Tag: George v Park

New Town campaigners call for More Trees, please

Fettes Row & Royal Crescent Association (FRRCA) is stepping up its campaign against plans to redevelop two key sites adjoining the New Town conservation area and removing scores of trees as well as encroaching upon the community amenity of George V Park.

The city council’s Development Management Sub-committee will hold a hearing on February 17 on Ediston’s plans to demolish the old RBS IT centre on Dundas Street and build some 400 flats, offices and maybe a hotel on one of the biggest such sites in the capital.

The developer plans to remove mature trees surrounding the site, including alongside and within the nearby park which is especially enjoyed by large numbers of families with children. It recently applied to remove a further four trees on Fettes Row and severely prune others as they are considered “dangerous” in an unspecified manner.

This is on top of earlier plans to remove 84 trees on the site – and build offices/flats 5m taller and 6m closer than the current IT centre in a way that will heavily overshadow the park. The developers say they will replace trees – but there is no guarantee they will.

Separately, there are plans to demolish Centrum House at 108-116 Dundas St and replace current offices with 44 flats (and three more retail units), with the proposed building reaching as far as the footpath and removing all the current trees, with no replacements. Consultation on these plans ended on January 29.

FRRCA has launched a dedicated website, www.more-trees.info with its own blindfolded teddy bear logo and the message “more trees, lower heights” as part of its campaign to persuade the council to reject the two applications and replace them with new plans more sensitive to the world heritage nature of the area and to environmental concerns.

For further info, please contact: Judith Symes, FRRCA chair via judith.symes@gmail.com and visit our Facebook page

Witness appeal after assault in King George V Park

Detectives are investigating after a man was assaulted in Edinburgh on Saturday (25 April 2020).

At around 2pm on Saturday afternoon, a 21-year-old man was in King George V Park when he was verbally abused by a group of four men. The man continued on his journey, walking towards a tunnel which leads to Broughton Road.

As the man got towards the end of the tunnel, the four suspects followed him, continuing to shout at him. They then demanded money from him before racially abusing him and assaulting him.

Suspect one is white, in his early 20s, around 6 ft. tall with a slim build. He was wearing a block hooded jacket with white lining and black jeans.

Suspect two is black, in his early 20s around 5 ft. 4 inches in height with a muscular build. He was wearing a black hooded top, blue jeans and dark coloured gloves.

Suspect three is white, in his early 20s, around 5 ft. 10 inches in height with a medium build. He was wearing a black hooded top and blue jeans.

Suspect four is black, in his early 20s, around 5 ft. 6 inches in height and wearing a dark coloured puffer jacket.

Officers continue to gather and review CCTV footage for any additional information on the suspects.

Detective Inspector Kevin Tait said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the area around the time of the incident.

“I appreciate the number of people out and about is limited during these times but for those who were out, I would ask them to consider if they saw these men or witnessed the incident to contact us. It is unacceptable for people to be targeted in this way and we will do everything we can to trace the men responsible.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 2925 of 25 April 2020. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.

Join Greenspace Trust for balsam bashing on Monday!

banner-home01Balsam bashing, anyone? Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust are going to be busy on Monday – would you like to get involved too?

There is an afternoon of events taking place at King George V Park at Canonmills, just through the tunnel after the Tesco on the cycle path, this coming Monday.

12-2pm – the Inverleith Quest, which culminates in the park – a treasure hunt organised by Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership, starting from Stockbridge

2-4pm – Parkour display in the park – watch some Parkour, be inspired and find out how to take part and get involved

2-4pm – Park Family Fun event – to mark the opening of the new play park area, there will be a barbecue and activities, including a portable football pitch and possible also circus skills classes…

There is a bit more information about the Quest here:

http://www.edinburghnp.org.uk/neighbourhood-partnerships/inverleith/what%27s-on/events-in-inverleith/?partnershipId=11&startDate=4/8/2014

ELGT are running more activities along the cycle paths in the coming months. Our aim is to get people to come down and try the paths, have a go at getting involved in conservation and other activities in the surrounding woodlands, and to help make the area a nicer place to visit. Chopping back undergrowth and overhanging branches will hopefully make the paths feel safer.

Balsam bashing

So, please see the attached flyer (above) for an activity this coming Monday evening for Himalayan Balsam bashing – i.e. getting people to come along and help clear the plants before the flowers seed and spread. I can’t find a way of describing it which doesn’t make it sound like hard work – but it is actually a great way of spending an hour or so, and very satisfying!

We will be organising more sessions in the coming months, including tree clearing, ivy cutting, path creation etc – if you would like to get involved, either as an individual or as an organisation, please let us know. We would love to be able to host your group or participants down on the paths.

Mark Sydenham
Fundraising and Marketing Manager | Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust