Home News Five things you need to know today

Five things you need to know today

Phyllis Stephen

May 28, 2016 6:00 am

At Edinburgh Airport

EU Referendum

Free Wifi in the city

The Edinburgh Light Orchestra at The Queen’s Hall

Public Consultation on Boroughmuir School

We had great fun at the airport yesterday with Broadway star Alan Cumming who was as charming as you might imagine him to be.

The occasion was the inaugural flight of the Edinburgh to JFK flight now offered by Delta Air Lines.

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With just four weeks to go until the EU Referendum, citizens are being urged to ensure they know the facts about the vote.

On Thursday, 23 June, UK electors will be asked whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union or leave.

In order to vote in the referendum, individuals must be registered to vote, be over the age of 18 on 23 June 2016 and be a British or Irish citizen living in the UK.

Commonwealth citizens living in the UK who have leave to remain in the UK are also eligible to take part, as are British citizens living overseas if they were registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years.

The deadline for registering to vote in the EU Referendum is Tuesday, 7 June.

Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and Counting Officer for Edinburgh, said: “Just weeks after electing a new Scottish Parliament we face another important decision as a nation, and I hope as many people as possible join the democratic process to make their voices heard.

“It is particularly important that the public fully understand the question being asked of them in the EU Referendum, and know how and where to vote, to avoid missing out.”

Those already registered to vote should have received a poll card in the last few days. Anyone registered to vote in the Scottish Parliament Election will still be registered to vote in the EU Referendum, if eligible, unless they have changed their name or address since that election.

People who have moved house or changed their name since the last time they registered should update their details online or by post.

Find out more about how, when and where to vote online.

The council leader has issued his newsletter which includes a mention for wifi:

Look out for free WiFi in the city centre this summer. We have just agreed to a 10-year concession contract with intechnologyWiFi, which includes improved mobile coverage. Residents and visitors will be able to enjoy free, high-speed internet connectivity, 24/7.
This contract is central to our plans for growing the city’s economy and encouraging residents and visitors to stay longer and increase their spend. Users will also benefit from savings to their mobile data plans, by being able to access the internet at no cost, and without restrictions on time, while on the go.
intechnologyWiFi is installing and operating the WiFi network at no cost to the council, and has been granted exclusive use of our street furniture and properties to help with this process. A map of the planned coverage area and FAQs about the service is available from our website.

Edinburgh’s premier concert orchestra invites you to Journey Into Melody for a tuneful evening of ‘easy-listening’. Our summer programme features music from The King and I and Guys and Dolls; an orchestral tribute to Frank Sinatra in A Salute to Ol’ Blue Eyes; ‘light’ favourites by Eric Coates, Leroy Anderson and Edward Elgar; gems by Gilbert and Sullivan and much more!

Plus a selection of well-loved songs with Bruce Graham.

Tickets here.

The first visuals of an exciting outline concept to sympathetically restore and revitalise the historic Boroughmuir High School building in Edinburgh have been unveiled by a renowned house builder.

The designs show concept plans for an open courtyard with a series of walkways, along with a stunning conversion of a large classroom into a split level mezzanine apartment.

Pupils from the school in Viewforth are to move into a £35m purpose-built new campus and Edinburgh Council agreed to sell the Category-B Listed building to CALA Homes, which has its national headquarters in the city.

The UKs most upmarket major home builder will be undertaking a public exhibition on Friday 17^th June 3pm to 7pm and Saturday 18^th June 9am to 1pm at St Oswald’s Hall, Montpelier Park, Edinburgh. The exhibition will show initial proposals to transform the building, by creating 87 mezzanine apartments, while also delivering 28 much-needed affordable homes in one of the city’s most sought after locations.

David McGrath Managing Director with CALA Homes (East), said: “We are at the very earliest stages of the process and will be consulting widely with the local community.

“While we believe we have come up with a sympathetic restoration plan which will enhance an already thriving area, there is a long way to go and we want to seek the views of local people.

“The upcoming public consultation event will be a chance for anyone interested to see these proposals in more detail and to help shape the final application we will submit.

“Our team are proud to be involved in such an exciting project and we fully appreciate what a privilege it is to redevelop such a much-loved city landmark. We believe the plans we have outlined fully do that justice.”

The initial proposals will outline how the building could look, with a beautiful, landscaped central courtyard and will also include initial artist’s impressions of how the mezzanine apartments, across three floors, would fully respect the impressive full-length windows throughout the building.

The plans would also see a separate annexe building converted into affordable housing, while a new apartment block of affordable one and two bedroom flats would be built.

When Edinburgh Council announced it would be selling the site, more than 20 offers were received. Councillors voted overwhelmingly to accept the CALA Homes bid, with the proceeds being ploughed back into schools and elderly care in the area.

Mr McGrath added: “We are delighted this process is bringing real, tangible, long-term benefits to the area and we believe the creation of high-quality new homes will further enhance this part of Edinburgh.

“In the meantime, it makes sense for us to be starting the journey through the due and proper planning process and we are working towards having a full and formal planning application submitted later this year.”

CALA Homes is headquartered in Edinburgh and employs 700 people and earned its reputation on the high quality of the homes it builds, which are sensitively designed to augment the areas in which they are located.

The result is homes that are highly sought after and which retain their value over decades, earning loyalty from owners, who often live in a series of CALA properties.

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