There was good double-page spread in the Edinburgh Evening News last Friday about our winning Portobello nomination from the Academy of Urbanism.  Click here: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/10-reasons-why-portobello-great-place-live-after-being-named-best-neighbourhood-uk-and-ireland-1327920.  And a great Porty Podcast followed last Saturday. Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/71622/2189345. 

Here’s a great blog about front-line experience running a voluntary organisation which will strike a chord with many: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/common-third-sector-story-bob-giulianotti. Currently The White House in Niddrie Mains Road is covered in scaffolding for long overdue maintenance and repair work, but the welcome inside is as warm and welcoming as ever. It’s a great place for networking, both formal and informal. 

Find out about the latest activities in Figgate Park and results of their consultation about the play park here: http://www.figgatepark.org.uk/. Their 2020 calendars is on sale locally at Portobello Parkrun, The Mousehole Deli and other shops on Portobello High Street or at Portobello Market this Saturday in Brighton Park : http://www.pedal-porty.org.uk/category/market/

More on the fabulous ArtWalk Party, wonderful pictures of the pottery kilns and an artist who decorated the products : https://mailchi.mp/5db957622f81/the-decorators-2569549 and here: https://encounters.art.blog/2019/11/16/nicky-bird-art-walk-projects-portobello/

There was a lovely piece by The Edinburgh Reporter on the switching-on of the Christmas lights at the Hays in Craigmillar: https://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2019/11/christmas-lights-switched-on-at-craigmillar/. It’s great to see that Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association (CREHA) are consulting their tenants about the future of the open space area at 3 Hay Avenue.  See here: https://castlerockedinvar.co.uk/customers/get_involved/latest_consultations.aspx

St Mark’s Church Portobello welcomes you to an afternoon of Cribs and Carols in Thursday 19 December.  They will have an exhibition of nativity sets – religious and non-religious, from this country and around the world, home made and shop bought – through the afternoon (2-6pm)  and an evening of community carols (6-7.30pm). Come and ask for your favourite carol! If you have a nativity set which would like to see in the exhibition please do bring it along or contact info@stmarksportobello.org. Refreshments will be served throughout.

Local cycle campaign Spokes Porty have produced this film to support their bid for measures to make the active travel routes to our local schools safer. Watch here:  https://vimeo.com/365383840

Bridgend Farmhouse the southern edge of Craigmillar Park, is well worth a visit for all it has to offer:   https://mailchi.mp/51975b14b314/xmas-craft-fair-live-concert-eco-bothy-updates-new-courses-and-more

Hannah Robinson is writing the new edition of her wonderful book ‘Secret Edinburgh An Unusual Guide’ and is looking for new places to put in it. Has anyone got any great secret and unusual places she should include? Consulting my own copy (the first book I bought in Portobello Bookshop on recommendation of the author’s Mum) we have quite number of places already, including The White House, Craigmillar Castle, the Coade Stone Pillars and the Pottery Kilns.  

The Portobello branch of the TSB is to close next year and I have more information, should you need it.  I asked and was assured that the bank will redeploy staff to other locations or offer voluntary redundancy terms. The TSB own the property it will be on the market after it closes.

Notes of interest in leasing and investing in Portobello Town Hall will be sought after an advert goes out in the New Year.  The building needs around £1 million of repairs at a time when the Council’s own investment priorities – rightly – are our local schools.  The advert does not commit the Council or community to anything, but it should flush out any serious interest for us to consider together.  I have a briefing note that can send to you which has been agreed by representatives of local interest groups Portobello Amenity Society, Action Porty and Portobello Amenity Society as well as Councillors and Council Officers. I will keep you posted when that goes out.

Brighton Place and Brunstane Road are now expected to re-open to traffic on Wednesday 11 December, but that end-date is still highly weather-dependent. Again, I have a more detailed briefing note if you want it.  I also have a note on where we are with coming up with possible proposals for traffic management in the ‘Joppa Triangle’ stretching east from Brunstane Road.

It’s always a pleasure to find new edition of The Portobello Reporter has come through the letterbox.  Here it is on line:  http://porty.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/PRep4PO_Winter-19.pdf?fbclid=IwAR21Z5hK0Go6-z77RqDEqYQvRaL_ED0ZbNh-Imt98C7fZVG5oJWyL4h9KEk

There are many good things this week that I really don’t have time and space here to tell you about but my time was well-spent with Create Opportunities Board; Thistle Centre for Wellbeing ‘Wee Thistle’ work; Castleview Primary School and the Craigmillar Tapestry; Craigmillar Now and the lease of 58 Newcraighall Road and Portobello-Craigmillar Neighbourhood Network. Perhaps next week….

Do let me know if you want ‘updated’ on anything else or any of that further information I talked about above!

Best wishes for a good weekend.

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