The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition 21 - 23 February 2025

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute, followed by the local weekend guide for paying subscribers.

🏫 Council tax will go up by 8% after councillors voted through a new budget yesterday. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, STV News.

• The £1.8 billion plans amount to a ‘record spend on primary schools and extra support for social care’ according to the council press release.
• The budget includes £296m for the construction of five new schools to accommodate population growth. The new schools are: Builyeon (in South Queensferry), Gilmerton Station, Granton Waterfront, Newcraighall, and St Catherine's, along with expansions of the existing Hillwood, Queensferry, and Frogston primaries, and Castlebrae and Craigmount high schools. - Local Democracy Reporter Joe Sullivan in The Edinburgh Reporter.
• The council agreed on £3.5m for community-based charities whose funding is being cut by the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board.
• But pleas for extra funding for holiday hubs for disabled children and cash help for Gorgie Farm were unsuccessful, writes Ian Swanson in the Evening News.

🏍️ Two quad bikers were filmed wrecking the grass at Bruntsfield Links yesterday. - Matt Clark posted this video on Twitter. There were reports of similar scenes in Saughton Park yesterday too.
⮑ Local MP Ian Murray said:"The rise in anti-social behaviour in The Meadows is deeply concerning. Residents have rightly raised their concerns and I have been in touch with the police, who have assured me they are taking action.” - Neil Johnstone, Evening News.

⚽️ The damage caused to Saughton Park means Hutchison Vale Football Club may have to come up with alternative plans for a youth football tournament which was due to take place on Saturday, reports Jacob Farr in Edinburgh Live.

🏫 ‘Exclusive: Inspectors sent into Fettes College in Edinburgh in wake of racial discrimination claims.’ A family of two pupils have lodged complaint over their alleged treatment by the private school, reports Calum Ross in The Scotsman.

• UPDATE: This letter was sent to Fettes parents last night:

“Letter from the Chair of the Governors:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Earlier today we welcomed Education Scotland into our school to carry out a Special Inspection, at the request of Scottish Ministers. Our last inspection took place in 2009, so this has been something we have been expecting for some time.

I am delighted to see our whole school community welcoming the inspectors and everyone is working closely with them to show them all that Fettes has to offer. Thank you to those of you who have shared your feedback, via the questionnaire which was sent to you on Wednesday.

Very regrettably, I do have to let you know that someone has contacted The Scotsman newspaper, alleging that this Inspection is the result of a specific complaint/ongoing case.

This is very unfortunate and aside from anything else we feel strongly for the effect this could have on all those involved.

Education Scotland have advised that they do not conduct inspections based on specific cases.

As the story is likely to break in The Scotsman, possibly as soon as this evening, I wanted to furnish you with the facts, such as I can.

The complaint is ongoing and we reject it vigorously. It is very insulting to suggest that our scholarships are awarded based on race and favouritism and quite frankly deeply upsetting to and defamatory of our Head.

To be successful in gaining a Scholarship at Fettes is extremely competitive and based purely on the merit and the abilities of applicants. As most of you know, it is a mark of success for students to even be at the level of entering, and every candidate should feel very proud of themselves for taking part. At Fettes, we encourage all our students to aim high and even though not all candidates will be successful, there will be other opportunities to shine. That said, we do understand this outcome can be very disappointing for students and their parents.

Fettes is a proudly Scottish school that brings together international perspectives, empowering our students to be successful on a global platform. We celebrate diversity. Yours sincerely Rt Hon Lady Morag Wise Chair of the Governors.”

• - Thanks to a subscriber for sharing this.

📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard

📌 “Local amateur drama group, Leitheatre, are holding an Open Night on Monday 24th February, 19:30 at their clubrooms at 20 Sunnyside, EH7 5RA. A chance to meet some of the members, find out how to get involved in amateur dramatics and take part in a play reading. Please email ' info@leitheatre.com' if you want to attend.” - Thanks to Marion for sharing this.

📌 “Edinburgh University student and lifeguard Alexandra Ogilvie is heating up her marathon fundraising efforts with a community bake sale at Leith Victoria Swim Centre on February 22nd, 2025. The event marks a key milestone in her journey to raise £2,000 for Edinburgh Leisure's Active Communities programme ahead of her London Marathon debut.” - Thanks to Edinburgh Leisure for sharing this.

📌 “Welcome to the Fringe: Palestine is an initiative which aims to bring 16 Palestinian artists to the Edinburgh Fringe. We embrace the lessons in hospitality, culture and liberation that we have learnt from our Palestinian friends and colleagues and we hope to bring that spirit to Edinburgh this August. Please support us through our crowdfunder, and follow us on socials to stay updated!” - Thanks to Welcome to the Fringe Palestine for sharing this.

📌 “COMING SOON: Edinburgh Speech Circle – First Meeting on 24th February! Stammering can be challenging, but finding a supportive community makes all the difference. Join us for a friendly, judgment-free space to share experiences, build confidence, and connect with others. First meeting at Intercontinental Edinburgh The George, 6:00 pm – RSVP at espeechc@gmail.com.” - Thanks to Lukasz Orpel, Founder, Edinburg Speech Circle for sharing this.

📌 “Join us for the grand unveiling of the Corstorphine Archives of Maps, where you can explore the fascinating history of maps from Scotland's Central Belt. This exclusive exhibition will feature rare, never before seen maps, providing a unique glimpse into the region's past and the once thriving art of cartography. The event will be open starting on the 28th, and will continue on the 1st and 2nd, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Don’t miss the special history talks on Sunday, the 2nd, at 2:30 PM.” - Thanks to The Corstorphine Trust for sharing this.

📌 “Edinburgh Woman Band Machine Orchid host International Women's Day gig with Esther Swift, Kirsty Law and Curlew. The band present a set focused on women’s rights to include an acapella protest song ‘3 Rings’ about women’s safety / victim blaming, ‘Sharks, Bears Wolves,’ a song about toxic masculinity. Sprinkled with electonic fizzles, polyrhythms, their peformance will also embed an electronic soundscape made up of Trump’s comments on women - ‘In His Own Words’” - Thanks to Aurora Engine (Band Member) for sharing this.

📌 “Come join us for our FREE monthly community meal at the Edinburgh Student Housing Co-operative Basement! Volunteers at ESHC will be teaming up to bring you an evening filled with delicious home cooked food and great company. Date: Friday February 21. Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm. Location: ESHC Basement, 34 Wright’s Houses, Edinburgh.” - Thanks to the ESHC team for sharing this.