Police are appealing for witnesses following an apparent attack on three chickens in Wester Drylaw Place which took place overnight between Wednesday and Thursday.

The suspects initially attempted to gain access to a garden shed, but were unsuccessful. They then opened the chicken coop to the rear of the garden and killed one of the chickens that was residing inside. 

A second chicken was badly injured, however it is believed it will survive.  The third chicken was found unharmed in a neighbouring garden at around lunchtime today (Thursday). 

The family kept the chickens as pets and is very distressed by these events.  Police Scotland is currently conducting a joint investigation with the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA), who will carry out a post mortem at a later date.

Police Sergeant Stuart Mitchell said:  “This was a horrifying crime, which has left the family, and their children, in a state of shock. 

“We are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen people loitering in the Wester Drylaw area last night to contact us. 

“This type of incident is completely unacceptable and we are conducting active enquiries in the area.” 

Scottish SPCA Inspector June Chalcroft said:  “This appears to have been a malicious attack, resulting in the death of one of the chickens and the injury of another.

“Hopefully the results of the post-mortem will explain the cause of death.  Thankfully a third chicken, which was missing, has been found safe and well.

“We believe someone may have heard something as the chickens would have made a lot of noise during the incident.

Anyone who has information about this incident is urged to contact Police Scotland immediately on 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.  Alternatively the public can contact the Scottish SPCA on 03000 999 999.”

The Smith Commission accepted all recommendations by the end of November last year but is due to publish its draft legislation on 25 January 2015.

Councillor Andrew Burns, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, has welcomed high-level discussions about the potential early devolution of job creating powers to Scotland.

Cllr Burns was speaking ahead of the draft legislation due at the end of this month.

One of the Smith Commission proposals was to give the Scottish Parliament powers over support for unemployed people through employment programmes currently contracted by the Department of Work and Pensions, when the current commercial arrangements finish.

This would include initiatives such as the ‘Work Programme’ and allow Scottish local authorities to design and operate their own local employment programmes to get people back to work.

Councillor Burns said: “As Council Leader in Scotland’s Capital, I would warmly welcome any early devolution of job creating powers such as the ‘Work Programme’. The City of Edinburgh Council already has significant expertise in this area and has achieved really positive outcomes from current employment programmes like the Edinburgh Guarantee.

“We could very constructively use any devolution of the ‘Work Programme’ to tailor localised arrangements that would be best-suited to our own local circumstances.”

Further details of the Smith Commission Report and the timetable are on the website. We reproduce the Report for you below. What are you hoping for?

http://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/The_Smith_Commission_Report-1-1.pdf

It appears that new figures made available today show that the public is getting the message about not drinking and driving on Scotland’s roads.

The new lower drink drive limit of 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood came into force on 5 December 2014, bringing Scotland into line with much of the rest of Europe.

During a four week festive Drink Drive campaign from Road Safety Scotland (part of Transport Scotland) and the Scottish Government, Police Scotland tested 17,504 drivers for alcohol – an average of 625 drivers each day. A total of 351 drivers were caught under the influence this year compared to 434 in the same period last year – a 19 per cent reduction.

Police detected one drink driver for every 50 (351 from 17,504) tests carried out compared to one drink driver for every 47 (434 from 20,646) tests carried out in the same campaign period last year. Those caught now face the New Year without a licence, a minimum 20-year criminal record and a fine

Of those caught drink driving, 20 drivers were detected between the new 50mg limit and the previous limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

And during the period a total of 27 drivers were detected between 0600 and 1000 hours, six of whom were between the old and the new limit.

Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson, said: “These latest statistics show a 19 per cent decrease in the number of drink drive detections over the festive period, and are testament to the immediate effect that the new lower limit has helped to make our roads safer.

“Scotland is leading the way across the UK with the introduction of a lower drink drive limit, which has backing from experts, road safety campaigners and the majority of the public north and south of the border, as well as bringing Scotland into line with almost every other country in Europe.

“We will continue in our efforts to change driver behaviour in order to make our roads safer, and our advice for the year ahead is simple – drink driving is completely unacceptable and puts lives at risk, therefore the best approach is to avoid alcohol altogether if you intend to get behind the wheel.”  

With the Christmas and New Year festivities now over, motorists are being reminded that the message not to drink any alcohol at all before driving and to plan journeys the next morning, remains relevant all year round.

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins of Police Scotland, said: “The initial campaign may be over, but our work continues and the message remains the same – don’t risk it, don’t take any alcohol before you get behind the wheel and it will help you help us keep people safe.

“The new limit is proving a good deterrent in stopping people from drinking and driving, but it is still unacceptable that 351 people chose to ignore all the advice and warnings and get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.  They are not just risking their lives but also those of other road users and pedestrians.

“Make it your New Year’s resolution to never drink and drive and help us keep Scotland’s roads safe.”

The introduction of the new lower limit was supported by a public awareness campaign ahead of the legislation taking effect. This was followed by a high profile social marketing campaign over the festive period across TV, radio, video-on-demand, digital, PR, field activity and partnership working.

The campaign urged members of the public not to drink and drive and advised festive revellers to plan ahead when it came to their travel home from a night out and any journeys in the morning.

The campaign also sought to remind drivers of the tough legal and personal consequences of a drink drive conviction, which include a loss of licence with an automatic 12 month driving ban and a minimum 20 year criminal record.

Although the festive period is now over, Police vigilance will remain at the same level throughout 2015 and the same consequences apply if motorists chose to drink and drive.

Find out more by visiting www.dontriskit.info or the Road Safety Scotland Facebook page or follow @RoadSafetyScot on Twitter.

