A volunteering project in West Lothian has been awarded £6,050 from Central Scotland Forest Trust (CSFT) to deliver a programme of works which supports volunteering activity in the area.

Murieston Environmental Group (MEG) is one of three projects benefiting from a grant of up to £6,500 this year from the environmental charity’s Community Volunteer Fund.

MEG received the funding for its Campbridge Park Restoration project which aims to purchase and plant native trees, and carry out under planting to increase the variety of tree age in the park and limit the effects of the chalara dieback of ash disease.

The project will also create an avenue of fruit trees down to the pond to improve biodiversity and provide an orchard teaching resource and will purchase woodland plants to enhance the woodland floor. Finally path improvement works will be carried out to increase access and safety.

Now in its fourth year, the £18,500 Community Volunteer Fund offers essential support to organisations which aim to improve their local environment and increase volunteering opportunities in the Central Scotland Forest (CSF) area.

Simon Rennie, Chief Executive of CSFT, said:- “Our founding ethos is to improve the lives of the people within the Forest area and we welcome volunteering projects which link to our priorities of creating a better environment, enhancing quality of life, conserving and contributing to cultural heritage and contemporary culture and tackling disadvantage and exclusion.

“This year we have awarded £18,500 to support three organisations in delivering volunteering projects on the ground and we hope that this funding will help them make a real difference in their local communities.

Jonathan Louis, MEG Committee and the Residents of Murieston, said: “It has been a great year for MEG, receiving the funding from CSFT to take care of our woodland and to improve it for future generations.

“The community has come out in force to support our group and take care of the area we live in. It has been truly inspiring working with everyone which was made possible with the help of the grant CSFT provided us. The community of Murieston and the volunteers of MEG can’t thank CSFT enough for its generous contribution.”

The CSFT Community Volunteer Fund was open to registered charities and not-for-profit organisations with experience in developing, delivering and sustaining volunteering programmes within the CSF boundary.

The other groups which received funding from the CSFT Community Volunteer Fund this year include Twechar Community Action in East Dunbartonshire and RSPB in North Lanarkshire.

The 2012 / 2013 fund is now closed for applications.

Submitted by Central Scotland Forest Trust

With a poem specially written and performed by the Edinburgh Makar, Ron Butlin, a speech by the President of the Royal Scottish Academy, Arthur Watson, and a speech by the Lord Provost the Rt Hon Donald Wilson, at an event attended by the great and the good at the City Chambers, Dame Elizabeth Blackadder was presented with the Edinburgh Award.

Dame Elizabeth, a Falkirk ‘Bairn’, lives in Edinburgh, having studied at Edinburgh College of Art and Edinburgh University. Last Christmas she painted the design for the First Minister’s Christmas card, but it is in recognition of all her former work that she has been given this honour, which includes a mould of her handprints in the quadrangle at the City Chambers.

The Award is to honour an outstanding individual who has made a positive impact on the city and gained national and international recognition for Edinburgh.

The award is a cup modelled on two loving cups in the collection at the City Chambers which the recipient gets to keep.

The sixth person to be honoured with the much-coveted Edinburgh Award has received her accolade at the City Chambers tonight. Dame Elizabeth Blackadder, the Queen’s Painter in Scotland, received an engraved Loving Cup at the ceremony, presented by the Lord Provost.

Ron Butlin, the Edinburgh Makar, recited a poem commissioned especially for the occasion.

An impression of her handprints has been immortalised on a flagstone in the City Chambers quadrangle alongside those of previous Edinburgh Award recipients Ian Rankin, JK Rowling, George Kerr, Sir Chris Hoy and Professor Peter Higgs.

Donald Wilson, Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, said:- “I am delighted to present the 2012 Edinburgh Award to Dame Elizabeth, widely thought of as one of Scotland’s finest painters.

“The Edinburgh Award enables the people of Edinburgh to pay a lasting tribute to someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the city, and Dame Elizabeth has done exactly that by devoting her life to the creation of wonderful pictures that delight and inspire all who see them.

“She is a deserved recipient of one of our most prestigious civic awards.”

Arthur Watson, President, Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture, said:- “Elizabeth Blackadder is an artist of rare distinction – the first woman to be honoured as the Queen’s Painter and Limner in Scotland, a member of both the Royal Academy in London and the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh.

“Elizabeth is a painter greatly respected by her peers but more importantly an artist whose works are loved and collected, both originals and in reproduction, by many, many people in Scotland and further afield.”

Ms Blackadder is a Dame of the British Empire. She was honoured in 2011 by the National Galleries of Scotland with a career retrospective exhibition of her work.

The Edinburgh Award decision is taken by a judging panel chaired by the Lord Provost, with representatives from all political groups on the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council and Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.

London 2012 Olympic mats rolled out for major Judo competition at Meadowbank Sports Centre this weekend

After the success of the Scottish Judo athletes and coaches in the London 2012 Olympics Meadowbank Sports Centre – in close collaboration with Judo Scotland and the London 2012 organising committee – have purchased 264 (1m X 2m) brand new Judo mats used during the Olympics.

Douglas Bryce, Chief Executive Officer at Judo Scotland said:  “This is fantastic for Judo in Scotland to have such high quality mats.  Meadowbank is now one of the only two facilities in Scotland that have the London 2012 mats and this is fantastic for the development of our judo competitions in Scotland. Without these quality mats in Scotland these events would not be possible. We are looking forward to working in partnership with Edinburgh Leisure to bring more Judo events to the capital”

Four fighting areas were purchased for use at Meadowbank. These mats where part of the extensive set up at the Excel centre in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games. The mats were shipped up to Meadowbank at the end of last year and will be showcased this weekend at The International Sportif Judo Tournament and training camp.  This is an international Judo event attracting 500 athletes from 13 different nations. Saturday’s  tournament is followed by a training camp on Sunday.

Sportif Judo will present a Dr George Kerr trophy called the GK cup at their event this week. This is a bespoke trophy for this event and will remain a centre piece through the event this weekend.  Dr George Kerr is well known personality in Edinburgh and internationally for his commitment to Judo.  Sportif Judo is a unique organization truly committed to the development and promotion of judo at every level.

Jo Mathieson, Manager at Meadowbank Sports Centre said:- “The arrival of these judo mats is a huge boost to Meadowbank Sports Centre. Our previous judo mats had been purchased for the Commonwealth Games in 1986 and, whilst they had stood up to 27 years of heavy usage, were definitely starting to show their age!

“We hope that this significant investment will bring more Judo and martial arts competitions to Meadowbank. There has been a real buzz around the new mats on site and we can’t wait to show them off to our customers. We are delighted to have our own little bit of London 2012 legacy!”

Police in Edinburgh have seized approximately £21,000 of herbal cannabis following a raid on a property in Kirkliston.

Acting on information received through the charity Crimestoppers, officers raided the address in Main Street, where they made the seizure.

Subsequent enquiries led officers to another address in the Barnton area of Edinburgh, where they seized approximately £10,000 in cash, along with a small amount of cannabis.

As a result of these enquiries, police arrested and charged four people, aged 39, 33, 44 and 49, in connection with alleged drugs offences.  They will all appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Saturday.

Detective Inspector Neil Spowart said: -“This seizure was made as a result of information received through Crimestoppers, and we would encourage anyone with information on potential drug dealers operating in their local community to contact police on 101, or make an anonymous report through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“The Made From Crime? campaign is ongoing and urges members of the public who believe people within their community are profiting from criminal activity to come forward.”

The Edinburgh Reporter spoke to Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone about Made from Crime? at the launch in January.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wloUEzX4oFI]

Cairn Energy had raised an action against all the various entities of Greenpeace it could possibly think of, to permanently prevent the activists carrying out any further protests against it in Scotland.

In 2011 around 40 people dressed as polar bears invaded Cairn’s offices to promote their protest against Cairn’s activities in drilling for  oil in Greenland, the Arctic and the North Sea.  They appeared to be looking for Cairn’s oil spill response plan in particular when they went through papers in the oil company’s offices.

