Calderwood green belt site

Rebuilding Liberton High School welcomed in a bid to get support from the Scottish Government. One thing is certain, that a new building is needed, so that pupils by Miles Briggs Liberton High School has long been overdue a replacement in Liberton and the surrounding area have a school with the best

I am pleased that Edinburgh building with a long list of possible environment for learning. City Council is looking at bringing essential building maintenance For too long Liberton High forward plans in their budget to needing completed. Parents. School has been overlooked for a rebuild Liberton High School. The teachers and pupils must be replacement school building and council have proposed a 'dual included in the consultation that must change and we must campus' model alongside a new between City of Edinburgh Council see action taken to deliver the new dedicated Gaelic high school, and the Scottish Government. building. Making the Most of the City’s Brown Sites crucial is the way we develop and invest in our communities for the future, and so I welcome centre properties vacant. The decay that sets in affects more than the properties – it affects by Sarah Boyack MSP Over the last few months, like many elected representative campaigners, the election gave me the opportunity to visit homes across the city and the region. It was a visual reminder of the acceleration of change. All around me I saw more and more housing developments around the bypass and, in the city, more and more key boxes on the entrances to flats and tenements as former homes became rented property, let out year-round to visitors. Tourists are welcome to Edinburgh, bringing a vibrancy and life to our city, as well as much-needed revenue. However, getting the balance right between the housing needs of residents and the numbers of tourists is critical, whether we are looking at the city centre or the concept of ‘boatels’ on the canal. Also news that the council plans to earmark more brown sites for future development – a welcome departure from relying on our ever-decreasing green spaces. However, change needs to come in other ways, too. We need to think ahead in terms of the climate, which should remain at the forefront of planning - and we need to change our habits. Instead of using easily-available green sites, we must make use of existing buildings. It is by far the most climate-friendly option but it will require both councils and communities investing in tenements and under-used buildings. Modern shopping habits have altered the use of our high streets. Town centres change before our eyes as people jump in cars and drive to supermarkets for plasticpackaged foods leaving town community cohesion and civic pride. Halting this erosion seems like a tall order. Investing in brown sites is more expensive that green sites, but the longer-term cost will be greater if proper local authority funding fails to materialise in the next budget. In the coming months, it is vital that communities have a voice in Edinburgh Council’s local plan, whether it means talking to councillors, attending meetings or making your own representations. It is only by uniting community needs with council planning objectives that a realistic, long-term green solution to our housing and community issues will be found. Take a look at the consultation events and the draft plan on the council website : www. edinburgh.gov.uk

EU Surgery in Portobello

Last month Edinburgh Eastern MSP Ash Denham hosted an advice surgery in Portobello for EU citizens who had questions about the EU Settlement Scheme and

how Brexit will affect them. 53 constituents, representing nine EU nationalities, attended the Q & A session led by Ms Denham and Karen Brown from Citizens Advice Scotland.

The MSP had written to all EU citizens in her constituency to make them aware of the surgery.

Ms Denham said: "I felt it was important to put on this event to make sure that EU citizens felt reassured about the EU Settled Status Scheme and to give them an opportunity to ask questions specific to them and their family. "There was a strong turn out of 53 constituents representing nine different EU nationalities, and everyone could ask questions. ”I made it clear that EU citizens are valued for the contribution they make to our society and our culture, and that I want them to stay. "If any EU citizen would like advice or support in completing their application, the Scottish Government has committed to providing a 'Stay in Scotland' package of support. "This includes the funding of Citizens Advice Scotland. "They have a help line available weekdays between 9.00am and 5.00pm The number is 0800 916 9847."

Brexit is bad for Edinburgh Party, and I have pledge to launch a Labour Campaign for Britain’s Future, with the party’s values of by Ian Murray MP togetherness at its heart.

Labour deputy leadership The Labour movement must candidate make the case for a much closer

I am writing this just hours relationship with Europe, restoring before we leave the European our reputation, and working to Union. grow our economy on behalf of As readers will know, I fought tirelessly to prevent this workers in every UK community, Leave or Remain. happening. Ultimately, I believe we should It is therefore deeply upsetting and worrying that Brexit is upon us, particularly for Edinburgh’s never rule out campaigning to be part of the EU again in the future if it is in the national interest. economy. The Labour Party’s values of But what I won’t do is respond in the way the SNP has - by trying to make things even worse through internationalism and solidarity are why we should always be a pro-UK and a pro-Europe party. leaving the UK as well. Never again can we face both Instead, I believe we must concentrate on rebuilding our ways of the biggest issues of our time. relationship with Europe. If we can’t stand up for the future I am standing in the election for Deputy Leader of the Labour of the UK and play a central part in Europe, then we stand for nothing.

Scottish Cabinet papers 2004

We had a look at the Scottish Cabinet papers which were released in January. These papers are published when they have been archived for 15 years, so some of what we read seemed pretty recent and familiar.

Malcolm Chisholm MP for Edinburgh North and Leith was Health and Community Care Minister. He wanted to hold a consultation on banning smoking in public places. Stewart Maxwell had initiated a Private Member’s Bill and Ireland had already put a ban in place. A Breath of Fresh Air for Scotland indicated a move to reduce tobacco related harm and public education on passive smoking and environmental tobacco smoke. The consultation was launched on 7 June that year in a smoke free pub. The government wanted to test public acceptance for legislation to stop people smoking in certain public areas. Interestingly the document was on paper and was returnable by FREEPOST.