There is a new beauty salon in Marchmont thanks to a small business loan offered by RBS to an Edinburgh beauty therapist. This is the realisation of a dream for Amy Ramage who has been a therapist for nine years, providing a range of beauty treatments including facials, nails, waxing, eyelashes, make-up, body treatments and “fake bake” tanning. Now she has her own salon to offer all of these services to clients.

Amy recently approached Stuart Shand, business specialist at RBS and together they were successful in attracting a small business loan, allowing Amy to find a suitable 600sq ft premises on Beaufort Road, Marchmont.

Amy, aged, 30, has additionally used the loan to carry out a thorough refurbishment, giving the salon a warm and light feel. She has created a spacious area at the front of the salon for nail treatments and make-up and has additionally created a spray tan room and two further treatment rooms.  She now plans to recruit a part-time therapist and expand the team further as the business grows. 

She said: “To get the perfect premises, I needed a little help in finding somewhere and fitting it out exactly how I wanted it. The loan from RBS has enabled me to create a homely and cosy feel to the salon, with wooden floors and antler chandeliers with a hint of purple running through the salon. I wanted to create an environment where people could come and relax.

“I have been in the industry for many years and know there are lots of salons in the area so I was keen to create something a little different. My salon feels spacious and homely yet is bright and inviting too.”

Locating the salon in Marchmont was important to Amy too as it’s her favourite part of the city, and has also lent itself to attracting passing trade and new customers.

She said: “The move has given me the freedom to create my own space which my clients love. It’s also given me more space to offer new treatments.  The plan now is to keep growing and to build a good team of staff who can offer the same high standard of treatment and good customer service that are crucial in this industry.”

Stuart Shand, RBS business specialist, added: “Amy is an experienced therapist and is committed to continual learning and development. We were impressed by her attitude and passion for her services and the brands she works with and wish her the best of luck with her new venture.”

Cancer Research UK have just opened the entries to their Race for Life which takes place in May this year.

Women across Scotland’s capital are being urged to get the New Year off to a great start by signing up to Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2015.

Every hour, around three people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland and the number of people being diagnosed with cancer has now reached around 30,200 cases each year.

Everyone is special, everyone is somebody’s mum, dad, brother, sister, friend or colleague. And that’s why Cancer Research UK is calling on women of all ages, shapes and sizes to fight back against this devastating disease by taking part in the Race for Life 5K and 10K events in Edinburgh at Holyrood Park on Sunday June 14.

Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK’s press manager in Scotland, said: “If you’re looking for an opportunity to get a little or a lot more active in 2015, this is the time to enter Race for Life. 

“With fire in their bellies and trainers at the ready, we know that ladies across Edinburgh are up for the challenge. Race for Life events are non-competitive. Taking part is not about being fit or fast and participants can choose to walk, jog, run or even dance around the course if they prefer. Race for Life celebrates everyone who is with us and honours those who have lost their lives to cancer.  The atmosphere is electric and we’re calling on women in Edinburgh to help make 2015 our best year yet.”

Last year, 5,309 women took part in Edinburgh’s Race for Life and a fantastic £367,127 was raised. This year organisers are appealing for even more women and girls to stride out by taking part on June 14 in either the 10K at 10am or the 5K at noon. And if you fancy a warm up then sign up for the 5K or 10K Race for Life events in the picturesque grounds of Hopetoun House at South Queensferry in Edinburgh on May 24 at 11am. It’s the perfect chance to be part of Race for Life in Scotland which last year raised a total of almost £2.9million to help beat cancer sooner.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco and official energy sponsor Scottish Power, is an inspiring women-only series of 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer sooner by funding life-saving research. Money raised through Race for Life allows Cancer Research UK’s doctors, nurses and scientists to advance research which is helping to save the lives of men, women and children across Scotland.

Cancer survival rates have doubled since the 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress. But more funds and more supporters are needed to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. Cancer Research UK spends around £34 million a year in Scotland on life saving research.

To enter Race for Life today go to raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.

‘Edinburgh and Glasgow’s best food venues’ named by readers of The Skinny

The winners in The Skinny magazine’s annual readers’ food and drink survey of venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh have been announced, following a major public vote by the magazine’s readers.

The survey is a celebration of all aspects of the thriving food and drink scene in Scotland, with readers naming their favourite bars, beers, cafes, restaurants and shops across eight categories.

This year’s survey – the fourth since its inception in 2011 – resulted in thousands of votes cast online for venues large and small across central Scotland, with the readers of The Skinny‘s Northwest edition also polled on their favourite food haunts in Manchester and Liverpool.

The results of the 2015 food and drink survey can be found in an eight-page special in the January issue of The Skinny, which is out now, as well as online at theskinny.co.uk/food. 

Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault last Thursday morning around 02.55 in the Sleigh Drive area of the city.

A 35-year-old man and his 42-year-old wife were walking their dog near to the roundabout at the junction with Restalrig Road South when a group of youths approached and struck him to the face.

The suspects all then made off from the area and the couple contacted police.

After attending at hospital earlier this week, the victim was found to have sustained serious injuries to his face.

Officers are now urging anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward.

Detective Constable John McShane said: “This appears to be a random and unprovoked attack, which has left the victim with some painful injuries to his face.

“Anyone who remembers seeing anything suspicious in Sleigh Drive in the early hours of last Thursday morning is asked to contact police immediately.

“We believe there were a number of other pedestrians and motorists in the area at the time of the assault and are keen to trace these individuals as soon as possible.

“In addition, anyone who can help us identify and trace the suspects is asked to get in touch.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

There was more good news for Hibs’ fans yesterday with the news that Mark Oxley’s loan stay from Hull City has been extended until the end of the 2014/15 season.

The 24-year-old moved to Easter Road in August in an initial six-month loan and that agreement has now been extended until the end of May – much to Oxley’s delight.

Speaking to Hibs TV, Oxley said: “I’m delighted to be here until the end of the season – I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Hibs so far, especially with our recent results.

“All the hard work is starting to pay off and is showing with our results and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

“Coming here to Hibs was a great opportunity to play as many games as possible and hopefully I can carry on doing that and helping the team to win.

“I had a taste last season of playing a long spell of games and that was the plan for me with this loan move, so it has been really beneficial.”

“I went into my debut just focusing on getting a clean sheet and a win, so to score the winning goal was an unbelievable experience.

“But the most pleasing aspect for me has been our recent results; the win against Rangers was good and people are now starting to talk positively about us as a team.

“Now we’re just going to keep working hard, buying into what the manager wants us to do and push for promotion.”

Head Coach Alan Stubbs said: “Mark’s loan extension is obviously great news for us and it’s something that we’ve been working on for a long time.

“First and foremost, we would like to thank Steve Bruce and Hull City for enabling us to keep Mark here at Hibernian for the rest of the season.

“Mark has been really good for us so far this season and has provided us with a real presence in goal.His performances have been excellent and have merited the loan extension. We’re delighted about the extension and so is Mark.”

Meanwhile Stubbs should find out later today whether teenage striker Jason Cummings’ appeal against a one match ban following his goal celebration during the Edinburgh derby will be upheld.

We are entering the season of storms.  Already a lively wind is blowing about the house as I write and the forecast for the weekend is for dark clouds to sweep across the sky at 70mph.  Our scout winter camp is going to be character building.

The stormy conditions have woken our politicians from their Hogmanay hibernation and they’ve realised there is a general election in less than 120 days’ time.  David Cameron appeared in front of an idyllic country-scene poster saying we should stay on his road to recovery.  Ed Miliband went to gritty Salford to say “we are facing a once in a generation fight about who our country works for.”  As he was speaking, his Scottish lieutenant Jim Murphy was outlining a dramatic illustration of what those words actually mean.

Mr Murphy wants a future Labour government to inject a thousand more nurses into the ailing health service in Scotland.  And half the money would come from Labour’s new mansion tax. It didn’t take long for Boris Johnson to work out that this was London subsidising the Scots yet again, since there aren’t many mansion owners in Scotland. It was he said a “fiscally vindictive” measure “to mug London till the pips squeak.”

The SNP meanwhile have looked and laughed at a’ that mudslinging between the unionist parties.  Nicolas Sturgeon went back to her old school in Ayrshire to help serve the first free school dinner to pupils in primary one to three. It’s a policy now rolled out to the whole of Scotland to encourage healthy eating and save families up to £330 a year.  Incidentally, a report out this week points out that the average household in Scotland spends 11 per cent of its income on food compared with 20 per cent in 1970.

Households are also spending much less on petrol, with the price of North Sea oil dropping to around $50 a barrel, less than half of what it was during the referendum campaign.  Everyone seems to think this is a good thing, except people living in Aberdeen and those working out the finances of an independent Scotland.  No one seems to be worried about its effect on climate change or whether the price might shoot up again in a few months when the poker game between Saudi Arabia and the shale oil producers in America is over.

The directors of Rangers Football Club continued this week to play poker instead of football. They are holding us all in thrall as they play one hand after another with prospective buyers in American and South Africa and Northumberland. This is in curious contrast with the rest of Scottish professional football clubs who seem to be putting their finances in order and learning to rely on home-grown players rather than expensive imports.

On the first day of the Scottish Parliament in the new year, Nicola Sturgeon and the health secretary Shona Robison briefed MSPs on the case of the Scottish nurse struck down by the Ebola virus.  Ms Sturgeon spoke of the “quiet heroism” of 39 year old Pauline Cafferkey from Blantyre who contracted the disease while working for Save the Children in Sierra Leone.  She announced that procedures for checking doctors and nurses returning from Africa are being reviewed at Heathrow and in Glasgow to see if any lessons can be learned.  As I write, Ms Cafferkey remains critically ill at the Royal Free Hospital in London.

Her case is an example of how events we imagine are far away can suddenly hit us here at home.  Another example is the stormy weather.  We think of our storms being little more a blowy day on the sea front or some ferry disruption but the overturning of ships is something that only happens in far off oceans. But it happened last Saturday in the Pentland Firth.  It seems the cement carrier Cemfjord was overwhelmed by stormy seas as it made its way from Denmark to Runcorn in Cheshire. The crew of eight are all missing, presumed to have gone down with their ship. They didn’t even have time to send a distress signal.

Finally, let’s marvel at a man who was prepared to face winds of up to 100mph and temperatures of minus 50C to ski 500 miles across the Antarctic wastes to the South Pole.  Newall Hunter from Leadhills in South Lanarkshire arrived at the Pole on 4th January after 41 days alone on his skies.  He now intends to climb the highest mountain in Antarctica Mt Vinson and later this year join the British-Irish expedition retracing the steps of Ernest Shackleton, but this time completing his journey to the Pole.

And I’m dreading a couple of windy nights camping in the Kielder forest !

Portrait Gallery Curator’s talk: Ponte City. A chance to chat to Portrait Gallery curators about current exhibitions: this month Anne Lyden, International Photography Curator, will talk about Ponte City. 5.30-6pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed.

The Edinburgh Reporter interviewed the photographers when the exhibition was first opened:

The Edinburgh Reporter NEWS Ponte City from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.