The court heard that the protesters “ran amock through the offices, occupying the fifth floor office space and the fourth floor vestibule, ransacking rooms and desks and rifling through cabinets. They caused a nuisance, preventing the petitioner and its staff from engaging in the lawful conduct of their business. They occupied the reception areas and interfered with the phone systems. Some of them chained themselves to desks. As a result, the petitioner and its staff were severely inconvenienced and disrupted and the staff had to vacate areas of the office and eventually had to go home on the direction of the police.”

Lord Glennie has now issued his judgement which refuses the request from Cairn to prevent any future protests by one of the Greenpeace entities, STICHTING GREENPEACE COUNCIL, which is commonly known as Greenpeace International,(GPI) and render them illegal, notwithstanding that an interim order was granted at the time of the initial demonstration.

Two of the other Greenpeace entities, Greenpeace Ltd and Greenpeace UK Ltd have already given assurances that they would not carry out any further actions against the Edinburgh oil company, but Cairn had particularly wanted a permanent interdict against GPI as they consider them to be behind all of the activism. Greenpeace UK has complied with the court order to remove all photos of the protest from their website.

Cairn’s request for permanent interdict was refused and the matter of expenses remains to be settled.

The opinion is online.

Edinburgh Award – Cricket Pro Series – Science and Independence – Photography Competition – Edinburgh Fun Run  

Dame Elizabeth Blackadder is to receive the Edinburgh Award later today at the City Chambers. The Edinburgh artist has now had a mould of her handprints set in a flagstone in the quadrangle at the City Chambers, along with those of all others who have received this prestigious award.

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Cricket Scotland has just announced the launch of the new Pro Series competition for 2013. The enhanced structure replaces the existing Cricket Scotland Regional Series and will provide a stronger and more sustainable platform for the establishment of domestic professional cricket in Scotland.

The two new “Pro Teams” will feature Scotland’s very best players, including all fourteen Scottish based players who are centrally contracted by Cricket Scotland. Details of support staff and playing squads will be announced in the near future.

Over the course of the season the teams will play a series of matches against each other in all three formats, with the complete schedule shown below.  The schedule includes a minimum of two three-day matches, five one-day games and three T20’s. This represents a significant enhancement on the previous regional series. More details on the first match at Myreside on 28 April 2013 and how to get tickets here.

Will independence affect Scottish science and innovation?

Science and industry leaders to debate at the Edinburgh International Science Festival

Scotland’s scientific research is highly regarded, but we struggle to translate this knowledge-base into a profitable, high-tech, industrial economy. So could Scottish science and innovation benefit from independence, or even so-called ‘devo-max’?

A debate on Scottish science, innovation and independence will take place on Monday 1 April as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival and is organised in association with The ESRC Innogen Centre.  Scottish Science and Innovation brings together leading voices from science and industry to put forward and justify both sides of the independence debate and explore the futures they envisage for Scotland.  Speakers include Prof Hugh Pennington (Chair of Bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen), Iain Gray MSP representing a ‘Better Together’ standpoint, Colin Macilwain (Editor of the science policy newsletter Research Europe) and Allan MacAskill (Director of Scottish Renewables) representing a pro-independence standpoint. The debate will be hosted by BBC Scotland Science Correspondent Ken Macdonald.

With the date now set for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, debate on its implications for Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom is now in full swing. Opinions are sharply divided on how Scotland’s scientific research, technological innovation and future economic success would be affected by a yes or no vote next September.

Would our innate creativity be unleashed, enabling us to reach new heights of innovation-based prosperity, or would we struggle to maintain our present position? These very important questions do not currently feature highly in public debate on independence, although they are beginning to be hotly contested among academics, industry and government bodies in Scotland and Westminster.

Speaking in advance of the Scottish Science and Innovation debate, Innogen’s Scientific Advisor, Prof Joyce Tait said:  “Science and innovation will be the foundation on which the prosperity of a future Scotland will depend. And yet they have a low profile in the public debate about independence. In hosting this event we intend to make people think more deeply about these issues in the run-up to the referendum.”

Prof David Wield, Director of the ESRC Innogen Centre, further commented: ”The Scottish science base is currently very strong, but industrial research and development is less so, with relatively weak performance in science-led industry. Could independence change that, for good or ill? I’m very much looking forward to the views and insights Monday’s debate will provide on these issue that are crucial to Scotland’s future.”

Scottish Science and Innovation will take place at 8.30pm on Monday 1 April 2013, at Teviot Row.   Tickets are £8/£6 and available from www.sciencefestival.co.uk or through the Box Office on 0844 557 2686.

This year the Edinburgh International Science Festival celebrates 25 years of introducing audiences of all ages to innovative and entertaining science and is marking the occasion with a diverse programme of events over the next 10 days until Sunday 7 April.  The 2013 Science Festival looks forward to the next 25 years and invites visitors to explore the future of our lives, our cities, our food, our play, our medicine, our challenges and our world.  Full details of the 2013 programme can be found at www.sciencefestival.co.uk.

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Edinburgh Outdoors are running a photography competition this month. You can find out details about how to enter here but you need to take a photo in one of the many parks that the council manage and send it in to them. You can do this on Twitter by using the hashtag #edinparks, but the website also gives you other ways to enter. You might remember that Edinburgh Outdoors is also an app and we interviewed Sally Kerr at the council to find out about how to use it.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PLFlGkRTX0]

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The Edinburgh Fun Run is not until 28 July 2013 so you have plenty of time to get fit before then, but if you enter now then you could get 2 for 1! More details here. 

Scotmid Warrender Park wins prestigious retail award

A Scotmid store in Marchmont has been crowned the best multiple store in the UK, after undergoing a complete refurbishment to improve the shopping experience for customers.

The Scotmid store, on Warrender Park Road, won the accolade at the Convenience Retail Awards, which is the industry event of the year.

Scotmid Warrender Park was completely modernised inside and out last year, with a host of new services including an in-store bakery, artisan bread from The Breadwinner Bakery, a fresh orange juicer and Costa Express. The store has also been improved by introducing more products from local suppliers, a larger fresh fruit and vegetable range, whole foods, wider aisles, a bigger and better chilled foods selection, and extended opening hours.

Kimberley Guthrie, Director of Marketing for Scotmid said: -“We are thrilled to have won this award and to see Scotmid Warrender Park recognised as the best store of its type in the UK by the industry. Our customers absolutely love the new-look store and their response to the new products and services has been fantastic. We’re looking forward to modernising more of our stores in the same format, with the same emphasis on fresh produce, local suppliers and services to make our customers lives a bit easier.”

HARDIES PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS CELEBRATE 100 YEARS IN BUSINESS

It’s a landmark year for Hardies Property & Construction Consultants who celebrate 100 years in business in 2013.

Based in their new Edinburgh Headquarters at East London House, East London Street, the firm, a Limited Liability Partnership with ten Partners, is Scotland’s largest multi-discipline surveying firm.

Established in Fife in 1913 by John Gordon Hardie, the firm has survived two World Wars, several Wall Street crashes and numerous highs and lows in the British economy. They now have fourteen offices in Scotland stretching from Fife, Lothian and Tayside to Glasgow, Paisley and the West of Scotland. Galashiels covers the Scottish Borders, Aberdeen the north east of Scotland and in Dundee they merged with WJR Christie & Partners who retain their well known trading name in Tayside. Altogether, Hardies employ ninety members of staff, with fifty eight professionally qualified in various disciplines.

The company has moved with the times starting as a Quantity Surveying practice to now offering a one stop shop of specialist services in the property and construction sector including:

· Project Management

· Property Valuations

· Quantity Surveying

· Building Surveying

· Clerk of Works

· CDM-C Co-ordination

· Dedicated Health & Safety Department offering training courses and specialist advice to other companies

Hardies has constantly invested in its staff to remain ahead of the competition. Recent additions to the team include Kate Bilbrough from East Lothian who is a new Associate in the Building Surveying Department. A specialist in the management of framework agreements for public sector clients, both for building surveying consultancy services and multi disciplinary services, Kate has extensive experience in conservation projects on Listed buildings and is heavily involved in the Central Scotland branch of Women in Property, having served as both Vice Chairman and Chairman.

