Keeping Children Safe – Fire at Craigroyston Community High School – Billy Bragg – Petitions Committee – Edinburgh Reporter Statistics

A thousand primary one school children from 21 schools on the west side of Edinburgh will be learning how to keep themselves safe during a four-day personal safety event in the city. ‘Playsafe’ is a partnership initiative taking place at St George’s School for Girls between June 3rd – 6th and involves Police Scotland, British Transport Police, Scottish Fire Service, Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Scottish Ambulance Servic

Now in its eighth year, the programme, sponsored by Edinburgh Airport, aims to teach children how best to look after themselves in various situations.

The event is a combination of structured inputs and practical scenarios designed to help the children learn by experiencing different realistic situations involving the emergency services.

Police Scotland will give instruction on what the children should do should they find themselves lost from parents or carers and the Scottish Ambulance Service will show the children how best to apply a bandage in case of injury. The Scottish Fire Service will highlight the dangers of fire and the Royal National Lifeboats Institution will explain how dangerous water can be. The British Transport Police will highlight that railway tracks are not suitable playgrounds.

Inspector Andy Gilhooley said:

“Young minds are curious minds and curiosity is part of learning.  However curiosity can often lead young people unknowingly into difficult situations and it’s therefore important that they learn about potential dangers – how to avoid them in the first place but how to get out of them safely if they find themselves at risk of harm.

“The Playsafe initiative is an excellent way for children to see and hear about how they can keep themselves safe and, with the school holidays just round the corner, help them enjoy their holidays to the full.

“We are grateful to St George’s school for hosting this event and to all of our partners in delivering this important learning programme.”

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A fire broke out last night at Craigroyston Community High School which features in our photos today. Photos are courtesy of Mike Lindsay who was on the scene in minutes.

The fire was quickly brought under control.

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‘National treasure’ Billy Bragg plays The Queen’s Hall tonight

No real details as to what the show will comprise but more details about tickets here.

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The Petitions Committee meets at the City Chambers this morning. If you cannot make it along to the public meeting then you can follow proceedings online on the council website. 

There are only two petitions which are valid and which will be considered by the committee this morning. One is the petition to remove religious observance from non-denominational schools and the other is the polar opposite; a petition to retain religious observance in non-denominational schools.

There have been two petitions submitted which are considered invalid largely due to the fact that these matters are being dealt with in other areas of the council. One is the East Craigs Primary School Catchment Area and the other is a petition to Save the House Concerts at No 42 Royal Park Terrace.

You can read the full list of all petitions submitted, successful or otherwise here on the council website.

If you wish to submit a petition, or support one, then the rules and regulations governing this are on this page here.

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Last month was our best ever. We had 63,614 unique visitors and 1,171,990 page views.

Our YouTube channel continues to be popular and the video we made on Friday of the Scots Guards has already attracted 1,398 views in just 3 days. The best yet however is the opening of the Krispy Kreme at Hermiston Gait which has had 4,196 views.

All of this adds up to a lot of work on our part and attention from a large and loyal audience.

If you are in a position to support The Edinburgh Reporter then we would welcome any enquiries about advertising with us. Our advertising is very reasonably priced from £30 upwards. We are keen to ensure that any advertisers can keep control of their own budget and so we have self-service adverts as well as advertising which is tailored to suit the individual business. All our advertising details are here.

But we do need your support to continue our efforts which are many and varied. Find out more on our About Us page.

This week, The Edinburgh Reporter sends our congratulations to Spartans for winning their first trophy in two years and also Hibs for retaining the East of Scotland Shield against Hearts at Tynecastle.

Commiserations go to Spartans Women who lost out to a strong Glasgow City side in the final of the Scottish Premier League Cup.

Rugby by John Preece

It was announced this week that Scotland’s new head coach will be Vern Cotter. The New Zealander is currently the head coach at French Top 14 club, Clermont Auvergne. Cotter was signed up several months ago, but out of respect to Clermont, the capture of one of the World’s top coaches was not announced until after the season’s end. However, Cotter is still contracted to Clermont for the 2013-14 season and will not join formally the Scotland set-up until the end of the coming season. As a result, Scott Johnson will continue in the role as interim head coach before he takes on the role of Director of Rugby. Not ideal, but not a bad sub.

It’s the Women’s turn this weekend to fight to retain their FIRA (the International Federation of Amateur Rugby. It’s French!) Grand Prix status in their Sevens Tour. They have to finish in the top ten of both of the upcoming tournaments – Brive, then Marbella two weeks later – to retain their place and their 2014 ranking, and World Cup qualification, will depend on their final placings.

Edinburgh have lined up two English Premiership teams for their pre-season warm-up matches at the end of August. For the really keen, the first match is against Northampton Saints at Franklin Gardens on the 23rd August. Last season, the Saints travelled up to Murrayfield (photo) and hammered Edinburgh 54-3, so it would be reasonable to expect a similar scoreline for them at home. Here’s hoping Edinburgh can get off to a better start this time around.

The second match is against Newcastle Falcons a week later at ‘a venue to be confirmed’, according to Edinburgh Rugby. This match may well be played at one of the Borders’ clubs, with Murrayfield being held ‘in reserve’ if nothing comes of the plan. Newcastle have recently been on a recruiting drive in anticipation of promotion to the Premiership (successfully anticipated) and a number of former Edinburgh and Scotland players will be returning home, so to speak.

Looming large on the horizon is the draw for the 2013-14 Heineken Cup. Edinburgh will enter the draw in tier three. The tier for each team is determined by maths too probably complicated to go into, but is based on performance over the last four years in the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup. The draw will take place on the 5th June at 2:30pm and will be streamed live on www.ercrugby.com for the terminally dedicated. Edinburgh went through to the semi-finals two seasons ago, but failed to win a match last year. Hopefully, the new coaching team and new players will be able to inspire a better performance in this year’s tournament.

International Football

Six capital youngsters, Bradley Donaldson, Ross Caldwell, Danny Handling and Alex Harris from Hibs  and Jordan McGhee and David Smith from Hearts have been selected for the Scotland Under-20 squad for the SDO Den Haag youth tournament.

The Scots started the tournament in style with two gaols from Handling in the first three minutes against Brazilian club side Cruzeiro at the Kyocera Stadium and eventually ran out 3-1 winners.

The youngsters then played two games on Saturday, losing 1-0 to FK Senika before drawing 1-1 with Club Brugge to set up a semi-final with Mexico.

Edinburgh Football

Hibs amazing record in the East of Scotland Shield continued on Friday night at Tynecastle as the Easter Road Under 17s convincingly beat city rivals Hearts 3-0 to win the old trophy for the ninth consecutive season.

A sizeable crowd saw Hibs take the lead on the half hour mark thanks to a well taken volley from striker Lewis Allan. Jordan Sinclair added a second with a 25 yard free kick before substitute Dominic Docherty sealed victory with a header.

The following day, Hibs fans beat Hearts fans 3-0 in a charity match at Tynecastle.

Off the field, Hearts confirmed that out-of-contract Lithuanian international Arvydas Novikovas will leave the club in the summer. The 22 year-old, who has been capped 12 times, scored three goals in 37 appearances last year, and joins Darren Barr, Danny Grainger, Gordon Smith, Mehdi Taouil, Fraser Mullen and Denis Prychynenko on the list of players who will be seeking pastures new as manager Gary Locke continues his rebuilding programme.

Former Liverpool player Danny Wilson has signed a three year deal with the Gorgie club, and former Rangers star Kris Boyd has confirmed that he has spoken to Locke about the possibility of a contract. Speculation regarding Blackburn Rovers striker David Goodwillie joining Hearts on loan continues.

The club hopes to hear whether Andy Webster will accept a new deal after his contract ran out on Friday.

Earlier in the week, the club unveiled the new home strip for next season which will be made by Adidas. The maroon top is complimented by white bands on the sleeves and the shorts and socks will be all maroon.

Across the city, Hibs confirmed that Welsh international Owain Tudor-Jones has joined the club on a two year deal from Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and on-loan full back Ryan McGivern has accepted a two year contract after being freed by Manchester City.

The pair will join their team-mates when pre-season training resumes on 17 June, only 22 days after the Scottish Cup Final. The club will find out who their European opponents will be when the draw is made on 24 June.

Hibs have announced a four year deal with sportswear brand Nike as the clubs Official Technical Partner.

East of Scotland Football

Congratulations to Spartans who secured their first silverware in two years after beating Berwick Rangers Reserves at St Marks Park on Saturday in the final of the Kings Cup.

Rangers took an early lead when Kenny O’Brien scored from the edge of the box, and although the linesman raised his flag, he was over-ruled by the referee and the goal stood.

Spartans equalised in the 35^th minute thanks to an Ally MacKinnon header from a Kevin Motion cross, then three minutes later Rangers’ Grant McNicol was sent off for a foul on Andy Martin.

The Ainslie Park side took the lead just after the break when once again MacKinnon got onto the end of a Motion cross and headed the ball home from two yards.

With 13 minutes remaining, Jack Beesley found Keith Macleod unmarked on the penalty spot and the striker took a touch before spinning round and firing the ball into the corner of the net.

Berwick had the chance to get back into the game when they were awarded a late penalty, but Josh Morris’s powerful effort struck the post and ended up in the arms of keeper Iain McTurk, who was playing his last game for the club before heading to America to play college soccer.

Women’s Football

Commiseration to Spartans Women who lost in the final of the Scottish Premier League Cup to on-form Glasgow City on Wednesday night at Recreation Park Alloa.

A hat-trick from Ruesha Littlejohn combined with a fine header from Suzanne Lappin and a penalty from City captain Leanne Ross secured the trophy and maintained the Glasgow sides 100% record this season.

The Reporter sends out congratulations to Hibs’ players to Claire Emslie, Caroline Weir and Siobhan Hunter who all won their first caps in Scotland’s 3-2 win over Iceland.

Boxing

Lochend boxers Aston Brown (75kg) and Josh Taylor (64kg) travelled to Minsk with Team Scotland to participate in the AIBA Elite Senior European Championship, arguably one of the toughest boxing tournaments in the world.

Hockey by John Preece

Not so much a round-up as a heads-up. Scotland Men’s and Women’s teams will be in action at Peffermill in Edinburgh on a variety of dates starting on 10 June 2013. Wales, Ireland, South Africa and England ‘B’ (Photo Scotland v England ‘B’) are all coming up to play in some sort of tournament/friendlies/something-not-particularly-well-announced-by-Scottish-Hockey. Fixture details can be sought out on their website here and it is likely that entry will be free, but, again, that has not yet been announced by the SHU. For a fast, exciting, end-to-end sport, it is hard to beat International standard hockey. Only 35 minutes each way, play barely stops moving, and, with the ball travelling at up to, and occasionally over, 100mph, rolling substitutes are essential.

Speedway

The Scotwaste Monarchs lost 5-4 to eventual winners Somerset Rebels in the semi-finals of the Premier Pairs on Friday night in Somerset. This was the first time the Monarchs had reached the semi-final stage since 2002.

The Armadale based team are at home to Redcar Bears on Friday 7 June then return to Somerset the following Tuesday.

The Scottish Defence League laid flowers and held a minutes silence in memory of soldier Lee Rigby who was murdered two weeks ago in Woolwich. The far right organisation held their service outside The Scottish Parliament at 1.30pm on Saturday while United Against Fascism held a counter-protest at the same time also outside the Parliament.

Around 150 SDL members turned up on the day and there were around 300 members of the UAF group. Both sides stood chanting at one another, and both sides waved a variety of flags. Prior to the SDL event starting at 1.30pm The Edinburgh Reporter spoke to Graham Walker, SDL spokesperson and event organiser and you can hear this interview below.

The gallery of photographs from the day can also be seen here.

Guerrilla opera in Edinburgh – Edinburgh MP out to lunch – Leith Neighbourhood Partnership – Cycle for Quarriers – At the National Gallery

Catch a glimpse of beautiful romance in surprising spots as the Edinburgh International Festival’s guerrilla opera series returns

From Tuesday 4 June to Saturday 15 June 2013, the Love in a…. series of opera performances will be popping-up in various public spaces around Edinburgh, as part of the Festival’s year round public engagement programme.

