While the Milton Road East SGN works are going on, inevitably leading to disruption to traffic flows on other roads, there is a delay to the reconstruction of Brighton Place.  I have been advised these are now due to start sometime between April and June 2017. I am meeting next week with SGN and some elderly Coillesdene residents who are finding it very hard to access services because of the loss of their eastbound buses. 

There has been some chat on social media about the patches on the Promenade after the SGN gas mains work has been completed.  This is work in progress, the patchwork is experimental and not the final finish.  SGN and Council will work together to find the best match possible, but apparently the original red material came from somewhere in South America and is no longer available. It will not be perfect or seamless, I predict.

The Thistle Foundation would like to invite you and/or anyone you know that may be interested, to their Hobby Hut open afternoon which is to take place tomorrow Thursday 9 February. The Hobby Hut is a new group starting for women to come together, take part in activities of their choosing and/or perhaps share skills they already have with others. The event will run from 10am – 1pm (approx) in the Garden Suite at the Thistle. The aims is to give people the opportunity to hear a bit about the idea behind the Hobby Hut, try some taster activities and think about hopes for the future. They are preparing a short introductory talk to explain what the hobby hut is all about which will take place at 10.15am. If you would like any information, please contact Claire on 07471 030 957 or email Claire.cumming@thistle.org.uk

As they do every year, Craigmillar artists are taking part in World Community Arts Day on 17 February, based first in the Thistle Centre for Wellbeing (from 10am) and then at the Craigmillar Festival statue outside Craigmillar Library for 1pm. More details next week

It has not escaped the watchful Portobello community’s notice that the Council has put the Powerleague site and car park on the market as a development opportunity.  The proceeds would go partly to Powerleague, who hold what is left of a 99 year Council lease, and partly be ring-fenced to plug the gap in the Council funding package for a replacement Meadowbank. Tumbles is not for sale, although its car park might be relocated as part of a future development – IF it happens.  Some decisions – so far – have been taken by Councillors on Committees of Culture & Sport and Economic Development, Finance & Resources and Corporate Policy & Strategy. On that basis, this site is being advertised for sale.  The bids will be sifted by Council officers, no doubt, but the final decision on the sale is a decision for Councillors to make. Any development will require Planning Committee consent, and that consent is not guaranteed either.  This is not a ‘done deal’. It has been known for Councillors to decide not to sell, although they might not quite see a way to do that – yet.  Powerleague have wanted out of their lease almost since the moment they took over from Pitz.  As a company, Powerleague are not looking to invest further in this site and are actively looking for another place to operate from, in the east of the City.  Nearby residents in the Hillcoats and Westbank Street who may have bought their houses in the 80s were told at the time that this site – too – would go for housing and Powerleague is not always the very best of neighbours.  But the then Edinburgh District Council (EDC)  bowed to community pressure in the 1980s and agreed to retain the old Portobello Open Air Pool site for sport and leisure.  They parachuted in a bowling centre (now Tumbles) whereas the community campaigned for a skateboard park.  EDC leased the rest to Pitz for 5 –a-side football on a 99 years lease which has a long way to run.  The petitioning and campaigning against the sale of the site have already started and I will support them in any way I possibly can.

There is still time and opportunity to put your cross against your best five projects that will help us tackle Islamophobia and build better community relations in our city.  The Shared Vision – Your Decision voting closes on Monday 13 February.  Please do cast your vote online here: www.scotland.police.uk/shared-vision-your-decision  or in your local Library – Portobello has a great display. More here: Vote for projects to eradicate Islamophobia – Police Scotland. 

Our Council has stepped up its fight against scams by joining forces with the Friends Against Scams campaign. The Council is the first organisation in Scotland to make the Friends Against Scams pledge to change perceptions and raise awareness of scams amongst staff and the wider community. North Edinburgh news covered the launch event here: http://nen.press/2017/02/05/joan-is-edinburghs-scambassador/

