£eith Decides launches with marketplace event tomorrow
Leith Neighbourhood Partnership is asking the good folk of sunny Leith to decide how a fund of over £22,000 should be spent on projects that benefit the local community. Continue reading £eith Decides!
A mural art map of Leith has been produced for residents and visitors to take a tour of mural art in the area as part of the LeithLate Festival15.
The map, funded by the City of Edinburgh Council, will feature the following murals and artists:
· Leith History Mural by Tim Chalk & Paul Grime, by Leith Library
· Swanfield Mill Mural by David Wilkinson, Bonnington Road
· Eduardo Paolozzi Mural by Russell Ian Dempster, Henderson Street
· Untitled Mural by Tim Chalk, opposite Links View House, Tollbooth Wynd
· Leith Dockers Club Mural by Tom Ewing, Academy Street
· The Leith Aquatic Mural by Blameless Collective, Halmyre Street
Cllr Frank Ross, Convener of the Economy Committee, said: “This is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to learn about Leith’s mural history, past and present.
“We are supporting this project as part of our work on our ‘Building Stronger Town Centres’ programme and we are committed to the economic growth of Leith which includes nurturing it as a creative hub. I would encourage anyone interested to pick up a map and go on a tour as Leith is steeped in history, has many other hidden gems and is packed full of interesting shops, cafes and restaurants.”
Morvern Cunningham of LeithLate, said: “I’m thrilled to present these tours as part of the LeithLate15 festival, which aims to bring more contemporary art onto the streets of Leith. The tour includes two modern murals facilitated by LeithLate, as well as one not by us, alongside a number of historic murals that were produced in Leith in the 1980s. We’ve researched the background to all the murals involved and hope that participants find the information contained in the guides interesting and useful.”
*Please note that the organised tours with the artists are now sold out.
Talktime Edinburgh is a counselling service for 16-25 year olds with physical disabilities.
TalkTime offer weekly one hour sessions of counselling from their base on Leith’s Great Junction Street with a fully trained professional counsellor. They are happy to take referrals by phone or email. For further information please look at the website – link below.
Funding will support communities to reduce and prevent sectarianism across Scotland
Community projects tackling sectarianism at a local level will benefit from £3 million of funding for the year 2015/16, the Scottish Government has announced.
Following on from the Scottish Government’s investment of £9 million over three years this latest round of funding will be used to support a wide range of projects committed to tackling sectarianism at a grassroots level throughout Scotland.
Among those to receive funding is Leith’s Pilmeny Development Project, who will use their £20,000 allocation to ‘help challenge community tensions and encourage better integration of the religious groups that make up the Leith community’.
Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Paul Wheelhouse, announced that £2.3 million is to be allocated to 38 community projects throughout Scotland – and the Scottish Government is currently identifying further activities to benefit from the remaining cash.
Mr Wheelhouse said: “The Scottish Government is committed to tackling sectarianism. We have already invested £9 million over the last three years to support, among other things, community-based efforts in dealing with sectarianism and this additional £3 million of funding will allow the issue to continue to be addressed at a local level.
“No one should have to face discrimination or prejudice in any form in 21st century Scotland. It is never acceptable and it will not be tolerated.
“We welcome the fact that religiously aggravated offending is falling and is now at its lowest level in a decade – last year alone there was a 15% decrease. However we will continue to do all that we can to address the issue of sectarianism in Scotland.
“Communities are at the heart of our work to tackle sectarianism and that is why we have committed a further £3 million to support this agenda and to continue to work with, and in, local communities to tackle this issue in the most appropriate way.
“We are confident that these projects will help us to continue to reduce sectarian attitudes and behaviours and help to finally rid Scotland of the prejudices of the past.”
For a full list of projects to receive funding see below:
NOTE: Police are investigating an incident of sectarian graffiti sprayed on a West Lothian church at the weekend. St Andrew’s RC Church in Livingston was plastered with anti-Catholic messages between 7pm on Saturday and 9am on Sunday morning.
Sailmaker Apartments make a splash!
The Sailmaker Apartments affordable housing development, built in Leith by the city council and its partners, has won a top industry award. The development of 145 homes took the title of Best Partnership in Affordable Housing at the prestigious Homes For Scotland Awards.
It was built through the National Housing Trust (NHT) scheme in a partnership between the Council, Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), Hillcrest Housing Association, Cruden and Rettie and Co.