In 2012, the inaugural Love in a Library series charmed unsuspecting audiences with a moving story of unfolding feelings between a librarian and a reader. Building on last year’s pilot project, this June love spreads beyond just libraries, with performances exploring new stories in unexpected places.

Love in a… will enchant with a repertoire of exquisite songs performed by soprano Emma Morwood and lyric tenor Chris Elliott, accompanied by pianist John Cameron.

Exact dates, times and locations will be announced a couple of hours ahead of each performance on their Facebook and Twitter.

Keep an eye on the Festival’s social media profiles for further hints and romantic reminders.

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Sheila Gilmore MP will be attending the Dumbiedykes Big Lunch today to celebrate 50 years since Holyrood and Lochview Courts opened in 1963.

The Big Lunch is a nationwide event for communities to get as many people as possible to have lunch with their neighbours once a year in a simple act of community, friendship and fun

At the Big Lunch Sheila Gilmore MP will present awards to two residents who have are the longest serving tenants in the high rise properties since they opened.

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It is one thing to cycle 50 miles. It is another to cycle it at night…..

Here is the link where you can join in the night time cycle for Quarriers. If only we had not already committed to cycling in Pedal for Scotland….

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The Art Cart is on this afternoon at the National Gallery for ages 4-12.

Free drop-in art activities for all the family led by artists Tessa Asquith-Lamb and Paula Flavell. Each month there’s something new to create inspired by different works from the collection or exhibitions.

Supported by the Friends of the National Galleries of Scotland.

More information here.

An investigation has been launched after a woman was taken from the Carlton Highland Hotel to the Royal Infirmary at round 6.30 am this morning.

Police Scotland have confirmed they are involved in an investigation following an incident during which a female was allegedly assaulted.

A source close to the hotel told The Edinburgh Reporter:- “The incident didn’t happen at the hotel, but the injured woman is one of our staff members. I am not sure how she is or what happened.”

A Scottish Ambulance spokesperson said:- “We attended the Carlton Highland Hotel at around 6.15 am this morning and transported a female to the ERI for further treatment.”

A woman was treated for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in a ground floor flat on Telford Road on Saturday.

It is understood the fire broke out in the bedroom of the property and crews using breathing apparatus and a hose reel extinguished the fire.

A neighbour however required treatment for the effects of smoke inhalation.

We have had some very sad news this week. One of The Edinburgh Reporter’s journalists, Andy Mackie, died suddenly and unexpectedly last weekend.

Andy’s brother James wrote:-“Andy was born on 23rd December 1972 (i’m sure meaning a sleepless Christmas for our parents!!) in Edinburgh.

The family moved to Poltonhall when Andrew was 5 and he lived there for the majority of the rest of his life.

Also Andy enjoyed a great debate about a wide variety of topics from sport (he was a keen follower of Heart of Midlothian), politics, music & many more.

A funeral service will take place at 12 o’clock in the main chapel at Mortonhall Crematorium on Friday 7 June 2013, to which all friends & family are invited.

The procession will stop briefly outside Liberton Rugby Club on route to Mortonhall.

Andy was a member of Liberton RFC and they have their own tributes to him on their Facebook page. In addition Landaff North have an article on their website to publish their own thoughts which you can read here.

Phyllis Stephen said:-“I first met Andy at Edinburgh Napier when I went to talk to the journalism students there about The Edinburgh Reporter and how they might help out. Andy quickly offered to write political articles for us.  He arrived at the office with a really small notebook and pencil, but loads of ideas about who to interview and how to get the story. He had a real gift for writing and a bright future ahead. I am very shocked at the news of his untimely death. Very typical of him is this line from one of his emails to me ‘Just finished my exams today. I can try and grab someone to talk to tomorrow morning.’ He is a real loss to us.”

Fellow student, Gavin Harper, said:-“Firstly, Andy was someone who took time out his day to speak to, and make friends with, everyone on our course and his guidance helped a number of us through tough times.

Secondly, as a budding sports and political journalist, his breadth and depth of knowledge were extraordinary. Whether it be local by-elections of the mid 80s or the Rugby World Cup just past, Andy knew it all.

He was, simply, a great person. A ‘people’s person’ if you will, who will be much missed by us all.”

Another classmate, Steven Robson said:-“Andy was one of the ‘good guys’. Never one to complain about work, but a leader who took pleasure in helping others.

Andy’s work can be seen on The Edinburgh Reporter and also on his own website here.

Thanks to Gavin Harper and James Mackie for the photos.

Police Scotland has praised the overwhelming support from the public, a week on from a murder in Edinburgh.

Mohamed Abdi, 25, died as a result of injuries he sustained after being shot in Abercorn Avenue on Sunday 26th May.

A major investigation is underway to identify those responsible for Mr Abdi’s death and police continue to provide a high-visibility presence in the local area to engage with the community and offer reassurance.

As a result of the continued interaction with the community, officers have received over 130 calls from members of the public across Scotland. The information provided is currently being progressed by the enquiry team.

Officers welcomed the level of support for this investigation and remain keen to speak with others who may be able to assist with their enquiries.

Detective Superintendent Gary Flannigan from the Police Scotland Major Investigation Team said: “Since our investigation into Mohamed Abdi’s murder began on Sunday 26th May, we have expanded the focus of the enquiry from Willowbrae to other areas across the city.

“On each occasion that we’ve appealed to the public for assistance with a new line of investigation, they have responded and furnished us with numerous pieces of information that we are currently going over.

“The information we have received has come from various communities, not just within Capital, and demonstrates the national interest in helping solve this crime.

“We are extremely grateful for all of the assistance the public have given in the past week and would urge anyone else with information relating to this investigation, who has yet to contact police, to come forward.”

Chief Inspector Mark Paterson said: “Community officers continue to provide a presence in areas of interest to this investigation and have spoken with many local residents to offer reassurance, while at the same time trying to obtain information that may be of use to the enquiry team.

“The level of calls we have received is vindication of our commitment to community engagement and the public can rest assured that local officers will remain in these areas to offer further assistance wherever it may be required.

