The Edinburgh Reporter’s weekly sports roundup features the Scotland Rugby team’s defeat in the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham and also the women’s heavy loss to England at Esher. Hearts lost a late goal to deny them victory over Ross County in Dingwall, while Hibs marched through to the quarter final of the William Hill Scottish Cup with a 1-0 win over Aberdeen.

There was better news for the Capital teams in the Kings Cup with Spartans, Leith Athletic, Craigroyston and Heriot Watt all progressing to the next round.

Congratulations go to Edinburgh Basketball teams, winning three trophies, and good luck wishes go to Granton snooker player Craig MacGillivray who will be representing Scotland in Russia, and congratulations go to Edinburgh’s badminton star Jilly Copper who won the women’s doubles along with Kirsty Gilmour at the Yonex Scottish National Championships in Perth.

The Edinburgh Monarch’s fixture dates have been released, and the Edinburgh Reporter joins fans in paying sympathy to the friends and family of former star Arty Fisher who passed away last week aged 83.

We also follow the fortunes of the Edinburgh Capitals who started the weekend with a defeat to Fife Flyers but redeemed themselves with a victory over Braehead Clan last night.

International Rugby

Scotland’s dismal record at Twickenham continued on Saturday, although the final score-line of 38-18 flattered England in the first game of the Six Nations campaign.

Sean Maitland’s 10th-minute try gave the Scots a brief lead, however  try on debut from Billy Twelvetrees and tries from Chris Ashton, Geoff Parling and Danny Care, in addition to 18 points from the boot of man of the match Owen Farrell,  meant that the Calcutta Cup remained south of the border.

A late rally after a superb break finished by Stuart Hogg narrowed the margin to 13 points and with six minutes remaining Scotland had a line-out within five meters of the England line.Had they taken advantage of this, it could have been a different result, but in truth England deserved the victory.

Scotland Women got their Six Nations defence off to a disappointing start in Esher, losing 76-0 to high flying England who notched up 12 tries.

Sarah Hunter, Ceri Large, Sally Tuson and Abigail Chamberlain all scored two apiece, for England while Hannah Gallagher, Amber Reed, Kay Wilson and Rochelle Clark also went over the try line.

The victory means England have now won 37 of the last 38 Six Nations games.

Club Rugby

Heriots travelled to Tayside but lost 30-25 to Dundee High School Former Players in a free-flowing game at Riverside Park. Tries by Fraser Brown, CJ Osazuma and Russell ensured a losing bonus point for the Edinburgh team.

Football

The transfer window finally slammed shut on Friday, with Hearts bringing in Scotland international Danny Wilson and Michael Ngoo from Premiership side Liverpool, replacing Ryan McGowan and Peter Enckleman, whilst Hibs retained loan trio Leigh Griffiths, Ryan McGivern and Jorge Claros as well as signing Scott Robertson on a two and a half year deal from Blackpool and Matt Done on loan from Barnsley.

Hearts travelled to Dingwall to play Ross County in a re-arranged game following the contravertial postponement of the fixture last month. County took the lead through Rocco Quinn before new cult hero Ngoo equalised before half time. Jamie Walker gave John McGlynn’s men the lead with a six yard header however they were denied the three points by a late Iain Vigurs goal in injury time.

A stunning 30 yard strike from Gary Deegan gave Hibs a 1-0 win over Aberdeen in the William Hill Scottish Cup at Easter Road on Sunday, although Pat Fenlon’s men have keeper Ben Williams to thank after the former Manchester United star saved a late penalty to secure a quarter final tie against Kilmarnock at rugby Park.

In the Kings Cup, two goals apiece from John Ferguson, Keith McLeod and Donal Henretty, his hundredth for the club, plus strikes from John Grant, Sean Wringe gave Spartans a comfortable 8-0 win over Hawick at Ainslie Park. Malt and Hops man of the match went to Kevin Motion for a fine performance controlling midfield.

Elsewhere Craigroyston beat Vale of Leven 2-1 away from home, whilst Tynecastle travelled to Condstream and won 5-2.

Leith Athletic beat Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 3-0 whilst Heriot Watt ran out comfortable winners against Peebles, beating the Border outfit 7-1 at Riccarton.

Basketball

Congratulations go to the City of Edinburgh Kings who beat the University of Glasgow 81-62 in the Senior Men’s Scottish Cup final. The Kings had to come from 21-17 behind at the end of the first quarter, but fought back strongly in the second to lead 42-30 at half time. Another strong quarter saw them going into the final stage 61-41 ahead and eventually ran out comfortable winners.

More congratulations go to City of Edinburgh Kool Kats who beat Tayside Muskateers 77-62 in the Senior Woman Scottish Cup Final, and  well done to Boroughmuir Blaze who won the Junior Men’s Scottish Cup, beating Tayside Muskateers 63-51. MVP was Blaze’s Malcolm Winning.

Commiserations however go to the City of Edinburgh Kool Kats who went down 46-72 to a strong St Mirren reid Kerr College in the final of the Under 18 Scottish Cup Final. The Saints dominated the match and led 33-19 at the half time break.

Ice Hockey

The Capitals weekend got off to a dismal start losing 7-1 to arch rivals Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy on Saturday night, before beating Braehead Clan 5-2 on Sunday.

Speedway

The Premier League fixtures have been released with  Monarchs starting with a two-leg challenge against Berwick Bandits, at home on Friday 29 March then at Berwick the following night in the Cock of the North trophy. On Sunday, the Monarchs take on rivals Glasgow Tigers in the Spring Trophy.

After meeting their two local rivals, the Monarchs then compete in a shortened League Cup qualifying section, with the British Championship semi-final on the 19th April.

There’s also an early start to the KO Cup as Monatchs  initially race Leicester away from home on Saturday 27^th April.

Champions Scunthorpe are Monarchs  first Premier League opposition in Friday 3^rd May at Armadale.

The David Harrison Ford Scottish Open is on 2nd August and captain Derek Sneddon has his well deserved Testimonial on 13th September.

Meanwhile the Monarchs  broke the sad news that Arty Fisher, former junior rider, has passed away aged 83.

Arty rode in the second halves of the 1950s at Old Meadowbank, and continued to have a spin during the practise sessions of the 1960s, although he was more influential in those days as a mechanic and friend of many riders, both Monarchs and opposition.

Snooker

Granton snooker player Craig MacGillivray will represent Scotland alongside representatives from 15 other European nations against top Russian players in the 2013 World Pyramid (Russian Billiards) Championship held at Kemerovo Russia. The tournament last four days and begins on Wednesday.

In total 64 players will be competing for a share of the $50k prize fund with $10k going to the winner.

Pyramids is played on a full sized table. There are 16 balls but 15 racked in a pyramid are white and numbered. The object of the game is to pocket eight balls although the pockets are only marginally wider that the diameter of the balls requiring greater precision. Craig is delighted to have been selected although he anticipates that the Russian players will dominate and his aim is to win at least one match.

Badminton

Congratulations to Edinburgh’s Jilly Cooper who won the Woman’s Doubles along with Kirsty Gilmour in the 2013 Yonex Scottish National Championship at Bell’s sports Centre in Perth.

LARGE HADRON COLLIDER EXHIBITION  from Saturday 2 February 2013 – Friday 8 February 2013

The Scottish Parliament, Free Exhibition

A travelling exhibition showcasing the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest science experiment will be on public display in the Main Hall of the Scottish Parliament.

Visitors can walk through a life size model of part of the LHC tunnel and learn more about science from the interactive exhibits. The exhibition will help create a sense of what it’s like to be a particle physicist working on the largest science experiment of our generation.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet some of the UK’s top LHC researchers and physics students who are working at the LHC and who will be available to answer questions and help to inspire the next generation of scientists.

For more information about the exhibition go to www.stfc.ac.uk

Opening Hours
10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm) on Monday, Friday, and Saturday
9am to 6.30pm (last entry 6pm) Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Closed Sunday

Middle Eastern Film Festival looks at Palestine through the lenses of Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers  

This year’s Middle Eastern Film Festival, a partnership between the Middle East Festival and the Filmhouse, with support from Creative Scotland, kicks off from the 7th to 21st February 2013 at the Filmhouse, Edinburgh, looking at Palestine through the lenses of Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers, celebrating contemporary Iranian cinema, and providing a platform for festival favourites Nabil Ayouch, Merzak Allouache and Ibrahim El-Batout.

