Edinburgh Eagles are through to the second round of the Betfred Rugby League Challenge Cup after coming from behind at the interval to defeat Lowca RL 28-22 in Whitehaven, Cumbria.
Eagles trailed 10-4 at the break but staged a second half rally to earn another away tie against Castleford Lock in a fortnight.
Captain Lewis Clarke was player-of-the-match and he contributed a try for the Capital outfit.
Other scorers were Ross Mawdesley, Apenai Kororua, Mark Robertson, Viliami Rokobull and Terry Logan.
From an earlier match – Eagles in action Photo Jax Mackenzie
Murrayfield community councillor delivers message to Prime Minister
Chair of One Democratic Palestine (ODP), Pete Gregson, went to Downing Street on Thursday to hand in a letter to the Prime Minister signed by 1,410 supporters calling for the removal of Hamas from the UK’s Proscribed List of Terrorist Bodies.
The open letter was created by means of a petition set up by ODP, an organisation with around 85 members. Mr Gregson had tried to deliver the letter in December but was told he had to “go away and fill in some more forms”. On Thursday accompanied by two fellow supporters he was permitted access to the famous black door to make the delivery.
The letter points out that whilst the Hamas military wing, the Qassam Brigades, were proscribed in 2001, the political wing was only added in 2021, following Priti Patel’s “secret meetings” whilst on an Israeli holiday. The Terrorism Act 2000 provides that any person affected by proscription may call upon the government to remove the proscribed body from the list.
Originally Mr Gregson tried to lodge the petition through the Parliamentary Petitions website, only for it to be rejected because “It calls for an action relating to a particular individual, or organisation outside of the UK Government or Parliament”.
Gregson then approached GoPetition in the USA, who agreed to carry it.
He said: “In light of the fact that Israel has been using their massacre of the 7th Oct as a reason to “wipe out Hamas” for deaths that Israel itself mostly caused, we feel it essential that the UK Government reconsider this listing.
“Hamas were elected by a big majority of Palestinians in 2006 – but excluded from their right to govern Palestine. All their requests to the Palestine Authority for fresh elections have been denied. Their “Document of General Principles and Policies” published in May 2017, makes clear that Hamas are committed to democracy, that their enemy is not Jews, but Zionism – and they would call a truce if Israel withdrew to their 1967 borders. However, their ultimate objective would be the end of Israel and its replacement with one democratic Palestine, with equal rights for all.
“The UN refuses to proscribe Hamas, as they recognise that Palestinians have a right to use armed struggle to end their 75-years of occupation against a colonising power that denies their rights. We will continue with this petition, which can be found at www.tiny.cc/hamas , until we have succeeded in convincing UK Parliamentarians that we must do as we did with Northern Ireland, when we kept speaking to Sinn Fein, even whilst the IRA were bombing Britain. Because we have proscribed Hamas, we leave the Palestinians – and most particularly the Gazans- without a voice.”
Until December Mr Gregson was an active member of Murrayfield Community Council (MCC) but he was asked to resign over social media comments relating to Palestine which the Chair felt breached the code of conduct for Community Councils. He has refused to comply with the request.
Mr Gregson told The Edinburgh Reporter: “Why should I resign? I have done nothing illegal; I have done nothing that would draw the MCC into disrepute. My right to freedom of expression is enshrined by law in Section 10 of the 1997 Human Rights act. The MCC is breaching that right, for I have never said a word about Palestine, speaking as a representative of MCC. If I had, there may be some reason to censor me. The MCC is simply over-reacting to a complaint. Why are they listening to a nutcase?”
The community council minutes reflect the view of the Chair and other members. The minutes state: “The Chair reported that P Gregson had recently attracted attention on social media by actively promoting his views on a particularly sensitive issue, namely the situation in Gaza. It was felt that this activity was potentially in breach of Paragraph 3.4 of the Scheme for Community Councils which obliges a Community Councillor to desist from conduct likely to bring the Community Councillor and/or the Community Council into disrepute. The office bearers had taken the decision to ask P Gregson to resign. He had refused and on the advice of the Governance Team at the City Council the office bearers had lodged a complaint, which would be determined by an independent panel and a decision given within 40 working days.”
Mr Gregson was instrumental in ensuring that the former public toilets in Roseburn Park were converted into café premises which opened in 2023, and has led on the move to erect a plaque honouring John Lennon and commemorating his association with Murrayfield.
He also stood as an independent candidate in the by election held in Corstorphine and Murrayfield last year.
Woman charged with driving offence during pro-Palestine march
A woman has been charged with a driving offence following an incident on The Mound during the pro-Palestine march held in Edinburgh on Saturday.
According to reports the 70-year-old driver drove her Seat Leon car into the crowd which was then surrounded by protesters and police. No-one required medical attention.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2.30pm on Saturday, we were made aware of a road crash involving a car and a small number of pedestrians in Ramsay Lane, Edinburgh.
“Officers received reports of minor injuries from pedestrians, but no medical attention was required.
“A 70-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection with a driving offence.
“A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”
The march continued to Bute House in Charlotte Square where a small crowd chanted and police remained in attendance until just before 5pm when the protesters dispersed.
West Town Edinburgh will extend the city towards the airport
Drum Property Group are heading up a consortium of developers who have submitted plans for a new residential area on a 200 acre site between the Park and Ride at Ingliston and Gogar Roundabout.
The plans are to create a 20 minute neighbourhood of more than 7,000 homes in a £2 billion development. Developers say that the homes will help the city address the declared housing emergency and that the plans comply with the council’s City Plan 2030 which earmarks this area for development.
Along with homes, schools, medical provision, bars, restaurants, cafés, retail and commercial premises, the 27 acres of green space will include a 5.5 acre central park and a wildlife corridor. The plans show a network of cycling, running and walking tracks and the area is served by the tram route where a new stop will be created.
The local developer Drum Property Group which was behind the redevelopment of Stead’s Place on Leith Walk formed West Town Edinburgh in April 2021 to lead development of this site which is considered one of the city’s most important.
Graeme Bone, Drum’s Group Managing Director said: “We now have the opportunity to make West Town an exemplar, sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood on a par with the best new developments taking place across the UK and Europe. “This planning application is a significant milestone in realising the ambition we share with the council both for the local area and for the city, further strengthening the long-term collaborative process that is set to deliver a major transformation of the west of Edinburgh. The amount of space on the site combined with its superb location allows for a natural extension for the city providing 7000 mixed-tenure homes and new jobs in a new 20-minute neighbourhood. West Town has direct access to some of the best public transport in Scotland – the tram line travels through the site and there are integrated rail, cycle and road connections, creating a strategic gateway to Edinburgh.
“Drum has a proven track record of delivering high quality large-scale communities across Scotland and our ambition for the area matches that of the proposed Edinburgh City Plan 2030. We look forward to continuing to work with the Council to advance our shared vision to create a new, sustainable urban quarter for the city.”
If approved the development would get underway by the end of this year with first homes available in two years’ time. Public consultation took place over the last year.
Figures released show that more people stayed in hotels and patronised retail and leisure businesses in Edinburgh over Christmas and Hogmanay.
The Business Improvement District, Essential Edinburgh, and Edinburgh Hotels Association have both agreed their satisfaction with the numbers, although trading figures for city centre businesses have not yet been released. In December footfall on Princes Street increased by just under 10% on December 2019 statistics and by 15.4% on 2022 traffic. In all the footfall on Rose Street increased by 10.2% over the whole month of December compared to 2022 and on Princes Street by 1.1%. This was well ahead of the Scottish high street index which was down by -2.1%.
In Edinburgh hotels occupancy rates were recorded of up to 92.5%, confirming the city’s reputation as a Christmas and New Year destination.
Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh who run the city centre business improvement district, said: “The figures show the positive impact of year-round tourism for the city and the important contribution to our economic wellbeing that tourism makes. We continue to play it down at our peril and we over-tax it at our peril. It is so important to the city we need to invest in tourism and support it heavily, including shouting from the rooftops about how important it is to us. And we need our local and national governments to do the same and mean it.”
“Yes, we have new openings and are gathering good footfall but overheads have been and still are increasing a lot and we know from the sector profits are certainly not going up – you only need to look at the number of business closures across the UK in these sectors. Government at all levels needs to understand the need to support these sectors who are huge employers in the city and generate vast tax revenues for the Government, essential to funding our public services.”
“It is perplexing that so many politicians talk about the need for economic growth but are then pretty silent on the potential of growing tourism, something which is already a massively important contributor to our economic wellbeing.”
It is the retail, hospitality and tourism sectors which were among the worst hit during the pandemic, with other factors including Brexit, energy costs, high inflation and labour shortages also cited as challenges.
Neil Ellis, Chair of Edinburgh Hotels Association, said the sector was happy with the room rate over the three evenings of Hogmanay, particularly the high of 92.5% on New Year’s Eve which was an increase on the previous year of almost 20%, despite the opening of additional hotels.
He said much of this was expected because of the increased capacity for the Street Party and the wider access created by the programme. “Edinburgh continues to attract visitors, all year round from all over the world. This is only achieved via a huge team effort and of course continued product development in our fantastic array of hotels, bars, restaurants, attractions, museums and retail.”
“We are trying to remain optimistic about the future but the recent Scottish Government Budget has done nothing to help hospitality businesses with many disappointed at the lack of support. There are still huge cost pressures with still relatively high general inflation, food inflation stubbornly higher than that and the increase in the Living Wage in April which will result in an untenable position for some. This is on top of additional regulation around calorie labelling, proposed restrictions on alcohol advertising and the rearing up again of the deposit return scheme.”
Pizza Geeks have a January offer
All three outlets of Pizza Geeks in Haymarket, Leith and on Easter Road have a January offer available to customers.
Kyber Mondays 90 minutes of all-you-can-eat, unlimited pizza for £15. Dare to try every pizza on our menu, or stick to your favourites. The choice is yours.
Terms and conditions – Dine in only. All guests at a table must take part in this offer.
To keep your pizza fresh and prevent waste, Pizza Geeks will bring over extra pizza when your previous serving is finished. No takeaway boxes for unfinished pizza & not available in conjunction with any other offers.
Lunchtime Pizza & Drink | £9 Choose any of the regular sized pizzas & a soft drink or coffee for £9. Dine in, takeaway or collection only. Available Monday – Friday 12pm-4pm
Terms and Conditions – Not available for delivery, Collection & dine in only. Add-ons and extras incur an additional charge. Not available in conjunction with any other offer.
App Orders
20% off through January using codes “LIGHTSIDE” for first time users and “BACKTOTHEGEEKS” for returning customers, if you’re smart you can get 20% off more than one order. Delivery & collection only – must be ordered through the Pizza Geeks app.
While they are selling pizzas the company is also donating pizzas to those in need – so far they have given away 39,188 pizzas to those who need them. In 2018 they launched Pizza for the People and simply by dining with Pizza Geeks, you are contributing to their initiative that combines their passion for pizza with their commitment to supporting the local community.
A new exhibition opens on Saturday with a very long name – the 143rd Open Annual Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour (RSW).
The show includes 370 new paintings by more than 150 artists, some of whom are the country’s most highly acclaimed painters.
There are also more than 100 paintings submitted from non-members, and a showcase of international work collated by the National Watercolour Society based in California.
The 40 paintings in the international section include artists from Singapore, Netherlands, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the US.
President of the RSW, artist Angus McEwan, said: “We are looking forward to a great show, which promises to be as varied as ever.
“We have a huge range, from work by some of the finest artists working in traditional watercolour,right through to work by artists who are really pushing the boundaries.
“I have been to watercolour exhibitions all over the world and the work we have in Scotland is more highly coloured, more expressive, more daring than most.
“I don’t think we like to be hemmed in, maybe that’s part of the Scottish psyche. We enjoying pushing the envelope and trying things out.”
This year, the RSW Annual exhibition will share the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) Upper Galleries with the National Galleries of Scotland’s show of watercolours by J. M. W. Turner. At the same time, an exhibition on William Gillies, a past President of the RSW, will take place in the lower galleries, organised by the RSA.
McEwan said: “We are honoured to be showing alongside these watercolour heavyweights. Gillies was an inspiration to many as a teacher at Edinburgh College of Art and a prolific painter in watercolours.
“January has always been the time when the National Galleries of Scotland shows the collection of Turner watercolours left by Henry Vaughan, and this year they will be displayed alongside some of the best paintings in water-based media by contemporary artists.”
The 143rd Open Annual exhibition will be accompanied by a parallel online show featuring one work by all the participating artists, on www.rsw.org.uk
PHOTO Colin Hattersley PhotographyPHOTO Colin Hattersley PhotographyPHOTO Colin Hattersley PhotographyPHOTO Colin Hattersley PhotographyPHOTO Colin Hattersley Photography
Cut out mistakes urges coach Coolen
Mistakes continue to prove costly for Fife Flyers, according to coach Tom Coolen, as he attempts to drive his men into the top eight of the Elite League.
The Kirkcaldy club host Guildford Flames on Saturday (face-off 19.15) and they are desperately in need of points. Fife have met Guildford on five occasions so far this term. In the league the Scots lost 2-0 in Surrey in early December and 5-2 at Guildford on November 5 but won 3-0 at Kirkcaldy on October 21.
In the Challenge Cup, Flames won the first-leg 3-1 at Kirkcaldy on December 6 and took the second-leg 3-2 in Surrey on December 132.
Coolen (pictured), however, continues to remain up-beat despite dropping two points at home last Sunday to Nottingham Panthers, a side who arrived on an eight-game winless streak and short-benched, and the potential loss of a key defenceman.
Captain Jonas Emmerdahl’s inclusion will be a game-time decision.
Again last Sunday, two Panthers goals came as a result of players not blocking shots. Emmerdahl is a key element on penalty kill and the team overall.
No 1 goaltender Shane Owen, sidelined through injury for recent games after being hurt at Belfast Giants just before Christmas, has been back on the ice and Coolen said Emmerdahl and Owen would be game-time decisions. He has emergency goalie cover in Kevin Lindskoug. He formerly played for Flames.
Coolen’s goal is a place in the top eight at the end of the regular season and he said: “When we are healthy and rested we can compete with teams in this league.”
Against Panthers, he said, his men made “a couple of mistakes” and he has gone into that aspect ahead of Saturday’s home joust.
The coach added: “Ice hockey is a game of mistakes. Minimise them and score a big goal or two then you are in business. It is difficult, however, to play a perfect game. We’ve won two out of three and we’re hoping to make it three out of four on Saturday. Yes, we are disappointed at not taking four points last weekend after our great win in Belfast but injuries left us short of cover.
“We need everybody to be fit and healthy to be successful but I’m not going to dwell on that. We’ll wait until game time to decide on Emmerdahl and Owen but we have cover for Owen in Kevin Lindskoug who played against Belfast and Nottingham.”
For the record, Flyers head for Coventry Blaze on Sunday (face-off 17.30) and Coolen said: “Guildford are a very good team with speed and we’ll deal with Coventry after Saturday’s game at the Fife Ice Arena.”
Letter to the Editor
From Elaine Kinnell, NSPCC Scotland Schools Service Manager
Dear Editor,
This month, the NSPCC is calling on people across Scotland to help us deliver vital child safeguarding messaging to local schoolchildren.
Speak Out Stay Safe uses age-appropriate language and workshops with our friendly mascot Buddy to help children aged 5 to 11 understand how to recognise abuse in all its forms.
We have some amazing volunteers here in Scotland and during the last year they have delivered Speak Out Stay Safe to over 70,300 children in 373 schools across Scotland.
However, we want to reach every child in every classroom, and to do that we need more volunteers.
Our Schools Service feels like being part of a family, with volunteers meeting like-minded people and delivering workshops to help children understand that it is never their fault if they experience abuse, that they have the right to be safe, and how to get help from safe adults and the NSPCC’s Childline service.
Volunteers receive full training and support and are only asked to visit two schools a month, but can make a real difference to children’s lives.
Eyre Place Lane development – less than a week to make comments on appeals
The developer behind the student flats at Eyre Place Lane lodged an appeal with the DPEA, The Scottish Government planning and appeals division, just before Christmas.
A Government Reporter has now been appointed to hear the appeal on proposed development of the former Jewson’s yard by CA Developments, but there is still time for the public to comment.
This appeal came hot on the heels of a unanimous decision by the council to throw out the revised planning applications for purpose built student accommodation and townhouses which was considered at the beginning of last month. There are two appeals – one for the student accommodation here and one for the townhouses here.
This is the fourth time that residents have had to gather their papers together and mount a defence to a scheme which they think is wholly inappropriate for the site.
The founder member of the Eyre Place Lane Owners Association, Vince Meiklejohn, has already lodged his objection saying amongst other things that the developer has “failed to understand the importance of traditional and social housing that is needed in the area”. He continues that the site is wholly unsuited to student accommodation which owing to the transient nature of students will “weaken community bonds to the detriment of long term residents”.
The Edinburgh Reporter spoke with Hannah Edwards, another resident and member of the Association. Ms Edwards said: “What we’re focusing on is that it was a unanimous decision to reject the applications and it’s very popular. There’s no support within the community or local politicians.
“It is just not the best for that site, it needs a better design. I have done a lot of work on the daylighting where I’ve found inaccuracies. In the latest submission I found inaccuracies, then the developer resubmitted it to answer my findings. I realised that to get the daylighting studies they had used plans for the old student accommodation along with the new plans for the townhouses, so as to create a bigger gap. It looked as through they were giving better sunlight to the little townhouse.
“They have created a design for maximum profits and now they’re trying to fudge the figures to make all these policies fit their design, but it should be their design which fits policy guidance.”
Hannah says she has had her eyes opened on the way planning works in Scotland. She said: “There’s a lot of trust in this process but not much regulation around it. You think that the documents are submitted by professional people with integrity – until you really start to scrutinise the data.
“At the Development Committee Management Committee on 6 December there was a strong message to the developer that they should start engaging with the community.”
If the developer had spoken to residents they might find that there is not blanket opposition to the scheme, just the design. Hannah said that if the design incorporated cluster flats (apartments for several students sharing) rather than individual studios and huge open roof terraces which will be noisy there might not be so much opposition. She said that with the high density development in the plans the daytime sunlight which streams through windows of nearby homes will be lost as well as sunshine in the garden – a community space that is well used by residents.
She said: “Neighbours and locals are interested to see what the site could be. After all it is going to be developed. It is a great opportunity for something, but it just seems to cause too much harm to surrounding people this big building. There was never such a big building on that site so a residential development with a row of townhouses and some flats for students – just something more sympathetic to its surroundings would be better.”
Cllr Vicky Nicolson said: “It is disappointing that the applicant, again, wasted no time in lodging an appeal, this time against the unanimous decision of the Development Management Sub Committee at the hearing on 6 December.
“The community are hugely frustrated that, rather than engaging with the community, the applicant appears intent on bulldozing their way through with a development with almost 400 objections. Local people fear that the unanimous rejection by Councillors of this development at the planning hearing will be overturned. I have been assured by CEC planning officials that the entire contents of the hearing will be contained within the Planning Authority Written Statement as part of the Planning Authority response for consideration by the Reporter.
“In addition, constituents and I shared a concern that the DPEA originally published the deadline for comments as 18 January on their website for both appeals. Subsequently, late on Friday 5 January, the date was updated to 11 January for comments by the council and members of the public which was very short notice. As it was not a guarantee that everyone would realise the deadline had moved, I wrote to ask for the deadline to be returned to 18th January and was relieved that this was honoured, and I urge people to use this opportunity to appeal.”
Cllr Max Mitchell said: “I find it deeply regrettable that the developer is once again trying to bypass local decision-making, and ignore the clear and genuine concerns put forward by the community.
“The minor tweaks made to the application were inconsequential as the potential impacts and risks to residents’ and the local area remained. The over 450 objections and the unanimous refusal by councillors provided a clear verdict. I hope this appeal is swiftly thrown out.”
Plans for Eyre Place Lane Image: CA Developments
Scrumming along together
The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Rugby have formed a new strategic partnership in a move hailed as a “huge boost” for the capital’s oval ball pathway.
Edinburgh Rugby players Sam Skinner, left, and James Lang flank Douglas Struth and Sir Peter Mathieson at the launch of the collaboration. L to R: Claire Cruikshank, Head of Performance Rugby (Ladies), The University of Edinburgh, Peter Sawkins, Edinburgh University Sports President, Colm Harmon, Vice Principal Students, The University of Edinburgh, Douglas Struth, Managing Director Edinburgh Rugby, Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice Chancellor, The University of Edinburgh , Dr Catherine Martin, Vice Principal Corporate Services, The University of Edinburgh . Mark Munro, Director of Sport & Active Health, The University of Edinburgh, Ross Simpson, Head of Performance Sport, The University of Edinburgh and Dave Adamson, Head of Performance Rugby (Men’s), The University of Edinburgh.
The foundations of the new deal are said to be built on sporting collaboration, which will see the two institutions working closely together on player recruitment, development, education, and coaching, and to enhance the University’s rugby programme.
The partnership also will offer Edinburgh Rugby access to the University’s world class training facilities, equipment, and support services and will extend off the field, with expertise available on both sides to support in the areas of teaching, volunteer experiences and match day experiences as well as placement and internship opportunities.
The two institutions will also work together to explore further commercial, event and marketing collaboration opportunities, including showcasing The University of Edinburgh logo on the Edinburgh Rugby matchday kit.
Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, University Principal and Vice Chancellor, said:“We’re delighted with this new relationship which connects two of Edinburgh’s most successful institutions in a meaningful strategic partnership. We’re excited to work with Edinburgh Rugby to enhance the quality of our rugby programme and build and broaden our international sporting reputation.”
Douglas Struth, Edinburgh Rugby Managing Director, added: “The many opportunities to work together are as deep rooted as they are diverse and, over the coming years, we aim to maximise our collective potential for professional development, player recruitment and education for life after, as well as facilities and expertise exchange. It’s a collaborative model that’s proven to be successful around the world and is certainly something we aspire to emulate to better support university and professional players at the various stages in their careers through a symbiotic relationship.”
Founded in 1857 The University Men’s Rugby Club were one of the eight founding members of the Scottish Rugby Union in 1873. One year earlier, in 1872, the first representative Edinburgh Rugby side would take the field to face Glasgow, with three of the University’s players named in that trailblazing side (C W Cathcart, J Forsyth and M Sanderson).
The University has a strong history of producing and supporting top class players including 55 Scottish, 12 Irish and five English Internationals, as well as currently having one of the leading performance rugby programmes in university sport.
The Edinburgh University Ladies Rugby Club are at the forefront of the women’s game in Scotland with over 25 current students and alumni having represented their country.
