Following complaints from residents and businesses in the Hawes Promenade area, local community officers and officers from Road Policing have been targeting the area to combat the antisocial use of vehicles and associated behaviour.
Sergeant Sandra Watt from the Community Policing Team at Corstorphine Police Station said: “Dealing with disorder and antisocial behaviour is a priority for us in Edinburgh. We’ve been made aware by the local community of antisocial behaviour issues in the Hawes Promenade area involving vehicles, and we’ve responded with a dedicated initiative.
“We are focussing on engagement, deterrence, disruption and where necessary enforcement by conducting both high visibility and plain clothe patrols in marked and unmarked vehicles. During the weekend of 29th and 30th January we engaged with over 50 drivers and issued an antisocial behaviour warning.
“On Friday 4th February 2022, our Road Policing colleagues implemented a road check at the Hawkes Pier car park. Twenty two cars were stopped, checked for defects and advice was given to drivers with regards to driving and parking in a considerate manner. One driver was charged with careless driving.
“Our Community Policing Teams will continue to work with our Road Policing colleagues and our partners at the City of Edinburgh Council to deal with the antisocial use of vehicles in the area”
Anyone with information regarding criminal or antisocial behaviour in their area can contact Police Scotland through 101, our website scotland.police.uk/contact-us or the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A city council waste crew has presented four year old South Queensferry boy George Wallace with his very own dumper truck.
During the pandemic George’s mum Rosalind asked the team to give him a wave at the window and they they have continued to do this every week.
Wee George always waves back and the refuse collectors enjoyed this heart-warming little interaction so much they clubbed together and bought him his very own dumper truck toy for Christmas.
Rosalind Wallace, George’s mum, said: “It’s been so lovely to see George’s smile every week as he waves to the guys collecting our waste.
“I know it’s been a difficult time for them and think they brightened each other’s day. George helps with our local litter picking group, Cleanferry, and so is very inspired by them.”
Driver Craig Grand said: “It was so lovely to meet George today. His wee smile has been keeping us going in the last wee while and so we just had to buy him a present and the dumper truck seemed perfect.
“We’re all delighted he’s so pleased with it and it was great to see George in his litter picking uniform. He’ll be working for us soon!
Cllr Lesley Macinnes, Environment Convener, said: “Our waste crews have been working round the clock in some very challenging circumstances since the start of pandemic and I’d like to thank everyone who has showed them their appreciation leaving out cards and gifts and clapping for them every Thursday during lockdown.
“It’s really lovely to see in this case the little boy brightened their day so much the crew showed their gratitude by buying him the dumper truck.”
PLANS for a prime development on land made available from the completion of the Queensferry Crossing will be determined today (Wednesday 19 May).
Recommended for approval by planners, the 176-home South Queensferry development by CALA Homes (East) includes 44 affordable homes, 39 of which will be delivered by locally-based Manor Estates Housing Association.
The remaining five will be ‘golden share, a form of discounted price available to purchase by those on the housing waiting list’. Most of the affordable homes will be constructed early into the build process.
Approval of the Springfield site at the upcoming City of Edinburgh development management sub-committee will confirm more than £2.2million in Section 75 funding. This includes £2.15m towards education, £29,500 to improving transport infrastructure and around £37,000 towards the expansion of the local healthcare centre.
Following extensive engagement with the local community, the plans also include a range of traffic calming measures at the adjoining Bo’ness Road, as well as improved crossings, footpath connections to Society Road and Bo’ness road and a dedicated cycleway.
Keith Giblett, Chair of Queensferry and District Community Council, said: “We’ve welcomed the extent to which CALA has been willing to listen to the community. Pleasingly, it has resulted in material changes to the proposed development and the area around it, including vital works to Bo’ness road in the vicinity of the primary school.
“Go-ahead will provide a major and timely contribution towards facilities in and around South Queensferry – and we’d look forward to getting an understanding from the council on how that money will be spent.”
The development will benefit from exceptional views out to the Forth and its bridges and a broad mix of homes put forward by CALA includes 57 apartments, alongside three, four and five bedroom properties, boosting supply for a wide segment of the market.
The 44 affordable homes will feature a mix of one to three bedroom homes. CALA hopes to be able to begin work at the development as early as autumn 2021.
Derek Lawson, Strategic Land Director at CALA Homes, said: “This development has been years in the making and we must thank the local community for engaging throughout. In particular, the area around the development will be much more pedestrian and cyclist friendly – with extensive footpath connectivity.
“This process has resulted in final proposals that will boost the local area considerably, as well as providing a wide range of family homes to meet the needs of a strong local market.”
Originally identified for housing almost 30 years ago, the site, which extends to 7.5 hectares, forms part of a wider area of land originally owned by CALA, following the grant of residential planning permission dating back to 1991.
