Sun shines down on Autumn Games

More than four hundred and fifty P7s from eleven local schools took part in the Active Schools Autumn Games at Broughton High School today. The children took the opportunity to try out six different sports and there were prizes at the end for top school teams too.

Active Schools coordinator Robert Ure, who organised the event, explained: “The eleven primary schools who took part were Pirniehall and St Davids from the Craigroyston Cluster; Granton, Ferryhill, Flora Stevenson and Stockbridge from the Broughton Cluster; Trinity, Wardie and Victoria from the Trinity Cluster and Abbeyhill and Broughton from the Drummond Cluster.

“They are all P7 classes and I’d estimate we had between 450 – 500 pupils in attendance. The pupils competed in six different competitions – girl’s rugby, boy’s rugby, lacrosse (new this year), football, Tae Kwon Do and fencing – and the winners were presented with a shield to keep for a year.”

Robert thanked the coaches and volunteers for their essential support in making the event such a success – and there was also a huge thank-you to the school children who took part: while the competition was spirited and enthusiastic, the young athletes were impeccably behaved and a credit to their schools throughout.

And the winners on the day?

Tae Kwon Do – Trinity

Boys Rugby – Wardie

Girls Rugby – Flora Stevenson

Fencing – St David’s

Football – Granton

Lacrosse – Victoria

Congratulations to all the winners, but as we all know it’s not just about winning, it’s the taking part – so well done to all 450 young sports stars who helped to make the Autumn Games so special!

More pictures on our Facebook page

Made in Granton

Community group plans peoples’ exhibition

We are holding a one-day ‘History of North Edinburgh’ event, an exhibition of things, film and photos in the former office of the Madelvic electric car company in Granton Park Avenue (off West Granton Road) on Saturday 24 October from 11 am- 3pm.

The theme is the people, industry and workplaces of North Edinburgh.

Did any members of your family work in the Madelvic factory all those years ago? Or more recently in Parsons Peebles, the Wire Works, Salvesens, the Gas Works; what about trawling, whaling, fish merchants, on the trams or other industry in North Edinburgh? Both men’s and women’s work of course!

We need you! We are looking for copies of any photos, stories, memories, artefacts, interesting things to share in an exhibition. We are hopeful that this will go on to create a permanent museum of North Edinburgh.

If you have anything you could contribute to this please contact us as soon as you can …

Barbara Robertson barbara-robertson@teleosvet.co.uk 07825154114

or Willie Black w.black@blueyonder.co.uk 07515686421

or madelviccommunity@gmail.com

granton:hub
at the Madelvic

Police seek witnesses to Granton motor bike incident

‘What it does, sadly, is highlight the risks faced by those who choose to ride stolen motorbikes’ – Chief Supt. Mark Williams

Police are appealing for information following a serious road traffic collision on West Shore Road last night. A fourteen year old boy is in a serious condition in hospital following the incident.

The incident occurred at around 11.20pm, when a BMW 1150cc motorcycle struck a wall. The rider, a 14-year-old boy, was thrown from the vehicle and subsequently landed on nearby rocks.

Police and emergency services attended and the Scottish Ambulance Service took the boy to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where his condition is described as ‘serious’.

The motorcycle is understood to have been stolen.

Officers investigating the incident are now appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

Chief Superintendent Mark Williams said: “This was a terrible incident that has left a local boy badly injured. Thankfully it wasn’t more serious as the consequences could have been fatal.

“What it does sadly, is highlight the risks faced by those who choose to ride stolen motorbikes and it demonstrates the impact this can have on both the individual, their families and the community.

“We are appealing for anyone with information regarding this incident to contact us immediately.

“In unqualified hands motorbikes are extremely dangerous and tackling the theft of motorbikes and vehicles will continue to be a focus for local officers.”

A new future for historic Madelvic House?

Open Day: Saturday 9 May @11am.

Madelvic House, Granton Park Avenue,

Edinburgh, EH5 1HS

OPEN DAY POSTER 9TH MAY

We are a community group in Granton looking for people to attend an open day in Madelvic House.

The building dates back to 1898 as the offices of the Madelvic Motor company; the first custom built car factory in Britain. We are developing ideas for the building to offer the local community somewhere to relax and come together.

The current plan is to develop a creative hub with resident artists on the upper and gallery/event space on the ground as well as a café and craft area where we can offer activities for the community.

Come support us to make this happen! Or if you can’t make the event but would like to know more about what we are trying to do, please contact Wendy Wager, chair of the group at

email: madelviccommunity@gmail.com

An inconvenience truth

North Edinburgh to loo-se public lavatories?

Toilets at Granton Square and Canonmills are among a dozen public conveniences earmarked for possible closure by the city council. Local residents are being encouraged to take part in a survey to have their say about the closures.

The Council decided in 2011 to reduce the funding of public conveniences in order to make budget savings of £300,000. It’s believed that around ten public toilets must close in order to achieve these savings.

A list of twelve facilities has been identified for closure, based on criteria such as usage, accessibility and condition:

· London Road

· Tollcross

· St John’s Road

· Canaan Lane

· Middle Meadow Walk

· Joppa

· Hawes Pier, South Queensferry

· Granton Square

· Ardmillan

· Currie

· Canonmills

· Juniper Green

Members of the public are being asked for their feedback on how these potential closures would impact on them individually and their communities – this will help the Council to make the final decision about which public conveniences to close.

Residents can now take part in the online survey which will run until Monday 25 May.

There are currently more than 60 publicly accessible toilets across the city and a community toilets scheme is currently under consideration to further improve provision.

