Dear All

Just announced this week, there are now 77 Green Flag parks in Scotland.  34 of them are in Edinburgh and 4 of those in Portobello/Craigmillar Ward – Craigmillar Park, Figgate Park, Portobello Community Garden and Rosefield Park.  More about it here: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/12997/record-number-of-edinburgh-parks-win-green-flag-awards

Resurfacing work on a section of Duddingston Road, between Mountcastle Drive South and Durham Road, will take place for five days next week from Monday 19 October. This means the 42 bus will be diverted via Duddingston Park, Milton Road West and Mountcastle Drive South.

A good read for those of us who are wedded to owning a car and might find the benefits of giving it up:  https://backonmybikeblog.com/2020/10/09/car-free-in-a-crisis/. I read it just before I got all kitted up in waterproofs to ride my new-ish electric bike to Bridgend Farmhouse on Old Dalkeith Road during that downpour last Thursday, mostly using off road routes. It’s true – there is no such thing as bad weather for cycling, just bad clothes.  And I felt so much better the rest of the day, full of virtual meetings.

Talking of which, a NINE hour virtual Council Meeting yesterday very nearly finished me off.  Fifteen issues up for debate and umpteen questions that could have been answered by a simple email to a Council officer. Unusually, I made a four minute speech on the role of the Lothian Pension Fund trustees and responsible and actively engaged share ownership vs divestment.  Stirring stuff – not.  

Another poor whale has met it’s gruesome end off our shores, this time at Eastfield near the mouth of the Brunstane Burn and it made the local press here: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/crime/whale-dies-near-portobello-beach-despite-rescue-teams-efforts-save-it-3001952

The need to tackle and improve mental health is a key issue underlined by the Edinburgh Poverty Commission. Read more about it here: https://www.edinburghthrive.com/about-us

If you haven’t yet had your flu jab and are wondering how best to go about it, Portobello Community Council have put up a briefing note from Edinburgh health and care partnership: http://www.portobellocc.org/pccpn/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Flu-stakeholder-info.pdf

This is the last weekend of ArtWalk Porty 2020 coming up.  More here: https://www.artwalkporty.co.uk/2020/all-at-sea.html and book here:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/art-walk-porty-26243655589. There was some worry that the event would not be able to go ahead as an archaeological survey was being undertaken this week on that site where the Ferris Wheel was earlier.  I am assured the survey will be done and dusted by the end of today … unless they find something interesting!

In these difficult times, there have been some inevitable delays in our ambitious plans to re-open the former Craigmillar Community Arts building at 58 Newcraighall Road, in the middle of Fort Kinnaird.  But we are getting there! Click here for information about our Craigmillar Now project: https://craigmillarnow.com/

There are 77 Green Flag parks in Scotland, 34 of the  in Edinburgh and 4 of those in Portobello/Craigmillar Ward – Craigmillar Park, Figgate Park, Portobello Community Garden and Rosefield Park.  More here: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/12997/record-number-of-edinburgh-parks-win-green-flag-awards

Have great weekend!

Maureen

Councillor Maureen Child