Dear All

Consultation starts on Monday for the new park to replace Portobello High School site.  I have attached a briefing note and there was coverage in the Evening News: Evening News – New Park for Portobello

It’s Friday and the weekend is almost upon us it was a good way to say goodbye (almost!) to the working week in The White House community cafe. Mine was a bacon roll and latte this morning. The social enterprise cafe gets great reviews:  Trip Advisor Review  Including this one:  “The establishment is small, the menu choice was smaller than other venues, however the food quality was excellent and the service from the staff was really good, welcoming and friendly. Prices were good”.

The Borders Railway Project wants to hear how you will be using the railway – seeing friends, day trips, university?:  How Will You Use the Railway?

At last, the tender for the Abercorn Terrace ‘puffin’ pedestrian crossing at Portobello and Joppa Parish Church has been accepted and that work will start on site about 17 August 2015. The contract period will be two weeks and the Contractor for the works is Crummock (Scotland) Ltd.

A date for your diary –  The annual Garden Fete will be held on Saturday 12 September from 2 to 4pm at The Gate Lodge Garden, 27 Milton Road East in aid of Post Natal Depression Services. There will be Teas and Coffees and Tables with Crafts, Gifts, Jewellery, Baking and Jams, face painting etc.  All Welcome.

This year’s Summer Bash will take place on Friday 14 August between 1300 and 1600 at the Jack Kane Centre featuring open day at the Community Garden for the first time.  This year will see the addition of the “Selfi Pod” – not to be missed – alongside old favourites such as Horse Riding and Face Painting. The Summer Bash is open to people of all ages, although children should be accompanied by an adult.

After much discussion and delay, I am advised that work on rebuilding the carriageway on Brighton Place will start this financial year.  The various bodies, including the local Portobello Community Council, Brighton and Rosefield Residents, Portobello Amenity Society, and the Council’s own streetscape team have determined the finish should involve the replacement of the historic setts. Whatever the final surface, the key to the longevity of the road will be the robustness and integrity of the foundations, which have to withstand the wear and tear of heavy double decked buses.  Crucially, we must try and ensure that concrete platform is not compromised by any planned utility works in the foreseeable future.  Hence the delays allowing for discussion with the utility companies. Scottish Gas Networks (SGN) are bringing forward work they planned in the next few years to October 2015 so as not to have to dig up the work soon after it has been completed.  If the proposals are approved by lead Council Members and senior management, maybe in the next couple of weeks, the work is likely to start in January 2016.

At residents’ requests, maintenance work is to proceed on Christians Path to clean and clear the cycle path and pathway of overhanging vegetation.  Just heard confirmation that this was completed today.

Some fabulous pictures are taken by local photographers in Portobello of our seaside and posted on social media.  Here’s one by Anna Moffat:  fb.me/vjxgrzXn

Want to help create a community at Tribe Porty in Windsor Place, Portobello?  See here: Tribe Porty

What is your favourite coastal sound?  Voting is open on the question:  Favourite Coastal Sound?

The Portobello Sandcastle Competition is on Saturday 29 August. It is jointly organised by Portobello Community Council and Portobello Toddlers’ Hut and will take place on the beach opposite the swimming pool at the bottom of Bellfield Street.  Registration is between 12.15 – 12.45 on the prom opposite the swimming pool.  Building will begin at 1.00 pm.  More here: Sandcastle Competition

Community gardens help people grow together in more than one sense.  Can you help deliver more community gardening in Craigmillar?  Crowdfunding towards a £15,000 target to be match funded by a charitable trust and secure the future of this great project  :  Community Garden Crowdfunder

You can keep up to date with the progress of the Edinburgh Local Development Plan now being considered by Scottish Government Reporters here: Local Development Plan for Edinburgh

Portobello High School is busy amassing photos and memories of the current building and what went on these 41 years form it’s opening in 1964.  Here’s one photo that may spark memories:  Porty History

Memories of the now lost Portobello Power Station with a tram in the foreground – or more accurately a trolleybus going by.  Photo Power Station

Lost Edinburgh – a nostalgic look at Portobello Bathing Pool and the famous raft, 1970. Porty Pool Photo

Back for its sixth year, the Big Beach Busk will take place from 12 noon on Saturday 29 August. Edinburgh’s Portobello seaside gets mixed up and musical for a day. People of all ages are encouraged to head along and entertain the public on the promenade.  More detail here: .Big Beach Busk 2015

A couple of consultations, that might be of interest:

Add your voice to the consultation on Community Payback Orders , deadline August 31^st.

Help to shape the future of Health and Social Care in Edinburgh, deadline October 31^st. 

In addition to the three cars in Portobello, the Edinburgh City Car Club also has a Nissan Leaf electric car for members to use outside the East Neighbourhood Centre in Craigmillar.  More here: City Car Club Craigmillar  Photo Here: pic.twitter.com/42WfgHFcqg

Andrew Simpson provided this ‘Buggy POV’ video of the Porty Park Run  in Figgate Park last Saturday!  Inspired to run? 

Whatever you do, have a good weekend!

Best wishes

Maureen