Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information following a series of robberies and housebreakings which are believed to be linked.
These include a robbery within a property at Ferniehill Grove around 7.55pm on Sunday, 28 February.
Five unidentified men forced entry to the property, stealing personal items and electronic equipment. All of the men are described as being 25 to 30-years-old.
One is descried as being 6ft tall and of a heavy build. He was wearing a dark blue ski mask, dark blue Reebok hooded top and black/grey trousers.
Another man is described as being 5ft 8in tall and wearing a red ski mask with light bits, a dark hoody and tracksuit bottoms.
The remaining three men are described as being of skinny build and wearing a dark blue ski mask and dark clothing.
They are believed to have made off from the address in a grey or silver Vauxhall Insignia car.
The incident is being treated as having potential links to two recent incidents in the city. The first happened around 3.30pm on Sunday, 21 February where a report was received of three suspects, all wearing dark clothing and ski masks, forcing entry to an address on Saughton Road. They made off in what was described as a blue Vauxhall saloon car.
The other incident happened around 5pm on Wednesday, 24 February on Sinclair Place, Gorgie, where two suspects wearing dark clothing and face masks were disturbed while attempting to force entry to a property on Sinclair Place.
Detective Inspector Kevin Tait of Edinburgh Division CID said: “Our enquiries into each of these incidents are ongoing and, while we are keeping an open mind, we believe they are potentially linked.
“We would urge anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity to get in touch with us, particularly if you have seen a grey, silver or blue Vauxhall saloon car acting suspiciously in the areas. We would also be keen to speak to anyone who may have dashcam or private CCTV footage.
“Anyone with information can call 101, quoting incident 3519 of 28 February or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
The next steps will be taken toward introducing new Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) to help alleviate parking pressures around Edinburgh, if approved by councillors this week.
On Thursday (28 January), Transport and Environment Committee will consider the results of an informal consultation on proposals for new controls in Leith, Gorgie and Shandon, as well as details on the operation of measures. Designs for parking controls have been amended following consultation and, if approved, we’ll commence the legal processes for introducing them.
This is the first of four phases of implementation of parking controls around the city, developed as part of the Strategic Parking Review, which was originally approved in 2018. The review has taken a holistic approach to parking pressures across Edinburgh, assessing the city on a street by street basis.
This has led to the identification of areas where parking controls may be required to resolve challenges facing residents, in particular from non-residential parking.
The report also updates on timescales for phase two (Roseburn, Corstorphine, Willowbrae and Saughton), phase three (Southside and Fettes) and phase four (Newhaven, Trinity, South Morningside, Portobello, Stenhouse and Saughton), which have been impacted by COVID-19.
Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “This review responds to the concerns of residents across the city, many of whom have told us that they want to see controls introduced to help limit the impact of non-residential parking.
Thanks to an in-depth, citywide analysis we have been able to identify the areas most in need of restrictions. Of course, the way we travel has changed immeasurably over the last year, but the introduction of new CPZs will be extremely beneficial to managing parking pressures when we eventually return to some sense of normality.
Not only do these controls help residents to park near their homes, but they can encourage those travelling into and around the city to consider alternative, sustainable modes of transport.”
The city council began the Strategic Parking Review in 2018 in response to comments from residents, community councils and ward councillors across the city, which demonstrated increasing support for new parking controls to limit non-residential parking.
An in-depth review split the city into five areas, further subdivided into 124 investigation areas, helping to generate heat maps for each location showing relative parking pressures by street. As a result, a series of new parking controls were approved in 2019, to be implemented in four phases.
On Thursday, committee members will also be asked to agree proposals to commence the legal process for introducing limited parking controls in Sighthill Industrial Estate to help manage parking demand there, as well as restrictions on the availability of permits for new or redeveloped properties.
The report details an approach to consultation for future phases in light of COVID restrictions, with virtual drop-in sessions, detailed plans online and opportunities to feed back on proposals via websites, interactive plans and questionnaires.
Consultation on phase two of the Strategic Parking Review is expected to begin in February.
A multi-million-pound scheme to ‘transform walking and cycling connections’ between Dalry and Fountainbridge will take a big step foward if plans are approved this week.
The associated benefits of this, alongside substantial enhancements to surrounding woodland, to the environment and also by encouraging travel choices, is set to contribute to our carbon neutral goals.
The council wants to create a ‘green corridor’ by planting nearly 5000 trees along the route, contributing to Edinburgh’s target of becoming a ‘Million Tree City’ by 2030.
As part of this they’ll be revamping open spaces along the route which are currently unusable or inaccessible for the use of the community and revitalising Dalry Community Park too.
On Thursday (6 August) members of the Policy and Sustainability Committee will consider the latest designs, which have been refined in response to feedback received during consultation with local residents, and proposals to begin enabling works to progress the project.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: This is an extremely exciting project which will deliver real benefits to the local community, and anyone travelling by foot or bike in the area, by providing an essential link in our walking and cycling network.
