Detectives in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses after a 39-year-old was seriously assaulted in St Marks Park yesterday (Wednesday, 14 June, 2023).
The incident occurred around 12.30pm and took place near to the play park.
The man was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with serious, but not life-threatening injuries.
Detective Constable Christina Yeoman, from Gayfield CID, said: “This attack took place in broad daylight, within a busy area, so it is likely that members of the public either witnessed the incident or may have seen those responsible.
“We are asking for anyone with information to please come forward. If you believe you can assist our enquiries, please call police on 101, quoting incident 1997 of 14 June, 2023. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.”
Edinburgh Central MSP Angus Robertson and Inverleith Ward Councillor Vicky Nicholson visited the newly completed bridge crossing the Water of Leith at Bell Place, which can be raised during high water periods. The bridge was completed recently by the City of Edinburgh Council flood prevention team.
Increased incidences of high water in recent years have caused stress for residents and damage along the Water of Leith, including to the old bridge. The new rising bridge forms one part of the flood prevention team’s work to bolster defences.
Levels in the Water of Leith can rise from ankle-deep to 5 metres in a matter of hours.
Along with the rising footbridge, Edinburgh Council’s flood prevention team have been installing removable flood barriers that can be inserted on top of existing walls to prevent water breaching.
Angus Robertson MSP said: “The work City of Edinburgh Council flood prevention team are doing is really impressive. The rising footbridge means water will not be caught and diverted over the side by the bridge and, having spoken to a constituent on our visit, I know the insertable walls are giving peace of mind to residents.
“Councillor Nicolson and I have been working hard with locals, the council and other groups to ensure the risk of flooding is reduced all along the Water of Leith in our constituencies and I am very thankful we have such an expert and dedicated flood prevention team to help tackle the issue.”
Councillor Nicolson said: ‘We are seeing more and more bouts of heavy rain and, consequently, there is an increased risk of flooding in many areas along the Water of Leith.
“Gordon McOmish and the whole flood prevention team are doing a brilliant job making sure the City is better prepared for these events, and I can’t thank them enough for the work they do.
“Angus Robertson and I remain available to constituents who are concerned about water level risk and we will continue to work with all to ensure no one has to go through the awful experience of being flooded and our public areas are better protected from damage.”
The Water of Leith deserves better. It’s been a freshwater resource for centuries – ebbing and flowing across Edinburgh, connecting the Pentlands to Colinton, Saughton, Roseburn, Stockbridge, Canonmills, Bonnington and Leith. Our communities were literally built around it’s clean, fresh flowing water (writes Lib-Dem Cllr JACK CALDWELL).
It’s home to over 11 species of fish, thousands of plant species and is absolutely vital to Edinburgh’s local ecosystem, providing a biodiverse habitat for birds, otters and ducks.
So why have we let it fill up with untreated human waste?
There are 65 Combined Sewage Overflow Stations (CSOs) on the Water of Leith, 14 of which are between the Leith Shore and Warriston, a stretch of the river where you can typically find ducks nesting, or people simply enjoying public “green and blue space” as many of us escape from our gardenless flats.
As of January, none of these CSOs currently retain any data of how much sewage they pump out of them when the drains are overwhelmed by harsher weather, which is becoming more and more common due to climate change.
However 24 of Scottish Water’s 108 highest priority assets for urgent upgrade across the country are located here. New screens have been fitted on several CSOs in the past few years with varying anecdotal results, but the issue ultimately lies with sewage flowing into our precious river in the first place. But how much?
When the ‘Sewage Scandal’ broke last in 2021, data was published across the UK. Sadly Not in Scotland though. We know Sewage is being dumped in the Water of Leith, but we don’t know the extent. We also know that extreme weather led to a 40% increase of raw sewage dumping across Scotland in 2021.
The data we do have in nearby rivers is concerning. In December 2019, the Newbridge CSO, which is monitored, spilled sewage water into the River Almond 13 times discharging over 2,100 litres of water in one month (source: SEPA FOI).
Lots of volunteer-led organisations are doing fabulous work trying to get more information or trying to help clean it up themselves. SOS Leith and the Water of Leith Conservation Trust, among others, both remove tonnes of litter every month from the river and surrounding paths. However, they can’t, nor shouldn’t have to, remove excrement and wet wipes.
