electoral Registration Office on 0131 344 2500. Those who can’t get to their local polling place on the day can also register for a postal or proxy vote.

Andrew Kerr, Returning Officer for Edinburgh, said: “With less than a week until voter registration closes it’s essential that anyone wishing to vote makes sure they are registered at the correct address so they can take part.

“We want everyone, whatever their age or background, to be able to participate in the democratic process. It’s great to see young people studying here in Edinburgh championing voter registration and I hope they inspire others to visit www.gov.uk/registertovote or to check with the Electoral Registration Officer to make sure their details are up to date.”

Edinburgh College Students’ Association president Carla Ford said: “It’s very important that as students we all register to vote. It’s our opportunity to have our say and vote for who we would like to run the country in the future. I would urge all eligible students, not just those at Edinburgh College, to make sure they get registered and play their part in shaping our country.”

Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “I would encourage all of our students who are eligible to vote to make sure they are registered by next week’s deadline. It is vital that as members of the public we all play our part in the democratic process.”

Students who study away from home can register at both their term time and home address so they can choose which constituency they want to vote in, as long as they only vote once.

To vote in the UK Parliamentary Elections on 12 December, voters must be aged 18 or over and either a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

Voter registration closes at midnight on Tuesday 26 November.

Anyone already registered for the European Election on 23 May does not need to re-register. However, anyone who has changed address since then needs to re-register to be able to vote in the UK Parliamentary Elections on 12 December. Poll Cards are due to be issued to all registered electors from 22 November.

Applications for postal votes must be submitted by 5pm on Tuesday, 26 November and applications to vote by proxy must be submitted by 5pm on Wednesday 4 December.

Find out more about where, when and how to vote.

Edinburgh College students

Kevin Jenkins, 20 years old: “I think it’s incredibly important to vote in all elections because if you don’t then your say’s not heard. I think it’s also important that we encourage all of our friends and family to realise that they have to vote.”

Lauren Scott, 19 years old: “There are so many posts online that are encouraging it [registering to vote], you just need to follow the links and the instructions. It’s all simple questions so it’s not difficult to do, it’s straightforward and there’s no reason not to. If you don’t vote then you can’t complain about what’s happening – it’s the number one way to get your voice heard.”

Rachel Nicholson, 20 years old: “I think it’s really important to vote because there are so many changes being made or changes that need to be made right now. If we start to vote and make our voice heard then the topics that we think are important will get discussed more.”

Book your place: a new chapter for Central Library

Culture Convener CLLR DONALD WILSON writes about exciting literary developments with plans to transform Central Library, National Mobile Libraries Day and Scottish Book Week:

They say things come in threes and that’s definitely the case in Edinburgh with all things literature at the moment!

Today we are celebrating the first National Mobile Libraries Day and Edinburgh is one of best local authorities in the country for providing this valuable service.

Edinburgh has five vehicles which is more than any other city in Scotland (Glasgow doesn’t have any), making over 5,800 stops every year and lending out nearly 100,000 items from books to dvds and also providing services such as storytelling sessions and craft activities.

Mobile libraries are a real lifeline for communities and using them gives people a sense of belonging and helps to reduce loneliness and isolation.

They are so much more than books which leads nicely onto this week being Scottish Book Week. Edinburgh was the first City of Literature in the world so it’s only right we celebrate Scottish Book Week with lots of fun and educational events in our libraries, schools and across the city. Why not pop down to your local library to see what they’ve got planned?

One exciting new development is the news of our ambitious plans to transform the Central Library.

Last week the Culture and Communities Committee approved proposals to create a project team to develop an imaginative, accessible and engaging future vision for one of the Capital’s most iconic buildings.

We fully realise this is a major undertaking but it’s one we are embracing with open arms as we aim to create an inspiring and inclusive learning and cultural destination.

There will undoubtedly be many challenges on the long journey but we need to transform the Central Library to meet 21st Century needs and the evolving expectations of both present and future generations.

