The council have decided this morning to sell Leith Waterworld to A & G who will develop the building as a soft play area.

The community group Splashback who wanted to reopen and run the pool have expressed their disappointment:-

We are infuriated and dismayed that City of Edinburgh Councillors today pulled the plug on Leith Waterworld for good. We have spent 15 months campaigning to save the pool, and four months working intensively with Council officers and elected members to develop the business plan for a revived pool.  Yet they have abandoned their commitment to work with us and today put a price on public trust – sold for £1 million.

In the January amendment, Councillors agreed to support a feasibility stage until December 2013 and committed £125,000 towards this, with a further £225,000 over two years if the plan was successful. This decision was against officers’ recommendations and seemed to indicate that Councillors had a genuine desire to work cooperatively with the city’s residents. This could have been a flagship project for community engagement.  In chambers on 31 January, Richard Lewis said: “We owe it to the people of Edinburgh to do everything to preserve this valuable community asset”.  The trust we placed in the council that day has been brutally betrayed.

Significant progress had been made through the working group: we applied for charitable status; tenders for engineering, design and consultancy services had been issued and positive contact made with potential funders, who were excited about the project.  Despite this progress, our work has been prematurely cut short. There has been no chance for a fair comparison between the commercial property deal agreed today, and our case for a community-led, revitalised Waterworld.

The bid accepted today is a poor result for Leith, for families, children, the disabled or the local community.  Losing this unique and much loved fun pool is an utter tragedy for the city – such infrastructure is unlikely ever to be replaced. Soft play delivers none of the health and wellbeing benefits of swimming.  What’s more, the bid accepted today will bring none of the additional positive social impacts of the renewed Waterworld we proposed, such as a sense of community cohesion, volunteer and training opportunities, and precious family time together in the water.

The capital sorely lacks adequate provision of affordable, accessible family swimming. In the last 48 hours, we have pressed Councillors to address this problem by ring-fencing the £125,000 they had promised us in January.  We believe this funding should be used to secure free swimming for the city’s under 11s, as a minimum. Though the programme proposed in today’s motion in no way compensates for the loss of Waterworld, it will hopefully help encourage more families to swim.

We are heartbroken that we have not been able to save the pool, despite our best efforts. We know this will be deeply felt by many across the city. We would like to thank everyone for your overwhelming support for the campaign. Tragically, our collective clamour has fallen on deaf ears and the will of the people has been ignored. But we urge our supporters to continue holding your elected members to account.

Thank you also to our partners and spouses, and especially our children, who have put up with all our hours of absence when we could have been swimming with them.

Johnny, Fiona, Jacqueline, Ida, Richard, Simon and Chris on behalf of Splashback

The council meet today to report on their first year in office.

We are following online for once rather than being in the chamber…

Splashback – Friends of Water of Leith Basin – EIFF – Fringe Programme launch – Leith Festival

The full council meets today at the City Chambers. Splashback is again on the agenda and will undoubtedly take up some time for discussion today, although the council’s ruling coalition are likely to win through with their proposal.

In January the council managed to pull off an almost complete volte face by agreeing to support the community group who want to  reopen and run the family pool at the bottom of Leith Walk. Now, there is a formal offer for the property on the table and this has to be reconsidered. The offer is for £1m, and the buyer has plans to turn the property into a soft play area. The group’s supporters are vocal in their protests even before the meeting, so it is likely to be a stormy affair.

The capital coalition has put forward their proposal about the leisure pool to sell the property to A&G Property Group for £1m to create a substantial soft play and leisure facility.

The coalition motion also proposes to allocate £125,000 to fund swimming programmes for primary school children in Edinburgh.

This motion will be presented this morning at the council meeting when councillors will consider two reports, one on the potential sale of Leith Waterworld and one containing an update on the progress of the community bid.

A&G Property Group have offered to purchase Leith Waterworld for £1m from the Council and propose to spend around £1.3m on refurbishing the building. Their offer would also see over 80 jobs created in the local area.

Councillor Richard Lewis, the city’s Culture and Sport Convener, said: “This has been a very difficult decision and one that this Council does not take lightly. Firstly I’d like to thank Splashback for the work and commitment they have demonstrated in progressing the community bid. However this coalition feels that the potential purchaser will create a high quality leisure facility that will greatly benefit the community in Leith and the wider Edinburgh area.

“In recognition of Splashback’s commitment to creating affordable and accessible swimming opportunities for young people in the community, we’re proposing to commit £125,000 towards free swimming for primary aged children in Edinburgh.

“Ultimately this option ensures that the community in Leith has an accessible leisure facility for many years to come, that swimming opportunities are available and also that the Council gets best value for the taxpayers of Edinburgh.”

Responding to the news the Capital Coalition intends to sell Leith Waterworld to a commercial property developer, Chas Booth, Green councillor for Leith said:-“This is a real kick in the teeth for the local community, who had been given hope that Edinburgh’s only leisure pool would reopen when the council made its decision in January to commit funds to do that. To reverse that decision just five months later is perverse, and sends a message to community groups that they cannot trust a word this council says. This was the first major test of the “cooperative council” agenda, and the coalition has failed the test.”

Booth continued:-“To soften the blow by diverting the money which would have been invested in reopening the pool into primary age swimming instead is an attempt to hide the council’s embarrassment at this decision. It will not compensate for the massive loss of amenity, in particular for infants and disabled people, that will result from Waterworld’s permanent closure.”

Commenting on the proposal by the council, Alison Johnstone, Lothian Green MSP said:-“This decision sends the worst possible message to communities trying to come together to protect services and improve facilities in their area. Despite all the warm words we hear on community empowerment and people power, when a developer comes along with a wad of cash, community efforts seem to count for little.”

“Families in Leith and right across the city made it very clear that they valued Waterworld as a unique leisure pool, and just five months after giving everyone hope that it would reopen, the Council have pulled the plug and campaigners will be feeling totally gutted.”

There is also a report being considered separately which updates the council about the progress being made by Splashback to become a properly constituted community body with charitable status. There are five councillors involved in the progress towards reopening the pool.