“I would invite anyone with information about this investigation to approach an officer on patrol, contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, make a report via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

The Traverse is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and has just announced its Fringe line-up which includes four world premieres, five UK premieres and one Scottish premieres.

Poppyscotland, the organisation that supports veterans and their families, is gearing up for Gardening Scotland this weekend  as the official charity partner of the 2013 show.

Poppyscotland already has an association with Scotland’s leading gardening event having been involved with a number of exhibits at previous shows and this year the charity will be using the opportunity to remind visitors that its work continues all year round.

A Poppyscotland stand will offer visitors a wealth of information about the charity’s work and how to get involved while veterans with disabilities from Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory will demonstrate the art of poppy-making.

Although best known for organising the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal, the charity needs to raise funds throughout the year to meet the demands on its services from veterans who can struggle with a multitude of complex needs, from physical injury and mental illness to finding secure employment and housing.

Colin Flinn, Head of Fundraising at Poppyscotland said: “We are delighted to be the official charity of Gardening Scotland this year. It gives us an ideal opportunity to tell people that our work in supporting Scotland’s veterans goes on all year round, not just in November. Sadly our services show no sign of diminishing and we must raise money all year round in order to continue to deliver our services. Poppyscotland will indeed be in full bloom at the show and we hope that visitors will stop by our stand to show their support and learn more about our life-changing work.”

Gardening Scotland is the country’s biggest gardening and outdoor living show, attracting 40,000 visitors and more than 400 exhibitors every year. This year’s show runs until Sunday 2 June at The Royal Highland Centre.

Poppyscotland supporters Olivia and Matthew are pictured with the giant panda in one of the show gardens – Five Senses of the Orient Garden, by Ray Howie for Gardening Leave, sponsored by turf firm Turffit.

Photos supplied by Mark Davison / Pro Lens Photo Agency/ PLPA

Young musicians have been spending a year investigating and responding creatively to  recordings and photos found in the School of Scottish Studies Archives at the University of Edinburgh. The seven participants are now raising money to record an album of the music they have developed.

This archive project is a collaboration between the School and Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin, and is supported by Creative Scotland. The  aim is to inspire new people to use the Archives and break down barriers young people and the wider community might have with visiting or using them.

The School of Scottish Studies, established in 1951, houses a treasure trove of fieldwork recordings including traditional songs, music, folklore and stories. The resource is an important asset to Scottish heritage.

Cathlin Macaulay, Archives curator at the School of Scottish Studies said:-“We are keen to bring new users into the Archives, especially young people, and welcome the opportunity to collaborate with Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin.”

Whilst taking part in the project, the participants have been learning about what is involved in being musicians: developing skills such as writing music; playing in a group; teaching; promotion; recording and learning how distribution works. They have also been seeking to take an innovative approach to heritage, whilst also developing a meaningful understanding of the content of the Archives and the context of the recordings.

This approach has taken several diverse forms from creating big arrangements for younger musicians to play; writing songs inspired by anecdotes and recollections of the way people used to live; to experimenting with traditional singing styles and writing new versions of these using words from Gaelic stories.

Participant Paduig Morrison, 16, who studies at St Mary’s  Music School  in Edinburgh, and plays accordion and piano said:- “I have been playing a lot of traditional music and was very interested in learning lots of older stuff as well as newer stuff, and this project gave me the ability to access it”.

He added: “This project is inspiring as younger musicians understand where our music and traditional music comes from and [because] the oral tradition doesn’t exist to the same extent […] and it’s important as these were related to  the songs of our forefathers”.

He believes the project is  an excellent way of passing on the traditions. That through composing new material which is inspired by the old stories, melodies and recordings, ensures  it evolves, keeps it and alive, and promotes an understanding of culture.

As traditional music is all about transmission, part of this project has involved transmitting music discovered in the Archives. This has been achieved by teaching it to younger musicians, EYG’s Big Band. The album being recording will involve a track performed by the Big Band.

As part of the transmission process the participants have also been keeping a blog about what they have been doing. They hope their journey will inspire others.

The album is being recorded in collaboration with acclaimed musicians and producers Mike Vass and Matheu Watson. They still have money to raise in order to bring  quality of recording to the album they feel it deserves. Therefore  they have embarked upon a crowdfunding campaign, offering pre-orders of the album .

The album will be launched at the new arts complex at Summerhall on 29th September of this year. Tickets can be bought through their box office or online.

Cyclist case to be reviewed – Scots Guards – Boroughmuir High School – Proposed Local Development Plan – Gardening Scotland

The Crown Office have confirmed that they will be making an appeal against the sentence handed down to driver Gary McCourt who was convicted of causing the death of  cyclist 75 year-old Audrey Fyfe . Mrs Fyfe was cycling at the junction of Craigentinny Avenue and Portobello when McCourt’s car clipped the back of her bike. Mrs Fyfe died two days later. The sentence of 300 hours community service and a driving ban of five years caused an outcry among cycling groups, particularly when the court was told of a previous offence when McCourt collided with cyclist George Dalgity who also died.

They issued this statement:-“Following careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case against Gary McCourt by Crown Counsel,  the Crown will be lodging an appeal against the sentence on the grounds that it was unduly lenient.

The family of Mrs Fyfe have been kept advised of this decision and we will continue to update them as to any significant developments in the appeal process.”

More than 5000 people have signed a petition demanding a review of the sentence.

Typical of the discussion around the case is this entry on CTC Scotland.

Separately, the council have announced that they will trial the proposed two-way arrangements for cyclists on George Street, and a one-way system on Princes Street. They say that improvements for pedestrians and cyclists will be the centrepiece of the trial which will take place over 12 months.

This has sparked fierce opposition from many businesses according to The Cockburn Association. They have issued a response to the proposals to the city centre changes which you can read here.

The changes aim to create a more accessible, welcoming and attractive City Centre area as part of wider efforts to revitalise the heart of the Capital.