Palestinian cinema provides a visual articulation of Palestinian existence post-1948 and a way of resisting imposed identities. Taken together, this selection of films goes beyond the surface of stereotypes and presents a detailed and insightful look at the complexities, contradictions and human cost of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Opening with Michel Khliefi’s film about marriage rituals and clashing cultures, Wedding in Galilee, and closing with Susan Youseff’s film about forbidden love, Habibi, the festival presents a multi-faceted look at Palestine and the dreams of a nation, the line-up reminding us of the potency of cinema from the region and reading like a veritable who’s who of world cinema, with films by Michel Khliefi, Rashid Masharawi, Elia Sulieman, Jayce Salloum, Hany Abu-Assad, Annemarie Jacir, Avi Mograbi, Erik Riklis and Yoav Shamir and featuring stars such as Mohamed Bakri and Hiam Abbass.

Iranian cinema, despite reports of its demise, remains one of the most enduring of national cinemas and this year we profile six remarkable films from Seyyed Riza Mir-Karimi’s delightful and visually sumptuous comedy A Cube of Sugar to Mani Haghighi’s anarchic Modest Reception.

There will also be a selection of some of the best of contemporary Middle Eastern cinema from other Middle Eastern countries.

Anita Clark, Portfolio Manager – Festivals, Touring and Dance, Creative Scotland commented:

‘The Middle Eastern Film Festival gives Scottish audiences the opportunity to experience the perspective of Middle Eastern film makers and artists in this time of incredible change and current conflux in that area. Creative Scotland is proud to have invested in this inspiring and diverse festival.’

The purpose of the Middle Eastern Film Festival is to provide a focus for the study and promotion of Middle Eastern cinema. The geographic area covered by the Festival broadly covers that outlined in Oliver Leahman’s ‘Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film,’ which includes Central Asia, North Africa, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Iraq. Following on from the retrospective on Iranian cinema in 2009, Egyptian cinema in 2010, Turkish cinema in 2011, and Kurdish cinema in 2012, this year’s retrospective will be on Palestine through the lenses of Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers.

The 2013 Middle Eastern Film Festival is part of the Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace. From Thursday 7 February – Sunday 17 March 2013 the 10th Annual Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace, MESP 2013, will bring together people from a wide range of spiritual backgrounds, people working with peace, conflict, reconciliation and justice, educators, teachers, scholars and students, people from artistic and cultural backgrounds, people working with health, wellbeing and healing experiences and concerns, people from diverse cultures, traditions and communities, and people from across Scotland and internationally.

Middle East Festival Website: www.mesp.org.uk

Green councillors in Edinburgh welcomed the City Council decision to continue to back a community bid to re-open Leith Waterworld.

Councillors were presented with a report from officers rejecting the bid from Splashback to re-open the leisure pool. However, after what the Greens regarded as a compelling presentation from representatives of Splashback, the Capital Coalition parties agreed to provide additional funding for the community bid with a view to the pool re-opening. The Green councillors were able then to withdraw their own amendment and back the Coalition.

Green Councillor for Leith, Chas Booth said:

“I am delighted that the Council has seen the wisdom of backing community ownership of this much-loved asset and has seen the social, health and economic benefits of re-opening the pool. We now have a period of almost a year to finalise the business case and get children and other pool users back in the water.”

HELP DECIDE EDINBURGH’S FIVE YEAR TRANSPORT STRATEGY

A six-week public consultation starts tomorrow, 4 February 2013, as part of the development of a new transport strategy for Edinburgh.

For the past five years, the Council’s transport projects, network maintenance and service provision have been guided by the Local Transport Strategy (LTS) 2007-2012, now extended to the end of 2013.

Work has already begun to draw up a new five year policy document, an LTS for 2014 – 2019.  This document will go through a number of stages before being finalised at the end of 2013.

The public consultation being launched on Monday seeks residents’ views on 10 key transport  Issues for Review, including a proposal to introduce parking charges on Sunday and options to reduce speed limits in residential streets to 20mph.

The Issues for Review report is the first stage in the preparation of the LTS. Its purpose is to seek views on the issues where change is needed, or the Council faces a significant choice in future direction.

Many of the policies and objectives in the current LTS are still valid and these will simply be continued or updated for the next LTS. There will be a chance to give feedback on those in a further consultation process later in 2013.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, urged as many people as possible to take part in the consultation.

She said: “Whether you’re a public transport user, a motorist, a cyclist or a pedestrian – or perhaps you might even be all of these things, depending on the journey – we want to hear what residents and businesses in Edinburgh think about the transport issues in this consultation.

“It’s vital for us to gather as many different points of view as we can so that we can be sure that the final Local Transport Strategy 2014-2019 document accurately reflects the City’s priorities for the next five years.”

Anyone can respond to this consultation using the questionnaire available online at:https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BPRZ5QK

Printed questionnaires are also available from libraries, or on request from: localtransportstrategy@edinburgh.gov.uk

Completed printed questionnaires can be returned to the Freepost address:

FREEPOST – RTCH – JJEK – TCCZ
Local Transport Strategy
City of Edinburgh Council
Waverley Court (C.2)
4 East Market Street
Edinburgh
EH8 8BG

The consultation closes on Sunday 17 March 2013.

A public drop-in session will also be held on this consultation:

Venue: the foyer of the Edinburgh Central Library, George IV Bridge, EH1 1EG

Date: Thursday 6 March 2013

Time: From 9am to 8pm

East Lothian Council’s Archaeology Officers have confirmed that the skull found on Musselburgh’s Old Links Golf Course is a young Iron Age woman.

The skull was discovered ten days ago when council groundkeepers dug up the remains at a bunker on the 4th.

Lothian and Borders Police investigations were stopped after forensic tests proved that the skull was dated at around 2000 years old.

“It was a very populated area during that period,” said an East Lothian Council spokesman, “ and, periodically, bones from similar periods are unearthed in that area.”

It was suggested by the size of the skull and the teeth to be that of a female in her early 20s.

Athough archaeologists are keen on an exploration of the surrounding site, no major excavation is planned.

“A limited dig will be carried out to see if there are other bones relating to the skull in close proximity,” the spokeman explained.

“ Whether it be the result of farming or other activity, chances are these bones will have been disturbed considerably over the past 2,000 years.”

For the past month, Hibs boss Pat Fenlon has been linked with dozens of potential new signings, including names that the Irishman has never even heard of. Whilst continually refusing to react to speculation, he has always insisted that his objective for the transfer window was to retain the three loan stars, Leigh Griffiths, Ryan McGivern and Jorge Claros for the remainder of the season. That was achieved after considerable negotiations between the clubs involved, and in an added bonus, a further two midfielders have arrived, Scott Robertson on a two and a half year deal from Blackpool and at the last minute Matt Done from Barnsley on a six month loan. In addition, St Johnstone’s Liam Craig has signed a pre-contract and will join the club in the summer.

Fenlon told Hibernian TV:- “At the start of the window, our main objective was to extend the loan deals of Jorge, Leigh and Ryan, which we’ve managed to do, so it has been very productive.

“Full credit to everybody involved in making those loan deals happen and we’re also pleased to be able to add a player of Scott Robertson’s quality to the squad.

“Finally we were pleased to be able to add another loan signing on the final day, Matt Done, who will offer us another wide option in midfield.

“We’re now looking to press on and generate some momentum in the second half of the season; starting with Sunday’s massive Cup tie against Aberdeen.”

Now the winter transfer window has officially closed, Hibernian FC have confirmed the following player movements during the month of January:

Players in (alphabetical order)

Jorge Claros (loan extension until the end of the season)

Matt Done (loan from Barnsley FC until the end of the season)

Leigh Griffiths (loan extension until the end of the season)

Ryan McGivern (loan extension until the end of the season)

Scott Robertson (transfer from Blackpool FC)

Players out (alphabetical order)

Calum Antell – extended loan at East Fife until the end of the season

Danny Galbraith – contract terminated by mutual consent

Harry Monaghan – extended loan to Annan Athletic until the end of the season

Euan Smith – loan to Arbroath until the end of the season

Scott Smith – loan to Dumbarton until the end of the season

Ivan Sproule – permanent move to Ross County

Sammy Stanton – extended loan at Cowdenbeath until the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Fenlon has confirmed that full-back Tim Clancy is a doubt for Sunday, whilst Ryan McGivern should be available for selection. Matt Done has arrived in Edinburgh and will train with the squad on Saturday and his fitness will be assessed before a decision is made as to his inclusion.

Live! Roller Derby! Auld Reekie Roller Girls’ Home Season starts on Saturday 16^th February 2013, 2-5pm when Skatefast Club will take on the Cherry Bombers at Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh. More details on tickets on the ARRG  website 2nd Home Season Bout: Cherry Bombers vs Skatefast Club

Then on Saturday 9^th March 2013, 2-5pm the Leithal Weapons play Skatefast Club at Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh All details of this match here on the ARRG site 3rd Home Season Bout: Skatefast Club vs Leithal Weapons

The following month on Saturday 6^th April 2013, 2-5pm there will be a HOME TEAM FINAL at Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh and again more details here Home Season Final! – Doubleheader

Tickets: £5 plus booking fee online, £7 on the door.

