The Edinburgh Reporter February 2021

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Welcome...
At this point, almost a year into the
lockdown restrictions which we have
become used to but which we rail against, it
might be a good thing to turn to literature
for some inspiration.
You could do not any better than
remember the words of 23 year-old Amanda
Gorman who addressed President Joe Biden
at his inauguration with her address “The
Hill We Climb”.
“When day comes, we step out of the shade,
aflame and unafraid.
The new dawn blooms as we free it.
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.”
Two men who both died recently had
strong links to Edinburgh and were certainly
brave enough to be it. In the case of Jim
Haynes the co-founder of Traverse his aim
was to introduce everyone in the whole
world. He almost succeeded.
For panto legend, Andy Gray, I am sure it
was his intention to try and make everyone
laugh. He certainly made me laugh, and his
death from Covid-19 is a very sad loss.
NEW BEGINNINGS
This month it is all about new beginnings. By
the middle of February the over 70s in
Scotland ought to have had their first dose of
the vaccine. By the beginning of May the
government say that they hope to have
vaccinated everyone in the priority groups
set out by the Joint Committee on
Vaccination and Immunisation, meaning
those over 50 and those under 50 with
underlying health conditions. That will be a
new beginning indeed although it comes
with a warning that everything will not be
immediately fixed.
We have a new beginning of our own with
an overhaul of our newspaper design. We
hope you like it and that you find something
to interest you in its pages. If you would like
to make sure of a copy next month then
subscribe to our delivery service on the
website. If you subscribe in February
subscribers you might win a bottle of
award-winning Ardgowan Coppersmith
whisky. http://ter.ooo/subscribe
Phyllis Stephen, Editor
About us...
Letters to the editor
Help at hand for blind people
Dear Editor,
2020 was a difficult year for
everyone. Starting 2021 in
lockdown is not how most of us
wanted for January. It’s
understandable many people feel
down and in need of a little extra
emotional support.
The situation is especially
challenging for those living with
sight loss. Many have faced
anxiety, sadness and even fear
about their unique challenges -
problems such as social
distancing, difficulty shopping
without guidance and isolation
from losing tactile contact with
friends and family.
RNIB has launched Emergency
Mental Health Sessions for blind
and partially sighted people.
These are completely free and
offer people with sight loss the
chance to speak to a counsellor
for an hour over the phone, about
how they are feeling and any
Dear Madam,
The serious neurological
condition Myalgic
Encephalomylitis (M.E.) will be all
too familiar to some of your
readers: at least 20,000 children
and adults in Scotland live with
M.E., also known as chronic
fatigue syndrome.
Many face barriers in accessing
health and social care services
that meet their needs, and some
professionals still don’t
understand its impact and
symptoms.
UK charity Action for M.E. offers
people with M.E. across Scotland
one-to-one advocacy, over phone
and email, to help them be heard,
understand their rights and
access support.
We want to expand this
much-needed service, and seek
enthusiastic volunteers in
Scotland who can make the most
of our online advocate training
programme to develop their
problems on their mind. It doesn’t
have to be about their sight at all.
We know the next few months
might be tough for many, so
remember RNIB is here to help. If
you or someone you know could
benefit from speaking to
someone, call our Helpline on
0303 123 9999. We can set up a
chat within 36 hours and the
service can be used as many
times as needed.
No one with sight loss has to
suffer on their own. Blind and
partially sighted people deserve
the same expectation of mental
wellbeing as everyone else. That’s
why RNIB in Scotland will always
be here.
Thank you.
James Adams
Director
Royal National Institute of
Blind People Scotland
12-14 Hillside Crescent
Edinburgh
Improving support for ME sufferers
We write about news relating to the Edinburgh area. If you
have any news, or if you would like to submit an article or
photograph for publication then please contact us
skills, gain valuable experience,
and help improve the lives of
vulnerable people with M.E., all
from home.
Anyone who is interested in
finding out more can call, email or
visit our website – we would love
to hear from good listeners who
can spare two hours a week.
Alice Cranston
Advocacy Coordinator
Action for M.E.
Tel: 0117 927 9551
Email: advocacy@actionfor
me.org.uk
Website: www.actionforme.org.
uk/advocacy
GET IN
TOUCH
TODAY!
Vaccinations...the
numbers so far
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Editor: Phyllis Stephen
Designer: Felipe Perez
Photos: Martin P McAdam
The number of people who have been vaccinated in Scotland against
Covid-19 has grown in the first couple of months of operation. The
government says they will administer 400,000 first doses each week by
the end of February and with mass vaccination centres opening on 1
February that may be achievable. Here are some figures
NUMBER OF FIRST VACCINATIONS
• 27 January 2021..................................................................................................................................................462,092
• 15 January 2021..................................................................................................................................................224,840
• 5 January 2021 ‘around’..........................................................................................................................100,000
• 27 December 2020..............................................................................................................................................92,188
• 16 December 2020..............................................................................................................................................18,644
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Martin P McAdam
Royal High’s new school of thought
Economic benefit should not be sole driver say Cockburn Association
THE FORMER Royal High School
has been placed on the open market
by The City of Edinburgh Council
after a tortuous planning process
which has resulted in one party
having planning permission but no
legal right to occupy the building.
