Dear All

Thank you for all the feedback and do keep it coming! Just a few extras and reminders – and a correction. First the correction the You Decide! voting at the libraries in Craigmillar and Portobello is on until Friday May 8 (not 5)   More information here:  Community Grants Fund Awards – You Decide!

While housebreaking has decreased over the last year, when it happens to you it’s infinitely worse than it was before! Solvency rates (44%) are getting better and incidents decreasing (yes-really!) because of the degree of priority it is now getting from the police and some preventative work – which we all need to take on board. A local resident has been in touch to say that her friend was broken into recently along with 14 other properties in the area.  The thieves were looking for keys to steal the cars. Her advice was to have keys hidden away, doors locked at all times. She said it would be very useful if I put out an alert to you all. It would be awful if any more neighbours were to fall victim to this. We also suggest something like Smartwater be used and stickers displayed if you now have it.  For more on Smartwater see: http://www.smartwater.com/news/edinburgh-project-already-producing-results.html  For more information on policing  and crime prevention in Portobello see http://porty.org.uk/local-info/police/ and keep up to date with what’s going on in East Edinburgh and more locally in your neighbourhood.  I have a full 5MB of information from the local police on crime prevention.  Do let me know if you want that sent to your inbox!

Portobello Expectant and New Parents’ Event is on Saturday 2 May. Find out more: Mums in the Know

This Saturday is Portobello Market day in Brighton Park, just off Brighton Place in Portobello, 9.30am until 1.30pm.

A map of Edinburgh Food Banks and Referral Agencies has been published, which might be useful if you want to donate or help refer people: Food Banks Map

Portobello features in the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling in June: Festival of Cycling Booklet

The Council’s Culture and Sport Committee granted approval in December for the Hunters Hall cycling hub project to be taken to the next stage.  This involves more detailed feasibility and design work, up to the pre-construction phase.  A report is being submitted to the Finance and Resources Committee on 13 May to ask for approval for the procurement of the detailed design work.  Following this next phase of the project, there will be a requirement to submit a further report to the Culture and Sport Committee to ask for the final approval to move to the construction phase and complete the works. Council have also secure capital funding of £200,000 towards the refurbishment of the Jack Kane Sports Centre and Community Wing. We hope that this can be augmented through grant applications and further Council funding in due course.

Portobello Community Council are consulting through a survey on the closure of the Joppa Toilets, although the ones in Bath Street and Pipe Street are no longer on the list for closure. Thanks for PCC’s help with that! Porty’s was the biggest response to the Budget proposal on this issue last September and helped make a difference. Click here for the PCC survey:  Public Toilets Survey  I have attached a briefing note which gives the background and has a link direct into the Council’s own consultation. Could you fill in both?

Portobello Community Council are also asking people about problems with the new street lights.  NI have had complaints about the new ones on Argyle Crescent.  Spotted Problems with Street Lighting?

Brighton and Rosefield Residents Association’s annual spring clean up is on Saturday May 9 starting at 10am in Rosefield Park

If you are finding it tough to look after your garden all by yourself, or want to help someone with their, now that spring is upon us, there is help at hand.  Garden Partners can help match you up – more information here: http://www.edinburghgardenpartners.org.uk/  Or you could join Portobello Timebank:   http://www.edinburghtimebank.org.uk/timebanks/portobello for this or a whole host of other exchanges.  Or get involved in one of the community growing projects all around the area.  I have attached a flyer about the one at Craigmillar Library Garden.

At last! To combat the pigeon mess at Southfield Place/Brighton Place bridge works to replace the broken netting are out to tender.  We hope to make a start on site in early June.   In the meantime, the Council’s specialist cleaning team has been regularly cleaning the area.  The Newcraighall and Baileyfield bridges were also power cleaned recently.  The roads officer has also placed an order for the Portobello ‘Edinburgh’s Seaside’ sign to be repaired.

Next week, Tuesday morning, is the Council’s Communities and Neighbourhoods Committee.  You might find something of interest on the agenda.  For access to the agenda and full papers, click here: Full Papers Communities & Neighbourhoods 05-05-2015

The replacement of bus shelters in Edinburgh is ongoing with 400 more in the pipeline.  Some of the first new ones were on one of my regular routes along Niddrie Mains Road to Portobello.  To find out if yours is being upgraded, and when, click here: bit.ly/1OINYH0

Have a good weekend!

Maureen