Her current role sees her concentrating on a number of new projects for Hardies as the firm continues to raise its profile in the Capital, including a feasibility study for the repair or replacement of enormous roof lights on the roof of the National Museum in Chambers Street and external fabric repairs to an A listed building in Edinburgh City Centre.

Heading up the new Health & Safety Department is Mark Macpherson RMaPS, a Senior CDM Coordinator and Health and Safety Advisor. Providing a host of specialist services designed to reduce construction site accidents; improve safety plans and offer training and management courses, one of the new department’s main roles is to assist local struggling contractors and turn them around to achieve greater profitability with a professional Quality, Safety and Environmental system going forward.

Said Mark: “We are very pleased to bring this new department to the marketplace. The many changes in health and safety legislation over the years is in fact an excellent benchmark of how much our role has developed over the centuries from starting off as a Quantity Surveying firm in 1913 to now providing a wide range of services in property and construction including very specialist health and safety roles seen in this new department.”

“The market has been challenging for a while now and our services have to remain extremely competitive and industry relevant,” he said. “This new department is one such example and opens up exciting new avenues.”

Other topics covered by Mark’s Department include Risk Assessments; Tool Box Talks; Accident Near Miss Reporting & Investigating, Building Manuals; Operation and Maintenance Manuals and Site Safety Auditing. Mark also tutors adults in construction skills. Hardies are now offering the SMSTS and Safety Awareness training packages to the Construction Community under the Construction Skills banner.

Commenting on these key appointments, Derek Ferrier, Hardies Managing Partner said: “We are delighted to add Kate and Mark to the team, both members of staff with considerable expertise in their fields. Both are important new resources for Hardies, investments for us which will considerably strengthen our team. Kate gives us a strong competitive edge when it comes to framework agreements for public sector clients. She also brings to the table a strong track record in service delivery initiative for quality and programme and client relationship management. Mark offers a specialist department which is industry relevant and covers the whole of the country.”

Added Derek: “Despite economic conditions remaining challenging for our sector we have seen the need to continue to recruit the correct people, such as Kate and Mark and others who have recently joined our team, to work with us. We have also prepared for the upturn by expanding into the West and North East of Scotland to widen our geographic reach and make us sharper and more competitive.”

A few months ago Hardies Edinburgh moved to its new modern and open plan premises in the capital. As Derek explained: “This open plan office suits us perfectly and reflects our team work approach. As Scotland’s Capital it has always been very important to us to have our Headquarters here in Edinburgh – we also have an office in Dalkeith and both offices work very closely together.”

“We have been very fortunate to have been involved in a number of high profile leisure and conservation projects in the Capital and Lothians such as the £7 million Tigerlily Hotel and Lulu Nightclub in George Street; the state of the art Penicuik Centre; the £8 million Dovecot Tapestry Centre and the £5 million Water of Leith Walkway and river valley conservation works.”

Hardies has also been involved with community facilities such as the Out of the Blue Arts Centre in Leith. At the moment the firm is also helping registered charity The Himalayan Centre Edinburgh (HCE) create a Community and Cultural Centre on the site of the old Dr Bells Swimming Pool.

Now at tender stage, all three of the grant and funding applications submitted by HCE, with the assistance of Hardies, have been successful. Hardies have already been appointed to carry out all design work on the historic Grade B listed building together with CDM Co-ordination services and will also be fulfilling the role of Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors in the challenging refurbishment venture.

But it has been their assistance with funding applications which has played such a vital role for Gopal Lama, the Principal Director behind the project, and the other Directors. He said: ”We are delighted that our funding applications have been successful- it’s a major step forward and I cannot stress what a help it has been having Hardies’ in depth knowledge of this sector to help us with the application. Without their assistance we may not even have applied for the correct grants or known where to start!”

Said Derek: “We have clients in both the private and public sector. In Midlothian we have played a key role in the largest council housing project for 30 years, providing 800 new build homes at seven separate sites on time and on budget.”

Not forgetting one of its core businesses in Residential and Commercial Valuation Services, Hardies one of the original founder members of “First Surveyors Scotland”, a network of firms providing full postcode coverage of Scotland. Hardies operate the call centre on behalf of First Surveyors Scotland.

“We are very proud of First Surveyors Scotland and believe that John Gordon Hardie, our founder, would be too, as it has helped spread the Hardies name nationally as a byword for quality surveying,” said Derek.

Hardies has a number of events planned to celebrate its 100th Anniversary in 2013 including a reception on 28 March 2013 in the Queen Anne Room at Edinburgh Castle. Later in the year Edinburgh City Council will be hosting a special congratulatory reception for the firm.

“It is a great achievement to reach 100 years in business in these trying times,” said Derek Ferrier. “I would like to thank all partners and staff for their hard work and dedication over the past few years – we are well equipped for the future and our “one stop shop” approach serves the market and our clients very well.”

Hardies serve clients in both the private and public sectors with a complete consultancy service in property and construction development, including property valuation, building and quantity surveying and project management. The firm also handles the leasing and sale of commercial and industrial buildings; CDM Co-ordination, the provision of Energy Performance Certificates and Health and Safety Construction Management

Further details www.hardies.co.uk

This article is a sponsored advertorial

Iraqi writer Hassan Blassim read from his second book The Iraqi Christ, which was followed by a lively discussion, at Summerhall last night. Blassim is known as ‘The Iraqi Kafka’ in his adopted country Finland, and has been called the ‘Best writer of Iraqi fiction’ by the Guardian.

The venue at the former Royal (Dick) Veterinary College was full to capacity, and Middle Eastern food was provided at the free event. Blassim himself spent some time outside for fresh air, and chatted about his taste for bright colours and painting his shoes bright green in a moment of boredom. At the end of the evening he signed copies of his book, which is also available on the Internet.

Blassim read from the title story of his short story collection of fiction, reading in Arabic, with an English translation on screen for the audience. He then answered questions in an English which was advanced, considering he has only been learning it for the past two years. A translator was present but rarely used.

The controversial story about a suicide bomber in Iraq known as Christ, ties together his aim of storytelling as expressing the human angle with his experiences of violence. He said: – “I am interested in what happened to people, and how the war affects people.”

The story was a dark and troubling expression of humanity through the interplay between a bomber, the tenderness of a son towards his mother and the universal identification which makes the unimaginable real.

His writing he said is inspired by the war, as well as literature, film and music. He has been influenced by Tarantino and the violence which he witnessed in his homeland.  South American literature and its “similar problems with dictators” is also important to him.

He explained:-“The writing is important because the war affected people in a way which is not portrayed by the media. The Iraqi people want to know.  We don’t know anything, only from Western media, no music or literature.  I believe culture is a way for people to understand what happened, and to understand Iraq’s problems. Violence is one of them, but also religion mixed in with money and oil and corruption.”

Blassim said that people were not happy with Saddam’s regime, nor the invasion, and that the people themselves were powerless”to change things because of power from outside. At the moment he said: – “All the TV are controlled by the militia and the political parties make people think they are free, but many people die every day. They say it’s al Qaeda,  they use it to blame all the problems on.”

It has been a long journey for Blassim, to be able to express himself creatively, since he walked from Iraq into Eastern Europe. Blassim had to flee Iraq due to controversial views in his work, and is currently living in Finland. He said he has been advised by friends not to return to Iraq. He said:-“I left Iraq for safety reasons. Returning to my homeland would be a real threat as my friend Hadiel Mahdi, a radio presenter, whose views were seen as controversial was shot at his house by Iraqi security forces. Hadiel had wanted discussion for our country, he talked about government corruption, he asked normal questions about Iraqi people, like where does the oil money go? To the militia and mafia.”

