The Edinburgh Reporter October 2021
The independent local newspaper all about Edinburgh The independent local newspaper all about Edinburgh
6 NEWSCity Plan 2030halts furtherexpansionEdinburgh to concentrate onbrownfield city developmentsBy PHYLLIS STEPHENEDINBURGH CITY boundary will not beextended in the new City Plan 2030 which isnow published for six week statutoryconsultation. This means that when it is finallyadopted the plan will only allow brownfielddevelopment within the city for any newschemes. It accords with the council’s transportstrategies and the move to develop 20 minuteneighbourhoods.These are areas where people can access alltheir main needs - education, doctors’surgeries, chemists, and shopping within a 20minute walk there and back. It is a relativelynew concept adopted in many European cities.The council’s Planning Convener, Cllr NeilGardiner recognises that developers and housebuilders may resist the move, but he isadamant that the city cannot grow any morethan it has already.Cllr Gardiner said: "This development plancan recalibrate how development happens inthis city, positively shaping how our capitalgrows and changes over the next 10 years andbeyond. Rather than growing forever outwards,the proposed plan focuses on developing newcommunities on brownfield land which mixliving, working and leisure uses. These locationsutilise and add to already existinginfrastructure. This plan is about us as a citycollectively making the right decisions now sothat our residents can make reasonable andinformed choices about how and where theylive and how they get around in the future."City Plan 2030 has been developed takingon board the views of residents, businesses, andother stakeholders from across the city to helpus meet our core priorities for Edinburgh:making Edinburgh a sustainable city, whichsupports everyone’s wellbeing and enables ourresidents to access homes they can afford. Theplan also facilitates travel options and networksso that residents won’t have to own a car tomove around, while having every opportunityto share in their city’s success."Our proposal of mixed-use communities inthe plan aligns to Scottish Government’s20-minute neighbourhood vision, which isespecially relevant now as the global pandemiccontinues to make massive changes to the waypeople live their lives - including how we all useand appreciate green spaces with the health andwellbeing benefits they bring.”US businessambassadorbuilding bridgesIAN HOUSTON, President of the ScottishBusiness Network US and Ambassadorfor SBN in Washington DC will visitScotland this month. His visit is timed totie in with COP26 and he will also cometo Edinburgh where he will meet theEdinburgh Chamber of Commerce,speaking about trade and the broaderUS-Scottish relationship.He will also talk to MSPs, their staffand civil servants, and while inEdinburgh he will deliver a talk at theEric Liddell Centre about the importanceof links between business and charities.Ian said: "I am passionate about raisingthe profile of what I see is modern,creative, progressive, andentrepreneurial Scotland. Every day I aminspired. Scots and Scotland as a peopleand nation are loved and admired acrossthe world, but still there is a lack ofunderstanding of the modern andvisionary Scotland beyond certainpositive stereotypes. This is a keymoment to be creative with internationalengagement, especially with the US.”
7We’ve been givenDavid Leethe RowAround!Fisherrow club celebrate a decade of coastal rowingBy STEPHEN RAFFERTYINTREPID MEMBERS of Eskmuthe RowingClub have braved thick fog, large waves andswirling seas to row all the way from the ForthBridges to St Abbs as part of an epic round-Scotland challenge.Different crews from the club covered the50-plus miles as part of the RowAroundScotland celebrations to mark ten years ofcoastal rowing.Gaynor Allen, Chair of the Fisherrowharbour based club, said: “The 10th anniversarywas in 2020 so we had to do the event virtually,socially-distanced on rowing machines becauseof the pandemic. But a year on, we have donethe real thing - and it has been amazing.”The RowAround has allowed clubs to passon a baton around the coast of Scotland - andalso hand over scientific equipment to carryout a micro-plastics trawl of waters all aroundthe coastline.Eskmuthe rowed both its boats - SteedieFalconer and Honesty - to Portobello and thenaccompanied the Row Porty club back to receivethe baton just outside Fisherrow harbour. EoinMcDunphy, one of Eskmuthe's coxes, lifted thebaton high in the air to celebrate its arrival tocheers from a busy beach and harbour.The following night, a crew carried out themicroplastics trawl, and then both boats bravedchoppy seas and unfavourable winds to row justover 5 miles to hand the baton over to theBoatie Blest club in Port Seton harbour.The club was also keen to join in as manyother of the RowAround legs as possible,rowing in company with other clubs to explorenew places.So after passing the baton to Boatie Blest,Honesty left Port Seton harbour with the localclub at 6am - this time in beautiful rowingconditions - to row all the way to North Berwick(more than 14 miles) for the next batonhandover. Eskmuthe then took part in theThe Eskmuthe crew enjoysa calm, though misty, dayof rowing from Grantonto PortobelloNorth Berwick regatta before both boats roweddown to Dunbar the following day, where NorthBerwick handed the baton to Dunbar.Eskmuthe also accompanied the baton on itsearlier legs, from South Queensferry to GrantonHarbour (where Newhaven Rowing Club isbased) and then from Granton to Portobello, ona row which took place in thick coastal haar.These two rows were 15 miles in total.