Granton Improvement Society AGM

Granton Improvement Society AGM

Saturday 9 May 10am

North Edinburgh Arts Centre

Keynote speaker: Ian Cooke (Director, DTAS):

‘What now for Community Empowerment?’

The Granton Improvement Society, an open membership society, purpose is the Improvement of Granton and the surrounding area of Edinburgh.

http://grantonimprovementsociety.wordpress.com/

Granton Improvement Society is looking to build their membership numbers within the EH4 and EH5 area. We are interested in area regeneration and working with the community to find out what would be desirable in the area to make real changes that people can directly benefit from and be involved in physically creating and managing for themselves.

We are also looking for people who may wish to become Trustees and Directors and who may have financial and business skills that they are willing to share to help our organisation evolve and effectively achieve it’s short and long term aims. Not all board members require to live within the local area. Please attend if you would like to find out more from us directly.

We welcome your interest.

The Society AGM will take place in North Edinburgh Arts Centre, business will be the election of trustees and a short talk by Ian Cooke Director of DTAS on “What now for Community Empowerment?”

Weather’s no match for local Army Cadets!

Nearly one hundred Army Cadets aged 12-18 years shrugged off freezing temperatures during a recent training weekend in the Pentland Hills, their first camp of 2015.

The weekend saw cadets based at Granton Square overcome snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures to put into practice the skills taught at their local Detachment.

Cadets took part in navigation training, first aid and fieldcraft. During the fieldcraft phase, cadets learned how to build improvised shelters and secure a ‘temporary home’ known as a Harbour Area.

Senior Cadets under the supervision of the Adult Volunteers grasped the opportunity to demonstrate to the younger Cadets how preparedness, teamwork and self-discipline can determine your success and survival, whatever the weather.

Major John Tonner, Officer Commanding of the weekend said: “I am extremely impressed with the abilities demonstrated by the Cadets and their maturity in applying themselves in the adverse conditions brought by the cold weather.

“It is a very unique opportunity for individuals to witness how valuable skills provided within our Youth Organisation can steer young people to go further in their chosen path in life”.

The ability to adapt quickly was demonstrated by all of the Cadets resulting in many new qualifications gained and successful testing to allow Cadets to progress onto the next stage of their Cadet careers with 17 Cadets gaining new First Aid qualifications and five Adult Volunteers receiving their First Aid at Work qualification.

17 Platoon is part of Lothian & Borders Army Cadet Force and have training nights every Monday and Wednesday evenings between 7 – 9pm. They welcome cadets between 12 and 18 years of age and encourage parents to get involved too.

You can find out more about the Cadet’s sporting and adventure training activities by visiting their Detachment at the Army Reserve Centre at Granton Square, online at www.lbcadets.co.uk or by calling 01506 856 698.

Burns ceilidh: celebrating community at Royston Wardieburn

That Man to Man, the world o’er,

Shall brothers (and sisters!) be for a’ that

A Burns Night is about many things. Good food, shared with friends, family or neighbours – and sometimes all three! Burns is about love, about comradeship and about community but if there’s just one word that captures the spirit of Scotland’s national Bard it’s ‘celebration’ – and all those elements were there in abundance at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre last night.

Yes, last night’s Community Celeidh celebrated the memory of Burns but it was more than that – it was a vibrant, living tribute to all the good things Burns work extolls: a warm, friendly gathering of friends and neighbours of all ages, interests and ethnicities joining together to have fun in each others’ company.

Organised by Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, Granton Community Gardeners and Pilton Community Health Project’s Living in Harmony group the evening built on last year’s event and proved to be a huge success.

Around 150 people – aged from three months up to … well, a good bit older! – enjoyed a traditional Burns Supper and were entertained by the excellent Homecoming String Band and a succession of local performers, all made poosible and supported by a team of enthusiastic volunteers who were always on hand to make sure the evening went smoothly.

Congratulations to the organisers, the band, the excellent team of volunteers and the local performers who entertained us so regally on the night: the poets, the musicians, the singers and the wee dancer – you were all brilliant!

And thanks, too, the the local community who came along to support the event and whose enthusiasm made the evening such a success.

Rabbie would be proud of you all – here’s to next year!

Visit our Facebook page for more ceilidh pictures

Road rage!

A section of busy Pilton Drive will be closed for four weeks from Monday – but the local community council wasn’t even informed!

Pilton Drive will be closed to through traffic between Morrison’s and Ferryfield House from Monday morning to allow work to start on utility connections to the development site on the former City Park. Work is expected to last until 20 February.

Granton and District Community Council secretary Dave Macnab said last night: “I have just heard that Pilton Drive between Morrisons and Ferryfield House is closed. I did not know about this and we were certainly not advised.

“This is for four weeks – this during the period of course when Spartans have their cup match! There is also the issue of traffic from The Strada having to use local routes with the inherent dangers to pedestrians. Where was the communication with the community?”

Granton and District Community Council
http://grantonanddistrictcommunitycouncil.com/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrantonDistCC

Granton & District CC to meet 26 January

Please note that the next meeting of the Granton & District Community Council will take place on Monday 26th January at Royston & Wardieburn Community Centre at 7.00 pm.

Agenda: CCAgenda _Jan2015

Various items will be discussed:

Update on the cuts
Granton Harbour Development
Waterfront Development
20 mph campaign.

Hope to see you there.

Dave Macnab,

Secretary, Granton and District Community Council

http://grantonanddistrictcommunitycouncil.com/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrantonDistCC