Free APRIL 2005 Issue No. 59 CRAIGMILLAR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER LTD Registered in Scotland Registration No. 205722 Inside this New lease of life for issue Craigmillar school Jack Kane Centre set to celebrate 30th anniversary page 2... ‘Talking Heads’ - film & photo project to tell the Craigmillar story page 3... Picturethis Castle Rock’s Alister Steele outside the old primary school WORK IS UNDERWAY on the in 1999, but has remained empty wanted to happen in the communi- structure in the community.” refurbishment of Craigmillar as plans were submitted, and then ty for a long time. I’m delighted “It’s important for the heritage of Primary School, set to become withdrawn to demolish the former and I can’t wait to use it; it might the area that existing buildings in the site of office units and a new school, built in 1932. encourage people who aren’t into the area are preserved as much as community arts centre. There could be new tenants in drama to go along.” possible. This building here is one The £3 million development by the building as early as January, The new arts centre will be com- where the use is obviously chang- owners Castle Rock Housing and an arts programme running plimented by the restoration of a ing from a school to other uses, and win a Association is likely to be finished from around April 2006. mural by John Maxwell that but with the community arts centre by Christmas2005. Local resident Nicky Barnes has helped secure the building’s B- and with the employment created £10 voucher Kintry Housing Association’s been involved in community arts listed building status. there, it’s bringing an existing build- page 13... Ian Hepburn, who was involved in initiatives for many years. She Castle Rock MD Alister Steele ing back into productive use.” planning the refurbishment, welcomed the news, saying: “I said: “We’re delighted that we’ve Ian Hepburn added: “A lot of explained: “We’ve developed the think it’s a bonus for the commu- managed to secure the support Craigmillar has been knocked proposal to use the what were nity. We’ll have an all-purpose from a number of funders for this down, and I think there’s a feeling Your Stars for classroom spaces for use by social theatre, which will not just be for innovative project, which reflects sometimes that all this work is not enterprises, and to use what were drama, but for everything. Castle Rock’s ongoing commit- really for the people who live April the dining hall, the gym, and the Hopefully it will bring in some ment to the regeneration of here. Saving the school and page 15... library as a new community arts good revenue, and people who Craigmillar. This will be the reopening it sends a message that centre.” will see what we’re really like in fifth project we’ve invested in it’s not all about flattening the Craigmillar Primary was closed Craigmillar. It’s something I’ve the social and economic infra- place and starting again.” 2 Craigmillar Chronicle...April 2005 The Craigmillar Chronicle is an independent newspaper published by Craigmillar Anniversary Cleaning up Community Newspaper Limited (CCN Ltd.) for the people of Greater Craigmillar. celebrations Craigmillar CCN Ltd. is a Private Limited Company funded by the City of Edinburgh Council through the Craigmillar for JKC Partnership and the Edinburgh Community THE JACK KANE CENTRE es of support from the young Newspaper Trust. celebrates its 30th anniversary newly elected MP Gavin Strang. this year. A message of support was also Local community activist and read out from the famous Hibs’ Jack Kane Community Wing player, Pat Stanton who was Chairperson, Paul Nolan brought up in Niddrie Marischal. explained how the centre came to Deputations were sent to the be: “There we were, standing in Edinburgh Corporation education our medieval costumes, kilts and committee. tights at 9pm locked out of “The committee eventually Peffemill Primary school by the agreed to a proposal by the first Janny despite having a let until Labour Lord Provost Jack Kane to 10pm. build a community and sports “It was 1967 and we were due centre, which was opened in May The views expressed in the the final dress rehearsal for the 1975 and named after Jack.” Chronicle are not necessari- Craigmillar Festival that was 30 years later the centre’s man- ly those of the Editor or the being held in Craigmillar Castle. agement committee are organiz- Board of Directors. We were using Peffermill School ing an anniversary celebration in for changing and, to make matters late June, which will involve a 60- worse, all our ordinary clothes 70s night with lecture, spray Editor: Sally Fraser were locked in the school - the painting, older peoples’ tea dance, Reporters: Fergus Grierson Janny was away to the pub! an exhibition of the centres jour- Krystyle O’Kane “That was