A locally grown ‘Gardeners Question Time’ date for your diary thanks to Portobello Timebank for all the keen allotment owners and gardeners among you.  Whatever your gardening challenges for 2017 may be, you’re bound to benefit from a face-to-face session with an amazing panel.  They’ve gathered together the cream of local gardening expertise, headed up by lifelong horticulturalist George Anderson of ‘Beechgrove Garden’ fame; garden designer Becca Duncan from Blossoming Gardens, Inveresk; Peter J Wright MBE, recently retired chairman of The Federation of Edinburgh and District Allotments and Garden Association;  RHS Britain in Bloom Community Champion Dr Stan da Prato from East Lothian Ticket price includes refreshments, free seed swap, raffle and opportunity to buy local homemade crafts, preserves and cakes. Tickets are available locally on Portobello High Street from Earthy, Porty Hardware and the Velvet Easel.  More here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gardeners-question-time-tickets-31594083755  More on Portobello Timebank 

Media event held at Portobello High School to coincide with 2050 Edinburgh City Vision initial findings – pupils interviewed by Evening News and Edinburgh Reporter. The initial findings, which have been summarised into four emerging themes, reveals residents, businesses and organisations in the Capital want Edinburgh to be an ‘inspired, connected, fair and thriving city’ in 2050.  Analysis of 5,700 views submitted so far towards the ‘2050 Edinburgh City Vision’ has been published today. Please find the feedback online here. The 2050 Edinburgh City Vision campaign will continue running until summer 2017. A big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to contribute so far. Please continue to promote the campaign and share your views on Edinburgh’s future at edinburgh.org/2050

The Council Budget for Edinburgh for the year 2017/18 (starting end March 2017) is now being cut not by £37.1 Million, but by £27.1 million.  That’s £10 million less of a cut than our Council was expecting a week ago from the Scottish Government financial settlement.  For one year only, the Council is able to ease a little financial pressure on education and other priority services.  But the Council fully expect further reductions in the Budget over the following three years.  There will be even more cumulative savings required; at least £97.5 Million cuts by 2020/21 to meet the increasing needs, demands and pressures of our growing city and its population.  The Council Budget Meeting is tomorrow, with all papers available here: Council 9 February 2017 – Full Meeting Papers – Version 3 and you can watch the debate live, or when it is archived, here: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/webcast

At the same time as the Council is having to make savings or cuts next year (inevitably including education) the Scottish Government has awarded school head teachers a ring-fenced investment to help schools close the education attainment gap. This is one of our City’s key Edinburgh Partnership priorities and our joint community planning efforts are geared to ensuring all children have the very best start in life, whatever their background.  So while this small amount of money is important, and hits the headlines, it isn’t the tool we have to close that gap. The direct grant to schools is distributed according to the number of children in any particular school who claim free school meals.  Schools money for Edinburgh amounted to a total £7,472,400 and means local schools get a share of the extra cash:  Brunstane Primary School £110,400; Castleview PS £196,800; Duddingston PS £49,200; Newcraighall PS £33,600; Niddrie Mill PS  £177,600; St Francis RC PS £97,200; St John’s RC PS £55,200 ;Towerbank PS £75,600; Royal High PS £51,600; Castlebrae Community High School £33,600; Holy Rood RC High School £120,000; Portobello High School £66,000. 

Consultation on Claudia Beamish MSP’s bill to end fracking finishes this month, 17 February, so if you haven’t commented yet, there is still time to do so.  Link is here: http://www.parliament.scot/gettinginvolved/101886.aspx  Claudia and our Elaine Murray of Portobello Community Council and the local campaign, Our Forth, gave an interviews to David Calder before and after our consultation meeting in Portobello.  Listen here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/71622/463587-17-fracking-claudia-beamish-msp

I have just heard that the Council’s planning department have extended the deadline for comments on both the applications (Refs: 16/06447FUL and 16/06449/LBC) for 14 Bath Street, the former George bingo hall, the deadline for which was to be tonight.  Now you have until 17 February to have your say. Here’s how:  thegeorge.org.uk/assets/the-george—planning-comments.pdf

New lamp-post signs and 20mph road markings springing up in more parts of Portobello in preparation for them coming into legal force on 28 February. Information about the full programme is available on the Council’s website at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/20mph and www.facebook.com/edin20mph

I picked this up on how to keep children safe on line and thought it might be useful for those of us with children – and grandchildren.  http://metro.co.uk/2017/02/06/6-simple-ways-to-keep-your-kids-safe-online-6430279/#ixzz4XzsTMdEB?platform=hootsuite

I wish you a good week and an even better weekend!

Maureen