Also commended in the same category was Merchant’s Court in Liberton, a Council-funded development of social rent and mid-market rent (MMR) properties which were delivered by Dunedin Canmore Housing Association. The Greendykes C development in Craigmillar, which features 60 MMR and social rent flats, was also shortlisted.
Focused on the theme of ‘Foundations for the Future’, the 2015 awards showcased a commitment to raising standards across the industry and to overcome barriers that can impede the building of much-needed homes.
The ceremony took place in front of an audience of around 900 senior industry representatives and their guests at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
Councillor Cammy Day, Housing Convener, said: “To have one project win an award, with another one being commended, is wonderful news, and I’m delighted that the industry has recognised the effort that we are making.
“We’ve trebled the number of affordable homes by around 1,500 a year, and partnerships with developers to build another 1,000 are under way. Developing mid market rent homes through NHT allows the Council to provide high quality and eco friendly houses, to develop empty sites, and supports the house-building industry and the local economy.”
The City of Edinburgh Council has reached an in-principle agreement with the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) to lease Leith’s Custom House from next month. The final terms of the agreement between SHBT and the Council will be put to the Finance & Resources Committee for consideration in May.
The venture will see the Trust, which already operates Riddle’s Court, work in tandem with the Council and local community organisations to restore the building as a hub in the heart of the community.
Initial repairs and cleaning inside and out of the building will take place over the course of Spring 2015 to prepare the venue for public access. A feasibility study will be commissioned in due course to also consider the long-term use and development of Custom House.
Last month, the Council announced that it had successfully purchased the historic building, after submitting an offer to the National Museums Scotland late last year.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Convener of Culture and Sport for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is an important step in the journey to open up Custom House to the Leith community, as well as Edinburgh residents and visitors, and an exciting development as the Council edges closer to taking ownership of the building in April.
“It is such a significant historic building and I’m delighted we have been able to save it for the people of Leith and Edinburgh. It is the oldest of its kind in Scotland having been built in 1812, and we will continue to speak with potential partners about subletting the venue in the short-term, as bigger scale developments take shape, so that public can access and explore the venue as soon as possible.
“The next steps are for the Council to receive the keys and take ownership of Custom House in April and for missives to be signed by SHBT.”
Chair of the SHBT Board of Trustees John Campbell, said: “Although we are a small charity, we have a strong track record in saving important buildings at risk for communities across Scotland and we are delighted now to be involved in securing a future for the Customs House.
“Our first priority will be to make some repairs to the building and spruce it up so that pretty soon members of the public will be able access it. Its various rooms will be available for use whilst we develop the capital project from feasibility study through to completion.
“This is a very exciting project that will deliver a vibrant mixed use hub for the benefit of the people of Leith and beyond. A key element will be the presentation of selected artefacts and interpretation displays to highlight the historic importance of Leith as the gateway to Edinburgh and Scotland. Other uses may include offices, workshops and public rooms for meetings and events.”
Elected members and community representatives from 15 different Leith groups are being informed at each stage of the project, and an update on the long-term lease of the building is due in May when a report goes before the Council’s Finance & Resources Committee.
It’s been looking a bit tired and run-down for quite a while now, but Leith’s Kirkgate is set to be transformed as part of a plan to improve the area.
Changes will see the addition of trees, uplighting and new seating arrangements, as well as the removal of the tusk feature outside the New Kirkgate shopping centre.
Aimed at creating a safer and more attractive space at the bottom of Leith Walk, the proposals have been approved by Leith Neighbourhood Partnership following feedback from local residents.
More than 1000 Leithers responded online and in person to a survey that sought their views on the proposed changes.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “By listening to the views of local people we hope to create a safer, more attractive atmosphere for all those visiting or passing through the area. This work will complement the ongoing programme to improve Leith Walk, which has already received lots of positive feedback from the public.”
The Kirkgate improvements will come alongside ongoing work to upgrade the bottom of Leith Walk, as part of the Leith Programme, in addition to internal development to Kirkgate shopping centre.
As well as enhancing the appearance of the area, the new design aims to create a safe, welcoming space for locals, retaining the Queen Victoria statue at the foot of Leith Walk (above) and making the entrance to the shopping centre more open and accessible.
