Boswall community’s united in celebration!

A celebration has been held to mark the opening on 15 new affordable homes and a church centre in Boswall Parkway by Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA).

The Association bought the Granton United Church site in 2010 and was committed to providing a centre for a local congregation as part of its building plans. The development, built with £1m funding from the City of Edinburgh Council, has been shortlisted for a Scottish Home Award for Community Partnership of the Year.

There are two one-bedroom, 10 two-bedroom and three three-bedroom flats in the Boswall Parkway development . More than two-thirds of the properties feature solar thermal heating provided by panels located on the roof.

An opening ceremony was held at the Granton United Church last week and was attended by around 30 people including PoLHA representatives, contractors and tenants, as well as local MSP Malcolm Chisholm.

Cathy King, Head of Housing and Regeneration at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This development is a great example of the council and Port of Leith Housing Association working in partnership with the local community to deliver much-needed affordable homes. The existing building has now been transformed into 15 energy-efficient flats and a purpose-built church hall which everyone will be able to benefit from.”

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of PoLHA, said: “This site, incorporating a church, is one that’s completely unique for us and we’re delighted to have been able to develop a centre as part of our plans. Creating communities in which people want to live is more than simply providing a roof over people’s heads: it’s providing good-quality, energy-efficient housing people are proud of, and it’s supporting individuals, families and local groups to help bring people together and be a community.”

Granton United Church has around 35 members. Treasurer Ted Wallace said: “The members all seem happy with the new centre and we’ve settled in.”

Resident Paula McVay added: “Our new home is great and we’re really happy with the energy-efficient measures.”

Boswall community's united in celebration!

A celebration has been held to mark the opening on 15 new affordable homes and a church centre in Boswall Parkway by Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA).

Granton United Church has around 35 members. Treasurer Ted Wallace said: “The members all seem happy with the new centre and we’ve settled in.”

Resident Paula McVay added: “Our new home is great and we’re really happy with the energy-efficient measures.”

Crunch time for Council candidates as count begins

You’ve had your say and the count of votes cast in yesterday’s local council elections is now underway at Meadowbank Stadium, where Edinburgh will elect 58 councillors.

Early indications are that voter turnout is not as bad as first feared – there were gloomy predictions of 30% or even less in some areas yesterday. The political parties certainly can’t blame poor weather if the turnout is low – yesterday’s weather was fine.

The composition of the outgoing Council was: Lib-Dem 16, Labour 15, SNP 13, Conservative 11 and Green Party 3. Following that last council election in 2007, the Lib Dems and SNP entered into a coalition to form the administration, and despite directly opposing views on Edinburgh’s controversial tram project, the partnership held firm for the full five year term.

Last night’s results from England show a resurgent Labour party, but this is unsurprising given Labour started from a very low base, having been drubbed in the previous council elections down south. The current Conservative/Lib Dem coalition at Westminster is also particularly unpopular just now; party managers will claim the local election results are ‘mid-term protest votes’ – they usually do!

In Scotland, there is a different dynamic with the rise of the SNP and the party’s historic victory in last year’s Holyrood election. The challenge for the Nationalists is to maintain that momentum, or was last May the high-water mark?

Here in Edinburgh, it’s hard to tell what impact, if any, the trams fiasco had on the way voters cast their ballots. It does appear likely that the Lib Dems will pay the price for both being a partner in an unpopular Westminster government and, locally, the main party heading up a weak and indecisive administration.

What will happen to the Lib Dem vote if, as some predict, it collapses? Hard to say, but it could be the Green Party who are the main beneficiaries of disaffected Lib Dems.

Whatever the turnout, the result will be very tight and before the count no-one really knows how this is going to play out. If forced to make a prediction, I would say Labour will finish as the biggest party with perhaps sixteen councillors. The Greens in particular, the SNP and the Tories could all also pick up a seat or two at the Lib-Dems expense; my guess – and it is a guess – is that the Lib Dems could lose six seats.

One thing for certain is that no one political party can have an absolute majority in the City Chambers, and after the count (or perhaps even before!) the horse-trading begins. We will know the composition of the new Council by late this afternoon, but we may have to wait a while longer to find out who will be running our city.

NEN’s Thomas Brown will be ‘tweeting’ from Meadowbank throughout the course of the day

Polling Day information

With the local council elections tomorrow (Thursday 3 May), the City of Edinburgh Council is reminding voters what they need to know to have their say on polling day:

Check where you should vote. Details of your local polling station will be on your poll card or are available from the online maps. If you have not received it or are unsure of where to go call: 0131 200 2315. Polling stations will be open from 7am – 10pm.
Bring your poll card with you to the polling station, it may speed things up. But don’t worry if you don’t have it, you can still vote without it.
Remember that this year you vote using numbers instead of using an X. Just put a 1 next to your first choice, a 2 next to your second choice, a 3 next to your third choice and so on. You can choose how many candidates to number from one, to as many as you would like.
If you’re unsure of how to complete your ballot paper, a member of staff will be able to help you. You can also watch a video of Victor the Voter, who can show you how.
If you applied for a postal vote, make sure it is returned by 10pm on Thursday 3 May. If you have left it too late to post back, you can drop it off at your local polling station or at the City Chambers on the High Street or to reception at the Council Headquarters on East Market Street.

City of Edinburgh Council

Charter presentation put on hold

Local campaign group North Edinburgh Fight Back has cancelled plans to present their anti-poverty demands to councillors at tomorrow’s full council meeting – the last before the 3 May elections.

