Lorne Primary pupils and staff were joined by local dignitaries and celebrities to light the Xmas tree at the foot of the Walk.
The event, organised by Leith Festival Society, took place late afternoon on December 3rd.
MC, Leith Cllr Gordon Munro, was joined by Sir Tom Farmer, Leith Provost for the year, Margo Macdonald, and reigning Hibs Manager John Hughes. Cllrs Marjorie Thomas and Deidre Brock (standing in for Deputy Provost Rob Munn were also on hand to join in the celebrations. One highlight was the brave solo rendering of "I Saw Three Ships" by veteran of the Hibs terraces, Gordon Munro, singing solo due to the suspicious disappearance of the community song sheets.
Leith Festival 2010 will run from June 11th to 20th. Leith Festival Society has recently appointed Adele Conn as Festival Manager and Heather Cameron as Assistant Festival Manager.
Broughton & Bonnington bus boarders consigned to commuter Hell
A
grass roots campaign to improve the bus service in the Broughton and Bonnington
area has been joined by MP Mark Lazarowicz. The trigger has been the cutbacks to the #13 bus route leaving the single deck #36 bus to pick up the slack. Under the slogan "Bring Back our Buses" the campaign is urging the Council to restore the #13 route, which saw residents of Bellevue, McDonald Road, Leith and Lochend losing the service.
We are urging government - local, Scottish and UK - to provide the funding and take the decisions necessary to "Bring Back our Buses!" calls the petition.
Leith & North joined local campaigner, Jayne Sime and Mark Lazarowicz (North Edinburgh & Leith MP,) to sample the journey that commuters have to endure. Sitting in a cramped single decker bus, which has to negotiate sharp corners and hill turns was not a good experience - frankly, we would choose to walk. Here at Leith & North, we can't see any sign of an integrated transport strategy. Why should a densely populated area so far from the tram routes be given such poor commuting options? We can only assume the aim is to drive people off the bus and onto the streets to create more congestion.
Mark calculates that the cost of providing adequate coverage of the #13 route would be around £100,000 a year, and that some 200 voices need to be raised to make LRT and City of Edinbvrgh Council sit up and take notice. So if the bad buses have gotten you "Mad as Hell, and you're not going to take it anymore", you can start your shouting by following the links below:
Better Buses web site >>>
Sign the online petition >>> Newslink: Pirniehall parents permitted to paint class rooms: Evening News, January 15th>>> Montgomery St Park: Master Plan adopted. Spring Fun Day
Following extensive consultation with the local community and Edinburgh
City Council, the Friends of Montgomery Street Park agreed to adopt the master
plan for the park which was generously sponsored by local firm Rankin Fraser Landscape
Architecture. Large copies of the plan are available in the Macdonald Road Library.
You can also download a copy from the website, www.montgomerystreetpark.org.uk.Improvements are likely to cost a total of £600,000 over several years.
Meanwhile, last weekend, March 14th, saw the 2009 Spring Fun Day in the park. Features included an Easter cake baking contest, mountain biking obstacle course, intriguingly, a police box facelift, children's brick painting (to raise funds,) and much much more.
Read the full picture story on Leith & North >>>
Download draft consultation plan showing a proposed future design for the Park(pdf)>>> Newslink: Council ends plans to part vulnerable people from their Carers: Evening News, February 2nd >>> Will the Supermarkets kill Broughton and Stockbridge Villages?
Left
<<<: Bedzone currently at 8 Picardy Place Right >>>: A pensioner walks past the empty Woolworth store on Raeburn Place, Stockbridge.
Two campaigns have been launched to halt the further march of supermarkets into onto Picardy Place at the top of Leith Walk, and onto Raeburn Place, Stockbridge.
The Broughton Village case is by far the most urgent, as the target determination date is April 17th. This means that letters of objection must be written to the Council's Head of Planning at Waverley Court by March 20th. You can read further arguments by following the link to download the PDF below. The Supermarket in question is Tesco.
You can read the arguments against the arrival of a supermarket in the heart of Srockbridge Village by following the link to download the PDF below.
Our roving reporter was quizzed by a passer by as to why he was photographing the abandoned Woolworth store. When he explained, she remarked that you only have to visit Corstorphine to see how it turns a thriving village into something of a ghost town.
