The Edinburgh Reporter January 2023

2 NEWS

Editorial

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Editor: Phyllis Stephen

Designer: Felipe Perez

Photos: Martin P McAdam

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JANUARY IS A TIME for looking forward,

and I am sure you are as glad as I am to be

doing that after the year that 2022 turned

out to be.

2022 was a year of three prime ministers,

two monarchs and, more locally, one new

council. It is a time for taking stock and I am

sure that there are some sore heads at the

City Chambers trying to work out the draft

budget plans which will be presented and

hopefully approved next month.

Labour politicians continue to say that

Edinburgh is the lowest funded council in

Scotland per capita. The SNP defend the

Scottish Government (who are said to have

millions in reserve), and the Conservatives

shore up the Westminster government

against its austerity measures.

All of the politicking aside this is a time

when prices are still on the rise, particularly

the cost of energy. It is right then that the

council has stepped in to open more than 60

Warm Spaces in libraries and other council

buildings all over the city. If you do go to a

library then ask them how to read this

newspaper and others on the PressReader

app. It can also read the paper to those with

sight loss.

The council are also keen that anyone

who needs help with bills or spending takes

a look at their website to find assistance

there rather than worry alone.

January is a time for remembering Rabbie

Burns and highlighting all that he brought

to our Scottish culture which is why he is

featured on our front page. (And if you don’t

yet have a calendar to hang on your wall

then photographer Tom Duffin has some

showing his many great photos of

Edinburgh on his website.)

There will be many traditional Burns

suppers held in Edinburgh and all over the

world, but Unique Events are producing

Burns&Beyond from 26 to 29 January. This

four day event offers an alternative take on

the Bard and this month it will include

music in a stripped back show from Twilight

Sad and Kinnaris Quintet and Friends all at

at Assembly Rooms on George Street.

2023 is the Year of the Rabbit - and

apparently signifies a year of hope.

Let’s hope so!

Phyllis Stephen, Editor

Letters to the editor

THERE ARE 6,000 copies of the Edinburgh Reporter distributed

through a network of city businesses and public buildings.

You will find copies at Farmer Autocare, the Central Library,

Summerhall, Art & Craft Collective, EICC, LifeCare on Cheyne

Street, Leith Library, Coffee Angels at St Mary’s Cathedral next to

John Lewis, the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Western

General Hospital, and a few city supermarkets.

If you can, then please subscribe to have your copy delivered to

you each month. It helps us to cover the overheads of bringing

the news to you in print and online.

We distribute door to door on some selected streets. If you

would like us to include your street then please suggest it to us.

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Planning News

Ocean Point at 2 Ocean Drive EH6 6HJ- The

consultation process has begun on plans

being drawn up for developers S Harrison

Developments Limited to create a mixed-use

development potentially comprising

residential, hotel, purpose-built student

accommodation, along with commercial uses/

co-working and amenity space, landscaping

and infrastructure.

A Proposal of Application notice as been

submitted to the council and now the plans

move ahead into the pre planning stage

before finalised plans are lodged.

The developers explain that their hopes are

to construct two separate buildings and uses

for each are still wide open from residential to

private housing for sale or build to rent, to a

hotel or purpose built student

accommodation. Anyone can comment on

the plans until 13 January on the website

oeanpoint2.com or phone on 0131 202 3259

or email [email protected]

Akiko Kobayashi’s plans to redevelop the

vacant industrial unit on West Shore Road for

Edinburgh Palette have been approved by the

council. The development will include a studio,

business incubation and workshop spaces

events space, retail, indoor and outdoor food

market, café and bakery. 22/01726/FUL

SWeCO has been awarded a University

of Edinburgh contract to design active

travel options at the BioQuarter and

surrounding area.

Edinburgh Marina Limited has put ten plots

on the market at Granton Harbour. These

plots amount in total to 18 acres and could

potentially accommodate 500 homes. Chris

Dougray, executive director at CBRE Scotland

who are marketing the land, said: “At a time

when the lack of housing supply in Edinburgh

has never been more pronounced, this

opportunity offers an oven-ready residential

development scheme of significant scale. With

planning consent secured and infrastructure

already in place we anticipate strong demand

from the developer community.”

Ryden has acted on behalf of John G Russell

Transport to obtain planning permission in

principle for the parcel of land between

Salamander Street and Bath Street in Leith

where a mixed use development of housing,

offices and commercial units will be

constructed. 21/01163/PPP This will now

proceed to the detailed submission stage as

to what exactly will be built on the 1.4 hectare

site - where 247 houses are expected to form

part of the mix.

Martin Shields

Dear Editor,

As a tennis coach, I’ve always been

passionate about helping young

people achieve their dreams.

That is just one of the many

reasons why I’m proud to be a

long-time supporter of Mary’s

Meals. This wonderful charity

provides 2,279,941 children in 20

of the world’s poorest countries

with a daily school meal – helping

them to gain an education and

hope for the future.

And until 31 January 2023, your

readers’ support for Mary’s Meals

will go twice as far thanks to its ‘ace’

Double The Love campaign. During

this period, donations to the charity

will be doubled by a group of

generous supporters, with up to

£1.5 million available.

So, for just £15.90, your readers

can feed two children for a whole

school year!

I do hope your readers will give if

they can.

They can find out more at

marysmeals.org.uk/double.

Judy Murray

British tennis coach

Vision for new Edinburgh Palette