The Drawing Room: an informal, artist-led, drawing session, developed by a contemporary artist and reflecting concerns in that artist’s work. All materials supplied: no experience necessary. 5.30-6.45pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free, but booking is required: contact the Education Department on 0131 624 6410 or email education@nationalgalleries.org.

A Sycamore Sings: Danny Miller and Ancuta Nite-Doyle. Danny Miller (violin), accompanied by Ancuta Nite-Doyle on piano, plays music evocative of the First World War and the Edwardian period on the Wilfred Owen Violin, which was made in Edinburgh in 2014 as a tribute to Owen and his generation and an envoy for peace and reconciliation. The violin’s wood came from a limb of a sycamore tree growing in the grounds of Craiglockhart, where Owen and other officers came to convalesce and recover from shell-shock. With readings from Owen’s poetry by the violin’s maker, Steve Burnett, including Written in a Wood, September 1910, the words of which are glued to the inside of the instrument. 6-6.45pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed.

Magic Carpet Minis: especially for very little ones – a trip on the Magic Carpet to explore the fantastic things in the National Museum of Scotland. 20 minutes of stories, songs and activities for children aged 0-2 years and their parents and carers (for older children, see Magic Carpet on Wednesdays). 10.30-10.50am or 11.30-11.50am today and every Thursday until 12th February 2015, meet at the Lighthouse Lens, Grand Gallery, Level 1, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. No advance booking required: sign up on the day at the Information Desk in the Entrance Hall. Free.

Scotland-Russia Forum: sparkling Russian/English conversation over tea and cakes. Open to all, no need to book – you will be warmly welcomed by the group. 11am, Summerhall Cafe, Summerhall. No charge apart from the cost of any food or drinks you may wish to purchase. For more information contact info@scotlandrussiaforum.org or tel: 0131 560 1486.

Barnton & Cramond Community Club: Mr Bill Simpson – The Battle of the River Forth. 2pm, Kirk Hall, Cramond Kirk, Cramond Glebe Road.

Simply Singing: a group singing songs from all around the world in 3 or 4-part harmony, purely for the joy of singing. No need to be able to read music or understand musical terminology, songs are taught by ear in the traditional way. 7-9pm, tonight and every Thursday, Lounge, Ground Floor, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road. £4 per session.

Ecumenical Friends at St Cuthberts: Isobel Reid speaks on Mamie Martin: A Glowing Brand. 12.30-2pm, St Cuthbert’s Church Hall, 5 Lothian Road. Bring your own packed lunch, tea and coffee provided. All very welcome: £1.50 per person. Organised by Edinburgh City Centre Churches TOGETHER.

Edinburgh streets to become 20mph zones 

Gilded Balloon Comedy

Best Small Shops

Learning Fair in Wester Hailes

Edinburgh’s Christmas hailed a huge success

The council is looking at ways of reducing the speed on our streets which will also reduce traffic congestion and the effect of any collisions which might still occur.

Is your street affected? Have a look here on the interactive map which the council has produced:

Read more here

***

On Saturday night The Gilded Balloon will take to the Festival Theatre stage and do everything they can to make you laugh your January blues away.

Tickets are an outstanding bargain at £10 and the show on Saturday will include Dylan Moran, Raymond Mearns, Stuart Mitchell and Larry Dean.

Tickets here

***

Mike Crockart MP for Edinburgh West is calling on small shops in his constituency to enter the All Party Parliamentary Group on Small Shop’s ‘Best Small Shops Competition’. 

Small shops can submit their application to the competition via www.bestsmallshops.uk setting out in no more than 500 words why they are the best small shops including; innovation in your business, community engagement and entrepreneurial activity.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a Parliamentary Reception on 25^th February 2015, 1pm to 3pm where the winner will be announced.

Mr Crockart said:

“Edinburgh West is home to many fantastic small shops, all of whom are more than worthy of winning this competition.

“This competition is the perfect opportunity for the small shops of Edinburgh West to get the recognition they deserve for the role they play in supporting the local community and creating jobs all year round.

“I want to encourage every small shop in Edinburgh to enter this competition and I would be absolutely delighted and immensely proud to see an Edinburgh business being announced as the winner in Parliament on the 25^th February.”

***

Police in Edinburgh have confirmed that the two 14 year-old girls, Shanice Henry and Paris Rankin who had been missing since Hogmanay have been found safe and well.

The girls were found in the Wester Hailes area of Edinburgh around 1pm today.
Police Scotland have thanked members of the public for their support in helping to locate the girls.

Scottish recruitment firm Eden Scott is backing former Scottish rugby union player Steve Turnbull as he embarks on an epic 100 mile trek of the Arctic.

Turnbull is setting off with a squad of brave individuals in April on an extreme expedition to the Magnetic North Pole. The teams, led by rugby legends Ollie Phillips and Tim Stimpson, aim to raise money for the Wooden Spoon charity and to set a new world record by playing the northernmost rugby match in history.

Wooden Spoon is a children’s charity that works closely with the rugby community. They provide support for disabled and disadvantaged children, transforming their lives through the power of rugby.

Steve, who previously played for Edinburgh Rugby for eight years, has been passionate about rugby all of his life. Having retired in 2013, he recently spotted a tweet about the Arctic Rugby Challenge which prompted him to get involved.

In preparation for the challenge and with the prospect of enduring -40 degree temperatures, harrowing winds and carnivorous polar bears; Steve is undergoing a rigorous training programme before he takes off to the Arctic in April. However it’s the size of the tent that Steve is most concerned about – standing at 6 foot 7 inches – he’s worried he won’t fit inside it.

Steve commented: “I’m really looking forward to the challenge, and to raise as much money for The Wooden Spoon charity as possible. I would like to thank Eden Scott for their support for my journey to the Magnetic North Pole.

