February 2014
A community united
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Last Friday evening, hundreds of
people gathered together at Cramond Beach, and across the Forth on
Pathhead Sands, to release balloons and lanterns and light candles in
young Mikaeel Kular's memory.
It was an emotional, yet peaceful, way for the community to say their goodbyes.
The news of his disappearance,
followed by the heartbreaking outcome, led to an incredible outpouring
of community spirit, with hundreds of volunteers giving up their time to
join the search.
My heart goes out to Mikaeel's friends and loved ones as they continue to come to terms with their dreadful loss.
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| Councillor Andrew Burns Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council |
Sporting chance
From its lofty beginnings as
host to the 1970 Commonwealth Games, Meadowbank has been a fine servant
to Edinburgh, and, almost half a century on, it continues to play a
significant role in the lives of many people across the city, and
beyond. Unfortunately,
the facilities that were once considered state-of-the-art, aren't what
they once were.
With Glasgow 2014 almost upon
us, we are keen to build on the legacy for community sport that the
Games will undoubtedly bring and our vision is for a leading-edge public
sports facility that can give future generations the opportunity to get
involved in
sport and physical activity.
We are continuing to work
closely with our partners to assess the social, sporting, health and
economic impacts of a new Meadowbank and will consider the costs of
commissioning a feasibility study, incorporating extensive community
consultation, at our budget
meeting on February 13. Watch this space!
Tram project latest
It's been an eventful period for
the tram since my last report with continuing full line testing,
rigorous staff training ahead of service and the launch of the Transport
for Edinburgh brand. We now know how Edinburgh trams will look and I'm
pleased to see
that the style ties in well with Lothian Buses. Integration of the two
services is a big priority for us and will make life easier for everyone
who wants to get around the city.
Trams are currently only passing
through the city centre during the night, allowing important tests and
checks to be carried out, but very soon we'll see trams during the day
as well. Our safety awareness campaign is already underway but you'll
see more
activity before the daytime tests begin.
Remember, you can keep up to date with the project by following
@edinburghtrams on Twitter.Enabling enterprise
I recently visited The Melting Pot, the ideal venue to launch 'Enabling Enterprise', a new strategy aimed at developing social enterprise in Edinburgh.
Social enterprises are making a significant contribution to the city by generating local employment, training and volunteering opportunities; taking innovative approaches to creating products and services and ploughing their profits back into their local communities.
The strategy has been commissioned by the Compact Partnership Board and will focus upon, amongst other things, the growth and resilience of the city's enterprising third sector, promoting and encouraging engagement with social enterprise and investing in education and training.
Events in parks - tell us your views
Edinburgh's parks play host to
many high profile festivals and events every year, enhancing the city's
reputation, generating significant economic benefit and enriching our
cultural and community offering. However, I am also aware that these
events can impact
on how they are used by local people and others.
We are now seeking public views
on our Parks Events Manifesto. This document helps us to assess how many
events take place within our parks and green spaces, and the criteria
by which we decide if a request is suitable.
For more information and to complete our survey on
our website. We will share the results and recommendations with you in June.
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