Recycling in Bruntsfield – Chef on the move – Schoolchildren asked to redesign buses – Company fined for Health and Safety failure – Edinburgh’s Hogmanay
The City of Edinburgh Council have started a survey which asks Bruntsfield Residents where they want to put their recycling when the recycling centre on Warrender Park Road is closed.
This is what the council say:-” As work progresses on the new James Gillespie’s High School, we are proposing to relocate the recycling banks for the duration of these building works, which is expected to take around two years. The existing recycling site has to close from mid December as building access is required.
We have identified sites around the Marchmont area where we can put more packaging banks, so that residents can use these alternatives instead.
For the glass banks, the most appropriate site we have been able to identify is at the junction of Warrender Park Crescent and Marchmont Street, on the edge of the Links.
This proposal will mean moving three glass banks that from the current site to the tarmac area on Warrender Road, near to the existing communal bins.
We will also looking to place another three glass banks near the pedestrian crossing on Whitehouse Loan, where there is enough pavement space to allow for them.
The current site is a popular recycling facility used by the local community and the glass banks are the nearest recycling for many of the residents of Bruntsfield, Tollcross and other areas nearby. We need to continue to provide these important facilities at a temporary location, until they can be moved to a site within the new school.
We are keen to find out more about the people who use the current recycling site. We have a survey which we would like as many current users of the site as possible to complete. We have officers on site at the moment, surveying people as they come to recycle, but in order to reach the maximum number of people, we would appreciate if you could forward this link to any residents who may use the site.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/warrender
We will use these responses to help inform our plans. Please complete the survey by Monday 19th November.”
Now this is all a little strange as the council appeared to take the decision already that when the recycling site was closed, they would just replace it with a recycling facility in Bruntsfield Crescent. Unfortunately they had not asked anyone and the facility was swiftly removed following local protest. You can read more about this here on the Friends of Meadows and Bruntsfield Links website. What we wonder is how much it cost to put down the tarmac area and the fencing which was erected at the end of Bruntsfield Crescent?
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The word on Picardy Place is that chef, Mark Greenaway, is moving to larger premises…… No idea where but you will find more on the story here ……….
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Schools can design their own bus for inclusion in the Lothian Buses fleet….. More here!
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Following an incident involving one of their staff members, an Edinburgh construction supply company this week pled guilty to a contravention of section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The Builders Supply Company Limited of 8 Inglis Green Road, Edinburgh was fined £5,000 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after it admitted failing to adhere to their statutory duty of ensuring – so far as is reasonably practicable – the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees.
The employee was aged 19 when he sustained a severe injury while attempting to lift a hopper off the ground using a forklift truck on Monday 26 April 2010.
The employee had been driving the forklift and hopper over an uneven area of ground in the yard when the hopper legs swung inwards towards him. As he brought his hands up to protect himself, the left hopper leg struck his left hand, crushing it against the interior roof of the forklift.
He was taken to Borders General Hospital, where he had surgery for what his orthopaedic surgeon described as a ‘severe’ fracture of the left thumb, requiring the insertion of three surgical screws and external fixators.
He was off work for approximately six weeks as a result of this injury and, when he returned to work, the scope of his duties was restricted. He no longer works for The Builders Supply Company.
This incident was initially investigated by officers from the Health and Safety Section of the City of Edinburgh Council, who have responsibility for the enforcement of health and safety in workplaces such as this. As part of their investigation, the Council received technical support from an HSE specialist to investigate and report on the matter.
In the opinion of officers the practice of lifting the hopper in this manner was dangerous given the lack of any designated lifting points. The lack of lifting points was an oversight in its design (responsibility for which lay with The Builders Supply Company). His conclusion was that the incident was both preventable and foreseeable.
After the incident, the City of Edinburgh Council issued a Prohibition Notice to the Builders Supply Company to prevent the practice of moving the hopper on the forks of the forklift truck.
The Company complied with the terms of the notice and took immediate steps to amend their work practices to prevent any recurrence.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Environment Convener, said: “Cases such as this illustrate just how vital it is for employers to be absolutely scrupulous about keeping their workplaces as safe as possible for their staff. This incident resulted in a severe injury to one young employee. Businesses have a legal duty to make sure their employees’ health, safety and welfare at work are ensured so far as reasonably practicable and the Council will thoroughly investigate those who fail to do so.”
