Update From Councillor Vicky Nicolson

An Update From Councillor Vicky Nicolson

I was so pleased to be asked to write for the Stockbridge Spotlight to introduce myself and let you know what I have been up to since May, when I was elected for the first time as your Ward Councillor.

I have lived in Inverleith Ward for more than twenty years, including five very happy years in Comely Bank. Until elected, I worked for Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership with people who experience barriers such as living with a disability or a long term condition as a Local Area Co-ordinator. During the Covid crisis I moved over to co-ordinate a Home Care team which gave me a great insight into the ways in which council teams, residents and communities, schools and other charities and businesses pulled together. I am very proud to have been part of that difficult journey. Most weeks, I receive requests for help with Health and Social care matters but I have also been asked about everything from education, potholes, bins, Council Tax queries to how to fix the clock at what was once Pizza Express on Deanhaugh Street! I don’t have a Stockbridge surgery yet but am a big fan of a cuppa and a scone at Café Life on Cheyne Street and would be happy to meet you there if needed; please get in touch using my contact details below.

Recently I met with the Head Teacher, Mr Wilson, at Broughton High School to introduce myself and we had a wide-ranging discussion about the school and its ethos. It was clear from our discussion and from the activity within the school that BHS places respect, inclusion, and integrity at the heart of everything they do and that they have high aspirations for every pupil. BHS is a diverse school with children attending from a wide catchment area and their pupil attainment at every level is continuously improving. They have a strong Parent Council If you are a parent at the school and would like to get involved, please get in touch on https:// broughtonhighpc.org/contact-us/. Mr Wilson also shared that they are planning to reinstate their 1st year litter squad post covid - pupils will be out around Stockbridge with teachers soon. A few people have recently been in touch with me about littering by school pupils and hopefully this will positively impact the problem. I am also very proud that as part of the ambitious and inclusive education strategy, Edinburgh Learns for Life, City of Edinburgh Council are issuing an iPad to every child from P6 to S6. As someone who has spent many years as a single parent, I am very grateful to SNP for pledging to provide a device for every child. Recently I spoke with residents at Saunders Street about having a cycle hangar installed; you may have seen these around town and they provide secure bike storage. Please get in touch if you would like to see one on your street! Councillor Vicky Nicolson, Inverleith Ward, E : cllr.vicky.nicolson@edinburgh.gov.uk, FB : Nicolson4Inverleith, T : VicNic@SNP