Decision to be taken on St James Centre Hotel today
Adult Education Programme
Foxlake Open Day
Charging points for electric cars
Wildflowers in Dreghorn
The council looks set to refuse the planning application for the hotel which is to be an integral part of the new St James Quarter Development at the top of Leith Walk. Council officers recommend that the application is refused as it will ‘damage the city’s skyline’.
Anyone coming up Leith Walk will agree that the skyline is an important feature, and at the moment the skyline is blotted by the huge monolith which used to house the Scottish Office and which now lies empty. Perhaps it is in view of the building which is to be demolished that some of the skyline views are protected by a specific policy. The officers state that the existing St James Centre has a considerable negative effect on the conservation area. The skyline policy provides that any new tall buildings must not have an adverse effect on the historic views.
The building is to sit no higher than 96m AOD (Above Ordnance Datum) which is the height above sea level, and this would ensure that the new building will not intrude on the skyline.
As proposed however the council officers say that the form of the building would be clumsy in comparison with other nearby skyline features such as the Scott Monument and the Balmoral clock tower.
The meeting convenes at 10am and can be viewed on the council website.
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Drawing for Graphic Novels, Wall Building, Decluttering your Home, Paint a Scene at the Lyceum Theatre and Criminology are just some of the new courses being offered in the City of Edinburgh Council’s Adult Education Programme.
With hundreds of day, evening and weekend courses available for adults aged 16 and over, the programme really has something for everyone.
So if you’re looking to learn something new, brush up on your skills, meet new people or improve your job prospects then check out the courses which can be booked from noon today (Wednesday 12 August). Booking on line is the best way to secure a place on your chosen course.
Among the numerous classes being offered are art, crafts, creative writing history, computing, cookery, health and fitness, languages, music, drama, walks and talks and much more.
Councillor Cathy Fullerton, Vice-Convener for Education, Children and Families, said: “The amount of classes and subject matter on offer this year is absolutely fantastic. It’s a really varied and interesting programme which has been designed by our adult education team to meet the needs of people of all ages and abilities.
“Learning should always be enjoyable, and we hope these courses will inspire people to learn something new or more in-depth. Taking up a class can help people develop confidence and keep mentally and physically active as well as acquiring new skills.
“Research shows that people who are in lifelong learning are more likely to be employed, to remain in work and to be involved in their communities. It truly is about learning for life and it’s never too late to start.
“Plenty of flexibility is built into the programme as to where and when people can study, with opportunities to take classes at different schools and community centres across the city and they can also be a stepping stone on to further education or indeed into a new career.”
A full list of Adult Education Programme classes are available online or by phoning 0131 556 7978 to get a brochure or pick one up from your local library, community centre or GP surgery. Classes can still be booked by post, phone or in person as well as online.
Also on offer are Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) courses at Higher and Unit levels, run by Edinburgh College. Many other classes are held all over Edinburgh in schools and community centres. You can find full details at joininedinburgh.org/enrol
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Foxlake, Scotland’s first cable wakeboarding park in Dunbar is gearing up for the biggest event of the year on Sunday, 16th August from 12noon till 4pm, as it host its annual wakeboarding competition, ‘The Foxlake Wakeboard Open’.
The competition will be made up of male and female competitors from all over the country, from the grassroots of the sport through to the country’s top riders, including India Fraser and Cameron McMillan. A variety of fantastic prizes are up for grabs, including Foxlake merchandise and wakeboarding accessories.
The free event, which will be an action packed fun family day out, will also include demonstrations throughout the day by Scotland’s very own Blair Fraser (16) from Edinburgh, who currently holds the title, UK Junior Straight–line Wakeboarding Champion.
Blair has just returned from the globally renowned RedBull Harbour Reach wakeboard event in Albert Dock, Liverpool and is one of only a handful of British riders to be officially invited to take on the course with some of the most technical and dangerous obstacles in the world.
Visitors can also enjoy a BBQ, music and running commentary by ‘Sketch’ from Syndicate Clothing who will be providing a blow by blow account of the tricks being ‘thrown down’ on the water.
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More charging points have been provided in Edinburgh for electric cars. The others we have seen include IKEA and the City Chambers. Do you know of others? Then do share with us! The four-star Edinburgh Marriott has teamed up with the Energy Saving Trust to invest in two electric car charging points on site as part of an on-going commitment to sustainability.
The pioneering charging points were installed after the hotel received funding through a programme managed by the Energy Saving Trust, an organisation whose devotion to sustainable energy mirrors Edinburgh Marriott Hotel’s commitment to the environment.
Guests will be able to use the electric vehicle charging points free of charge while staying overnight, dining in the hotel’s restaurant, or stopping by for a Starbucks coffee on site.
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Here’s a sight guaranteed to raise the spirits! The wildflower meadows at Dreghorn Woods – our new First World War…
Posted by The Woodland Trust on Monday, 10 August 2015
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
