Dear All
Last week was a very busy and distracting one, so sorry that Update is a few days late. Do get in touch if there is anything you think I might be able to help with.
I did get out last week with a local resident to see on the ground and begin to understand what has happened to the disappearing Magdalen Burn which used to flow at the edge of Hunters Hall Park and is now a mere trickle at best. By coincidence, a community consultation is being taken forward about Hunter’s Hall Park by Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust. The Trust is seeking to engage with local community groups and local people. This is to explore options for the improvement of the paths to and around Hunter’s Hall Park which is the home of the Jack Kane Sports Centre and Community Wing. ELGT are holding drop-in consultations in Craigmillar Library / East Neighbourhood Centre on Tuesday 5 February drop-in anytime between 2.00 – 7.30pm and Craigmillar Medical Centre on Thursday 7 February. Drop-in anytime 9.30am – 11.30am or 3pm – 5pm,
There is a story telling session “Sounds and Smells of Edinburgh’s Coast” as part of Edinburgh Shoreline Project. It’s taking place in Bellfield, Portobello, Tuesday 12 February 6.30pm – 8.30pm. Sounds fun. Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/storytelling-sounds-and-smells-of-edinburghs-coast-tickets-55402499367
The Big Lunch will be familiar to some as a way of getting to know the neighbours and building links and friendships in your neighbourhood. The Eden Project is organising a workshop for those who want to know more, It’s on Monday 18 February 11am- 2pm in the Small Hall, Bellfield, 16B Bellfield Street, Portobello, Edinburgh, EH15 2BP. To sign up, click here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-big-lunch-hits-porty-workshop-tickets-55339911164
The bike hire scheme introduced in Edinburgh on 17 September 2018 is expanding this year from 52 stations and 500 bikes to 80 stations and even more bikes this year. Find out more: https://medium.com/@justeatcycles/just-eat-cycles-in-2019-acc3029cf820. As research shows, converting car trips to bike trips has huge benefits for cities and citizens. See here:
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/bikelifetransformingcities
It’s is fabulous to see the success of the community enterprise at Bridgend Farmhouse. So much going on and so vibrant. We need more of this! https://www.bridgendfarmhouse.org.uk/
The Scottish Parliament Budget has been set last week and cuts have been imposed on Councils for the coming financial year beginning 1 April 2019. Edinburgh’s Scottish Government grant settlement for 2019/20 is a very few million pounds less than we anticipated at the start of the week at a cut of around £35 million. This still a huge cut to local services at a time of growing demand and citizens have increasing expectations of all Councils, especially in vital health and social care services, year after year after year. Councils, across Scotland, are continually expected to do more with less. It seems to me that our MSPs have either forgotten the good that all Councils do, or have never really taken the trouble to find out. This nails it: https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/brian-wilson-scotland-s-free-personal-care-is-only-free-if-it-s-funded-1-4866373
Until 11 February, there is a still a week for you to comment on the Edinburgh Council Budget proposals for next financial year, 2019/20 here: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/bi/changephase2/
This one is also also spot on in relation to the unrealistic expectations of Councils’ planning function: https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/scotland-s-planning-bill-is-going-down-the-toilet-cliff-hague-1-4861465
Until the end of the week, there is a still chance to comment on Edinburgh’s Budget proposals here: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/bi/changephase2/
The award-winning Bath Street Collective self-build in Portobello has attracted some recent good publicity citywide and nationwide as a model that could and should be replicated. See here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-47041268 and here: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/portobello/german-initiative-inspires-portobello-families-to-build-their-own-tenement-block-1-4866190
More success for Bross Bagels, which started on our Portobello High Street: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/entertainment/bross-bagels-boss-recalls-path-to-opening-third-outlet-in-edinburgh-1-4862234
As we inch into Spring, you might kick yourself if you didn’t already sign up for the Council’s garden waste service, there is another widow of opportunity. More have already signed up than anticipated and – anecdotally – the initial problems with it seem to have been ironed out now. Click here: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/blog/newsblog/post/1441/spring-into-action-with-new-garden-waste-registration-window
On Hunters Hall, can you can fill in the consultation on line: http://www.ironsidefarrar.com/huntershall.pdf
My best wishes for a good week ahead!
Maureen
Councillor Maureen Child
Labour Councillor Portobello/Craigmillar Ward
Office: 0131 529 3268
Mobile: 07718 666 481
Facebook Page: Maureen Child Standing Up for Portobello/Craigmillar
Twitter: @MaureenChild1