Dear All

Last week’s update stated to scramble text and  links from about half way through.  I am deeply grateful to Bob Jefferson who does our community website  Portobello Online for putting them right.  The following link will take you to into the report with all links restored – we hope!  http://porty.org.uk/category/maureen-reports/.  If I knew how I had made the mess of it in the first place, I would know how not to do it again, but I will be more careful to double check in future.

I finally got to see the fabulous mural in Figgate Park.  It was too dull that late afternoon for me to take a photo myself, but here’s one from Anthony Robson https://twitter.com/figgatepark/status/612551520173862912

Mark Carr has been working with a number of schools and they have had a huge amount of success this year’s film animation awards.  Great news as Craigmillar Arts and Environment Project scores a hat trick taking Best Animation, Creativity and Original narrative at the Edinburgh Schools film makers competition! With three more nominations in other categories. Well done to Towerbank, Brunstane, St John’s, Niddrie Mill and St Francis Primary Schools and Portobello Library! Here are links to: ‘Beware of the Books!’ by Arts and Environment with Portobello Library and children from Towerbank Primary https://youtu.be/smYDHsjN69c  ‘Obi’s Anti Stinging Group’ by Arts and Environment with Towerbank Primary P5 https://youtu.be/_wSjkb40p_s

‘The Horrific Happenings of a Hurricane’ by Arts and Environment with Brunstane Primary P7 https://youtu.be/Dpejx_aWxQ4

The Towerbank Catchment Review consultation finished at 5pm last Monday.  Details of the representations received will be issued to Education Scotland for their consideration of the educational effects of the proposals. Education Scotland will issue a report on their findings and this will be included in the report on the Outcomes of the Consultation which will be presented to full Council at its meeting on Thursday 22 October 2015.  The report will also include a summary of issues raised by letter/e-mail/questionnaire or via the public meetings held at Towerbank, Duddingston, Brunstane and The Royal High Primary Schools and the Council’s response to them. The report will be published 3 weeks in advance of this meeting – on 1 October 2015 – and we will notify people who responded  when it is available and provide everyone with a link to the report online. It will also be available in print on request.

The Community Empowerment Bill was passed on 17 June.  The finalised version of the Bill as Passed is now available on the Parliament’s website

Volleyball is developing fast in Portobello with some wonderful displays on the beach.  Beach Volleyball Holiday Camp, 13-17 July 2015 (P6/7/S1 age group)

Your kids can now join in ! www.portobellocc.org/pccpn/2015/06/19/beach-volleyball-holiday-camp-13-17-july-2015-p67s1-age-group

Come along to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s open day at McDonald Road fire station on Saturday 4 July from 11-3.30pm. https://mobile.twitter.com/scotfire_east/status/611895419480711168/photo/1

Since October 2013, a small group of staff from our Community Development team have been working with doctors to provide a new kind of support to residents in the Craigmillar area of Edinburgh. Community Compass is funded by the Alliance and the Scottish Government. The project is designed to support people to connect with local services and help them overcome challenges they are facing, using an approach known as social prescribing.  Find out more:

Community Compass | Carr Gomm – supporting people and communities

Call for the third sector to contribute to litter prevention in communities. Call for third sector to contribute to litter prevention in communities | Zero Waste Scotland

There will be a road closure in Duddingston Road West from 0930hrs on Monday, 29 June 2015 until 1530hrs Wednesday, 8 July 2015.  All vehicular traffic will be diverted via Niddrie Mains Road, Wauchope Avenue, Harewood Road and Peffer Place in both directions. The reason for the closures is to allow Scottish Water to safely replace a leaking valve.

Congratulations to Kevin Brack, new Head Teacher of Brunstane Primary School.  Kevin was deputy head teacher at Duddingston Primary School and was acting head at Brunstane for six months. Here Kevin is on the right with Jody Murray, having been practicing his tennis skills.  https://twitter.com/brunstaneps/status/612325336710254592 Some might also recognise Kevin’s dad, Ted Brack in the picture. Ted was a highly successful Head Teacher at St John’s RC Primary School and is also famous for writing two books on the history of Hibernian Football Club.

This is some fine area for primary aged football successes this year! St John’s Primary School’s P6 football team edged out local rivals Duddingston 4-3 to lift the Edinburgh School Board Cup. Bailey Dall scored the winner with the last kick of the ball from the penalty spot to complete his hat-trick after he had been hauled down in the box. Close, and a great result!  Undaunted, Duddingston had their come-back in Saturday though, lifting another trophy….

Portobello Community Council puts up regular information about local detailed planning applications both recently lodged and those recently decided upon:  Summary of Planning Applications and Decisions for week commencing 22 June 2015 – Public Notices

Lyall Scott form our local golf club has been in touch with me asking me to promote Portobello Golf Course as an local amenity in your next newsletter as the school holidays for primary and secondary aged pupils started today and especially as we have the bonus of The Scottish Open being held on our doorstep along the coast in Gullane from 9-12 July (including Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson amongst a very strong field)  and of course The British Open at St.Andrews 16-19 July the week after. A perfect time to get the kids interested in playing golf (I hope!). 

