

Barnton magazine
Promoting local organisations and informing residents Jan 2025




Editor: Christopher Cowdy
Publisher: EHDirect Ltd
Advertising Prices:
From £60 per month
See website or ask for discounts and premium pages.
www.ehdirect.co.uk
Distribution: 5,000 - 10,000 homes
Email: christopher@ehdirect.co.uk
Phone:
Mob: 07979530447
Post:
49 Warrender Park Road, EH9 1EU
Blackhall and Barnton magazines are published by EHDirect Ltd.
The publishers cannot be held liable for any errors, omissions or misprints. Nor can they accept responsibility for the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers or the opinions expressed in advertisements.
Printing: Cowan Print, Kilsyth 01236 821177
Distribution:
CBLeaflet Distribution 0330 133 3966
Website: www.ehdirect.co.uk designed by www.hrdigitaldesign.com
Happy New Year!
This time every year my wife asks me what New Year
Resolutions I will be implementing (note the plural). I usually respond with a groan and say I resolve to bring her more cups of tea in bed and help more with the ironing or something else fairly simple that thoughtfully implicates her as being the centre of my world.
This year, however, I resolve to direct my thoughtfulness elsewhere and to those more in need so am resurrecting a charitable donation initiative I have previously run in magazines published on the other side of the city for Duddingston and Portobello. Take a look at Pages 26 & 27 because I want reader involvement (and don’t worry, I am not even asking for your money).
I doubt very much this will be accepted by Mrs. C as a satisfactory alternative and the expectation will be that it
might make a reasonable addition to the tea and ironing along with less chocolate, more exercise and possibly fewer glasses of wine. These will all make me sad but the giving to good causes I always find uplifting so ask that you help me with my resolution and even consider thoughtful giving to something yourself.
If you are also looking for more traditional resolutions, then you need look no further than both our front and back covers that should provide some inspiration for healthier exercise or eating regimes.

Christopher Cowdy Editor
EDITORIAL CONTENT
christopher@ehdirect.co.uk






Here is a summary of some of the main articles reported by a range of media outlets online and that relate to our local area for Barnton, Davidsons Mains, Cramond, Cammo and Clermiston I have also added some of my own pieces of interest.

I saw an article in the Daily Record titled “Edinburgh's 'most dangerous' areas” that reported Almond sitting at fourth place. Almond consists of Kirkliston, Cramond, Barnton, and Scotstoun. According to the report, the crime rate hovers at the city-wide average, at 87.3 crimes per 1000 residents. The major issues are the soaring rate of drug crime (628 incidents), dishonesty (737 incidents) and motor vehicle offences (609 incidents).
A 28-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal crash on Whitehouse Road back in March according to the North Edinburgh News.
article on quirky street names that included 2 from our area.
1) Fair-a-far:


The Edinburgh News did an
The curiously titled Cramond street is named after a local farm. Sadly, the origins of the farm’s name have sadly been forgotten over time.
2) Quality Street at Davidson’s Mains reflects that the houses were allegedly of better quality than neighbouring houses.
The cold snap a few weeks ago caused enough chaos for The Edinburgh Reporter to write about considerable traffic disruption to Drum Brae/Clermiston.

Residents in Clermiston shared images with EdinburghLive, of smoke rising from Brucefield Industrial Estate in Livingston as a blaze took hold of industrial premises.

Another Edinburgh News article was about “the 10 best Edinburgh areas to take tourists away from the normal attractions. Cramond Village came in at number 9.

According to The Scotsman, both Cramond and Barnton Community Council and Ratho and District Community Council objected to plans for a major new 'urban quarter' with 3,000 homes citing the impact on traffic congestion and other issues.











Every month we publish a selection of things to do in the local area. This is usually found as a result of an online search and we may not have had time to verify all details are correct but we try to set out a good spread of interesting activities and local organisations. So if you see
Millenium Hall, Cramond Kirk
Crammond Association History Section talk - Glassmaking in Edinburgh
Wednesday 22nd January
Visitors and non-members of the Cramond Association are welcome to attend any meeting for £2. A friendly group of 30-40 members, meeting on Wednesday evenings once a month for a chat and refreshments.
Speakers are invited on a variety of historical topics, not confined to Cramond, Edinburgh or Scotland, with plenty of time for questions and discussion.
For more information visit www.cramondassociation.org.uk

Lauriston Agroecology farm
Drop-in Volunteering
Tuesday 21st January, 13:00 - 15:00
The first drop-in of 2025! Come along to get involved with our friendly Community Garden. You don’t need any experience of plants or growing, the garden is the perfect place to learn. There are always cups of tea, good chats, time to enjoy the garden and the amazing view.


For more information visit www.lauristonfarm.scot
something of interest and want to join in, please do some of your own research and contact the organisation in plenty of time to make sure the event is still on and the details are accurate.