Blassim has won numerous awards in Iraq for his films, and his current book has so far been translated into five languages. However he is modest about his achievements, and doesn’t feel the praise. He said: – “When you write you feel scared, it’s like the first time and you learn everything again. As a result of the positive reviews, I am able to access funding in Finland to continue my work. I want to continue making films for now.”

Blassim concluded by saying: – “The Iraq War destroyed many things, but culture never dies because you can’t kill hope. We have wonderful culture in Iraq, we never have a chance to show this beautiful face, but we people think it is great. We want to share our thoughts, our humanity.”

The event was part of the Iraqi Reel Festival which took place in Edinburgh between 16 and 25 March and across Britain.. For more information visit the website.

US running craze, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon is set to return to the capital on 14 April 2013 as over 5000 rocked up runners take to the streets of the capital for an exhilarating race set to an explosive live soundtrack from 13 of Scotland’s top up and coming acts.

With just under a month to go until race day, Glasgow band Franco has just been announced as the headline act for the main stage in Holyrood Park at the FREE festival finish line party while a host of exciting acts from around the country will line the race route keeping runners and supporters entertained throughout the race.

Organisers are encouraging music lovers to come along to soak up the festival like atmosphere while checking out some of the country’s most promising up and coming live acts including Campbell’s Wild, Hello Frisco, Madison, Jim Black & Mark Patterson, Rab Burns, Pirate Sons, Gonzo a Go Go, Size Queen, Rolled Up 20s, The Boston Tea Party, Vantage Point and DJ Iain Waugh.

From indie rock from Campbell’s Wild and country rock ‘n’ roll from Hello Frisco through to heavy metal from Vantage Point and dirty garage rock ‘n’ roll from the Pirate Sons, the band line up has something for everyone and is guaranteed to keep runners in high spirits as they tread the streets of Edinburgh.

Event Director, Shannon Davis, said: “We set the bar really high last year showcasing performances from some amazing local bands and we’re sure this year’s acts are going to absolutely smash it on race day.

“We were overwhelmed by the number of bands who got in touch with us expressing their interested in getting involved in Rock ‘n’ Roll; we had a really difficult job in narrowing it down to just 13 but we’re really excited to have these amazing bands on board.

“There is still time to sign up to take part in the race and be part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll experience but if you don’t fancy getting your running shoes on, we definitely encourage people to come down to cheer on the runners and enjoy the brilliant live line up we have planned.”

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon offers a fun alternative to fitness by fusing music and running to create an event that is perfect for both competitive runners and people who are looking to experience the festival-like atmosphere whether they’re running, walking, jogging, dancing or just coming along to cheer participants on.

In addition to the amazing line up of bands performing on the day, sponsors of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon will also be on-site including Official Footwear sponsor Brooks which will be offering runners and spectators free Gait Analysis to ensure new and seasoned runners alike are fitted in the proper running shoes ahead of their next run.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon will start and finish in Holyrood Park, making a loop around the city centre taking in some of its most beautiful views including the Meadows, the Mound, the Queen’s Palace at Holyrood, and the Scottish Parliament building. The final stretch travels down the Royal Mile with a glimpse of Arthur’s Seat in the background. Runners will also enjoy views of Edinburgh Castle while running throughout the city centre, and the Firth of Forth as they pass along the seaside stretch on Portobello Promenade.

Entry is now open for the 2013 Rock ‘n’ Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon with registration available for £39 The registration fee also includes an official Brooks Technical t-shirt, course support, finish line snacks, live course and finish line entertainment and one of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s highly coveted finishers medals.

The Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon Series was founded in San Diego in 1998 and is the world’s largest running series. The race concept fuses music with running to create a high energy series of events that annually attracts more than 500,000 runners a year, both serious and those looking to have fun, and has raised over $267m for charity since its launch.

Submitted by Elisa Dunn

The officer tasked with overseeing the transition from Lothian and Borders Police to Police Scotland has spoken to The Edinburgh Reporter of his pride at being named the new Divisional Commander with responsibility for the policing of the City of Edinburgh.

On his first day at his new office, Chief Superintendent Mark Williams took time out of his busy schedule to outline his determination to provide a professional service to the residents of the capital, and highlighted public safety as his number one priority, vowing to target those who engage in criminal behaviour.

Mr Williams will be working fromm St Leonards, a station he knows well having started as a constable on the beat twenty years ago, rather than the current headquarters at Fettes.

As of 1 April 2013, Lothian and Borders Police will no longer exist, but will instead become part of Police Scotland, a single force which will cover the whole country. This will be the biggest change to policing since amalgamation in 1975, but Chief Supt Williams insisted that members of the public would be unlikely to witness any immediate changes.

Although the old Lothian and Borders logo will be replaced by that of Police Scotland; the rebranding of uniforms and vehicles will be a gradual one.

The many community officers who respond to local problems and have built up knowledge of their respective areas will remain in post, however they will be supported by a number of new units, specialising in the investigation into certain types of crime.

An Alcohol and Violence Reduction Unit will provide a physical front line policing team which will be based at the West End Police Station in Torphichen Place near Haymarket, but will have a force wide responsibility, as will the Domestic Abuse Unit, which will initially be housed in the Gyle, although plans are on-going to move to a more accessible station in the future.

This unit will target perpetrators of domestic abuse, a subject which Mr Williams was particularly keen to highlight, insisting that the victims deserve the protection of the police and that the abusers will have no hiding place.

A new Sexual Offences Unit will oversee all rape cases and those involving other sexual crimes, providing a dedicated professional approach from officers experienced in the investigations of such matters, whilst a Community Investigation Unit will pro-actively target other crimes such as housebreaking.

The Roads Policing Unit will operate throughout the city and be responsible to Mr Williams who can deploy the specially trained officers appropriately to target driver behaviour and make the roads as safe as possible. A National Trunks Roads Policing Unit will patrol the motorways and dual carriageways such as the M8, M90 and City Bypass.

Mr Williams was keen to point out that Lothian and Borders Police had always focussed on these crimes, however he hoped that the restructuring would allow a real focus and provide a renewed vigour to make serious inroads to the problems.

He accepts that he will be held accountable by the people of Edinburgh as to how well his officers have performed and looks forward to the scrutiny, and also providing transparency, claiming that the public have a right to know such details.

A Policing Plan for the capital will be published later this month, and the force priorities will mirror the finding of a recent survey of 3000 residents throughout the community. One thousand people responded to an on-line survey, whilst 1800 were questioned face to face on the street. Two hundred members of the business community also took part.

The subjects identified from the survey include personal safety, anti-social behaviour, road safety, drugs and alcohol abuse and serious and organised crime.

Here is the video we made at St Leonard’s Police Station featuring interviews with both Chief Superintendent Williams and Superintendent Matt Richards

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzstSlXHH5k]

An all-star concert to herald the opening of the Ryder Cup, a huge flotilla to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Forth Road Bridge, Europe’s biggest brass band festival and a thrilling re-enactment of the Battle of Bannockburn are just some of the spectacular events that will form Scotland’s 2014 Year of Homecoming, it was announced today.

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

First Minister Alex Salmond officially unveiled the first phase of the year-long programme of events at Hopetoun House, near South Queensferry, alongside Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland.

Around 100 events were unveiled at the launch, with hundreds more expected to be unveiled over the next few months. This includes many new events, established events which will have a new homecoming element for 2014 and those that have joined through the partner programme to benefit from in-kind marketing. The five themes for Homecoming 2014 – active, food and drink, creative, natural and ancestry are all represented.

Brand new events include the John Muir Festival in East Lothian to herald the opening of the John Muir coast to coast route, the Forth Bridges Festival to mark its 50th anniversary, a spectacular Ryder Cup Opening Concert, the Findhorn Bay Arts Festival in Moray, the World Sheepdog Trials in Tain and the European Festival of Brass based in Perthshire.

An events fund of £3m will provide a stunning all-year-round programme of activity to complement the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games and it will be backed by a £1.75m marketing campaign by VisitScotland which will promote Homecoming 2014 at home and abroad.

