The Edinburgh Minute ⏰: Weekend edition 2-4 February 2024

🌦️  Good morning Edinburgh. More wind and rain today but Saturday is forecast to be sunnier. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute followed by the weekend guide for paying subscribers. 

🚉  Consultation on a new tram line from Granton to the Royal Infirmary will go ahead in spring. Councillors yesterday agreed to start consulting the public on the plan, which could controversially incorporate a section of the Roseburn Path. - Spokes Lothian live-Tweeted sections of the meeting here.

⮑  Transport committee chair Scott Arthur said: “A few times this week I’ve had to remind myself this is just a consultation. We’re not thinking about whether we start work on this on Monday, although I do have a spade in my office. I really do think this project will be transformative, if it happens. It’s going to connect Granton to Edinburgh College, the Western General Hospital to the retail park, city centre, university, Cameron Toll, the Royal Infirmary, BioQuarter and then Mid or East Lothian. And it might even also connect to the Southern Sub. It’s going to take 11 years to deliver this, touch wood. It’s going to carry around a million passengers a month, which is incredible. It will drive investment and carry people from houses that have not been built yet, take kids who haven’t been born yet to schools that haven’t been built yet and people to workplaces that haven’t been built yet. We absolutely have to look at the cost and make sure we’re managing it. As well as hopefully keeping the cost as low as possible we have to maximise the benefits. That’s where the Roseburn corridor comes in. That gives people in west Edinburgh and West Lothian a connection to the Western General Hospital. Nobody dives in to the situation of Roseburn thinking it’s ideal. But it is about finding a way forward for a project that works as a whole.” 

  ⮑  As well as concern around impact on Roseburn Path users, nature and wildlife, some shopkeepers in Newington are worried about the construction disruption in their neighbourhood too. - Steven Brown of Edinburgh Live spoke to business owners on the route.
  ⮑  In a change to the original proposal, the consultation will set out the pros and cons of both routes, including Orchard Brae, reports Ian Swanson in the Evening News.

🚗  The other big report approved by councillors yesterday is titled: ‘Our Future Streets – a circulation plan for Edinburgh’. It proposes a vast range of plans to reduce car use by 30% by 2030. - Steven Godden of BBC Scotland News looks at five key changes the council is proposing. Changes already approved include closing the Cowgate this summer. 

🏥  On Monday, thanks to a reader tip-off, this newsletter was first to report on NHS Lothian’s plans to axe a free staff shuttlebus service from Sheriffhall to the Royal Infirmary. - The Evening News follows up today with quotes from union leaders calling for a delay in the plan while alternatives are sought. 

🐉  Edinburgh’s Chinese New Year Festival begins on Saturday and runs until February 16. The programme includes Chinese New Year Concerts, dragon and lion dances, two bilingual ceilidhs, tai chi sessions, calligraphy and tarot card reading. - Beth Franklin, STV News.
  ⮑  All 51 events are listed here. 
  ⮑  Performers have been in rehearsals for six months. ‘On Sunday, the dancers will take centre-stage on the Mound for one of the most colourful and best-loved events in Edinburgh’s cultural calendar.’ - Euan McGrory interviews members of Edinburgh Chinese Arts Association for the Edinburgh Inquirer.

🚔  A fourth person has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Marc Webley in Granton on Hogmanay. - North Edinburgh News.

🚨  Emergency services had to help a boat owner who was ‘stuck in mud’ on the beach in South Queensferry. - Gary Flockhart, Evening News.

🏗️  Longstanding efforts to redevelop a corner plot in Corstorphine have resurfaced with a switch from private flats to a care home and commercial units. - Urban Realm.
  ⮑  The site also reports there will be a public consultation on plans for an empty office block at Orchard Brae on 8 February.

🦭  An apology: yesterday’s newsletter heading mentioned ‘an otter’ in the Water of Leith and linked to a Tweet. It was in fact a seal! Thanks to the Water of Leith Conservation Trust for agreeing to let me share this photo taken by volunteer Laura McGadie: 

📰  “The February issue of volunteer-led FREE community magazine C&B News, serving communities in south-west Edinburgh, is now available: digitally online (https://candbnews.com) and, from this weekend, in selected retail outlets across Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton Mains, and Colinton. (See website for list.) Featured stories include: the new indoor tennis facility at Oriam; local policing; and tributes to Balerno resident Marion Milne. Plus the latest news from local groups, councillors, and much more.” - Thanks to Paul Fisher Cockburn, editor, C&B News, for sharing this. 

📌  Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard

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📌  “Following the Edinburgh Minute sharing news back in December, of the newly launched community wellbeing podcast 'Keeping Edinburgh', the latest episode for the podcast series has now been published - Keeping Edinburgh Green. It features more amazing organisations helping others connect and support their wellbeing, including SAMH's Redhall Gardens and the brilliant Gracemount Community Garden. This latest episode also features special 'mindfulness' bonus content thanks to HealthAllRound in the west of the city, giving listeners a taster experience to try out the benefits of Ecotherapy. All released podcast episodes can be downloaded via Apple and Spotify (as well as other podcast platforms).” - Thanks to The Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership for sharing this.

📌  “After the success of the beat the January blues lunchtime special menu, heavenly scran at Cloisters bar are now offering a fab seven for February: seven courses for only £7 each Tuesday to Friday, noon-3pm” - Thanks to Gerard Hall owner Heavenly Scran for sharing this.

📌  “Beyond Our Depth is a very special community art project that involved displaced participants from countries such as Ukraine, Syria, and Hong Kong. The project revealed an enormous amount of trauma over the 8-week journey applying a material experimentation approach focusing on the power of the creative process. As a result of the project, participants developed an emotional body of work as a series of sculpted and individually shaped pillowcases that we are finally going to be exhibiting this February at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh. During the project, we were also able to capture the story behind the scenes and design a short film that will be showcased as well first time in public. Free entrance, all humans and pets are welcome to the opening event on 10 February, 3-5pm.” - Thanks to Alena Rogozhkina, Founder of Abandoned Artists CIC for sharing this. 

📌  “Who Runs Edinburgh? Monday 5th February, 7:30pm - 9:00pm on Zoom. With guest speaker Professor David McCrone, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Edinburgh. Drawing on his understanding of politics, history, and geography to explore who actually runs Scotland’s capital city. Where does the real power lie? Organised by Edinburgh Humanists local group.” - Thanks to Humanist Society Scotland for sharing this.

📌  “Join us for our Business Breakfast at The Edinburgh Remakery – a fantastic chance for businesses of all sizes to connect. Gin Lalli, our speaker for the month, will talk to us about enabling yourself to confront the challenges of 2024 with a positive mindset. Grab control, as an enthusiast and unlock the tips that will help you conquer 2024 with confidence and resilience and grow personally and in your business.” - Ticket details are here.

📌 Share your community notices, events and story tip-offs here.

📆  Things to do this weekend: