Dear All

 

Are off road nuisance bikes causing a problem near you in Craigmillar or Portobello? Call Crimestoppers with info on 0800 555 111 https://crimestoppers-uk.org/in-your-area/north-west/merseyside/putting-the-brakes-on-nuisance-bikes/.  This is a nuisance across the country, not just here and Crimestoppers is a way of giving the local police the information they need to combat the nuisance, while you remain absolutely anonymous. pic.twitter.com/iPbnU6Hr2G Otherwise phone the police direct on 101 (after the event) but 999 if there is an incident ongoing. 

 

The City of Edinburgh Council in partnership with Portobello and Craigmillar Community Councils are holding community engagement events at Edinburgh College (Milton Campus, EH15 2PP) on: Saturday 19 March between 10am – 1pm and Tuesday 22 March between 4pm and 8pm. This is about what you like about and what you don’t like about the place you live in now, NOT about any future developments that might or might not be in the offing.  AS I understand it, this on a kind of drop-in basis, and the commitment really only takes about an hour working together in a group of 10, arranged as and when you arrive.  The exercise will be repeated on both days. More here:http://planningedinburgh.com/2016/03/07/brunstane-area-placemaking-exercise/

 

As I advertised before, last Wednesday there was a drop-in information session at which parents and neighbouring residents will be able to view and discuss the final plans for the new school with the design team at arranged at St John’s RC Primary School, in advance of the planning applcation being submitted.   I have electronic copies of the display boards, if people want to see them.  Big files, I must warn you!  – 26MB altogether.

 

The designs and location plans for the new Magdalene Glen Adventure Play Area can be seen on display at Magdalene Community Centre, Brunstane Primary School and the local shops in Magdalene. They can also be see on line at http://www.elgt.org.uk/projects/play/magdalene-glen-playpark 

 

Portobello Rotary are small, but they want to make an impact on eradicating polio.  Recently there were new cases of polio reported in Pakistan – http://m.voanews.com/a/new-cases-of-polio-reported-in-pakistan/3223597.html Please support Portobello Rotary member Daniel Barreto who’s trying to help ‘End Polio Now’.  A link to Daniel’s website is here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/cyclerotary

 

This is the kind of great work the Thistle in Craigmillar do:  http://thistlefoundation1415.com/?platform=hootsuite – and that’s why I am supporting them to do more by throwing myself off … no, abseiling down – from the Forth Rail Bridge both to overcome my fear of great heights and to raise some cash for Thistle  Please do sponsor me if you can: https://thistlefoundation.everydayhero.com/uk/maureen-abseil 

 

Here are some cold hard facts about vehicle speeds and road safety but together we can change them for the better – and make our built-up areas even safer places to live. Link here: http://www.dontriskit.info/in-town-slow-down/be-street-smart

 

Anthony Robson keeps us up to date with what is happening at Figgate Park and he takes some stunning photos.  Our friend Jerry Mandarin is still together with little grebe and goosanders.  Link here: https://mobile.twitter.com/wildedinburgh/status/708744204881678338/photo/1

 

St Mark’s Church Portobello has a summer programme of music to which you are all welcome.  More here:  https://mobile.twitter.com/StMPorty/status/708612362870382592/photo/1

 

Edinburgh is a great place to walk and of the 16 listed here as recommendations four are within easy reach of Portobello/Craigmillar.  http://www.edinburghspotlight.com/2013/01/feature-13-places-to-walk-in-edinburgh-in-2013/?platform=hootsuite

 

A at various venues, including Portobello this Wednesday morning.  Sounds fun! More here:   http://us11.campaign-archive2.com/?u=c320d409eb77a885fa5aa30d2 toddlers’ music session &id=fa758a1bed

 

A very enjoyable and productive clean up organised by Portobello Timebank of Christians Path and part of the Brunstane Burn..  More here: https://hourworld.org/bank/?hw=1201

 

Portobello’s shop local community are in the business of celebrating Portobello, Edinburgh’s Seaside. More here:  https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153705152118705

 

Portobello Online has embarked on a major project to list every single business that has ever traded in Portobello starting at the western edge.  See here:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153691699283705#!/portobello.online/photos/a.358384223704.155175.352804738704/10153691699283705/?type=1&theater

 

This is a fab map of Portobello and what’s on offer:  http://portobellobeach.com/map/

 

Name your favourite place in Portobello and win a prize!  Link here: https://www.portobellocc.org/places.php?ref=fb

 

The Festival of Ireland starts this week.  More here: www.edinburghsfestivalofireland.org with activities at the Dalriada, 77 Promenade Wednesday 16 March. 8pm Trad Music Night Hosted by Jed & Carrie; Thursday 17  March is Blursday Thursday 9pm Join in with Mike Kearney & Friends the whole road from the County Down. Friday 18 March is Irish Portobello Comedy Night. Back Room .8pm Featuring 4 stand up comedians with a bit of craic. Tickets here:  www.brownpapertickets

 