The main proposals to be considered by councillors in a report to next week’s Transport and Environment Committee, include:

• Temporary extension of the footway of George Street and Princes Street
• Accommodation of a two-way cycle route on George Street
• Implementation of a one-way system for general traffic and buses in an east bound direction on George Street
• Implementation of a one-way system for buses, taxis and cycles in a west bound direction on Princes Street
• Minimising loss of parking spaces on George Street, in response to feedback

The developments will sit alongside other improvements taking place elsewhere in the city centre, including the Royal Mile and Waverley Bridge, and initiatives to support extended shopping hours and the move to allow cafes and restaurants on Princes Street. If approved, the changes are scheduled to be introduced shortly before the tram service begins running.

A monitoring and evaluation group will be set up to oversee the 12 month trial.  Evaluation will focus on footfall, passenger use and business revenue as well as satisfaction with the additional space.  The group will regularly review the impact on residents, visitors, business and movement in and around the City Centre and assess the quality provided by different use of space.

Transport Convener Cllr Lesley Hinds said: “The consultation we did showed a clear desire for change but no obvious agreement about the best way forward. I would have been delighted if that was the case but we didn’t get that. However, the status quo is simply not an option. We need to show leadership and create a vision for how the heart of Edinburgh will work in the future and this trial will help us to do that.”

Planning Convener Cllr Ian Perry said: “One clear theme to emerge was that people supported the idea of both streets being more pedestrian-friendly. We also want to improve facilities for cyclists. The changes we’re looking to make are temporary, don’t involve any significant infrastructure works. I remember that opinion was split before we pedestrianised part of the High Street but that too was trialled and has been a great success.”

Economy Convener Cllr Frank Ross said: “We know there are concerns from the business community, among others, about how this is going to be implemented and the potential impact on trade. It’s important to stress that this will be a trial that aims to see how this will work in practice. We have agreed there will be a monitoring group, which will include local stakeholders, to see what lessons we can learn from this trial before making any lasting changes. However I’m sure we can all agree that we need a vibrant City Centre that shows off Edinburgh at its best, attracting residents and  visitors and competing with other major cities.”

A range of consultation methods were used over the six week period to gather views from stakeholders and users. More than 2,000 people contributed to the process.

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The 1st Battalion Scots Guards were awarded the Freedom of the City yesterday on a sun drenched Royal Mile.

The Edinburgh Reporter made a video of the event:-

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The council plans a new high school beside the canal, only 500 metres away from the existing school building on Viewforth. The plans have been issued and now there is a consultation period for the public to have their say.

Public meetings: A meeting for the school community will take place in St. Oswald’s Hall on Tuesday 4 June at 7.00pm. A meeting for local residents will be held on Thursday 20 June, 7.00pm at St Bride’s Community Centre, on Orwell Terrace. This will focus on the external design of the building and how proposals may affect those living close to the school site.

School exhibition: An exhibition will be on display in Boroughmuir High School throughout June.

Library exhibition and ‘drop-in’ sessions: An information display in Fountainbridge Library will in place from the end of May to mid-July. ‘Drop-in’ sessions where you can meet someone informally to find out a bit more about the project will also be held in the library on specific dates in June. More details on the project website.

Other road show events: Drop in sessions are also being organised for a number of other local venues. Details will be available on the project website and posters will go up locally to promote these and schools will be asked to share information with parents.

Full information on all the above events is available on the project website, where it will be kept up to date. Keep checking the website to find out what is on.

The consultation closes on 12^th July 2013, and views can be submitted via email (newSchoolBuildings@edinburgh.gov.uk) or by post:

The Boroughmuir Project The City of Edinburgh Council Level 1:2 Waverley Court 4 East Market Street Edinburgh EH8 8BG

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You have another two weeks to comment on the Proposed Local Development Plan which has been published by the council.

This is the draft document. You can go to the council website to comment.

Ldp Proposed Plan March 2013

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Gardening Scotland has special buses running from St Andrew Square all weekend to take you to Ingliston to mingle with those green fingered experts. As well as gardening advice today International rock piping stars The Red Hot Chilli Pipers will be mixing rock standards with piping classics on electronic bagpipes and rocking the show with their feet-stomping rhythms.

To go along and see some of these music stars in action, click here to book your tickets.

Those who book online can also enter the GreenThumb prize draw for the chance to win a free lawn renovation or a year of free specialist lawn treatment worth £500!

Councillor Richard Lewis convened a meeting of the committee this week with many diverse topics up for discussion, but a couple around cycling, including the approval of the second Sky Ride later this summer.

The committee discussed the sports facilities at Meadowbank  with Cllr Booth of the Green Party requesting information about the formation of a Member officer Working Group. Officers reassured him it would be set up over the next few weeks and then begin community engagement to have decisions made on the facility’s future by September.

The Committee then discussed the Summer Exhibition at the City Art Centre ‘Coming Into Fashion’ – a selection of rare fashion photographs and original magazines from the Conde Nast archives in New York, Paris, Milan and London.  Councillor Munro questioned the entrance fee for the event in a public space, which Museums Manager Frank Little explained would be cheaper than London and other major cities. He also expressed the view that exhibitions would not be possible without  entrance fees while Convener Richard Lewis added that “there’s always that fine balance between access and bringing major shows”.

The Forth Bridge Festival which will celebrate the iconic structure’s 50th birthday next year, have asked for £50,000 from the council to stage a parade and pageant which was duly approved.  South Queensferry Councillor Lindsay Paterson  expressed concern that the event would push the limits of the local area’s facilities and reminded the committee that coordination is needed with the local community council.

Sports investment ‘Activcity’ was the third item and raised questions on how a sport is defined, whether activities outside the mainstream such as yoga and dance were encouraged to apply for funding, and whether sustainable practice was promoted.  The committee were told that their list of activities include Roller Hockey, Martial Arts, fencing and that the Council were looking to work with DanceBase to promote dance.  Councillor Munro suggested international cricket matches by amateur players alongside the Mela Fesival at Leith Links, and the council added that these could take place at the time of the Commonwealth Games next year.

Museum Manager Frank Little explained the Collections Development Policy 2013-2017  as “the fundamental basis of what we do…the heart of our service”, adding that the Policy adheres to the National Accreditation Scheme applying standards to the service and an emphasis on “quality rather than quantity”.

