Police are appealing for information in connection with suspected fire raising incidents in the Leith Newhaven area.
At around 1:45am yesterday (Saturday 16 May) police and the fire service were called to Bonnington Grove in response to a vehicle fire. On arrival it was established that two vehicles were alight while a third, parked a short distance away, was also on fire.
No one was injured but police are keen to trace a man who was seen in the area of Gosford Place at around the time of the incidents. He is described as being white, aged in his mid 20s with an average build and wearing a dark hooded top and bottoms.
Police are asking for anyone who can assist with ongoing enquiries to come forward.
Detective Constable Joe Perkins said: “Luckily no one was injured as a result of these fires but the cars are now ruined causing significant distress for their owners. This sort of reckless behaviour will not be tolerated and I am very keen to ensure that we quickly apprehend the person or persons responsible.
“I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Bonnington Grove and who noticed any suspicious behaviour at around the time of this incident to please call police on 101 or, alternatively the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Police are appealing for witnesses following an armed robbery at a petrol station on Ferry Road last night.
The incident occurred at around 10pm when a man entered the premises brandishing a handgun. He threatened the lone member of staff and left with three-figure amount of cash.
The man left on foot, travelling towards Ferry Road. However it unknown what direction he traveled along Ferry Road. The member of staff was not injured as a result of the robbery. Police are now eager to trace the male suspect who was responsible for the incident.
He is described as a white man, aged between 35 and 45-years-old. He has a slim build and a ginger/greying goatee and moustache.
He was wearing a black-hooded top, blue jeans, a brown ¾ length jacket and tab ankle boots. He may have possibly been wearing a grey checked scarf and black gloves and have been carrying a brown leather bag.
Detective Inspector Grant Johnston said:”Thankfully the member of staff was uninjured during this incident, however this was an we are keen to trace the suspect as soon as possible.
“We would ask members of the public to get in touch if they remember seeing anything they believe was connected to the incident in or around the Ferry Road area last night.
“Anyone who can help us identify the man responsible for this robbery is also asked to contact police immediately.”
Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The playtalkread bus is in North Edinburgh next week, providing free fun activities for parents and carers and their children.
The bus will be hosting free storytelling and rhythm sessions and a range of play and activity sessions for children and their parents, to promote and raise awareness of the benefits of positive parental engagement with simple free activities and resources – which parents can then take home to further build upon the ideas and activities sessions with their children.
The activities are open to parents and children on a drop-in and information basis.
You can hop aboard the bus:
Tuesday 24 June – Morrisons, Ferry Road/Pilton Drive North
Wednesday 25 June – Muirhouse Shopping Centre
Thursday 26 June – Royston Wardieburn Community Centre
If you have any questions and or would like to arrange session times for groups of children and parents, call Hannah Mitchell on 0131 664 5390 or email hannah@workingonwheels.org
Explore the North Edinburgh Cycleways with Edinburgh’s favourite treasure hunt on wheels!
What: The Postcode Challenge, organised by The Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust and The Bike Station. This is a fun, free ‘treasure hunt’ event for cyclists and walkers on the North Edinburgh Path Network, part of the Innertube project and funded by People’s Postcode Trust
Where: The North Edinburgh Cycleways (various entrances to the cycleway including at: Trinity Rd/Lower Granton Road; Ferry Road; Clark Road; Wardie Road; Hawthornvale; Pilton Drive; Scotland St)
When: Sunday 28th April 2013, 11am – 4pm
This coming Sunday is the third Postcode Challenge on the north Edinburgh paths, a fun, free event for cyclists and walkers, a ‘treasure hunt on wheels’ (and foot), with the chance to explore around 27km of continuous off-road routes and to enter into the prize draw at the same time.
Dotted around the network will be ten stands, run by local organisations. Find your first one (you can start anywhere on the route) and they will give you a card. Get the card stamped at all ten locations (five if you are on foot) and bring it back to the event HQ at Fiveways Junction by 4pm to be entered into the free prize draw. As well as the main prizes, many of the stands may have freebies and presents to give away too and you’ll be able to get your bike fixed and have cycling advice from Hart’s Cyclery, Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op and The Bike Station stands.
The event is totally traffic free and great for all ages and everyone is welcome – you can take part on your own, as a family or as part of a team.
Participants can download further information here and a cyclist route map and stamp card here or if you are on foot, download the walkers’ version. Or just collect one at the first stand you find.
Look out for the following stalls on the route:
The Bike Station – for bike repairs with Dr Bike
Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust
The Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop – check out their gorgeous new building!
Pedal on Parliament
Spokes
Sustrans
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre
Harts Cyclery – Bike repairs and advice
My Edinburgh (MYDG)
Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op – Bike repairs and advice
We can’t tell you where each stand will be – but once you’ve found the first one, you’re away. If in doubt, head to Fiveways Junction, where people will point you in the right direction.