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An invitation from the Friends of the Water of Leith Basin asking you to help them out this weekend…

The paths in Leith along the Water of Leith are in a need of a clean so we hope you will join in and meet at Coalie Park. The time is 10am so please put it on your calendar and I hope to see you there. Litter pickers,bags, gloves etc are all provided. It is best to wear some strong shoes and bring some waterproofs because the weather cant make up its mind at the moment.

Click here for a map showing the whereabouts of Coalie Park

Please come along and feel good after a couple of hours make the paths look good.

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It is now officially festival season. The 67th Edinburgh International Film Festival was launched yesterday with a long list of the films on offer.

But before then tomorrow evening at The Filmhouse Beware of Mr Baker is being shown. This portrayal of Ginger Baker, former front man of Cream promises very strong language but an account of the music legend’s life and lifestyle with interviews from other prominent rock stars.

Book your tickets here.

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The Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme will also be launched this morning. You will be able to get your copy from the Fringe office on the High Street from noon or on the Fringe website.

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A major independent audit of the City of Edinburgh Council by the Accounts Commission has found that the Council’s overall performance is good and that its current actions are likely to lead to further improvements. However, the report also acknowledges that the Council still has a number of high profile and significant challenges to resolve, especially in meeting savings targets.

The Best Value audit, carried out on all Scottish local authorities, and last conducted in Edinburgh in 2006, reviewed the Council’s leadership, performance and major operational issues. It was carried out by Audit Scotland for the Accounts Commission. The report is not yet available online but when issued it will be published here.

The last report published in February 2007 found that:-“In a Best value report published today the Accounts Commission says Edinburgh City Council displays many of the  features of a Best Value council, including many examples of good service delivery. However some services, such as  refuse collection and the processing of planning applications, still need to improve.”

Following an extensive review, including interviews with senior officers and councillors, the Commission formally assessed the Council’s performance as ‘good’. It also described the Council’s capacity for improvement as ‘fair’, noting that it had also been dealing with some major issues at the same time as introducing a wide-reaching change programme.

Chief Executive Sue Bruce said:- “We very much welcome the scrutiny that the audit provides, as it helps us to assess the progress we’re making in transforming the Council. I’m pleased that our achievements in recent years were recognised, especially given some of the challenges we’ve been tackling.

“The Commission is keen that we prioritise meeting our savings targets and that is what we’re doing. Indeed, the auditors found that we already manage our finances well and have a good understanding of what we need to do. Although we still have a lot of work ahead, the overall assessment is very positive and shows that we remain on the right path to creating an excellent local authority that serves the city effectively and efficiently. All of the areas for development are already in established improvement plans and this audit should further reassure the public of our approach.”

Council Leader Councillor Andrew Burns added:- “This result is testament to a great deal of hard work by the Council’s managers and staff. The auditors also recognised the importance of the strong political leadership that this coalition is providing. That, combined with the efforts of officers, will continue to deliver improved services and value for money to the benefit of the people of Edinburgh.

“I agree with the Commission that we need to deal with the significant financial challenges we face. Our new approach to publishing and consulting on a draft budget earlier than any previous Council will help us to do that. I’m confident that the follow-up review in 18 months’ time will show that we have made further significant progress. In the meantime, we will continue with our commitment to report openly and regularly on our achievements against the pledges we made.”

The report’s key findings include:

The Council shows a strong understanding of what it needs to do to meet the service and financial issues it faces. It has effective political and managerial leadership that sets a clear vision of what it wants to achieve and focuses on improving outcomes for people.

The Council demonstrates a strong awareness of where it needs to improve. The improvement programme is gathering pace and the council is now implementing many of the plans. The current chief executive has had a significant influence on increasing the pace of change and improvement in the council.

Councillors demonstrate a strong, cross-party commitment to restoring public confidence in the council following the problems with trams, statutory repairs and more recent concerns about practices at the Mortonhall crematorium.

The council manages its finances well, with spending contained within budget and long-term plans in place. Savings plans are in place but it is too early to assess whether the council is likely to achieve all the savings it requires to balance its budget.

Partnership working in Edinburgh is strong and the council and its partners are making good progress in improving outcomes for people. The Council and its partners can demonstrate:

– Good performance in ensuring Edinburgh’s economy delivers investment, jobs and opportunities for all and in improving outcomes for children and young people.

– Generally positive and improving outcomes in health and well-being.

– Mixed performance in making Edinburgh’s communities safer and improving the physical and social environment people live in.

– Well developed arrangements for consulting with local people and users of services, the results of which are used to inform service improvements.

The Council also acknowledges the need to improve communication with staff to widen understanding of, and commitment to, the council’s plans for change.

The report highlights various areas for improvement:

Establish clear improvement priorities, and use its new corporate programmes office to support delivery

Identify areas where consolidation and stability is required and those where the council should further increase the pace of improvement

Focus on savings plans and satisfy itself that planned savings are achievable, particularly in procurement

Deal with weaknesses in workforce planning and ICT.

Identify and put in place the skills and capacity it needs to deliver improvement.

Develop its arrangements for communicating the purpose and progress of change to staff.

The Council says it already has programmes in place to improve in all of these areas. A follow-up review will take place in around 18 months’ time, focussing particularly on procurement, change programmes and trust in the Council.

This is the previous report from 2007:-

Bv 070227 Edinburgh

Today, Edinburgh couple Abbie and Craig are getting married in what will be a first, not only for the Hard Rock Café in George Street, but for any Hard Rock Café in Europe.

The happy couple are both 22 years of age and they are very excited, but at the same time very relaxed about the whole event.  They told The Reporter that because Hard Rock Café and their Sales and Marketing Manager, Lesley Ross, had pretty much taken care of everything, a massive workload was lifted from them.

Abbie and Craig went to school together at East Craigs Primary and were childhood friends. Indeed, a film producer would pay good money for their story :- childhood friends through to being married.

The Rpoerter wishes them the very best for their wedding and indeed their future as man and wife. Here is our Barry Dickson speaking to them before the big day…

http://www.mixcloud.com/basher1969/abbie-and-craig-wedding/

Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) have included a 13 night cruise to the North Cape and Spitzbergen sailing from Edinburgh Leith on 30 June in their ‘Buy One Get One Free’ promotion. This amazing offer means that the first adult pays the ‘Saver’ fare, which is already discounted by up to 25%, from £1399 and the second passenger travels free!

