Edinburgh North & Leith: Winter 2007 News

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Community News
Winter 2006

Fair Trade fortnight coming Soon
First UK event: March 1st
The Global Journey: Assembling outside City Chambers
Fairtrade Breakfast: City Chambers
with Lord Provost Lesley Hinds (Download PDF for more info and how to RSVP: 1.8mb)
Cafedirect Day: March 6th
11.00-4.00 at the City Chambers (Download PDF for more information: 260kb)

North Leith Banner Group
" An evening of neighbourly love to warm your heart"
Monday 12 February, 7.30 pm, North Leith Church Hall, Madeira Street
Guest speaker: Tim Bell, Port of Leith Chaplain, with pictures and tales of his recent trip to Russia and other reflections
Talk of woolly hats – coal – love – and real stovies

Tim, as Port Chaplain recently accompanied one of the boats on its shuttle between Russia and Leith to bring the coal for Cockenzie power Station. Tim learnt a lot about the lives of the, mainly Philippine, sailors, and their stories have found a ready audience in many publications - most recently a five page spread in the Sunday Herald.

Tim opens up a fascinating story about 'life in Leith' that we know so little about.

The event is relevant to and open to everyone in Leith. It will be particularly relevant to those involved in Leith Churches Together, who part-finance Tim's position, and to the LCT Ocean Terminal Project.

Hats Off to Gallery 37

Mark being interviewed by the Gallery 37 team

I was delighted to recently visit the Out of the Blue workshop (based at the former Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street) to hear about their "Gallery 37" project.

The project, which has ran successfully across the world, is now in its second year here in Edinburgh, and saw a number of young people given training in various design, arts, and media skills. It ran for the 4 weeks over the festival and was funded by the Capital City Partnership.

Last year many of those involved went on to make use of the skills they had acquired, and certainly this year's trainees were producing some very good material. The hats seemed to be especially popular at local markets and were seen to be selling at very good prices!

Mark is supporting Scotland’s aim to be a Fair Trade nation

I’ve been delighted at the response to my petition on the Gleneagles G8, calling on the commitments made in Gleneagles on aid, debt and trade to be implemented in full. Hundreds of local people have now signed the petition, which I’ll be presenting to International Development Secretary, Hilary Benn, when Parliament reconvenes.

I’ve been active on a number of international development issues during the summer recess, including speaking at the Co-op Fair Trade Forum (above). I also recently met with members of Jubilee Scotland at Stockbridge Library to discuss their Cut the Strings campaign which aims to stop the IMF and the World Bank attaching restrictive conditions to debt relief and aid for developing countries.

The UK Government have been at the forefront in pushing for reform of the World Bank and the IMF. I’ll certainly be raising this with Hilary Benn when we meet, and was glad to see his recent statement on the issue, where he confirmed that the UK would withhold £50 million from the World Bank without further evidence that specific economic polices are not being imposed on poorer countries.

Cutting the Strings on Aid
Mark Backs Action on International Development

Making the Waterfront Work

Regenerating communities and cutting unemployment have been two of the government’s key priorities. The redevelopment of the Waterfront has the potential to achieve both of these aims, but I know that local people are worried that the local area may not benefit in the long-term.

‘A fantastic resource’ - The new £70 million Telford College campus

It’s for that reason that I took part in a Waterfront ‘summit’ last month organized by the Pilton Partnership to discuss what action can be taken to ensure that jobs and training opportunities can be accessed by local people. Also discussed was what action could be taken to provide more affordable housing in the area, and the traffic management problems in West Granton. I’ll be working closely with my colleague, Malcolm Chisholm MSP, on these issues.

Thanks to a significant government investment the new Telford College offers a fantastic resource for North Edinburgh. The £70 million campus is the biggest investment to date in a college campus in Scotland, and I believe it can play an important role in ensuring that training opportunities are available to the local community. I’m determined to work with local organizations to make sure this happens.

A DIVISION COMMUNITY & NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NEWS:
January 2007

Local Police News

Craigleith

On Christmas Eve, a member of the public had his wallet stolen while on the walkway close to Maidencraig Crescent. However, within half an hour, three 16-year-old male culprits from the Drylaw area were arrested for the offence. There have been a number of housebreakings during the past month. The favoured mode of entry appears to be by smashing the window of a door at the rear of the premises, while targeted property appears to be electrical goods - especially cameras - and jewellery. However, this week a male in his thirties has been charged with four of these housebreakings...

Download PDF fof January's news for much more >>>

PC 3712 Charlie Everitt CD08 – Community Beat Officer

Dean

As I mentioned in last months newsletter car crime historically increases at this time of the year. In December four cars were broken into and property stolen, in Douglas Gardens, Belford Road, Buckingham terrace and Alva Street. A car was stolen from Dean Park Street and an attempt to steal a vehicle was made in Hawthornbank Lane. It’s worth reiterating not to leave anything of value on display within your vehicle when you leave it – remove temptation for the opportunist thief! There have been no reported domestic housebreakings, although two business housebreakings in Stafford Street and William Street. A male was arrested for the break-in in Stafford Street...