‘I don’t know if you can prepare yourself for what you see and hear’ – photographer Monica Holkova
An Edinburgh College photography student is staging an exhibition of images she shot of Ukrainian rebel fighters and refugees while covering the conflict as part of her course.
Monika Holkova’s exhibition is a documentary of time spent in and around Donetsk last year to record the effects of the conflict on the people of Ukraine. During her spell with rebel fighters in the war-ravaged area, Monica herself came under fire from government troops.
The exhibition – Pochemu? – Russian for ‘why’ – launches this Friday at the Creative Exchange in Leith. It features 36 black-and-white images of Ukrainian refugees and rebels, showing how they are living through a period of turmoil.
Monika, originally from Slovakia, wanted to cover the events in Ukraine for her BA Professional Photography course project, so arranged to visit Russia and Ukraine over two trips in October and November. She visited a refugee camp in Russia where Ukrainian people were living after fleeing the conflict. She spent time with refugee families, hearing their stories and taking their photos.
She also spent a week in Donetsk with a group of humanitarian workers as part of an aid effort for residents. Monika travelled with the group as it went round the city to deliver food and supplies, capturing images as she went.
The noise of bombs falling outside the city formed the soundtrack to Monica’s time in Donetsk, a city in which some areas were decimated.
Monika said: “I don’t know if you can prepare yourself for what you see and hear. All the time we were in Ukraine you could hear the sound of bombing outside the city. Most of the time it was far away but one day we were in the supermarket and the bombs sounded much closer. Everyone stopped what they were doing to listen but then started shopping again right after. For the people that was normal. They just had to live with it as part of their daily lives.”
Monika also spent time with rebel fighters, and was with a group in a small village a couple of hours from Donetsk when they came under fire from army forces. Army snipers pinned them down for almost three hours, and the group was unable to move from a safe position behind a house. The village and the surrounding area were also being bombed throughout this time.
She said: “Ten minutes after arriving in the village the fighting started and we came under fire from snipers. The rebels and the army were shooting at each other and the group I was with couldn’t move. We were safe hiding behind a house but we couldn’t even move a few metres to get into the house. We could see tracer bullets flying past. It wasn’t scary as you just have to make yourself think logically, and we knew they couldn’t reach us.”
The trip had a profound effect on Monika, who says she was treated with immense kindness by refugees and rebels.
Monika said: “It was hard to listen to some of the stories. People had lost everything, including friends and family. Their homes were destroyed and they didn’t know when the fighting would end. The people didn’t understand why there needed to be a war and they just wanted it to end. One older woman I spoke to remembered the Second World War and thought she’d never have to live through something like that again. Sometimes hearing their stories was too much to bear so I just had to switch off and concentrate on the photos.”
Monika is keen to go back to Ukraine to continue her work and may head out over the next couple of months. And when she graduates she intends to become a war photographer.
“I’m really proud of the photos I took and I’m pleased to tell the stories of these people. When you hear about the people affected by war on the news you don’t always remember that for every statistic there are stories behind every single person, and it’s important to try and show this.”
Pochemu? is on at the Creative Exchange from Friday until March 27 at Creative Exchange, 29 Constitution Street, Leith. Admission is free.
Man admits Fidra and Persevere Courts explosives offences
An Edinburgh man has admitted possessing explosive substances after a significant number of items were found in two properties in the north of the city last year.
Faris Al-Khori, (62), today pleaded guilty under the Explosive Substances Act 1883, Section 4, following the recovery of material from two flats in Fidra Court and Persevere Court (below) last April. He will be sentenced at a later date.
The items were discovered following a fire in a communal area of Fidra Court on Friday 18 April. Both flat complexes were evacuated whilst suspect items were recovered by army explosives experts.
Detective Superintendent David Gordon, who led the investigation said: “This was a significant and complex inquiry for Police Scotland, working with our partners from the outset to safely deal with the volatile items that were being stored, and to seek to establish Al-Khori’s motives for keeping them.
“Extensive inquiries both nationally and internationally were carried out, which did not identify any link to terrorism or extremism. We are satisfied there is no immediate threat to the community.
“Counter terrorism is one of Police Scotland’s highest priorities, and whilst Al-Khori has no such known links we will always treat all information received with the utmost importance where any risk to the public is identified. Members of the public can call 101 or the anti terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321. We welcome the conviction at the High Court today and await sentencing.”