This cruise will sail along the dramatic Norwegian coastline to the North Cape and on to the remote island of Spitzbergen, situated deep within the Arctic Circle. Spitzbergen is teeming with arctic wildlife including reindeer roaming free.

This 13 night cruise sails from Edinburgh Leith to Molde, on the west coast of Norway, from where passengers can travel across the mountain plateau and rejoin Marco Polo at the next port of call, Andalsnes, in the afternoon. From Andalsnes experience the scenery of Romsdalsfjord and there is a chance to travel the Trollstigen, one of Europe’s most amazing roads with its many hairpin bends.

Marco Polo then sails to Tromso, and passengers can experience the phenomenon of 24 hours of continuous daylight at the high latitude of Honningsvaag at the northernmost tip of Norway – the land of the midnight sun. Longyearbyen is the port of call on Spitzbergen, in the Svalbard archipelago, a remote town nestling among rugged, snowcapped mountains.

Cruise along the silent Magdalenafjord viewing the majestic mountains on every side, to the tiny research settlement of Ny Alesund. Then Marco Polo sails south to the charming town of Torshavn in the Faroes, the smallest capital city in the world with its smart red, white and blue gabled houses.

Finally the cruise will call at Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands for a chance to see imposing standing stones, the beautifully preserved Neolithic village of Skara Brae and the former wartime naval base at Scapa Flow before returning to Edinburgh Leith.

This is a Cruise & Maritime Voyages ‘Supercraft’ cruise and includes workshops on either dressmaking, sugar craft, embroidery, knitting, jewellery or card making, pincraft, painting or textiles. There will also be guest speakers including John Hussey lecturing about the Vikings and the Guest Act, comedian Lloyd Davies will be entertaining passengers on board.

Marco Polo is a traditional and classic cruise ship, with teak decks and a distinctive dark blue hull. It is small enough to get to know your way around and offers the unique country-house-hotel style experience on board for which Cruise & Maritime Voyages are known.

Prices are based on the first passenger paying the saver fare, with two people sharing a standard twin inner cabin on a full board basis with afternoon teas, daytime activities and evening entertainment. Bookings must be made by 5 June 2013, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn without notice. Gratuities of £5pp per night will be debited to the onboard account. Full payment at the time of booking is required.

Reservations Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) www.cruiseandmaritime.com 0844 414 6185

webuyanycar.com Launches School Competition in Edinburgh

Schoolchildren to Design Road Safety Banners for their Schools

The UK car buying website, webuyanycar.com, is launching a campaign to keep school children safe in Edinburgh by encouraging drivers to reduce their speed around homes, schools and shops.

The ‘Go 20’ competition challenge, in partnership with Brake, the road safety charity, will ask children in primary years 1 and 2 (ages 5-7 years) in all 36 primary schools in central Edinburgh to design a banner that urges drivers to ’GO 20’ by slowing down to 20 mph or below to protect children near schools and in residential and shopping areas.

The most recent road transport figures reported by Transport Scotland indicate that there were 1,371 child casualties on roads in Edinburgh in 2011 including 10 deaths and 166 serious injuries. Of these, 31 serious injuries were pupils on their way to or from school.

Teachers will be provided with lesson plans and road safety resources, devised to fit within the curriculum, supporting them in demonstrating the importance of road safety to children studying in primary years 1 and 2.

webuyanycar.com will collect all the designs and the best entry, selected by a panel of judges, will be reproduced as a banner to be hung on the school gates throughout the city. Confirmed judges include the Lord Provost, the Rt Hon Donald Wilson.

Parents and teachers can find out more information by contacting webuyanycar@democracypr.com to register their interest in having their school enter the competition.

A spokesperson for webuyanycar.com said:- “We want to work with local schools to make the city’s roads the safest in the country, protecting our youngest and most vulnerable road users. We are encouraging children to design the banners themselves so that they learn the importance of road safety and continue to reduce the numbers of children seriously injured in Scotland.”

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive at Brake, said:- “webuyanycar.com has been a partner of Brake for a number of years. We are delighted to back their road safety campaign, which will help educate children about the importance of road safety as well as sending a clear message to drivers to ‘GO 20’ or below around schools, homes and shops. We are urging schools to get involved in this fantastic campaign, and display their banners proudly at their front gates, to help reduce the number of children killed and seriously injured on our roads each year.”

The entry deadline closes on 7 June 2013.

Bus lane cameras are set to be expanded to cover all major public transport corridors in Edinburgh.

Councillors will consider the proposal to expand camera enforcement at the Transport and Environment Committee on 3 June 2013.

There has been a drop of almost 90% of the number of prohibited vehicles driving in bus lanes during restricted times since cameras were introduced in April 2012 to enforce long-standing laws.

Five mobile cameras currently operate in Edinburgh at five sites, with further sites at Kirkliston, Old Dalkeith Road and the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary set to be introduced next month (June).

Committee members will also be updated on the ongoing review into Edinburgh’s bus lane network, which is set to be completed by late summer 2013. The review is looking at:

• Bus lane operational hours
• Introducing new flashing bus lane signs
• The list of vehicles which are allowed to use the lanes.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport and Environment Convener, said:- “The vast majority of drivers understand the need for bus lanes and stay out of them during restricted times. However, a small minority ignore the rules, which I know infuriates responsible drivers and the expansion of the bus lane camera system is intended to address this. These measures are designed to keep our bus lanes free of cars and allow public transport to move more freely.

“We are also looking at the operation of the City’s bus lane network, including time of operation and the possible introduction of flashing signs, to make it easier for drivers to identify when bus lanes are in operation. We also intend, where appropriate, to adjust or remove inefficient bus lanes to maximise traffic flow in Edinburgh.”

The papers for next week’s Transport Committee meeting are available online.

At Haddington Sheriff Court yesterday, a Confiscation Order for £20,790 was made against Craig Shaw, from Musselburgh, who was previously convicted of dealing cocaine.

