Tag: communication

So long, summer – hello, Halloween! News from Trinity

TCC resumed its meetings on 14 September – Summer is officially over! But as (admittedly meagre) compensation, here’s the September newsletter!

And remember, we would really like to have your feedback on what’s good around Trinity, what’s not so good and what could be better. How else can we represent your views? Look forward to hearing from you!

Bill Rodger, Trinity Community Council

Trinity CC September Bulletin

TRINITY COMMUNITY COUNCIL – SEPTEMBER UPDATE

Twenty five people came along to TCC’s first meeting after the summer break. Here are the main points …

Police Report

No representative available but a written report was received:

  • Enquiries are in hand concerning recent housebreaking reports including incidents in Larkfield Gardens.
  • Several people have been charged with break-ins in Forth. Some are in custody whilst others are on bail curfews.
  • Three addresses in north Edinburgh searched for stolen property to try to identify perpetrators and return property.
  • Overall domestic housebreakings in Forth are down 2% over the same period in 2014 (which was lower than 2013).
  • Detection rates are also increasing with more culprits being taken to court.
  • Additional Police resource has been deployed City-wide.

We can do a lot ourselves using security measures such as alarms, locks, lighting etc. Crime prevention advice or a personal visit with more specialist advice can be arranged through the local Forth Community Policing Team.

Waterfront Developments

Cllr Hinds provided a map showing the ownership pattern for the development area following our concerns about piecemeal development and potential impact on Trinity residents. We will be discussing this with Granton CC. The Second Regeneration Conference has been scheduled for 2.30pm on 30 September at Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre. All are welcome to attend.

Traffic Issues

Feedback about East Trinity Rd suggests that the improved Lower Granton/Trinity Rd junction has improved matters and that no further measures are needed meantime. The knock-on impact to the west end of Lower Granton Rd will continue to be monitored with the 20mph limit expected to be very helpful in the first instance. An application for a pedestrian crossing on Craighall Rd has been assessed and turned down and we are seeking further information on the reasons for that.
CEC officials have advised that nothing is scheduled to review the North Edinburgh Transport Strategy. Cllr Hinds has undertaken to review that position with them in light of previous assurances.

South East Scotland City Region Plan (SESPLAN) Major Issues Report (MIR)

This is the VERY IMPORTANT first stage of a new 20 year strategic plan for 1.5m people living in Edinburgh, Lothians, Borders and southern Fife. It is a consultation document and open for comment until 30 September. You can make your thoughts known at

http://sesplan-consult.objective.co.uk/portal/mir/mir

Alternatively pass them on through TCC as we will be making a representation. Or do both!

Other Planning Matters

Application to trade vehicles from 144 Newhaven Rd resubmitted. We have repeated our previous objections and trust that CEC will maintain the firm stance it took last time.
No further movement regarding 127 Trinity Rd or Sainsbury.

Reduction in Local Banking Services

Following RBS Goldenacre closing its doors on 13 August, Bank of Scotland has now advised a reduction in its opening hours. This is disappointing news for local customers and businesses.

Your Parks Need YOU!trinity halloweenKeep Scotland Beautiful has awarded a Green Flag to Starbank Park recognising the magnificent efforts of the Friends and CEC staff in restoring the park to its place as a jewel in Trinity’s crown. So now both Trinity’s parks have a Green Flag. Celebrate by coming along to see for yourself. Party on Halloween! (see above)

And on the Glorious Twelfth, Victoria Park’s renewed basketball and tennis courts were formally opened by Cllrs Lesley Hinds and Richard Lewis together with Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport. Our parks are really going from strength to strength!

To get the best use of the courts, discussions are in hand about booking but we must ensure these and other amenities stay high grade. We are therefore looking for people to join a Friends of Victoria Park group.

Email tcc-comms@outlook.com if that’s you!

Other Improvement Matters with CEC

Bins installed at Trinity Academy Vennel. Surface improvements under discussion.
 Enforcement of yellow lines at Boswall Rd to be pursued.
 Ownership of Lower Granton Rd foreshore being clarified.
 Denham Green lighting to be investigated.

Clean, Green, Safe & Engaged?

This report from Forth Neighbourhood Partnership compared us against the rest of Edinburgh. Measures cover North: i.e. Forth + Inverleith unless stated. The good, the bad (+ some ugly!):

  • Street Cleanliness (Trinity): Well above target. Some litter on Granton Road.
  • Refuse Collection Complaints: Roughly double target (in common with rest of Edinburgh)
  • Park Quality: 100% achieved across all North¡¦s 5 parks!
  • Safety: Anti-social behaviour orders are low for the size of our population but a disturbing number go unresolved and we suffer a lot of repeat ASB¡¦s.
  • Satisfying Place to Live (Forth): Third worst in Edinburgh.
  • Community Engagement (Forth): Best ward in Edinburgh.

Come along and give your thoughts to our next meeting on

Monday 12 October at 7 pm

in Wardie Parish Church, Primrose Bank Road.

We need to know what you think!

Did you find this bulletin useful or informative? If so, why not show it to a neighbour? Anyone in Trinity can subscribe to the bulletin simply by emailing tcc-comms@outlook.com Or drop us a line and tell us what you think could be better.

Ana is the people’s choice!

Ana’s composition is a real draw!

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An Edinburgh College illustration student has won the people’s choice award in a competition to design a children’s book cover for city publisher Floris Books. 

The Kelpies Design & Illustration Prize 2015 challenged entrants to design a new book cover for Allan Campbell McLean’s classic cold war spy adventure The Hill of the Red Fox.

Edinburgh College HND Visual Communication: Illustration student Ana Elez Rodrigo (above) won the People’s Choice award, receiving more than 1,200 votes in an online poll, and received a £75 cash prize. Fellow illustration student David Lymburn was also shortlisted in the competition.

Lewis Copland, a communication design student at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen took the top prize, with professional designer Brad Newsman taking the highly commended prize.

The winners were announced at a ceremony at Leith’s creative business hub Creative Exchange, run by Edinburgh College and the City of Edinburgh Council.

Anna’s design was praised by the judges for her use of a strong colour palette and textured background to depict a red fox against a rugged highland landscape. David was commended for his bold use of composition, colour and typography.

Anna said: “For my design I got inspired by the landscape in Skye and the north of the Highlands. I played with the title of the book to make this kind-of mysterious and intriguing fox.”

As the novel is set in the fifties, Anna used stylish colours of the time along with wrinkled paper to add texture. She said she was “excited and really happy” to have done so well in the competition.

Leah McDowell, design and production manager at Floris Books, said: “The shortlisted designs of Anna Elez Rodrigo and David Lymburn display great talent for two people in such early stages of their careers. Their interpretations of the competition brief show a good understanding of what was asked of them as part of this pressured live project.

“Floris Books felt that the Creative Exchange was the perfect place to host the shortlist exhibition, not only because of the qualities it encourages and represents – creativity, innovation and collaboration – but also because the ground floor space acted as the perfect environment to show off our contemporary children’s book cover designs.”

TheShortlist

Image Caption: Overall winner Lewis Copland (front left); Anna Elez Rodrigo (front right); Edinburgh College entrant David Lymburn (second from right, white shirt)

The 12 shortlisted designs will remain on display at Creative Exchange, 29 Constitution Street, Leith until 30 April (Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm).

Edinburgh College offers a wide range of design and illustration courses from introductory to HND level. Students work on exciting and challenging briefs to equip them with the technical and creative skills associated with their chosen professionalism, and are encouraged to enter competitions to hone their talents and expose their work to a wider audience. Applications are currently invited for these courses and more than 900 other courses across the curriculum offered by the college and starting in August on its four campuses.

See www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk for more info on how to apply.

 

 

New sign language video call service rolled out

New video call service removes barriers to participation.

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The nationwide roll-out of a new online interpreting service will allow deaf people across Scotland to use sign language to contact public sector services.

The Scottish Government has announced today the extension of the current NHS 24 online British Sign Language (BSL) Video Relay Interpreting Service pilot to the rest of the public sector in Scotland.

