Tag: Leith Links Park
Remembering Lost Leithers
It’s always a shock when you hear about the death of a much loved Leither.
This week has been particularly bad with the deaths of three people who contributed so much to our community.
The Queen of Leith, Mary Moriarty died last week and her funeral is on Tuesday 25th October. A service will be held in South Leith Parish Church at 12pm then on to Seafield Crematorium (limited spaces). You will then have the chance to raise a glass to Mary in The Dockers Club and share your memories with friends.
Mary was well known in Leith, not only as the owner of the famous Port of Leith pub where many a fun night was had, but also for her many years of hard work with Leith Festival helping it survive through good times and bad.
From my window I remember that on the day before the gala Mary would be out on the Links spraying and numbering the pitches for the gala day stalls.
She was always there at the crack of dawn on the Saturday and still there hours after the last stall had left with a litter picker and black bin bag making sure the park was cleaner than how she had found it.
I’m proud to say that I knew Mary for many years, and she will be sorely missed by many of us in the Leith community who will all have our fond memories of her. She could always make you smile even when you were feeling down.
I also lost another friend, Jim Tweedie recently who died over a week ago and his funeral is on Friday, 28 October, Warriston Crematorium at 2pm.
Jim was a hard working member of the Leith Community and Chair of Leith Local History Society preserving our history and informing new residents about our rich past.
The society continue to meet on the third Tuesday in the month in the community centre and with a series of monthly talks.
Jim and I were also on the steering group to save Custom House for the people of Leith and with the help of local councillors, especially Councillor Gordon Munro the city council was persuaded to purchase the building using Common Good Funding. Work to establish a heritage display in the building is ongoing.
Finally, Davie Jeneil who ran a successful jewellers shop in Great Junction Street for over 30 years providing gifts for the many birthdays, weddings and celebrations of Leithers.
I also knew Davie as a great supporter of Leith Rules Golf Society. His family always put in a team for the Foulis Medal. A fun competition on the Links every year using hickory golf clubs which is open to local Leith businesses and community groups.
When Davie’s son in law turned up to play, I always thought we would be quicker just handing him the medal because he is such an excellent player.
Davie also supported the society by providing the quaichs and engravings for our other team events and again he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
On behalf of Leith Links Community Council, I would like to extend our condolences and best wishes to the family and friends of all these great Leithers who we will all miss.
Jim Scanlon MBE
Chair
Leith Links Community Council
Next meeting of Leith Links Community Council, Monday 27th June at 6:30pm, online
The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will be held on Monday 27th June at 6:30pm, online (Microsoft Teams)
Papers for the meeting will be issued soon.
Scottish Water and the operators of Seafield, Veolia, will be attending to give an update on the sewage plant and answer questions about recent odour issues.
As always, our meetings are open to interested members of the public. If you wish to attend, please email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk and you will be sent an invitation / link for the meeting.
LEITH CONSULTATIONS
Just like when you’re waiting on a 16 bus stuck in a traffic jam three arrive at the same time.
The City Council have added three really important consultations for the future of Leith to the consultation hub on the city council webpage.
LEITH CONNECTIONS PHASE 3
Leith Connections: Phase 3 west – east proposals – City of Edinbu
Leith Connection Phase 3 has some lovely graphics including one of Salamander Street with a new cycle lane and narrowed road space for cars and trucks that I’m sorry to say do have to use our roads every day on one of the main arterial routes East to West through the city.
I also find it strange that the graphic doesn’t show the CPZ plan for the same route which had permit holder and pay and display parking on Salamander Street at the same view in the graphic so I do wonder IF these teams actually communicate with each other.
The Leith Connection Phase 3 consultation is open until 17 July so please, please make your thoughts known.
ETRO Go Home?
The next consultation is on ETRO which we may remember in a previous life was known as Spaces for People. Love it or loathe it, the road coning and closures project introduced to make streets safer for cycling, walking and wheeling during the pandemic is now finally up for public consultation. This is your opportunity to comment on the future plans. Do you want them kept or ditched? Have your say now or you could be stuck with them permanently.
LEITH LINKS MASTERPLAN
Finally, the Leith Links Master Plan is also open on the consultation hub for your positive or negative comments. Please use this opportunity to add your views on how you would like to see Leith Links developed for all residents in the future.
The Leith Links Masterplan Team had a stall at Leith Gala and many members of the public visited the tent to find out more and to share their views, so now it’s your turn to do the same.
You can see more about the plans here.
Leith Links Masterplan – City of Edinburgh Council – Citizen Space
You can also comment here, on the Hub, but you’ll only find a very limited set of leading questions. If you have more to say on any specific point, you should email directly to Miles.Wilkinson@edinburgh.gov.uk
The deadline for this consultation is 31 July. Please also be sure to copy your email also to our elected Councillors:
Cllr.Katrina.Faccenda@edinburgh.gov.uk
Leith Links Community Council next meeting Monday 28th February 6:30 online
The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will be held on Monday 28th, February at 6:30pm, online (Microsoft Teams)
The Agenda for the next meeting and minutes of January’s meeting will be issued shortly
As always, our meetings are open to interested members of the public. If you wish to attend, please email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk and you will be sent an invitation / link for the meeting.
Thank you for your support
Edinburgh Climate Festival,Leith Links(East) Saturday 14th August 12pm-7pm
Edinburgh Climate Festival will be coming to Leith Links on Saturday, 14th August
The event will be held on Leith Links East, 12-7pm, they have an exciting day planned. Highlights include an art installation by artist duo Bibo & Brian Keeley, upcycling workshops, sewing repairs, seed swaps, planting workshop, ebike and cargo bike trials, free bike repairs, a free shop, a live DJ and more!