On 21 March 2012, officers searched Shaw’s home address in Musselburgh, when two bags containing cocaine weighing 13g and 11g were recovered. These were estimated to have a wholesale value of £2,300.  During the search four bundles of money each containing £5,000 were recovered concealed within a speaker.  A search of the bedroom occupied by Shaw recovered a further £790 in cash.

Shaw pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine at Haddington Sheriff Court on 20 March 2013, and he has now been sentenced to 3 and a half years imprisonment.

Lindsey Miller, Head of the Serious and Organised Crime Division (SOCD), said:-“Shaw was discovered with large amounts of cash and drugs in his home address.

“His plea of guilty to the charge of dealing in drugs allows our specialist forensic accountants to assess the entire six years of his finances prior to the date of the offence.  After that investigation, a total of £41,836.27 could not be accounted for by legitimate means and was therefore deemed to be proceeds of his crimes.

“Today we have the opportunity to recover over £20,000 from Craig Shaw, which represents the full amount which is available to us at this time.

“If any other cash or assets come to light in the future the Crown can ask the court to recalculate the confiscation order up to the total amount of the benefit recorded.

“This money will be added to the £80 million already gathered from Proceeds of Crime and will be re-invested by Scottish Ministers through the CashBack for Communities programme.”

The programme for this year’s EIFF is as diverse as always, and the official trailer for it shows you a mere hint of what will be on offer from 19-30 June. There are 146 films with 30 premieres of varying classes, so far too many to take in without complete immersion in the brochure, either online here or available from The Filmhouse.

Tickets are on sale to Filmhouse members from this morning at 10:00am and to the general public from Monday 3 June 2013.  The festival opens with Breathe In and closes with a film set in Scotland and starring Karen Gillan, Not Another Happy Ending.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhmQMP1EjAA]

The Family Gala on 23 June 2013 will be another Disney Pixar Feature, Monsters University:-

With voices of stars such as Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Helen Mirren, Alfred Molina, Steve Buscemi, Frank Oz, how could it be anything other than wonderfully entertaining? This is a prequel to Monsters Inc, when all the monsters are studying to become scarers….

Portobello/Craigmillar Neighbourhood Partnership – Vintage Pop up Shop – Speed Dating – Ship Shape Leith Walk – Today’s photo

Portobello Craigmillar Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting is tonight from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at the new East Neighbourhood Centre, 101 Niddrie Mains Road.

Portobello was named as one of the 30 excellent beaches by an EU rating.

Commenting on the report SNP MEP Alyn Smith said:

“I want to see all of Scotland’s beaches come up to the high standards that the excellent, top rated holiday spots reach.

“Crucially , 97.6% of all Scotland’s bathing waters met the criteria for the 2013 summer season, thanks to the efforts of Scottish Government and Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which provides real-time bathing water quality prediction. We should recognise that success as well as looking to improve where possible.

“Scotland’s changeable weather patterns and heavy summer rains can have a negative impact on water quality.  We want beaches where people can swim and enjoy an active outdoor life and, in order to improve our environment and our beaches, we have to monitor them and be vigilant.

“Scotland is known for stunning coastline and picturesque beaches and the waters off them are an asset for us in trying to sell Scotland as a destination. Bathing water standards are there to protect us and we want Scots and visitors to Scotland to have clean beaches to enjoy across the country.”

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There is another Vintage Pop up Shop being held at Hemma today.

Hemma is at 75 Holyrood Road, EH8 8AE Tel: 0131 629 3327  hemma@bodabar.com for more details.

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There is a speed dating event tonight for all of you looking for the perfect partner. The event is taking place at The Living Room at 20:00 and costs £20 a head. More information here.

Good luck!

If speed dating is not for you then you could head along to Henry’s Cellar Bar where Chris Willatt is playing. More information here.

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Today’s photo was taken from the roof of the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street, looking northwest.

To get to the roof you take the lift in the modern part of the Museum and there is a huge open space which can be a good sunbathing spot during lunchtimes, or a great place to see the rest of the city.

We particularly enjoyed the Dino Night after hours at the museum the other week, but there are another two evening events at the museum in August. You can get more details or book your tickets on the museum website.

With Father’s Day just around the corner, The Whisky Shop is on-hand to take the panic out of choosing the perfect present.

The teams of experts at the Edinburgh stores are available to offer you their advice on the best gift for your dad, based on his individual tastes and experiences.

And if you’re still not confident of making the right choice, why not take your dad down to one of the Edinburgh stores, located in the Princes Mall, Ocean Terminal or on Victoria Street, for his own mini-tasting – the perfect Father’s Day weekend activity.

Lynsey Currie, store manager at The Edinburgh Whisky Shop in Princes Mall, said:- “Choosing the right whisky to give as a gift can be daunting, particularly if you’re not a whisky drinker yourself. Our knowledgeable and passionate staff is available to help you make the right choice for Father’s Day.

“Whether your dad is new to whisky or a veritable connoisseur, we have a range of products to suit his tastes. Whisky is a truly diverse spirit and we’re confident we have something to suit everyone.”

The Whisky Shop is the UK’s largest whisky only specialist retailer with 21 stores nationwide. The premium flagship store is located at 70 Piccadilly, London.

For more information, please contact The Whisky Shop on 0141 427 2977 or visit http://www.whiskyshop.com

Submitted by THE WHISKY SHOP

A police vehicle was involved in a collision with a wall on Granton Road earlier today. The vehicle crashed through a wall and into a garden at around 17.45 tonight.

A police spokesperson said:- “One of our vehicles has been involved in a collision, and an investigation will be carried out to find out the cause of it.”

A spokesperson for Scottish Ambulance Service said:- “We were called to an accident on Granton Road and we have taken one casualty to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for further treatment.”

Fun! Fun! Fun! Savings! Savings! Savings! Would you like some?

The Edinburgh Reporter is delighted to offer our readers a sporty 2 for 1 entry to the Big Fun Run Edinburgh on 28 July 2013 – a saving of up to £11.49pp!

There are a huge number of running events to choose from each year but one series that has really caught the public’s imagination is the Big Fun Run. The 2013 Big Fun Run is strictly for fun where it’s all about relaxed exercise. No times, no pressure, no sweat – just some easy moves and lots of laughs. Over 7,000 people took part in 2012 raising over £100,000 for a variety of worthwhile charities.

