Tennis courts in Juniper Green have opened following state-of-the-art renovations worth £100k, thanks to a major fundraising drive by the local tennis club.
Almost £50k was raised by Juniper Green Tennis Club, matched by grant funding from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), to carry out extensive work on the two courts. This includes resurfacing, repainting, new fencing, nets and a smart entrance gate.
The courts are leased from the City of Edinburgh Council and managed for year-round public use by Juniper Green Tennis Club. All courts will be available to book via the LTA website. New gate access technology means it is now easier to get on court by booking in advance to guarantee availability.
Through the Parks Tennis Project, the LTA is delivering the biggest ever investment in parks tennis facilities across Britain. This nationwide programme of investment is seeing thousands of existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition brought back to life for the benefit of communities across the country, providing vital opportunities for children and adults to get active.
Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “I’m delighted to see these tennis courts upgraded at Juniper Green, and offering fantastic facilities for all those who use them.
“Juniper Green Tennis Club pulled out all the stops to fundraise for these renovations and it’s thanks to them, along with funding from the Lawn Tennis Association, that there will be even more opportunities for residents to get involved in the sport.”
Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to see the courts at Juniper Green transformed and in better shape than ever.
“Park tennis courts are vital for providing people with opportunities to pick up a racket, and we want as many people as possible, of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, to enjoy playing tennis and being active. Thanks to this investment the sport will be opened up to more players, for years to come.
Juniper Green Tennis Club Chair Paul Murphy said: “A group of local organisations, businesses and individuals successfully secured our participation in this fantastic nationwide scheme to transform local tennis facilities by making generous cash donations, providing five-year interest free loans and committing to five-year fixed term memberships.
“The support of the local community allied to the critical contribution from the LTA Park Tennis Project has helped to future proof the tennis courts in Juniper Green which have been such an important part of village life, on the current site, since their opening in 1907.”
Edinburgh is one of 19 new local authorities joining the international Bloomberg Philanthropies i-team initiative, which provides municipalities around the world with support and expertise to tackle pressing local challenges.
The City of Edinburgh Council today announced plans for an Innovation Team which will work towards tackling the city’s ambitions of reaching net zero and ending poverty.
The ‘i-team’, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, will include three specialised staff charged with helping the Council and civic and community-based partners design and implement services that improve people’s lives.
They will receive technical assistance from regional and global specialists, and benefit from learnings from peers in local authorities across the region and around the world.
City of Edinburgh Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Edinburgh is one of the most successful cities in the world and yet we face unprecedented pressures. Our population growth, and appeal as a fantastic place to live and visit, makes it challenging to provide the best quality housing and support to residents who need it most.
“Likewise, Edinburgh’s world-famous environment, both built and natural, needs to be managed sustainably and protected from the effects of climate change.
“The support from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ international i-team initiative will provide a huge boost towards our aims of tackling poverty and hitting net zero, by helping us to establish a brand-new innovation team within the Council. I look forward to working with this team, and all our partners, as we work to deliver a fairer and stronger capital city.”
James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, said: “Realising efficient, effective government is an inside job—and the Innovation Teams we support around the world are critical to building that engine within the city halls they serve.
“We are glad to expand this model to 19 new municipal teams in Europe, who will join the growing number of public officials working locally, creatively, and ambitiously to break down silos, break through problems, and deliver results residents see and feel.”
To date, the Bloomberg Philanthropies i-team initiative has reached over 100 cities across 16 countries and four continents—representing more than 100 million residents—and inspired hundreds of other local governments to embrace innovation systems and practices.
Newly appointed Chair Julie Ashworth has selected 12 Edinburgh individuals to form the city’s first Visitor Levy Advisory Forum.
Bringing experience from the third sector to academia, the hotels industry to local communities, the Forum met for the first time to receive a briefing on the Edinburgh Visitor Levy.
Each member has been interviewed by the Chair and joins the Forum as an individual who is able to bring a broad range of personal expertise and background to the group, rather than a representative for their current organisation.