The new Scottish Government-funded service, contactSCOTLAND, will mean deaf people can now speak to public services, such as their local council, doctor’s surgery and the Scottish Government, without the need for someone to call on their behalf. This project is unique in the UK and is the first nationally funded public sector Video Relay Service.

Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, Jamie Hepburn, welcomed the new contactSCOTLAND service which is available from today. He said:

“There are estimated to be around 6,500 people living in Scotland who use sign language and these people deserve to have the same access to services as everyone else.

“By extending this programme to cover all public sector services in Scotland, we are removing the barriers that some deaf people face when trying to get in contact with their local services.

“For the majority of people who rely on sign language to communicate, they need to arrange to have someone to call on their behalf. This new project will mean deaf people can video call an interpreter at contactSCOTLAND directly who will then speak to the relevant public sector organisation and act as an intermediary for the deaf person.

“This is a fantastic project and gives British Sign Language users equal access to public sector services, allowing them to enjoy greater participation in daily and public life.”

Andrew McCafferty and his  wife in are both profoundly deaf, The Greenock couple recently used the video relay service to call NHS 24 – receiving treatment that saved Andrew’s life.

He said: “My wife and l are profoundly deaf and use British Sign Language to communicate. It can be really difficult and frustrating to communicate with doctors, police officers and workman from the council that come to carry repairs in our home.

“Recently l took seriously ill and contacted NHS 24 through the online BSL interpreter service. The online interpreter assisted me throughout the call and later when l received treatment at the hospital, the doctors said the treatment saved my life.

“Being able to use contactSCOTLAND is amazing – it means my wife and l can understand what is being said, which makes us feel much more confident. This is a great service which Deaf people can use when they need it, no matter where they live in Scotland.”

Janis McDonald, Chief Officer, Scottish Council on Deafness (SCoD), said: “SCoD is proud to have been involved from the early days of the pilot work and sees many benefits to Deaf People wishing to access services that are readily available to hearing peers. It is terrific; accessible, discreet and confidential, designed with people in mind. Many have already received information and treatment because of it.

“We can see this type of access would have wider benefit – to help interaction with other public bodies and could be applied to many other situations of day to day life. It greatly reduces the inequality and access barriers Deaf, BSL Users face daily.

“We therefore welcome that the service is now being extended to all national and local public bodies ready to promote and support BSL and Deaf Users across Scotland and that Deaf users have access to public services like everyone else.”

The service is free and can be used to contact all public sector bodies in Scotland. It is not for emergency 999 calls. More information on how the BSL Video Relay Interpreting service works can be found on the contactSCOTLAND website www.contactscotland-bsl.org

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WygONuSkdA

NEN back on the streets next month

NENfrontpageNorth Edinburgh’s own community newspaper will be printed again next month. The North Edinburgh News (NEN) will be delivered to thousands of homes across Forth and Inverleith, with copies of the newspaper available in community venues across the area too.

NEN is leading the Contact in the Capital – North pilot project and we plan to print three editions before the first year of the initiative ends next March. The first of these will be published in October.

Deadline for all copy is Friday 26 September

Like to contribute? A community newspaper is by, for and about the community it serves – so be involved!

Stories and Articles

Doing something you’d like to share with the North Edinburgh community? Won something? Achieved something great? Starting something new? Let us know – we welcome contributions from individuals and organisations.

Advertising

Want to advertise your service or a forthcoming event? Use the NEN – a copy of our advertising rates can be found below.

 Ad Rate Card NEN

Community Directory

NEN’s Community Directory has  always been an important section of the paper, listing schools, groups and organisations’ names, addresses and telephone numbers. It’s probably about time we revised this to include website addresses, Facebook details and Twitter info too – it seems this social media thing is catching on …!

Send us your contact info and we’ll include your details it in our bright new Community Directory – and there’s NO CHARGE for this service!

How to get in touch:

If you have articles for inclusion, would like to place an ad or just want more information, email us at northedinnews@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you, but remember that copy deadline:

Friday 26 September!

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