FREE Number 168 July/August 2019 SPEAKING UP FOR RESTALRIG, LOCHEND AND CRAIGENTINNY Published by The Ripple on behalf of the community INSIDE MP calls for drug Volunteer drivers New starts law changes wanted at Ripple page 3 page 4 page 7 ORGANISATIONS FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE FAMILY FUN By Liz Fer guson Lochend Football Academy and families at the annual children get the chance to show how magical science is offering Football & influx of festivals. It can learn how to perform a little can be. All the tricks can A RANGE of groups are Training Camps 9.30am- be hard to know where to magic themselves and receive also be performed by the lined up to provide summer 2.30pm Monday to Thursday start with all that’s on offer a balloon animal to take children when they go home. activities for local children and 9.30am-12.30 Fridays and right now you may be home. Games With James sees Potato rocket launcher and young people designed throughout the school overwhelmed by choice or by award-winning comedian and anyone? to ensure the school holidays holidays starting 1st July. The cost or even by that feeling UK board gaming champion can be both fun-filled and camps are open to 7-14 years that our festivals, wonderful James Cook invite children For more information on the affordable. olds and costs range from £20 as they are, are really for to play board games live on above activities contact Craigentinny Community daily to £65 weekly. tourists and for us it’s just stage. Buckaroo, Guess Who, providers on: Centre is offering a playscheme And while there may be no about getting through the Hungry Hippos and more The Ripple 0131 554 0422 for P1’s to P7’s from Tuesday such thing as a free lunch, crowds and business done like you've never seen Craigentinny Community 9th till Thursday 25th July, the Ripple is offering free as usual. it before. Suitable for age 10am till 2pm, with a wide dinners at their Tuesday and However, come August four 5+. At Play With Your Centre 0131 661 9404 range of activities including Thursday evening youth weeks of school holidays may Food award-winning Irish Lochend Football Academy arts, crafts and games. On clubs. Young people from P7 be starting to drain your ideas comedian and scientist Donal 07802 883641 Wednesdays 10, 17 and 24th to S4 are invited to join their on how to affordably keep Vaughan performs amazing Free Festival 2019 July from 6.30-8pm young open programme at Restalrig your children safe, happy and tricks using only things you www.freefestival.co.uk/shows people from 10 to 14 years Lochend Community Hub entertained. The Free Festival find around the house to can enjoy baking, sports and running from 6-8pm on might be just the answer so games at the Craigentinny Tuesdays and Thursdays from here is just a small sample of Centre and on 25th July 16th July through to 8th what’s available at city centre families are welcome to sample August. Tuesday sessions also venues. life on the wild side on a day offer arts, games and other CeilidhKids at the Fringe trip to Blair Drummond Safari activities while on Thursdays provides fun Scottish dancing Park. it’s chill out with food and for all the family, suitable for a film time. families with children aged For those who wish to 3-7, Fantastic Magic Show travel further afield there will For Kids promises lots of be lots to entertain children fun-filled participation where M c G l FUNERAL L PERSEVERE L DIRECTORS PRIVATE HIRE I V 0131 555 2323 24 Hour Service R Golden Charter People carriers Local private hire A Funeral Plans Business accounts taxi company, Y 24 hour friendly established Tel: 0131 554 7777 service over 20 years Mob: 07508 178 433 139/141 Restalrig Road ‘Safe secure Edinburgh EH7 6HW and reliable’ 2 The Speaker, July/August 2019 HAVE YOUR SAY! THE SPEAKER is published by If you would like your letter The Ripple Project to appear in the paper it 198 Restalrig Road South must include your name and Edinburgh EH7 6DZ address, although these may Scottish Charity No. SC024973 be withheld from publication Company Limited by Guarantee No. 214364 at your request. 