It is expected that the Forum will meet at least twice a year. They will advise advise Councillors as they agree final details of how the proceeds of the scheme will be invested before it launches next summer.
Forum members will also discuss and provide feedback on the efficiency of the scheme and advise the Council on any recommended modifications when it is reviewed after three years.
The appointments to the Visitor Levy Advisory Forum are:
Lori Anderson, Director of Festivals Edinburgh
Kat Brogan, Managing Director of Mercat Tours and Co-chair of Edinburgh’s Living Wage Action Group
Garry Clark, Development Manager, East of Scotland for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and member of the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group
Audrey Cumberford, Principal and Chief Executive of Edinburgh College
Fran van Dijk, B-Corp Ambassador for B Lab UK and Advisory Board member of Green Element
Neil Ellis, Chair of Edinburgh Hotels Association and member of the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group
Euan Hamilton, Equality and Rights Network Development Worker for Volunteer Edinburgh
Terry Levinthal, Director of the Cockburn Association
Graeme Smith, Regional Industrial Officer, Unite the Union
Douglas Tharby, Deputy Chair of the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils
Kirsten Urquhart, Chief Executive of Young Scot
Alex Williamson, Chief Executive of Scottish Rugby.
Julie Ashworth, Chair of the Visitor Levy Advisory Forum, said: “Edinburgh’s visitor levy scheme has been shaped by years of debate and views from all sectors and communities, and it is in this spirit I’ve appointed a group of people with fantastic experience and expertise from different fields and from civic life. I’m confident we have a really strong Forum in place and we’re excited to get to work.
“Our introductory meeting focussed on ensuring that all members are up to speed with the Edinburgh Visitor Levy scheme, and the requirements of the group itself. Now that Forum members are familiar with this, the real work of advising the Council on levy matters can begin.
“With just over a year to go until the levy is launched, it will be our job to fairly and accurately represent the views of the city, and to encourage the Council at all stages to take these views into account. I’m grateful to every member for coming on board.
Council Leader Jane Meagher added: “I’m delighted that mere weeks after her appointment as Chair, Julie has established a full Visitor Levy Advisory Forum.
“Edinburgh’s upcoming levy will provide us with a once in a lifetime opportunity for raising much needed funds for the city. Important decisions will need to be taken on how this money is spent so that visitors and residents can benefit, so I’m pleased to see a balanced and broad range of views represented on the Advisory Forum.
“These are individuals with great knowledge about their industries and the city, and I understand they’ve had a productive first meeting. I look forward to their input as we prepare to launch Scotland’s first visitor levy next summer.”
The City of Edinburgh Council is inviting residents and stakeholders to take part in a consultation on the city’s Affordable Housing Policy (AHP).
Edinburgh led the way by becoming the first local authority in Scotland to introduce an AHP in 2000. Under the current policy, housing developments with 12 or more homes must include 35% affordable housing.
Today, the city faces growing housing pressures – higher than average rents and house prices, a low proportion of social housing, and over 5,000 households in temporary accommodation. The city also has a lower proportion of social rented homes – just 16% compared to the Scottish average of 22%.
The Council is reviewing the policy’s non-statutory elements and is seeking public feedback on the next version of the Affordable Housing Guidance, due to be considered by the Planning Committee in November 2025.
Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Lezley Marion Cameron said: “Too many people and families in Edinburgh are struggling to find a stable and affordable place to live, and too many are still in temporary accommodation.
“We are making progress, however, there is much more to do to meet the increasing demand for housing in Edinburgh.
“That is why I am encouraging people to participate in the consultation and share their views to influence how we shape our communities and deliver the much needed affordable homes our city and citizens need.”
The month-long celebration originated in Boston, USA in 1990 and the UK in Belfast in 2015.
Disability Pride means various things to each individual and can be celebrated in various ways, however, crucially it is a way for the disabled community to come together for both positivity and support, to raise awareness of the difficulties and barriers sadly encountered by people with disabilities, and to educate on how to reduce ableism and increase allyship.