Eden Scott Director, Chris Logue said: “We are very proud to be backing Steve and the charity. The entire team at Eden Scott wish him and the other trekkers the best of luck and a safe and successful journey”.

Submitted by Jamie Armstrong

FLYBE EXPANDS GLOBAL CONNECTIONS FURTHER WITH CATHAY PACIFIC CODESHARE

Leading regional airline’s ‘One Stop to the World’ expanded its service with connecting flights now available through Paris and Amsterdam. From Edinburgh you can travel via Manchester to Hong Kong four times a week.

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, has further expanded its ‘One Stop to the World’ service for regional passengers through an extension of its new codeshare agreement with Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific that, initially providing seamless global connections just through Manchester, now includes those available via Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle airports.

Now passengers travelling onwards with Cathay from Paris can connect from Birmingham, Exeter and Manchester; and from Birmingham and Southampton through Amsterdam, taking full advantage of Flybe’s ‘One Stop to the World’ services with bookings made via the Cathay Pacific website or through local travel agents.

Established in 1946, Cathay Pacific Airways is Hong Kong’s flagship carrier which serves more than 90 destinations in some 35 countries across Asia, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa.

From the beginning of December, Flybe customers in Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Exeter, Inverness, the Isle of Man and Southampton have been able to use a single ticket to fly from their local airport to Hong Kong via seamless connections through Manchester Airport onto Cathay Pacific’s new four times a week direct flight from Manchester to Hong Kong.

Are you looking to improve your CV and employment prospects with an essential qualification in Microsoft Office Specialist?

We are running free classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am-3pm every week from 12/01/15 until 25/03/15 at the Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre

For more information please contact us: INFO@DIGITALSKILLSACADEMY.ORG.UK 0131 661 8888

Submitted by Digital Skills Academy

ENTRIES WILL CLOSE FOR THIS COMPETITION ON SUNDAY 18 JANUARY 2015 at 6:00pm.

Would you like to win two tickets for the most prestigious conference taking place in Edinburgh this year?

Want to meet the chairman of Gleneagles Hotels and leaders from Aberdeen Asset Management, John Lewis and Morph Costumes?

Then two tickets are available to you if you enter below before 18 January 2015 at 6:00pm so get your skates on!

Management Today lined up some amazing business names for the Edinburgh event, including:

Peter Lederer CBE, chairman, Gleneagles Hotels – the man who turned Gleneagles into a world-class luxury golf resort.

Andrew Laing, Aberdeen Asset Management deputy chief executive, and Andrew Murphy, John Lewis’s retail director, will be offering practical lessons from Scotland’s most admired companies. And three business leaders debate Scotland’s economic future, post-referendum.

On the panel are Jamie Coleman, CodeBase’s managing director, Shonaig Macpherson, chairman of The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company, and Ian McNaught – executive director of the Small Business Charter and chair of CMI Scotland.

This and so much more is on offer on 4 February at The Balmoral Hotel.

Sign up for an inspirational day packed with practical advice for you and your company. Click here to find out more and get 25% off tickets if you book now.

BUT for Edinburgh Reporter readers you can also enter the competition below to be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to the event. This is a big prize. The full price of the tickets is £250 each – although there are discounts if you wish to book now. 

Deadline for entries is 18th January at 6:00pm.

[COMPETITION NOW CLOSED]

The City of Edinburgh Council is looking at ways of improving parking in the city, and although one of the effects might be a leap in revenue for the council if they were to introduce 7 day parking charges, this is not at present the main aim of the proposals.

The council is working on a pricing strategy for parking which would support other transport policies in the city, but at present are concentrating on the traffic congestion on Sundays in the city centre as a priority.

As part of the Local Transport Strategy the council has already carried out some investigation into whether introducing shared parking, make parking spaces available for carers and ways of ensuring that city centre parking on a Sunday is less chaotic, all in response to concerns raised by city centre residents who pay for a parking permit and other stakeholders. Now they will carry out a full blown consultation when the draft Parking Action Plan is drawn up later this year.

The council aims to increase the number of available spaces for those living in Parking Zones 1 to 8, but the design work already underway will also increase the number of spaces available for others who are visiting the area. There is a suggestion that giving residents visitors’ permits for those who come to see them might also be planned. This would allow carers or tradesmen to park nearby without incurring additional costs.

Some residents explained that they have difficulty in finding a parking space in the vicinity of their home if they arrived back when paid parking restrictions had ended at either 5.30 or 6.30pm. One way round that would be to extend parking charges later in the evening. The council will undertake parking surveys to establish whether that would improve matters. They will also undertake market research to identify where the parking demand is coming from and their Parking Action Plan will then be devised for approval by the council at their June Committee meeting. Following consultation the plan will be given final approval in August.

Such research and any consequent changes might mean that public transport would have to be improved on a Sunday to offer an alternative to bringing the car to the city centre.

One of the main objections to charging for parking on a Sunday apparently comes from churches who do not want their congregations to be put off by costs of parking nearby. The council feels however that the culture of 7 day a week retail means that they have to look at ways of avoiding congestion on Sundays in particular.

One suggestion being examined at might mean that the charging period during the day would be extended into the evening. This extension might allow those with residential permits to return to their homes and find a parking space nearby.

The main idea is to improve parking for residents and visitors, and a central idea is to make all parking bays dual use for either pay and display drivers or those who have paid for a residential permit.

The cost of the research and preparatory work to allow council officers to draft the Parking Action Plan will be approximately £110,000 which the council states is within its budget allocation for parking operations and parking policy.

