Dear All

Just in case you missed it, the two place making events around Brunstane have been postponed. The reason given is that there is an opportunity to align more closely with the timing of the engagement exercise being planned by East Lothian Council, given there are developments proposed across the Council boundaries. Alternative dates for the place making community engagement events in the Brunstane – Newcraighall – Musselburgh area will be set in due course. This is what it will be all about when it eventually does happen: http://planningedinburgh.com/2016/03/07/brunstane-area-placemaking-exercise/

A reminder that Portobello Amnesty is have their book stall and coffee morning at Bellfield Church Hall from 10am to 12 noon on Saturday 19 March.  See you there!

Despite the best efforts of the Edinburgh heritage lobby and the combined local forces of Brighton and Rosefield Residents Association, Portobello Amenity Society and Portobello Heritage Trust who collected 800 signatures on a petition, the original decision of the Transport Committee of January still stands as the settled will of the Council to reconstruct Brighton Place properly but to finish it with a tarmac surface, rather than the historic setts. The £600,000 thus saved from the road and footways capital programme will be used for projects elsewhere in Edinburgh. 

Since October 2013, a small group of staff from the social care charity Carr Gomm’s community development team have been working with doctors to provide a new kind of support to residents in the Craigmillar area. Community Compass is funded by the Alliance and the Scottish Government. The project is designed to support people to connect with local services and help them overcome challenges they are facing, using an approach known as social prescribing.  Find out more here:  http://www.carrgomm.org/our-services/communities/communitycompass

Community engagement by Portobello Community Council has been rated as excellent by the Scottish Community Development Centre, “representing an outstanding standard of performance and exemplifying excellent practice”. Following a detailed analysis of community engagement activities, the SCDC found that Portobello Community Council was “performing to a standard which is the model of its type” and recommended that it be replicated by community councils and other statutory and voluntary sector organisations across Scotland.  The two case studies used were the Towerbank Primary catchment review and the consultation process for planning the Baileyfield site in Portobello. More here: https://www.portobellocc.org/pccpn/2016/03/14/portobello-community-council-rated-excellent-for-community-engagement-and-a-model-for-other-scottish-ccs-and-voluntary-sector-bodies/ and here:  http://www.communityscot.org.uk/resources/know-your-community/case-studies/portobello-community-council/

Craigmillar Boxing Club members, based at Sandy’s Community Centre, all did well at the Scottish Championships recently and came away with came away with one Scottish Champion and two silver medals among them. See them pictured here:  https://mobile.twitter.com/garyoung1/status/708582676337442816/photo/1

North East Edinburgh Carers Group (NEECAG) hold regular discussion groups on services and issues for older people and their carers in the community.  The next session is entitled  ‘Heat Heroes’ an energy talk and the speaker is Rebecca Bentley from Changeworks.  It’s on Tuesday 29 March 3 pm – 4.30pm in the Portobello Baptist Church Hall, Portobello High Street (Wheelchair accessible) Free refreshments are provided (contributions welcome!) Transport and expenses for older people and carers is available. Further Information From Anne Munro or Parveen Haider by Telephone: 0131 553 2559 or email:  pilmenyproject@btconnect.com

Spring is maybe the time to get more active, explore a few of Edinburgh’s walking and cycling routes. You can download city route maps at http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/activeedinburgh

Edina Hibs are offering a free Sunday Soccer School staring outdoor training for 4-7 year old boys and girls on Sunday 10 April at 9.30am at Jewel Park.  More here: https://mobile.twitter.com/EdinaHibsFC/status/710017209037361152/photo/1

There will soon be a £80 fine if you don’t ‘Bag and Bin it’ and let your dog foul public areas from April 1st. Here’s how you can help:  http://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/local-environmental-quality/clean-up-scotland/the-law/what-you-can-do/

LOOPs (Local Opportunities for Older People) phone line project are hosting one of their occasional free events for over 65s in the centre of Edinburgh.   Gin and Games will take place from 6-8pm on 31^st March  in the Virgin Money Lounge in St Andrews Square EH2 1AF. We will be playing traditional favourite games like Scrabble, bridge and chess and trying out electronic games on tablet devices. This event is completely free of charge and the venue has full disabled access. There can’t be games without gin… so naturally we will be enjoying (non-alcoholic) gin-based cocktails too.  Following the success of our last IT support evening, we will also be answering questions about using a tablet device.  For further information, or to book a place:  Phone: 0131 603 8311. Email: loops@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk

For those of you have noticed workmen digging about at Portobello Golf Course, Kenny George of Edinburgh Leisure tells me this is do with the new Portobello High School development which involves an access path at the East perimeter of the golf course.  They are in the process of relocating the 2^nd green – slightly – to accommodate the path.  The perimeter area is in the hands of the contractor for now and but will be handed back to the local parks and greenspaces team once the building is completed.  As you will know the opening date for the new school has been put back, largely because of difficulties getting agreement with Scottish Water to use a temporary connection, which they now say is available.  The winter weather also delayed the programme of works a little. We all very much hope it won’t be as late as January 2017 before we have our new Porty High school. Meanwhile, preparations are still in hand to celebrate the old building and welcome in former staff and pupils.

Best wishes

Maureen