Council Leader, Jane Meagher said: “With one in five people in the UK living with a disability, Disability Pride Month is an important time for us all to recognise and celebrate the contributions, identities, and experiences of disabled LGBTQ+ people in our city and beyond.
“Disability pride can mean different things for many; this month is a way of shining a spotlight on the barriers and discrimination disabled people face. Too often, they face multiple obstacles from access to social exclusion.
“Edinburgh is a city that values diversity in all its forms, and as a Disability Confident Employer, I’m committed to making sure everyone feels they belong. That means listening to those with lived experience, removing obstacles – physical and social – and creating a culture where difference is respected.”
People carrying out unpaid work as part of a community sentence have been helping to develop an NHS community garden in Morningside.
The City of Edinburgh Council’s justice services have teamed up with the Cyrenians charity so that people carrying out a community payback order (CPO) can learn how to care for the garden.
Councillor Tim Pogson, Chair of Edinburgh’s Community Safety and Justice Partnership, said: “We have been exploring innovative ways to support those who have committed offences to repay the community for their crimes while at the same time, giving participants the opportunity to learn valuable skills and work as part of a team.
“Through joining forces with the Scottish charity Cyrenians we’ve been able to support the environment through the development of a community garden project offering placements to people completing unpaid work as part of a CPO.”
Cyrenians delivers the project in a supportive environment, delivering learning, while providing help to those on the project to access additional supports they may need to be reintegrated into their community and become contributing members of society.
The project has proved to be a great success with participants saying how working in the garden had improved their mental health and led to a renewed appreciation of the outdoors. Many have enjoyed contributing to a wider project team while being supported by Cyrenians through a low point in their lives to move on from their crime to a more positive space and a crime-free life.
A supervised team of people work together on the garden woodland and orchard, including landscaping, planting, pruning and composting. Participants learn how to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers and develop skills in making garden furniture.
Hannah Macrae, Community Gardens Service Manager at Cyrenians, said: “We have loved working in partnership with community justice services, to offer placements to people completing a community payback order.
“Our community gardens provide a lot of solace to people and we are very grateful to those who have come on placement for all their efforts to maintain and improve this special space. Many of the people who come really enjoy the time working in the garden and we hope that they take away a new set of skills and a sense of pride in what they have achieved.”
A number of areas across Edinburgh have been transformed by people carrying out a CPO and previous projects have included fencing and decking work at Dr Neil’s Garden in Duddingston and supporting garden maintenance at Inverleith Park.
More than 11.6 million hours of unpaid work have been completed across Scotland since CPOs were introduced in 2010 – with around 1.4 million hours recorded benefiting communities for the reporting year 2023-24. There were 15,086 CPOs imposed by the courts – a three per cent increase on the previous year.
There are various projects highlighted in the new annual CPO report 2023-24 by Community Justice Scotland. It shows that the number of CPOs imposed has increased and how people have been held to account and supported to reconnect and contribute to their communities.
Catherine Dyer, chair of the board of Community Justice Scotland, said: “Community payback orders allow people to repay locally for the harm they’ve caused and access support to services, such as addiction counselling, to tackle the behaviour which led to their offending.
“The increase in the number of CPOs imposed by courts shows the confidence of Sheriffs in community-based sentences which can help reduce the risk of reoffending compared to short-term imprisonment.
“Unpaid work has transformed areas across the country, making a meaningful impact on communities such as improving school playgrounds, painting and gardening for local organisations as well as helping individuals who need work done.”
Edinburgh is seeking the public’s views on unpaid work and suggestions for new projects. You can complete the short survey online here at the City of Edinburgh Council’s website (until 8 September 2025).
A consultation on Firework Control Zones (FCZ) for autumn 2025 in Edinburgh is now underway.