Claire Cruikshank, Head of Performance Ladies Rugby at the University of Edinburgh, was recently appointed to lead the coaching team of the newly formed Edinburgh Rugby women’s team, which features eight current University of Edinburgh students.
Costs of short term let legal actions revealed
The City of Edinburgh Council spent nearly £400,000 defending their short-term let policies which were eventually declared unlawful after two court cases in twelve months.
The costs were revealed in a Freedom of Information request (FOI) by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
It showed that the council’s legal fees for two judicial reviews raised by letting operators totalled £243,470. Expenses paid out to the petitioners are understood to be in the region of £150,000.
Curbs on AirBnB-style accommodation in the capital have been introduced to manage the “number and location of STLs across the city”.
But parts of the authority’s approach to regulating short-term lets (STLs) through licensing and planning systems were struck down by the Court of Session.
Last June Lord Braid concluded that a presumption against granting licences for tenement flats was unlawful, before a second case challenging the city’s STL ‘control area’ resulted in the same judge rule that its implementation had been “unfair and illogical”.
Conservative councillor Phil Doggart said: “This seems to be have been a wild goose chase exercise at a large cost to the taxpayer.
“The money might have been better put to uses that would benefit the rest of the city.”
However the council’s planning convener argued that defending the policies was “the right thing to do” as the outcomes “provided clarity going forward for both Edinburgh and other local authorities”.
Iain Muirhead, one of the operators who took the council to court, said it was time to “bring an end to expensive legal challenges and claims” and “draw a line in the sand with existing STL operators who acted in good faith so they can move forward fully licences”.
The council was able to quickly amend its licensing policy to comply with legislation, however the outcome of second review is likely to have a significant impact on the crackdown.
This is because the council can no longer that demand all owners of entire property ‘secondary’ STLs seek planning permission as well as a licence – and will have to look at each property on a case-by-case basis, prolonging the application process and stretching resources in council departments.
Fiona Campbell, CEO ofthe Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers said the “hefty legal bill “could have been easily have been avoided if Edinburgh Council had “listened to the sector about its legally unsound and disproportionate planning and licensing policies”.
She said: “The sad fact of the matter is that it should not have taken two instances of grassroots legal action from local business owners to arrive at this stage.
“The ASSC believes the Council has the necessary tools to fairly and effectively regulate short-term lets and it should update its policies and guidance as soon as practically possible to reflect the legal judgements.
“As ever, the self-catering industry, which contributes so much to the local economy, stands ready to work with them in a constructive and positive manner on its regulatory framework.
“Other Scottish councils should take note of what has happened in the capital and revise any legally unsound policies to avoid local taxpayers footing the bill for similar costly legal advice.”
The council has refused to publish the legal advice it received in advance of both court cases following a separate FOI by the LDRS.
Ms Campbell called on the authority to release the advice “in the interests of transparency”. The council has been asked to review the decision.
Cllr James Dalgleish, Planning Convener for The City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We set out our short term let policies to help us manage the number and location of STLs across the city and to address anti-social related problems.
“Defending the Judicial Reviews was the right thing to do and we acknowledge their findings. As a result there is now clarity going forward for both other local authorities and stakeholders in the industry.
“A report detailing the implications of the Judicial Reviews, and what it means for our policies, including setting out recommendations for amending associated planning guidance, will be discussed at Planning Committee later this month. This will allow us to have a thorough discussion with an open and transparent debate around the next steps.
“A part of making our STL policies successful is to work across the spectrum of opinion on this issue and I look forward to reaching out to all political parties and stakeholders to do so.”
Councillor Adam Nols-McVey said that the council’s SNP group which he leads “remains fully committed to short term let controls”.
He said: “These are crucial to protect our housing in the city for residents and help tackle the city’s housing crisis. However we really need the administration parties to sort themselves out.
“The Labour Planning Convener is saying one thing, the Liberal Democrat regulatory convener is saying something else and the Tory councillor they put in charge of enforcement is saying something different too.
“This is fast becoming a farce. Labour have made public comments which risk piercing the confidentiality of legal advice, which would undermine the council’s position even further. We’re saying clearly to the Labour, Tory, Lib Dem administration they need to sort themselves out. We can’t risk losing these controls because of their incompetence.”
Cllr Alys Mumford, Edinburgh Greens co-convener, said it was “deeply disappointing” that so much public money had been spent, adding it “could have potentially been avoided if the legislation passed by The Scottish Government was clearer from the start”.
She added: “The STL industry, which claims to support reasonable regulation, could have worked with the council to create that reasonable regulation, but instead have simply resorted to the courts. Their cavalier attitude is partly to blame for this cost to the public purse as the council rightly does all it can to prevent the impact of STLs on spiralling housing costs.”
Mr Muirhead added: “Given the number of full time STL applications of only 1,800 are far below numbers envisaged by the council, with figures of 12,000 regularly quoted, it is clear that a sensible resolution could now be reached that will allow a reasonable supply of short term lets in the city.”
by Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter
02/10/2023 PHOTO Alan Simpson Applications for short term let licenses advertised in doorways on the Royal Mile Edinburgh.
Roadworks in Edinburgh this week
This is the most up to date list of roadworks and events leading to road closures in Edinburgh for the next week or so.
With regard to the closure of the south side of Charlotte Square work there will now be starting on 15 January rather than the publicised 18 January – but unfortunately EdinTravel which produces the list are unable to confirm that at present.
If you see anything on the roads which is not on the list then let the travel team know on Twitter @EdinTravel
It was a Thursday night. Temperature was inching towards zero all afternoon. Wind chill factor high, yet cosy Gianninos was packed and the atmosphere was terrific.
It was our first visit and we were impressed with the service and the food. We were with two regulars who have not had a bad meal there. A good recommendation.
And the verdict? Good meal, great surroundings and really attentive, pleasant and efficient staff.
It’s a extensive menu with 13 starters, you could, of course, have nibbles and there were six of them, and there were 15 pasta alternatives, 12 pizza (12in) alternatives plus four grill picks, plus sauces, three veal alternatives plus catch of the day fish and three other offers and three chicken choices.
That’s more than enough for even the most discerning and picky diner.
Cozze Marinara, freshly cooked mussels steamed in white wine, garlic, tomato sauce, served with a slice of home made Italian bread was irresistible. It lived up to expectations and we had to use the spoon provided to scoop up the juice.
Prociutto Melone was another pick and was well received and then on to mains. Two rump steaks – no sauce – were appreciated, big beefy flavour and juicy, and so was the pollo surf and turf, chicken with king prawns with pancetta, garlic, wine and chilli served with potatoes and veg.
The house penne also went down well. No room for desert for three but one could not resist the apple pie and, on this occasion, custard. Enjoyable? Yes, and we were one of the last to leave.
Gianninos, 78-80 East Main Street, Broxburn EH52 5G :T: 01506 856667: on-street parking nearby
PICTURE: The outside of the busy restaurant in the heart of Broxburn.
Letter from Scotland
As we headed into a new year and began to consider our destiny, and that of our country and our planet, what should come back to haunt us but the Stone of Destiny.
A fragment of this lump of sandstone, on which the kings and queens of Scotland and then Britain were crowned, has been discovered in a cupboard at SNP headquarters in Edinburgh. According to government papers, which also came to light this week, the former first minister Alex Salmond was given this holy relic in 2008 by the son of one of the group of nationalists who “stole” the Stone from Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1950. It was a publicity stunt which went hilariously wrong at every turn.
The many stones of destiny.
Poor Alex Salmond was accused of losing a part of the very touchstone of independence. But happily it turns out that he’d given it to SNP headquarters for safe keeping and everyone forgot about it. Until this week and all the Stone’s symbolism has again lit the sky like New Year fireworks.