Download Broughton Spurtle No. 171 (June) for latest developments >>>
Download PDF to read more about Tesco on Picardy Place >>>
Download PDF to read more about Sainsbury on Raeburn Place >>>
Latest news of the campaign on the Inverleith and Stockbridge Community Council web site >>> Newslink: Local shops unite to fight off store giant: The Scotsman, March 26th >>> Farmers' Market comes to Leith Ocean Terminal
A
Farmers market will be running the second and fourth Fridays of every month, in
Leith, at the front of the Ocean Terminal.There is awide range of food
produce on offer, including meats, cheese and fish, as well as preserves, fruit
ices, cider, bread and bakery items. There are plenty of gift items on sale too,
including, jewellery, soap, and Scottish accessories. The focus of all the sellers is on freshness, quality, flavour and price, while they also have a commitment to the environment, via the organic movement, an aim to keep preservatives, minimal and natural, and an understanding that produce sourced in Scotland keeps transportation down.
The next market is on Friday, May 8th, from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
Scottish Farmers' Markets web site >>>
Read more on Leith & North >>> Newslink: Winter may kill Botanics treaures: Evening News, January 15th >>> Think you know Scotmid? Take a look at the half million pound Easter Rd upgrade
Easter
Rd Scotmid was reopened on Friday April 3rd by local MP and Cooperative supporter
Mark Lazarowicz. The revamped store offers
a brighter shopping experience, in a better laid out store, with a wider range
of items on sale.Scotmid's commitment to Fair Trade, and to environmentally friendly, cruelty free household and cosmetic products continues.
Visit Scotmid web site (which uses frames) >>>
Read full picture story on Leith & North >>> Newslink: Angel of The North artist comes to Leith & Stockbridge: The Scotsman, March 12th >>> Leith Life tour heads off from Out of the Blue
Parallel Lives 2 is made up of replies to three art works on showing the National
Galleries of Scotland collections. The project aims to help people connect with
classic earlier works and encourage them to enter into dialogue with the earlier
artists and their works, producing their own creative responses.The project brought together three groups of people from Leith, North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes, through the Summer and Autumn of 2008, to come up with their thoughts and response to three works on display in Edinburgh.
Pictures of the exhibition can be seen on Leith & North. Parallel Lives moves on to Wester Hailes throughout March, before coming to the North Edinburgh Arts Centre for April.
Read more on Leith & North >>> Newslink: Hearts fan joins in Easter Rd demolition: Evening News, March 4th >>> Calton Centre to be converted into a dance hall?
Scaffolding
has appeared around the Calton Centre. The building has been lifeless since Ryden
Property closed bids in August last year. Leith & North despatched a roving reporter to investigate. Having been reassured that the work had nothing to do with trams, he was informed that the scaffolding company's workers have been told "it's going to be a dance hall". Leith & North understands that the Centre has been purchased by two Edinburgh based sisters, who will bring an emphasis on ballet teaching to the project. Please send your rumours to news@leithandnorth.org.uk.
Pre-payment Meters hit poor hard: North Edinburgh group launches campaign North Edinburgh Fuel Poverty Action Group are calling for the roll out of smart meters to end the extra charges which fall on consumers who live on a tight budget. Right now, pre-payment meters are used to compel consumers to pay more for their energy usage than other billing methods.
Left:
<<< the North Edinburgh Fuel Poverty Action Group team. Right: >>> John who features in a film showing the impact of fuel poverty on disabled parents.
Consumer Focus >>>
North Edinburgh Trust >>>
Mark Lazarowicz supports the campaign >>>
Striking statistics about pre-payment customers include: a third of pre-payment users are unemployed; a third of pre-payment users are lone parents; and perhaps most shockingly of all, nearly a third of pre-payment users have a long term illness of disability - and these people pay more to heat their homes and cook their meals.
The campaign makes two demands. One is to reduce PPM charges to the same or lower than Direct Debit charges. (At the moment British Gas charges £314 extra and Scottish Power charges £341 extra per year to PPM users compared to DD customers.