0131 554 0422 Say what you think – write to The Speaker. [email protected] Send your letters to: www.rippleproject.co.uk The Editor, The Speaker, Raise local issues, celebrate achievements, put forward 198 Restalrig Road South suggestions. Help make sure The Speaker is the kind of Edinburgh EH7 6DZ Editor Liz Ferguson newspaper you want to read. E-mail: [email protected] Phone 07876 178734 Email [email protected] Post 198 Restalrig Road South Lothian Region Bus Cuts Edinburgh EH7 6DZ Dear Speaker who stay there and rely on they’re for tourists and better Advertising Donna Gilfillan it? areas. But we can’t have that! and Production 019 68 673229 I am writing to you to Lothian Region has not Paul Maher [email protected] complain about Lothian consulted anyone about it. Fleming Place Region bus services. The Once again the area which I The Speaker invited Copy deadline • number 15 bus which goes up stay in gets its services cut. Lothian Buses to comment for September issue Friday 16th August where I stay in Fleming Place There are plenty services for on this issue. However at the is to be stopped. What about certain areas which could be time of going to press they had Printed by D C Thomson & Co Ltd the OAPs and disabled people cut, ie 26 44, 23 and 27. But failed to respond. Distributed by Out of Hand Scotland The Speaker is an independent community newspaper which aims to provide a forum for free speech and debate, an effective method COMMUNITY POLICE REPORTING of information sharing and a way to celebrate local achievement. Community involvement is key to its success and any individual Hello from your local with a unique register number numerous events advertised or group within Restalrig, Lochend, Craigentinny and surrounding Community Officers: • your contact details and on Twitter that you can attend local area is welcome to contribute. The views expressed in The registered number being with your bike to have this Speaker are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the SUMMER is here, well maybe! passed to the Bike Register done, otherwise please phone Editor or Publishers. Please note copy may be edited. Any letter or Thinking of enjoying a bit of along with a description of your Community Police article which is considered libellous will not be published and cycling? Please remember to your bike and any other Officers at Leith or Craigmillar individuals will be protected from personal attack. wear a helmet. Lock your identifying features Police Stations and we can cycle even when leaving it for • the Bike Register will arrange to have this done. a short period of time. We contact you via email Any questions? Come along recommend using a D-lock providing details of your to our Police and a cable to pass it through account. Surgery at The the front wheel. We would Bike marking greatly Hub – Coffee encourage you to have your improves our chances of with a Copper at bike marked and join the Bike identifying an owner of a 12.30pm on Register. The process involves: recovered bike as well as 12th July and • your bike being marked deterring thieves. There are 2nd August. The Speaker, July/August 2019 3 THE DRUGS LAWS DON’T WORK Take up an interest with Ecas Tommy 1100 drugs-related deaths in So what mechanisms were Ecas is a local charity that supports people with physical Sheppard MP Scotland in 2018. there to review if the laws are disabilities. We run a wide range of weekly activities for Edinburgh Overwhelmingly these working in Scotland? I am one throughout the year, such as art and crafts, swimming, yoga, East writes: deaths did not need to happen. of a cross party group of MPs seated tai chi, music for fun, reading and creative writing and Too many neighbourhoods who pushed for and secured a computing. Our activities are open to physically disabled IF YOU’VE been suffer from the side effects comprehensive inquiry into the adults living in Edinburgh and the Lothians and cost £2.30 able to bear of the drugs trade. Antisocial subject by the Scottish Affairs per week. following the circus that is the behaviour in stairs and in the Select Committee. Over recent All groups are fully accessible and led by fully trained staff, Tory party leadership contest, street. Used needles and other weeks, I and other committee materials are supplied and no experience necessary. Clients you might now be thinking paraphernalia discarded in members have been hearing who meet a set criteria may also get assistance with that pretty much all politicians communal spaces. Thefts and evidence from experts, people transport costs. Why not give one of our activities a try? have taken drugs at some house break-ins to pay for with lived experience of Ecas also provides a befriending service as well as small point. Cannabis, cocaine and addictions. All of these have addiction and others about grants for non-statutory items to assist those with disabilities. even the odd opium pipe at an an impact, often on people how drugs policies in Scotland To find out more or join an activity please call Janice on Iranian wedding have made who have no connection have been working – or, 0131 475 2344 or email [email protected] appearances.