“Our plans to plant almost 5000 trees will have a significant impact, not only on the area’s amenity but by encouraging wildlife diversity, providing educational opportunities for local children and reducing the city’s carbon footprint as part of our wider tree-planting strategy.”
Transport and Environment Vice Convener Karen Doran said: “This project will breathe new life into these underused spots, which have the potential to become a haven for wildlife and a relaxing environment for residents and visitors.
“By both encouraging walking, cycling and wheeling and planting thousands of trees in the area, it’s helping drive us towards our carbon neutral goal.”
Proposals include:
Active travel route: Our proposed creation of a shared-use pedestrian and cycle path, including new bridge crossings over the Mid-Calder railway line and Dalry Road, would connect the North Edinburgh Path Network to Fountainbridge, where onwards travel to the Union Canal will be provided via a separate active travel project currently under development.
Green corridor: We are planning to overhaul existing areas alongside the route, including spaces adjacent to Russell Road/Sauchiebank and West Approach Road/Duff Street Lane, which have fallen into disuse. Our enabling works will result in the loss of some trees, though almost 60% of these are of low or extremely poor quality, and we’ve developed a long-term strategy for creating and managing a healthy and diverse tree population.
As part of this, we are proposing the planting of 4,795 woodland and semi-mature trees across the site, with landscaping and ecological issues managed to ensure the project results in a higher quality, more varied and better maintained woodland. As well as encouraging wildlife, the improved woodland will provide better access for amenity and education, including its potential use by Dalry Primary School for ‘forest schools’.
Dalry Community Park improvements: Redesigning the park to renew the existing playpark with equipment for all ages, resurfacing the sports pitch, installing lighting seating and wayfinding, improving landscaping and creating shared-use paths and better access points.
The latest project designs build on our consultation with the local community in 2015/16, when 95% of respondents expressed their support for the measures, and subsequent engagement carried out in 2019.
Amongst the changes we’ve made to the initial proposals as a result of feedback are the development of a tree protection strategy, improved access points and the increase of path widths to 4m, providing additional space for both pedestrians and cyclists.
If approved, enabling works are expected to start in September and will comprise of site clearance, ground investigation and excavations.
Alongside this a protected species/habitat survey will be carried out, and we will be working with contractors to explore ways of minimising the loss of trees as a result of the project.
LOVE Gorgie Farm, formerly Gorgie City Farm, is set to reopen its doors on Monday 29th June as Scotland moves into phase 2 of easing lockdown measures.
Social distancing strategies have been adopted to create a safe environment for visitors and staff. These are temporary and include a one-way system and an open picnic area and other measures to ensure groups of visitors don’t gather too closely. Staff will be using PPE and hand sanitizer will be supplied.
The café will also offer take-away services.
During lockdown the farm has been acting as a focal point for the community, operating as a food bank and delivering free breakfast for children amid school closures. It also provides free pet boarding to those who were unwell or had to be temporarily admitted into hospital.
The farm will be open from 9.30am to 4.30pm seven-days a week and visitors will have the opportunity to see pigs, cows, sheep and goats, as well as its fantastic alpacas.
While entry is free a donation is welcomed.
Visitors will also get to see the abundance of food growing and can find some quiets spaces to sit amid nature and learn more about the farm’s future plans.
Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning, the education and social care charity which operates LOVE Gorgie Farm said: “We look forward to welcoming back visitors to LOVE Gorgie Farm at the end of the month. The safety of our staff and visitors is paramount and we have introduced a range of measures to build trust and confidence.
“Lockdown has been a difficult time for everyone and while closed the farm has been a crucial local resource, acting as a food bank and providing free pet boarding. Travel restrictions remain in place and, for the immediate future, the farm will be restricted to welcoming local communities.
“The connection with the environment that we can provide is vital for the well-being of all. This is a first hugely important step in a return to normality and we ask for everyone’s patience and understanding as we resume operations in a way that works for everyone.
“While free, any donation that can be provided will be much appreciated.”
LOVE Gorgie Farm has been spearheading support for communities in Gorgie, Dalry and Stenhouse, coordinating different local organisations to deliver key services.
Participating organisations are working collectively to provide a comprehensive range of services to the community. Acting as a one-stop shop they are sharing a request for support with the right organisation if they can’t deliver it themselves. They are also working together to identify existing gaps in support that need filled.
The first organisations to witness the benefit of this collaboration has been LOVE Gorgie Farm and Big Hearts, who have joined forces to enhance their foodbank provision to the local community. Big Hearts is a family-focused charity, aiming to improve the lives of people who are at risk of social isolation across communities.
Through this initiative, referrals going to Big Hearts seeking food provisions can automatically be shared with LOVE Gorgie Farm’s food bank, improving the support given to these individuals.
LOVE Gorgie Farm is coordinating this collective initiative since it temporarily closed its doors to the public due to the coronavirus outbreak at the end of March.