The campaign's other demand is to bring forward the roll out of the new 'Smart Meters' and to prioritise areas where there is a combination of high prepayment meter use combined with high levels of fuel povety. Smart meters should allow customers to see exactly how much they are spending (as they can with PPMs, and the main reason why people on low incomes tend to hang on to their PPM after they have paid off debt) but without the exorbitant charges for PPMs.
Granton residents - an elderly woman, a wheel chair using disabled parent, and a young lone parent - showed intimate details of their daily lives in a moving short film to demonstrate how fuel poverty impinges on their lives and relationships. Newly elected Forth Councillor, Cammy Day, turned out to support the campaign launch, along with Malcolm Chisholm MSP (North & Leith), and Mark Lazarowicz MP (North & Leith). Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 ran from February 23rd to March 8th
Fairtrade
Fortnight 2009 marks the launch ofthe first Fairtrade product from Palestinian
farmers. Olive oil from co-operatives in the West Bank is going on sale in Co-op
supermarkets promoted for their ethical trading status.The UK-based company behind the imports hopes foods such as dates and almonds might soon qualify for similar certification, followed later by soaps using olive oil from similar marginalised communities.
<<< Left: Long term Fairtrade supporter, Mark Lazarowicz MP for
Edinburgh North & Leith, with Douglas Alexander Secretary of State for International
Development.Right >>>: Nasser Abufarha, Chair of Palestine Fair Trade Association.
Events in Edinburgh included:
a visit by Nasser Abufarha, Chair of Palestine Fair Trade Association (pictured right,) and Mahmoud Issa, President of Palestine Fair Trade Producers' Company to the One World Shop, where they will explain the many obstacles Palestinian farmers have overcome to secure a more secure future for their communities.
Can Your Shopping Basket Change The World? Debate, March 4th at the Royal College of Physicians on Queen St;
Banana Flash Mob Noon, Friday March 5th, Bristo Square: Dress outrageously in yellow to celebrate Fairtrade bananas - part of a simultaneous UK wide event.
Fair
trade Palestinian olives and olive oil tastings, took place in the One World Shop
beneath St. John's Church, Princes St, and Hadeel, at St. George's West, Shandwick
Place, which sells crafts from Gaza and Lebanon. One World Shop web site >>>
Hadeel web site >>>
Fairtrade Foundation web site with details of all events and how to get involved >>>
Co-op Fairtrade promotion: 20% off all Fairtrade products >>>
First Fairtrade olive oil gives hope to Palestinian farmers: The Guardian, February 23rd >>>
Mark Lazarowicz on the Fairtrade Movement >>> Meadowbank bar stages contest for player to match Bristow: Evening News, January 15th >>> Leith based aid worker, Theresa McDermott held in Israeli jail
Theresa McDermott, sailed as part of a Lebanese humanitarian aid voyage
to Gaza aboard the Togo flagged ship, Tali, earlier this month.Israeli gunboats intercepted the ship on February 4th, boarded and forced the ship to Ashdod port in Israel, where officials found only 60 tons of medical and other humanitarian aid. Other passengers, and the crew, were released the following day, but it wasn't until Sunday 8th, three days later, that Theresa was able to call her brother John; she was finally able to tell him that she is being held in Ramleh prison, in Israel.
It is not yet known when Theresa will be allowed home (she will be deported), nor is the location of the 60 tons of aid publicly known.
Hopes rise for return of Gaza aid worker, Evening News, February 10th >>>
Activist's trip home delayed, Evening News, February 11th >>>
Disappeared Free Gaza activist Theresa McDermott found in Israel's Ramleh prison, Free Gaza Movement web site >>>
On a mission to free Gaza, The Scotsman, August 22nd >>>
Mark Lazarowicz welcomes extra Government funds for Gaza >>> Newslink: Leith's Kitchin back in Great British Final, Evening News, April 14th >>> Leith firm makes the world's first commercial wave energy farm possible Celebrating 100 years of Adult Education at Drummond High
This
year marks the Centenary of adult education in Edinburgh. There was a big
open day at Drummond Community High on Saturday August 30th. Various classes
were demoed including the tribal belly dancing, pictured above showing
Theo, Lillias, Julie, Lesley, Wendy and Elizabeth. (Thanks
to Iain Hall for the photo.)Venues in the Leith and North Edinburgh area include Broughton High, Dr. Bells Swimming Pool, Drummond High, Duncan Place Resource Centre, Forth Community Wing, Leith Community Centre and Leith Primary School.
