The Edinburgh Minute ⏰: Weekend edition 8-10 September 2023
School strikes, Bross Bagels investigation, leisure centre facing demolition, free bikes for kids + a big birthday bash in Leith
☀️ Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute, followed by a bumper weekend ‘what’s on’ guide.
📚 Schools in Edinburgh are set to shut this month as three days of strikes have been announced. - Jolene Campbell, Evening News.
🎓 Lecturers from the University of Edinburgh have also announced new strike dates for the beginning of term. - Lauren McDougall, The Tab.
🥯 Liquidators are investigating the apparent ‘business as normal’ continuation of the Bross Bagels company, despite being wound-up with more than £1.2m of debt. - Stephen Rafferty and Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter.
🛄 Baggage handlers have spoken out about being short-staffed at Edinburgh Airport this summer. - Euan McGrory, Edinburgh Inquirer.
💰 More than £100m is needed to resolve Scotland’s arts funding crisis, according to the Culture Counts network. It represents some of Edinburgh’s arts organisations, festivals and venues. - Brian Ferguson, The Scotsman.
🏫 Kirkliston leisure centre is facing demolition if the council decides to build a new school for the village. - Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter in The Edinburgh Reporter.
⮑ 🏊 Meanwhile in Drum Brae the leisure centre has a reopening date after summer maintenance works. - Jacob Farr, Edinburgh Live.
🌱 The organisation behind Leith’s Community Croft and the Hingabootery celebrates its 10th anniversary this weekend. Singer Karine Polwart is among a range of events - including a ceilidh - hosted by Earth in Common. - All the info is here on Eventbrite.
🚨 The Victoria Swing Bridge in Leith has been closed again after vandals broke in and disrupted ongoing refurbishment work. - Jolene Campbell, Evening News.
🚲 A new community bike workshop opens on Saturday. The Wee Spoke Hub on Guthrie Street aims to be a place you can buy a bike, repair a bike and get training. It opens its doors for a launch event between 5pm and 9pm. - Details via Eventbrite.
⮑ A local cycle charity has launched a kids’ bike library. Families can borrow bikes for free from The Bike Station and exchange them for the next size up as their children grow. - Lewis Michie, STV News.
🧑🌾 Slateford-based community gardeners featured in an STV News feature about the Edible Estates project. - There’s a clip in the second post here.
🛹 Consultation starts soon on a proposed Leith Links activity hub. Members of the council’s Thriving Greenspaces team will be available to discuss the plans on Saturday at the bowling green area. - Details and timings are here.
“This is a once in a generation, groundbreaking and transformational opportunity for Leith that will be usable by all ages and abilities so important that we get all the feedback in and get it right!” - Skateboard Scotland.