Supporters of Greener Leith went on a 2km bike adventure from Leith to Portobello, on Sunday the 23rd of September.Greener Leith wanted to highlight the fact that just a little money would finish off a valuable off road cycle path that would link Portobello and Leith Links.
They also wanted to support PEDAL's Portobello car free day.
Thanks to Alastair Tibbett of Greener Leith for permission to use the photo.
Read more on the Greener Leith web site >>>
Visit PEDAL web site and discover their ingenious acronym >>>
Mark Lazarowicz (Labour MP for Edinburgh North & Leith) raised the issue of social tariffs by energy companies with the Government last week, October 11th.Social tariffs are the tariffs offered by energy suppliers with a view to benefiting disadvantaged energy consumers. Mark Lazarowicz and organisations such as energywatch and Barnardos are campaigning to ensure that the social tariff is one of the lowest tariffs that a supplier offers; this is not always the case at present.
The Secretary of State, John Hutton, agreed to meet Mark and other MPs to discuss the recent Ofgem report, fuel poverty issues and the needs of pre-payment customers.
Mark is the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Debt & Personal Finance.
Visit Mark's web site for more >>>
To read Mark's question visit They Work For You >>> Drummond Community High among schools in Leith and North Edinburgh under threat
Edinburgh City Council has surprised voters by announcing a schools closure programme far wider than ever anticipated. School rolls have been falling and the previous Labour administration had been reviewing schools provision. Alongside Drummond,the primary schools in the Leith and North Edinburgh area, under threat include Abbeyhill Primary School, Bonnington Primary School, Stockbridge Primary School, Victoria Primary School. Victoria Park Child and Family Centre is also under threat.
Malcolm Chisholm, Labour MSP for Edinburgh North & Leith, expressed his concern, saying: "I am appalled that so many popular and well-respected schools in my constituency are up for closure. I will do all I can to help the parents in resisting these proposals. Labour Group Leader Councillor Ewan Aitken, who has taken a role in organising a public meeting, said: "It shows how angry people are about this proposal - this is one of the fastest turnarounds in terms of organising a public meeting that I have been involved in."
Parents and children from all over Edinburgh united on Princes St on Friday ot protest and petition. The articles linked below give details of the arguments for closure and the campaigning that is already under way in such an amazingly short period of time.
United Front in battle to save schools, The Scotsman August 18th >>>
Chancellor attacks "hash" made of school closures, Evening News, August 28th >>>
School's out as 16 to be closed, Evening News, August 16th >>>
The Great Schools shutdown,The Scotsman August 17th >>>
Web site of Drummond Community High >>> David Blunkett speaks in Macdonald Road Library North Edinburgh played host to former Home Secretary, David Blunkett on Sunday November 18th, as part of the "Conversations with..." series organised by Edinburgh North & Leith Labour Party. Robin Cook spoke in the first of the series, which are open to everyone and are chaired by Peter McMahon of The Scotsma. Some forty people came along to hear the former Education Secretary, many of them not party members.
David questioned how politicians can explain why they are in politics and what they're trying to achieve, and of the need to engage people, fearful of the changes underway because of progress in science and IT such as discoveries about DNA, and evolving mobile phone technology.
He argued that Visit the Save Meadowbank web site to read what you can do >>>
Funding sports facilites on the East side of Edinburgh, clearly needs a cash injection of millions of pounds - hence the plans to sell part of the site to housing developers. However current plans take little heed of local needs and rest on children, young people and adults being prepared to make the journey across town to Sighthill.
Ron Brown, Leith MP from 1979-1992 dies.
Ron Brown of West Pilton, died on Friday morning, August 3rd, at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh. Ron won the Westminster seat of Edinburgh Leith for Labour, in the dark days of the early Thatcher era, and was a leader in the fight to end the Poll Tax.
Although Ron wasn't always taken seriously in his later years, he was a formidable figure of the Labour and the Scottish left, rising through the AEU ranks and going on to be elected as Councillor for Royston/Granton Ward under the old Region. After his deselection as Labour Parliamentary candidate, he continued to fight for the left wing causes he believed in. He is fondly remembered as a hard working and loyal constituency MP.
Ron's family plan to place a commemorative bench for him at the Fit o' The Walk, where he could often still be seen.
Edinburgh Evening News article about Friday's funeral >>>
Wikipedia article with links to obituaries >>>
Obituary by Tam Dalyell for The Independent >>>
Obituary in The Scotsman >>>
Friends of the Earth News Mark Lazarowicz warns constituents against "The Silent Killer"
Friends of the Earth Scotland have launched a series of 'Training for Change' short courses designed to help people to campaign on neighbourhood improvement issues better. There are three short courses that are scheduled to run between January and April next year. The courses are on Media and Communications, Planning and Environmental Law and Community Development.
You can find out more by following the link below, and visiting their web site. Thanks to Greener Leith for the tip off.
Friends of the Earth Scotland moved to Thorn House in Rose St in September.
Friends of The Earth Scotland web site >>>
Greener Leith web site >>>
The Carbon Monoxide Consumer Awareness Alliance (COCAA) launched the ‘Be Carbon Monoxide Aware’ logo in the House of Commons during Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week (15-19 October). COCAA is co-ordinated by gas industry safety watchdog CORGI and consists of all the major energy retailers, representatives across all fuel types, victim support charities and manufacturers of carbon monoxide alarms..
Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith MP) took up the cause enthusiastically. Mark has campaigned hard on many green and safety issues over the years.
Speaking at the launch, Mark said: “I am pleased to see that the industry has come together to raise awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be deadly. I urge my constituents to make sure they have their gas appliances checked regularly by a CORGI registered installer and fit an audible carbon monoxide detector in their home to protect themselves and their families.”
Visit the Be Carbon Monoxide Aware web site to learn more >>>
Campaign for a Leith Museum
The campaign for a Leith Museum is gathering pace, nearly 70 years after it started. The most favoured site is the Leith Custom House which can be found at The Shore end of Commercial St. It is a magnificent and well preserved building, and is on good bus routes. It is within easy walking distance of many bars and restaurants.
The campaign is strongly supported by Edinburgh North & Leith's MP, Mark Lazarowicz and MSP, Malcolm Chisholm, and Robin Harper the Green MSP for the Lothians has also shown an interest. Local organisations such as John Arthur's Persevere Portal and Leith Local History Society, are taking a lead and gathering support from other groups such as Leith Open Space along the way.
There's an online petition to sign, which was started by Mark Lazarowicz at www.ipetitions.com, and a lot of information on the Campaign for a Leith Museum web site, which has a very informative piece by John Arthur the leading local historian. We also warmly recommend the web site of Leith Local History Society www.leithlocalhistorysociety.org.uk.
For more, read the Evening News article and visit the www.marklazarowicz.org.uk, to read about our MP's efforts.
Leith and North: Have Your Say on a Museum for Leith
Here at Leith and North, we're keen to do our bit. If you'd like to "Have Your Say", then please click here to make your comments. I'd be interested to know the following:
Should we have a Museum for Leith? If not, why not?
What do people thinks should be in it?
Should it cover the bad as well as the good side of Leith's history?
Where should it be?
What sort of events could we have there?
If you want to dive right in and check out what people are saying, then please click here to read what people have to say.
The classic print of 1829 by Thomas H. Shepherd