Why not check out Spring adult education courses in Edinburgh on the Council web site? >>> Newslink: Are British Gas looking to cut Edinburgh jobs?: Scotsman, January 14th >>> Leith firm makes the world's first commercial wave energy farm possible Leith based company Pelamis Wave Power has tested, modelled and developed the technology that has just made the world's first commercial wave energy farm - in Portugal - a reality.
Left <<<:
Pelamis testing off the OrkneysRight >>>: North & Leith MP, Mark Lazarowicz, and Max Carcas of Pelamis, showing Pelamis to Environment Minister Hilary Benn in Leith Docks.
Wave-snakes switch on to harness ocean's power: The Guardian, September 24th >>>
Portugal embraces wave power: BBC, September 24th >>>
Pelamis wave power web site >>> Newslink: PC Simon Daley invents anti bag theft device: Evening News, January 15th >>> Leith Open Space 3: Who Cares for the Carers?
A third Open Space discussion event took place on Saturday 14 March when women of all ages from all communities in the Leith area were warmly invited to talk about their experience of caring for all kinds of needs. the event took place at Pilmeny Youth Centre for a day and aims to turn words into actions to support women who care. Various carers groups were represented, as well as Lothian & Borders Police, and Leith FM.The aim of every Open Space event is to turn words into actions. At the end of the day, the whole group produces a list of action points to send to politicians, policy makers and agencies.
Open Space events are set up to give each member an equal voice. They do not follow the customary format of speakers and workshops with preset topics. The group as a whole set their priorities then choose which circles they want to join, to talk about the issues that most matter to them.
At the close of the day, all the proposals from all of the groups are posted up on the walls round the rooom for people to look at, talk about and think about. Each person is given a number of coloured stickers, so that they can vote alongside the suggestions they most want to support. These tallies can be seen by everyone, and feature in the final report which goes out to relevant organisations and officials.This is the third multicultural discussion event organised by Leith Open Space and it takes place at Pilmeny Youth Centre on Saturday March 14th. "Since our last event in May 2006," writes Fay Young, "we have met so many remarkable women involved in community work we decided to make the next one an event specially for women. We are grateful to Shaheen Unis for suggesting the theme of caring".
Learn more on the Leith Open Space web site >>>
Download Word invitation to Leith Open Space event: Who Cares for the Carers? >>>
Learn more about Open Space events on the Open Futures web site (which uses frames) >>> Newslink: Canonmills Garage wins fight to sell alcohol: Evening News, February 1st >>> Refurbishment of Glenogle Baths to start in October 2008 - Snakey still not safe
As a result of the Save Glenogle Baths Campaign, supported by local councillor, Lesley Hinds, and an amazing 8,500 petitioners City of Edinburgh Council agreed to renovate the baths. In August 2007, the Campign group lobbied the City Chambers wearing armbands, swimming hats and goggles and even "one brave soul" wearing a swimming costume!The administration's Capital Investment Programme 2008-2011 includes £5.3 million for the refurbishment of Glenogle.
However. It is worth noting that the Snakey - the path that runs down from Saxe Coburg place - could still be sold. It is more than a pretty feature which adds to the character of the place. It is the only path that connects the Glenogle colonies to Henderson Row that can be used by people who cannot manage steps.
The Snakey has recently been included on the Council’s core path network and Save Glenogle Baths are still trying to get the path declared a public right of way, which would guarantee the Snakey's final safety.
To read more, and to keep up to date, or subscribe to the mailing list, visit the Save Glenogle Baths web site >>>. Thanks to Linda Wilson, for letting us use the pictures of the renovations.
