Very disappointed to learn of the fatal stabbing incident in Wardieburn.
This takes us backward. Less than three years ago the area was rife with gang turf wars as locals fought it out in a series of escalating tit for tat incidents: the weapons escalated in their potential for danger, too...rising from knives to guns pretty damned quickly.
I sincerely hope this is a tragic 'one-off' - we shall wait and see.
Wardieburn is the forgotten area: since the tenants' rejection at the ballot nobody has any idea how to regenerate the area and those plans we had have been quietly buried by the current Administration...no new school now...no new housing...a very late community centre...the worse health and education situation in the city...it is grim.
My family has lived in Wardieburn for generations but the Wardieburn I grew up in is a very different place from now. Then, there were local jobs at the factories and a real sense of community. Now, too many people move in then move out again just as quickly. And the area looks dreadful...several constituents have spoken to me recently to say the area has never looked so bad.
I agree, yet letters and emails to the leading politicans have so far yielded no action...this then, is the Lib/SNP's Brave New World...estates that look like prairies ...it is nothing to be proud of.
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Can I last the pace?
On holiday this week and have so far managed to fill every minute.
As a favour, we are looking after grand-daughter numero uno, so it has been action packed adventure so far: keeping a 14 years old and her boyfried entertained is not easy.
BBQ's; picnics; cinema; Safari Park; pedicures; manicures and today off to visit Gosford Park in Longniddry- she goes home tomorrow...can I last the pace?
As a favour, we are looking after grand-daughter numero uno, so it has been action packed adventure so far: keeping a 14 years old and her boyfried entertained is not easy.
BBQ's; picnics; cinema; Safari Park; pedicures; manicures and today off to visit Gosford Park in Longniddry- she goes home tomorrow...can I last the pace?
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
The people are not happy
Tonight it was off to Dudley Bowling Club for a packed meeting (easily 60 people there) on the vexatious subject of the Council's plans to introduce a guided bus corridor in Newhaven Road. The people were not happy: not happy with the previous consultation; not happy with the scheme; not happy with the plans to paint a yellow line alongside Victoria Park...
Requested by Trinity Community Council to help set up the meeting I was disappointed I couldn't stay for the whole event (important family duty) but it was my view the scheme needs to be temporarily put on hold -even if only for a couple of weeks - till some amendments to make the scheme more palatable can be worked out. I understand that the four local councillors are to met in the next couple of days to try to reach a solution.
Tomorrow is another public meeting about road safety in Granton Road. I guess it will be a busy event too...no rest for the elected members in Forth...
Requested by Trinity Community Council to help set up the meeting I was disappointed I couldn't stay for the whole event (important family duty) but it was my view the scheme needs to be temporarily put on hold -even if only for a couple of weeks - till some amendments to make the scheme more palatable can be worked out. I understand that the four local councillors are to met in the next couple of days to try to reach a solution.
Tomorrow is another public meeting about road safety in Granton Road. I guess it will be a busy event too...no rest for the elected members in Forth...
Monday, 14 July 2008
Bastille Day
An interesting day - Bastille Day and of course the only acceptable beverage is champagne - it's just a pity I was driving and had to refuse. Soda water and lime for me ugh...no comparison.
A goodly number of local meetings all shedding more heat than light on the hot topic of the moment - the FSF cut in North Edinburgh which is building a head of steam. There's no doubt North Edinburgh's 40% cut is swingeing and the Administration's local councillors should be making a special plea now for some flexibility and leniency (extra cash) to offset the impact. Undoubtedly there will be room for some 'efficiencies' but not the whole sum, that's for sure.
Finally, I tripped the light fantastic through the beautiful wild meadows of Granton today...across the pavements and through the grass verges...I kid you not...
A goodly number of local meetings all shedding more heat than light on the hot topic of the moment - the FSF cut in North Edinburgh which is building a head of steam. There's no doubt North Edinburgh's 40% cut is swingeing and the Administration's local councillors should be making a special plea now for some flexibility and leniency (extra cash) to offset the impact. Undoubtedly there will be room for some 'efficiencies' but not the whole sum, that's for sure.
