Drumbrae holiday club is to be hosted at Rannoch Community Centre from Monday 18th July – Wednesday 3rd August.
This free holiday club is for children currently in P6- S2 who live locally.
They will provide fun centre based activities and local trips.
You can book online using the QR code in the poster, or get along to one of the registration nights on Tuesday 5th and 12th of July, 6pm – 7pm at Rannoch community centre, EH4 7ES.
UNISON, the union for carers, has expressed deep dismay at the decision to close an Edinburgh care home. The decision was passed by the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (IJB) – which commissions health and social services from the City – at a meeting on Tuesday.
UNISON, Scotland’s largest union, has been campaigning to prevent the closure of five council-run Edinburgh care homes, including Drumbrae. A further four council-run homes – Ferrylee, Clovenstone, Fords Road and Jewel House are all being earmarked for closure but subject to public consultation.
Tom Connolly, UNISON Edinburgh City branch secretary, said: “The people of Edinburgh can feel very let down by this decision to close a much-needed local service, not least the elderly and vulnerable who reside in the care home and now face an uncertain future.
“UNISON will continue its campaign to save public sector-run care homes and prevent them going into private hands. People need to come before profit and UNISON will continue its fight to save Edinburgh’s public run care homes and call for all private run care homes to be brought into the public sector.”
Greig Kelbie, UNISON regional organiser, said: “The decision to close Drumbrae was made without any public consultation and is a real slap in the face to the most vulnerable people in the city.
“UNISON understands there is a substantial waiting list for homes in the area, so if the need hasn’t gone away then why should the services?”
Edinburgh Integration Joint Board is chaired by Labour councillor Ricky Henderson and membership includes local politicians Councillor Melanie Main (Scottish Greens), Councillor George Gordon (SNP), Councillor Robert Aldridge (Liberal Democrats) and Councillor Phil Doggart (Conservative).
UNISON will be hosting a public demonstration outside the Edinburgh City Chambers on Tuesday 28th September from 9.30am as we continue to put pressure on decision makers to #SaveOurCareHomes.
If you can’t make the demo: – Sign and share the petition: https://www.megaphone.org.uk/…/edinburgh-city-save-our…–
Send a pre-drafted letter to your MSP: https://action.unison.org.uk/page/86495/action/1
Edinburgh’s first Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) is to be introduced as part of Spaces for People improvements.
The city council will be implementing a series of temporary measures in the East Craigs area of the city over the coming weeks to help people walk, cycle and wheel safely, including segregated cycle lanes, closing roads to ‘through’ traffic and a bus gate. These interventions will add to temporary measures put in place across the city since May to support safe physical distancing.
LTNs reduce the impact of motor traffic on neighbourhoods, creating people-friendly spaces and encouraging physical activity by limiting through traffic on designated streets, while maintaining local access.
Recent feedback to consultation on the West Edinburgh Link (WEL) project demonstrated strong support for proposals to improve conditions for walking and cycling, enhance public spaces and facilitate sustainable transport.
Suggestions to make it easier and safer to travel by foot, bike or wheelchair received via the Commonplace online tool also influenced council plans for an LTN, along with the local school’s travel plan and traffic surveys of vehicle volumes and speeds in the area.
Once implemented, the council monitor the effects of the LTN, making amendments if appropriate, and will be engaging with the community to help shape the scheme. Any plans for a permanent LTN, as part of WEL, would draw from this, though further, significant consultation with residents would be carried out before any decisions are made.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “We’ve been working hard to introduce a package of measures across the city that will make it easier and safer to get around, to spend time in local high streets and to return to school as restrictions are lifted.
Many of these changes respond to feedback from the community, and in East Craigs we know that local people want to see conditions for walking, cycling and travel by public transport improved. The range of interventions we’ll be implementing will create safe, people-friendly streets by reducing speeding and opportunities for rat running. Vehicle access will of course be maintained for residents.
Transport and Environment Vice Convener Councillor Karen Doran said: “These temporary measures are supported by previous research and feedback and will benefit the community as they return to work and school.
“We’ll be closely monitoring their impact and drawing from this as we work to develop a long-term LTN for the area, as part of WEL. Of course, there will be further consultation with the community before any decisions on permanent schemes are made.”
The key changes being introduced as part of the LTN in East Craigs include:
Emergency measures to support walking, cycling and wheeling while observing physical distancing have already been implemented across Edinburgh. These include segregated cycle lanes, widened pavements and road closures both in the city centre, on routes to parks and green spaces and in local shopping streets. We’re also introducing improvements around schools as pupils return.
Examples of LTNs introduced elsewhere have seen traffic levels, and often speeds, fall. Walking, wheeling and cycling has also been found to increase, while it has been observed that stopping through traffic on side streets doesn’t significantly add to congestion on main roads.
Find out more about Spaces for People on the Council website.
Summer makeover for Drumbrae Leisure Centre
Drumbrae Leisure Centre will be closed over the school holidays, the city council has announced. Continue reading Drumbrae Leisure Centre to close over summer
Buttercup Farm park created on site of former poultry farm
There was a sense of nostalgia in Drumbrae yesterday when community members joined to open Buttercup Farm Park, the first new park in Edinburgh for 15 years.
Former residents and families of workers from the area gathered to celebrate the completion of Buttercup Farm Park, created on the site of one of the city’s most successful poultry farms.
Built in 1922, Buttercup Farm was established by Andrew Ewing, founder of Buttercup Dairy Company, which at its peak had more than 250 shops over Scotland and the north of England.
On Wednesday, Mr Ewing’s relatives, including great nieces and nephews and children of former poultry farm workers, some of whom had lived on the farm, helped to officially open the aptly-named park.
The £235,000 project, designed by City of Edinburgh Council, was supported with funding from Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) and Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN) and will be completed in two phases.
The initial phase, now finished, has seen the implementation of a new park landscape, play area and toddler zone with lawn, picnic tables and seating. The second phase will begin in autumn, and will involve the planting of trees and preparation of wildflower meadows.
City of Edinburgh Council’s Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “Our parks are the jewel in Edinburgh’s crown so it’s fantastic to be able to add a new one to the city’s repertoire.
“This park has been designed with local people in mind and I’m delighted to be able to open a space with such close links to the area’s social history. I’m sure will be a great asset for the community.”
Charlie Cumming, Chief Executive of ELGT, said: “Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust has been proud to be a partner in delivering Edinburgh’s first new park since 2000 and we look forward to working with local residents on future projects as the park progresses.”
Ben Walker, WREN Grant Manager, added: “WREN is committed to funding projects that make a real difference to local communities, children and families. The project has seen the delivery of a modern community park with original and exciting features and elements for the whole family to enjoy.
“It will encourage outdoor activities and promote a healthier lifestyle for all. We are delighted to support City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust to provide this new valuable community green space to be enjoyed for years and years to come.”
Local author Bill Scott, who wrote The Buttercup – The Remarkable Story of Andrew Ewing and the Buttercup Company, also joined the celebrations on Wednesday.
His novel charts the success of Andrew Ewing, who started out life as a penniless child in Stranraer but went on to establish one of the most successful poultry businesses of his time, including the 86-acre Buttercup Farm.
A generous and religious man, Mr Ewing refused to charge for any eggs laid at his farm on a Sunday, donating more than 100,000 to hospitals every week, and eventually died without any money, having given most of it away.
