Dear All
Sorry about the interruption to normal Update service over Christmas and New Year, but I guess we all had better and more important things to do with our friends and family over the last three weeks! In that spirit, again, I wish you and yours all the very best for 2018!
Evaluation of the bids to buy the Portobello Powerleague Westbank Street site took place on Thursday 7 December 2017. the first participation requests under the Community Empowerment Act came from Portobello Community Council and Portobello Amenity Society. Their bid evaluation forms part of the ongoing due diligence to select the preferred bidder for the site. The Council officers’ original intention was to finalise the process early in the New Year, with a report to Finance and Resources Committee on 23 January 2018. However, as Local Councillors and Community requested, the report has been deferred to the March 2018 cycle of Finance and Resources Committee. Meanwhile, Scottish Government has awarded Action Porty funding to undertake a community-led Making Places exercise for the site and will be taking that forward ASAP.
Are you looking for a fun way to get fit in 2018? Porty Netball is a fun recreational group for adults of all ages, shapes and sizes meeting at Holy Rood High School every Monday, starting the 15 January, 7:30 – 8:45pm at £4 a session. All levels welcome. Most of the group haven’t played since primary school, but they say it’s easy enough to pick it all back up!
Are there any budding athletes out there? Did you put "running a half or full marathon" on your New Year Resolutions list? Well, the Edinburgh Marathon Festival is only 19 weeks away! Would you like to run for Thistle, based in Craigmillar? Help raise funds by completing that life time goal! Contact Gail.Begg@Thistle.org.uk for more information. More about the really great work Thistle does here: https://www.thistle.org.uk/ Thistle are well worth your support, by running or any other means!
Portobello Community Orchard is holding their annual Wassailing event on Saturday 27 January 2-4 pm. There will be the usual singing and dancing to encourage a bountiful fruit harvest in 2018, led by the community choir, as well as a bonfire and refreshments. Let’s hope it will be drier than last year – not that it stopped people enjoying themselves!
http://mailchi.mp/
Wellsprings Community are hosting ‘Spirit Rhythms’ at Caffe Nero, Fort Kinnaird this Sunday 14 January 5-7pm; a spiritual fair with live music. Free event.
This time last year, the Community was being asked about options for improvements to the park at Straiton Place. The Council put all the works out to tender and appointed the contractor. There is no start date as yet, because the equipment has up to six weeks delivery time, but the work should be completed before April this year. The double swing will have a large swing seat called a ‘mirage’ suitable for all abilities, the same as the one at the Meadows.
I have asked for the graffiti on Portobello Promenade to be dealt with and the local task force will be blitzing the Promenade area to get rid of as much as they can. The Council has to charge for the service on private property and do need the owner’s permission, which has been given. If anyone has information that would help bring to book and stop whoever is responsible for making this kind of mess, please do contact our local community cop, PC Matt McPherson on 101.
Nice to see lots of suggestions for places to go visit in and around Edinburgh – without the need for a car – including Portobello and Craigmillar. Click here: http://www.goodjourney.org.uk/
Do you know anybody who is struggling to make ends meet right now and could do with a bit of help to get them back on their feet? The Turn2us Edinburgh Trust provides grants to people struggling financially living in the City of Edinburgh. These funds are dedicated entirely to helping local people on low incomes. More here: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
It is fantastic news that Scotland’s women’s beach volleyball pair Lynne Beattie and Melissa Coutts have secured a place at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. All that training on Portobello beach paid off! More here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/
Take care of yourselves and have great weekend!
Maureen
Councillor Maureen Child | Labour Elected Member | Portobello/Craigmillar (Ward 17) | The City of Edinburgh Council | City Chambers | High Street | Edinburgh | EH1 1YJ | Tel 0131 529 3268 | Mobile 07718 666 481 | Twitter @MaureenChild1 | Facebook Maureen Child for Portobello/Craigmillar