The First Minister said:- “Scotland is preparing to welcome the world during our second Year of Homecoming in 2014.  Next year, people from all across the globe with Scottish connections – and those without – will come to our country to celebrate with friends and family and enjoy the huge programme of events that I am delighted to unveil today.

“Fantastic expressions of culture such as Europe’s biggest brass band festival will sit alongside the exciting commemorations of the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn and a variety of celebrations of Scotland’s heritage, history and food and drink in a 12 month schedule that truly does offer something for everyone in every corner of the country.

“We are already preparing to stage two of the largest sporting events on the planet during 2014, and with the packed programme of events being announced today – and many more in the pipeline – there really couldn’t be a better time to plan a trip to Scotland and join in the fun.”

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said: – “With the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, the eyes of the world will be firmly on Scotland in 2014. Next year’s Homecoming will position our country as dynamic and creative with a rich history and culture.

“The exceptional events unveiled today will celebrate everything that is great about Scotland and will ensure that the world will receive the most spectacular of welcomes in 2014.”

Here is the full list of events taking place in 2014 across Scotland.

Homecoming Events by Phyllis Stephen

Police in Edinburgh have now confirmed the identity of a man who died after being found injured in Inverleith Row yesterday afternoon.

He was 32-year-old Mark Paterson from Dalkeith.

Mr Paterson was carrying out work on a window when he fell to the ground at the rear of the property.

The BBC reported this story yesterday afternoon.

Asian Braveheart dress to storm New York catwalk

A WARRIOR outfit created by a Scottish student is set to take the New York catwalk by storm.

Inspired by the dress of ancient Highland and Chinese warriors, the ensemble, designed by Edinburgh Napier University student Charlie Jennings, will make its fashion debut at the glamorous From Scotland with Love (FSwL) fashion show on 8 April 2013.

Organised as part of Tartan Week – the Big Apple’s annual celebration of all things Scottish – the event will see a host of celebrities including film-star Gerard Butler, Scotland rugby player Richie Gray and actor Mike Myers, sashaying down the catwalk.

Charlie (20), a second year Graphic Design student, designed the outfit for a competition run by the University’s School of Arts & Creative Industries.

As part of his prize, he will spend a week in New York shadowing award-winning couture fashion designer, Michael Kaye, who has been dubbed “The Titan of Tartan”, due to his love of the fabric.

Charlie, who is from North Berwick, said:- “I can’t believe I am off to New York, I think it is still sinking in! To get the chance to work with someone like Michael Kaye is an amazing opportunity and I hope I can put my skills to good us as well as learn more about the industry.”

Charlie’s “Scottish lion meets Asian dragon” themed outfit mixes laser-cut leather with the Edinburgh Napier University tartan. The unique ensemble is made up of a cropped tartan bodice, scale patterned leather-look skirt and dragon tattoo sleeve.

“The dress takes on two sides of Scottish and Chinese history and reflects ancient warrior outfits of the two nations,” Charlie said. “I took inspiration from Chinese armour and the traditional dress worn by Celtic warriors. The skirt is made up of different panels, with some sections given a scaly pattern in order to reflect the Chinese dragon.”

Professor Dame Joan Stringer, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University said :-“This event is a unique opportunity for our students to get hands on work experience. Edinburgh Napier students are amongst the most employable in the UK and this is an ideal platform to showcase the University’s creative talent. We are very proud to be a part of From Scotland with Love and the wider Tartan Week celebrations.”

Photo Lesley Martin

PRINCE OF WALES CELEBRATES YOUNG PEOPLE’S ACHIEVEMENTS AT STAR-STUDDED CEREMONY

Naomi Johnston, 27, from Leith won the Mappin and Webb Young Ambassador of the Year Award after overcoming homelessness, a violent attack and a chaotic lifestyle to become a Prince’s Trust Young Ambassador and using her own experiences to inspire and support other young people.

HRH The Prince of Wales was joined by a host of celebrities yesterday, at The Prince’s Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards, which recognised young people who have overcome issues such as abuse, drug addiction, homelessness and depression.

Dame Helen Mirren, Homeland star Damian Lewis and Luther actor Idris Elba were among guests gathered at London’s Leicester Square Odeon to pay tribute to young people who have transformed their lives with the help of youth charity The Prince’s Trust.

Dame Helen Mirren DBE said:- “All the young people here today are truly inspirational. Their remarkable stories have blown me away. Naomi has overcome a great deal and I feel very privileged to have met her and presented her with this Prince’s Trust award. She has shown that with resilience and hard work you really can reach your potential and be an inspiration to other young people.”

Justin Stead, CEO of Mappin & Webb, said:- “I would like to offer my most heartfelt congratulations to Naomi for winning the Mappin & Webb Young Ambassador of the Year Award. She is a fantastic Young Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust and I wish her every success in the future.”

Television presenters, Ant & Dec hosted The Prince’s Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards in front of the youth charity’s founder and president, HRH The Prince of Wales, and a 1,500 strong audience.

Other stars in attendance included rapper Tinie Tempah, producer Mark Ronson, actor Sam Claflin, presenter Laura Whitmore, actress Helen McCrory, interior designer Kelly Hoppen, and journalist Katie Adie OBE.

Athlete Victoria Pendleton attended having been earlier presented with a CBE by HM The Queen at Buckingham Palace. Laura Mvula, BRITs Critics Choice Award 2013 nominee, also performed at the event.

Youth charity The Prince’s Trust helps disadvantaged young people to get their lives on track. It supports 13 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion. Three in four young people supported by The Trust move into work, education or training.

Samsung and The Prince’s Trust are now calling on local people to raise money to help more young people like Naomi. Text TRUST RED to 70555 to donate or visit www.samsunggoesred.co.uk to find out more*.

Fear is a funny thing. And earlier today leeches appeared to be running scared from Dr Knox and the Easter bunny as the Edinburgh Dungeon, (which calls itself Scotland’s top attraction for scary fun for very good reason), unveiled its latest exciting new features in time for the Easter holidays.

Beware – in Dr Knox’s Anatomy Theatre, teens and families alike may laugh out loud or even unexpectedly jump!  Are leeches really on the loose?  Visit this Easter to find out!
www.thedungeons.com/edinburgh

Thanks to Colin for the lovely photographs!

Colin Hattersley Photography

Public Relations  –  Press  –  Corporate  –  Charities  –  Arts & Entertainment

07974 957 388
colinhattersley@btinternet.com
www.colinhattersley.com

At 3am Monday morning, the latest Bootleg Film Festival came to a close, not with a whimper but with a bang; the bang of an Edinburgh cavern full of inebriated filmmakers and film lovers from all over the world rocking out to some good old-fashioned karaoke, after three days celebrating the best of low and no budget movie-making covering every genre you can possibly think of.

Team Bootleg is led by founder Tom Wilton and Neil Rolland, Creative Director of Bootleg Edinburgh, and they and their compatriots pulled out all the stops to make their debut in the city a weekend to remember.

The festival started off in fine style with Strings, the first feature from writer-director Rob Savage. Telling the story of four young people and their intersecting love lives over the final summer before the intrusion of adulthood, Strings is a movie that revels in the ups and downs of that time in our lives – the feeling that nothing will ever be as good as it is right now – while still pointing out the immature self-absorption that comes with being 18 and the centre of the universe. Made when Savage was himself the age of his earnest protagonists, Strings definitely marks out a talent to watch.

Other hits on Saturday included two shorts from first-time directors: Londoner Deloris Collins’ Once Upon a Time and Notes by Glasgow’s John McPhail. Running at less than 15 minutes between them, these two films take a skewed look at how relationships can start or finish with hilarious results. For the rugby fans (and non-fans) there was James Brown’s documentary Red, White, Black and Blue which followed a boys and a girls rugby team from a school in South Central L.A. on a tour of New Zealand. It is a fascinating, emotional and uplifting film that shows the power of sport to bring together people from such disparate backgrounds, and it can bring a tear to the eye of even the most jaded audience member. Not me though; I just got a speck of dust under my contact lens.