Available from: Eventbrite

Free for children aged 14 and under!

ARRG have this to say:-

“The next bout takes place on Saturday 16th February 2013 when the Cherry Bombers take on the Skatefast Club. Will they be able to recover from a shaky start and fight their way to a win? The Skatefast Club fought hard in last year’s home season, ending up in the final against the Leithal Weapons – they’ll definitely want to repeat that performance, and a win against the Cherry Bombers would send them on their way. Come and watch the second bout of the Home Season, and see for yourself the sport that everyone’s talking about.

Our clued-up commentators will keep you in the loop about what’s happening on track, so don’t worry if you’re a derby novice. You’ll also have the chance to buy our t-shirts, badges and stickers to show your support for Edinburgh’s one and only roller derby league and its three home teams. Does your heart belong to the Leithals, the Bombers or Skatefast? You’ll know after attending a bout. There’ll be stalls galore in our ‘vendors’ village’ – be sure not to miss the famous cakes, lovingly made by the Auld Reekie Roller Girls community. Whether you’re a derby virgin or a roller veteran, don’t miss the chance to see Edinburgh’s top skaters take each other on. You won’t have seen anything like this!”

What is modern roller derby?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK68gscUgek]

Roller derby is an all-female sport that involves teams competing on an oval track in a series of ‘jams’ – two minute periods that see teams of five players each battling to score points. During each jam, one player on each team is designated as the ‘jammer’ who scores a point for every member of the opposing team she passes.

The sport requires a punishing array of agile and athletic skills, from zig-zag blocking moves to body slams to all-out speed-skating. To perfect these manoeuvres, skaters commit to several hours of practice every week, paying for gear and practice space out of their own pockets.

While it has its roots in sports-entertainment-style exhibition bouts going back as far as the 1930s, modern roller derby has reinvigorated the game with a grass-roots DIY ethos that puts the passion for athleticism front-and-centre.

The trend finally reached Edinburgh in 2008, when a small group of women founded ARRG. The Edinburgh league now averages at over 80 skaters, and is run purely on the volunteer efforts of its members. Auld Reekie Roller Girls recently became full member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).

EDINBURGH’S RISING STARS: VOTES TO BE CAST FOR SCOTTISH YOUTH PARLIAMENT

Voting for the new intake of  members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) starts in Edinburgh tomorrow, Friday 1 March 2013.

Sixteen young people will battle it out for the 12 Edinburgh seats – two for each of the Scottish Parliamentary areas.

Organisers hope turnout will be high after a record 10,000 ballots were cast at the last election in 2011.

Young people can register their vote at schools, colleges, universities and community centres until 13 March.

Over the last parliament, SYP members have debated issues ranging from same-sex marriage to the living wage.

Education Convenor Councillor Paul Godzik said: “The record turn-out in 2011 shows that are young people in Edinburgh are switched on, and keen to shape the matters that affect their day to day lives.

“It’s great to see so many candidates putting themselves forward, and I wish them all the best of luck.”

Leith Waterworld – Edinburgh Outdoors -Forestry Commission here to stay – Terence Stamp – Edinburgh Fringe

Yesterday at the council meeting the council decided to throw the campaign group Splashback a lifeline. They now have eleven months to make a go of running Leith Waterworld as a community enterprise.

This feasibility phase will establish whether the facility can be operated within the parameters of a finalised business plan.

The continuation of the bid beyond this phase is dependent on the community group securing the necessary capital funding to invest in the facility and, further, on their business plan meeting with the approval of an independent third party.

The council will release a maximum of £100,000 to help fund the feasibility study and a dedicated Councillor/ Officer Working-Group will be set up to support Splashback in developing their bid.

A report on the results of the study will be considered by councillors once the development phase ends, following which a decision on the facility’s future will be taken.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture and Leisure Convener, said: “I want to acknowledge the considerable time and effort that Splashback have committed to their bid thus far.

“While there remains a tremendous amount of work to be done in the months ahead, we want to give the community the best possible chance of success by providing the necessary funding and support toward taking their proposals to the next phase.

“We owe it to the people of Edinburgh to do everything we can to preserve this valuable community asset.”

***

Today the council staff are out and about in the parks tweeting to let you know what is happening out there. This is all part of the launch of the new website and app called Edinburgh Outdoors.

Staff from across the Council will be tweeting and uploading photos to the website with comments about what they are doing while they go about their normal work in the city’s parks and greenspaces. Follow @EdinOutdoors for the latest.

Using the hashtag #edinparks, people can join the conversation on Twitter and get out and about in parks to add what they are doing both on Friday and over the weekend.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PLFlGkRTX0?list=UUpyjaNvEF_ryiKTJ6QxCkIA]

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The UK Government has published details of its forestry and woodland policy in response to the report from the Independent Panel on Forestry.

A new, independent public body will hold in trust the nation’s publicly-owned forests for future generations. Alongside the continuing work of the Forestry Commission, this new body will own, maintain and safeguard our forests on behalf of the public.

Last July the Government confirmed that the Public Forest Estate in England will remain in public ownership after the Liberal Democrats’ campaign. This followed on from a similar successful campaign in Scotland in 2008/9.

Up to 100 jobs at the Forestry Commission’s Edinburgh offices were threatened by the plans to privatise the Public Forest Estate.

Commenting, Edinburgh’s Liberal Democrat MP, Mike Crockart, whose constituency is home to the Forestry Commission’s HQ at Corstorphine said:

“Today’s statement reaffirms the Government’s commitment to keep the forest estate in public ownership for future generations to enjoy.

“The Minister has acknowledged the potential that our forests have to create jobs and growth and I welcome the news that the forestry industry is working on an action plan to ensure that potential is unlocked.

“The Government has increased the Forestry Commission’s budget by £3.5m next year specifically to make up for lost income from sales of woodland. A further £2m has been allocated in recognition of the importance of implementing the commitments made by the Minister today as well as to address the pressures arising from the Chalara dieback of ash outbreak.

“£0.5 million of additional Forestry Commission funding and up to £4 million additional funding from research councils is also available for specialists to carry out in-depth research into tree diseases.

“Whilst the future shape of the Forestry Commission is still to be considered by Defra following the recommendations of the Independent Panel on Forestry’s report I am confident that the Government’s commitment to our forests and the extra funding in place will secure the future of the Forestry Commission’s Corstorphine base.

“There is a huge amount of talent, expertise and experience within the Forestry Commission’s Edinburgh team and I will continue to push Ministers to ensure that these skilled individuals are central to the future of the Commission ensuring the security of Edinburgh based roles now and for the future.”

***

Next Thursday is a date for your diary. Terence Stamp, will be doing a Q & A at the Cameo after a showing of the new film Song for Marion.  Stamp was chosen by Empire magazine as number 59 in the top 100 sexiest stars of film history. Book here!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtQ6cAaMzKs]

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The Edinburgh Fringe programme is not launched until the end of May, but there are tickets on sale already. And you might design the next Fringe Poster… This from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival website..

The search is on for the next Fringe Poster

If you’re an art teacher or know any talented young artists in Scotland, the Fringe needs you! Find all the details of our Schools Poster Competition and download an entry pack and free learning resources here.

A total of over 6000 possible names for the new bridge over the River Forth have been suggested by the public.

Last November members of the public were asked for their opinions on what the new crossing should be called. We have had many suggestions from our readers in response to our earlier article.

The name-gathering process ended yesterday, and a group of business and community delegates will then narrow down the names to a shortlist to be put once more to the public.

The winning name for the bridge will then be announced during the summer.

The £1.6 billion project is said to ‘be on time and on budget,’ according to Transport Scotland. You can read the suggested names here on the Transport Scotland website.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BWE_fWh8bw]

Mercurytide gifts £10k charity website to mark 10th anniversary

A Scottish software development company has donated and built a website worth £10k as the prize in a charity competition celebrating its tenth anniversary.

Mercurytide ran the competition when staff decided that, instead of a birthday party, they wanted to truly embrace corporate social responsibility by giving something back to their local community. It was agreed that £1,000 would be donated to a charity for every year Mercurytide had been in business, resulting in the £10k website prize.

Revive MS Support, which provides support to people with Multiple Sclerosis, was chosen as the prize winner from 400 nominations for 150 charities. The judging process was rigorous and carried out by an impartial and prestigious judging panel including Liz Cameron from the Scottish Chamber of Commerce, Fiona Ballantyne from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, and TV personality and nutritionist Amanda Hamilton.