Cammo Estate
Cammo Estate Dig 2025
Monday 13 Jan, 10:00am
Join the Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society on a dig in an area packed full of archaeology and hidden stories just waiting to be uncovered.

Currently the main focus of interest is in the Walled Garden where they are attempting to identify the extent of the 18th- and 19th-century glasshouses. They are also digging the site of an outbuilding to try and ascertain its previous purpose.
Volunteers, with or without previous experience, are welcome to join every Monday, weather permitting. Please bring sturdy shoes, sun protection, water, and a packed lunch. If you would like to participate, please email volunteer@eafs.org.uk.

Tuesday 14th Jan, 18:00 - 19:00
At Barnton Park we offer:
MINI TENNIS - 3 - 10-years-old.
YELLOW BALL - 10 - 16 years old.
For more information s& to book, search online for Smash it tennis Barnton
Barnton Park Smash It! Tennis Academy





2 of the Largest
Apt 11, 9 Barnton Avenue West
4 beds, 5 baths - Approx. 2,681 Sq.ft.

Inveralmond Drive
4 beds, 3 baths

2 of the smallest
2k Fair-a-Far 2 bed, 3rd floor flat - 627 Sq.ft.
Fixed price £162,995 Connell & Connell

77/9 Barnton Park View
1 bed, 2nd floor retirement flat
Fixed Price £190,000 Neilsons

• Exclusive collection of 11 properties.
• Utility, shower rooms & master en-suites.
• Peaceful gardens with large trees, pathways plus leafy & mature grounds.
• Secure gated entry and video entry system.
Rettie
Fixed Price £1,500,000
• Substantial detached family home
• Large south facing garden
• Roof terrace
• Gated driveway with triple garage
• Entertaining spaces including games room
Savills Offers Over £1,200,000


£160,000 - 29th June 2024

£70,000 - 15th May 2024
£1,756,000 - 9th Oct 2023
£1,650,000 - 23rd Jan 2024
Righmove.com produce maps showing some house prices and I count 7 in our distribution area that sold for over £1Mil in the last year (darkest brown circles) along with 8 that sold for less than £200,000 (lightest yellow circles) The remainder were all “mid level”.

Some of the properties on the market at the time of sending to print (according to Rightmove.com)






£5,000forlocal charityiesofyour choice
I took over the Barnton and Blackhall magazines in 2022 after 10 years of publishing 2 similar for Portobello and Duddingston. They are a way for me to help the local community support local business. I also try to promote non profit makers such as politicians, Charities, Churches, School events, and Residents Associations, amongst others.
In 2013, my wife and I took another step by donating £800 to local charity and asked readers for suggestions and then to vote. The Portobello Older People’s Project were the winners.
In 2014 we double donations so Northfield & Willowbrae Community Services Group and the Ripple Project received a share of £1,600.
In 2015 £1,600 was shared between Portobello Toddlers Hut Playgroup and Northfield & Willowbrae Playgroup.
After a break, 2021 saw £2,000 split between Dr Neil’s Garden and Vintage Vibes.
Following Lockdown and high inflation, Charities have been under increasing pressure with demand for services outstripping funding. Donations fell from 14.6% of Scottish Charities' income in 2023 to 12% in 2024 as the cost of living hit our pockets. This combined with my extra exposure to Charities as an elected City Councillor makes us feel now is a good time

to reboot and do more to help.
This year we will donate £4,000 and, once again, I ask for applications.
Key requirements are that applicants should:
1) be a Registered Charity
2) be either based, or have significant services supporting residents, in the magazine catchment area (visit our website for a map).
3) agree to take advantage of Gift Aid to increase the donation by 25% from HMRC.
The total available is therefore £5,000
If you are involved with a local charity, or if you know someone who is, make sure you tell them to get in touch.
We are asking for applications, in writing, providing:
1) the name and registered charity details.
2) an explanation of what the charity does.
4) what the money would be used for.

Once applications are received we then plan to publish a shortlist in the March & April issues and ask readers to vote for which Charity they would like to receive the donation.
A final announcement should be made in the May issue.
We plan to publish some details of all charities that apply so, even if not receiving a donation, they all get some exposure in the magazines. Applications should either be Emailed to: christopher@ehdirect.co.uk
Posted to: Christopher Cowdy, 49 Warrender Park Road, EH9 1EU

The closing date for Applications is 15th Feb 2025. If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch.
Yours sincerely
Christopher Cowdy


Some previous applicants...






