Is it a seal or a porpoise out there in the sea?  No, it’s a human being! They say: ‘It’s the coldness I find invigorating’: Open water swimming on the rise at Scotland’s beaches, including off Portobello.  Here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-35744183#

 

The Spring 2016 edition of the Portobello Reporter is available to read online here: http://porty.org.uk/news/the-portobello-reporter/

 

You can also become a subscriber to the online Chronicle and get regular reports. Read the latest article here: http://chronicleonline.net/  Like news of the latest tea dance and sing-along on Wednesday:   http://chronicleonline.net/2016/03/10/tea-dance-sing-along-at-the-white-house/

 

He won’t be a happy person after the result on Sunday, but Hibs fan Davy Fulton planned to walk to Hampden from Niddrie for a SECOND time to raise money for charity. He has set up a Just Giving page – www.justgiving.com/Daviefulton-hampdenonfoot 
Read more here: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/hibs-fan-davy-to-rerun-walk-to-final-for-cancer-charity-1-4057978#ixzz42V7wEP9X

 

The City of Edinburgh Council is in the process of revising the Portobello Conservation Area Character Appraisal and wants to hear from people living in and interested in Portobello what they think of new development within the conservation area and how they think the appraisal has performed in dealing with development in the past few years and how it needs to be adapted to protect the conservation area and to reflect the wishes of those living within the conservation area. Character appraisals are important as they are a material consideration when considering applications for development within the conservation area.

https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/portobello-conservation-area-character-appraisal-q

 

Lots of interest for SHAPE Easter beach volleyball camp. Don’t miss out! https://mobile.twitter.com/RDOeast/status/706190328768950272/photo/1

 

The Robin Chapel’s services and music until June now on website – http://www.robinchapel.org.uk/index.php/music . All are welcome pic.twitter.com/iejOgWztgj

 

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the children of Brunstane Primary School recite Tam O’Shanter and you can too here: 

 

Craigmillar Books for Babies is hosting a Storytelling Residency for the first time, thanks to funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s Communities and Families Fund. Storyteller Eric Brennan takes up the residency this month which will last until the end of 2016. Craigmillar Literacy Trust. For just £5 you can give one of their kids the gift of a book here: https://localgiving.com/charity/craigmillarliteracytrust

 

I liked this and thought you might too: http://www.actionforhappiness.org/take-action/thank-the-people-youre-grateful-to

 

Sewing the Shadows Together by Alison Bailie is a murder mystery and love story set in Portobello.  Time for a bit of an Easter break to catch up on the novel reading?

 

Mystery solved? I got this straight from the acting head of waste management in the Council in answer to a few queries that came my way about small electrical goods – such as our recently defunct kettle – not being collected with the blue box, as the website says they would. “The Council website states that small electrical items will be collected from the same blue box as glass.  There are two reasons why the electrical items may be taken out of the box and not collected  at the same time as glass. Firstly, it may be related to storage capacity on the collection vehicles.  The collection vehicles have split areas with one for glass and the other for electrical goods.  If the electrical goods section is full to capacity, they will be left on the pavement.  This is not something that should happen all that often as crews should call up a back up vehicle which would then empty the compartment if they are aware that full capacity was being reached.  Crews however need to be fully aware that this is something that they should do and related to this, briefing sessions are to be organised shortly that will cover this subject amongst other things.  The crews who pick up the dry mixed recycling from the green bins will also be asked to pick up any small electricals that have been left behind by a glass and electrical crew that has gone before them. Secondly, there is the possibility that the electrical item could have been left behind because it was too large.  We have advised that examples of small electrical items are hair dryers, toasters and kettles; and that larger items (which we would not pick up at kerbside) are microwaves or anything bigger.  It would be useful if any instances of electricals being left at kerbside were reported to us as we deal with the issue as it arises.”  So – let me know if you have problems!

 

The Joppa Residents Association Annual General Meeting takes place on Sunday 20 March at 2pm at the King’s Manor Hotel. There is a nominal £1 membership fee and the Association is open to everyone living in the Joppa area.
 

That’s all for now

 

Best wishes

 

Maureen

 

 

 

Councillor Maureen Child | Labour Elected Member | Portobello/Craigmillar (Ward 17) | City of Edinburgh Council | City Chambers | High Street | Edinburgh | EH1 1YJ | Tel 0131 529 3268 | Mobile 07718 666 481| Twitter @MaureenChild1

 

p.s. My face-to-face Councillor Advice Sessions, or ‘Surgeries’, are usually every Monday at 5.30 pm in Castleview Community Centre, 76 Craigmillar Castle Avenue (Phone 661 4064) and then at 7 pm in Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue (Phone 529 5558).  Now also at Craigmillar Library, 101 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DT, 1st Wednesday of the month, drop-in session 5pm-5.30pm, thereafter by appointment only up until 7.30pm. Please phone me on Direct Line 0131 529 3268 or Mobile 07718 666 481, or email maureen.child@edinburgh.gov.uk to check availability, make an appointment or request a home visit.