The team from Mercurytide, which has offices in Edinburgh and Paisley, has worked closely with Revive to build the new website which launched last week at The Lighthouse in Glasgow.

Both teams have developed a strong partnership which has seen unexpected gains such as team building opportunities, employee engagement and shared learning. Mercurytide staff also completed a zip wire challenge over the River Clyde in aid of Revive, conquering some personal fears in the process.

Mercurytide’s Suzanna Harkness worked on the project and says:- “This is a great example of how even a small organisation such as ours can reach out and create a huge impact. It’s not just about our corporate social responsibility; it’s about making small but significant strides towards improving the lives of those around us, as well as our own.”

Tamlin Roberts, Mercurytide’s MD, says: “Working with Revive has been an eye-opening experience on many fronts. We have seen the impact MS has on people and the ways in which they are fighting back against the symptoms, as well as the passion which both teams have put into the project. Our team feels a great sense of worth and has developed a much better understandingof charities’ needs as a whole. It has been a great project to be part of.”

Revive had previously resorted to using social media for the majority of its messaging as the old website was not performing as they needed it to. The new Revive website www.revivemssupport.org.uk establishes the charity’s online visibility and improves access to its wide range of services available to people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Cara Doran, Fundraising Manager at Revive MS Support, says: “We were delighted to win the competition for a new website as the one we were using was outdated and difficult for both staff and clients to use. The process of developing a new site with Mercurytide has been more than we could’ve asked for, and it has been fantastic building a website which will last and that is designed around the different needs of our service users. The Mercurytide team has made the process fun and interesting, lending us their professional skills in a number of areas and engaging with the charity wholeheartedly. We can’t thank them enough!”

Lothian and Borders Police took an unusual prisoner into custody yesterday when they recovered a snake in the West of Edinburgh.

Officers were on routine duties in Hailesland Grove around 9.15am when they heard a number of children screaming.

Further enquiry revealed that a Cornsnake had escaped and police responded swiftly to catch the animal. After a short time, two officers successfully lured the snake into a kit bag and it was taken to the SSPCA re-homing centre in Balerno to be cared for.

Staff have named him Jalapeno, as he has a fiery character.

Enquiries are ongoing to trace his owner, who is asked to come forward.

Superintendent Dougie Lynch said: “We are used to dealing with a lot of slippery characters but a snake is certainly one of the most difficult captures we’ve had in recent times.

“Thankfully, the officers in attendance proved to be real charmers and the animal was safely caught in a kit bag before being handed over to the SSPCA.

“Anyone who believes their Cornsnake has gone missing should contact police or SSPCA immediately.”

Centre Manager Diane Stewart said, “Jalapeno was very thin and dehydrated on arrival, suggesting he’s been roaming on his own for some time.

“Snakes need heat to survive so he’s lucky to be alive after being found outdoors in freezing temperatures.

“He seems a bit brighter after a night warming up in a vivarium on a heat mat so we hope he’ll continue to improve.  Anyone who recognises
Jalapeno should contact our Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.”

The Edinburgh Prison Officers Club have been given notice to quit their premises by today but now they have support from all city councillors and Gordon MacDonald MSP in their bid to stay put.  This is the joint letter which has been sent to the Chief Executive of Scottish Prisons today…..

Joint letter from City Councillors and Gordon MacDonald MSP to Scottish Prison Service by

The City Cafe homemade burgers are the core of their diner-style menu (along with some ginormous breakfasts!) and with their Ultimate Burger Challenge, Head Chef, John McKendrick, plans to take them to the next level for 203.

“We’ve had people visit from far-off cities and even different countries to eat our take on stateside diner food, and with the Ultimate Burger Challenge, we hope to stick in their memories even more. Edinburgh loves high quality, homemade burgers, and this is going to be quite the challenge – I don’t think even I could eat a whole burger alone!”

The burger in question will be handmade from 7 City Cafe menu burgers, including 3 prime beef, 2 marinated chicken fillet and 2 spicy bean, topped with a mountain of toppings, nestled within a specifically designed bun and served with a large portion of gourmet fries and creamy coleslaw.

Challengers have a limited time period to finish all of the burger – if they rise to the challenge and succeed they win a certificate, commemorative place on the City Cafe Wall of Fame, champions t-shirt and best of all, the burger is free of charge. If they fail, they must pay the price of the Ultimate Burger (£30.00), but will be awarded a consolatory small City Cafe Classic Milkshake to soften the blow.

“We’re very excited about starting the Ultimate Burger Challenge in February – I think some of our regulars are eyeing up a spot on our Mighty Wall of Fame. 

It’s going to be great for a night out or parties… we’ve even had sports teams contact us about it already!”  Lauren Donachie, The City Cafe Manager

The Ultimate Burger Challenge will run from 1^st February throughout all of 2013, with The City Cafe inviting press and public to their Ultimate Burger Challenge Launch Party on Thursday 31^st January 2013. Details are below

Tonight individuals will be invited to go head to head to take on the meaty monster, as well as sample The City Cafe’s new Stateside Cocktails menu and enjoy back to back live music from the $5 SHAKE DJs. The City Cafe will also be opening its doors to groups or teams who want to go head to head in the Ultimate Burger Challenge – inviting everyone from local rugby teams to swing dance troops to have a go.

To find out exclusive news and receive an invite to the Ultimate Burger Challenge Launch Night you can sign up to the City Cafe mailing list at http://www.thecitycafe.co.uk/join-the-club/ or tweet @thecitycafe with the #ultimateburger hashtag.  The City Cafe will also be running monthly competitions in-store for a chance to win two Ultimate Burgers Challenges and Gourmet Homemade Milkshakes every month (see below for details).

You can see a preview of the challenge burger at www.thecitycafe.co.uk/burgerchallenge

The City Cafe Ultimate Burger Challenge will be running throughout 2013, booking recommended. 

The City Cafe Ultimate Burger Challenge Launch Party

 

Thursday 31^st January 2013 from 7pm onwards

 

• Sample Edinburgh’s Largest Burger
• Watch Head to Heads of the Burger Challenge
• Take on the Ultimate Burger Challenge for 25% off the normal price (£22.50 instead of £30)
• Live Music all night
• Acacity in City 2
• Samples of the new stateside cocktails menu

 

RSVP at http://bit.ly/U4xdal

 

Or email info@thecitycafe.co.uk

Today’s meeting will hear the report about Splashback and their bid to run the pool in Leith as a community enterprise. The Splashback campaigners are expected to attend the meeting in what may be their final chance to sway councillors in their favour.

There are questions lodged about Edinburgh and the Commonwealth Games and Advanced Stop Lines.

You may read all the council papers for today’s meeting here. You can also watch the council’s live webcast here and we hope to add to that coverage by giving you our own comments and also introducing comments from others via Twitter.

Full council meeting today – Council successfully prosecute truants – Body identified – Edinburgh University Heritage Trail – Festival Theatre

A meeting of the full council takes place at the City Chambers this morning and The Reporter will be there to live blog the meeting as it unfolds. There is of course a live webcast of the meeting but we hope that our insight into the procedure adds to that. You can follow us here under our TERLive! section. Feel free to join in on Twitter by using the hashtag #edincouncil or join us online where you may also make comments.   The council may decide to sell Leith Waterworld to a third party other than campaign group Splashback, and there are questions from councillors about Edinburgh’s involvement in the Commonwealth Games next year as well as the enforcement of motorists entering Advanced Stop Lines at junctions.

***

The council has had some success in court yesterday when it prosecuted two cases against parents who had failed to ensure that their children attended school regularly. You can read more here.

***

Lothian and Borders Police can confirm the identity of the body found in Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon (January 27).

The body of 24-year-old Sanjay Dhital, from Elm Row, Edinburgh, was recovered from St Margaret’s Loch in Holyrood Park.

There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

***

Edinburgh University has puvblished a new guide to the heritage of our city. This is what they say about it:-

“Since its foundation in 1583 the University of Edinburgh has been strongly linked to the city itself.

The University’s buildings reflect Edinburgh’s historical and architectural importance, and were often at the centre of events in the city’s and Scotland’s history. Old College was designed by Robert Adam and William Playfair, and the David Hume Tower by Sir Robert Matthew is now regarded as one of the key examples of Scottish Modernist architecture.

Many famous and distinguished people have also been associated with the University, including scientists Charles Darwin and Joseph Black, authors Sir Walter Scott, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Louis Stevenson, and pioneers for women in medicine Sophia Jex-Blake and Elsie Inglis.

