Mike’s on his bike for Macmillan

A team of local men are set to complete a 150 mile cycling challenge this weekend to raise £5000 for charity.  Michael Pratt, who lives in Cramond, and seven of his friends aim to complete the ambitious challenge in just 15 hours for Macmillan Cancer Support.  The challenge starts this morning in the Cairngorms , and will take them through Rothiemurchus and Perthshire before finishing in Aberfoyle tomorrow.

Michael, a married father of two, has previously walked 54 miles with friends in the 2010 Caledonia Challenge and took part in the Rob Roy Challenge last year. However, the challenge this time round has greater personal significance as he has been closely affected by cancer. His mother, Kate Pratt, 67, who currently has secondary cancer, has influenced Michael’s decision to raise funds for Macmillan due to the support they provide at Edinburgh’s Western General.

Michael, who is a Project Manager, said: “When someone close to you tells you they have cancer, you feel helpless. Something I feel I can do is support a charity that provides the help people affected by cancer need.”

Good luck, chaps.

Visit: http://www.justgiving.com/Mike-Pratt1

Mike's on his bike for Macmillan

A team of local men are set to complete a 150 mile cycling challenge this weekend to raise £5000 for charity.  Michael Pratt, who lives in Cramond, and seven of his friends aim to complete the ambitious challenge in just 15 hours for Macmillan Cancer Support.  The challenge starts this morning in the Cairngorms , and will take them through Rothiemurchus and Perthshire before finishing in Aberfoyle tomorrow.

Michael, a married father of two, has previously walked 54 miles with friends in the 2010 Caledonia Challenge and took part in the Rob Roy Challenge last year. However, the challenge this time round has greater personal significance as he has been closely affected by cancer. His mother, Kate Pratt, 67, who currently has secondary cancer, has influenced Michael’s decision to raise funds for Macmillan due to the support they provide at Edinburgh’s Western General.

Michael, who is a Project Manager, said: “When someone close to you tells you they have cancer, you feel helpless. Something I feel I can do is support a charity that provides the help people affected by cancer need.”

Good luck, chaps.

Visit: http://www.justgiving.com/Mike-Pratt1

City copes with latest deluge

With weather warnings now lifted, and today’s forecast showing signs of improvement, it looks like the worst of the weather is over – for the timebeing at least.

The city council was well-prepared for Wednesday’s deluge. Speaking yesterday, city transport convener Councillor Lesley  Hinds (pictured above) said: “Our roads  teams have been fully prepared to deal with predicted heavy rainfall and we are keeping in regular touch with partner organisations. A Flood Control  Coordination Centre  has been set up as part of the Council’s Emergency Flood Plan. Drains and  waterways have been cleared of debris, while river levels and hot spot areas  have been continually monitored throughout the day. Around 7,000  sandbags were ready to be deployed, some of which were delivered to households  in response to residents’ concerns. Residents can be  assured that the situation will continue to be monitored over the next 18 hours  while the amber alert is still in place.”

Some local scenes yesterday:

While today’s forecast is for improving weather, it may be prudent to keep those wellies handy just in case …!

 

Waters subside but flood warnings remain in place

Stockbridge, Cramond and Warriston were among the areas hardest hit by flooding today, and at 9pm SEPA flood warnings remain in place for those areas and Roseburn.

Around forty homes in the Stockbridge colonies were affected by flooding from the Water of Leith. The city council’s Flood Prevention team worked with emergency services to provide sandbags to affected households and Stockbridge Primary School was set up as a standby rest and information centre.

River levels are now dropping and rain has eased, but light rain is forecast to continue overnight.

Anyone with concerns about flooding should contact the Council’s Emergency Contact Centre on 0131 200 2000 and you can get information on flood alerts by calling the SEPA Floodline on 0845 988 1188.

Lifeboat called to Cramond

The Lifeboat from South Queensferry was launched yesterday after reports of a Kite Surfer getting into difficulty in the Firth of Forth at Cramond. The alarm was raised at around 15.45 and the crew were on scene and searching for the Kite Surfer.

The RNLI Lifeboat attended at Cramond. (Picture: Thomas Brown)

The Kite Surfer who got into difficulty was able to make it ashore before the RNLI arrived and was safe and well. The lifeboat crew reported a 3 meter swell in the Forth at the time of the incident.