The Transport Convener was adamant that the aim of the action plan is to maximise the effective use of all parking spaces rather than increasing the council income from parking, but we would suggest it would be no bad thing if the revenue did increase. What do you think?

Did you enjoy yourselves at Edinburgh’s Christmas? Well it seems that millions of you did as all the figures have risen since last year.

There are those who object to St Andrew Square being turned into a carnival park, and there are those who feel that the rides and attractions are too expensive, but the organisers of Edinburgh’s Christmas have now crunched the numbers and they are all positive.

Over half a million tickets were sold for all the shows and rides at Edinburgh’s Christmas this year which is a 40% increase on the number sold in 2013/14.

Almost 20% of the tickets sold were bought by Edinburgh residents using the EH postcode discount.

Visitors to the various city centre sites numbered 3.6million which is again up on last year’s figure of 2.6m.

Essential Edinburgh has confirmed that the attractions of Edinburgh’s Christmas have been good for business in the city centre with footfall there up by 8.6% on last year during the same period.

The figures have delighted the festival organisers. Charlie Wood of Underbelly, and producer of Edinburgh’s Christmas, said: “We are obviously thrilled at the figures – over half a million people bought tickets for shows and attractions at Edinburgh’s Christmas and over 1 in 10 people eligible for the EH postcode discount took up the offer.

“It demonstrates the scale and attraction of the festival. We set out to make Edinburgh’s Christmas one of the world’s best places to be at Christmas time and these figures show that we’re on our way to achieving that. It is also gratifying to note that almost one in five of the tickets sold was at a special discount offered to local families – showing that we listened to concerns from the previous year, addressed them and helped deliver a Christmas celebration for the residents of Edinburgh.

“As ever, we will be working in the next few months to see what worked well, what didn’t work so well, and how we can improve the festival to make sure that next year’s is an even greater success for the people of the city and visitors to the city to look forward to and enjoy. In particular, we want to work with other areas of Edinburgh to involve them in Edinburgh’s Christmas and extend the benefits to businesses and residents in those areas.”

Councillor Steve Cardownie, Edinburgh’s Festivals and Events Champion, said: “Our winter festivals are the envy of the world and rightly so. This has been another record-breaking year, and the huge boost to footfall is good news for city centre businesses and the local economy. I think residents will agree that the programme was even bigger and better this year, and I’m pleased so many local people have benefitted from the discount we launched especially for EH postcode holders, these results just go to prove there is no place that can beat Edinburgh at Christmas.”

Andy Neal, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh, added: “We support Edinburgh’s Christmas because it helps make our fantastic city centre an even better place to work, visit and live at a very special and important time of the year.

“This year’s figures demonstrate the great value that high quality events bring to the city centre and the businesses there – with large numbers of people coming to the area to take part. It is also good to note that many of these were local people who were able to take part in special discounted prices.

“We will be talking with our levy-payers to see what aspects worked best for them, and which aspects might need to be tweaked, but overall we should all acknowledge what has been a fantastic event.”

The council plans to roll out a 20mph limit on all residential streets and most shopping streets across the city from later this year, although due to budgetary constraints it may take as long as three years to introduce it across the capital.

The cost of changing the street signs could mean a delay in the rollout unless The Scottish Government can be persuaded to change the law to make the whole city a 20 mph zone, meaning that signage would only be required on some of the streets.

The scheme has been in planning since 2013 and the successful pilot scheme in South Edinburgh has led to the proposal that all residential streets will be 20mph zones from late 2015 onwards. This will be discussed at next week’s Transport Committee when it is believed it will be passed without objection.

A full consultation was undertaken with residents and other stakeholders such as Lothian Buses who were asked to determine what impact the speed restriction might have on their timetable. The input from Lothian Buses has clearly been influential in determining where the new speed limit is to be introduced, although around 50% of residential streets are already subject to the lower speeds. The council has visited other cities such as Bristol where the introduction of lower limits has led to fewer serious accidents.

The main idea is that it will make Edinburgh a safer place for all road users including pedestrians and cyclists. Lower speeds mean that even if there is an accident the injury caused is usually less serious, but there ought to be a decrease in congestion and noise levels from traffic.

The council have devised an interactive map which will allow you to check whether your street is included in the proposal and you can find that here but it is also reproduced below for you to play with.

The Transport Convener Lesley Hinds was pleasantly surprised by the number of responses to the council consultation process. She is positive that the move will mean a change of culture among the city’s drivers with reduced speeds meaning that the whole city becomes safer.

Some streets are being included because of accident rates, but some are included because of public pressure, although every community council in the city supports the move.

While the council would like to be able to say that all residential streets in Edinburgh are 20mph zones meaning that only the exceptions would have to be signed, this cannot yet be the case, even though it would save a great deal of expenditure on signage. Such a move would require government approval and discussions with the Scottish Government are ongoing.

If approved next week then the roll out will be discussed at the March committee and the timetable will then be confirmed, but Councillor Hinds wants it to be done as quickly as possible.

As well as signage some physical measures such as chicanes and street bumps might be used, although these would be a last resort or used where there is no real alternative.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “We were absolutely delighted with the huge response to our consultation in the autumn and it’s great to be moving on to the stage of finalising exactly which streets will become 20mph, provided the necessary Traffic Regulation Orders are secured.

“Edinburgh is taking a very bold step in introducing slower speeds for so much of its roads and we’re aware that other cities in Scotland are watching our example keenly.

“There’s obviously a lot of work to be done to raise public awareness between now and the first new limits coming into effect. It’s undoubtedly a culture change for the whole city but we’re very encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response we’ve seen to the pilot project in South Edinburgh. Support for 20mph limits was already high before the pilot began but it increased even more once people tried out the slower speeds in practice.”

