Dear All

Thank you for the very kind and positive responses to last week’s Update. Over 80 people who have already opted in over last week to continue receiving my regular email after the new Data Protection regulations come into force in two months time.  If you want to, you still have until 26 May 2018 to opt in. But the sooner you do get back to me, the easier it will be for me to manage making up the new list. I manage the email list myself, in person, and don’t share it with anyone.  If you like my Facebook page, the problem is solved for you, as I cut and paste Update into the Page just after sending out the email. More on GDPR here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation

The wonderful Portobello Timebank have asked me to give a mention for two of their upcoming events. The first one is tomorrow’s Magdalene Glen Spring Clean-up, meeting 1.30pm- 3.30pm at the Asda footbridge.  All welcome.  More here: https://www.facebook.com/events/348647075629196/ 

The next event is their Spring Coffee Morning on 7 April, 10am-12 noon in Portobello Baptist Church Hall.  More here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/2252059875021175/ 

Last week, the Council officially appointed me Vice Convener of the Planning Committee, although I was playing that role unofficially since June last year. That’s in addition to my being voted in Convener of the North East Locality Committee last month.  It was very remiss of me not to have already sent you a link to the inaugural meeting of the NE Locality Committee.  Make of it what you will!  This is very much work in progress. Currently, the Locality Committees consist entirely of Elected Members of the City of Edinburgh, aka Councillors.  Hmmm…. What could possibly go wrong? This is representative democracy meets participatory democracy and it’ll take a while to bed in. Link to the archive footage of our first meeting is here: https://edinburgh.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/336961

The next one is On Thursday 26 April at 5pm in the Dean of Guild Court Room at the City Chambers and will again be live-streamed and recorded for repeated viewing.

One of these NE Locality Committee meetings, we hope to be able to showcase the work that we four Team Portobello/Craigmillar Councillors are doing together, with a range of Locality partners, and as many local residents as we can collectively muster, in the Magdalene area of our Ward. We have a workshop planned for Wednesday next week, facilitated by Sandra MacAskill.

On the Development Management statutory planning front this week there were two applications granted of local significance: Item 4.3 on the agenda was Application for Planning Permission 17/05217/FUL At St John’s RC Primary School, Hamilton Terrace, Edinburgh New park amenity green space on the site of the former Portobello High School. Work will include the demolition of the existing St John’s RC Primary School currently on the site. This will be constructed as part of the contract for the new School, which is progressing well.

Item 4.5 was the Application for Planning Permission 17/05986/FUL At South East Wedge Development Site, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh The project is the development of an area of existing open space with an active travel route from Little France Drive in the north to the Wisp in the south. It also connects Phase 1 of the project heading west and linking in with the ERI. This is a fantastic increasingly accessible area of green space in Little France Park, leading up to the hospital and Bioquarter.  It is great to see so many young people involved in planting the trees, thanks to Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust and local schools.  If I get this done in time, I will be joining in too today, meeting outside Castlebrae Community High School. 

The OneCity Trust’s main grant programme is now open for applications from small registered charities and constituted groups based in Edinburgh and focussing their work in the city on equality and social inclusion projects meeting one or more of the following priorities;

         •  COMMUNITY CONNECTEDNESS

         •  CULTURAL BRIDGING

         •  CIVIC INCLUSION

For further information and to request an application form, please see www.onecity.org.uk, or alternatively, please telephone Elaine McCafferty on 0131 469 3856 or e-mail 1819applications@onecity.org.uk.   The deadline for applications is 20 April 2018. 

Struggling to find Easter holiday childcare?  Don’t want the kids to be bored? Want them to learn some exciting new skills, be inspired, meet new people and have loads of fun? Book them into the Easter Theatre Design Camp for kids aged 9-15 years. Spaces limited.  Email: tribeportyyouththeatre@gmail.com

Come along to a Free Storytelling Event at Craigmillar Library! On 2 April, children aged 3-8 years and their families can enjoy stories and rhymes with storytellers Mary Sutherland and Anna Schaffner. For more information, contact: Birgit Harris – Birgit.Harris@ea.edin.sch.uk or Mhairi McNeill –mhairi.mcneill@ea.edin.sch.uk

Royal Voluntary Society are holding a Welcome Event at the Cake and Candy Tearoom at 127 Portobello High Street on Monday 26 March, 10am -12noon, with free tea/coffee and biscuits.  Do find out about volunteering with the Royal Voluntary Service and how they can help you set up new groups for older people in Portobello, like the Portobello Craft and Chat Group, starting in April.  For more information, please contact Denise Young at denise.young@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk or call 07787 272 860.

The fantastic Sing in the City are starting a daytime choir in Portobello on Thursday mornings.  You would be welcome to go along, join in and treat yourself.  No auditions, no stress, just singing for fun. Sign up for a free try out at hello@singinthecity.com. It’s a great way to meet people and it feels so good to sing, whatever you think you sound like.

There’s a free children’s and families’ screening at Craigmillar Library on Friday 13 March at 2:30pm. The film is a classic tale of a boy and his giant peach.  Now what could that be, I wonder? No need to book, so just turn up! Again, anyone under 8 will need supervision from a guardian aged 12 or over.

The Craigmillar Library Book Group is a friendly and informal group, meeting once a month to discuss the book handed out the previous month. The meetings are on the first Wednesday of each month from 6.30pm – 7.30pm. Tea, coffee and refreshments are provided. It’s a really enjoyable and relaxed reading group where everyone can give their opinion, likes and dislikes about what they’ve read. The current book choice can be picked up at Craigmillar Library. For more information ask a member of staff or contact: craigmillar.library@edinburgh.gov.uk or phone 0131 529 5597

Do you have a few hours a week to spare to help get people with disabilities onto the beach? The new SCIO need volunteers to hire out their fantastic beach wheelchairs from their container near Tumbles. No experience is needed and full training is given. There is no requirement to assist on the beach. Find out more: info@portobellobeachwheelchairs.org

Artists, Creatives, Designer-makers wanted! Applications are open for the Maker’s Art Market for this year’s Art Walk, 7-9 September at the Dalriada. Apply by 15 April at bit.ly/2pkfUIU 

The 356th meeting of Portobello Community Council will be held on Monday 26 March 2018 at 7:30pm in Portobello Baptist Church Hall, 185 Portobello High Street. Agenda and more information on their website here: http://www.portobellocc.org/pccpn/2018/03/20/356th-portobello-community-council-meeting-agenda/

Portobello High School’s S6 and the Parent Council is  holding a Fashion Show Fundraiser on Tuesday 27 March from 6.30pm in the school. Prom dress and vintage wear sale too!  The tickets are £5 (£3 for under 18s) and can be bought at the door on the night or at the school before Tuesday.  Everyone is welcome and it is guaranteed to be fun for the whole family!

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