There will also be some scheduled activities throughout the day:
* 12:00 Circle Dancing
* 13:00 Hatha Flow Yoga
* 14:00 Storytelling
* 14:30 Tai Chi
* 15:00 Yoga
* 16:00 Storytelling
* 17:00 Circle Dancing
* + Upcycle Bicycle Inner Tube Workshop (drop in anytime 12-15:00, 16-19:00)
Location
The Festival will be held at Leith Links East, Links Gardens EH6 7EB (grey pin on the map).
Unfortunately, they are not able to offer food, drinks or toilet facilities on site, but these can be found within walking distance from the venue. Staffed public toilets are available on the links by the tennis court here.
COVID-19 measures
Restrictions and precautions will be based on Edinburgh’s COVID-19 level (currently level 0) and the Scottish Government events sector guidance
The organisers ask that you:
* Not to attend the event if you have COVID-19, have COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19.
* Organisers encourage you to wear a mask.
* Respect social-distancing.
The open day is a public event and photographs and films will be taken for use for marketing uses.
Parkour in the park at transformed Leith Links play area
The new Leith Links play area was officially opened on Friday 1 November 2019.
A parkour unit, a Rolli trampoline for wheelchair users, a natural play area and oodles of great new play equipment chosen by the local community have allbeen installed in the north Edinburgh park.
Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) enlisted the help of pupils From Leith Primary and City of Edinburgh Council’s Vice Convener for Culture and Communities to help officially open the new play park today following its £290,000 revamp.
The previous play park equipment was built in 1992 and fell below the play value score of good due to its age and condition.
ELGT held a number of consultation events to identify what types of new play equipment would make an immediate and very visible improvement to the play park. These will aim to serve as a catalyst for subsequent activities in the park.
A variety of equipment to cater for all ages has been installed in Leith Links, including a wide range of exciting new pieces of equipment – all selected by the local community.
Highlights include:
- A zipwire, a swing basket, a climbing unit, a seated springer and a 3m cone net climber for junior ages
- A toddle zone, with a swing with seat and cradle; a sand-play area with slide, a springer, a make-it-rain play piece, a wooden snail seat, a 2m orbit roundabout and a springer water lily
- A Rolli Trampoline for wheelchairs users
- An area for natural play, which includes a stilt walk and log stack to encourage natural play
- A parkour unit to cater for teenagers, with a woodchip and rubber safer surface
Councillor Amy Mcneese-Mechan, Vice Convener of Culture and Communities, said: “This wonderful new facility is a fantastic addition to Leith Links, making it one of Edinburgh’s largest and most exciting play spaces. Play facilities for local children were arguably lacking and out of date before but with all these new additions the park’s now a great space for all the family to play and have fun. I’m particularly thrilled that we’ll have play equipment specifically designed for wheelchair users, so that families with disabled children can join in the fun.
“We have a first-class range of parks across the Capital, and we want to help communities make the most of these excellent open spaces. I’m sure these new facilities will draw visitors to Leith Links from all over the city.”
Charlie Cumming, Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, Chief Executive, said:“I am delighted that we have delivered an upgraded play area at Leith Links Park thanks to funding from FCC Communities Fund and the City of Edinburgh Council. The play equipment will help meet the needs of the local children now and for future generations and will encourage greater use of the park for local families”
Leith Links Community Council’s Sally Millar said: “Leith Links Community Council reported that all the users of the new Leith Links Play Park are absolutely delighted with the new design and facilities. It’s buzzing! The old play park was very limited and definitely past its sell-by-date. The newly upgraded play park, thanks to City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust, is so much more interesting, with lots of exciting new activities to explore and enjoy. The large wooden Pirate Ship is an especial favourite, for ‘clamberers’, also the new Zipwire is very popular. Safe, soft surfaces underfoot are reassuring for parents, who also like the seating facilities within the enclosure. A separate space for the smallest/ youngest children is much appreciated, as are the wheelchair friendly and all-age adapted activities that allow children with disabilities to be included in the fun. Thank you, CEC and Greenspace Trust!”
Sophie Cade, FCC Communities Fund Grants Manager said: “We are delighted to have supported this project. As well as providing a modern and safe area for children to play, the new play park will make a lasting and positive impact on the local community, a key objective of the Foundation.”
The new play park was funded by the FCC Communities Fund, which is from the Landfill Communities Fund, and by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Neighbourhood Environment Grant.
Leith Links Community Council Meeting, 30th September 6:30pm, Leith Community Centre
The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will be on Monday 30th September , at 6:30pm in the Leith Community Education Centre, New Kirkgate.
If you live in the area, you are warmly welcomed to attend.
TV chef cooking up plans for Leith Links event
City of Edinburgh Council, who have oversight of Leith Links, are considering a proposal to host an event at Leith Links, and you are invited to submit your views and questions.
The event – ‘Tom Kerridge Presents Pub In The Park’, is proposed to take place at Leith Links from 22 June 2020 to 1 July 2020. We have also been informed that a Council officer has suggested the event be held in the same area of the Links used by the Mela.
You can view the proposal below (there is very little information provided to us by City of Edinburgh Council) then submit your views or questions.
Your views should be submitted to parks@edinburgh.gov.uk by 4th September 2019.
You may wish to copy in one or more of the City of Edinburgh Councillors who represent Leith Ward 13;
You may also wish to copy in Councillor Lesley McInnes (lesley.macinnes@edinburgh.gov.uk), who is the Convenor of the City of Edinburgh Councils Transport & Environment Committee.
Leith Links Community Council Meeting, 26th August 6:30pm, Leith Community Centre
The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will be on Monday 26th August , at 6:30pm in the Leith Community Education Centre, New Kirkgate.
If you live in the area, you are warmly welcomed to attend.