Big Fun Run Edinburgh takes place at Holyrood Park on Sunday 28 July 2013. Holyrood Park is a 650 acre royal park a mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle. It has an array of hills and lochs and provides a remarkably wild piece of highland landscape.

The Big Fun Runs have a quite unique flavour. They’re all about participation; getting involved, having fun and enjoying the whole experience of the day. The events aren’t timed so what’s motivating Big Fun runners is getting together with friends and family, doing something healthy and enjoying the great outdoors.

Big Fun Runs are real family affairs with people taking part across the generations; it’s not unusual to see a grandparent, mum and child all taking part. And you get lots of runners in fancy dress so that adds to the colour and humour of the occasion.

Are you getting a picture of something a little bit different? This isn’t about testosterone charged elite athletes charging about in record times. It’s about mums with prams, dads with toddlers on their shoulders, Fred Flintstone running round with his grandma. Throw in 101 dalmatians and you get a fantastic fun mix.

ENTRIES are still open for the Big Fun Run Edinburgh on July 28th. Just go to www.bigfunrun.com So why not get together with friends or family and enjoy some fun at the weekend. So come on Edinburgh. ..run for fitness, run for charity, run for fun. Just run!

This offer is available for a limited period so visit –www.bigfunrun.com  – and enter BFREDIN241 before Monday 10 June, 2013.

Terms and conditions – The 241 offer is valid for a Big Fun Run Edinburgh entry only against any entry category. Entry subject to availability. This event will close when course capacity is reached. The voucher can not be exchanged for any cash value.

To claim this offer go to www.bigfunrun.com and enter your unique promotional code at the payment stage. Lowest priced entry will be free. This offer expires on Monday 10 June, 2013.

Victoria plans to scale the UK’s highest peak for the NSPCC

Detectives investigating the murder of a 25 year-old man in Edinburgh at the weekend have appealed for information about a vehicle which was involved in the incident.
They are keen to hear from people in the Gracemount area of the city who may have seen a VW Sharan late on Saturday night or in the very early hours of Sunday.

Mohammed Abdi, who had been shot, was found fatally injured lying close to the crashed blue people carrier just after 1am on Sunday 26 May 2013. He was rushed to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he died soon after.

Officers now believe the vehicle may have been in the vicinity of Captain’s Drive on Saturday during the evening, up to midnight.

Det Supt Gary Flannigan of the major investigation team of the Specialist Crime Division of Police Scotland, who is leading the inquiry, said: “I previously said that we thought there had been a number of related incidents earlier in Saturday evening. I now believe one of these incidents may have centred around Captain’s Drive.

“It may have a significant part to play in our inquiry and I am urging anyone who saw a blue VW Sharan in that area on Saturday evening or heard a disturbance anytime between 10.30pm and midnight to contact us. We have released an image of a similar vehicle in the hope that it will jog people’s memories.

“It may be the case the Mr Abdi was also in or close to Captain’s Drive on Saturday evening. We have had a report of damage to a house in Captain’s Drive and we are investigating the cause of that damage.

“It is a time of night when people may have been returning to their homes after being out for the evening and taxi drivers may have been dropping off or collecting fares. I would appeal to them and anyone else who may have any information to come forward.”

The VW Sharan smashed into railing on Abercorn Avenue, in the Willowbrae area of Edinburgh, around 1am on Sunday. Officers who attended found the seriously injured Mr Abdi lying on the road.

Detectives, who believe two groups of between six and ten black men were involved in related incidents in the hours prior to the murder, continue to appeal for sightings of a silver or grey hatchback style car which may have been in the Abercorn Avenue/ Paisley Drive vicinity around that time.

Police officers continue to carry out high visibility patrols in both the Willowbrae and Gracemount areas providing reassurance to the local communities and addressing any of their concerns.

Chief Inspector Mark Patterson said: “These patrols will remain in place for the next few days at least and members of the public are encouraged to approach these officers if they want to pass on any information or raise any concerns.

“I appreciate the support these communities are giving the Police, and while there has been some disruption to their lives, there are no signs of this incident impacting on the general public.”

Mr Abdi’s father, Omar, has asked Police Scotland to issue the following statement on his behalf.

“Mohammed was my son and a much-loved member of the family.

“We have all been left devastated by his death and we want those responsible to be brought to justice so we can fully begin to grieve.

“I would ask anyone who knows anything about his murder to go to the police immediately.

” In order that we can mourn our loss, I would ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this time.”

ESPC and Fine & Country partner to serve high-end property market

ESPC, the leading property marketing company in East Central Scotland, today announced a partnership with Fine & Country to extend its high quality service for luxury properties across Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians.

Fine & Country, the largest network of estate agents in England and Wales specialising in prestige properties, are linking up with ESPC, and establishing a presence in their Showroom in Edinburgh’s George Street.

Targeted at properties with an asking price of over £400k (Fife) and over £500k (Edinburgh and Lothians), ESPC will market their top of the range listings alongside the very best in Britain and beyond through Fine & Country’s online and in-showroom channels, as well as on ESPC.

Commenting on the new partnership, Malcolm Cannon, ESPC CEO said:-“Scotland has a lot to offer the top end of the property market with a wide selection of historic townhouses, country estates and large family homes. This partnership with Fine & Country provides an exciting new opportunity for our members when marketing a home on behalf of their client.

“We believe that in Fine & Country we have found a like-minded partner who we can work alongside to provide clients with even more effective marketing for their home.

“Rather than partnering with an organisation that just operates online, we have linked with Fine & Country for their network of professionals across the country who each knows their own local market and clients. ESPC was created with the high level of professional service offered by solicitors at its core and we see the same philosophy in Fine & Country.”

Fine & Country specialise in the sale of distinguished residential property in the upper quartile of the market.

Malcolm Lindley, Managing Director of Fine & Country said:-“We are delighted to extend the brand into Scotland. The top end of the Scottish property market is an exciting place and we look forward to competing with our ground breaking lifestyle marketing.”

Art For All is delighted to announce that North Edinburgh Arts has agreed to host a film screening of the ground-breaking film by the 350.org team Do The Math! on Wednesday 29 May.