The crumbling stone has been trundled from Scotland to England and back many times. King Edward stole it from Scone near Perth in 1296 and took it to Westminster as a trophy of his conquest. It remained there till the SNP raiders stole it back, briefly, in 1950. Then in 1996, the Conservatives returned it to Scotland in an attempt to head off Devolution. Last year King Charles borrowed it because he needed something to sit on at his coronation at Westminster. It’s now back in Edinburgh but will soon go a new museum in Perth where it was originally quarried.
The Scots are not the only people to make a fuss over a piece of stone. It’s a universal symbol of strength and magical powers. Think of Harry Potter’s Philosopher’s Stone, or Stonehenge or the Callanish stones, or the Blarney Stone or a tomb stone. Stones encourage us to think about our destiny.
And so to our future in 2024. Thankfully, we don’t have wars or starvation to face like other lands. Climate change has barely touched us so far – even though last year was the hottest year on record. We do have a general election looming and the party leaders have spent the week making their case and trying to look responsible.
They joined forces to commiserate with the 900 postmasters, a hundred of them in Scotland, who’ve had their lives ruined over the last 20 years in the Horizon computer scandal. Suddenly it was necessary for Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf to co-operate with the UK government in paying compensation and devising a legal route in both English and Scots Law to exonerate those who were wrongfully accused of swindling the Post Office. It says something sad about our political and legal system that it took a TV drama to highlight the injustice.
Mr Yousaf also quickly fell into line with the UK government in promising to clamp down on the ownership of American XL Bully dogs after fears that there would packs of dogs dumped across the border. These big nasty-looking dogs, with an appropriately frightening name, will have to have a special licence and be kept on the lead in public. Why anyone who is not patrolling a prison fence would want to own one I don’t understand.
We will now watch as the three main parties, the SNP, Labour and the Conservatives make an effort to appear as responsible dog owners and only gently try to appeal to each other’s supporters to lend them their vote. Radical differences will be toned down, which is a worry because the issues we face are so big they need radical solutions.
I’m thinking of the NHS, the education system and local council services which all need to be cut back or properly funded with tax rises. And then there is the great “transition” out of fossil fuels.
These are the hard rock issues which no magic Stone of Destiny can solve. So the best place for that piece of soft sandstone is in the museum in Perth where we can all forget about it.
Stolen in Leith – have you seen this dog?
A white three year-old Staffie called Dutch was stolen on Thursday evening around 8pm from outside Aldi on Commercial Street.
The dog has a microchip, but also suffers from a medical condition as he is allergic to certain foods and has difficulties in some environments. Although mainly white the dog has some distinctive brown markings.
The theft has been reported to police who attended the supermarket on Thursday evening.
If you have seen the dog then please report it to Police Scotland by calling 101.
Drugs recovered in police operation in Lochend
Drugs worth a six-figure sum have been recovered by police in Edinburgh.
Around 11.40 am on Thursday, 11 January 2024, police acting under warrant recovered a quantity of controlled drugs whilst searching addresses in Lochend Quadrant and Lochend Road South.
The drugs, believed to be diamorphine, crack cocaine and cannabis, have a combined estimated street value of £247,500. A five-figure sum of cash was also recovered.
Two men, aged 57 and 30 years, have been arrested and charged following the find. They are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, 12 January 2024. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Detective Inspector Gavin Howat, Edinburgh Pro-active CID, said: “Officers will continue to disrupt the supply and possession of drugs in our area.
“This work often relies on the support of the public, so if you have any information or concerns about drug misuse, please call Police Scotland on 101 or report this anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Paolozzi at 100 will be a celebration of the centenary of the birth of one of Scotland’s most well-known artists, Sir Eduardo Paolozzi.
Packed with the artist’s most popular works, Paolozzi at 100allows viewers to take a step inside the wacky and eclectic mind of the artist and his take on popular culture and the machine age.
Explore two rooms of his work, ranging from the late 1940s, to his designs and prints of the 60s and 70s, and later epic public art projects. Delve into works such as his Mickey Mouse tapestry made with Dovecot Tapestry Studio and graphic and gold ceramic plate collaborations designed with Wedgwood. Marvel at his colourful mosaic designs for Tottenham Court Road Underground station, and don’t miss the kinetic energy of the Calcium Light Night and Moonstrip Empire News screenprints.
Free to visit, Paolozzi at 100 runs from 27 January to 21 April 2024 and if you can’t wait until then you can go and see his stained glass window in St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral on Palmerston Place as a warm up. His sculpture is also in the garden at the gallery and in Edinburgh Park just outside Patina at New Park Square.
Cycle with Mark Beaumont this Saturday at midday – just a simple couple of circuits of Arthur’s Seat…all the while raising money for Doddie Aid 2024.
Pianodrome – Adopt a Piano
Pianodrome which upcycles pianos turning them into beautiful amphitheatres or sculptures has resumed its weekend Adopt a Piano sessions on Saturdays from 11 to 4pm.
The first Critical Mass ride of 2023 takes place on 27 January.
Critical Mass began in San Francisco in 1992 when a group of people rode the streets weekly calling for improvements in safety for all road users. It is not a protest ride, rather a celebration and a fun way to reclaim the streets, mainly from cars and other vehicles.
The body of cyclists rides as “one vehicle” with marshalls who stop other traffic at junctions to allow the ride to pass through and stay together. This makes it safer for all rather than some stragglers becoming separated from the main body of the ride.
The ride starts in Middle Meadow Walk at 2pm on the last Saturday of each month.
Buy a subscription to the Edinburgh Reporter – the gift that lasts all year
Our January issue is out now – but you still have time for our gift suggestion – buy someone a subscription to our monthly newspaper – we deliver by mail in compostable envelopes, and the subscription helps us to keep on publishing the news on a free to access basis. Click on the image below to sign up for yourself or as a present.
Jacqueline Whyte, Director of Audit at Thomson Cooper Accountants, has gained what is known as Responsible Individual (RI) status.
The firm, with approximately 100 staff across offices in Edinburgh and Fife, currently operates with five RIs who carry out regulated audit work. Thomson Cooper serves as an auditor for organisations spanning public, private and not-for-profit sectors throughout Scotland.
Jacqueline began her career with Thomson Cooper as a graduate trainee in 1997 and qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2002. She secured the role of Director of Audit in 2018. After overseeing audits for a number of years, Jacqueline started the process of becoming an RI last year through the professional body, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
She said: “Achieving RI status has been a long-term goal of mine and I feel a great sense of pride having achieved this milestone in my professional development. It means I can be appointed as statutory auditor and undertake regulated audit work, signing audit reports on behalf of the firm. I recognise the trust the partners have in me as an RI and I look forward to the responsibilities and challenges that the new role brings.”
Head of Audit, Senior Partner Andrew Croxford,said: ” As a ’home-grown’ talent, we are proud of Jacqueline’s drive and dedication to the audit department where she has excelled as Director. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in audit opportunities, driven by a growing recognition among organisations of the advantages audits offer.
“This has coincided with many auditors exiting the market as regulation, legislation and compliance become increasingly complex. We are committed to providing a first-class audit service and have invested significantly in our audit function. Jacqueline’s appointment will allow us to take advantage of more opportunities while continuing to develop our audit services.”
Edinburgh Leisure boss says no venues planned for closure
Chief Executive of Edinburgh Leisure June Peebles has said that figures apparently leaked to the Local Democracy Reporting Service were taken out of context and she confirms that no venues are marked for closure.
Ms Peebles, who has more than a quarter of a century of service at the organisation which runs sports facilities for the council, spoke to The Edinburgh Reporter on Thursday evening and explained that articles published about possible closures were misleading. She has written to all staff this evening to explain the position and to allay any fears resulting from the earlier articles suggesting that venues would be closed.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service provided all service users (such as The Edinburgh Reporter) with an article earlier today which contained the suggestion that eight venues were listed for closure, but Ms Peebles says this is untrue.