Green councillors have warmly welcomed proposals to extend 20mph zones to many more Edinburgh streets but say it should go further over time.

Green transport spokesperson Cllr Nigel Bagshaw said:

“This is a good day for safer streets, reduced congestion and pollution; and efforts to promote cities for walkers and cyclists.  However, we need to see it as step one in a process which makes 20mph the norm in all city streets, with only very limited exceptions.  That would be simpler to understand for drivers and easier to enforce.

“We need not just 20mph streets but a 20mph city”

John Lauder, National Director of Sustrans Scotland, said:

“It is fantastic to see Edinburgh Council rolling out 20mph speed limits across more and more streets in the capital.  Sustrans wants to see increasing numbers of people choosing to travel actively on an everyday basis, whether on foot or by bike, and we think that reducing traffic speeds is a key way to helping achieve this.

“Many other towns and cities across Scotland will no doubt be watching Edinburgh closely as implementation of the new 20mph network gets under way.  Hopefully they will like what they see and learn from Edinburgh’s experience.”

So what will happen if you don’t stick to the speed limit? Will there be police on every corner?

The Transport Convener confirmed that the police will take action against anyone observed speeding in the city. She explained that enforcement of the speed limits is included in the service level agreement agreed with Police Scotland last year. She said:- “There is no point in having these speed limits without enforcement.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “The responsibility for setting speed limits rests with the local authority.

“Whenever we receive reports or witness anyone disregarding these limits we take appropriate action.”

The council’s Transport & Environment Committee will meet next Tuesday to discuss the proposals which is one of the key priorities in the Council’s Local Transport Strategy 2014-19 and is one of the Capital Coalition’s pledges.

In case you have any further questions the council has a handy FAQ :

http://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/FAQs.pdf

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is warning the public about the danger of leaving laptops charging unattended after one caught fire at a house in Falkirk.

Watch Manager Mike Fitches said: “The fire was caused by an overheated laptop which had been left charging.

“The fire has caused extensive damage to the bedroom and some damage to the first floor.  Thankfully no one was at home at the time of the fire and we were alerted by workmen who were outside another house in the area.

“This incident had the potential to be even more serious and we can’t stress enough how important it is to unplug any chargers before you go out.

Watch Manager Fitches added: “We would also urge everyone to ensure they have a working smoke alarm inside their property. We provide FREE home fire safety visits, including the fitting of smoke alarms where required.”

Join Scotland’s Fight Against Fire and request a home fire safety visit by calling the SFRS freephone number 0800 0731 999 or visit the website at www.firescotland.gov.uk.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are still at the scene of a fire at Castleton Farm in North Berwick this morning.

Operations Control Edinburgh received a call around 5 o’clock this morning reporting the fire which involved 500 bales of hay.

Appliances from North Berwick, Dunbar and Musselburgh were immediately sent to the farm to deal with the incident.

Firefighters used two high pressure hose reels to fight the fire and a crew currently remains on scene turning over and dampening down.

Due the smoke from the hay bales being near the road, Police Scotland were called for traffic management and the closed the road.

Hibs’ striker Jason Cummings (pictured) has been charged with misconduct by the Scottish FA and offered a one match suspension after allegedly making an offensive gesture to Hearts’ fans after scoring the opening goal in Saturday’s Ednburgh derby at Tynecastle.

It is understood that the teenager was booked for his celebrations however the referee did not see the gesture and it was not included in his match report.

Cummings has until 3pm today to accept the ban or request a judicial panel to consider the case.

The SFA said that Cummings was in breach of discipline rule 200 and a principal hearing has been set for Thursday should he contest the punishment.

The ban could not have come at a worse time for Hibs who face play off rivals Falkirk on Saturday.

A win would move Hibs 6 points clear of the Bairns in the race for promotion however a defeat would mean both clubs were level on points.

With Dominique Malonga away to Africa on international duty, Hibs have on loan signing Martin Boyle and new signing former PSG striker Franck Dja Djedje available along with Paul Heffernan to play up front.

Photo by John Preece

Hibs Ladies have signed striker Abigail Harrison and defender Emma Brownlie  from Celtic.

Abigail who celebrated her 17th birthday recently told the club’ website : “I’m absolutely delighted to sign for the club because I’ve always had respect for Hibs.

“It was a big decision to leave Celtic because I was at the club for eight years, however I had to look at it on a personal level and I thought it was best for me to move on.

“I wasn’t aware the other girls had joined when I decided to come and it’s funny that we have all ended up here but, I wasn’t influenced by anyone and made my own decision.

“It was the right move for my development, to make me a better player and I knew once I spoke to Chris this was the club for me.

“However, It doesn’t matter how many of the girls I’ve played with before because it’s such a close-knit league and everyone knows everyone else.

“We want to be pushing for the title.  I know I’ve made the right choice coming to Hibs and I’m looking forward to what will be an exciting season ahead.”

Defender Emma who was previously with Hibs’ Ladies said: “I saw myself coming back to Hibs one day but even I didn’t think it would be so soon. I was comfortable at Hibs before and I’m excited to be back.

“The first I knew of Hibs interest was when Celtic told me that Chris wanted to speak to me about joining the club.

“It’s a very young team but it’s also full of quality; we want to improve on last season and hopefully we can challenge.

“Hopefully my experience will help the younger players and together we will make ourselves known and be successful.”

Hibs’ manager Chris Roberts  who took over from Willie Kirk last year said: “We are delighted to welcome Emma and Abigail to Hibernian Ladies.  They will add quality and competition to the squad.

