Dear All
I just picked up that Portobello has been nominated and is a finalist in an award from the Academy of Urbanism in the category ‘Great Neighbourhood’: https://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/finalists-2020/. Good luck Porty!
The Edinburgh Shoreline Project created a mural in collaboration with Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home and the community. It was, painted by Studio No Name and is now to be admired at the Seafield end of Portobello Promenade. It has references in there to the amazing heritage of the area including birds, pollinators, porpoises, rowing and Buchan pottery. More about eh while project here: https://www.greeninfrastructurescotland.scot/news/edinburgh-shoreline-%E2%80%93-coastal-success
Edinburgh Leisure and Council have put up an Online Survey about Portobello’s 9-Hole Golf Course between the new Portobello High School and Stanley Street. Click here: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/bi/edinburgh-leisure-survey-portobello-golf-course. Please do respond with your views! Hard copies should be there for picking up at Portobello Swim Centre, Portobello Library, Portobello Golf Course,Tumbles and Portobello High School or they can be printed directly from the survey itself and sent to: Freeport RTUK-XHYY-JZJ, Insight & Engagement, City of Edinburgh Council, Level 2.1, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, EDINBURGH, EH8 8BG. The online survey is deactivated on 10 May 2019 with hard copies accepted until 17 May 2019.
Want to learn about identifying butterflies? Little France Park in May is the place to do it! More here: https://butterfly-conservation.org/events/urban-butterfly-identification-workshop-little-france-edinburgh
The Thistle Foundation reminds us that everyone has a story. Writing it down can help in many different ways. Starting Tuesday 7 May, 10.30am -12.30pm, running for 9 weeks, Write to Recovery is a free programme of writing workshops focused on helping us cope if we experience emotional difficulties, mental or physical ill-health. For more information please contact David on 07551 125767. Thistle is at Queen’s Walk in Craigmillar – a fine place to be!
The Travelling Gallery’s Spring Exhibition is coming to Portobello, and will be parked up outside the Town Hall on Tuesday 30 April, 11am – 5pm. This exhibition is called Displaced and explores how artists are responding to the global migration and the refugee crisis. More here: https://www.travellinggallery.com/futureexhibitionsdefault
We Councillors have early notice of Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) just submitted by private developers to The City of Edinburgh Council for ‘mixed-residential development comprising of student/co-worker living, assisted living and a dementia care centre with landscaping, SUDs, car parking, access and associated infrastructure’ on vacant land located on Niddrie Mains Road to the west of Craigmillar Library, EH16 4DS. There will be a public consultation on the proposal in Craigmillar Library on the 18 June, 2pm – 7pm. This is an early opportunity for the community at large to get involved in shaping development – and helping to get it right.
We were talking about the importance of this site and others in a workshop and walkabout, yesterday at The Whitehouse in Craigmillar. The Community Alliance Trust and the Neighbourhood Alliance are working together with Smith Scott Mullen and Caskie & Co to deliver a project called ‘Changing Craigmillar’, using a grant from the Scottish Government’s Community Led Design initiative. The group used the Scottish Government’s place-making tool to review the last 15 years of regeneration. Part of the process is consulting with the community at ‘Placemaking Cafes’ and getting local people to complete a questionnaire. Yesterday’s event was based on the results of the questionnaire which well over 1000 people filled out. Survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ChangingCraigmillar. The process is not finished yet.
Mary Campbell and I took part in a pedal-to-school event this morning to Duddingston and St John’s Primary Schools to raise awareness of what might be done to improve our active travel experience as parents and children, ably organised by SPOKES Porty. This is part of a wider Pedal on Parliament movement which we can all take part in this weekend: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/traffic-and-travel/pedal-on-parliament-protests-planned-across-scotland-this-weekend-to-boost-cycle-safety-1-4915371
On Sunday 28 April, Duddingston Community Garden have an Open Day with tool sharpening on offer. Bring your shears, secateurs, spades, hoes and other hand tools to be sharpened ready for the growing season. Tea, cakes, preserves and plants are also on offer. It’s open from 2pm to 4pm and the entrance is beside 56A The Causeway, EH15 3PZ, nearly opposite the Sheep Heid Inn.
That’s all for now.