Earlier this year interested communities were invited to apply for their area to become a FCZ. Consultation participants will now be able to give feedback on nine potential FCZs in:
Niddrie
Sighthill/Broomhouse
Gracemount
Moredun
Calton Hill
Seafield
Balerno
Corstorphine
Longstone
Consultation responses will help form plans for future FCZs, which will be reported to Culture and Communities Committee in August.
Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “We want people to be able to enjoy Bonfire Night safely and responsibly, and introducing FCZs is one way we can support communities to do that.
“As well as drawing on experience from last year’s FCZs, this consultation will help us to better understand the impact on residents as we approach autumn 2025.
“I would encourage all those who are interested to take part in the consultation to help us shape plans for Bonfire Night.”
FCZs were first introduced to support the safe use of fireworks in Edinburgh in 2024, based on assessments from Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and Council data.
These covered Balerno, Calton Hill, Niddrie and Seafield and lessons learned from their operation will be considered in the introduction of future FCZs.
The current consultation will run until 29 July. Take part online.
Partnership with libraries through access to books and cultural experiences
Innovative programme in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council will enhance the role of five local libraries as thriving cultural hubs as literacy crisis deepens across the UK
Paper Trails is a five-year library partnership project and was launched at the official opening of Ratho Library by Her Majesty The Queen today, Tuesday 1 July 2025
Part of the Book Festival’s year-round Communities Programme, Paper Trails is a partnership with City of Edinburgh Council and five libraries: Muirhouse Library, Ratho Hub Library, Liberton High School Library, Streetreads, and the Mobile Library
Paper Trails will tackle social isolation, especially among older adults, by encouraging library use and developing creative skills; highlight libraries as spaces for creativity and community gathering; build partnerships that create cultural ecosystems in under-served areas of the city; support young people’s creative development and career pathways
The Edinburgh International Book Festival has launched its innovative Paper Trails libraries project, part of its year-round Communities Programme, at the official reopening of Ratho Hub Library by Her Majesty the Queen.
As recent statistics reveal that more than 1 in 4 older adults experience loneliness each week, only 1 in 5 young people read daily, and literacy rates across all ages countrywide have been declining since 2005, this five-year initiative is designed to tackle social isolation and literary inequality through creative community programming.
The Paper Trails project represents one of the most ambitious community literature initiatives in Scotland, working in partnership with five libraries: Muirhouse Library (housed in the new Macmillan Hub building), Ratho Hub Library, Liberton High School Library (opening in 2026), Streetreads (a charity-run library for people experiencing homelessness), and the Mobile Library service.
Using University of Edinburgh Cultural Mapping research, these libraries were chosen as locations where cultural provision could be enhanced and where little or no other festival activity currently takes place.
The programme will co-create literary experiences with local communities, addressing specific neighbourhood needs while building sustainable capacity that extends beyond the Book Festival’s direct involvement.
Noelle Cobden, Director of Communities and Equality at Edinburgh International Book Festival, said:“Paper Trails represents our commitment to ensuring that literature and creative expression remain accessible to all communities.
“This isn’t just about bringing authors to libraries – it’s about listening to local people to tell their own stories and strengthening the vital role libraries play in community life.”
The initiative has received significant backing from celebrated crime writer Sir Ian Rankin and his wife Miranda Harvey.
Paper Trails is also funded by the Ettrick Charitable Trust, Cruden Foundation, and National Lottery Awards for All.
Jenny Niven, Director of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said:“We couldn’t be more excited to announce this hugely ambitious project that cements existing, and generates new, creative relationships across the sector, and that has the potential to impact the lives of thousands of people from in and around the city.
“We’re delighted to begin the first phase of this a far reaching partnership and look forward to speaking with other organisations who are interested in supporting the work further and as we roll it out across our libraries.”
Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I’m delighted to have been part of the official opening of Ratho Library by Her Majesty the Queen. The development of this library hub had the community at its heart and I’m so pleased that residents can now enjoy all that’s on offer there.
“Paper Trails is a wonderful initiative which harnesses the positive impact our libraries can have.”