The trail helps to guide visitors around some of the most significant buildings on the University of Edinburgh’s campus, explore the city’s unique heritage and discover the hidden history behind its stone facades.”

You can download a copy here.

***

There is opera at the Festival Theatre in February and you can find out more about the live screening of NABUCCO: LIVE FROM THE TEATRO ALLA SCALA on the Festival Theatre website. And good news for the Friends of the Theatre as there are money off bargains to be had…13 February so it oould perhaps count as an early Valentine date?

COUNCIL SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTES TWO CASES RELATING TO POOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

The City of Edinburgh Council has  been successful in prosecuting two separate cases where a parent neglected to ensure their child attends school.

One parent pled guilty in the Justice of the Peace Court Edinburgh to failing to ensure their child’s regular attendance at school.  Sentencing was deferred until 26 June 2013 to monitor the child’s attendance at school.? A second, similar case was also heard where the parent entered a not guilty plea. After a trial, the Justice found the accused guilty and a fine of £150 was imposed.

The Council is taking these steps to help improve attendance at school and pupil participation and performance. Once a child’s attendance drops below 85 per cent this triggers a formal process to look into what issues are causing this absence.

Councillor Paul Godzik, Education, Children and Families Committee Convener said: -“Prosecution is a last resort; before we consider it we will use all available recourses and statutory interventions to try and improve a pupil’s attendance.

“However, as has been proved here, despite our best efforts, some parents fail to take adequate measures to improve their child’s attendance at school.  These successful prosecutions send out a clear message that those who continuously refuse to work with our staff will answer for their child’s poor attendance in court. We will continue do everything possible to help children get the education they deserve.”

For those found guilty, the penalties include, a fine of up to £1,000 or imprisonment of up to one month as outlined in the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.

Under this Act local authorities are obliged to address the issue of non-attendance and to support the on-going work of the Area Attendance Advisory Groups and the Attendance Order Review Group.

The current process usually follows similar steps;

– child is absent from school regularly

– referral to Education Welfare Officer who will visit and work with the family, despite this intervention absences continue

– parent asked to appear before Area Attendance Advisory Group

– still no improvement – parent will be summoned to appear before the AORG (Attendance Order Review Group)

THERE’S MORE TO EDINBURGH … OUTDOORS

A new website and free app for iPhone and Android that will encourage people to get out and about in Edinburgh’s parks and outdoor spaces is being launched by The City of Edinburgh Council. Edinburgh Outdoors is a new online resource where people can find out information about the city’s 141 parks and discover new green areas in the city. How old is that tree? Where is the nearest play area? When was this monument built and why? The app is an easy way to explore Edinburgh’s parks on the move.

People are also encouraged to take their own photos of the city’s parks and upload them via the app or on the Edinburgh Outdoors website to share their experiences that will be useful for other people.

Tomorrow, staff from across the Council will be tweeting and uploading photos to the website with comments about what they are doing while they go about their normal work in the city’s parks and greenspaces. Follow @EdinOutdoors for the latest. You can also follow the goings on by accessing Edinburgh Outdoors on Facebook too.

Using the hashtag #edinparks, people can join the conversation on Twitter and get out and about in parks to add what they are doing both on Friday and over the weekend.

We met the Council’s web manager to hear all about it:-

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

Councillor Lesley Hinds, the city’s Environment Convener, said:- “Edinburgh is widely recognised as having some of the most fantastic parks and green spaces. This innovative project will make use of the Council’s vast wealth of data and give park users access to it – allowing them to find out more about what Edinburgh’s outdoors has to offer.

“We’re hoping people will not only share their pictures of the city’s parks but also share their enjoyment of being out and about in Edinburgh.”

The project has been created by The City of Edinburgh Council with funding from Nesta’s ‘Make it Local Scotland’ competitive programme. Nesta is a UK charity which funds innovation. The charity is also funding Local Edge which is a partnership between The Broughton Spurtle and Greener Leith develop a loyalty card system working with local shops and service providers. The group received £44,750 to develop the app in Broughton and Leith. We reported this to you this last year.

Jackie McKenzie, Head of Nesta’s Innovation Programmes in Scotland, said:-“The fantastic work being done by the City of Edinburgh Council shows how open data can be used to develop new services for citizens and, by encouraging them to add their own content, to make that service even better. Local authorities have shown the amazing results that can be achieved through the excellent partnership they have developed with digital companies. Edinburgh Outdoors is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to explore the beautiful parks and green spaces in the city and to share their own knowledge of these places.

“Nesta hopes that other councils across Scotland and beyond will take advantage of the fact that all of the information and code for these initiatives is open source helping others to develop DIGITAL services for future years.”

Tomorrow’s council meeting has Leith Waterworld back on the agenda for discussion. The proposed sale of the building was delayed until the campaign group, Splashback, had the opportunity to put their revised bid together with some help from council officers. It now seems their efforts may be in vain if the council adopt the recommendations of the report produced for discussion on Thursday.

The council first decided to sell Leith Waterworld in 2005, as they needed to source funds to help refurbish the Royal Commonwealth Pool (RCP). The council say that closure of the flume pool has made savings of over £300,000 and that this figure was calculated into the refurbishment package for the RCP.

The facility was actually then closed in early 2012, despite many protests, and a series of closing dates for offers to acquire the pool, either to buy or lease the building, followed. In August 2012 Splashback put forward what turned out to be the only bid, but this was rejected on the grounds that it did not represent ‘best value’. As the plan was only to put the property on the open market for sale in Spring 2013, the council agreed to allow Splashback the time over Christmas to put their final bid together. The council and Port of Leith Housing Association have both helped Splashback in the task.

The new proposal has two options, one of which would run the pool as it stands, and the second includes suggestions that a charitable organisation is set up to run the pool, that additional income would be generated by introducing soft play areas with a community hub project running a cafe and kitchen set up. Additional funds would be applied for in the form of grant aid from outside bodies, although the report claims it is unclear where the estimated£150,000 to alter the front of the building for soft play would actually be sourced.

Further, the costs of re-commissioning the pool to make it ready for reopening, are estimated at £155,000, and the council claims that the new bid does not say where the money for that would come from either. Another criticism of the figures is that they used 2011 data as a basis for projected visitor numbers when the RCP was closed. It is suggested that the group should have used other years as a basis for their calculations. More criticism is heaped on the proposal by explaining that there is no breakdown of running costs, including essential staff such as cleaners, and that no provision has been made for marketing.

The bid also includes a suggestion that staff would be complemented by volunteers acting as ‘spotters’ which the report criticises as ‘high risk.’

Part of the difficulty is that the group cannot afford to simply buy the building. It appears from the terms of the report that the council would prefer to cash in on their asset, as they had originally intended. The report mentions that an unnamed party has now noted their interest in buying the property from the council, although it is admitted that this is not a concrete offer. Estimates of the price which could be generated have in the past hovered around the £1.5m mark.

The bottom line, according to the council, is that by agreeing to back the Splashback bid it could cost the council as much as £1.1m over the first three years. Although some factors might decrease the overhead, such as the introduction of soft play areas aimed at generating extra income, there appears to the council to be a degree of uncertainty over some of the Splashback figures and calculations. The group do not seem to have factored in insurance costs for example, and the fact that they would rely on grant funding only adds to the possibility that the council would have to find more to subsidise the running of the pool than they originally thought.

Although there are various trial periods and stages when the group could back out of the running of the facility, the report claims that the financial risk would revert to the council at all times.

To maintain the pool over ten years is estimated to cost around £2.2m. Again the report claims that it is not clear where that money would come from, (although the usual case is that the tenant would lease on a full repairing and insuring basis). In the event that the council just sits on the property they would be increasing their annual costs from around £100,000 to over £150,000, mainly as a result of the increased rates which would be payable for the empty building.

And as for the social impact of reopening the pool? The council answer that claim by saying they have already addressed that by offering all their other leisure facilities run by Edinburgh Leisure.

The Green Group on the council have been constant supporters of Splashback since the campaign to save Leith Waterworld began in late 2011.  Splashback have On their website summarised the key points in their submission as follows:-

“Through running the facility as a community led iniatitive, we believe we can

• provide a fun and enjoyable leisure destination for over 150,000 users per annum
• reduce the subsidy required from Council for the pool to well under the Scottish average for pools – £260,000
• In fact through increased soft play and additional revenue streams, we can bring the subsidy right down to circa £20,000 by year 3
• In doing so we would bring potentially approx 60 jobs to the Leith area through direct employment and supply chains
• and generate an additional £460,000 for the local Leith economy.
• These benefits are in addition to the potential saving to public spending through increased wellbeing in the area.