Representing the home team, Craig-James Moncur was here with his film Extra Time (shot in and around Tynecastle Stadium) about a man dealing with the loss of his father, while the first night was brought to a rousing close by David Barras’ Edinburgh-based comic book movie (with a twist) Electric Man. The tale of two hapless comic-store owners getting unwittingly caught up in the hunt for the fabled Electric Man issue 1 was a huge success with the crowd at Banshee Labyrinth.

So that was Day 1. Be sure to stop by again later for more on this great weekend.

Mortonhall – Murrayburn Kick Pitch – The Scotsman – Weather – Today at The Cameo

The Mortonhall scandal uncovered by The Edinburgh Evening News has not yet been resolved by the council. The auditing and enquiry process appears to be taking longer than anticipated, and so the council have decided to allow affected parents to look at any records relating to their child which have already been inspected by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the independent auditors.

An enquiry headed up by Dame Elish Angiolini was commissioned by the council in January, but that enquiry has not yet started, although the council confirmed that the former Lord Advocate has begun background research.

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We were out in Murrayburn Gardens yesterday to have a look at the newly renovated kick pitch there. Watch our video! 

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Commenting on the announcement of further media job losses in Scotland, with the news that 30 editorial staff face redundancy at The Scotsman, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:

“It is deeply disappointing to hear that there look set to be further job losses in the Scottish media. We are already seeing job losses at the BBC that risk the quality of news reporting. Job losses at the Scotsman, alongside repeated redundancies in other parts of the industry raise further concerns.

“At what is one of the most exciting times in Scotland’s story there is a need for strong and balanced journalism across the board. It is increasingly hard for professional journalists to produce the high-quality work that built Scotland’s reputation for journalism when faced with continued cuts. There is no doubt the media, and the consumption habits of readers, are changing and we must all move with the times, but there is no substitute for quality journalism in any format.”

Stewart Stevenson and Lesley Riddoch have both written broadly similar articles suggesting that true debate over independence could offer some kind of answer for The Scotsman.

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@CyclinEdin has reminded us this morning that one way to see what the roads are like before you venture out is to look at the live cameras. We had forgotten! But here they are for you to check your route before driving. Take care!

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Six films for you today at The Cameo. The Edinburgh Reporter has seen Arbitrage which was gripping and tense, but looking forward to seeing Trance as well… Want to let us know what you think about it? Send us a review below in no more than six sentences!

Here is a trailer to keep you going….

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AUeXnFm_Xg]

A group of dental nursing students from Edinburgh College have developed a unique partnership with trainee dental assistants in Cambodia, who work with orphans to ensure they are “dentally fit”.

Through two charities, One to One, which was set up to provide dental equipment and instruments, and Dentaid, which aims to carry out desperately needed dental care to those most in need, the Cambodian students learn essential dental skills in makeshift dental clinics in both cities and poorer rural areas of the country.

The group of students met for the first time using Skype in their own classrooms, and although neither group could speak each other’s languages, they could connect and communicate through their common understanding of dentistry and learn from each other.

Gillian Spence, 49-year-old full-time dental nursing student from Livingston, said:-“It was really inspiring to speak to the Cambodian students today. They work with over 100 children in the orphanage who are all HIV positive. This really opened my eyes and motivated me to do something to help.”

Gillian added:- “I’m really glad we get the opportunity to speak to students in Cambodia. It’s not just about getting the skills to become a dental nurse in Scotland but actually shows you what’s going on all over the world and how we can use our skills to help.”

The average person survives on less than 80 pence a day in the capital Phnom Penh, which means that the Dentaid service is vital for many who cannot afford dental care. As well as orphans, the charity also provides check-ups for homeless people, prisoners and the many vulnerable families in rural areas in Cambodia.

28-year-old full-time dental nursing student, Hayley Davies originally from Inverness but living in Edinburgh, said: -“It really was a breath of fresh air to see how they work and how much time and effort they spend helping people in their country. I’m really keen to get involved with this and use the skills I’ve gained to help children like these to try to change their lives for the better.”

Edinburgh College is already a major provider of dental equipment through various fundraising initiatives for the One to One charity in Cambodia thanks to the huge efforts of Edinburgh College Dental Nursing Lecturer, Ann Lyon, who established the relationship with the charity.

Ann said: “It’s a real privilege to have this link with the students in Cambodia. Our students and staff are really keen to help such a worthwhile charity and already support One to One through various fundraisers at the College with our students.”

“The money we’ve raised not only supports students in Cambodia to get the training they need to become dental assistants, but the funds also go towards manufacturing dental equipment within the country.”

“We can’t wait to speak to the students again when they are out in the rural areas in Cambodia in their mobile clinic, and will continue this unique partnership and friendship in the future, to benefit our students in Scotland and those in Cambodia.”

Henderson’s 50/50 Food Festival – A 50 Day Celebration of 50 Years in Edinburgh

Scotland’s newest food festival is to be a 50 day celebration of vegetarian institution, Henderson’s of Edinburgh. Running from May 26th to July 14th the festival programme is filled with fun, food events, including an ethical wine fair, a Hawaii Five-O themed pop-up restaurant and family friendly activities. The Henderson’s 50/50 Food Festival captures the spirit of founder and healthy eating trailblazer Janet Henderson who would have been 100 this year. Founded in 1963, Henderson’s revolutionised healthy eating in Scotland, and what started as small shop selling fresh produce from Janet and Mac Henderson’s farm in 1963 expanded to include an onsite bakery, a bistro and two restaurants that has served over a million customers.

Festival highlights include: Back to ’63 – the Festival Launch Party, a fun fancy dress feast of 60s food and drink; Henderson’s Goes to Hawaii at a secret beach-front location featuring brilliant food with a tropical touch, live music, bonfires, bright colours and a whole lot of hula and Vegetarian Speed Dining which has diners enjoy a 5 course menu changing seats every course getting to meet new people as well as discovering delicious dishes. These are just the tip of the iceberg lettuce however, with the full programme featuring guest chefs, barbecues, exhibitions, fun run frolics and much more.

Speaking at the launch of the festival, restaurant partners Catherine and Oliver Henderson said:- ‘When she first threw open the door to Henderson’s Salad Table in Spring 1963, our mother Janet could hardly have dreamt that millions of people would walk through that door over the next five decades. Back then, Henderson’s were pioneers in championing healthy, local, seasonal food so in that respect we haven’t changed at all.

This year also marks the centenary of her birth so we’ve plenty to celebrate. Our motto ‘Eat Better Live Better’ is all about good food, spending time with the family and having fun so we’re proud to mark our half century with a 50-day festival that has something delicious and enjoyable for everyone.’

Listings Information

Henderson’s 50/50 Food Festival

May 26 – July 14

Various locations across Edinburgh

Full details and ticket information at www.hendersons50.com from Wednesday 27th March

Henderson’s Restaurant launched its 50th anniversary food festival today with an impromptu picnic on the bonnet of a sexy bright orange 1960s Reliant Scimitar. Festival Director Simon Preston dons a Hawaiian shirt in a nod to festival event Henderson’s goes to Hawaii and is joined by a Henderson’s staff member Rosalind Main in 60’s running gear limbering up for the Nifty at Fifty fun run.

The council have spent just over £20,000 renovating the kick pitch in Murrayburn Gardens and it was officially opened today by a visit from two of the councillors for Sighthill/Gorgie, Cathy Fullerton and Denis Dixon, accompanied by Councillor Ron Cairns who had had his part to play.

Local MSP, Gordon MacDonald was also on the touchline for comment, but the biggest role fell to Ron Mack who had pestered Councillor Cairns to find the money and get the work done.

The Edinburgh Reporter went along to find out more about how it had all happened.