During discussion about the 2013/2014 investment in cycling facilities, Cllr Booth took the focus back to Meadowbank questioning whether there were any plans to make the facilities indoor, rather than outdoor as it is as present, to reduce maintenance.  Cllr Booth also wanted to know if there could be ways of reducing such problems at the proposed cycling hub at Hunter’s Hall Park in the future.  The council officer replied that Meadowbank had received funding, but the infrastructure was of an age. The building will have to compete with other facilities for maintenance as the council is simply unable to  “maintain all the buildings all the time”.   Hunter’s Hall Park unlike Meadowbank, would use concrete instead wood so should be easier to maintain.

Councillor Henderson questioned the accessibility to the local community of the proposed 3G pitch at Balerno High School. Cllr Lewis replied that the “Focus is on accessibility…we do ourselves no favours if we have facilities sitting empty on weekends and evening”.  The council will also look to move sports from easily damaged grass parkland onto synthetic surfaces to reduce damage on poorly drained land, only made worse by bad weather.

A pilot scheme to extend opening hours for museums and  galleries was duly approved.  Frank Little said that public  research proved a desire for Sunday and later opening hours.  The pilot scheme  will involve the City Art Centre and the Museum of Childhood over the summer.  Cllr Lewis added that visitor numbers were healthy and that he was personally excited about more people visiting.

The meeting concluded with approval for a second Sky Ride, the mass city centre cycling event, at the Meadows which Councilor Lewis described as “good news all round” for the city’s cycling aspirations and economic investment.

City of Edinburgh Culture and Sport Committee members are:

Councillors Lewis (Convener), Austin Hart (Vice-Convener), Balfour, Booth, Cairns, Doran, Fullerton, Gardner, Bill Henderson, Milligan, Munro, Paterson, Shields, Burns (ex officio) and Cardownie (ex officio).

Heart of Midlothian (U17s) v Hibernian (U17s)  

Tynecastle Stadium

Friday 31st May, kick-off 6pm

Free admission  

There’s an end-of-season derby at Tynecastle this Friday with the annual playing of the East of Scotland Shield.  Hibs, who lead 61-56 on titles, are seeking to make it 9-wins-in-a-row in world football’s third oldest tournament.

Hearts are out to stop them and get their hands on the silverware for the first time since 2003.  Admission is free and stars of the future are sure to be on show, with the action getting underway at 6pm.

If the teams are tied after 90 minutes the destiny of the historic trophy will be settled by a penalty shoot-out.

Some interesting facts about this competition, we hope you enjoy them.

• It is world football’s third oldest tournament – after the FA Cup and Scottish Cup – and the oldest local tournament on the planet

• Hibs have won the last 8 editions – surpassing the previous records of 6-in-a-row by Hibs in the 1890s and Hearts in the 1920s

• In the overall “title race” Hibs lead Hearts by 61 titles to 56, with 10 victories having gone to other clubs

• Competition began in 1875-76 as the Edinburgh Cup – the first winners were 3rd Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers

• When Hibs won for three years running 1879-1881 they were handed the original cup, which was replaced by the current Shield. This was known as the “Edinburgh Shield” until the Edinburgh FA became the East of Scotland FA in 1888, making this the 125th anniversary of the East of Scotland Shield naming

• The tournament is often cited as being responsible for Hearts and Hibs becoming the two big clubs of Edinburgh – as their 1878 Final went to four replays it captured the public imagination and generated a rivalry between them

• During Victorian times the Shield was open to all clubs regardless of stature: but from 1891 the smaller clubs had to play in a preliminary stage, which was adjusted for 1897 into a qualifying cup, then from 1904 it was for Scottish League clubs only. Since the Second World War the Shield has normally been a single tie for Hearts and Hibs

• Though originally one of the most important competitions in the football calendar, the invention of the League Cup and European football diminished the Shield; and in the last quarter of a century it has been largely played at youth or reserve level. Each year both clubs come to a “gentleman’s agreement” over what players will be used

• Hearts record victory came in the 1880 tournament when they beat Anchor 21-0, and Hibs record competitive win was registered in the 1885 Shield when they beat Emmet 20-0

• Shield’s record attendance is believed to be 26,625 who attended Hearts 3-2 Hibs in the 1946 Final at Tynecastle

A nightclub licensee who allowed customers to continue drinking on his premises, despite being too drunk, has been convicted.

John Allison was found guilty of the licence offence at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday 27th April following a number of alcohol-related disturbances at the former Lava/Ignite club in West Tollcross.

The 45-year-old was the Designated Premises Manager on the 15th October 2011 when a number of patrons exited in an excessively intoxicated state.

As a result, police and ambulance were required to deal with unruly crowds, assaults and medical issues relating to over-consumption of alcohol.

Mr Allison was issued with a £1000 fine and must now declare his conviction to the relevant licensing authority, if and when he is in charge of any other licensed premises.

Inspector Alun Williams said: “Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe and reducing the harmful effects of alcohol.

“There is a common link between violent crimes and alcohol consumption, not to mention the health implications associated with drinking to excess.

“Licence holders have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their staff and patrons and John Allison neglected his duties by allowing overly intoxicated customers to remain within the club in October 2011.

“His conviction was the culmination of extensive partnership work by police in Edinburgh, the Licensing Board, City of Edinburgh Council and other partners to prove that as DPM, he was personally accountable for the events of that evening.

“Alcohol-related crime will not be tolerated and Police Scotland will look for similar convictions against licensees found to be responsible for similar offences.

“The public is asked to assist with our efforts to tackle crimes of this nature by drinking responsibly and ensuring their evening does not end in the wrong way.”

A teenager was arrested yesterday after up to 10 primary pupils at Gilmerton Primary where hit by pellets whilst playing in the school playground at lunchtime yesterday.

Chief Inspector Mark Patterson from Police Scotland said: “We recognise the alarm that has been caused within the community in Gilmerton as a result of this incident, for which an individual was quickly arrested and charged.

“There is nothing to indicate that there is any further risk to the public, nonetheless we have deployed additional patrols in the community today in order to provide reassurance to pupils, parents and staff.