Scottish Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur has been pressing Holyrood Ministers to fund and fix the issues, but locally the new Edinburgh and Lothians Drain Partnership must work with Scottish Water and SEPA (the Scottish Environment Protection Agency) to start collecting data before we can even begin to seriously tackle the issue.
With several Scottish Government officials quoted saying Scotland is “way behind” England in terms of solving the raw sewage spill problem, our country, city and communities deserve better.
We need to stop taking Edinburgh’s natural environment for granted. The Council recently declared a nature and biodiversity emergency.
This is why Lib Dem councillors have tabled a motion at this Thursday’s Council meeting to get a public meeting of the Edinburgh and Lothians Drain Partnership as agencies working together and collecting data is a key and urgent part of ultimately stopping the discharge of human waste into Edinburgh’s longest river.
It’s a pity there aren’t more in Holyrood who see the urgency of this issue, but I hope that Councillors can back our plan to move this forward;–
The Lib-Dem motion:
“Council –
Regrets
1) That there are a large number of Combined Sewer Overflow (CSOs) outputs in Edinburgh’s waterways, such as along the Water of Leith, the River Almond and the Figgate Burn.
2) That many CSOs are not actively monitored, despite promises from Scottish Water and SEPA that a number of monitors would be installed by the end of 2022.
3) That although plans have come forward Scottish Water to reduce the amount of CSOs in total, action is still to be taken outwith ‘upgrading’ a small percentage of CSOs.
Notes
1) The important benefits that our rivers and coastline plays for our community, and that many voluntary organisations clean up our waterways, and thanks them for their ongoing service.
2) The current situation is contradictory to the City of Edinburgh Council’s declaration of a Nature and Climate Emergency.
3) The City of Edinburgh Council is a member of the Edinburgh and Lothians Drain Partnership along with Scottish Water, SEPA and others.
Requests
1) The Edinburgh and Lothians Drains Partnership holds an extraordinary meeting to draft a publicly accessible plan of action and invites key stakeholders and campaign groups including (but not exclusive to) The Water of Leith Conservation Trust, River Almond Action Group, Figgate Friends, Forth Rivers Trust and SOS Leith with Full Minutes published on the Council website alongside a map of all river-based CSOs within the City of Edinburgh.
2) That Transport and Environment Committee is:
provided six-monthly updates on the installation of sewage monitoring to the business bulletin. provided ongoing data when this monitoring is live
3) The Council Leader write to the Scottish Government, Scottish Water and SEPA, outlining the Council’s major concern that no-one knows how much sewage is being dumped in Edinburgh’s biodiverse waterways.
Believes
that the ambition should be that Edinburgh’s waterways are free from the discharge of human waste.”
Moved by: Councillor Jack Caldwell Seconded by: Councillor Hal Osler
This time, we will be working around Water of Leith and the meeting point is off Coburg Street, opposite Ostara Caf, this Saturday (29/04) between 11 am and 1:30 PM.
We should have enough rubbish pickers for everyone, but you are welcome to bring your own!
Officers in Edinburgh are appealing for the help of the public to establish the movements of a man whose body was found in the Water of Leith.
The man, aged 67, was last seen around 6.35am on Friday, 9 April, 2021, in Leith Walk, outside a food store near the junction with Pilrig Street. His body was found around 7.55am the next day, Saturday, 10 April, in the water near to Couper Street.
His family are aware and the death is not believed to be suspicious. However, officers are still working to find answers for his family and are keen to speak to anyone who may be able to help in establishing the man’s movements after 6.35am on Friday.
He was wearing a dark red anorak with a fur trim hood, dark blue jeans, black leather Doc Martin boots and a black beanie hat. He is described as 5ft 5ins, of slim build and with grey hair.
Detective Constable Karen Durham said: “We do not believe his death is suspicious but it is important that we establish how and why the man came to be near the Water of Leith. In particular, we are keen to find out if he went home on Friday morning or not.
“Anyone who may have seen him or who can help is asked to call us on 101, quoting incident 0869 of Saturday, 10 April, 2021.”
New flood gates with artwork featuring an inlaid carved poppy motif have been installed at the Warriston Viaduct beside Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory. The gates, which form part of the City of Edinburgh Council’s Water of Leith Flood Prevention scheme, were “adopted” by staff at the historic Poppy Factory and will prove to be something of a local attraction as well as being wholly practical.Continue reading Decorative floodgates open at Poppy Factory