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

East Coast Line franchise: Mark Lazarowicz MP calls for publicly operated company to be allowed to bid

In questioning the Transport Secretary today following the Government’s announcement that it is going to put the East Coast Line franchise out to tender once again, Mark Lazarowicz MP called on the Government to allow the publicly owned Directly Operated Railways to put in a public sector bid to offer a real alternative to private bidders.

Mark said:- “Given the fiasco over the West Coast Line franchise, I would have preferred the East Coast Line to remain in public hands but at the very least the public operator – Directly Operated Railways – which has run the line successfully over the last 4 years should be allowed to bid. It makes no sense to throw away the practical experience of running the line successfully it has built up because of a blinkered ideology that private must always be best.

“The history of the line over the last 10 years just doesn’t bear that out. Neither of the last 2 private operators have been able to meet the terms of their contracts having overbid, leaving the Government with no choice but to step in. In contrast, the public operator increased profits by 7% in 2011-12 in a difficult economic climate and returned £187.7 million to the taxpayer.”

UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, today unveiled long-term plans designed to drive improvements to rail services, deliver on major infrastructure projects, and put passengers at the heart of a revitalised rail franchising system.

In addition to publishing for the first time ever a detailed transparent timetable for all rail franchises over the next 8 years, the Transport Secretary announced the immediate start of the competition for the East Coast franchise, currently directly operated, with the expectation the new franchisee will carry its first passengers by February 2015.

The new approach to franchising:

• will provide long-term certainty to the market
• support the Department for Transport’s massive programme of rail investment
• deliver on the independent Brown review of rail reform ahead of the April deadline for implementation of its recommendations

In rolling out the programme the Department for Transport will work closely with the industry to negotiate further new services and more capacity in franchising contracts while delivering the best deal for both passengers and taxpayers. The new approach will see the interests of passengers strengthened within the franchising system, with passengers’ views on train company performance playing an enhanced role in deciding whether to continue an operator’s contract.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:

“This programme is a major step in delivering tangible improvements to services, providing long-term certainty to the market and supporting our huge programme of rail investment. Above all, in future franchise competitions we are placing passengers in the driving seat by ensuring that their views and satisfaction levels are taken into account when deciding which companies run our railway services.

Franchising has been a force for good in the story of Britain’s railways, transforming an industry that was in decline into one that today carries record numbers of passengers.”

Following the statement from the Department for Transport (DfT) regarding rail franchising, a spokesman for East Coast said:- “We always believed that a return of this franchise to the private sector was inevitable.

“Since we took over in 2009, we have repaid more than £640m to the taxpayer, achieved record-breaking customer satisfaction and the best performance on the route since records began in 1999.  We are working on a plan for the next five years of the franchise which will consider some major decisions and projections for growth. This will be available to assist the future owner, whoever that is.”

Photo of East Coast train courtesy of East Coast Main Line Company Ltd

A man who murdered his victim following an attack within an Edinburgh park has been convicted.

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Stephen Nolan (pictured left) was convicted of the murder of Ebrahim Aryaei Nekoo in March last year. The 48-year-old met with Mr Nekoo at a petrol station in Westfield Road in the early hours of Saturday 24th March 2012. A short time later, the pair met at Saughton Park, where Nolan struck the 41-year-old with his taxi before driving off.

Lothian and Borders Police launched a major investigation into Mr Nekoo’s death and a short time later Nolan was detained at Wester Hailes Police Station and subsequently charged with his murder.

He will now be sentenced on April 23rd in Glasgow.

Detective Inspector Stuart Houston, who led the investigation said:- “The loss of Mr Nekoo has had a massive impact on his wife and family both in Scotland and his native Iran. At the time of his death Mr Nekoo had established himself as a private hire driver and had settled in the city.

“As part of the police investigation it was established that prior to this incident Mr Nekoo and Nolan had a disagreement over a disputed insurance claim with no other previous contact. This appears to have been the catalyst for the events on that day.

“Following this conviction I hope that the family of Mr Nekoo can move forward in dealing with their tragic loss.”

Complaints to Edinburgh Council – Cairntows Park – Peploe at the Modern Art Gallery – Whisky Stramash – Edinburgh Company shortlisted for award

The complaints procedure at the council has changed. Here is the leaflet detailing what to do if you do have a complaint about their service to you.

Complaints Procedure

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Sheila Gilmore MP for Edinburgh East has written to John Bury Head of Planning at the City of Edinburgh Council advising him of her concerns relating to the planning review for Craigmillar.

This is her letter:-

Final submission: Craigmillar Urban Design Framework Review by David Raine

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A reminder that there is a major exhibition of works by Edinburgh born artist, Samuel J Peploe at the Modern Art Gallery who describe it like this:-“This important exhibition will bring together more than 100 of Peploe’s most significant paintings from public and private collections around the world, including highlights such as the 1905 masterpiece,The Coffee Pot, early 1920s work, Red and Pink Roses, Oranges and Fan, and a selection of the original objects used within Peploe’s still life arrangements.” More details of how to get there and book on the gallery’s website.

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Following its legendary 2012 debut, the Edinburgh Whisky Stramash has announced two new dates for 2013, and will be making a return on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May. Bringing the wonderful world of whisky to the masses in new and innovative ways, the Whisky Stramash is set to excite the purists, tempt the interested and intrigue indifferent once again.

Famed for mad cap pioneering and ridiculous secrecy the Stramash combines the opportunity to try a huge array of amazing drams with fantastically eccentric experiences and installations to tantalise the senses.

Held at The Surgeon’s Hall in Edinburgh, a dramatic venue steeped in great whisky history, this year’s exhibits include Glenfiddich’s virtual Warehouse 47, Deanston’s interactive vintage photo wall, a pop up speakeasy and molecular mixology, with more to be revealed soon.

Tickets are available to buy from TicketSOUP priced at £26 for a four hour session (Saturday 25th 12pm-4pm/5pm-9pm; Sunday 26th 1pm-5pm) and this year a specially branded glass will also be included in the price of the ticket.

For more information visit thewhiskystramash.com For the latest news follow @whiskystramash on twitter or find them on Facebook at facebook.com/thewhiskystramash

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Edinburgh-based Reactec Limited has been selected as a finalist in the Best Use of Technology category for the 2013 Construction News Awards, to be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London on 11 July 2013.

Reactec has been shortlisted for its innovative HAVmeter solution, a hi-tech yet practical vibration safety device to protect employees working with vibration tools against the debilitating condition of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). The device, which can be simply fitted on to any vibration tool, can also help businesses identify cost savings through tool and operator efficiencies.

Since being launched into the marketplace in 2007, the HAVmeter has been proven as the system of choice for companies serious about the health of their workers and is now established as the market-leading product in Hand Arm Vibration monitoring in the UK. As of January 2013, more than 30,000 workers in the UK are now using the HAVmeter safety device. Major customers include; Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Tarmac, and the Environment Agency.

A record number of entries were submitted for this year’s Construction News Awards.  Finalists will now face Dragon’s Den-style live interviews to members of the 53-strong jury of esteemed key clients, contractors, consultants, institutes and government departments.

Owners of shared properties looking to organise repairs will be able to get help from a new Council service from Tuesday 2 April 2013, set up to replace the Property Conservation Department.

The Shared Repairs Service will provide advice and information to owners through the process of organising repairs from finding a contractor to arranging payment. It will also signpost owners to other repair support services such as property factoring, property management agencies and mediation, and the use of legislative powers like the Tenement Management Scheme.

The Council will retain its statutory notice powers, which are unique to the city, and will maintain the current 24/7 emergency service for urgent repairs.

An extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders last year identified that there is still demand for the Council to provide a project management service for more significant shared repairs. Options for this will be explored over the coming months, with a report expected to Council in about three months time.

Councillor Alasdair Rankin, Finance and Budget Convener, said:- “Maintaining the safety of Edinburgh’s properties is a concern for us all. Our aim is to find the right balance, based on the outcomes of the consultation exercise, with the Council taking a lead role in emergencies and providing support for non-urgent cases.”