Last month, the group announced their intention to present all 58 councillors with individual copies of the Community Charter scroll and to send a deputation to address Thursday’s meeting.

The group has been in touch to say that this will NOT now be happening and has asked us to let our readers know.

More information on why tomorrow’s deputation was cancelled – and when the scrolls will be handed over – when we have it.

Scott Hastings opens Inverleith fitness trail

Inverleith resident and former Scotland rugby star Scott Hastings officially opened Inverleith Park’s new fitness trail this morning. Scott was joined by members of the Friends of Inverleith Park group at a ribbon-cutting ceremony organised to mark the occasion.

Funded by the city council, wooden fitness equipment has been installed at ten stations around the park’s northern perimeter, and Scott was joined by his training companion Parker the dog as he demonstrated the delights of the exercise trail!

Inverleith Park is already a very popular location, used by a number of sports clubs, fitness groups and thousands of individuals, particularly joggers. The Council, along with the Friends of Inverleith Park and other user groups, decided that a fitness trail would improve the facilities and equipment for users of the park wanting to exercise.

Installation was completed at the end of March and fitness enthusiasts can now complete a circuit of the park whilst tackling bench sit-ups, a tyre run, wobble board and a number of other challenges along the way!

Scott said: “As a local resident and a regular jogger I am very impressed with the fitness trail. I am amazed at the number of people who have been using it to boost their exercise. I have had a bit of fun using the exercise stations as a break from my regular running route. Inverleith Park is a really fantastic space and this new fitness track enhances the amount of things that one can do whilst admiring the wonderful views across our great city”.

Friends of Inverleith Park convener Tony Cook added: “Comments about the fitness trail have been overwhelmingly positive and the new facilities will mean that even more people will come to enjoy this wonderful park.”

Scott Hastings opens Inverleith fitness trail

May 3 candidates confirmed

The following candidates will be seeking your support in the Local Government elections on 3 May. Four councillors will be elected in both the Forth and Inverleith wards from the following lists:

4. Forth Ward

Steve Cardownie – Scottish National Party (SNP)

Cammy Day – Scottish Labour Party

George Gordon – Scottish National Party (SNP)

Ruth Ann Henderson – Scottish Anti-Cuts Coalition

Allan George Jackson – Scottish Conservative and Unionist

Kate Joester – Scottish Green Party

Seumas Stiubhard Macmhicean – Liberal Party in Scotland

Vicki Redpath – Scottish Labour Party

Tim Wight – Scottish Liberal Democrats

5. Inverleith Ward

Nigel Bagshaw – Scottish Green Party

Gavin Barrie – Scottish National Party (SNP)

Scott Douglas – Scottish Conservative and Unionist

Lesley Hinds – Scottish Labour Party

Tim McKay – Scottish Liberal Democrats

Iain Whyte – Scottish Conservative and Unionist

John Young – Scottish National Party (SNP).

This election uses the STV (Single Transferable Vote) system, which involves putting numbers against preferred candidates.

You must be on the register of electors to be able to vote. You can register to vote for this year’s council elections:

if you are 18 or over, or will be 18 on or before 3 May 2012
if you are a British or Commonwealth Citizen
if you are an EU national
even if you are homeless or living in temporary or long-term hostel accommodation.

A registration form is sent to homes every autumn but you can check if you are registered to vote at the Local Government Elections on 3 May 2012 by calling the Electoral Registration Office on 0131 344 2500. But remember – you only have until Wednesday 18 April to register to vote, so check now!

Council official sees the light!

Council official John McFarlane has responsibility for street lighting, and last month he attended a Drylaw Telford Community Council meeting to hear concerns over inadequate street lighting in the area. As well as just listening, however, Mr McFarlane decided to see the problems for himself and left the meeting with a small group of local residents to visit some of the problem areas. Last night’s community council meeting heard that Mr McFarlane has been in touch and is now relooking at lighting in Drylaw.

In an email to community council Chairman Mike Clark, Mr McFarlane said: ‘I can confirm that the residents’ concerns were noted at the walkabout and my design team are currently working on a few change scenarios which will hopefully address these concerns. It is our intention to install alternative solutions in separate areas in Drylaw after which we will liaise with adjacent residents to determine the effectiveness of these solutions. Once a preferred solution is agreed through consultation with the residents we will implement these changes”.

Mr McFarlane added that he would be delighted to attend a future community council meeting and will contact the community council again ‘once we have progressed things at our end’.

Speaking after the meeting at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, Mike Clark said: “This is a positive development. Our February meeting was one of the best attended for some time as local residents wanted to make their concerns known. With the new lighting, some people feel that parts of the neighbourhood are just far too dark. It’s encouraging that the council is listening to those concerns and, more importantly, appears willing to act to address them”.

Street lighting has dominated Drylaw Telford agendas for some months now, but among other issues also discussed at last night’s meeting were the proposed skate park for Easter Drylaw Park, the cost of upgrading and maintaining Drylaw Field in Wester Drylaw and two forthcoming special meetings – the annual Thomas Tierney Award presentation and, with the council elections coming up, a hustings event.

The community council also discussed the curious case of the missing goal-posts – this long-running mystery may yet be solved at a future meeting. Watch this space, all may be revealed!

Drylaw Telford Community Council meets on the last Wednesday of the month at 7pm in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre. All welcome.