So in light of the report issued in advance of the council meeting next Thursday, recommending the sale of the building, you would think there is no hope whatsoever of the flume pool being re-opened.

But Green councillor, Chas Booth, who represents the Leith Ward thinks there is still a chance:-“This narrowly-focused report does not do justice to the huge community, health and social benefits which a revitalised Leith Waterworld will bring.  So I still believe that councillors will see the compelling case which the Splashback bid has made, with increased activity and, over time, lower running costs.

“We owe it to the city and the community to make choices based on long term benefits not short term gains.”

The Reporter will be at the council meeting and will be live blogging the proceedings under our TERLive! Section. Please join us there or offer your comments on Twitter #edincouncil.

 

 

 

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX

28th January 2013

Dear Sir/Madam,

ON YOUR BIKE

As Spokes, the apologists for pedal cyclists, are seeking to ban all
traffic from Princes Street apart from trams and their accursed
velocipedes, I’m surprised that they aren’t also asking City of
Edinburgh Council to ban trams in view of that curious fatal mutual
attraction between bicycle wheel and tram track which seems to lead to
nothing but spills, thrills and insurance claims.

Bearing in mind how often I see narrow misses between irresponsible
pedestrians and the furiously riding generally unilluminated pedalists
represented by Spokes, perhaps pedestrians should be banned as well.

After all, if it saves one cyclist…

John Eoin Douglas

A Taste of Honey by 18-year-old Shelagh Delaney first burst onto the stage of the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, in May 1958, where its brave, unsentimental depiction of working-class life – complete with single motherhood, teenage pregnancy, interracial relationships and unapologetic homosexuality – shocked and excited in equal measure.

More than 50 years on, the play has lost none of its relevance. Yes, it feels very much of its time, but although we might like to congratulate ourselves on our more liberal values today, the play’s themes of poverty and prejudice – especially as brought vividly to life in the Lyceum’s scorching new production – still ring frighteningly true.

Most memorable is the sheer messy energy of Delaney’s seething creation. There are inconsistencies, and characters appear and disappear without much explanation, but it all adds to the dirty realism that the writer so compellingly conveys. And it’s an intensity and power that Tony Cownie’s urgent yet lyrical Lyceum production ably delivers, while still retaining a level-headed clarity as it works through the play’s tough themes.

Lucy Black and Rebecca Ryan shine as the central mother and daughter Helen and Jo, both searching for love yet seemingly resigned to loneliness. Both actors are superbly alive to the working-class Salford dialect, in crisp performances pitched somewhere between warm affection and ferocious contempt. As a damaged yet determined Jo, Ryan shows that in rebelling against her single-minded mother, she only becomes more like her.

Keith Fleming may be a little broad as the drunken, lustful Peter, Helen’s short-term fancy man, but he brings a unsettling dark edge to the character’s sometimes humorous antics. Adrian Decosta is all wide-eyed charm as Jo’s (even more short-term) boyfriend, and Charlie Ryan tugs the heartstrings (yet steers clear of camp stereotypes) as the good-hearted Geoffrey, grateful for a welcome from Jo when his landlord throws him onto the street, yet cast aside when he’s no longer useful.

Janet Bird’s elegant revolving set allows smooth transitions from scene to scene, but its cold, steel backdrop suggests that the characters are imprisoned in their respective fates. However, the play’s seemingly bleak conclusion – played with gripping desperation by Ryan – seems to hint that no matter how broken it is, life will go on.

A Taste of Honey continues at the Lyceum Theatre until 9 February

The final bell is about to sound for the trio of groups battling for the future of Portobello Park.  A council consultation on the need for a Private Bill to deal with the future of the park has been running since the beginning of December, and comes to an end on 31 January 2013.

The main player is The City of Edinburgh Council, whose predecessors in 1898 were given the land with a clause in the title deeds stating that ‘the area shall be used exclusively as a public park and recreational ground for behoof of the community’. After consultation on potential sites in 2006, the Council agreed that the best site for the proposed new Portobello High School was Portobello Park. Full funding for the project quickly followed and detailed planning permission was granted in early 2011.

A local community group, Portobello Park Action Group, who opposed the Council’s legal right to build on the land. In September 2012 they won an historic legal battle when the Court of Session ruled that it was illegal to build upon the Park, which is inalienable ‘common good land’.

The Council have now proposed to enrol a Private Bill with the Scottish Parliament. This Bill will attempt to address the current legal issues and allow the use of Portobello Park as the new site for the school. The Council stress that the Private Bill would apply only to this site and would not change the status of any other Common Good Land either in Edinburgh or the rest of Scotland.

Portobello Park Action Group have countered: “Having already spent £175,000 in legal fees in the recent Court cases – along with the time taken by council officers persuing the blind legal alley – it is clear that £250.000 is a figure which is not altogether far-sighted.”

A third group, Portobello For a New School, supports the Council’s plans. The trio met last week in Portobello Town Hall, where it has to be said some bitterness spilled over. The emotive subject has caused much discussion in the area, some of which has been played out on Facebook, and some tempers were lost at recent public meetings to discuss the matter.

Marion Jones, (66), of 12 Magdalene Avenue, is one of the few ‘sitting on the fence’ when she says: “We all know that we need a new school built – but I’m not sure the Council have gone about this in the right way. I personally know of life-long friends who no longer talk to each other because of their opposing views. I just hope it reaches an amicable conclusion.”

That conclusion will be reached soon. The results of the Consultation will be reported to the Council at their meeting on 14 March 2013 –and if the Bill proceeds – a decision by the Scottish parliament should be reached by February 2014. The other alternatives are to purchase the Scottish Power site at Baileyfield and use that for the new school or rebuild on the existing site, which was previously discounted.

The Consultation period runs until 5pm on Thursday, 31 st January 2013. Anyone still wishing to vote can do so here on the council website.

Or you may add your thoughts by Email: NewSchoolBuildings@edinburgh.gov.uk

Forms can also be obtained at Piershill/Portobello libraries.

The council have also said that although the consultation on Castlebrae School has ended there will be no decision on the future of that school until after the March council meeting. Education officers are still analysing feedback about that and all councillors will then decide the fate of Castlebrae.

Fire in Fountainbridge – Referendum Question – Abduction – Macmillan Cancer Support Mammoth Quiz – Tonight at the Filmhouse

 There was a serious fire yesterday in Fountainbridge and five people had to be rescued after the common stair was deemed unsafe due to the smoke accumulated there. They had a rather more public rescue than they might have wished for as the STV offices are just round the corner and they were on the scene almost as fast as Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service to video what was happening and then stream it live. You can see the report and the footage here.

More than fifty firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze and five people were rescued from the building on Fountainbridge after a first floor tenement flat went on fire shortly before 10.15am. A further two women who escaped were taken to hospital with severe smoke inhalation and a man also got out of the building on his own, but was not treated as a casualty.

The five rescued by firefighters using a height appliance were all treated at the scene by ambulance personnel.

Five appliances were sent to the scene along with a number of specialist appliances after Fire Control received several calls reporting a flat alight.

The first units were on the scene within two minutes of being mobilised from Tollcross fire station, which is just round the corner from where the fire broke out.

When crews arrived, they saw thick black smoke and flames coming from the window of the affected property and discovered two women who were already out of the building but who had been badly affected by smoke inhalation.

Ten firefighters in breathing apparatus were used to fight the fire and check the six properties in the affected stair for other residents. One woman, who was in the flat above the property where the fire broke out, was given fire survival guidance by Control Room staff until crews were able to get to her and rescue her.

As well as tackling the blaze, fire crews were systematically checking properties to ensure that no one else was trapped or overcome by the smoke from the fire. The incident commander was satisfied that all the premises were thoroughly searched and clear just after midday.

Lothian Road was closed for a number of hours to allow for firefighting operations to take place. Crews remained on site for the rest of the afternoon to clear the debris from the affected properties and begin fire investigation.

***

The Scottish independence referendum question, “Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?” has been put to the Electoral Commission, who have now delivered their findings on its suitability, and have rejected the question.

The Scottish Government today confirmed it will accept all of the Electoral Commission recommendations on the referendum question and campaign spending limits.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was delighted with the recommended question – ’Should Scotland be an independent country? Yes/No’ – and confirmed that it will be this question that is put before the Scottish Parliament.

In line with established practice in referendums throughout the UK, the Scottish Parliament will take the final decision on the wording of the question and campaign spending limits as part of its consideration of the Referendum Bill, which will be introduced in March.