The land was then acquired by the Scottish Office in 1994 for the new forth crossing – Queensferry Crossing. With the bridge now complete, the Scottish Ministers have been in the process of disposing of surplus land. The regulations relating to disposal require that surplus land is initially offered to previous landowners, which in this case is CALA Homes.
CALA has a strong history working in the South Queensferry area, recently completing its development at nearby Dalmeny Park, where it delivered 156 private homes on a brownfield site formerly owned by Agilent. This also included the delivery of 112 affordable homes.
Police are appealing for witnesses after a number of car tyres were vandalised in South Queensferry on Boxing Day.
The incidents happened during the early hours of Saturday 26 December 2020 while the vehicles were parked on Echline View, Echline Avenue, Stoneyflatts Crescent, Inchgarvie Park, Stewart Terrace, Station Road and Lawson Crescent.
A man was seen in the area at the time and is described as wearing a dark coloured hoody and distinctive jogging bottoms that are tight at the ankles but baggy and loose fitting at the top.
Constable Gill Young, from South Queensferry Police Station, said: “We are appealing to the local community living in or near these streets to check any CCTV or doorbell footage for any footage or images of this male who was seen between 4.20am and 4.30am.
“If you have any information, please call us on 101 quoting incident number 1178 of 26 December 2020. You can also call anonymously with information about these crimes by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Young at heart get active with chair-based exercise
Active Communities March 2019
Edinburgh Leisure’s Ageing Well programme, working in partnership with Steady Steps, an NHS community-based health referral programme, has launched a new chair-based exercise class in a new locality at the Queensferry Sports & Community Hub.
Running every Monday, from 11.45 am – 1.00 pm, the class launched on Monday, 3rd February with eight people attending and more participants expected over the coming weeks.
The Ageing Well Project, run by Edinburgh Leisure in partnership with NHS Lothian, delivers a range of city-wide activities which support people to become, and remain, active in later life.
The emphasis is on meeting new people and making physical activity accessible and enjoyable. Each session is followed by refreshments and time for that all-important chat and a cuppa.
Steady Steps is run in partnership with NHS Lothian and delivers group exercise sessions to people who have had or are at risk of having a fall with the aim of preventing future falls and injury.
There is scientific evidence that the exercise used in the sessions help to increase endurance, strength, flexibility and balance. The classes are delivered in a safe environment and can be adapted so no exercise is too easy or difficult for any individual.
Michael McLaughlin, Specialist Health Instructor at Edinburgh Leisure said: “These classes will act as a pathway for those attending Steady Steps, so they have a class to continue on to. It will mean that they don’t undo all the hard work they have put in when they have been attending the 16-week Steady Steps programme for 1.5 hours each week.
“We’re also hoping to welcome any other older adults in the community looking to be active. No specialist equipment or workout gear is required. Just wear lose, comfortable clothes and trainers or soft-soled shoes. It’s such a great opportunity to make new friends too and of course, socialise over tea and biscuits afterwards.”
A donation of £2 is welcomed for the class.
Interested? Just turn up at the Queensferry Sports & Community Hub, 30 Ashburnham Road, Queensferry, South Queensferry EH30 9JN
Police are appealing for information to help trace a missing man believed to be in the Capital. Scott Hutchison is originally from Selkirk and was reported missing from Dennistoun, Glasgow, by his family yesterday (Wednesday 9th May).Continue reading Frightened Rabbit singer reported missing
One of Scotland’s largest hospitality groups, Buzzworks Holdings, has announced it is to bring its flagship restaurant Scotts to South Queensferry, creating around 60 jobs for the town.Continue reading Buzz in the burgh as Scotts heading east
Police are seeking witnesses to an accident that resulted in the death of of a bin lorry driver in South Queensferry on Saturday afternoon. The 58-year old man died after being crushed by his own truck when he tried to stop it rolling out of a car park.
The man, who has been named as Maurice Willis, was pinned against a wall by his lorry which then hit a parked car and mounted a pavement before ploughing through a fence and coming to a stop on Hawes Pier. He later died in hospital.
Police Scotland’s Sgt Brian Smith said: “This tragic accident happened as the driver tried to stop his lorry from rolling out of the car park of the Hawes Inn.
“He was crushed against the wall by the lorry, which then hit a parked Jaguar car before rolling across the road and mounting the pavement. demolishing a bench and fencing before it came to rest hanging over the edge of the pier.
“Although this is a busy road, with a number of pedestrians in the area at the time, fortunately no-one else was injured. We are carrying out a full investigation and I am appealing for any witnesses who have not already spoken to us, to call Police Scotland on 101.”