This film is important in the global and local sense as it encapsulates the current state of the environmental predicament. It poses tough questions that we all need to ask ourselves.

Have we reached a tipping point in May 2013 when scientists measured 400 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLr_lfyRfqY]

350.org, NASA, and many other scientific groups reckon that we need to reduce our carbon in the atmosphere to 350 for a safe level for the Earth-and ourselves ultimately!

None of us has the answer individually, but perhaps together we do!

Wednesday 29 May  2013 7:00pm, North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Court , Edinburgh EH4 4TZ Telephone: 0131 315 2151

This Friday staff, young people, supporters and anyone interested in helping raise money for charity are invited to take part in the Fet Lor Youth Centre Bike-A-Thon.

Fet Lor Youth Centre is one of the oldest youth centres in the city and has operated from its current base on Crewe Road South for the the last fifty years. There are now plans to rebuild the centre and the centre’s staff and management committee have been raising the funds to carry out the proposed work. You can read about the Big Project here on the Fet Lor website.

Grace Eddy who is the project worker said :- “The event is going to take place on 31 May from 9:00am-9:00pm and participants will either book a slot with me or they can show up on the day (but I can’t guarantee a bike a spot if they haven’t booked!). It is suggested to take a half hour slot, and participants will challenge themselves or each other to cycle as many miles on a stationary bike as they can in that time. They can collect sponsorship in advance in two ways: by asking friends and family to commit to a donation per mile or by asking for a one-off donation to the club just for taking part.

There will be music, prizes, and donation buckets on the day and all of this will take place in front of the centre. You don’t need to cycle to enjoy it and we’re encouraging people to come by and cheer on the brave cyclists taking part.  It should be a great atmosphere on the day so I hope  you can come along! ”

Grace has also made a pledge that if she can raise over £150 she will cycle for thirty minutes in her onesie.  If you would like more information contact Fet Lor on 0131 332 4506 or if you would like to sponsor Grace please visit her page at http://www.justgiving.com/grace-eddy

The Reporter will be along on Friday and will provide some photos and video from the event!

OneCity Trust supports a healthy breakfast for Edinburgh’s pupils

Donald Wilson, Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, will today visit the Aegon Breakfast Club at Canal View Primary School to celebrate the latest donation from the OneCity Trust.

The Lord Provost is the President of the independent Trust, which aims to combat social exclusion in the city. A £2,500 donation from the OneCity Trust has enabled every breakfast club in the city’s primary schools to replace their equipment which was simply worn out from providing 1000 breakfasts in the city on every school day.

The 35 breakfast clubs in primary and special schools around the city are funded by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Children and Families department and NHS Lothian. Ten clubs are sponsored by businesses through a partnership with Aegon and the Big Hearts Community Trust. These local businesses are then able to develop a supportive relationship with their chosen school.

“Providing a way of linking businesses to the local community is exactly what the One City Trust is all about. We are delighted to support the city’s breakfast clubs, and want to continue to harness the enthusiasm and resources of the business sector in the city to tackle social exclusion whilst providing benefits to businesses in return.” said the Lord Provost.

Aegon have partnered with a number of local companies to fund the individual breakfast clubs and construction firm Wates are sponsors of the club at Canal View Primary.

Alan Wardrop, Site Surveyor in the Edinburgh office, said: “Wates are dedicated to making a difference in the communities in which we work not just by undertaking Housing Improvements on behave of our client The City of Edinburgh Council but by giving back to the communities and future generations. The Aegon Breakfast Club is an excellent initiative and Wates remain proud to sponsor the breakfast club at Canal View Primary school.”

Breakfast clubs are proven to deliver educational, health and social benefits to children, in terms of attendance at school, concentration during lessons and raising attainment. A teacher at one of the schools noted that the breakfast club had provided one boy not only with healthy nourishment, but with a routine in the mornings, so he started the day calmly and ready to learn.

Ann Moore, Head Teacher of Canal View Primary School said, “This new equipment from the One City Trust together with the generosity of Wates Scotland funding our Breakfast Club shows the commitment and support for us providing a good, healthy breakfast to our pupils which helps them to engage in their learning and improves their general health.  Coming to a breakfast club promotes the social aspects of eating and playing together by encouraging social skills, good manners and citizenship and I am very pleased that we are able to offer this at Canal View Primary”.

To donate to the OneCity Trust or to find out more, please visit www.onecity.org.uk 

Trams on the way – Craiglockhart Community Council – Volunteer your sleep for the Moonwalk – Festival of Cycling – Eardley painting on sale this week

The Edinburgh Trams project team and contractors have confirmed that they are making final preparations to install overhead and underground cabling for the city centre section of the tram line. Perhaps it is not a big surprise that Vic Emery, the former chairman of Edinburgh Trams has suggested they will be up and running by Christmas, as reported in The Scotsman. This in turn has prompted a response from the Transport Convener that an announcement will be made in September, and it will not come from Mr Emery who is now chair of the Scottish Police Authority, but from the council’s transport division.

The official word has always been that the testing period will take several months. The tram is officially a train so there has to be some fairly robust tests done on the lines and the trams themselves before they get the green light to carry passengers.

The final major piece of construction work requires significant access to the tram route, so existing work sites between Haymarket and the West End and at York Place will remain in place. This will allow work to be done soon after road works are completed.

Cables will be installed on Princes Street and on St Andrew Square during a series of night shifts. It is expected that overhead cabling will start in mid June from York Place at Broughton St, working west towards Haymarket.  The full programme which includes underground cabling is scheduled for completion in the autumn.

Transport Convener Lesley Hinds said:-“Good progress continues all along the tram route and we’re now approaching a stage, in the city centre, where road works are nearly finished. This will be a welcome sight to traders, residents and visitors to the area this summer.

“This cable installation programme is the final major piece in the construction jigsaw but it’s a significant project which requires time. Contractors will carefully hang power wires overhead at the correct tension and they’ll pull miles of power cables and communication lines through underground ducts.

“Once this is done we’ll be closer to the rigorous testing phase which will fully prepare the system and the people of Edinburgh Trams for service next year.”