Below is a summary of the most recent Minutes from 17th Oct (edited by EHDirect)
Cammo Estate:
Cammo Estate Advisory Committee provided oversight of activities, including ring-fencing and expenditures of funds from Cammo Farmhouse sale, until City of Edinburgh Council terminated it in 2023. CBCC has written seeking reinstatement .
Police Report:
Road Safety: Speed Checks with hand-held radar (Speed Gun!)
Off-Road Bikes/Quads:
Incidents relate to youths on off road bikes.
Promenade:
Off-road bikes/quads remains a
priority with high-visibility patrols.
Anti-Social Behaviour/Youth
Disorder:
Regular patrols continue within the patrol matrix of the local Community.
Vandalism/Damage:
Community Council Review: Deadline of 27 February 2025. Elections (if necessary) 27 March 2025. CEC would like more diverse Community Councillor representation.
People’s Story Museum Closure: Closure (temp. or permanent) was discussed. Others are also

Councillors were occupied with
CEC Budget issues.
Proposed Visitors’ Levy: Might be 5% with VAT possibly added.
City Plan 2030:
Community Council intended to formally adopt City Plan 2030 on 7 November 2024.
Edinburgh Airport Aircraft Noise: Policy Paper should be presented for discussion and agreement at the CC’s November Meeting.
Alternative CC Meeting VenueNo discussion.
Cramond and Barnton Safety Action Group: Report should be adopted by CEC for ‘ownership and implementation.
Campus Progress:
Further discussion with the City Planners after the 2nd PreApplication Consultation Exhibition has been held.
Cramond Harbour and Environs:
Cramond Association (CA) is partfunding the development of computer generated illustrations for improvements to Cramond Car Park and Toilets.
Next meeting: Thursday 16th January 2025 at 7:00pm in Cramond Kirk Hall. We are dependent on volunteers and need new members. If you would like to help then attend a meeting or email Secretary Ian Williamson on - cramton17@gmail.com





Term Dates

2024/25
Autumn Term 1 (83 days): Wed 14th AugFri 20th Dec 2024
Spring Term 2 (57 days): Tue 7th Jan - Fir 4th
April 2025
Summer Term 3 (50 days): Tue 22nd AprilThur 26th June 2025
Total: 190
16th Sept (1 day)
14th - 21st Oct (6 days)
23rd Dec - 7th Jan 2023 (11 days)
10th - 16th Feb (5 days)
7th - 21st April (10 days)
5th - 6th & 19th May (3 days)
28th June - 16th Aug (35 days)
Total: 71 days


Distribution of the Barnton magazine covers 5 Primary school and 4 High School catchments and I thought you might be interested in a brief overview. I have given contact details for each one including Phone number and addresses for websites, email, Twitter plus where they have a Facebook Page. There is a whole range of info available on their online Pages but let me know if you think any else specific should be mentioned here.
Davidsons Mains PS - 336 1184
DmainsPrimary.com admin@davidsonsmains.edin.sch.uk @MainsDavidson
Primary schools
Blackhall PS - 336 1023 BlackhallPrimary.co.uk admin@blackhall.edin.sch.uk @BlackhallPS
Clermiston PS - 336 3361 Clermiston.edin.sch.uk admin@clermiston.edin.sch.uk
Flora Stevenson PS - 332 1604
theFloraStevensonPrimary.com admin@florastevenson.edin.sch.uk
Royal High Primary PS - 669 3200
admin@royalhigh-pri.edin.sch.uk

St David’s RC PS - 332 3500
Stdavidsrc.com admin@st-davids.edin.sch.uk @saintdavidsrcps
Private Facebook group

St Augustine’s RC HS - 334 6801
Staugustinesrchs.uk admin@st-augustines.edin.sch.uk @staugustineshs

Secondary schools
St Mary’s RC PS - 556 7128
St-marysrc-pri-edin.sch.uk admin@st-marysrc-pri.edin.sch.uk @stmarysedin Facebook

Royal HS - 336 2261
Royalhigh.wordpress.com admin@royalhigh.edin.sch.uk
@Royal_High_Sch
Broughton HS - 332 7805
St Thomas of Aquin’s RC HS - 229 8734
St-Thomas-of-aquins.org.uk admin@st-thomasaquins.edin.sch.uk @thomasofaquins
christopher@ehdirect.co.uk
Broughton.edin.sch.uk admin@broughton.edin.sch.uk
@BroHighOfficial








For years I presented puzzles from the MENSA but thought it was time for a bit of a change, so here is a selection of slightly different puzzles to tease your brain.

Jogger runs from home (left) to school (right). Each of 4 straight roads is 1km long and each curved is 1.5km. The run is always more than 3km and never uses the same road twice. Not all roads are always used. Runner can pass by home but once reaches school, the run ends.
How many different routes can there be? (Hint: more than 10.)

The same 2 vowels have been plucked from 3 related words. Can you put the words back together?

A rebus is a puzzle device that combines the use of illustrated pictures with individual letters to depict words or phrases. What’s this word?
Last month’s answers:

Q1: A cold
Q2: Yellow
Q3: Travel overseas (TRAVEL over C’s)
Useful Numbers