Ms Sturgeon also welcomed the Electoral Commission’s calls for clarity around what a ‘No’ vote will mean for Scotland and its recommendation that the Scottish and UK governments work together to give clarity to the process that will follow a ‘Yes’ vote. She called on the UK government to accept these recommendations.

Ms Sturgeon said:

“I would like to thank the Electoral Commission for the work they have done on testing our proposed referendum question and giving advice on campaign spending limits. I am pleased to confirm we will accept their recommendations in full. I am particularly delighted with the conclusion the Electoral Commission has reached on the question. While its view is that our proposed question was clear, simple and easy to understand, I am nevertheless happy to accept their recommended change. Their advice is based on rigorous testing and we will submit the Electoral Commission’s recommended question – ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’ – to the Scottish Parliament as part of the Referendum Bill.

“I am also pleased with the spending limits proposed by the Electoral Commission – they deliver a level playing field and will allow a fair and balanced debate on both sides.  I am also pleased that the Commission has modified the position set out in their response to our consultation in March, as this would have resulted in an imbalance between the two sides of the campaign. We have always said that Scotland’s referendum will be run to the highest international standards of fairness and transparency, and the Electoral Commission plays a vital role in that.

“The Scottish Parliament will take the final decision on the wording of the question and campaign spending limits as part of its consideration of the Referendum Bill which reinforces that this is truly a referendum made in Scotland. I also welcome the Electoral Commission calls for both the Scottish and UK Governments to clarify what process will follow the referendum if most voters vote ‘Yes’ or most voters vote ‘No’ vote.  The Electoral Commission rightly point out this is in line with the Edinburgh Agreement.

“I have been calling for the UK Government to enter discussions to allow the voters to be better informed, but so far they have refused.  This would not be pre-negotiation on the terms of independence but vital information for voters that will allow them to make an informed choice in autumn 2014.  Given the Scottish Government is accepting all recommendations from the Electoral Commission I would hope that the UK Government is prepared to do the same.”

***

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses following an assault and abduction in Edinburgh.

The incident happened around 5.30pm yesterday afternoon in Royston Mains Crescent.

A 45-year-old Chinese man was entering a common stair in the street when three men approached and began assaulting him before producing a knife and stealing the personal possessions from his pockets. The victim was then forced into the back of a black car, which drove off towards Crew Road North.

After a short time the car stopped at a walkway, which runs between the Morrisons supermarket and the Ainslie Park Leisure Centre, and man was removed from the vehicle where he tried to seek assistance from passing cyclists. He was then dragged back into the car and was taken back at Royston Mains Crescent.

The suspects all made off and police were contacted.

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

All three men are described as white, in their twenties, average height and had scarves covering their faces.

Detective Sergeant Andy Macmillan said: “While the victim was not seriously injured, this was a terrifying ordeal for him to endure and he was left understandably distressed.
–
“Police are carrying out local enquiries to see if anyone remembers seeing anything suspicious in the area, or can help us identify the men responsible. We are particularly keen to speak to the cyclists who rode past the man after he exited the car. These individuals are asked to contact police immediately.

“Similarly, anyone with other information relevant to this investigation is also asked to come forward.”

Those with information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

***

Macmillan Cancer Support is encouraging people in Edinburgh to get together and organise a Mammoth Quiz to raise thousands of pounds for the charity.

The Mammoth Quiz was created by a Macmillan fundraising committee who write all the questions and distribute the quiz packs, so all people need to do is sign up and get some friends together on February 22^nd 2013.  To take part and organise a quiz in your area contact anna@webboundle.co.uk

Daphne Fowler, who appears in TV quiz show Eggheads said; “I am delighted to be the Patron for the Mammoth Quiz, I think it’s a fantastic event and is so easy for people to get involved.  I would encourage everyone to sign up, it s always such fun and I can’t wait to head along to my local Mammoth Quiz again this year.”

***

Had enough of January and the long days at work? Cheer yourself up with a visit to the cinema. Tonight at the Filmhouse for example they are showing Life of Pi which we heartily recommend and Jules et Jim in the early part of the evening, the 1961 Truffaut film about a romantic triangle. For the Francophiles among you here is what one YouTube user says is the definitive scene… in French mind you with no subtitles! (We are sure they will have subtitles at the Filmhouse!)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kl8Xw8cBIQ]

A 26-year-old man who appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, and pleaded guilty to stealing£33,646.00 from an Edinburgh pensioner’s Post Office Savings Account, had his sentence deferred until next month for reports.

Marjorie Mills deposited several thousands of pounds into the account  where she thought it would be safe. She had previously been attacked in her city home.

Post Office worker, Nadeem Amjid, began to skim the cash each time Ms Mills made a withdrawal at Colinton Mains Post Office.

The offences began in October 2010 when Amjid noticed the customer only ever withdrew fifty pounds from her account. During the following 19 months he manipulated the records and customer receipts by giving the pensioner £50 and pocketing £600 for himself.

The fraud only came to light when Ms Mills’ daughter checked her mother’s account and saw both the high withdrawals and conflicting statements. Police were then alerted and they discovered that Amjid was the person who served her every time the withdrawals were made.

In court Prosection lawyer Isobel Clark said :- “The complainer had once been attacked in her home and it was her family who advised her to deposit the money into the savings account”.

The Post Office refunded all the money.

Grass roots environmental projects in Edinburgh have received over £5,000 funding support from the Central Scotland Green Network’s (CSGN) Community Projects Fund, to improve their local greenspace and enhance the quality of their environment.

Supported by Forestry Commission Scotland, the CSGN Community Projects Fund is designed to help local communities get involved in delivering green network improvements on the ground to foster community pride in their local greenspaces.

In total, £5,826 was awarded to three projects in the Edinburgh area. The Granton Community Gardeners group has been awarded £2,000 to support North Edinburgh Harvest by purchasing a range of tools, so that the group can accomodate more people working in the garden. The funding will also be used to make access improvements to the garden for older or disabled people.

The Friends of Cammo group has been awarded £1,826 to carry out improvements to the Pinetum at the Cammo Estate in Edinburgh. This project is part of an ongoing series of works to improve the habitat and amenity of the Estate. The funding will be used to plant hedgerows, create areas of wildflowers and to commence management of the Pinetum by replacing trees, clearing scrub, and providing additional space for young ”endangered” species of conifers.

Finally the GreenFerry Trust has been awarded £2,000 to improve the nature conservation value of Hopetoun Road Community Woodland and to provide a high quality landscape that the local community can experience and enjoy.
Keith Geddes, Chair of the Central Scotland Green Network Partnership Board, said:- “After the positive response our Community Projects Fund received in its inaugural year, it is great to see the programme continue to go from strength to strength and cement our commitment to providing support to grass-roots environmental projects.”

“The CSGN Community Projects Fund aims to break down barriers and provide much needed support for projects that are delivering environmental improvements on the ground. It is these initiatives which are instrumental in achieving our goal of creating a high-quality green network across Central Scotland that will meet environmental, social and economic objectives and ultimately improve the quality of life for local communities.”

Thirty three environmental community projects throughout the CSGN area received a share of this year’s Community Projects Fund.

As one of the Scottish Government’s 14 ‘National Developments’ for Scotland in the second National Planning Framework, the CSGN will change the face of Central Scotland, by restoring, transforming and greening the landscape of an area stretching from Ayrshire and Inverclyde in the west, to Fife and the Lothians in the east.

The CSGN encompasses 19 local authorities across 10,000 sq km and has the potential to benefit 3.5million people, equating to 70 per cent of Scotland’s population. The network’s overarching vision is that by 2050, Central Scotland will be transformed into a place where the environment adds value to the economy and where people’s lives are enriched by its quality.

For further information about the CSGN Community Projects Fund, please visit http://www.centralscotlandgreennetwork.org

Submitted by Central Scotland Green Network

Marco Polo back in Leith with early booking savings

Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) www.cruiseandmaritime.com 0844 414 6185 will be operating the classic 800 passenger cruise ship Marco Polo out of Leith from May to July 2013. It will mean that those living in Scotland can choose a cruise holiday departure that doesn’t involve a long journey to the port.

Marco Polo accommodates mainly British guests and operates as an adult-only ship. She offers a traditional and intimate country house style cruise experience. The on board currency is sterling, English is spoken throughout the ship and there’s highly rated live entertainment. Accommodation is on a full board basis plus afternoon tea and late night snacks. Also included in the fare are a daytime activities programme, guest speakers, stylish ‘big show’ evening entertainment and porterage of luggage from port to cabin.

Mike Hall, Head of Marketing at CMV said “It’s been clear how much people appreciate the idea of starting their cruising holiday from a ‘local’ port, so we are delighted to offer again a choice of popular summer itineraries from Leith, ranging from a weekend mini cruise to a 13 night North Cape voyage. In addition we are offering ‘Saver’ prices with benefits of up to 25% off brochure price, available for those booking between now and 18 March 2013.”

