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Edinburgh City Council


Volunteers Bank Together To Improve City Wildlife Spot

Bonnie Banks of Blackford Pond

A city wildlife spot  which was suffering from its own popularity - with  both human and feathered visitors - has had a make-over. Blackford Pond, part of Blackford Hill local nature reserve, is popular with joggers, dog walkers and families with children. Over the years the banks had been steadily worn away by the action of the water, water birds grazing the edges and human activity.

Opinion: An Open Letter To Edinburgh City Council Leader Jenny Dawe About Edinburgh's Trams

Edinburgh Trams Arriving 2011

Edinburgh's trams were originally supposed to be trundling through city streets this year, 2010. After a series of delays, this week we learned that the main contractors Bilfinger Berger may need until 2014 to complete the tram works.

Council Dishes the Dirt In Compost Giveaway

Compost waste

It may not feel like Spring, but for gardeners the growing season is almost upon us. It means that garden waste collections become fortnightly from March. To mark the occasion the City of Edinburgh Council has been giving away free bags of compost made from recycled garden waste. The first giveaway was yesterday at Fox Covert Primary School in Corstorphine, with further compost give-aways planned today and later.

Usher Hall's New Wing To Be Unveiled

Usher Hall new wing

After the setbacks and the multi-million pound cost over-runs, the new wing at the Usher Hall is ready to be unveiled to the world. From tomorrow people will be able to explore the much-awaited new addition to the grade A-listed building, which completes the £25 million, second phase of refurbishment of the Lothian Road concert hall.

Fairtrade Brunch at National Library of Scotland

Edinburgh marks Fairtrade Fortnight with a free brunch at the National Library of Scotland.

Council Seeks Views on Edinburgh's Open Spaces

Upper Dean Terrace

The City of Edinburgh Council is drafting a plan for open space in the city, the first such plan in 40 years, and it wants your view.

Edinburgh City Council To Perform "Precautionary Sampling" On Former Industrial Sites

The City of Edinburgh Council is to take samples at three sites in Edinburgh as part of a long-running inspection programme in former industrial areas. They include the site of the old Portobello power station, the former Northfield chemical works and a former chemical works at Abbeyhill.

Edinburgh Freezes Council Tax Charges But "Tougher" Times Ahead

East Princes Street Gardens

Edinburgh City Council will freeze council tax rates at their current level for another year, in spite of what Cllr Phil Wheeler, Convener for Finance and Resources, belie

Royal High School To Be Converted Into "Arts Hotel"

Royal High School

One of Edinburgh's iconic, neo-classical landmarks, the former Royal High School, is to be redeveloped into a £35 million Arts Hotel, after lying vacant for 40 years.

Edinburgh Joins Drive To Combat Scams in "Scamnesty" Month

Scams

The City of Edinburgh Council, in partnership with the Office of Fair Trading, is running a month-long 'Scamnesty' as part of an ongoing drive to combat scams.

Nominations Sought For Edinburgh Fair Trade Awards

Edinburgh's Lord Provost and Mary Macdonald share a fair trade cuppa

Nominations are being sought for Edinburgh's fair trade champions as the city gears up for Fairtrade Fortnight 2010.

Fairtrade Fortnight

Fairtrade logo on The Mound

The Fairtrade Fortnight is designed to raise awareness of the Fairtrade Movement. It takes place at venues and shops across Edinburgh and throughout the UK. The theme of the 2010 Fairtrade Fortnight is "The Big Swap", encouraging people to use a Fairtrade alternative to their normal product where possible.

Capital Launches Appeal For Quake Stricken Haiti

An urgent appeal has been launched today (15 January) to raise funds for the island nation of Haiti after it was struck by a severe 7.3 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday.

A L Kennedy talks to Lesley McDowell

Fringe 2009: Words With A.L. Kennedy

Edinburgh Central Library’s events series, City Reads, kicks off its 2010 programme with one of the most interesting and innovative contemporary writers around.

Weather Continues To Disrupt Edinburgh Services

Edinburgh Castle at Christmas

Edinburgh City Council has responded to criticisms that it has not been gritting roads and pathways quickly enough during the cold snap of the holiday period. The capital is expected to continue experiencing snowy, icy conditions, several degrees below zero, to the end of the week and beyond

Edinburgh Sees In 2010 With Happy Hogmanay Party

Temperatures plummeted, as forecast, but early reports suggest that Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party was a big success.

Big Chill Awaits Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party Revellers

Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party on Princes Street, Edinburgh

The first hours of 2010 look likely to be chilly ones with temperatures in Edinburgh dropping several degrees below zero.

Edinburgh Whiteout Brings Traffic Delays

Princes Street Snow

Edinburgh woke up to a city in white this morning (see photographs). Travellers had to reschedule plans, traffic delays were common, refuse pick-up stopped, schools and recycling centres were closed, and bus timetables knocked out.

Road Closures For Edinburgh Hogmanay Events

Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party on Princes Street, Edinburgh

The council has been prepping the public for road closures during Edinburgh's five-day Hogmanay Festival.

 Roads will be closed in advance (see details below) and the council warns: "Vehicles should not be parked within restrictions. All offending vehicles will be removed and may be subject to a parking fine and impound charges."

Edinburgh Becomes 100th Council To Sign Up To 10:10 Climate Change Campaign

Jenny Dawe, Council Leader, signs up to 10:10 campagin

The City of Edinburgh Council has become the 100th Council to sign up to the 10:10 Climate Change campaign. Council Leader, Councillor Jenny Dawe signed the pledge at 10:10am on Wednesday morning at Edinburgh City Chambers. It was 100th day of the 10:10 campaign.