“In addition, our school link officer is working closely with the school community in order to address any continuing concerns as a result of this incident.”

The Reporter understands a 16-year-old male has been arrested following the alleged discharge of a pellet gun.

Four men have been arrested and charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act after Police Scotland recovered Class A drugs in Edinburgh.

Officers carried out a search of a property in the Waterfront area of the Capital yesterday (Thursday) and seized £2500 worth of crack cocaine from within.

The men, aged 28,28,25 and 20, are all scheduled to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday 3rd June.

DI Stuart Harkness said: “Drugs can have a devastating impact on our communities and as a result of police enquiries, we were able to recover this crack cocaine before it could be distributed on our streets.

“Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe and removing drugs from our communities.

“Anyone with information relating to drug crime in their area can contact their local policing team or alternatively, make an anonymous report via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

The 1st Battalion Scots Guards paraded down the Royal Mile today (Friday, 31 May 2013) after receiving the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh to celebrate their return from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The Battalion formed up on Johnston Terrace, where the Colours joined the Parade. The Parade then stepped off at 1100 hrs, marching down The Royal Mile, where the Lord Provost and Regimental Lieutenant Colonel took the salute.

They then marched to The City Chambers, where the Lord Provost presented the Battalion with the Privilege of Edinburgh (Freedom), which was accepted by the Regimental Lieutenant Colonel.

Following the Presentation, the Battalion then continued to march down the Royal Mile with the pipes and drums playing towards the Palace of Holyroodhouse with bayonets fixed as the privilege allows.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Rob Howieson said:

“It is a great honour to be marching through Edinburgh today. We are truly humbled by the Council’s and the people of Edinburgh’s decision to bestow the Privilege of Edinburgh on us.

“The battalion has had a challenging six months in Afghanistan and today’s parade recognises their achievements, giving friends, families, and the people of Edinburgh an opportunity to celebrate their safe return.

“We are extremely grateful for the support we received from the local community all through the tour. Each week we would receive a helicopter-load of letters and parcels from well-wishers across Scotland.

“We were sent everything from woolly hats to chocolate and board games. It was very touching that we were being thought about at a time we were so far from our homes.”

Receiving the ancient honour of the Privilege of the City of Edinburgh now allows 1st Battalion Scots Guards to march in the city with ‘drums beating, Colours flying, and bayonets fixed’.

Police Scotland have confirmed a series of dates and venues across North Edinburgh where local police officers will be holding surgeries.

Local community Police Constables Sarah Hall and Tony Lawrence will be at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre from 7 – 8pm next Thursday 6 June 2013.

Other police drop-in dates for Royston/ Wardieburn are:

Thursday 6th June
Thursday 4th July
Thursday 1st August
Thursday 29th August
Thursday 24th October
Thursday 21st November

Local officers will also hold surgeries in the new community shop in Pennywell shopping centre on the following dates between 10am-12pm:

Tuesday 4th June

Tuesday 11th June

Tuesday 18th June

Pop along and meet your community Police!

A section of the Canongate was closed off as a crime scene this morning following an incident in a flat there resulting in a 53 year-old man being stabbed.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said:- “Police in Edinburgh are investigatin a serious assault on a 53 year-old man. The incident happened around 7.10am today  at an address in the Canongate.”

“The victim has been taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he is in a serious condition.

“Enquiries are ongoing into this attack and anyone who can assist officers with their investigation is asked to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police on the non emergency 101 number or call crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

This is a contributed article

Bikes are synonymous with leisure and recreation but when it comes to business, they offer plenty of advertising power.

Media Gang, one of Scotland’s leading producers of edgy and non-traditional advertising, has seen a gap in the market for a fleet of bike frame adverts that can be installed in any city in the UK, which grabs attention and, most importantly, is affordable.

Media Gang Director, Richard Dietrich said:- “Sometimes it’s not always possible to purchase outdoor media in the right place, at the right time, or at an affordable price. Small to medium businesses come to us enquiring about street level advertising such as 3D Illusion advertising but they do not have the budget. Bike frame adverts are incredibly effective and offer brand exposure that caters to businesses big or small.

Media Gang successfully launched their first UK fleet of impressive bike frame adverts at the Brighton Festival for their client Boost, a juice bar company based in Brighton.

Boost chief executive, Richard O’Sullivan, said: “We were really excited about bringing Boost to Brighton, we knew we had something unique and more than a little bit fruity to offer, so we wanted to reflect this in our highly targeted advertising. The bikes were incredibly flexible and gave our brand awareness an extra BOOST, being located at key events and locations throughout the opening campaign, and helped get Brighton shoppers excited about our opening at Churchill Square.”

Media Gang, based in Edinburgh and London, work with national and international clients that include much-loved brands such as Shell, Sky and Citroen.

For more information about Media Gang visit http://www.mediagang.co.uk

Submitted by Faiza Amjid

Detectives investigating the murder of 25 year-old Mohamed Abdi are seeking information from the public about sightings of vehicles in the Restalrig area of Edinburgh.

In particular they are keen to hear from anyone who saw a VW Sharan, registration plate FT62TFK, and a silver or grey coloured hatchback style vehicle in the vicinity close to a convenience store in Restalrig Road South late on Saturday evening.

Mr Abdi, who had been shot, was found in Abercorn Avenue around 1am on Sunday 26 May. He was rushed to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he died soon after.

The inquiry team believe cars linked to the murder may have been involved in an earlier incident near the Scotmid store in Restalrig Road South.

Det Supt Gary Flannigan of the major investigation team of the Specialist Crime Division of Police Scotland, who is leading the inquiry, said: “We are keen to hear from people who may have seen the dark blue VW Sharan people carrier and the hatchback in that area around 11pm on Saturday.

“I would like people who live in that street or anyone who may have been passing and noticed the cars to contact us.

“The area can be quite busy on a Saturday night with people passing through or heading home and I want them to think if their route may have taken them along that road or through that area. If they recollect seeing either the dark blue people carrier or the hatchback – either together or separately – I would ask them to get in touch.”

