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Five things you need to know today

December 22, 2012 9:00 am

Dame Elizabeth Blackadder – Child bitten by dog – Tonight at the Queen’s Hall – Portobello High School – Cycling improvements

Dame Elizabeth Blackadder has been nominated for the prestigious Edinburgh Award. Read more here.

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Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for information following an incident where a dog bit a child in Craigmillar on Thursday 20 December.

The two-year-old child had just been picked up from nursery at around 4pm by her mother and taken to the playpark at Castlepark Green.

As they left, they were approached by the dog which wasn’t on a lead and had no owner immediately present.

Without provocation the dog bit the little girl, causing facial injuries.

A man who was walking in the area ran to the assistance of the child, forced the dog off the child and the dog ran off.

The child was taken to Craigmillar Medical Practice where she was treated for a facial cut and scratches.

Now, officers are trying to trace the dog responsible, which is described as being a brown Staffordshire Bull Terrier with black spots and a heavy build.

They are also looking to trace the person who came forward to help the family.

Inspector Roddy Hardy said: “This was a traumatic incident for the child and we are grateful that there was a member of the public available to help them.

“The dog responsible had no owner that the mother could see, and ran off in an unknown direction. As such, we are keen to trace the animal as a matter of urgency to ensure no further incidents occur.

“Similarly, we are keen to trace the good Samaritan who came to the aid of the little girl to see if they have any further information to help with our enquiries.”

Anyone with any information that can assist our enquiries should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or Crimestoppers, where information can be reported anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Tonight at the Queen’s Hall there is The Christmas Songwriters Club starting at 7:00pm and starring local groups like Withered Hand and our own favourites, The Machine Room. Tickets are £10 here.

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People in Portobello are still campaigning both for and against a new High School being built in the park. Both sides agree that a new school is necessary, but one side wants to preserve Portobello Park and the other wants the school built there saying that it is the best option.

Here is the latest in a string of videos on the subject:-

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The Council are in the early stages of investigating the potential for a cycle scheme which would connect the University of Edinburgh’s Pollock Halls of Residence with the recently implemented Quality Bike Corridor route, which runs from George IV Bridge to King’s Buildings. The route would also link to a proposed ‘family friendly’ route to Morningside.

As part of the early project design process, some on-street traffic surveys will be carried out in the area of the potential route during the weeks commencing Monday 21 and Monday 28 January 2013. This work will comprise traffic surveys, pedestrian surveys and parking counts, and will be undertaken by street operatives and the use of temporary CCTV cameras fixed to existing street furniture.

PS if you have not already done so then please tweet us photos of your Christmas trees for a story we are going to write later this weekend…..