Category: Content from old website imported onto new website

GRETNA TRAIN CRASH COMMERORATION

May 2015 is the centenary of the Gretna Train disaster when 216 troops from the 1st/7th (Leith)Battalion, The Royal Scots lost their lives on route to Liverpool with a final destination of Gallipoli. A further 220 were injured in the crash and fire. The victims came from Leith and Musselburgh areas.

To commerate the centenary there are various events being held in Leith and Gretna.

I’ve attached two flyers with information on the exhibition organised by Leith Local History Society which can be visited in Ocean Terminal and the commemoration on Saturday, 23rd May.

gretna commemoration gretna exhibition

 

 

Spend a penny?

Your views wanted on public toilet closures

The City of Edinburgh Council recently took a step back from reducing the public conveniences budget by £600,000 which would have meant that the majority of Edinburgh’s public toilets would need to be closed.

 However, the Council still needs to make a £300,000 saving in 2015/16 following a budget decision made in 2011. This means that around ten toilets will need to be closed.

 Please complete the Council’s online survey about public toilets and provide your thoughts on how closure of certain public toilets might affect you and your local community; or the people to whom you provide services. This survey will go live on Monday 13 April for a period of six weeks.

Leith Decides Survey

Each year Leith Neighbourhood Partnership gives the decision-making power on the allocation of community grants over the people of Leith in a programme called £eith decides. The fifth £eith decides took place in February when 1,625 people made the decision to allocate £22,092 to 25 local projects in grants of up to £1,000.

 The Partnership would like your help in making £eith decides easier and more enjoyable for people to take part. To do this we would like to know more about your experience of taking part this year.  Click on the link below to take part in a very short survey.

 https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/eith-decides-your-views/consult_view

 The survey will be available until 12 April.  My contact details are as below if you have any questions.

The Foot of the Walk junction works:

The Foot of the Walk junction works:

The contractors carrying out the upgrade works to the Foot of the Walk junction (MacLay Civil Engineering Ltd) are making good progress with the current work sections.

·         Crown Place to Duke Street – Slabbing completed

·         Duke Street south side – Slabbing completed

·         Constitution Street/Duke Street corner area and Duke Street north side – Anticipated completion date Friday 3 April

 Work is continuing on the re-paving of the public realm space in front of the Kirkgate Shopping Centre with a significant part of the main area now completed.

Looking ahead in April:

·         Continue with ducting installation work, cabling and lighting column relocations

·         Commence excavation and slabbing work around Kirk Street/Great Junction Street section

·         Installation of pedestrian and traffic islands

·         Carriageway resurfacing expected to begin in early May

 Contractor Public Holidays

The contractors are due to take two public holidays during April and May (Easter Monday on 6 April and Holiday Monday on 4 May). No work will take place on site, therefore, on these days.

Traffic Management reminder

For the duration of these works, Constitution Street will be closed at its junction with Leith Walk as part of the traffic management arrangements in place aimed at minimising disruption to traffic flow as much as possible. Local access to this area will be via Laurie Street, Queen Charlotte Street, or Bernard Street. Three way temporary traffic lights will remain in operation at the main Leith Walk junction to control traffic flow.

 Bus diversion and general traffic conditions information:

Details of the most up to date information regarding any bus diversions and traffic conditions affecting Leith Walk please visit either of the sites below:

 https://twitter.com/on_lothianbuses

 https://twitter.com/edintravel

 

TRO/15/17 PROPOSED 20MPH SPEED LIMIT

CITY OF EDINBURGH

PROPOSED 20MPH SPEED LIMIT

 In accordance with the terms of the Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1999, I write to inform you that the City of Edinburgh Council proposes to promote an order which will introduce a 20mph Speed Limit on the roads shown on the attached list.

 Further information on 20 mph speed limits, including a map of the 20mph network, is available on the Council’s website at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/20mph .If you do not have internet access you can view this information online at your local Library or Neighbourhood Office.