One of the major issues facing us is poor accessibility as many areas are off limits to wheelchair users and extremely challenging for others.

Public space is limited with only about 35% currently available however our two public proposals would increase this to 75% and 95%.

Funding will be another challenge but one where there are potential options we can explore.

Doing nothing is expensive and doesn’t deliver best value – we need to be preventative rather than reactive.

We have already shown what can be achieved with the refurbishment of the Children’s Library, Music Library, Edinburgh and Scottish Collection in 2014. These spaces are now modern, bright and welcoming which has led to an increase in visitors.

Transforming the Central Library is key to widening access and inclusion, to offering an outstretched, welcoming hand for all. Sparking discovery, creativity and imagination through the power of reading and learning, in all its forms.

As Andrew Carnegie said in a telegram to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh on 27 April 1886: ‘There is one point upon which all true Scotchmen are agreed, that no city in the world compares to Edinburgh’. Edinburgh deserves a Central Library of the highest quality that matches or exceeds those anywhere else in the world – let’s all work together to deliver one!

Winter Warmer on Wednesday

Wednesday 20th November 10.30 – 2pm in Muirhouse Library

Winter weather: let’s tackle it together, says Transport Leader

The city council’s Transport Leader is asking everyone to do their bit, where possible, to help make sure front paths and local streets and pavements are safe and walkable this winter.

The council is braced for every weather eventuality, with 22 lorries primed to grit the city’s streets, 16 brand new mini tractors ready to treat pavements and more than 13,000 tonnes of salt stocked in preparation for frost, ice and snow.

Over recent weeks the fleet has already been out gritting neighbourhoods overnight with temperatures dropping below zero.

Residents are also being reminded about the 3000 salt bins located across the city which are regularly refilled to help people maintain their local streets where it is not possible to treat overnight. During this time staff need to focus on Edinburgh’s 1050km of priority one roads and 300km of priority one pavements leading to hospitals, schools, care homes and other key locations.

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “We’re well aware of the impact severe winter weather can have on the city and its services, as we saw when the ‘Beast from the East’ hit Edinburgh last year. That’s why we’re well prepared, as ever, with a fleet of lorries and gritting teams ready to tackle ice and snow during the colder months.

“What we’ve also seen during recent periods of extreme weather is the dedication shown by individuals and groups who have pitched in to help make their communities safe. We make every effort to keep the city moving over the winter, but resources need to be focussed on priority routes serving emergency services, vulnerable people and key arterial thoroughfares.

“It’s often thanks to these community members’ hard work that ice and snow is cleared from smaller streets, and I hope we will see people continue to make use of local grit bins and look out for their neighbours this winter.”

As well as a 75-strong road services team working in shifts round the clock to treat the city’s priority routes, there are more than 60 paid volunteers from departments across the Council.

Amongst these are staff from social work, facilities, parks, housing and community safety departments, who are on standby to assist the maintenance of priority pavements and cycle paths in the event of extreme weather.

This is the second winter crews will benefit from ‘thermal mapping’, based on road temperature data gathered over recent years, helping teams to direct resources accordingly to the roads most in need of treatment.

The service will also continue to utilise telematics devices fitted to the entire winter weather fleet to allow lorries and tractors to transmit their location and gritting operation, meaning a quicker response to the public’s needs.

Local farmers have been enlisted, as in previous years, to support the Council’s winter weather response by gritting rural routes and contracts are in place with external companies if the

Council needs access to additional staff and equipment in extreme winter conditions.

The public can find out about priority road, cycle path and pavement gritting routes by visiting the Council website’s winter weather pages which include an interactive map so that residents can locate their nearest salt bin.

If severe weather strikes, the Council will use its social media channels, website and local radio stations to keep residents updated on any impact on services.

