A rubbish protest or a protest about rubbish?

A war of words has broken out between a senior local councillor and community groups following a ‘dirty protest’ outside the council’s North Local Office in West Pilton this morning. TIE committee convener Lesley Hinds dismissed the protest as a poorly supported publicity stunt, but campaigners say they will escalate their activities if demands are not met.

Two local tenants groups – Tenants and Residents in Pilton (TRIP) and Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse (TRIM), supported by campaign group North Edinburgh Fights Back – urged local residents to support a campaign to get weekly bin collections restored by staging a publicity stunt at the local council office. Local people were encouraged to bring along their black bags and bins and ‘dump’ them on the council’s doorstep.

Speaking before the protest TRIP secretary Jon Black (pictured above) said: “The Council has mismanaged the changes to refuse collection, and its unacceptable. We shouldn’t have to be cleaning up our own streets, but this is what it has come to. Its a public health hazard, and the Council needs to sort it out. We are demanding that the Council re-introduce weekly collections, and we want adequate recycling facilities provided in the area. We also want the Council to clear up all the rubbish that has been missed.”

Around a dozen people supported the event, which attracted media attention – but Councillor Lesley Hinds, convener of the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee, said the protest was a damp squib.

“This has been a  poorly-attended publicity stunt that neither improves the situation nor  accurately reflects the needs of the community. Of course I’d be happy to meet  any of the protesters to have constructive discussions on how we can improve  their waste collection service, but they have made no approaches to us so far. In  fact I’m told there have been very few issues in the Muirhouse and West Pilton  area – which may be why only a handful of people turned out on Monday  morning.”

The protesters plan to have a public meeting next month as part of a continuing campaign to get the council to meet their demands. If those demands are not met, the campaigners plan to take further action and say that they will fly-tip rubbish at the City Chambers.

TRIP meets next Wednesday

Tenants & Residents in Pilton (TRIP) meet next week on Wednesday 29 August at 7pm in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.

The Agenda so far:

– Stair cleaning complaints
– Neighbourhood partnership
– Edinburgh Tenants Federation fuel poverty meeting
– Muirhouse tenants group update
– Fortnightly bin collections

Open to all West Pilton and West Granton residents.

For further information see TRIP’s blog at http://piltonresidents.org.uk/

 

West Pilton Gardeners planting this weekend

No plans for the weekend? Like to get out in the fresh air and enjoy some gardening? Why not support the West Pilton gardeners?

The group will be planting tatties,  strawberries and wildflowers over the weekend and all ‘budding’ gardeners are welcome to help with the planting. Sessions are taking place today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday) from 1 – 3pm.

Green-fingered Kirsty Sutherland explained: “All are welcome to come along and get involved. The garden is being created on part of the grassland behind the youth centre at West Pilton Brae. It was started this spring by a handful of women and their children from the streets beside Pilton Youth and Children’s Project as a place to grow fruit and vegetables and get together for barbeques in the summer. Volunteers from around Pilton, Granton and Muirhouse have also helped with the work. We are forming a gardening group to take care of the garden and build it together. Please come along and join in or just blether with everyone, find out what has been happening and how you can join in.”

For further information contact Kirsty – email kirsty@piltonresidents.org.uk

 

West Pilton Gardeners get growing

West Pilton gardeners get to work
We have started the new community garden with our first day’s planting.  Ten fruit trees and lots o’ keen helpers made it a warm day in January!  It is a good beginning and we are planning our next bit of planting with a strong wee group of local people.  Look at our website to find out how to get in touch or just come along to our next event.

Kirsty Sutherland

http://piltonresidents.org.uk/