• Portobello Community Council
  • c/o 14 Rosefield Avenue
  • Portobello
  • EH15 1AU
 

Maureen Child Update 26 February 2022

Posted on: February 26th, 2022

Dear All

 

All are welcome to join Keep Porty Tidy (KPT) tomorrow, Sunday, for a group litter pick! Meeting at 10.30am at the KPT kit shed (just beside the Pipe Lane public toilets on the Prom). The team will focus efforts along the Figgate Burn at the Tumble’s car park, Bridge Street car park and beside the Powerleague football pitches. Do look out for the hi-vis KPT vests and give words of encouragement!

 

Portobello Community Council’s 390th meeting is on Monday 28 February at 7:30 pm via Microsoft Teams.  All details and the meeting link here: http://www.portobellocc.org

 

This week, Planning Committee unanimously agreed to designate the whole of the Council area as a short term lets (STL) control zone where planning permission will be required and a licensing regime set up.  All subject to Scottish Government approval.  More here: https://bit.ly/3p92luM

 

I missed it, but some lovely local people enjoyed an evening at Queen Margaret University bringing together and celebrating collaborative projects between students and Craigmillar community groups. Craigmillar Now worked with Applied Arts and Social Practice students Helen, Becca and Hannah to record and gather oral histories for the archives. Thank you to Muriel, Malcolm, Ethel, Mags, Kevin and Heather for sharing so many fascinating stories about Craigmillar with us as part of the project, which you can listen to here: https://m.soundcloud.com/user-43249140. Thanks also to Laura for volunteering to support the project.

 

There are now well over the threshold twenty objections to 5G mast proposal Porty High Street .  If the planning case officer was minded to grant the application, it would have to be determined by a Committee of Councillors. The case offer is assessing its impact on the immediate vicinity and wider conservation area and will have regard to all material representations as part of their considerations. Anyone standing as a Council candidate on 5 May who takes a public view on any planning application, like this one, if elected will have to declare an interest and not vote on it or be in breach of the Code of Conduct for Councillors. They cannot promise ‘Vote for me and I pledge to vote against this proposal!’

 

We agreed the Council Budget this week and I helped make sure there was a line of £60,000 in the Budget proposals to take forward a £645,000 project to rebuild the collapsed 1906 kiln in Portobello.  This commits Council officers to work with potential funders and Portobello Heritage Trust to rebuild and conserve this historic piece of our industrial past and proud history and culture.  All four local Councillors have been working together on this and the City Archaeologist has already emailed to ask us for a letter of support for one of the major funding applications.

 

Portobello Market returns on Saturday 5 March in Brighton Park, from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Fingers crossed the windy storms, that scuppered the February Market, stay away. This month there are nearly 50 traders on site.  Check out the website for a full list of the March stallholders: https://bit.ly/3BGtJFL Portobello Apple Juice will be on site once again with their locally produced  apple and pear juice. If you have empty bottles please do return them at the market.  The same applies to jams jars for St Philips stall.

 

Local community officers Police Scotland have been busy this month responding to people’s concerns and working in partnership with local people, Council, community groups, Lothian Buses and schools to help keep people safe.  Watch here: https://fb.watch/bnJ3W0ZjDf/

 

The Durham Road South pedestrian crossing seems to need adjusting to give more time for pedestrians. One of my constituents says she was almost hit by a van and a car moving on the near pavement side of the crossing.  I have asked the signals people to take a look at it and fix, as necessary, to help keep pedestrians safer.

 

That’s all for this week. Enjoy the rest of your 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: @MaureenMChild1

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