About Us

One of the strengths of a community is its ability to communicate within itself, and with a united well-informed voice, to those outside. Without communication, the community can do little and without the ability to broadcast local viewpoints to those who influence affairs, it is powerless.

The communities of Balerno, Currie and Juniper Green expanded rapidly in the 1960's, a loss of local jobs and the growth of dormitory suburbs threatening to destroy the community cohesiveness built up over many years, as people changed their habits and commuted out to work and shop, and back to sleep. Recognising this, a small group of people met and resolved to produce a community newspaper.

In the beginning...

The result was the Currie and Balerno News, initiated in February 1976. The first issue, edited by Graham Priestley, was delivered free. After a bumpy start, it settled down and people began to contribute bits and pieces. Before long, the paper, now affectionately known as the C&B News, was carrying regular articles and people began to rely on it, to the extent of promising further information in a subsequent issue.

The paper never appeared each month of the year, though in the early years, editions did come out in January - creating real problems for the team whose thoughts were on Christmas rather than the next issue. 1988 saw the number of issues reduced to 10 per annum, where it has stayed to this day.

Growth of the Paper...

The C&B News started life with 10 pages and had a homely, friendly look about it. Two months later it expanded to 12 pages, gradually increasing to 16 pages then in multiples of 4 pages thereafter. The first 28 page issue appeared in 1996 and in November 1998, the biggest paper of all was printed - a 32 page monster which is now the norm with occasional 36 pages, although May 2009 saw a 40 page one, the biggest ever!.

The business management is carried out by volunteers and the distribution is done by members of the Currie Balerno Rotary Club.

A writer's platform ...

The paper provides a platform to display the rich talent, expertise, interests and achievements of local people. People communicate with each other and influence the world outside. Articles have been used at public inquiries; senior officials in the local authority have been obliged to explain controversial decisions; local Community Councillors, City Councillors, MSPs and MPs have all read and used the C&B News to inform local people. Extracts are circulated in the City offices and the paper has earned respect as a valuable information source by users of Edinburgh's Central Library.

Technical improvements...

It is not sufficient to start a project and expect it to continue. None of this was easy and on many occasions the paper was in danger of folding, to the great concern of correspondents and readers alike.