Dear All

Not too late to see Portobello and Joppa Parish Church Drama Group’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘The Gondoliers’ in the Church Hall.  It’s on tonight (Friday) and tomorrow night, Saturday 21 March. Tickets from Ann McKerchar (Phone 0131 669 3123) to make sure it’s not sold out.  Starts 7.30pm Tickets £10 for adults and £5 for children and students.

Portobello Amnesty Group are holding a coffee morning and stalls on Saturday 21 March at 10am -12 Noon. More here: pic.twitter.com/kGs5xMQyox

After an absence of 10 years, a cinema is opening again this weekend at Fort Kinnaird. ODEON is opening today and has a special officer for families.  See here:   fb.me/52ynP0FSh

It’s not too late to apply for a Neighbourhood Partnership Community Grant this year. Applications need to in by 2 April. More info here: http://www.edinburghnp.org.uk/neighbourhood-partnerships/portobello-and-craigmillar/about/you-decide!/ and local people in Portobello and Craigmillar get the opportunity to make the decisions together in an event on 23 May in ‘participatory budgeting’ event. More here: ow.ly/KfaEH

Figgate Park Spring Clean Up this Saturday 10am to 12noon . Everyone Welcome. Meet at the notice board by the pond for 10am. Litter pickers supplied for adults and children. More here: fb.me/3Js23LCD4

Volunteers are required for the Big Beach Spring Clean on Sunday 29 March. More info here:  fb.me/509JtEgVS

Portobello Library will no longer be open on Sundays from 1 April. This is the result of a decision of the Council budget for 2015/2016. A review showed that Sunday visits represented just 4% of the weekly total. See here: fb.me/7wxflbl1p

‘The Colour of Life Exhibition’ continues at The Velvet Easel Gallery, Portobello..  Se here: pic.twitter.com/akPXnJxHMt

The Three Monkeys on Portobello High Street is going to open under new management: More here: ift.tt/1AGVGVh

What to do about overhanging branches and hedges that are causing you problems? See note here: http://planningedinburgh.com/2015/03/13/trees-hedges-and-overhanging-foliage/

A few people have been asking when is the new recycling service going to reach them.  Some have it, some have yet to come.  There are local areas in Phases 4 and 5 this year.  Craigmillar is in Phase 4, May –August 2015 with the first notices going out on 20 April.  Phase 5 – including Niddrie Mill, Portobello and Brunstane – starts in July with the first letters going out 27July and delivery of the new service by October.

Last but not least, I have been receiving emails, phone calls and surgery visits from parents concerned about the catchment review of Towerbank Primary School which will start in May.  We are in an informal pre-consultation phase to work out what would be the best options to go forward with.  I am already arguing for a catchment guarantee for those families with children currently at the school.  If we succeed, parents won’t have to be at two school gates at once or take children out of one school so they can all go together.  I am very grateful for all the work Portobello School Council, parents and Community Council are doing to help on this. We all want as wide and deep a consultation as possible to get the right solution for all the communities and neighbourhoods in the area. Portobello Community Counicl has a link to it survey here: https://www.portobellocc.org/towerbank.php?ref=mc.  Please feel free to share it. 

Have a good weekend!

Best wishes

Maureen