The Edinburgh Reporter July 2024

3

Floral Clock blooms again

By PHYLLIS STEPHEN

A MASSIVE INCREASE in costs of
heating homes in Gorgie, without much
explanation has led to an independent
councillor demanding more information
for owners.
Cllr Ross McKenzie (Independent) is
highlighting this problem for local
residents, some of whom cannot afford
to pay the increases, and who have had
to go without heating during the winter
after breakdowns in the communal
heating and hot water system.
The costs of heating the homes in
Westfield Court have now risen to three
and a half times what they were last year.
The service charges are split according to
rateable value and include the cost of
heating and hot water. The council said
in October last year that costs for
previous years had been undercharged
and they issued “additional invoices
following financial year 2022/23 due to
the significant or unforeseen increase in
energy prices”. The first accurate

readings were obtained in June 2022 and

the council said they had covered the

additional costs to that date, but would

have to seek the extra amounts from

residents from then onwards.

There is an amount of confusion over

whether the costs for the following

financial year (which was much lower)

was affected by the UK Government

Energy Bills Discount Scheme but in any

case that scheme ended on 31 March

2024 and there will be no more

government help for residents in paying

their bills.

Cllr McKenzie said in a formal request

to The City of Edinburgh Council: “I

believe the council should not

automatically pass on increases in

commercial energy prices without due

consideration of all implications. The

council has a duty as the Property Factor

to be open, transparent and fair in its

dealings with residents and must provide

information in a clear and accessible

way. The increase in charges for

previous years must be reviewed and

details of how the energy is procured

with the name of the supplier, the rate

charged and also the standing charge

given to residents.”

The councillor has also asked for a

briefing note for all members of the

Housing Committee by mid-July. he rate

charged and also the standing charge

given to residents.”

The councillor has also asked for a

briefing note for all members of the

Housing Committee by mid-July.

Cost hike must

be explained

EDINBURGH’S FLORAL CLOCK has

been laid out in honour of the Royal

National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI)

bicentenary in Princes Street Gardens.

The Lord Provost officially opened this

year’s clock accompanied by RNLI

Associate Director Angela Rook, RNLI

Head of Region for Scotland Jill Hepburn,

volunteer crew from Kinghorn and

Queensferry. The team of three

gardeners took six weeks to plant more

than 35,000 flowers and plants which will

bloom until October. There are 20

different plants included in this year’s

design such as antennaria, crassula,

echevaria, sedum, saxifrage and annuals

such as pyrethrum, begonias and

geraniums. The RNLI have 46 lifeboats

stations in Scotland. Two of the busiest

are volunteer operated at Queensferry

and Kinghorn responding to 172 calls in

2023 rescuing 158 people.

A NEW ATTRACTION Game On has just opened at the

National Museum of Scotland and will run to 3 November this

year featuring more than 100 playable games, from nostalgic

80s arcades and family favourites like Mario and Minecraft, to

independent releases all of which highlight Scotland’s role as

a pioneer and world leader in gaming development.   

The exhibition is the world’s largest interactive exhibition

of the culture and history of video games, spanning more

than 50 years of games development. From Sonic The

Hedgehog to Mario, visitors can play many key games

produced in the last half century.

Tickets for Game On are available to book at nms.ac.uk

Playing old video games

Martin P McAdam

Westfield Court