The Edinburgh Leisure boss said that a presentation which she had prepared for a board meeting last December, which should have remained confidential, was somehow released, and the information has been used out of context. Ms Peebles said that she imagines the Chair of Edinburgh Leisure, Scott Haldane, will investigate the matter further. Members of the board include councillors and others, and there is a PR protocol binding on all board members that any contact with the press must be referred to the PR department of Edinburgh Leisure or to Ms Peebles.
The purpose of the presentation slide from which information was taken was to predict the worst case scenario if the council – which is Edinburgh Leisure’s main funder – was unable to support the Arms Length External Organisation (ALEO) to a sufficient financial level.
Ms Peebles said: “This information is a part of a slide from a presentation which I gave to the board, and as anyone knows, you talk to a slide and put something else around it. It was intended to demonstrate the magnitude of decimating services, but closing venues isn’t the answer.
“We identified in a report which went to the Policy and Sustainability Committee just this week that if we closed six venues it would realise £1 million, but it was very much illustrative and worst case scenario planning. But even at the committee councillors raised the matter of the ensuing costs if venues were transferred back to the council who would then have to pay rates etc.”
In this week’s report Edinburgh Leisure’s financial position was laid before the council who have called upon the charity to resume paying the Real Living Wage to their employees. Edinburgh Leisure have a budgeted deficit of £0.736 million and say they cannot afford the increase in expenditure at this time. If they had to pay the Real Living Wage then the forecast is that the deficit would rise to £3.6 million in 2024/25. In the report which was authored by the Director of Place, the possibility of reducing opening hours or closing venues was described as “complex”, and the resultant net benefit to Edinburgh Leisure and the Council uncertain.
In particular the report states: “Venue closure net benefits to Edinburgh Leisure and the Council are not certain. The net position for each venue varies. Whilst closure would remove this pressure, new financial burdens would include staff redundancy costs, non-domestic rate charges, security, and disposal expenses. As an example, to realise a saving in the region of £1m would require the closure of approximately six wet / dry sport centres. The £1m saving is before any direct costs connected with closing a venue (as detailed earlier) are considered.”
The memo sent to all staff on Thursday states:
“….some of the reporting is misleading, specifically the references to venue closures. The position is as follows: information was prepared for the Edinburgh Leisure Board to illustrate the extent of the closures to venues and services to address the estimated funding gap in 2024/25.
For example the Board were informed that closing / handing back all the pitches to the Council would save approximately £1m however this figure does not include the cost of closure and the costs that would transfer to the Council.
“There are currently no plans to close venues, rather I (and the Strategic Leadership Team) continue to work with colleagues at the Council as to how, together, we address the 2024/25 funding challenges.
“There is no denying next year’s funding challenges are significant and, understandably, this situation will be unsettling and worrying for many of you. Please be assured I will continue to update you on next year’s budget and ongoing discussions with the Council and do contact me with your questions and/or any points for clarification.
“June Peebles”
The Edinburgh Reporter has asked the Local Democracy Reporting Service for comment.
The council sets its budget in February.
Health board urges people to have Covid and flu vaccination this winter
NHS Lothian is urging those eligible for a Covid-19 and/or flu vaccine to take up the offer, with the winter vaccines available until March.
Public Health Scotland has today confirmed continued circulation of flu at a high activity level in Scotland, with 700 people admitted to hospital due to Covid-19 or flu in the first week of January.
In Scotland, more than 1.24 million Covid-19 vaccines and 1.59 million flu vaccines have been delivered so far as part of the winter vaccine programme, with 188,000 Covid-19 and 245,000 flu vaccines delivered in Lothian.
Despite this, winter vaccination uptake is lower than last year.
If you’re aged 50 and over, 18 and over with an eligible health condition, pregnant, a carer (paid or unpaid), or a household contact of someone with a weakened immune system, you’re eligible for a Covid-19 and/or flu vaccine.
Pat Wynne, Nurse Director for Primary and Community Care, NHS Lothian, said:
“It’s not too late to top up your protection. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, and those you care for, against flu and Covid-19.
“Those who are eligible but who have not yet received their winter vaccines are encouraged to take up the offer. Book an appointment now or drop-in when convenient for you.”
City firm expands operation with new base
INSUREPAIR ®, the Edinburgh-based fire and flood restoration specialist, is expanding into Glasgow, with the move set to create over a dozen jobs.
One of the country’s leading all-trades reinstatement companies, the firm has been successfully servicing Scotland’s largest city from its headquarters in the capital.
However, increasing demand along the M8 corridor has prompted a significant scaling up of the business, with the Glasgow base set to open in Woodside Place within the next fortnight.
The move is expected to create up to 15 jobs in the coming year, with the new office located in a stunning converted Georgian townhouse in the city centre.
Widely recognised as the authority in regards to insurance reinstatement in Scotland, INSUREPAIR ® will now be able to increase its focus on its west coast operation, something managing director Richard O’Donnell (pictured) has been considering for a while.
“This is a proud moment for us as a team,” said Mr O’Donnell, who has helped INSUREPAIR ® become an industry leader after establishing the firm in 2003.
“Our growth has been possible by focusing on effort and planning. We have a firm belief in our ability to perform and we regularly achieve the highest performing insurance contractor status while working for many insurers, loss adjusters and building repair networks.”
Also covering Fife and the central belt, the firm is one of Scotland’s preferred insurance reinstatement building contractors and currently directly employs 24 permanent members of staff, supported by 15 specialist sub-contractors.
Privately owned, INSUREPAIR ® is approved and accredited by major insurance companies, loss adjusters and building repair networks throughout the UK.
“We take pride in bringing properties back to their pre-incident condition and have always been able to provide robust and reliable customer service to our clients in Glasgow from our main office in Edinburgh,” added Mr O’Donnell.
“With the growing demand in the west, it makes complete sense to now also have a base in what is Scotland’s biggest city.
“It’s a hugely exciting time for the business and I’m really looking forward to seeing where the next stage of this journey takes us as we build on the growth plans we have in place.”
Edinburgh Leisure venues could be at risk of closure – read the list here
Edinburgh council-owned sports centres, swimming pools and pitches which could face closure have been revealed.
Portobello Swim Centre and pitches at Meggetland Sports Complex are among Edinburgh Leisure venues included on a ‘closure list’ of potential venues which could be affected if additional council funding is not found.
Across the eight facilities at risk there are 160 people currently employed, with 85 full time and 75 part time staff members.
The arms-length organisation is facing a £3.6m black hole in its finances due to increased energy costs, inflation and other factors such as the introduction of non-domestic rates on pitches.
CEO June Peebles has said she “fears for public leisure services” amid the grim financial backdrop. While being “committed” to keeping “all our venues open,” she said there were “no easy solutions”.
The stark list – drawn up as part of 2024/25 financial planning and shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service – sets out the potential closures which would save just under £2m in a bid to bridge the gap.
All Edinburgh Leisure venues being considered for closure are:
Outdoor pitches and pitch venues at Niddrie’s Jack Kane Sports Centre, Meggetland Sports Complex and Saughton Sports Complex
Portobello Swim Centre
Kirkliston Leisure Centre
Leisure facilities at Wester Hailes High School
Gracemount Leisure Centre
Glenogle Swim Centre, Stockbridge
A council source said: “The situation is so grave that Edinburgh Leisure have even identified eight sites they would close and hand the keys back to Edinburgh Council.”
They added the council would have to increase its funding settlement for Edinburgh Leisure by a “seven-figure sum” if the looming closures are to be avoided.