Her Majesty The Queen’s official opening of the newly rebuilt Ratho Library today highlights the vital importance of library services to local communities. The Ratho community had been without a permanent library since the COVID-19 pandemic, relying instead on weekly mobile library visits.
Paper Trails will work with diverse groups including young people, older adults, and those facing homelessness, using storytelling and creative writing to build connections and support personal growth.
The programme specifically aims to tackle social isolation by encouraging library use, developing creative skills, and highlighting libraries as essential spaces for creativity and community gathering.
Paper Trails offers a model of how cultural organisations can work in partnership with local authorities to revitalise these essential community resources.
Each participating library will develop programming tailored to their community’s specific needs, from supporting young writers’ career development to creating intergenerational storytelling circles and providing creative outlets for marginalised communities. For example, the project’s Skills Pathways will give young people in Liberton the opportunity to learn about how festivals are produced, widening their understanding and engagement with the literary sector beyond simply access to books.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Communities Programme, of which Paper Trails forms a central part, works year-round with partners including schools, libraries, prisons, and hospitals to foster lifelong love of reading and develop engaged audiences of all backgrounds and ages.
As the charity prepares for its August festival (9-24 August 2025), Paper Trails demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to ensuring the transformative power of literature reaches every corner of Edinburgh’s diverse communities.
The City of Edinburgh Council’s retrofit project has taken a major step forward this month with the submission of a planning application by Collective Architecture.
Built in the 1960s and now designated as Category A listed buildings, Cables Wynd House and Linksview House collectively provide 310 homes, the majority of which are owned by the Council for social rent.
These landmark buildings have served generations of residents, and this project represents a significant investment in securing their future as safe, high-quality homes.
The proposed works are being driven by the need to meet the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing – EESSH2.
Achieving compliance will require substantial upgrades to both the building fabric and mechanical systems. Alongside this, the Council has identified the opportunity to deliver wider improvements that will bring the buildings in line with modern new-build standards.
Key elements of the proposal include:
Energy Efficiency Upgrades: Improved insulation, window replacements, and energy-efficient heating systems to meet EESSH2 standards.
Fire Safety Enhancements: Installation of sprinkler systems, smoke ventilation, a new fire-fighting lift, and improved fire compartmentalisation in communal areas. The removal of legacy bin chutes and inclusion of internal waste management facilities will also contribute to enhanced fire safety.
Resident Safety and Security: Upgraded internal and external lighting, a comprehensive review of CCTV systems, and improved access control throughout the buildings.
Landscape and Placemaking Improvements: The refurbishment project presents a unique opportunity to reimagine the outdoor environment surrounding both towers. Proposals include new play areas, external seating, wildflower meadows, sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS), and a full review of parking and waste facilities.
Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Lezley Marion Cameron said:“I am delighted that the proposals for the Council’s £69 million investment in Cables Wynd House and Linksview House have now been submitted to the CEC Planning Service, setting out our plans to make our residents’ homes safer, more comfortable and more energy efficient.
“Cables Wynd and Linksview House residents have long campaigned for this much needed and substantive investment in their homes to happen.
“Their influence and input into our consultation sessions have shaped these proposals and is hugely valued. I look forward to continuing this positive engagement with Cables Wynd and Linksview House residents and Leith Ward Councillors as the project progresses.”
Carl Baker, Architect, Certified Passivhaus Designer – Collective Architecture said: “Collective Architecture is proud to be working with The City of Edinburgh Council on the retrofit of Cables Wynd House and Linksview House.
“Our proposals place residents at the heart of the process, aiming to provide greener, warmer homes, while celebrating and sensitively enhancing the unique character of the Category A listed buildings.
“As part of a just transition, our carefully considered interventions will improve the thermal and environmental performance of the iconic structures – boosting energy efficiency and alleviating the risk of fuel poverty.
“As with many of our projects, meaningful resident engagement has been central to the design process and will remain a key focus through the final design stage and into construction.”
Subject to planning approval, the Council will continue to engage closely with residents throughout the design and construction process, ensuring their needs remain at the heart of the project.