“We are so proud of all the club memberswho took part in this epic Eskmuthe escapade,”said club membership secretary David Lee, oneof the main organisers. We have had a lot ofnewer rowers joining the club recently andseveral were able to take part in theRowAround, which was great to see. In total,more than 30 different rowers have taken part.”The club currently has a long waiting list dueto an increasing interest in the sport.To join the waiting list, please emailEskmuthe@gmail.comFlagship cityopening forJohnnie WalkerWALK IN THROUGH the doors ofJohnnie Walker Princes Street and you canstill feel a little bit of the old Binns leftbehind, but instead of escalators thestaircase has been reinstated. The Diageoflagship store has a prominent location onPrinces Street and there are absolutelystunning views from the bars on the topfloor, including from the terrace. TheEdinburgh Reporter’s tip Is to book a slotin the bar to enjoy them even withouttaking the tour (although that too is veryinteresting). Our photo above showsBarbara Smith, Managing Director ofJohnnie Walker Princes Street with IvanMenezes, Chief Executive, Diageo raising aJohnnie Walker flag above the building.Mr Menezes said: “This is a proud day foreveryone. Last year Johnnie Walkercelebrated 200 years since founder JohnWalker opened the doors to his smallgrocery store and today represents thenext chapter of the incredible story.Johnnie Walker Princes Street is alandmark investment in Scotch whiskyand into Scotland and it sets a newstandard for immersive visitor attractions.It celebrates Scotland’s remarkableheritage, our incredible skilled whiskymakers,and looks to the future byengaging new generations of consumersfrom around the world in the magic ofScotch whisky.”Miller Homes launchHome Safe campaignHOUSEBUILDERS Miller Homeshave provided high vis vests tohelp children in the south ofEdinburgh walk home from schoolsafely as the nights become darker.
- Page 1 and 2: In the chair Coasting it Hot off th
- Page 3 and 4: 3Get on her bike!The Fancy Women Bi
- Page 5: 5Martin P McAdamGovernmentslated fo
- Page 9: 9The award for bestwoodland goes to
- Page 12 and 13: Digging into local n12 FEATURE LOCA
- Page 14 and 15: 14FEATURE LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS“
- Page 16 and 17: 16 FOOD AND DRINKTime to stop andsm
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- Page 20 and 21: 20 FEATURE HOME FROM HOMEStrand and
- Page 22 and 23: 22 SPORTWe’ve got McGinnProud mom
6 NEWS
City Plan 2030
halts further
expansion
Edinburgh to concentrate on
brownfield city developments
By PHYLLIS STEPHEN
EDINBURGH CITY boundary will not be
extended in the new City Plan 2030 which is
now published for six week statutory
consultation. This means that when it is finally
adopted the plan will only allow brownfield
development within the city for any new
schemes. It accords with the council’s transport
strategies and the move to develop 20 minute
neighbourhoods.
These are areas where people can access all
their main needs - education, doctors’
surgeries, chemists, and shopping within a 20
minute walk there and back. It is a relatively
new concept adopted in many European cities.
The council’s Planning Convener, Cllr Neil
Gardiner recognises that developers and house
builders may resist the move, but he is
adamant that the city cannot grow any more
than it has already.
Cllr Gardiner said: "This development plan
can recalibrate how development happens in
this city, positively shaping how our capital
grows and changes over the next 10 years and
beyond. Rather than growing forever outwards,
the proposed plan focuses on developing new
communities on brownfield land which mix
living, working and leisure uses. These locations
utilise and add to already existing
infrastructure. This plan is about us as a city
collectively making the right decisions now so
that our residents can make reasonable and
informed choices about how and where they
live and how they get around in the future.
"City Plan 2030 has been developed taking
on board the views of residents, businesses, and
other stakeholders from across the city to help
us meet our core priorities for Edinburgh:
making Edinburgh a sustainable city, which
supports everyone’s wellbeing and enables our
residents to access homes they can afford. The
plan also facilitates travel options and networks
so that residents won’t have to own a car to
move around, while having every opportunity
to share in their city’s success.
"Our proposal of mixed-use communities in
the plan aligns to Scottish Government’s
20-minute neighbourhood vision, which is
especially relevant now as the global pandemic
continues to make massive changes to the way
people live their lives - including how we all use
and appreciate green spaces with the health and
wellbeing benefits they bring.”
US business
ambassador
building bridges
IAN HOUSTON, President of the Scottish
Business Network US and Ambassador
for SBN in Washington DC will visit
Scotland this month. His visit is timed to
tie in with COP26 and he will also come
to Edinburgh where he will meet the
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce,
speaking about trade and the broader
US-Scottish relationship.
He will also talk to MSPs, their staff
and civil servants, and while in
Edinburgh he will deliver a talk at the
Eric Liddell Centre about the importance
of links between business and charities.
Ian said: "I am passionate about raising
the profile of what I see is modern,
creative, progressive, and
entrepreneurial Scotland. Every day I am
inspired. Scots and Scotland as a people
and nation are loved and admired across
the world, but still there is a lack of
understanding of the modern and
visionary Scotland beyond certain
positive stereotypes. This is a key
moment to be creative with international
engagement, especially with the US.”
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