Dear All

It’s Fabulous Friday at the Garden Globe project drop in today (Friday) at 1pm at the Jack Kane Centre,208 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4ND.  So if you fancy seeing the wonders of growing then do go along. I trust this young person is relaxing after a spot of digging or weeding!  pic.twitter.com/shq1Mn36Nk  My last visit inspired me to plant some late lettuce, radish and coriander seeds. Getting into gardening again!

Do you need help with the garden and fancy sharing it with someone else who is keen to grow things but doesn’t have the garden ground to do it in – or are you that keen gardener with not enough to do?  Garden Partners might be for you:  http://www.edinburghgardenpartners.org.uk/

To enter the first Edinburgh Living Landscape photography competition, all you need to do is submit a photo of one of the city’s floral meadows or natural grasslands by 11 September 2015 and you could win some great prizes, including annual membership to the Scottish Wildlife Trust, exclusive prizes from Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, 6 month membership to Edinburgh Leisure, a professional photography session and tickets to the Usher Hall Sunday Classics series. Your photos can by of anything that highlights the beauty of these natural green spaces or how they can be enjoyed.

The new park to be made at the site of the current Portobello High and St John’s Primary Schools needs a name. Your suggestions, please. How does a park get its name?:  How to name a park

The Council’s parks and greenspaces people are leading a project to apply for EU funding to implement parkland in south –east Edinburgh with match funding. The Council are also exploring a first stage of works to install footpaths and cycle ways. Key stakeholders include the Council’s development company PARC, BioQuarter, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission; Edinburgh & Lothian Greenspace Trust, Sustrans and the Royal Botanical Gardens.  The current outline proposal is based on the previous masterplan, drawn up as a result of PARC’s Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan consulted and completed in 2012/13.  A PAN (Planning Application Notice) Council Proposal was submitted in July and a community event is planned for the autumn.  Meanwhile, a different PAN which includes a smaller area of parkland, housing and a two stream primary school has been drawn up by Sheraton Ltd Sheraton Proposal  I have asked at Committee that the two ‘competing’ proposals be dealt with and consulted upon in parallel and that some assistance be offered to Craigmillar Community Council to carry out an in-depth consultation on the proposals.

Two weeks to the first Art Walk Porty – 3-6 September 2015 –  bringing art to the public space of the beach and prom, along with artist open studios, and small pop-ups in many high street shops. Programme just announced – view at http://www.artwalkporty.co.uk

Date for your family diary:  The Ceilidh Kids are planning a fundraiser in Portobello and Joppa Church on Saturday 19 September 2.30pm to 4pm.  It’s in aid of a charity providing art therapy for children with chronic illness The Teapot Trust. 

Hate Crime is any criminal offence committed against an individual or property that is motivated by a person’s hatred of someone because of his or her actual or perceived race, religion, transgender identity, sexual orientation or disability.  Everyone has the right to live safely and without fear. No two individuals are ever the same, so it’s up to all of us to embrace individuality and help put an end to hate crime by reporting it.  This is the kind of thing that we need to stop happening: One Hate Crime Story .  Here’s the form for reporting this kind of crime: Hate Crime Secure Reporting 

Cycling Scotland is running School Camps. Apply now for Cycling Scotland School Camps this year.  Deadline for applications is 5pm on11 September.

Fresh Start is a great initiative that provides a range of services that support the resettlement of homeless people in the community.

More about initial proposals for a City Deal that would see greater autonomy and decision making powers, increased opportunities for learning and skills development and investment in infrastructure.  Film here: City Deal

The Council’s new three year voluntary sector grant programme 2016-2019 is now open for applications in the education, children and families area of work. Please see all the details here on the EVOC website: Three Year Grant Programme

The pigeon netting at Brighton Place/Southfield Place railway bridge is proceeding to a conclusion.  The tenders came in last week and the award should be this week with the work staring end August or early September.  I will let you know of positive dates as soon as I have them.

Newcraighall Road rail bridge repairs mean there will be a night time road closure on Saturday 9pm to Sunday 9am.

The Community Empowerment Bill was passed and the Scottish Government have usefully provided answers to frequently asked questions about what it means: Community Empowerment Bill FAQs

A recent report to the Council’s Culture and Sport Committee detailed library service achievements such as a 2% increase in visits to libraries and 16% increase to special events, a 4% rise in transactions, significant upgrades to buildings and an expansion of digital services.  This includes a new library at Craigmillar, now the second biggest library in Edinburgh with lots of great things going on in partnership, not least the fabulous Books for Babies, which got a glowing independent review. Edinburgh City Libraries recently won the annual Jodi Awards for best use of technology to widen access to information, learning, collections and creativity for disabled people in museums, libraries, archives and heritage. More here: Tales of One City

As a result of a funding agreement between the Edinburgh Council and Police Scotland, the local police have two ‘named’ Council funded officers in post. The two officers for the Craigmillar and Portobello are PC Louise Gordon and PC Martin Wood.  The local police continue to have a seconded police officer placed within the East Hub to complete full liaison with the Council and work alongside funded officers.

When is high tide at Porty? You can now check Portobello Beach Tide Times

Local charity, the Thistle Foundation are expanding their service and looking holding a recruitment open day looking for personal assistants to help people with disabilities and long term conditions to live great lives on Thursday 27 August, from 10am-2pm at Wighton House, Craigmillar, EH16 4EA. Thistle Open Days