Download PDF fof January's news for much more >>>

PC 2752-A Ian Bryce CD16 – Community Beat Officer

Stockbridge

I am pleased to report a good arrest of two men for break-ins to shop premises in the city centre, three of which were in the Stockbridge area. There had been a few attempts and break-ins in and around Inverleith and the Stockbridge Colonies, so enquiry will be made to see if these males can be linked to these crimes also. Don’t leave doors open or unlocked, or items in your gardens that a thief could use to try and break in. Youth related incidents are down...

Download PDF fof January's news for much more >>>

PC 4384 Greig Stephen CD17 – Community Beat Officer

Ward 9: West Pilton, Granton Mill, Royston, Crewe

The occurrence of reported Vandalism played a big part in last month’s figures making up 32 of the crimes reported. Although a drop of 22% on last month reported vandalisms, there was a rise in persons reported to 7 (21%). This issue is one of the most serious factors in adversely affecting the quality of life experienced by local residents. I am currently working closely with the Safer Communities Unit and the Council’s anti-social behaviour team to address this issue.

December saw a rise in the number of houses broken into with 4 reports being taken. Two of these break-ins were in Granton Mill March, the other two in the Royston Mains area.

There have been no major problems within Ward 9 during December.

Police Clinics are held at the Prentice Centre on the first Monday of the month and at the West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre on the third Monday of the month. These Clinics run from 6.00pm to 7.00pm for anyon who wants to discuss any concerns they may have relating to the area.

Download PDF fof January's news for much more >>>

PC Paul Figures

Ward 10: Granton, Wardieburn

There were four crimes of housebreaking reported in the Ward area during last month. A property in Granton Crescent was broken into when the common stair security was breached and the flat door forced open, however nothing
was taken. Another property in Granton Road was also affected when the door was forced by bodily pressure but no entry was gained. In Granton Medway another flat door was forced overnight and a DVD Player and Play Station
were stolen. The security of a stair door in Boswall Parkway was overcome and an instrument used to strike the flat door but no entry was gained. Like my colleague Paul Figures I would reiterate the importance of the
‘Homesafe’ Initiative. Please contact me [or him] for further details and a referral.

There were three incidents of vehicle thefts when vehicles were stolen from Wardieburn Terrace, Boswall Parkway and East Pilton Farm Rigg. All cars were stolenby unknown means. Please be extra vigilant in light of this using steering locks
and other devices whenever possible.

Download PDF of January's news for much more >>>

PC Tony Lawrence

City Wide: Drug Dealers Don't Care

Funded from money and assets confiscated from criminals, the national Drug Dealers Don't Care campaign saw 45 people arrested across Edinburgh during the months of September and October. Police operations targeting drug dealing in the North of the City resulted in the seizure of £11,000 worth of drugs and £18,000 in cash. In addition, searches of five houses in East Edinburgh at the start of November netted £65,000 worth of drugs and £8,000 in cash.

Thanks are extended to communities who contributed to the success of police operations by responding to appeals for information -success is not measured solely on levels of seizures, but on the willingness of communities to report on criminal activities. Information about crime can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Chief Superintendent Allan Shanks, Divisional Commander

UK VISA EVENT

I recently hosted an event in Leith Community Education Centre with UKvisas, which runs the UK’s visa service through the British Diplomatic Missions overseas.

The event allowed people from across the constituency the opportunity to question UKvisas staff and find out more about the work they do. UKvisas issued over two million visas from British Embassies in 2004 and they play a vital role in managing migration to the UK.

An increasing amount of my work now concerns visa applications and I was glad to hear senior UKvisas staff outline how they are improving their service and utilising new technologies to make it more transparent and efficient, and also play a key role in combating illegal immigration.

"FREE CASH FOR NORTH EDINBURGH

As many of you will know as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Debt and Personal Finance I’ve been campaigning hard to end financial exclusion - trying to stop exorbitant lending rates, the spread of loansharks, and promote credit unions and money advice that some people desperately need.

One major problem that has been highlighted to me over the years is the lack of ‘free’ cash machines. Many communities in Edinburgh North & Leith only have immediate access to ATMs that charge for each transaction, some as much as £1.75 per withdrawal.

I was therefore pleased that progress is being made and that both HBOS and Royal Bank of Scotland have announced that they will install new ATMs in deprived and rural areas across the UK. I’ll be meeting with HBOS very shortly to discuss their plans and I’m extremely hopeful that new ‘free’ cash machines will be installed in the North Edinburgh area in the near future.

Finally, if you wish to read news from previous months, please click here.