The main changes to Glenogle will be:
- A new lift offering disabled access from Glenogle Road to all levels of the building
- New reception area
- New pool side sauna
- steam room with relaxation area
- New changing cubicles including family
- disabled changing facilities
- New showers and WC’s
- New tiling to the pool & surround
- New staff accommodation
- New multi-purpose rooms
A
group of mums and kids took over Leith Victoria creche in protest at the Council's
failure to honour their agreement to urgently look for other sources of funding
to keep the creche open. Linda Somerville, local Mum writes: "All of the mums taking part in the 'play in' today felt frustrated and angry that the Council have not taken any action to avoid the creche closures at the end of this month. The Council and Edinburgh Leisure have picked on the creche service as an easy option.
Women who use the service will be excluded from the sports centres in their own communities due to lack of childcare. The creche is a service that we all subsidise through our council tax and it is crazy to stop women having the chance to exercise when it cuts the rates of post natal depression, reduces obesity, makes healthier mums which leads to happier kids."
Save Our Creche web site >>> Newslink: Leither pianist reminisces about the Palace Ballroom: Evening News, April 4th >>> Cammy Day elected as Labour Councillor for the Forth Ward
Labour candidate Cammy Day was elected as Councillor for the Forth Ward in the bye election triggered by the sad death of Elizabeth Maginnis. With a 32% turn out, Day was elected with 2013 votes ahead of George A. Gordon for the SNP in second place, with 1841 votes, and Iain McGill for the Tories in third place with 1180 votes. The candidate for the ruling LibDem group won less than half Day's votes with 985.
Day campaigned hard on local issues including Council funding cuts to projects in his new ward which add up to £800,000 in the Pilton Granton area alone. Projects suffering cuts include North Edinburgh Childcare, Pilton Equalities Project, Pilton Elderly Project, Granton Information Centre, Pilton Youth and Children's Project, the Black Community Development Project, Muirhouse Millennium Centre, North West Carers, North Edinburgh News and Women Supporting Women.
Newslink: Police launch appeal for missing man last seen on Leith St: Evening News, January 16th Newslink: Police reopen 1983 murder case of Leith street worker: Evening News, March 9th >>> Mae Sot School: March 28th: Fundraiser and farewell at Bruntsfield Hall (Barclay's Church off Bruntsfield Links >>> Dr Thein Lwin returns to Edinburgh to visit Forthview Primary Forthview Primary School in Pilton, has developed strong links with Hle Bee school run for, and by, Burmese refugees in Mae Sot (near the western border of Thailand) Pirniehall and Say Ta Nar have been linked together in a learning partnership since Autumn 2007.
Sheila Laing (headteacher, Forthview, right) and Mary Gillespie (headteacher,
Pirniehall,) spent the summer in Burma visiting the schools they are linked
with. Dr Lwin has returned to Forthview, March 9th. Forthview Primary School blog site >>>
Pirniehall School blog site >>>
Mark Lazarowicz praises Forthview Primary School, and describes the Burma Educational Scholarship Trust in Parliament >>> Newslink: Sarah Boyack MSP, launches boiler scrappage petition: Read more and sign up >>> Leith Museum Campaign: Latest news
The
campaign is delighted to have secured the support of leading businessman and
prominent Leither Sir Tom Farmer, DL, CBE, (pictured left at the lighting
of the Leith Xmas tree last year). Sir Tom has agreed to be the Patron. Sir Tom said: "The history of Leith is also central to the history of Edinburgh and of Scotland, and deserves a home where its story can be told. As someone who has benefited from being born and brought up in Leith, I welcome the widespread support for the current campaign. I hope that local and national government will work with the local community to make the dream of a Leith museum a reality.”
The Campaign's strategy is to put together a group of experts
who will prepare a feasability strategy for the proposed museum. In the short
term the group aims to give Leithers a taster of what might be in the museum
and to show how valuable a museum could be. They are preparing plans for a series
of short films about some key events in the history of Leith and to create an
exhibition which could tour community centres, local schools and venues such
as the Ocean Terminal. Campaign for a Leith Museum web site >>>
Sign the online petition today! >>>
Find an MSP to lobby to support the campaign >>>
Read more about the campaign on Leith & North >>> Newslink: Malmaison Hotel in Leith up for sale: Evening News, January 16th >>> Greener Leith Mark Lazarowicz's month in Parliament
In
our quest to make Leith a greener place (writes Alastair Tibbett,) we are now
looking for people who can spare some time each month to help consolidate and
develop our organisation. We would be delighted for anyone with good ideas,
enthusiasm and drive to join us in this task but we would be particularly
happy to find individuals capable in:IT skills to help us to manage our member database
producing podcasts, and short videos and the like;
communications/Public relations skills to raise awareness of Greener Leith;
graphic design skills to help us design posters, logos and graphics.