From April advice and information will be available through the Council’s website, neighbourhood offices and libraries, getting in touch with the Council’s contact centre and by meeting with officers. The topics covered will include building inspections, working with neighbours, mediation, finding a contractor and arranging payment.

Councillor Rankin added: “This new service will be focused on our customers. Staff are receiving comprehensive training so that they can ensure property owners get the information and advice they need. We also know that there is demand from the public for the Council to have a bigger role in this area and we will be looking at potential options.”

The Property Conservation Service, which used statutory notices for emergency and non-emergency repairs, will cease operating from April 2013. However, work will continue to resolve outstanding complaints and to settle outstanding bills.

The new service was considered at a recent Council meeting, with councillors agreeing to a further report in the summer on options to expand the service.

The BBC reported last month that the council has paid for £27m of work which it has yet to bill to private property owners under the statutory notice scheme, but the Deloitte reports which have apparently shown this have not yet been published by the council, although the BBC has extracts of them on their website.

Older people in Edinburgh are being warned to be on their guard against bogus callers and rogue traders set on a springtime spree of duping homeowners out of money. Vulnerable householders, in particular those over 60, are increasingly becoming the favoured targets of criminals who use the change of the seasons into spring to execute doorstep scams.

The criminals turn up to offer homeowners the attractive prospect of having discounted repairs and improvement work carried out on their properties to spruce them up as the weather starts to improve. But the work is either shoddy or grossly overpriced – and in some cases the callers gain entry to the properties to steal cash and valuables.

The warning comes from the Scottish Business Crime Centre (SBCC), as part of a new campaign it is fronting to raise awareness of various issues that can place older people at risk of financial harm.

As victims are often embarrassed to report the crimes, authoritative statistics are hard to establish but a recent study by Citizens Advice Scotland found that their Consumer Helpline dealt with 421 cases between April and November 2012 of people reporting a cold caller looking to carry out work on their homes. Nearly 400 of these cases involved home maintenance/improvement, double glazing and insulation with 40% of them involving complaints of substandard services totaling around £700,000 in charges to householders.

One homeowner from Edinburgh contacted the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline after a salesman visited her home with the offer of installing new windows. The woman thought that the finance agreement was for a total sum of £6995 and believing she was getting a great deal, signed up. She is now being asked for payment of £16,995, with no cancellation rights.

Gary Ritchie, Assistant Director of SBCC, said: “We know that adults at risk are often targeted by criminals who see them as an easy option and use a variety of methods to obtain large sums of cash. While we have long been plagued by bogus callers trying to get entry into houses, many criminals are now using the change of seasons from winter to spring as a ploy for their scams.

“Older people in particular are easily influenced by suggestions that their property has been damaged by winter weather; or simply fall for smooth-talking scammers who sell them the concept of sprucing up their house in spring by having unnecessary repairs or refurbishment work carried out.

“Sadly these people are frequently conned out of huge sums of money for shoddy or sub-standard work. Older people who try to complain or refuse to pay are threatened with violence or treated with abuse. In some cases, they have been made to walk to cash machines to make withdrawals. Crimes against people who perhaps don’t have the same capabilities or support to protect themselves as others is appalling and has no place in Scotland. We are working with a number of partner agencies to raise awareness and we want older people and their families to be on alert at all times to know what to do when they receive an unsolicited call at their home.”

While the changing weather makes older people prone to approaches from rogue traders at the start of spring, homeowners should always be on their guard against bogus callers who try to gain access to homes by imitating council officials, utilities representatives such as gas, electricity or water companies while others may even claim to be police officers.

The SBCC, which aims to work in partnership with various bodies to create a safer Scotland, recently held a conference to establish a blueprint for Scotland’s private and public sectors and voluntary organisations to collaborate consistently and effectively to protect those who may be subjected to financial abuse by others.

The SBCC is currently forming a strategic multi agency steering group to provide further advice, guidance and protection around those who are seen as vulnerable in this way through information exchange and early intervention including the development of a Scotland against Scams initiative. The group will also consider how to tackle e-related scams and postal scams as part of their ongoing work.

This steering group will consist of representatives from the Scottish Government, Social Work Department, Trading Standards, police, banks, energy and utility companies as well as a variety of other interested organisations.

More information about the Scottish Business Crime Centre and how to become a member can be found at www.sbcc.org.uk.

Bethany Big Sleepout at City Chambers

People of all ages turned up to spend the night sleeping outside at Edinburgh City Chambers on Friday night, despite the temperature falling close to zero.The 120 participants enjoyed live music, the onesie competition as well as the shelter building competition.

£20,000 was raised for the Bethany Homeless Shelter.

There was a great atmosphere of camaraderie as groups worked together to build their shelters of cardboard and sticky tape. Cups of tea, soup and snacks were provided free and everyone was dressed warmly in woolly hats, layers and thermals. The event was labelled the Big Sleepout rather than just sleepout, due to its expansion to other Scottish cities, said Edinburgh Care Shelter Manager Norrie Webb.

Organiser Claire Poad said of the evening:- “So far everything is going really well, and everyone seems really positive. The weather hasn’t dampened any spirits. The shelter- building competition was a little bit of fun.”

One boy who was enjoying the fun was Alistair Baines, aged 12, from the 12th Midlothian Scouts. Building a cardboard shelter with his group, Alistair explained:- “I am working towards my Scout badges, and also want to raise awareness about homelessness in the community.”

His father Rob, who was providing a watchful eye, explained that for the children it was educational:- “It’s for him to play a part and understand how important everybody is who we live with, teach them how the world works and also some practicality.”

Despite the fun of the night, Norrie Webb explained the reality behind the lives of his clients, which he wanted people to understand. He said:-”The aim is to raise awareness because the reality is it’s cold, wet and windy.

The shelters are only open during the winter until the 1st of April, that there is nothing more we can do due to financing, which makes me feel helpless. Without the shelter, people would die from hypothermia. Two people who used the shelter this year have passed away. A 27-year old client died from cardiac arrest last year, so the realities of homelessness can have an adverse affect.”

The Bethany care shelter is the only one running in Edinburgh. It is church- funded and run by volunteers, along with the care van which distributes hot drinks in the evening which Webb also manages. According to Webb, there are nearly 800 volunteers helping to run all of these facilities, through the generosity of time and funds. These funds are provided through events such as coffee mornings, and donations. Norrie continued:-”Homelessness can be caused by all sorts of issues including relationship breakdown, or drug and alcohol issues. The care shelter helps those who cannot get placed in hostels.

The aim is to give people dignity and respect. I’m very lucky to be invited into these people’s lives.”

Livingston have appointed Richie Burke and Mark Burchill as the new management team.

Former Celtic star Burchill has been playing club football in Thailand while Burke has been caretaker boss since Gareth Evans left the club last month.
Burchill will combine a coaching role with playing for Livingston once his international clearance comes through.
Livingston chief executive Ged Nixon issued a statement on the club’s website expressing his delight at the acquisition.

“Following a rigorous recruitment exercise, Richie and Mark have been appointed to the position of manager and assistant manager on contracts which will run until the summer of 2015.
“Richie and Mark impressed us hugely during out recent process and we are absolutely delighted to have both on board.

“We see them as the ideal candidates to take forward our hopes and aspirations for the future – to develop our own quality young players and deliver an attractive and successful team at first team level.

“Richie has worked closely with the club since last summer when he arrived to take up a post with the Livingston Youth Foundation and he has extensive coaching experience from his time in the USA.

“Mark is at an earlier stage in his coaching career, but has all the attributes required to make a successful transition from playing into management. As his hometown club, we are delighted to give him an opportunity to start that journey.

“Most importantly, they both share our philosophy in how the game should be played, and from that perspective, they’ll build on the strong foundations we already have in place at Livingston.”

The new management team’s first game in charge is Wednesday’s home fixture against Hamilton Accies.
Livingston currently sit third in the Division One table, with 43 points from 27 games. Their chances of promotion are virtually gone however as they trail Morton by 18 points and Partick Thistle by 16.