Tag Archives: Leith Walk

Hibernian Community Foundation

The work of the Hibernian Community Foundation recently came to our attention. They work in partnership with Hibernian Football Club to harness the power and passion of football. They have come up with some pretty innovative ideas to improve people’s lives:

Hibernian Football Club has a long and proud tradition of working to support local communities. The creation of the Hibernian Community Foundation in 2008 signalled a clear commitment to step up this effort.

Since it was established, the Hibernian Community Foundation has brought opportunities and enjoyment to many people. This includes the creation of the Hibernian Learning Centre at Easter Road stadium, groundbreaking work on disability football, supporting people into employment, providing educational tours for local schools and improving the community’s health.

Key to their approach is partnership – with fans, volunteers and Hibernian Football Club – but also with a wide range of organisations who share the same hopes and aspirations to improve health, learning and opportunity.

As many as 50 people with learning disabilities receive coaching on a regular basis with assistance of the U19 players from the Hibernian Football Academy.

The Foundation not only supports a range of activities in the field of disability football, it also runs ‘Football Fans in Training’ (FFIT), a programme sponsored by The Football Pools and The SPL Trust. It is designed for overweight men between the ages of 35 and 65. Over the course of the 12-week programme, information and activities are provided to help men lose weight, get fitter and be healthier. They also run courses for women ‘Female Fans in Training‘ and for older people ‘Still Game‘.

Recently Hibernian FC Legends Peter Cormack, Kenny Davidson, John Fraser, Bobby Kinloch, Lawrie Reilly and Billy Hunter returned to Easter Road Stadium to launch this new programme for fans aged 60+. Hibernian Still Game will be based in the South Stand at Easter Road and run for 10 weeks.

Provided in partnership with SPL Trust, this FREE programme offers weekly workshops that cover a range of topics including:

Healthy eating
Personal safety
Social history of Hibernian FC
First aid
Music performance and production
Internet use

Participants will also receive coaching in light physical activity, connect with the history and legacy of Hibernian FC, take a tour behind the scenes of Easter Road Stadium and meet former players.

Programme starts the week commencing 14 January 2013 and will run from 9.30 am to 12 noon for 10 weeks.

To find out more about the courses which are all FREE, please contact the Hibernian Community Foundation at info@hibernianinthecommunity.org.uk.

Wheels in motion make dangerous walkways

CYCLISTS and pedestrians don’t seem to mix, certainly not on pavements anyway. Walking along a path and minding your own business could seriously damage your health according to some Leith Walk pedestrians.

Complaints were heard at the April community council meeting about the dangers posed by cyclists who whizz past pedestrians on pavements and don’t even use cycle bells to warn of their approach.

“I thought it was illegal to ride bicycles on paths anyway,” said local resident Anne Finlay, who claims that she has almost been run down by speeding cyclists on the Walk on more than one occasion. “Pavements are for people, why are cyclists allowed to ride on them at all?”

Edinburgh Council is clear. “We don’t allow cyclists on pavements,” a spokesperson said. “Though we don’t have powers to charge anyone, this is a police matter. There are some blue signs installed in Edinburgh which denote shared use of the path, but these are not displayed on main footpaths. They are more likely to be found on promenades.”

Lothian and Borders Police say: “It is against the law to cycle on pavements and this is enshrined in legislation [Section 64 of the Road (Scotland) Act 1984].”

The spokesman added: “It is a matter for discretion by the police as to whether charges would be brought. Our current Drive Safe/Cycle Safe campaign focuses on education and certainly safe cycling is part of that campaign.”

Keen cyclist, owner of Leith Cycles and a father of two daughters, Richard Dowsett (pictured left with secretary to Leith Central CC Roland Reid) sees cyclists pass the window of his shop on Leith Walk. “No-one can predict what a dog, or a small child is going to do,” he says. “If a cyclist is anywhere near pedestrians, he or she needs to be able to stop instantly. I’m surprised that there are not more accidents actually.”

Richard hires bikes to tourists who are looking for a day out. They always ask if they can cycle on the pavements. Richard says no. “We need a better cultural understanding about the safe use of cycles here in Britain,” he says.

The community council has learned that Edinburgh Council doesn’t have ‘No cycling’ signs and it would require a TRO (Traffic Regulation Order) to make some, a lengthy process and one unlikely to be agreed. Installing these would mean that a toddler on a trike would be breaking the law. But the council could put up posters on display boards along the Walk to remind inconsiderate cyclists that riding on pavements is against the law.

Cyclists cite recent serious accidents as proof of the dangers to their own health and safety of cycling on the road. Edinburgh Council claims that there isn’t enough space on the Walk for separate bus and cycle lanes. In the meantime, neither cyclists nor pedestrians feel safe. Surely this issue needs a rethink.

A plan is in hand to start where the tram works stopped

LEITH’s fortunes could be in for a boost as new Chair of the Leith Business Association (LBA) Alex Wilson brings his skills and energy to the role.

Having done his homework, the association now has a redrafted constitution, newly introduced membership fees and a much wider sweep across Leith than the original Leith Walk membership. This association now means business and is ready to get to work.