Transport Minister Keith Brown said:-“The project is entering a crucial phase and the installation of overhead and underground cabling in the city centre section is another key milestone. I wish everyone involved in carrying out this complex operation over the summer well.

“The continued patience of local residents and businesses is to be applauded. They are hopefully now starting to see some tangible progress ahead of the crucial summer tourist season.”

Cable installation process

1. Erect overhead line poles. (work well underway) There are two types of overhead line poles – those installed between the tracks, and those at the side of the tracks.

2. Install building fixings along the route in areas where the installation of an overhead line pole is not appropriate.

3. Install span wires. These run between building fixings and the side poles.

4. Install and tension the power wires. These wires provide power to the electric motors on board the trams though a pantograph which connects the overhead line to the tram vehicle.

This installation is carried out using a set of specialist road/rail vehicles to draw out the wires from vehicle mounted cable drums. Wires are lifted to the correct height and attached to cantilevers from the overhead line poles. The power wires vary in height between 5.8m and 6.2m.

Contractors will also install underground cabling at the same time. 750V DC power is fed into the overhead power wires by a network of underground cables from a series of substations across the route. The underground cables are pulled through pre-built ducts running between a network of manholes along the route.

In addition to the underground transmission cables, there are a series of communication systems and other cables to be installed within the network of underground ducts which line the route.

This overhead and underground cabling work will begin once road and track works are completed.

Once on-street works and overhead cabling work has been completed, a programme of rigorous testing and commissioning will take place in early 2014 to prepare the system and the service for operation. However, any scheduled completion dates can be impacted upon by weather conditions or other unexpected circumstances.

The project remains in line with the revised budget (£776m) approved by the Council in September 2011, with work either ahead of schedule or in line with the revised timescale reported in December 2011.

The tram project team will report to Council in September 2013 with an update on project timescales.

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Craiglockhart Community Council are holding their AGM this evening at Edinburgh Napier University Craiglockhart Campus at 7:30pm. Their agenda is published here.

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Donate a night’s sleep – and help The MoonWalkers Walk the Walk!

Have you always wanted to be part of The MoonWalk Edinburgh Scotland, but thought that taking on a Power Walking challenge was a few steps too far? The organisers suggest that donating a night’s sleep by volunteering during the event could be just the answer.

The MoonWalk Edinburgh Scotland 2013 takes place at Leith Links on 8 June 2013, organised by grant-making breast cancer charity Walk the Walk. Thousands of women and men Power Walk through the city at midnight, wearing brightly decorated bras, raising money and awareness for breast cancer.

Walk the Walk needs a thousand volunteers – these amazing people literally make the event happen. Without them, thousands of MoonWalkers couldn’t take on their Power Walking challenges, and raise millions of pounds for vital breast cancer causes.

There is a wide variety of roles to suit everyone. Marshalls guide and direct walkers around the route, encouraging and cheering them on as they complete their challenge, as well as manning water stops. Keen cyclists, with their own bike, can join the cycle support team.

On The MoonWalk City site, volunteers help sell a fabulous selection of bra pins, gorgeous pink balloons and colourful Walk the Walk tattoos to walkers, raising even more money.   Do you have a professional massage qualification? If so, you can join the charity’s team of masseuses, giving walkers a much needed confidence boost just before The MoonWalk.

Whilst many people are needed overnight, the 6am shift is ideal for early birds. As hundreds of dedicated volunteers near the end of a long but rewarding night, a fresh team of enthusiastic workers takes over!
Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk The Walk said:-“Every year I am so touched by the enormous generosity of all those people who Volunteer for The MoonWalk, they are so committed to supporting our Walkers and helping to make the night  a success. Without them, the event could not take place. These are the people who will still be smiling and cheering in the small hours, and will be on the Finish Line until the last person makes it home! It really is a night when everybody can help make a difference, and the Walk the Walk Volunteers are second to none. It’s probably the most dynamic and awe-inspiring night you can experience”.

To sign up as a volunteer for The MoonWalk Edinburgh Scotland, and for more information, go to www.walkthewalk.org/volunteer

Entries for The New Moon, a 6.55 miles quarter marathon, are still open until tomorrow, Wednesday 29 May.

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An early painting by Scottish artist Joan Eardley titled ‘The Mixer Men’ (1944) valued at £30,000 will be sold at auction by Lyon & Turnbull on Thursday this week, 30 May 2013. The significant and rare example of the artist’s student-era artwork  was well received by critics at the time, the work was praised for its personality and freshness. It has since been referenced by all of Eardley’s biographers and was included in her 2009 retrospective at the National Gallery of Scotland, being perceived as a seminal painting in her stylistic development in terms of colour, line, composition and subject matter. Nick Curnow Managing Director and Paintings Specialist at Lyon & Turnbull said:- “This painting represents the rare opportunity to purchase what is widely viewed as a landmark work.”

The picture was exhibited at the Royal Glasgow Institute for Fine Art in 1944, being hung in prime position “on the line” of the viewer’s gaze; a great achievement for a recent graduate. Curnow continued “Enrolling at the Glasgow School of Art in 1940, Eardley studied for a diploma in drawing and painting until 1943; her talents recognized even at this early stage. A review of her end of year show in 1940 noted that her work had “a fine robust confidence”. Interestingly these same adjectives could comfortably be applied to her mature work, making it apparent that her distinctive aesthetic took shape early on.”

Government legislation during the inter-war years demanded that Eardley and her fellow students take up a profession. Like many of her contemporaries, Eardley signed up for teacher training at Jordanhill, only to quickly conclude after one term that it wasn’t a profession suited either to her temperament or her incessant compulsion to paint. To avoid being ‘called up’ she took on a job as a joiner’s labourer. It was around this period that her experiences of the world immediately around her became the focus of her work.

The Mixer Men is likely to depict her fellow labourers at the joinery. It’s clashing yellow and blue Fauvist palette and earthy subject matter has led critics to detect the influence of Van Gogh’s and his early homages to the working man. The heavy limbs and spatial sense of bulk are directly inspired by the work of both Josef Herman and Henry Moore, whom Eardley also highly regarded. Here we see the embryonic development of the same slightly cartoonish proportions that would characterise her later work, an element of realism rooted in its cleverly articulated sense of movement – the weight of the barrow telling in the sagging set of the shoulders and the firm plant of the feet.

