Scott Hastings reflects on his 2 years in post as the Warriston Residents Association Chair. The report was given at last month online combined 2020/2021 AGM.
Little did I know then that when we cancelled the 2020 AGM last year we would still be under some lockdown restrictions and as we move forward to the summer months we will still be making adjustments to our lives due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
I know that many of our elderly residents will have already received both their vaccine jabs but with many of our younger residents still to have their first jab we still have some way to go before our lives return to normal, whatever that might be?
Over the last year 2 years the WRA committee have met on 6 occasions and we have also held a couple of zoom meetings since the turn of the year. We have been hard at work improving the safety on our estate and for those new residents on the estate we extend a warm welcome to you all. We hope that you enjoy being part of our friendly neighbourhood.
The WRA was set up in the early eighties under the Neighbourhood Watch Scotland initiative to ensure that the area we live in remains a secure and safe place to live. As a community we share information on crime prevention and community safety issues.
In recent years we have worked with the City of Edinburgh Council to improve access onto the estate from the cycle path network, improve street lighting, walkways and safety. We are a ‘Cold Calling Free Zone’ and as a community we care and take pride in our neighbourhood.
Over the last couple of years our committee have been active in continuing this work and I’d like to pay special thanks to our local councillors; Ian Whyte, Hal Osler, Max Mitchell and Gavin Barrie for their help on local matters.
To give you all a bit more detail of the work we have undertaken since the last AGM we undertook the following activities.
1. We lobbied the council to remove the catering vans and retail trailers that were parked on the Gardens
2. We campaigned for the reduction of speeding on the estate
3. We have highlighted and addressed dog fouling and discouraged the action of dog owners who were depositing dog poo in residents’ grey and green bins
4. We liaised with George Heriots School to stop busses ‘idling their engines’ when dropping off and picking up pupils and ensured that the drop off/pick up location was changed to the cemetery end of the Gardens rather than on the junction with Inverleith Row.
5. It took us 6 years of lobbying the council to have our estate lighting upgraded and I am delighted to report that this was completed in March 2019. I am sure that you will agree that this makes a huge difference.
The way we communicate to you the residents is also very important and over the last 2 years we have issued 4 newsletters (61,62, 63 & 64), a self-isolation support form during the 1st phase of the Covid 19 pandemic and our facebook site has been very active in posting up to date news stories and Neighbourhood Watch Scotland news alerts.
Thanks to those that have signed up to the email alert system and I would encourage those that have not done so to contact the WRA secretary Alan Shepherd (email: warriston.ra@gmail.com) and ask to be put on our email distribution list.
In a digitally connected world our online activity is important and I am especially delighted to report that our new WRA web site is up and running at warristonresidentsassociation.co.uk.
Kenny McKenzie will be responsible for keeping the site up to date and it is hoped that residents can supply images both old and new for inclusion in the gallery section. We will continue to link all our news stories and information to this site so please spread the word about this resource where you will be able to find all sorts of local information and updated news.
I am indebted to our local community police team for all their assistance. We are a relatively crime free area but there half been half a dozen attempted shed break-ins over the last 2 years and if we are to remain a crime free zone we need everyone to play their part in keeping alert and aware of potential intruders.
Recently PC’s, Ros Milne and Wendy Walton from our local community police team based at Drylaw, conducted a crime prevention survey report that has been posted on our website and we will also send this out to our database.
Please take action now to improve your home security. Be vigilant and alert of those that you do not recognise in the area and if in doubt or you are wary of any unusual activity, pick up the phone and dial 101 or call a neighbour.
It is anticipated that new Neighbourhood Watch Scotland street signage will be erected shortly and whilst we can all help deter crime on our streets, more and more crime is being conducted online. From bogus phone calls to email scams, the online world of crime is of real concern. Our email alert system allows us to let you know of what scams are prevalent at any given time and you can find out more on our web site and by signing up to our news alerts.
It has been a few years since the upper Goldenacre path was resurfaced and new lighting columns put in place. This was achieved by the WRA lobbying the council to have these works undertaken.
To ensure that the path’s ongoing cleanliness and maintenance, members of the committee met back in February of this year and removed 8 bags of rubbish as well as cutting back the overgrowth on either side of the fence line. This activity is on top of the WRA requesting that the path and the hedges are regularly maintained by the council’s NW Grounds Maintenance team.
Repairs were also made to the steps leading down onto the cycle path and it is hoped to do a little more clearance work on either side of the steps and plant a wild flower meadow later this month so keep an eye on this area as the year goes on.
One of the most satisfying aspects of our community spirit was that during lockdown a voluntary support group was set up that offered assistance to those that were vulnerable or shielding and these volunteers helped with a whole range of tasks.
Volunteers also went out of their way to cut grass on the Drive and clear weeds from the Avenue and Gardens whilst the street aerobics on the Avenue and Drive brought fun and fitness to many. Indeed the daily aerobics session on the Drive attracted much media interest and many residents saw themselves featured on television on BBC Breakfast News, BBC Scotland, STV News and The Nine show! The class continues twice weekly at 3pm on a Wednesday and Saturday and everyone is invited to attend.
One final bit of positive news to report on is that the pavements on the ‘Drive’ and ‘Terrace’ will be upgraded and resurfaced this year. All residents will be notified in due course on the schedule of works and there will also be some resurfacing work undertaken on the ‘Drive and far end of the ‘Gardens’, at the cemetery end.
Once again this has come about by lobbying the council with collaborative support from our local councillors. The pavement works will involve a lot of construction and take a number of weeks to complete but I would ask everyone to be patient and supportive when the work commences later in the year.
I’d also like to thank everyone on our committee including our secretary Alan Shepherd and Treasurer, Bill Tait. Bill also judges our ‘Garden’s Competition’ and we hope that you will agree that the gardens add much colour to our estate out-with the winter months.
May I also thank Bill Keil our Neighbourhood Watch Convenor and Kim Atkinson. Both attend meetings of the Stockbridge & Inverleith Community Council where we are able to share information on crime prevention and local issues whilst Bill ensures the smooth production and distribution of our newsletter.
We are also supported by Neighbourhood Area Watch Convenors, Clare Shepherd, Stuart Telford and Lisa Sommerville. I can also advise that the WRA pay an annual contribution to the Friends of Warriston Cemetery. We are very lucky to have this peaceful spot on our doorstep and I know that a number of residents also support their good work both as active volunteers and members.
Finally, I firmly believe that one of the joys of living in Warriston is our community spirit and sense of civic pride. Edinburgh is a beautiful city and the Warriston estate with its close proximity to the city centre, Botanical gardens and Inverleith Park helps make our friendly neighbourhood a very special place to live. I hope that all residents feel the same way and we are grateful for your support.
That concludes my Chairman’s report from the last 2 years.
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