Finally, I tripped the light fantastic through the beautiful wild meadows of Granton today...across the pavements and through the grass verges...I kid you not...
Saturday, 12 July 2008
The cost of a pee
Kathy Will...now there's a name to conjure with.
Kathy is a woman of many parts: doting grandmother: head cleaner at the City Chambers; landlady at the White Horse inn at the Canongate; active member at St Patrick's Church...she has many tales to tell and all of them worth listening to.
The other day she shared a little anecdote that set me pondering: her pub, not the usual tourist trap, is pretty much the working man's local and is suffering badly from the smoking ban. She claims many of her older customers, ex-servicemen from Whitefoord House, don't come to the pub anymore and instead, sit in their wee rooms having a nip and fag (what does that do for social inclusion, I wonder?). As a result, her takings have dropped.
Bad enough, but made worse by the fact that tourists keep popping in to use her toilets. Each pee, she tells me, costs her money when they flush the loo, wash their hands and then dry them with the electric dryer....and none buy so much as even a half pint shandy.
So she is about to ban the use of her loo by anyone except paying customers...it never occurred to me that business can stand or fall on such small courtesies.
In Glasgow yesterday, I went to use the toilet at Queen Street Station and turned away disappointed since I didn't have a 20p coin and all the adjacent signs said 'no change given'.
It made me think of Kathy...
Kathy is a woman of many parts: doting grandmother: head cleaner at the City Chambers; landlady at the White Horse inn at the Canongate; active member at St Patrick's Church...she has many tales to tell and all of them worth listening to.
The other day she shared a little anecdote that set me pondering: her pub, not the usual tourist trap, is pretty much the working man's local and is suffering badly from the smoking ban. She claims many of her older customers, ex-servicemen from Whitefoord House, don't come to the pub anymore and instead, sit in their wee rooms having a nip and fag (what does that do for social inclusion, I wonder?). As a result, her takings have dropped.
Bad enough, but made worse by the fact that tourists keep popping in to use her toilets. Each pee, she tells me, costs her money when they flush the loo, wash their hands and then dry them with the electric dryer....and none buy so much as even a half pint shandy.
So she is about to ban the use of her loo by anyone except paying customers...it never occurred to me that business can stand or fall on such small courtesies.
In Glasgow yesterday, I went to use the toilet at Queen Street Station and turned away disappointed since I didn't have a 20p coin and all the adjacent signs said 'no change given'.
It made me think of Kathy...
prelude to a summer holiday
It is my weekend for entertaining.
Multitudinous numbers of family members have signalled their intent to descend: you see no smile on my face, though.
Everyone will bring a) dogs b) children c) mess... and it is raining so I cannot put them outside...
Once fed, watered and entertained the caravan will move on leaving me to clean up after...as a prelude to my summer holiday it has little to recommend it.
As yet, we have nothing fixed for the 10 days we have planned....maybe I can repay the compliment and visit all and sundry with my dog in tow. It can't come soon enough!!!
Multitudinous numbers of family members have signalled their intent to descend: you see no smile on my face, though.
Everyone will bring a) dogs b) children c) mess... and it is raining so I cannot put them outside...
Once fed, watered and entertained the caravan will move on leaving me to clean up after...as a prelude to my summer holiday it has little to recommend it.
As yet, we have nothing fixed for the 10 days we have planned....maybe I can repay the compliment and visit all and sundry with my dog in tow. It can't come soon enough!!!
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Gas Tower
Well, I see my wee piece on the gas tower provoked a teacup sized storm but am glad the majority of respondents seemed to favour its retention...just for the record, I don't want it to just stand there...it needs to be adapted to be used as something interesting that will bring visitors to the area...as I said, other cities have found really exciting new uses for old industrial structures...with a bit of imagination we can do the same
One thing, though, do you notice how many folk operate on the basis that if they disagree with your opinion it allows them carte blanche for personal insult? Cannae get my head round that one...
One thing, though, do you notice how many folk operate on the basis that if they disagree with your opinion it allows them carte blanche for personal insult? Cannae get my head round that one...
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