“Our current and most pressing challenges are the residual problems of the tram works,” says Alex. “Business has suffered badly and the lack of investment in, and care for this area now requires imaginative thinking as we work to put things right. As we gain new members we will be able to tackle some of these problems and that’s what we intend to do.”

Having lived and worked as an interior designer in California for some years, local historian Alex kept in touch with news at home online. On his return to Edinburgh he quickly became involved again in local community life. He is also standing as an independent city council candidate in the May elections, .

Alex’s new appointment as Chair of LBA has fitted in well with a two-year campaign he set in motion to recover Leith’s ancient and historic flag from the Lord Lyon, the official heraldry office for Scotland. . “Thanks to the support of many interested people, our campaign has been successful,” he says proudly, “A ceremony will take place in Leith Library very soon in which the flag will be handed over to the charge of Leith Neighbourhood Partnership.

“Historically Leith has a strong community identity,” says Alex. “Regaining the flag will help Leith to regain that proud spirit and of course it will help to stimulate the success of local businesses. Leith has a great future ahead. ”

The next meeting of the LBA will beheld on Wednesday May 9th, starting at 5.45 at the Persevere Room Kirkgate Community Centre. If you would like to learn more about the work of the Leith Business Association, or to become a member, you can contact Alex at wilsonamc3@aol.com

Visions for The Walk

THE FUTURE of The Walk was the main focus of a Leith Neighbourhood Partnership public meeting held on 21^st March at Lorne Primary School.

Leith Central Community Council was well represented in a diverse audience that came to hear the ‘vision’ offered by City Design Leader Riccardo Marini. Praising the vibrancy of the area, he said that ’culture, creativity and design don’t get the attention they deserve’ in city planning. He also said that a place is a reflection of the culture of the people who live there and asked the audience to consider who and what the Walk is for. He said that the vision should come from the 40,000 who live near to the area and are part of the life that is lived there.

With Leith Walk regarded as one of the top three roads in Edinburgh, after Princes Street and the Royal Mile, Marini stressed that bypassing bureaucracy was essential to get the focus back on to people and the quality of life in the area. Ten thousand vehicle movements a day, and 7,000 pedestrians demonstrate just how popular this main arterial route has become.

Both Marini and Services for Communities manager Mike Penny urged the audience to give their views about what they wanted for the area. They suggested that a series of workshops should be held as soon as possible. But protesters in the audience said that consultations had already been done, what they wanted was some concrete results.

Pedestrianised areas, wider pavements, slower traffic speeds, more provision for cyclists and more services to support local community life were some of the recommendations. More benches where people could gather without having to spend money were also requested.

With further road works planned that will take six months to complete, the Walk is in for another period of austerity before the end of the year. But funds are set aside for a complete resurfacing of the road when all works are complete.

Mike Penny said: “There’s a reducing amount of money that we can spend one way or another. We need your help in identifying the priorities. There are different ways of looking at things. Can we do something with you?”. Riccardo Marini added: “Let’s get the passion back into the Walk.” One audience member said however that the complex issue of traffic management was really the key to all future plans. “If the volume of traffic is at the level you describe, what do we do with all these vehicle movements?” These are the questions to be considered at future workshops.

The Walk struggles to keep up appearances

LOVERS of Leith Walk will need more tolerance towards her dowdy look as a makeover won’t be happening in the short term. A major stumbling block to her revamp still remains. What some would call her bete noir, the tram, still lurks in the shadows.

Neighbourhood Manager for City Centre and Leith, Mike Penny, admits that the cards for a link to Newhaven are still on the table. “While it’s definite that the tram is going to St. Andrew Square, it is still said that the route could go right to Newhaven,” he said. “Thus anything significant needs that final determination. We have to wait for that. We have to hold back spending the money allocated for Leith Walk until that decision is made. Completion of that further tram extension could take some years yet.”

In the meantime, more alarming news emerges that further and final Scottish Water works must be carried out along the length of the Walk. Planning for this is at a late stage and works are likely to start later this year. These will last around 6 months and it is anticipated that work will be completed towards the end of 2012.

“We will then do a complete resurfacing of all of the road,” says Mike Penny. “That will cut out all that bumping over uneven surfaces which is such an inconvenience to everyone at the present time. We are very committed to a fundamental makeover of the Walk, but these last works have to be done first, then we can get under way. We plan to reinstate the famous landmarks, the Leith clock and the ‘pigeons’ during that period too.”

Several property developers who own large sites on the Walk and once may have had serious building projects in mind, have now changed their business plans. The company that provides student accommodation, Unite owns the big grey shell that is Shrubhill. “It would appear that the company no longer plans to develop the site,” says Mike “We have been informed that they are looking for a buyer. In the meantime we continue to discuss options for improving the appearance of the site. Hoardings will be reinstated soon and advertising boards established to add colour through the council’s Authorised Advertising Project; it seems less likely that the proposal for a vinyl cover of the whole building with a large image (as has been done in other parts of the city) will now go ahead.. The pressure to sell puts some limitations on some of the ideas, but we are continuing discussions.”

The Old Tram Depot next door to Shrubhill is currently being used as a storage facility for building materials too. Leith Walk is still a work in progress. Those who love her colour and potential will have to wait a little longer for her return to the glory days.