However the council will struggle to hand over significant additional sums needed to keep centres open as it looks to close its own budget gap of more than £10m when councillors agree spending and savings proposals for the year ahead next month.
Other options being considered by Edinburgh Leisure include increasing charges by up to eight per cent and reducing opening hours, the report to the council’s Policy and Sustainability Committee said.
A report to the council’s policy and sustainability committee this week said while the “net benefits” of venue closures were “not certain” it was estimated achieving a £1m saving “would require the closure of approximately six wet / dry sport centres”.
In a statement Ms Peebles said: “The financial challenges facing the organisation in 2024/25 are significant. Inflation continues to affect our cost base and we have estimated a £750,000 increase in energy costs; meaning our gas and electricity costs in 2024/25 will be £2.75m higher than pre pandemic levels.
“We’re also having to meet additional costs due to the introduction of non-domestic rates on pitches / green spaces and increases in water / drainage charges.
“I do fear for public leisure services and, more importantly, the health and well-being of our citizens.
“The contribution physical activity makes to people’s physical, mental and social health and well-being is well documented, indeed it is referred to by many as a ‘miracle pill’.
“Meanwhile our national health service is under considerable pressure – surely as a country we should be doing all that we can to support people of all ages to be active and keep them out of doctor’s surgeries and hospitals. Investing in physical activity is effective and far less costly than many other health interventions.
“To date, due to the support from the City of Edinburgh Council, partner organisations and our customers, Edinburgh Leisure has avoided any closures or significant reductions in service.
“We are committed to doing everything in our power to continue supporting the health and well-being of the city, keep all our venues open, and work towards paying the Real Living Wage.
“However, as evidenced in the report delivered to the Policy and Sustainability Committee, there are no easy solutions to these financial challenges. Meanwhile we continue to work with the City of Edinburgh Council to safeguard the health and well-being of our City.”
Edinburgh Leisure issued clarification on the matter.
The list comes from a ‘2024/25 Financial Planning’ presentation to the Edinburgh Leisure board. The slide from which the eight venues are taken from is headed as ‘Venue Closures’ with the sub-heading ‘Review of bottom line position & consideration of lifecycle requirements to inform withdrawal of services’.
Ms Peebles said: “The list of venues(as detailed in your article) was put together for a Board presentation to illustrate the magnitude of the financial challenges the organisation is facing in 2024/25 and not for decision making purposes.
“The information was prepared to emphasise significant venue closures would not address the estimated funding gap.”
Busy Lizzie provides welcome break
Locally, it is known as The Lizzie. To those not resident in the Dunfermline area it is The Elizabethan and it is situated on busy Halbeath Road, just yards from the busy junction which leads to the Queen Margaret Hospital.
We’ve driven past it many times on the way to visit and wondered what it was like. On this occasion we passed it as we walked towards the surprisingly scenic Town Loch, less than five minutes drive from central Dunfermline, and the national site of Waterski and Wakeboard Scotland.
Incidentally, there were two guys waterskiing despite ice noted in certain parts of the pond. One quipped: “My toe is a little cold.” No wonder.
There is a busy wee cafe on site, only yards from a spacious car park, but we strode on as the rain clouds loomed above and we headed back towards central Dunfermline. By then, we were in need of refreshment, and a comfort break.
Strolling along the Halbeath Road we passed The Elizabethan and thought: “Why not?” In off the main road and around the building through the car park did not set pulses racing, but we came upon the entrance and that looked more inviting.
Opening the doors revealed a spacious, well-appointed bar with a variety of beer pumps, sadly not one with real ale on the day we visited, but there were plenty of alternatives including Spanish and Italian choices.
The menu was pub grubby and it looked good. The prices were OK too so we indulged. Our excuse? It started raining so better inside eating than outside getting wet.
Chicken and leek pie with chips was one pick. Fish and chips the other.
We enjoyed a Birra Moretti and Guinness while our meal was prepared. This was a Wednesday at lunchtime and there were customers dotted around the restaurant which has plenty of room for diners.
Out came the food. The chicken and leek was served in a dish. Loads of meat filling and a tasty sauce. It ticked all the right boxes (£13.95). Speaking of boxes, the beer battered haddock and chips, a big fish by the way, arrived in a box with peas and salad and tartare sauce (£15.95). Pleasing to the eye and also to the palate. The fish flaked beautifully and the chips were spot on.
We thoroughly enjoyed the visit. One further point, the loos were spotless if a little dated and the smell of disinfectant indicated that they had been recently cleaned.
One piece of history. The Elizabethan is named after the daughter of James VI who was born in Dunfermline Palace in August 1596. At the time of her birth, her father was King of Scots only.
Ecosse Inns are the present “incumbents” according to the website and The Elizabethan is only a short walk from East End Park, home of Dunfermline Athletic. Pop in. We enjoyed it and will be back. Opening hours noon to 11 daily, Friday and Saturday noon to 12am.
Quality food in riverside location at the Paper Mill
The Paper Mill is ideally situated in the valley of the River Esk just outside Edinburgh. It actually overlooks the river in the conservation village of Lasswade and is an all-day bar and restaurant.
It is actually situated in a historic former paper mill, hence the name.
We were prompted to go by friends who have been there several times and not been disappointed. The webpage said chefs use fresh, local produce to compile the extensive menu. It also boasts a range of craft beers and lagers from Scottish brewers along with an interesting wine list.
For those who love cocktails, they have them as well.
Food choices included vegetarian, vegan and gluten free and they also offer afternoon tea with fresh scones and sweet treats with sandwiches, quality tea or special coffee. Cost? £22.
We popped in for lunch with the family. We were not alone in bringing the kids, but it was not noisy.
My pick was a John Gilmour steak burger (£16). Could not find out why it was called after John Gilmour, whoever he is, I did ask, but it tasted great with tomato relish, special sauce and gherkin.
Others enjoyed grilled chicken burger with creamy avocado, pickled slaw, sriracha mayo and iceberg lettuce. Gluten free rolls are available.
The kids tucked into chicken goujons, skinny fries and garden peas (£6.50). No complaints there. Everybody was happy and we will be back, hopefully when we can sit outside on the extensive terrace overlooking the river.
The Paper Mill, 2-4 Westmill Road, Lasswade EH18 1LX t: 0131 663 1412: opening hours: Monday to Sunday: 9am to late.
Harajuku Kitchen moves over to Edinburgh Street Food
Harajuku Kitchen are taking their Japanese cuisine across the street to Edinburgh Street Food (ESF) at oMNI Centre on Leith Street.
Until now they have served up their modern twist on burritos and hot rice bowls at the back door of St James Quarter. Now they will become the 11th vendor at ESF.
Harajuku’s menu at Edinburgh Street Food features favourite snacks of edamame beans, miso soup and Kaiso seaweed salad, as well as stir fried udon noodles, Danburi (hot rice dishes), sushi burritos and sushi rice bowls. Their secret recipe kara-age chicken with homemade sweet chilli sauce on a bed of noodles is already a huge hit.
Kaori Simpson who is co-owner long with husband Keith, is already working on the logistics to bring Harajuku’s renowned homemade gyoza, in volume, to ESF in Spring 2024.
Andrew Marshall, co-founder of ESF, said: “Authentic East Asian cuisine was exactly what ESF was missing and who better to deliver this in such high quality than Harajuku Kitchen who started their businesses as a humble street food stall at Stockbridge Market in 2009 and now serve AA rosette level dishes.
“Harajuku’s street food is perfect for all weather dining; warm up with their impressively crispy fried aubergine smothered in Katsu curry sauce in winter, or keep it light with a fresh sashimi rice bowl in summer.”