The Finance and Resources
Committee discussed the matter
behind closed doors owing to the
commercial sensitivity of the
arrangements with various parties.
After the meeting Finance
Convener, Cllr Rob Munn, said: “I’m
pleased that committee has
unanimously agreed that we can
Lauriston Castle where David Baker
alleges council mismanagement
now move forward and re-market
this iconic building to identify the
best value option for the city and our
residents in the future.
“We know there are a number of
interested parties out there and I
think this is also the best and fairest
way to proceed. A report with
further details on how we’ll take this
forward will be considered by
councillors in May.”
Cllr Joan Griffiths, Vice Convener,
added: “I’m delighted we now have a
way ahead and I look forward to
seeing the options presented to us at a
future committee which could occupy
this very important building, so
prominent in our World Heritage site.”
The Cockburn Association said
after the meeting: “We believe that
any new procurement exercise for
the Royal High School must
emphasise the need to secure public
benefit over economic value,
recognising the civic status of this
iconic building.”
Cockburn Association
chairperson, Professor Cliff Hague,
added: “Thousands of Edinburgh
citizens objected to the hotel
applications, ending the current
impasse.
THE CITY OF Edinburgh Council
will continue its investigation
into matters raised around the
council’s stewardship of
Lauriston Castle, following
enquiries from one member of
the public.
That person is David Baker
who runs the Friends of
Lauriston Castle Facebook page,
and we highlighted his story in
our September issue.
A briefing note to reply to his
questions which was produced
for the Finance and Resources
Committee was deemed
incomplete as the council seeks
external legal advice, and it still
has to delve into the council
archives for some of the answers.
Cllr Graham Hutchison asked
whether the briefing note could
be made public, but it was
considered best to complete it,
consulting with the Head of
Finance who prepared it, and
then publish the whole or parts
of it later.
Cllr Gavin Corbett was keen to
keep the matter open rather
than accepting the
recommendation to close the
matter. He said: “I think we are
keen to move the matter forward
Formerly the Royal High
School, empty for 50 years
“A proposal such as the Music
School scheme prepared by the
Royal High School Preservation
Trust seems an excellent alternative,
worthy of continued support. Any
other proposal must ensure as wide a
civic and public benefit as possible
for this finest example of Greek
Revival architecture in the world.
“The Council and Scottish
Government have a responsibility, as
do we all, to enhance the qualities of
Edinburgh’s architectural and
landscape heritage and ensure its
preservation for future generations
to cherish.”
Castle management under attack
but we are not there yet.”
The council Director of
Resources, Stephen Moir,
pointed out that it was as
complete as it could be when
produced.
The Lord Provost, Cllr Frank
Ross, also asked that since
councillors who are members of
the Finance and Resources
Committee become de facto
trustees, it would be a good idea
to list those, and this was
approved.
David Baker has asked many
questions about the role of
councillors as trustees of
Dancing around the
future of town hall
THE FUTURE of Portobello Town Hall could
be decided next month with councillors
choosing between rival proposals from the
local community and the former director of
the English National Ballet Peter Schaufuss.
One bid is by the community-based
Portobello Central Ltd which published
detailed plans in November which calls for an
asset transfer of the 1912 building to a
yet-to-established charity, which would ensure
the venue remains in community hands.
A wide-ranging consultation carried out by
Portobello Central identified that the
community wanted the building re-opened as
soon as possible for traditional and new uses,
that it should be managed by the community,
and that the building is deemed to have
capacity for uses other than just large events.
An alternative bid by former Danish ballet
star Mr Schaufuss, who owns the Rose Theatre
in Rose Street and the former St Stephen’s
Church in Stockbridge, has been lodged but
the content of his proposal remains unclear.
Councillors on the city council’s Finance and
Resources Committee will consider both
proposals at a meeting on 4 March.
Budget date set
THE CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer,
Rishi Sunak, has announced that the
government will publish the Budget
on Wednesday 3 March 2021.
The government says the Budget
will set out the next phase of the plan
to tackle the virus and protect jobs
and will be published alongside the
latest forecasts from the Office for
Budget Responsibility (OBR).
Lauriston Castle, the
management of the buildings
and gardens, and the £35,000
endowment which was left to
the nation by the previous
owners, Mr & Mrs William Reid,
along with the building.
These enquiries are sent to
councillors and are also
published on Facebook. Mr
Baker’s late wife worked at
Lauriston Castle for more than 30
years.
There is a tug-of-war over bird
feeders which Mr Baker put up in
the gardens, which for the
moment have been removed.