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Organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay today announced that to celebrate 20 years of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, two much loved events will be returning to the programme for 2012/2013. The New Year’s Day Triathlon and Edinburgh’s Dogmanay will both take place on Tuesday 1 January 2013 with the support of the City of Edinburgh Council and Event Scotland.
Peter Irvine, Artistic Director of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, said “We are delighted to be able to support these two extremely popular events and bring them back to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay this year. Whether you’re participating or spectating, it’s a great way to get some fresh air and exercise on New Year’s Day and blow away those cobwebs.”
Cllr Steve Cardownie, Edinburgh’s Festivals & Events Champion, said: “These two fantastic events characterise perfectly the diversity of Edinburgh’s winter celebrations and make a welcome return to the programme this year.
“The newly refurbished Royal Commonwealth provides the ideal start to the Triathlon and I’m sure the hardy competitors will appreciate the new facilities. Meanwhile, for those happier taking a back seat, Dogmanay provides a great afternoon’s entertainment for all the family.”
The New Year’s Day Triathlon last took place in 2009, before the renovation of The Royal Commonwealth Pool, and race organisers are thrilled that it is returning to the city’s sporting calendar. The New Year’s Day Triathlon is open to everyone – a fun race for those who have never done a triathlon before (usually about one third of participants are triathlon virgins) or a competitive test of winter fitness for the experienced.
John Whitaker, Race Director, said “We have missed having the race in our calendar over the last few years. With the pool looking fantastic and a few wee changes to our transition space we are looking forward to another brilliant event. This has been a fantastic year of sport in the UK so hopefully some of that enthusiasm will rub off and we can offer a great way to start next year with a challenge in sport”
The race is open to individuals and teams and will feature a 400m swim (8 lengths of the Commonwealth Pool), an 11 mile cycle (three times around Arthur’s Seat in a clockwise direction) and a 3.5 mile run (once around Arthur’s Seat again clockwise). For families and younger runners, there is a separate Duathlon race for 8 – 15 year olds involving a short run, 2k bike ride and another short run, all on closed roads.
The New Year’s Day Triathlon is presented by Edinburgh Triathletes and Unique Events as part of the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay programme, with thanks to The City of Edinburgh Council, EventScotland, Historic Scotland and The Tricentre. The kids’ Duathlon will start at 11.30am and the Triathlon at 12.30pm, both from The Royal Commonwealth Pool.
A 2013 Speedster 50 Road Bike is being offered as a prize in a lucky draw open to all participants in the Triathlon. The Speedster, generously donated by Scotts Sports, comes with a Shimano groupset, Syncros wheels and parts together with a comfortable alloy frame.
Entries for the triathlon are available at http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?raceID=3 and will close on Monday 17 December 2012. Entry costs £50 per individual.
Also on New Year’s Day, the much loved Edinburgh’s Dogmanay sleddog races, presented by Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and the Scottish Sleddog Society with thanks to EventScotland, returns to Holyrood Park. Crowds can get up close to the action as the Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed, Canadian Eskimo Dogs, Greenland Dogs and Siberian Huskies team up for an exhilarating afternoon of sport. Timed races, using sleighs, racing riggs and scooters, will take place all afternoon with teams of 2, 3 and 4 huskies competing against each other.
The afternoon’s entertainment will also include a novelty dog show, obedience and clicker training demonstrations and visitors will have a chance to snuggle a sled-dog.
Pam Addison, Secretary of The Scottish Sleddog Society, said “The Scottish Sleddog Society was formed to represent the five Kennel Club registered sleddog breeds. The aims of the Society are to educate and advise about the requirements of the breeds, to fundraise for breed welfare and to organise fun days and social events in which all of the sled dog breeds can participate. We are delighted to be bringing back Edinburgh’s Dogmanay – it is a great opportunity for everyone who owns a sled dog, and isn’t a member of a club, to come and get some guidance and support about the welfare of these breeds, and to fully enjoy these wonderful dogs. And, of course, a great excuse for us all to have some fun.”
Entry to watch the races is free of charge and all varieties of two and four legged spectators are welcomed. Edinburgh’s Dogmanay will take place in Holyrood Park, courtesy of Historic Scotland, on Tuesday 1 January 2013 from 11.30pm to 3.30pm.
Full details of the 2012/2013 Edinburgh’s Hogmanay programme will be announced on Tuesday 13 November 2012. For further information please visit www.edinburghshogmanay.com
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