A 78-year-old man has been charged with alleged licensing offences after police seized a large quantity of weapons from a business in Edinburgh.

In line with Police Scotland’s commitment to tackling violence, officers carried out a search of a shop in the Leith area on Thursday last week, following intelligence that the venue was selling a number of goods without the appropriate licence.

This activity was undertaken as part of an ongoing operation to target the unlicensed sale of weapons in the Capital.

As a result, 200 items including firearms, swords, daggers, aces and morning stars worth around £40,000 were recovered. These will now be destroyed.

A similar search was carried out at a business address in the city centre on Tuesday 30th April and over £100,000 worth of weapons, were seized.

The man charged following last week’s activity will now be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

Chief Superintendent Mark Williams, Divisional Commander for the City of Edinburgh said: “Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe and reducing the number of victims of violent crime.

“Bladed weapons and firearms are a blight on our communities and the items removed from this store have the potential to inflict serious harm on the public.

“All of these weapons should only be sold by vendors with the appropriate licence and anyone found to be trading without the necessary permissions can expect to be visited by police.”

Man identified following Firth of Forth incident

Police Scotland Edinburgh Division have today named the man who died following a rescue by members of Queensferry RNLI from a capsized dinghy in the Firth of Forth on Friday, as 73 year-old John Dinning from Marchmont.

Police Scotland is appealing for anyone who saw a small boat in difficulty in the Firth of Forth in the area of Hound Point Oil Terminal around 2pm on Friday to come forward.

You can contact Police Scotland on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers on O800555111.

The first images for the new Boroughmuir High School at Fountainbridge have been unveiled today.

Plans for the canal-side site have been drawn up by Allan Murray Architects, and show the new building designed to house up to 1,165 pupils currently at the school’s Viewforth site – less than 500m away.

The school site is marked by the Union Canal to the south, Dundee Street to the north, and Viewforth to the east. The student residencies being built off Gibson Terrace for Napier University mark the western edge of the site.

The plans incorporate:

• teaching areas arranged around a multi-functional ‘heart’, or atrium
• traditional classrooms offering easy access to collaborative break out areas
• enhanced facilities for physical activity and external learning, including a unique roof-top multi-use external games area
• a new public park, along the canal’s north bank, next to the new school building. This will create a vibrant public space next to the waterway and towpath.

Subject to consultation and planning and budget consent, work is expected to start on the new school in summer 2014, with completion scheduled for summer 2016.

Education Convener Councillor Paul Godzik said: “Pupils, parents and teachers have been waiting a long time for a new school, so I’m delighted that we are able to show them plans that bring a vision for the new school to life. I very much look forward to hearing their views.

“Boroughmuir has a first-class academic track record, and the focus is now firmly on delivering a new school that provides an equally impressive learning environment.”

David Dempster, Head Teacher, Boroughmuir High School said:- “I have been lucky enough to get a preview of the building and now have a real feel for what lies in store in 2016. The ‘new’ Boroughmuir High School looks to be shaping up to all we dreamed of – and more!

“Outline designs show a school which is innovative, inspiring and definitely fitting to be our new school.  The building nestles in a beautiful setting, adjacent to the canal-side park with a definite and impressive entrance plaza to welcome visitors.”

Architect Allan Murray said: “This design for Boroughmuir High School retains some of the best aspects of the current school, and seeks to create a welcoming environment with dramatic and inspirational spaces for learning both inside and outside the building.”

To find out more about the new plans for Boroughmuir High, and to have your say, visit the project website.

Edinburgh Polo Club Spring Tournament, Day 2

In complete contrast to the Saturday, Sunday dawned grey and cold (or, at least, it was by one-ish), but dry so the completion of the weekend’s play was good to go.

Carrying forward the scores from Saturday, and with the trophies going to the highest goal tally overall, the first series of chukkas on the field was the round-robin, three team match. First on was Edinburgh 1 v Burnfoot, with Burnfoot carrying a three goal advantage into the match. Burnfoot were first on the scoreboard to extend their lead to four goals but Edinburgh rallied late in the match to score two of their own to leave the final score over the two-day, four chukka match at 4-2 to Burnfoot.

Next match on was Burnfoot v Errol Park. Errol Park were first on the scoreboard with a penalty, to take the scoreline to 3 1/2 to 2, before scoring another three goals to none to win their encounter 6 – 2 1/2.

Last match-up of the round-robin match was between Edinburgh and Errol Park, with Edinburgh ahead 4 1/2 – 1 from Saturday. Unfortunately for Errol Park, they were completely outgunned by an Edinburgh team who were really on their game and failed to add to their tally of one goal. Edinburgh, on the other hand, scored another three goals to run out winners of this match and overall winners of the trophy put up by Edinburgh Polo Club with the top tally of 9 1/2 goals in their eight chukkas over the two days.

The other trophy to be won on the day was contested by Kinross and Piddlesheugh, the two winning teams – much easier to comprehend – from the Saturday. This match was a lower handicap standard than the previous matches, but was no less vigorously contested on the field. Kinross started with a half-goal advantage, which they soon added to, and then went on to take a 3 1/2 goal lead before Piddlesheugh came back with one. Adding another, Piddlesheugh were creeping up, but Kinross scored to stay maintain their healthy lead. Another goal gave Piddlesheugh a bit of hope, but Kinross finished them off to take the match 5 1/2 – 3 and win the other trophy up for grabs on the day.

Final match of Sunday’s play was played out for honours alone as Edinburgh 2 took on The Polo Hunks. Although another low handicap match, this one was also played with a great deal of competitiveness and no little skill. The Polo Hunks held a half-goal advantage at the start and in another see-saw match, they eventually finished off Edinburgh 3 1/2 – 2.

That brought to the end a fine weekend of Polo at Dalmahoy. Scottish Polo isn’t played at quite the same level as that further South, but then it is a completely amateur sport up here. Lacking the ‘patronage’ of the stars and celebrities – most of whom would struggle to tell one end of a horse from the other – the huge pay days aren’t there, but then the game and the participants are so much more approachable and open.

Web – http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photographytoo