And thank you to the following for donating prizes: Spokes, the Bike Station, Harts Cyclery Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op and Green Yonder Tours
This event is part of the Innertube project, funded thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery and via the People’s Postcode Trust.
For further information, please contact Liz on 0771 265 1102 or email liz@elgt.org.uk
Traffic at the east end of Ferry Road will be severely disrupted for up to 28 weeks when Scottish Gas Networks begins major work to replace mains pipes at the end of this month. The company says the upgrade to the network is essential, but commuters and local residents look set for seven miserable months of road closures, parking restrictions, diversions and temporary traffic lights.
In a statement, Scottish Gas Networks said: ‘The existing metal gas mains and services in the vicinity of Ferry Road, need to be replaced with modern plastic polyethylene (PE) pipe to ensure a continued safe and reliable gas supply to the local area. We will be renewing 1.75km of gas mains.
This essential work forms part of our ongoing mains replacement programme developed with the Health and Safety Executive. Work will last for approximately 28 weeks and will be carried out by May Gurney on our behalf.
We have been working closely with the City of Edinburgh Council, Lothian and Borders Police and Lothian Buses to plan this project and minimise disruption as much as possible. We will continue to work with these organisations and local residents throughout the course of the project.
Works will begin on Ferry Road, at its junction with Madeira Street and will continue westbound towards Craighall Road. The works will take place in four phases during which time there will be some temporary traffic lights in operation.
Phase 1 works will be between the junction of Ferry Road with Madeira Street and the junction of Ferry Road with Newhaven Road. This phase will last for approximately six – eight weeks.
During Phase 2 we will be working between the junction of Ferry Road with Newhaven Road and Bonar Place. This will take approximately 10 weeks.
Phase 3 will last approximately four weeks. Works will be on Newhaven Road, from the junction with Ferry Road to the junction with Pitt Street.
Phase 4 will also take place on Newhaven Road, between the junction with Bonnington Avenue and the junction with Stewartfield. During this phase there will also be some works on West Bowling Green Street. The phase will last for approximately six weeks.
Works will be suspended from Friday 21 December for the festive period. They will recommence on Monday 7 January.
To allow for the manoeuvre of heavy plant equipment and to ensure everyone’s safety there will be some parking restrictions in place during the works, as well as some local road closures. Local diversions will be in place where necessary.
All local shops and businesses will be open as usual. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and access for deliveries to businesses will be maintained where possible.’
While the company plans to mitigate problems for commuters, traders and residents, the scale of the work is going to have a major impact on Ferry Road and adjacent neighbourhoods.
Scotland Gas Networks’ Team Manager, Simon Kennedy said: “All our works are carried out in close consultation with the local Council and we will do everything we can to minimise disruption. We understand that people get frustrated by roadworks and thank them for their patience while we carry out these essential works. The new plastic pipe has a minimum lifespan of 80 years. This means that when the work is complete, local residents will continue to enjoy the benefits of a safe and reliable gas supply for years to come.”
Oh-Limp-Nix athletes: a tense wait before going for gold …
OH-LIMP-NIX IS UNDERWAY
Depressed with Tom Daley? Frustrated with Zara Phillips? Had enough of Hannah Miley? Or cursing Mark Cavendish? Only three days in, is the London Olympics experience wearing you down? Perhaps a sporting event being held closer to home will reawaken your Corinthian spirit – yes, it’s the St Nicholas Court Oh-Limp-Nix!
The eagerly-awaited sporting extravaganza – perhaps the biggest event in Leith’s sporting calendar – is underway at last! The St Nicholas Court Sheltered Housing Complex’s ‘Oh-Limp-Nix’ kicked off yesterday with John Haggie for the Australia team victorious on the first day of the tournament on the Wii bowling round with a score of 201.
Four teams – Great Britain, USA, Australia and Spain – each made up of three people, are battling it out for the coveted win at the end of the four day games being held to coincide with the London Olympics.
Ian Vanhegan, a resident of the Port of Leith Housing Association Ferry Road complex is part of the Australia team – but his wife May is on the rival Great Britain team! He said: “We’ve been preparing for about three months so it’s great it is here. It’s a good laugh.”
Each day the teams will play different games. Today (Tuesday) there will be shot putt and hoopla, tomorrow (Wednesday) Wii archery and on Thursday Trionimos (three sided dominoes).
Frances Veitch, who ‘represents’ America, said: “It’s been good fun training” while her husband Alex, who is on the British team, said: “It makes the Olympics feel more real and it’s great to be involved.” Lets hope the competition doesn’t cause any rifts in the ‘special relationship’!