WINTER WEATHER RESPONSE BY NUMBERS

13,500 tonnes of salt stockpiled for use across the city
16 brand new mini-tractors to cover the priority network of footpaths and cycle routes, which this year are trialling the use of snow clearing brushes for the first time
75 Edinburgh Roads Services staff working three shifts to treat roads
60 staff from across the Council working three shifts to treat priority footways and cycle routes (including customer advisers, social work, facilities, parks, housing, community safety, environmental wardens, project managers, care and support, cemeteries, rangers, IT)

Leith’s Good With Food!

Residents are being encouraged to adopt smart kitchen and shopping habits as part of a new campaign to tackle the climate crisis by reducing food waste in Leith.

Leith’s Good With Food, a new campaign from Zero Waste Leith, encourages the local community to shop smart, cook just the right amount and use up or share any leftovers.

The campaign is delivered by leading environmental charity Changeworks as part of the Zero Waste Leith project, with funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

Food waste is one of the top contributors to greenhouse gases – and throwing away food waste means you’re throwing away money too. Right now, 60% of the food we waste in Scotland could be avoided, and that’s something the campaign is looking to change. If food can’t be reused, it can be turned into energy through Edinburgh’s kerbside food recycling service.

The campaign kicked off with a launch event at the Leith Walk Police Box yesterday.

Hannah Milne, Zero Waste Leith Co-ordinator at Changeworks said: “Leithers are already leading the way towards zero waste in Scotland and now they are adopting food waste savvy habits in their kitchens, shops and streets with our new campaign, Leith’s Good With Food.

“Our team of volunteers gave out our new Good with Food kits which contain tools, tips and recipes to help Leithers avoid food waste and a kitchen caddy for collecting food waste recycling.”

The campaign is modelled on the successful anti-flytipping campaign, Flyspotting, which featured portraits and messaging from local Leithers and halved flytipping in ten test streets surrounding Dalmeny Street Park.

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Environment Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council said: “Food waste is a big greenhouse gas emitter, but it’s something households can tackle easily and help make a real, positive contribution.

“All food waste collected in Edinburgh goes to our state-of-the-art facility at Millerhill to be converted into energy – just one food caddy can generate enough electricity to power a TV for five hours!

“I welcome this new campaign from Changeworks and look forward to even more people getting into the food waste reduction and recycling habit.”

“We’re prepared for whatever the weather has to throw at us”

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, writes about Edinburgh’s preparations for severe weather:

The nights are drawing in and the temperature is dropping. And while there’s a festive feeling beginning to build, there’s no ignoring the challenges the winter months can bring. Continue reading “We’re prepared for whatever the weather has to throw at us”

Bah humbug! Council responds to Christmas criticism

From unsighly hoardings and dodgy scaffolding to disrespectful tratment of memorial benches and lax planning enforcement, the council has come in for a lot of criticism over Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2019 preparations.

This is the council’s response: Continue reading Bah humbug! Council responds to Christmas criticism

St. Stephen Court: there’s no place like home

Sixteen refurbished apartments in Sighthill are helping people to build meaningful lives at home following time spent at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

St Stephen's offers a homely place for tenants after time in hospital

The Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership is now funding ongoing care and support for tenants at the St Stephen’s service as they recover in a homely setting.

Continue reading St. Stephen Court: there’s no place like home

Public invited to take part in consultation about designs for West Princes Street Gardens’ future

Public consultation puts new designs of West Princes Street Garden improvements to Edinburgh public
Drop-in information events being held across Edinburgh throughout November, and online at www.thequaichproject.org/consultation
New visuals showing welcome centre, pavilion & amphitheatre, family area and path network to be unveiled as part of the consultation

Continue reading Public invited to take part in consultation about designs for West Princes Street Gardens’ future

Leith Links playpark transformed

Kids of all ages are in for a treat at the brand new Leith Links play park, which was formally opened on Friday, becoming one of the Capital’s largest play spaces.

A parkour unit, a Rolli trampoline for wheelchair users, a natural play area and oodles of great new play equipment chosen by the local community have allbeen installed in the north Edinburgh park.

Continue reading Leith Links playpark transformed