Greener Leith projects in the works that you can get on board of include Pilrig Park, the Persevere/Leith Links garden project and the Portobello-Leith Links cycle path campaign.
Thanks to Alastair Tibbett of Greener Leith for permission to use the photo.
Read more on the Greener Leith web site >>>
Mark
Lazarowicz (Labour MP for Edinburgh North & Leith) raised various issues
in the House recently, including enforcement of the minimum wage - highlighted
by the case of a constituent sacked by their employer after complaining to
the National Minimum Wage (NMW) enforcement unit.Some of Mark's speeches were on :
Mark's debate on the Minimum Wage (June 11th) >>>
Mark's speech on Britain in the EU (June 18th) >>>
Applying pressure on Zimbabwe (July 4th) >>>
Support for Burma (May 14th) >>>
Improving voter registration (May 8th) >>>
Mark brought forward The Environmental Protection (Transfers at Sea) Bill which aims to provide better regulation of potentially damaging ship-to-ship oil transfers around the UK.
The Shipping Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick MP, agreed to bring forward regulations to address the issues of: which types of cargo are subject to regulation; where ship-to-ship transfers of such cargoes may or may not be carried out; what measures will apply in the interests of environmental protection. The Government consultation closed on July 7th and legislation should follow shortly.
Read more on Mark's web site >>>
Visit Mark's web site to read more about Mark's work in Parliament >>>
To read Mark's question visit They Work For You >>> Newslink: Kitching's Royal Terrace Restaurant wins Michelin Star: Scotsman, Janaury 16th >>> Poetry in the park: St. Andrew's Square Garden is dedicated to peace and reflection
Fay Young of Leith Open Space proposed dedicating the garden to poetry. Fay's idea
has been realised with support from City Labour leader Ewan Aitken, the Scottish
Poetry Libray, Essential Edinburgh, UNESCO City of Literature Trust, Coffee
Republic and Parsons Brinckerhoff. "The wonderful thing about poetry is the way, in a few lines, it can sum up profound human experiences: sorrow, love joy, rage. And the wonderful thing about having a poetry garden in a famous square in a beautiful city is the way it will help people to pause for a minute or two and let poetry into their lives." Richard Holloway.
Read more on Leith & North >>>
City of Literature web site >>> Newslink: Arts Complex for Meadowbank area: Evening News, March 10th >>> Steve Mitchell advocate of Leith history and veteran of the Boys Brigade movement dies.
Steve Mitchell died after November 29th, aged 61
Steve devoted much of his life to local history, especially that of Leith and the 1st Leith Boys Brigade, and was the main organiser for the exhibition of the 'Rolls of Honour' of World War One.
Steve grew up in the Fort area of Leith and returned to Edinburgh in later life to live in Granton, from where he threw himself into the life and times of Leith. Apart from his membership of Leith Local History Society, he campaigned energetically for a Leith Museum, and could often be seen at community events, such as Leith Gala, with a petition in his hand urging folk to sign.
Obituary: The Scotsman, December 18th 2008 >>> Newslink:Arthur's Seat light show will go on, vows artist Angus Farquhar: Scotsman, January 12th >>> Persevere Garden Project goes batty for spuds Members of Greener Leith, and Leith Open Space joined residents of Persevere Court to plant potatoes and build bat boxes in the Persevere Garden. The planting took place on Midsummer Saturday, June 21st, and was joined by Gordon Munro, Labour Councillor for the Leith Ward.
Some
20 people gathered to shovel top soil (arranged by Cllr Gordon Munro,) dig
trenches,
and plant potatoes.Members of the Bat Conservation Trust came along to teach us about bats, and help us build bat boxes.
Find out how to get involved on the Greener Leith web site >>>
Central Scotland Bat Conservation Group's contact details >>>
Read more on Leith & North >>> Newslink: Leith comedian Bruce Devlin talks of loss to cancer: Evening News, January 13th >>>