The Edinburgh Reporter March 2023

2 NEWS

Editorial

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Editor: Phyllis Stephen

Designer: Felipe Perez

Photos: Martin P McAdam

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IT WAS ONLY a short time ago in January

that I began this column by looking back at

last year - a year of three prime ministers,

two monarchs and one new council.

This month we will have our second First

Minister of 2023, at the end of what is sure

to be a hard fought contest for the SNP

leadership, and there will be one new

councillor elected at the by election in

Corstorphine/Murrayfield.

No-one expected the First Minister to

step down right now, and unlike in 2014

when Nicola Sturgeon took office there is no

obvious successor.

Leadership candidate Ash Regan MSP

stood down as Community Safety Minister

last December, citing differences over the

Gender Recognition Reform Bill from the

rest of the government. She also has

different ideas about the leadership of

The Scottish Government with plans for

an Independence Convention and a

Citizens Assembly, and has a view on the

currency which an independent Scotland

might use. (Page 3)

On page 10 we take a look at what the

by election candidates have said during

campaigning, but for a real in depth look

at the candidates and what they all think

then please follow the unfolding story on

our website. Voting takes place on 9 March

and may yet determine the future of the

council administration.

The good news to delight everyone in

Edinburgh is that The King’s Theatre

remodelling can begin soon, preserving the

Old Lady of Leven Street for the next 100

years. Funding from the council and The

Scottish Government leaves only a very

small shortfall in funding which the board

of Capital Theatres say can be raised during

the build.

Edinburgh is always changing and our

Planning News on this page only shows a

very small selection of what we consider

newsworthy. It is always worth taking a look

at your local community council’s website

where some of their voluntary members are

devoted to planning issues. If any affect you

then please do get in touch.

And on 26 March we will no doubt all be

glad to have the clocks go forward an hour

and take us one step further forward to

another Scottish summer.

Phyllis Stephen, Editor

Bringing the news to you... Letters to the editor

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Planning News

Plans have been lodged by Gray

MacPherson architects to create a two and

a half storey mews development of three

flats at 21 Melville Street Lane.

This will involve partial demolition of the

existing mews office building and part of a

boundary wall.

The deadline for determination is

6 April 2023.

Reference 23/00527/LBC

Plans have been submitted for a new

visitor centre at Jupiter Artland near

Wilkieston at Bonnington House which has

now become a major art destination.

Organic architects have designed a

hub comprising gallery space, sculpture

garden, a micro distillery for vodka and

whisky, visitor facilities, shop and café at

Bonnington House steadings.

Reference 23/00509/FUL

Plans are now online for the Water of

Leith Conservation Trust’s proposed

development of Coalie Park which lies

south of Coburg Street.

These include improvements to a public

park including changing the surface type,

formalising the park area, tree planting and

demolishing a portion of retaining wall to

replacing with a seating area.

Reference 23/00467/FUL

Developers of Edinburgh Marina have

lodged an appeal with The Scottish

Government for their development at

Granton Harbour.

Permission was refused for the mixed use

development in January.

The period for interested members of the

public to make representation ends on 7

March 2023.

Reference 21/06413/FUL

Dear Editor,

Last year, for my 84th birthday, l

cycled 84 miles in the University of

Stirling’s sports complex. After a

stroke affected my balance, I learned

to ride a tricycle to complete my 84

miles. I raised money for my favourite

charity, Mary’s Meals and met some

lovely young people – many of

whom made donations to the charity.

Mary’s Meals provides a daily meal

in a place of education to hungry

children in some of the world’s

poorest countries. The promise of a

nutritious meal encourages children

into the classroom where they can

gain an education and an escape

route from poverty.

My interest in this wonderful

charity grew from an encounter in

Ekwendeni in Malawi some years

ago, when I saw their work in action.

The local volunteers filling the

children’s mugs with a fortified cereal.

Lines of happy children lining up at

the kitchen in the school playground.

Such a simple gesture to feed a

thankful child! I knew then that I

wanted to help the charity.

With Spring approaching, and

longer, warmer days, it’s a great time

to think about taking on an active

challenge. So, I’m asking your readers

to consider a fundraising challenge

for Mary’s Meals. From cycling, to

dancing, to swimming and

everything in between, there is

something you can do to support

Mary’s Meals – including the charity’s

new virtual challenge, From Dalmally

to Malawi.

Thanks to the charity’s low cost

approach, a donation of any size will

help feed desperately hungry

children. Mary’s Meals spends at least

93% of donations on their charitable

activities.

For more information, or to set up

your very own fundraiser, please visit

marysmeals.org.uk.

Ellison Hudson, Mary’s Meals

supporter

Jupiter Artland visitor centre