Harajuku attributes its success to three generations of cherished family recipes. Just this week the firm won Best Sushi and Japanese Cuisine at The Scottish Asian Food Awards 2023.
Kaori Simpson, formerly the resident chef for the Consulate General of Japan said: “My hard working team are all so passionate about Japanese food.
“We’ve spent 15 years building our reputation as a go-to street food stall at Edinburgh’s Farmers’ Markets and now it feels only right that we launch a new home in Edinburgh Street Food where our customers can tuck into the dishes they so greatly love, seven days a week. We’re thrilled to join the ESF family.”
Edinburgh Street Food is open 7 days a week from midday-11pm. All kitchens, including Harajuku, are open from 12-9pm on Sunday-Thursday and until 10.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Five things you need to know today
Chief Executive of Council to step down
The Chief Executive of The City of Edinburgh Council, Andrew Kerr, OBE, is to step down in June. He will be 65 in March and has been at the helm of the local authority since 2015.
The first Transport and Environment Committee (TEC) meeting takes place today.
The committee will hear about plans to revamp the major junctions in the city – with a warning that work on the junction at Harry Lauder Road which is to be given the highest priority, will take two years to complete.
King’s Road junction with Sir Harry Lauder Road where HGV traffic coming from Portobello can no longer turn left
Callum’s Big Walk
Callum Isted lodged a petition with The Scottish Parliament in 2022 which will be discussed at Holyrood again in a couple of weeks. The primary school pupil will then meet Jenny Gilruth MSP to see if the Scottish Government will progress his petition. The eight-year-old called upon The Scottish Government to provide every primary school pupil in Scotland with a reusable water bottle. The petition at present remains “under consideration” by the government.
The young environmental campaigner is also undertaking a Big Walk to raise money for eight charities. He is walking the eight longest bus routes in Edinburgh to raise money and has so far raised around £331 which the fundraiser says will pay for bus tickets – but is actually going to be paid to Callum’s chosen charities which are:
Callum Isted presents his petition to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee calling for the provision of a reusable water bottle to every primary school child in Scotland. 09 March 2022.
Buy a subscription to the Edinburgh Reporter – the gift that lasts all year
Our January issue is out now – but you still have time for our gift suggestion – buy someone a subscription to our monthly newspaper – we deliver by mail in compostable envelopes, and the subscription helps us to keep on publishing the news on a free to access basis. Click on the image below to sign up for yourself or as a present.
And yes our photo today is deliberately of the attractions in Princes Street Gardens – which have now largely disappeared and moved on.
Planners decide that pink neon sign can stay
The sign at Edinburgh Street Food, which has caused a bit of a stooshie since last year, has now been approved by the Chief Planning Officer.
In a decision the council has advised that if the sign is moved just a little further back then it can stay in place.
Edinburgh Street Food are rejoicing at this reversal of the prior decision on their Instagram page saying: “We need to move it a few strides back towards our heated and covered beer garden, but those shocking pink neon lights will still guide you to heaven.”
The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland said in April last year that the sign was “visually intrusive” and had been installed before permission was granted.
Now, in an apparent U-turn, permission has been granted by David Given the chief planning officer using delegated powers, and also making it a condition that the sign is moved four metres and is nearer to the Edinburgh Street Food (ESF) premises, so making it clear that it is connected to ESF.
So are we taking bets on the W Hotel eventually wearing planners down and getting permission for their neon W atop the newest hotel in town? We understand that the developers of the £1 billion St James Quarter own Edinburgh Street Food as well as the Quarter, so they may take a little heart from this decision.
In a new initiative to enhance the prominence of orienteering, a series of events will be held on Edinburgh streets leading up to World Championships in July.
Participants are being encouraged to “come and give the sport a go” during lunch-breaks starting on Thursday 18 January at Festival Square, Lothian Road.This event is specifically geared towards those based in the city centre and want an active adventure away from their work screens.
Louise Adams, Development Officer, Scottish Orienteering Association, said: “Orienteering is an exciting and challenging outdoor sport that exercises mind and body. The aim is to navigate between control points marked on a specially made orienteering map. In competitive orienteering, the challenge is to complete the course in the quickest time choosing your own route.
“For our city centre events, there is no stress on the competitive side – it’s all about learning a new skill and getting outside and active.
“If you like exploring new places, getting off the beaten track, enjoy looking at maps or simply want to add variety to a run or walk, then orienteering could be for you.
“It doesn’t matter how young, old or fit you are, as you can choose a course to suit you and go at your own pace.
“Two series of events were hosted last year and these received lots of positive feedback, with many of our competitors participating in all the events.
“One competitor told us ‘lunch orienteering has made it more worthwhile to go in (to the office) on those days’.”
The events at Festival Square will run for four consecutive lunchtimes, with starts between 12 and 1.30pm, before heading to the Meadows on 15 February for another four weeks.
The new initiative offers the chance to escape from the office for some sport and return refreshed.From July 11-16 Edinburgh will be host to the world sprint orienteering championships
Participants are being told to expect a blend of excitement and challenge as they navigate through the surrounding urban network and will find themselves immersed in the thrill of discovering new places. On offer will be a long course of 5-5.5km and a short course of 3.5-4km.
Lunchtime orienteering offers a short course (3.5-4km) and a longer version (5-5.5km).
Morag Hood named as book club author at The Centre
Award-winning author and illustrator Morag Hood will be the next author to read from her books at The Centre, Livingston on 20 January. This is part of the centre’s free Book Club and will take place just before National Storytelling Week.
The Book Club aims to encourage families to come together and enjoy interactive storytelling sessions once a month in the shopping centre when they can also meet award-winning authors.
The shopping centre also installed a free book recycling vending machine last year to enable everyone to swap their favourite novels.
Edinburgh-based Morag, who has an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art and a BA in Costume Design from Wimbledon College of Art, previously worked backstage in theatres before turning to illustration.
She is the author and illustrator of 12 picture books, including ‘I Am Bat’, ‘The Steves’ and ‘Dig, Dig, Digger’, which is a witty and funny tale about a little digger with big dreams. The follow up, ‘Runaway Cone’, is due to be published later this month. Morag is also the author of the best-seller ‘Sophie Johnson: Unicorn Expert’.
Her books are published internationally and have been translated into multiple languages. She is twice winner of the UK Literacy Association Award, voted by primary teachers, and three of her books have been distributed to every primary one class across Scotland as part of Scottish Book Trust’s school reading programme.
Morag has also had five nominations for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Awards over the years and won the Teach Primary Book Awards for ‘Brenda is a Sheep’.
One of her books, ‘Teapot Trouble’, was narrated by the comedian and presenter, Josh Widdicombe, on CBeebies Bedtime Stories.
Morag’s session’s, which are aimed at kid’s aged 2 – 6 and start at 11am and 1pm, will focus on ‘Dig, Dig, Digger’ with a draw-along digger activity and a reading of ‘I Am Bat’.
The Book Club is located across from Waterstones, where Morag’s books can be bought and signed on the day by the author.
Morag said: “I can’t wait to come to the Book Club at The Centre, Livingston this month and share some of my stories and make some muddy digger drawings together – it is such a great idea to run the sessions in the shopping centre and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We are delighted to welcome another award-winning author, Morag Hood, to our Book Club this month at The Centre, Livingston and give our visitors the chance to hear readings from her award-winning books and take part in some interactive drawing sessions.
“Our free Book Club, which has been very popular since it started last year, is a great way for us to give families another reason to visit and enjoy some special time together.”
National Storytelling Week, which takes place from 27 January until 4 February, is an annual event to celebrate the power of sharing stories, run by the Society of Storytelling.
Previous authors who have taken over the reading chair at the Centre include Linda Erskine, Justin Davies, Catherine Rayner and Lindsay Littleson.
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