 Formal objections are not invited at this stage, as a further period will be allowed for the submission of objections when the proposals are formally advertised. It is intended to advertise the proposals at an early date and I should welcome any comments you may have to offer within 3 weeks of the date of this letter. Comments can be made e-mailingCitywide.20mph@edinburgh.gov.uk

New future for Leith Custom House

NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR CUSTOM HOUSE AS COUNCIL TAKES OWNERSHIP OF ICONIC LEITH VENUE

The City of Edinburgh Council has reached an in-principle agreement with the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) to lease Leith’s Custom House from April 2015.

The final terms of the agreement between SHBT and the Council will be put to the Finance & Resources Committee for consideration in May.

The venture will see the Trust, which already operates Riddle’s Court, work in tandem with the Council and the local community to restore the building as a hub in the heart of the community.

Initial repairs and cleaning inside and out of the building will take place over the course of Spring 2015 to prepare the venue for public access. A feasibility study will be commissioned in due course to also consider the long-term use and development of Custom House.

Last month, the Council announced that it had successfully purchased the historic building, after submitting an offer to the National Museums Scotland late last year.

Commenting on the news, Councillor Richard Lewis, Convener of Culture and Sport for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is an important step in the journey to open up Custom House to the Leith community, as well as Edinburgh residents and visitors, and an exciting development as the Council edges closer to taking ownership of the building in April.

“It is such a significant historic building and I’m delighted we have been able to save it for the people of Leith and Edinburgh. It is the oldest of its kind in Scotland having been built in 1812, and we will continue to speak with potential partners about subletting the venue in the short-term, as bigger scale developments take shape, so that public can access and explore the venue as soon as possible.

“The next steps are for the Council to receive the keys and take ownership of Custom House in April and for missives to be signed by SHBT.”

Chair of the SHBT Board of Trustees John Campbell, said: “Although we are a small charity, we have a strong track record in saving important buildings at risk for communities across Scotland and we are delighted now to be involved in securing a future for the Customs House.

“Our first priority will be to make some repairs to the building and spruce it up so that pretty soon members of the public will be able access it.  Its various rooms will be available for use whilst we develop the capital project from feasibility study through to completion.

“This is a very exciting project that will deliver a vibrant mixed use hub for the benefit of the people of Leith and beyond. A key element will be the presentation of selected artefacts and interpretation displays to highlight the historic importance of Leith as the gateway to Edinburgh and Scotland. Other uses may include offices, workshops and public rooms for meetings and events.”

Elected members and community representatives from 15 different Leith groups are being informed at each stage of the project, and an update on the long-term lease of the building is due in May 2015 when a report goes before the Council’s Finance & Resources Committee.

Maggie Wright, Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, 0131 226 3622 / 07801 710360 Email:maggie.wright@mwa.co

About SHBT www.shbt.org.uk

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is a charity that secures the future of under-used historic buildings across Scotland by expertly restoring them for the nation and finding new uses that can regenerate local communities and the historic environment. Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is in the final stages of fundraising to transform Riddle’s Court, an important 16th century merchant’s house on the Royal Mile, into the Patrick Geddes Centre.

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Kirkgate Improvement Survey

The City of Edinburgh Council has a design proposal to improve the area in front of the Kirkgate shopping centre in the next two months. This area is often raised as a concern by local people who want the area to look better and feel safer and we are keen to address these concerns.

 This exciting opportunity to do something with this area has arisen as we are currently working on upgrading the Foot of the Walk junction. We can carry out and complete improvements here at the same time as these works are underway. The owners of the shopping centre are also carrying out an internal refurbishment of the mall and this will complement the works we are planning.

 We have carried out a number of surveys recently to get a feel for local people’s views and these have shown support for the proposals to:

·         Add trees to the area

·         Improve lighting in the area

·         Change the seating layout to provide smaller seating areas

·         Remove the large pointed metal tusk feature

 The Leith Neighbourhood Partnership has agreed, in principle, to the Kirkgate improvements but wants to hear from more people.

 What do you think? Please click on the link below to take our short survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Kirkgate

 Please let us know by noon Friday 6 March 2015.

 If you want to get in touch to air your views you can also email alan.dean@edinburgh.gov.uk

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