Chief Inspector Mark Patterson said:-”People can approach my local officers who are involved in routine patrols in the area. They are there to reassure people who live and work in the area that, while these vehicles were in their locality, there was no evidence of disorder or threat to the local community.

“A large number of police officers continue to carry out high visibility patrols in the Willowbrae area providing reassurance to the local community and addressing any of their concerns. “

The dark blue VW Sharan was found smashed into railings on Abercorn Avenue, in the Willowbrae area of Edinburgh, around 1am on Sunday.

Detectives believe that separate groups of  black men were involved in related incidents in the hours prior to the murder and they continue to appeal for information about a possible disturbance in Captain’s Drive, in the Gracemount area of the city, between 10.30pm and midnight on Saturday.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Police Scotland on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Pupils from Edinburgh’s 11 Fair Trade schools were today presented with a bag of the UK’s first ever Fairtrade crisps in recognition of all their hard work in support a fairer and more sustainable world.

The crisps have recently been launched in Scotland and are made from  a type of banana called plantain which is produced and packaged at source by small land farmers and their families in the Amazon region of Ecuador.

Dario Sepeda, Ecuador European Regional Fair Trade Coordinator, and Juan Diego Stacey, Trade Commissioner of Ecuador in the UK met with the Lord Provost and pupils from Holyrood High School to thank them for their support.

Lord Provost Donald Wilson said:- “It was a real pleasure to meet Dario and Juan, two very hard-working and passionate individuals, and it was fitting that the event was held at Holyrood High School, who played such a big part in supporting this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight.

“Innovative schemes such as this highlight the great work going on to promote and further the Fair Trade cause here in Edinburgh, while having a genuinely positive impact on Ecuadorian farmers and their families.”

Dario Sepeda added: “Working on the production of plantain crisps has helped Ecuadorian families engage in a fairer way of working that supports the natural environment and gives them a better quality of life.

“We are delighted that the products were launched in Scotland which is one of only two Fair Trade nations in the world. The awareness, interest and commitment to the Fair Trade cause by the children and young people we have spoken to from Edinburgh schools gives us hope for the future.”

Plantain Chips is a joint venture by two Fair Trade companies in Scotland, Fair Business Alliance Ltd and Fair Trade Scotland Ltd. These two companies, small but dynamic, have passionately worked to support the campaign to make Scotland a Fair Trade Nation and supported small-holder farmers in Latin America. They believe this new and unique product will diversify the Fairtrade market in the UK and turn more people into Fairtrade supporters and lovers.

Fair Trade plantain crisps comes from 100% organically grown plantains, high in potassium and available in 3 flavours, salted, spicy and natural. They are already being distributed in shops throughout Edinburgh like Earthy, One World Shop and Real Foods and across the UK.

Scottish Borders Historic Motoring Extravaganza was named as best classic car show in Scotland. 

The event has been named the best classic car festival in Scotland by Sunday Times Driving. In the article, the show was named one of the top five in the UK and the only show in Scotland to grace the top ten. The event was described as “Bordering on fabulous”.

In recent years, the show has become a big favourite with families too. As well as several hundred vintage, classic and performance cars, motorbikes, trucks and military vehicles, this year’s show has the largest line up of family activities ever.

Now in its 41st year, the organisers – the Borders Vintage Automobile Club – have been working hard to make this the best show yet. Attractions include a working Rolls Royce Merlin engine, Spitifire cockpit simulator, fun fair, craft fair, food stalls, mini quads, face painting and emergency vehicle displays.

For adrenalin seekers, there will be the opportunity to take a ride in a supercar, sports car or vintage car with the Sporting Bears Motor Club. The Sporting Bears are offering Dream Rides in aid of the Hearts & Minds Clowndoctors charity. You can experience a thrilling 10-mile ride in a car of your choice from a selection of cars including a Ferrari 430 F1 Spider, a 1920 Vauxhall D-Type, a Lamborghini Diablo, a 1928 Lagonda.

Everyone attending the Extravaganza will also get the chance to win the ride of their dreams in the Dream Rides competition.

The show will be celebrating landmark anniversaries for some marques: Bullnose Morris (100th), Aston Martin (100th), Porsche 911 (50th), Corvette (50th), Rover P6 (50th), Triumph 2000 (50th), Hillman Imp (50th) and Lamborghini (50th).

It’s not just lovers of classic cars that will find something of interest. This year, the show has a brand new feature: Old & New Marques. A selection of local car dealers will be bringing a classic old marque and the very latest marque, this will include an Aston Martin DB6 and the new Vanquish, a Jaguar D-Type and the new F-Type 3 litre V6.

And finally, there will be a special guest at this year’s show. Alisdaire Lockhart, from Selkirk, has spent 12 years and £50,000 lovingly restoring Britain’s first sports car to its former glory. He painstakingly tracked down some of the last surviving original parts to rebuild the 100-year-old Vauxhall Prince Henry.

The show this year will be held at Thirlestane Castle, Lauder on Sunday 2^nd June. Gates open at 11am. For further information visit www.vinty.org

Drylaw resident Alex Dale was tonight presented with the Tam Tierney award for good citizenship. Alex has been an active community member in the Drylaw and Telford area for the last nine years.

Alex first got involved with the Drylaw and Telford Community Council in 2005 when he joined the community campaign to oppose the building of more houses in the Drylaw area.

After that Alex was hooked on community activism, and probably puts in more hours now as a community activist as he did when he worked full time.

After the successful campaign to oppose development in the Drylaw area Alex was involved in the steering group that developed the Drylaw & Telford community gardens project, he is an active member of the Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership and sits on a variety of action groups including the city wide Transport group.

Alex is also heavily involved in the Skatepark steering group and he hopes to see the Skatepark built for the young people of North Edinburgh.

After the presentation Alex said:- “I am very honoured and privileged to received the Thomas Tierney award and to join the list previous recipients who have dedicated their time to help the community of Drylaw & Telford. I enjoy the work in do in my community to make the area a better place, I have enjoyed every minute of it and look forward to many years being involved with my community.”

The Tam Tierney award was set up the Community Council after longstanding community activist died suddenly in 1998. The Award was first awarded in 2000 and has been awarded every year since.

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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