In addition to running a foodbank, LOVE Gorgie Farm has been undertaking a volunteer-led initiative to deliver free breakfast every morning to the children of the community amid school closures.
Amber Isaacs, Project Manager at LOVE Gorgie Farm said: “LOVE Gorgie Farm has been at the heart of the local community for years, and in this time of crisis, we felt that it was vital to ensure everyone in the area is being fully supported.
“By linking with other organisations supporting the most vulnerable people in the area, we have been able to not only address any gaps in support provided but have also managed to tear down the barriers that individuals had to face when accessing support.
“The support received from all the members has been exceptional and we are already seeing the positive effects of this collaboration amongst individuals and families of the area.”
Katriona Gillespie, Chair of local arts organisation Gorgie Collective, said: “It is so positive to see local volunteer and charitable organisations pulling together to support our community here in Gorgie-Dalry.
“By signposting help and sharing resources, we can make sure that help gets to everyone who needs it at the right time.”
Organisations taking part in this initiative include LOVE Gorgie Farm, EVOC, Big Hearts, Health All Round, NHS Lothian, Gorgie Collective, Lifelong Learning, The Welcoming Association, and Home Start as well as the local community councils.
People looking to access these support services should contact:
Big Hearts, the charity of Heart of Midlothian FC, is shifting their activity to focus on phone and online support, through new dedicated helplines launched today.
Over the past two weeks the Big Hearts’ team of nine staff has been working on alternative ways to maintain their vital work to local groups at a high risk of loneliness, poor mental health, complex family backgrounds and food poverty.
The new Big Hearts helplines are designed to provide regular support over the phone and use digital means to address people’s urgent needs – whilst ensuring the safety of all staff, volunteers and beneficiaries.
Based at Tynecastle Stadium, the charity supports more than 150 vulnerable adults and children on a weekly basis, through a range of programmes including the Kinship Care after school club, The Changing Room project and Football Memories for over 65s.
Craig Wilson, Big Hearts General Manager said: “On 13 March we decided to suspend all our face to face activity to ensure everyone’s safety. Our staff team has been working remotely, completing hundreds of calls to families, isolated adults and older people to assess their immediate needs and offer some guidance and support.
“After a couple of weeks working in this new setting, we are delighted to announce a new series of landline numbers that people can call for a confidential chat and some targeted support.”
Kinship Care Helpline: 0131 603 4927 Advice on parenting strategies, peer support & service referrals for local kinship care families.
The Changing Room at Hearts: 0131 603 4929 Mental health support, wellbeing info and regular peer support in partnership with SAMH.
Community Helpline: 0131 603 4928 Social connection & advice for beneficiaries and volunteers at risk of loneliness & poverty.
The new folk at Gorgie City Farm are seeking volunteers to assist in bringing the popular visitor destination back to life, ahead of the farm opening its doors again to the public as LOVE Gorgie Farm on Saturday 29th February.
LOVE Learning, an education and social care charity that supports vulnerable individuals by using innovative ways to engage them in learning, announced it was taking over the city farm in January after the farm went into liquidation in 2019.
The charity is now looking for volunteers to help prepare the site in time for its official opening date at the end of the month. Activities for the volunteers will consist of organising and tidying up the site to make it presentable and safe for both the public and the animals.
Volunteer days will take place from 10 am – 3:30 pm over the course of the next two weekends: 15th, 16th and 22nd, 23rd of February. Volunteers do not have to stay the whole day, even an hour would be great.
After the site opens its doors to the public it will remain open 7 days a week and will be free for visitors. LOVE Learning intends to keep using the site as a city farm as part of their portfolio of environmental projects.
In addition, LOVE Gorgie Farm will procure educational services to vulnerable children through animal and forest therapy.
It will also provide a range of professional apprenticeships and Scottish Qualifications Authority awarded qualifications, as well as organise social prescribing and wellbeing therapies in partnership with the NHS.
Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning, said: “We are delighted to have taken responsibility for Gorgie City Farm. LOVE Learning know how treasured and important the site is for the community and we want to bring this back to the people of Edinburgh as soon as possible.
“We are asking anyone that might have been involved with Gorgie City Farm in the past, may have a fond childhood memory of the farm or that simply wants to come and give us a hand to contact us ahead of the opening.
“There is a lot of work to get done prior to opening the farm doors on the 29th of February and the local community, businesses and volunteers will be key for the farm to thrive and achieve its full potential.
“After we get the farm up and running on the 29th we will put in place volunteer activities for those looking to continue to be involved with our LOVE Gorgie Farm project going forward.”
Volunteers are advised to bring lunch and wear old clothes and mud resistant boots!
Anyone looking to volunteer should contact LOVE Learning at
City councillors have approved plans from York-based development company S Harrison to create a major new student accommodation scheme on a disused site near Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium.Continue reading Go-ahead for student flats on Westfield Road