Cruises available from Leith in 2013

26 May 2013:

Scottish islands and Faroes

A five night cruise over the Spring Bank Holiday. It offers the remote and dramatic scenery of the Faroes, Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands. Fares from £509pp

31 May 2013:

Baltic Capitals & St Petersburg

In 12 nights this cruise reveals the unique gems that are the Baltic cities, culminating in the spectacular opulence of St. Petersburg in Russia. Copenhagen offers grace and charm; Tallinn has its fairytale-like mediaeval streets and skylines. In Helsinki, ancient and modern architecture sits comfortably side by side and Sweden’s elegant capital Stockholm spreads itself across no fewer than 14 islands. A call at Warnemünde on the outward journey offers the option of a visit to Berlin and on the return to Leith Marco Polo sails through the impressive Keil Canal.

Fares from £1269pp.

12 June 2013

Majestic Fjordlands

A 7 night cruise to the majesty and splendour of Norway’s fjords. You can but stand and stare as Marco Polo glides past the granite cliffs, the waterfalls and the pretty villages and rural farmsteads. The itinerary includes journey into the Sogne, Norways’s longest fjord and to Flåm from where you can ride on the famous mountain railway. Other ports include Olden, a charming village on the Nordfjord and picturesque Geiranger lying at the head of probably the most beautiful of the fjords. On route back, Marco Polo calls at Norway’s ancient second city, Bergen and at Kirkwall in the Orkneys. Fares from £749pp

19 June 2013

Iceland and the Faroe Islands

This 11 night cruise crosses into the Arctic Circle and circumnavigates Iceland so you can explore the geothermal pools, hot springs, ice caps and active volcanoes of the island’s dramatic landscapes. From Leith Marco Polo first calls at Kirkwall, then Heimaey on the remote Westmann Islands before four Iceland ports of Reykjavik, Isafjördur, Akureyri and Seydisfjördur. The ship returns by the Faroe and Shetland islands. Fares from £1109pp.

30 June 2013

North Cape & Spitzbergen

As well journeying along Norway’s Fjordland coast, this 13 night voyage takes you to the North Cape and deep into the Arctic Circle with its breathtaking vistas and wonderful wildlife. At Norway’s most northernmost tip, Honningsvaag, there is the chance to experience 24 hours of daylight in this ‘Land of the Midnight Sun’; on the remote island of Spirzbergen you may watch reindeer roaming free. The cruise also includes the Faroe and Orkney islands.

Fares from £1129pp.

13 July 2013

Weekend Mini Cruise

A sumptuous dinner, a night of fabulous entertainment including a West End style show, late night cabaret and disco, a cabin for the night and breakfast. From Leith Marco Polo sails down the east coast of Britain to London Tilbury, from where there is coach transfer back to Leith. Fares from £69pp.

Watch more information about these Leith departures at www.cruiseandmaritime.tv

Edinburgh Evening News staff are celebrating after scooping several prizes at the first in-house journalism awards run in Scotland by the paper’s publishers according to AllMediaScotland.

In competition with 26 other Johnston Press newspapers in Scotland – including The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday – the Edinburgh Evening News was named as a winner in six out of the eight categories in which it entered.

These awards are a recognition of a strong year at the News, which has broken a series of high-profile stories, including the Mortonhall Crematorium ashes scandal, NHS Lothian, the Edinburgh trams and the Suzanne Pilley murder.

In addition, the paper took full advantage of the first all-Edinburgh cup final in 116 years, producing a series of supplements that led to a sales boost of 40,000 copies in the ten days around the final.

The final also allowed staff to produce a fun video, Go East, which took the innovation award which you can watch again here…..and relive the Scottish Cup frenzy!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxsF4Y6Pv4M]

Editor, Frank O’Donnell,said:- “This is recognition for the work of all staff on the title, who put in long, long hours to ensure the Edinburgh Evening News punches above its weight.

“Scotland’s evening dailies remain strong and continue to produce some of the most important journalism in the country.”

According to a recent BBC Scotland interview with the chief executive, Ashley Highfield, the aim is to introduce local TV to areas not currently served by the BBC, as well as reduce the company borrowing which was reduced by £20m in the last financial year.

The winners’ list reads:

Story of the Year in Print and in Digital

Gina Davidson, Edinburgh Evening News

Journalist of the Year

Daniel Sanderson, Edinburgh Evening News

Stacey Mullen, Cumbernauld News/Kirkintilloch Herald Series

Editorial Design Award (front page of the year)

Mark Fearn, The Edinburgh Evening News

Kathryn Dunn and Charlie Cooper, Special Reports, TSPL

Photographer of the Year

Ian Rutherford, The Scotsman Publications

Michael Gillen, The Falkirk Herald

Sports Journalist of the Year

Jennifer Newton, The Arbroath Herald

Eric Mackinnon, The Stornoway Gazette

Best Use of Social Media

Edinburgh Evening News

Innovation Award

The Edinburgh Evening News

Best Use of Digital

Edinburgh Evening News for Edinburgh’s Got Talent

Trainee Journalist of the Year

Jenny Kane, The Stornoway Gazette

Title of the Year (small weekly)

The Midlothian Advertiser

Title of the Year (large weekly)

The Falkirk Herald

Community Initiative Award

Fife Free Press

Glasgow South and Eastwood Extra

Sales Team of the Year

Fife sales team

Best Sales Team for Digital Growth

Digital team at TSPL

Managing Director’s Award

John Gow, head of Admin Support Unit, TSPL

Edinburgh College students kick-off careers with footie course

A group of young lads are celebrating after passing a new football themed course, which sees unemployed people completing coaching courses and SQA units, combined with work skills and personal development to kick-start their careers.

Football Works is delivered by Street Soccer Scotland, a Social Enterprise which uses football to inspire adults and young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and Edinburgh College in partnership with several organisations. The free course is open to anyone who is unemployed and 16 years old and over. During the course, students learned training skills with Street Soccer Scotland coaches, gained essential communication skills in the classroom and achieved an SQA qualification in Communications and Working With Others.

25-year-old Football Works student John Brash from Tranent said: “I’ve always been a football fan and have played for several teams, so this seemed like the perfect course for me while I’ve been out of work.”-

“We learned lots of new skills and I enjoyed learning how to teach young people how to stretch, dribble and pass. One of the highlights for me was learning how to write essays. I was never good at English in school and this made me a bit more confident in my writing.”

John added:-“Up until yesterday I was homeless but I’ve now found temporary accommodation in Tranent. My partner has a baby on the way, and I’m looking into doing a training course at Edinburgh College as well as volunteering to help out with the next Football Works course, so I’m looking forward to the next steps in my life.”

Fellow student Declan Quinn, 18 years old from Tranent but currently living in Port Seton, said:- “I really enjoyed the course. The best part was putting what I’d learned into practice by training p7s from Prestonpans Primary School.”

A key aim of the 8-week course is building employment skills, which includes work placements with local schools and partners such as Edinburgh Leisure and Dunedin Canmore Housing Association.

Edinburgh College Learning Assistant, Louise Grace, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the boys have passed their course and now have an SQA qualification under their belts.”

“Their love of football really brought them all together and taught them valuable new skills. It’s been a pleasure to teach them and I can see that they have bright futures ahead of them.”

Street Soccer Scotland, Founder and Chief Executive David Duke said, “We are pleased with the success of the recent Football Works courses in East Lothian. Hearing the stories of how John and Declan have used the course to the benefit of the community and their own personal development is inspiring for all of us.

“We hope that many more people can access Football Works on their journey into positive destinations. We are also pleased to have great partners such as Edinburgh College, Dunedin Canmore Group and Edinburgh Leisure who add so much to the course.”

The group of students took part in the football course at the Pennypit Centre in Prestonpans and the Bleaching Fields in Dunbar. The next Football Works course in East Lothian will begin soon and there are also regular Football Works course running across Edinburgh. Please visit www.streetsoccerscotland.org for more information about the Football Works course.

Edinburgh College also offers a wide variety of Skills Development Scotland courses for those aged between 16- 24 years. Please visit www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk for further information and to apply.

Photography caption: (Top L to R) Street Soccer Scotland coaches Ally Dawson and Robert Hare, Football Works students Declan Quinn, Warren Leitch, Brandon West and Street Soccer Scotland coaches Andy Hook and Scott Hollinshead.

(Bottom L to R): Football Works students Jamie Stewart, John Brash, Steven Batchelor and Dean Lawrie.