The competition is already heating up. On the first day, ‘Spain’s’ Margaret Dodds got four strikes in a row which were met with applause from her fellow competitors and spectators. She said (in perfect English!): “We all have the same chance really so the week will be interesting.”
Food from a different nation will also be served following the day’s games, including paella and fish and chips – but apparently there’s no room on the menu for deep-fried Mars bars.
Maureen Tait, Senior Sheltered Housing Coordinator, said: “It’s been a long time in the coming so we’re absolutely delighted that we’re now underway and cracking on with a great week of games. It’s certainly created some good-natured rivalry in the complex and everyone has been really excited in the build up. It’s been popular so far and we’re delighted family, friends and our other residents are all getting involved in the spectator action.”
The event will culminate with a prize giving ceremony on Friday (August 3) where Port of Leith Housing Association’s Chief Executive Keith Anderson will present the twelve Olympians with medals and the winning team will be revealed. It’s not known at this stage whether Her Majesty the Queen will be making a surprise parachute landing at St Nicholas Court to join the celebrations …!
Oh-Limp-Nix athletes: a tense wait before going for gold …
OH-LIMP-NIX IS UNDERWAY
Depressed with Tom Daley? Frustrated with Zara Phillips? Had enough of Hannah Miley? Or cursing Mark Cavendish? Only three days in, is the London Olympics experience wearing you down? Perhaps a sporting event being held closer to home will reawaken your Corinthian spirit – yes, it’s the St Nicholas Court Oh-Limp-Nix!
The eagerly-awaited sporting extravaganza – perhaps the biggest event in Leith’s sporting calendar – is underway at last! The St Nicholas Court Sheltered Housing Complex’s ‘Oh-Limp-Nix’ kicked off yesterday with John Haggie for the Australia team victorious on the first day of the tournament on the Wii bowling round with a score of 201.
Four teams – Great Britain, USA, Australia and Spain – each made up of three people, are battling it out for the coveted win at the end of the four day games being held to coincide with the London Olympics.
Ian Vanhegan, a resident of the Port of Leith Housing Association Ferry Road complex is part of the Australia team – but his wife May is on the rival Great Britain team! He said: “We’ve been preparing for about three months so it’s great it is here. It’s a good laugh.”
Each day the teams will play different games. Today (Tuesday) there will be shot putt and hoopla, tomorrow (Wednesday) Wii archery and on Thursday Trionimos (three sided dominoes).
Frances Veitch, who ‘represents’ America, said: “It’s been good fun training” while her husband Alex, who is on the British team, said: “It makes the Olympics feel more real and it’s great to be involved.” Lets hope the competition doesn’t cause any rifts in the ‘special relationship’!
The competition is already heating up. On the first day, ‘Spain’s’ Margaret Dodds got four strikes in a row which were met with applause from her fellow competitors and spectators. She said (in perfect English!): “We all have the same chance really so the week will be interesting.”
Food from a different nation will also be served following the day’s games, including paella and fish and chips – but apparently there’s no room on the menu for deep-fried Mars bars.
Maureen Tait, Senior Sheltered Housing Coordinator, said: “It’s been a long time in the coming so we’re absolutely delighted that we’re now underway and cracking on with a great week of games. It’s certainly created some good-natured rivalry in the complex and everyone has been really excited in the build up. It’s been popular so far and we’re delighted family, friends and our other residents are all getting involved in the spectator action.”
The event will culminate with a prize giving ceremony on Friday (August 3) where Port of Leith Housing Association’s Chief Executive Keith Anderson will present the twelve Olympians with medals and the winning team will be revealed. It’s not known at this stage whether Her Majesty the Queen will be making a surprise parachute landing at St Nicholas Court to join the celebrations …!
St Nicholas Court Sheltered Housing Complex raised £1700 at its annual summer fayre. The complex, on Ferry Road, had a number of attractions including face painting, home bakes stall, barbeque, tombola and clothing, books and bric-a-brac sales.
Maureen Tait manages the Port of Leith Housing Association sheltered housing development. She said: “It was an absolutely fantastic day. We got about the only two hours of sunshine there was the entire fortnight it seemed and people flocked along. We were busy the entire time with people enjoying the sunshine, food and company of the day. This is a great sum for us and we are very grateful to everyone who came along and helped us raise this superb total.”
The funds will be used to fund social outings for the complex’s 35 residents. Last year, the money they raised helped pay for trips to Dynamic Earth, exercise classes, social evenings and buying a 50” TV and a Wii console.
![2013_Postcode_Challenge_Poster[1]](https://i0.wp.com/nen.press/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013_postcode_challenge_poster1.jpg?ssl=1)