“Emma played here a few years ago and it’s great to have her back; she reads the game very well and her ability to get on the ball and support in attack fits in with our style of play.

“Abi will bring a real attacking threat to the team. We’ve admired her quality and directness over the last few years and it’s exciting to have her on our side.

“Both players are very ambitious and as much as they will add to our current squad we also hope to support them on the international stage.”

Magic Carpet: take a trip on the Magic Carpet to explore the fantastic things in the National Museum of Scotland. 25 minutes of stories, songs and activities for children aged 2-4 years and their parents and carers (for younger children, see Magic Carpet Minis on Thursdays). 10.30-10.55am or 11.30-11.55am today and every Wednesday until 11th February 2015, meet at the Lighthouse Lens, Grand Gallery, Level 1, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. No advance booking required: sign up on the day at the Information Desk in the Entrance Hall. Free.

Bi and Beyond Edinburgh: a fortnightly social gathering for people who identify as bisexual and non-monosexual. ‘With organised social activities and refreshments provided, whatever your label or lack of label we welcome you.’ 7-9pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information contact biandbeyondedinburgh@gmail.com

Lounge Act: performances from Katrina Turner, Christopher Tracey and Lucas Kristoffersson. 7pm, Sofi’s Bar, 65 Henderson Street. Free.

Creative Electric: drama and theatre workshops for ages 16+. Creative Electric creates contemporary performance based on real experiences; its work has been performed in Scotland and Sweden, in theatres, studios, art galleries, nightclubs, on trains, in fields, city centre squares and on rooftops. 7-9pm, Bongo Club, 66 Cowgate. £5 per session, bursaries available: tickets available in advance or on the door (subject to availability – maximum number per session is 15).

Morningside Justice and Peace Group: Possible Political Configurations Post-May 2015. Dr Alan Convery, Lecturer in Politics at the School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, will talk on this subject. 10.30-11.30am, The Open Door, 420 Morningside Road. All welcome: a contribution of £1.50 is requested to cover costs. Morningside Justice and Peace Group exists to promote informed opinion on matters of concern to the community at large.

The Scottish Gallery – January Exhibitions: three new shows open today. Fire by highly regarded British studio potter Lisa Hammond, Centenary Exhibition – a major retrospective to mark the centenary year of painter William Crosbie, and Fourteen Glasgow Artists, celebrating the work of artists active in Glasgow from 1930 to 2000, including Robert Colquhoun, Peter Howson and Joan Eardley. 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm Saturdays, until 31st January 2015, The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street.

Edinburgh to become a 20 mph zone

Government to announce cash boost for the poor

Edinburgh’s for unicyclists!

At the Forest Cafe

Menu at The Engine Shed today

Edinburgh will become the first city in Scotland to curtail traffic to 20mph on most of its residential streets and some shopping streets.

A map of proposed 20mph limits for hundreds of streets in the capital has been drawn up after a public consultation on the plans attracted nearly 3,000 responses. Meetings and discussions with stakeholders including Lothian Buses also informed the final proposals.

You can check the status of your street by putting your postcode into the map.

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Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil will be in Edinburgh today to announce significant extra funding for Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS).

The cash boost will support CAS’s Welfare Reform Mitigation Fund.

The Scottish Citizens Advice Bureaux reports that staff are dealing with an increased number of clients with thousands of people seeking advice as UK Government welfare reform changes hit the most vulnerable.

The Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil will visit Leith Citizens Advice Bureau in Bernard Street later today where he will be met by Citizens Advice Scotland CEO, Margaret Lynch and Citizens Advice Edinburgh CEO, Moira Tasker.

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This film was shot in the early morning in Edinburgh and although we have to applaud the skills of the unicyclists themselves we agree with their sentiment that Edinburgh is the star of the show.

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Collapsible Mountains will be playing Edinburgh’s Forest Cafe on January 24th. This will be the first show as ‘Collapsible Mountains’ and the group is very happy to also announce that their good friends Verse Metrics will be supporting them on the night with an acoustic set.

Doors are at 7:30 and entry is free.

Here is a taster for you

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Fancy a spot of lunch today? Why not try The Engine Shed on St Leonard’s Lane. Here is the menu!

Dominique Malonga says that he was overwhelmed by the send-off he received from the Hibs’ supporters at the end of Saturday’s Edinburgh Derby.

Following the collapse of Pelamis, a renewable company in his constituency, local MP Mark Lazarowicz has used the opportunity of a speech made earlier today in Westminster to demand that the UK Government takes steps to really support the development of renewable power. 

Mark Lazarowicz called for the Government to show consistency and vision to support renewable energy technologies such as offshore wind or marine power, both of which are currently lacking in its approach to the renewables industry.

You can find his main speech in full here.

After the debate Mark commented:

“I am concerned at a lack of consistency and vision from the Government in its approach to green energy: it has the potential to create skilled jobs for the future, not least here in Edinburgh.

“Support for less established technologies like offshore wind and marine energy in the early stages is vital but they are forced to compete for limited funding.

“The Government must show the vision to make their potential a reality otherwise these industries will go elsewhere and jobs with them.”

Pelamis Marine Power based in Edinburgh recently went into administration as funding to develop its technology at commercial scale failed to materialise.

Mark was speaking in a debate on the Government’s Contracts for Difference – the new form of public funding for renewable technologies which is replacing the Renewables Obligation or ROC.

The MP explained that the funding is limited and divided between established technologies like onshore wind and solar and less established ones such as offshore wind and marine power with more of that budget likely to go to offshore wind.

Under Contracts for Difference companies are guaranteed a price – known as the strike price for the energy they generate. If the market price falls below that the Government will top up the difference and if it is higher then the energy companies must pay the difference to the Government.