the moment that peo- ney, a drama and dance produc- ple like Helen Crummy, David tion, story-telling and story blan- Brown, Winnie Black, Donald ket. Renton, Jean Whittle and Barry Paul added: “We want everyone Craigmillar Chronicle Gibson decided that Craigmillar connected with the centre over the Senior Warden, Michelle Hood (front) with Team Leader, Gail Herron in Hunters Hall Park Unit 9A Castlebrae Business needed its own community centre. years to be involved in these cele- Centre, Peffer Place “The campaign started with the brations and tell us any special ENVIRONMENTAL WARDENS formal warnings, reported 222 Edinburgh EH16 4BB help of a old duplicating machine memories or suggestions for the are out and about in offenders to the Procurator Fiscal in the corner of Lismore school celebrations.” Craigmillar in a bid to clean up and dealt with 4615 abandoned head teachers’ office. Meetings If you would like to get involved the area. cars in the City. Tel: 0131 661 0791 were called, a petition was gath- or have any memories you would The Environmental Wardens The Environmental Wardens Fax: 0131 661 0559 ered and a demonstration of over a like to share, please contact Gina were established in October 2001 patrol their area on foot as well as e-mail: 1000 people marched from Ahmed or Scott Fraser at the Jack as part of the City of Edinburgh mobile patrols and also deploys [email protected] Craigmillar Primary school to Kane Community Wing on 0131 Council’s strategy to improve the the mobile CCTV unit to assist is Hunters Hall Park to hear speech- 657-1595. cleanliness of the city. The catching offenders. Division consisted of 12 Wardens As well as working in pairs, joint in three teams of four to cover the exercises are routinely carried out COPY FOR If you would like to place an whole of Edinburgh. with other agencies including The remit of the Environmental Lothian and Borders Police, Wardens was to tackle littering, DVLA and the Scottish INCLUSION advertisement in the dog fouling, fly-tipping, trade Environmental Protection Agency waste disposal and abandoned (SEPA). IN THE Craigmillar Chronicle please cars. The Environmental Wardens In 2003 the Division increased to have carried out 718 enforcement 32 Environmental Wardens mak- actions in the Craigmillar ward, MAY 2005 contact Sally Fraser ing up four teams of eight cover- which include: Issued 17 fixed ing the City from Joppa to South penalties; removed or destroyed Tel: 0131 661 0791 Queensferry and Swanston to 451 abandoned cars; investigated ISSUE MUST Granton. 28 instances of fly tipping; report- FAX: 0131661 0559 Additional duties have been ed four persons to the Procurator REACH US BY introduced since 2001 and these Fiscal for offences; dealt with 40 e-mail: [email protected] include the introduction of the businesses without adequate trade Dog Fouling Scotland Act in waste disposal contracts. FRIDAY 2003, the ability to issue fixed Kathryn Down is the for details of our penalties for stationary vehicles Environmental Warden for the 15th APRIL idling their engines and also for Craigmillar ward and any person excellent rates and fly tipping. wishing to report an offence or The Environmental Wardens would like further information 2005 SPECIAL DISCOUNTS have dealt with over 29000 com- regarding the Environmental plaints from residents, issued Wardens can contact Kathryn on 2692 fixed penalties, issued 4110 0131 669 1389 Craigmillar Chronicle...April 2005 3 Public back Learning project makes ‘Drug Dealers the Irish connection Don’t Care’ campaign TWO WEEKS into the ‘Drug anonymously about drug dealers Dealers Don’t Care’ campaign is crucial and in some cases, the and the public have made a only route available to some.” massive effort to care by driving People are calling Crimestoppers call volumes up 430%, report- in such huge numbers in the ing 750 pieces of vital informa- knowledge that their call will not tion leading to the arrest of 11 be traced or recorded and they will drug dealers. never be asked to identify them- A mother, who wishes to remain selves. The Crimestoppers anonymous, endorsed the cam- Scotland mantra is very much paign, and made a plea to the pub- ‘Tell us what you know - not who lic to continue their support say- you are’. ing: “This campaign means I can While still in its initial stages the finally give the police some campaign has already enjoyed names without fear of reprisal. some early success; 11 drug deal- These details have haunted me for ers have been arrested as a direct some time now - they were result of calls to Crimestoppers. responsible for the overdose and Importantly, police forces are death of my daughter last year.” gaining a clearer picture of who Crimestoppers Scotland the drug dealers are and the scale Coordinator, Inspector Gregor of their illegal activities.