Today at Holyrood – #askLBP Upcoming Liveblogs with Lothian and Borders Police – Inky Fingers Porty Poetry Bash tonight – Evelyn Glennie – Reader in Residence at Leith Library 

Today in Holyrood Edinburgh City Centre MSP, Marco Biagi, has lodged a motion as follows:-

S4M-04364 Marco Biagi: Going the Extra Yard—That the Parliament welcomes the renovation of the playground of Edinburgh-based children’s play charity, The Yard, as part of the BBC television programme, DIY SOS, for Children in Need week; notes the difficult financial circumstances that The Yard faced six years ago; understands that it is now in a much stronger position and hopes that the renovation will allow the service to continue to flourish; acknowledges what it considers the valuable work being undertaken by The Yard and the vital services that it has been providing to children and young people with additional support needs in 25 years of service; commends the opportunities for independence and personal growth that The Yard provides; considers The Yard as a fine example from which others can learn, and wishes it all the best for its 25th anniversary year and for many years to come.

Meanwhile at Parliamentary Questions at 11.40 questions have been lodged by Edinburgh and Lothians MSPs as follows:-

Jim Eadie: To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made through the extended hours initiative to widen public access to out-of-hours GP services. (S4O-01359)

Alison Johnstone: To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that school outdoor environments promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles. (S4O-01360)

This will then be followed by First Minister’s Questions and a ministerial statement by Transport Minister Keith Brown on the West Coast mainline franchise. This was granted to First Group but that was cancelled yesterday by the UK government.

Does this affect us in Edinburgh? We think it does, if it impacts on all rail franchises. East Coast currently run the franchise from Edinburgh to London, and we feel that recent developments have to put the future of that line in some doubt. The franchise was returned to Government ownership when National Express East Coast handed it back.

It appears that The Scotsman agrees with our view that the railways are in disarray. But what do you think? Should there now be a major overhaul of the railways and the way they are run? Is it time to get Michael O’Leary from Ryanair to apply his magic to our railways?

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We are running two liveblogs with Lothian and Borders Police in the next two weeks. The first on Tuesday 9 October 2012 at 5.30p.m. is a conversation with Superintendent David Carradice and Chief Inspector Murray Dykes from the west of the city and then on Tuesday 16 October 2012 at 5.30 we are in conversation with Superintendent Bryan Rodger from the east of the city. What would you like to know about their day to day work? Is there something in either of these areas which is really worrying you? As long as it is not a live criminal investigation then we can get the police officers to answer your queries. Join us here on TERLive! or by joining in on Twitter by using the hashtag #askLBP.

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Today from  7-9pm, at Portobello Library
PORTY POETRY BASH
a literary extravaganza for absolutely everyone
Free and unticketed, booking required if you want to perform

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The AniMotion Show: Evelyn Glennie and Maria Rud takes place at the National Museum of Scotland on Thursday  11 October 2012

19:30-21:30
Grand Gallery, National Museum of Scotland
£18, £16 Concessions and Members. Includes free interval drink.

Tickets are only available in advance.
Book tickets online or call 0300 123 6789

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The new Reader in Residence at Leith Library, Emily Dodd,  has published her first blog post……about the importance of stories for children. 
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.