Playday events can be all shapes and sizes. Celebrations range from street parties, festivals in parks, mass adventures in woodlands and parklands, to public events at community venues and back-garden play dates. Whether your celebration is big or small, please insert your event details in the form below and tell us about your Playday plans. www.playday.org.uk/playday-events/register-your-event.aspx If you would like to increase publicity, you can chose to publish your Playday celebration on the Events near you pages of this website. We often receive enquiries from press and members of the public to find out what Playday events are on in their area, so this really makes a difference. If you don’t want your event to appear online, select ‘No’ to the option below, and your event details will remain confidential.

If you have or have had cancer, you are protected by law from unfair treatment. Macmillan Cancer Care has a free guide can help you understand more about your rights at work and what support is available. They  also have information on this site to help you talk to your employer about returning to or staying in work after cancer. More here: www.macmillan.org.uk/AboutUs/Workandcancer/Supportforemployees/Yourrightsatwork/Yourrightsatwork.aspx

‘Too Good To Waste’ is an excellent guide to recycling in Edinburgh.  Download here: changeworks.interactive.co.uk/tgtw/frameset.html

Kids Knit Summer School is taking place at Portobello Beach, Dalriada (No 77 Promenade) Wednesday 1^st July to Thursday 2^nd July from 10.30am to 4pm.  Activities include felted picture, disco knitting, flower crowns, embroidery graffiti.  Cost £28 per day, includes all materials and tuition.  Bring a packed lunch.  For all primary aged school children.  Book your child’s place by emailing eilidh@knittingforall.co.uk  

From the local shops to children’s playgrounds, residents of Craigmillar are invited to look back in time at a new exhibition.

As the regeneration plans for the area are revealed at two community events at the White House, photographer Allan Macgregor will showcase 72 photographs of the area from the 1980s. Allan captured these moments while working on the Craigmillar Festival News 25 years ago, but has been waiting on the perfect opportunity to display them. More here form STV Local: Craigmillar photography exhibition by Allan McGregor at White House | STV Edinburgh | Edinburgh

Waste Watchers Holiday Club, 20 – 24 July (pre-School to P7 age group) This summer, six churches in Portobello are working together to have a holiday club, called Waste Watchers! which will be at the halls and church on Bellfield Street (formerly the Old Parish).  It will be 20 July to 24 July from 9am to 12:45pm and it is open to children in nursery school to P7.  The cost is £5 for the week or a £1 per day. We will have games, arts and crafts, drama, music, bible study, snack, gardening and other fun surprises each day.  If you are interested in registering your child, contact: portobelloholidayclub@gmail.com

A new online directory, Edinburgh Trusted Trader, has been launched to help residents choose contractors with confidence. Thirty-six traders and businesses have already signed up to Trusted Trader, creating a new ‘go to list’ for people looking for services such as home repairs. After being checked by the Council’s Trading Standards team to ensure that they are compatible with the principles of the scheme, contractors are then accepted as members and their details added to the website. People can use the directory to find local contractors’ details with the reassurance that they are reliable and have been fully vetted.

Recent Archaeological and Documentary Research: What it has added to our Knowledge of the Portobello Potteries and their Wares Tuesday 30th June, 10.30am at the Museum of Edinburgh, Canongate.  Local Portobello resident George Haggarty is recognised as an expert on the production and trade of Scottish ceramic material between the 11th and 19th centuries. He has written or co-authored in excess of 130 monographs and papers. Amongst his current projects are the publication of a book relating to the pottery from recent archaeological work carried out by AOC Archaeology at the Portobello kiln sites, and two superb medieval ceramic assemblages from central Edinburgh and Canongate.  Tickets £5 / Concessions £3.50

The Velvet Easel in Portobello is always worth a visit.  See here:  Velvet Easel | Christine Clark – Velvet Easel

Have a good weekend

Best wishes

Maureen

Councillor Maureen Child | Labour Elected Member | Portobello/Craigmillar (Ward 17) | City of Edinburgh Council | City Chambers | High Street | Edinburgh | EH1 1YJ | Tel 0131 529 3268 | Mobile 07718 666 481| Twitter @MaureenChild1

p.s. My face-to-face Councillor Advice Sessions, or ‘Surgeries’, are usually every Monday at 5.30 pm in Castleview Community Centre, 76 Craigmillar Castle Avenue (Phone 661 4064) and then at 7 pm in Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue (Phone 529 5558).  Now also at Craigmillar Library, 101 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DT, 1st Wednesday of the month, drop-in session 5pm-5.30pm, thereafter by appointment only up until 7.30pm. Please phone me on Direct Line 0131 529 3268 or Mobile 07718 666 481, or email maureen.child@edinburgh.gov.uk to check availability, make an appointment or request a home visit.