Fun fair (was: please can anyone solve a mystery for me?)

Black Mamba · Post by **Black Mamba** » 05 Apr 2007, 22:31

Ooh I didn't like the waves atall

I finally plucked up the courage to get into the cold water and the b****y waves came on and out I'd get quick smart.

bouncie_kiwi · Post by **bouncie_kiwi** » 06 Apr 2007, 13:42

Possibly a rumour - but i have heard from various sources that someone was "stabbed" at the funfair on the first night?!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 06 Apr 2007, 14:13

The water was freezing. What about those huge heavy metal "things" you used to get for putting your clothes in? Could they have come up with anything less practical?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 06 Apr 2007, 16:48

bouncie_kiwi wrote:Possibly a rumour - but i have heard from various sources that someone was "stabbed" at the funfair on the first night?!

B_K, further back on this thread Marya said the community polis told her they'd not been informed of such an event.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 06 Apr 2007, 16:57

From EN today

It says that the police said that what's on here is exaggerated - although the article also does not report that it was the only the first night of the fair that provoked posts (not to say that just because there are no posts means nothing happened, of course!).

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 06 Apr 2007, 18:34

Notice they only picked the posts that backed up their *shock/horror* story of "gang warfare" in Porty.

Thing I've noticed recently (I am quite slow sometimes...) is that the world outside TP often seem to think that a single post on here is representative of all of TP, or even all of Porty. I know when I post I'm certainly not presuming to speak for everyone (know the rest of you haven't got my intellect, for a start

)....which is the whole point of having a forum!

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 06 Apr 2007, 19:09

Perhaps a disclaimer
These are not the views of the management?
and the management are not views of us?
Who is the management?

I'd have thought it was obvious that a forum such as this, which has made the point of being separate from any community council, website etc etc, has individuals who have many and often varied opinions. ( Never I hear you cry )
Rather like a good blether over a cuppa or down the pub.

I think the journos at the EN must troll through here occasionally to look for stories keeping an ear to the ground yada yada.

Just an individual thought.

Black Mamba · Post by **Black Mamba** » 06 Apr 2007, 19:13

SoupDragon wrote: I think the journos at the EN must troll through here occasionally to look for stories keeping an ear to the ground yada yada.
Just an individual thought.

I think you may well be right there Soupdragon.

Post by **wangi** » 06 Apr 2007, 20:31

Yes, reports of an alleged stabbing were banded around here... But then again that's what community forums are all about - the sharing of information... It cannot all be verified, but most of the time it is on the money. The EN and Scotsman's articles which have commenting enabled are no different (indeed, they are worse) and it's funny to see that the said article doesn't have commenting enabled.

L/

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 06 Apr 2007, 20:49

The stabbing story is still doing the rounds
Had it reported to me only half an hour ago by one of Clanger 4 pals,( pal in our house after getting hassled by some neds.)

So gossip and tittle tattle still go on

But where it happened varies according to who saw police car & ambulances where.

I think there may be more than one story in it all.

I've heard rumours that it wasn't at the fun fair but Regent St.

Didn't see anything round there myself just reporting gossip

anyone heard anything else?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 07 Apr 2007, 01:23

bearcub wrote: (know the rest of you haven't got my intellect, for a start )

I

defer

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 07 Apr 2007, 08:09

We all know that a lot of crime goes unreported. Rather than dismissing first-hand accounts of events as 'greatly exaggerated' it strikes me that the police could serve the public better by taking the witnesses seriously and engaging with the members of this forum to request further information.

There is also the fact that we are given very restricted and selective information about what is happening. Nowhere in the article have the police officially denied that a stabbing took place and all we know is that Marya was told in conversation that no such incident was reported. So did a group of up to 100 youths fight outside the Police Station? Was a van over-turned in Brighton Place? Or were these stories greatly exaggerated as well?

We are entitled to know the facts about what is happening in our community and it is the absence of factual information that leaves us with nothing other than rumour and gossip. If stories are exaggerated then it is entirely due to a failure of communication.

There is a lot more I would like to say but I am mindful of the fact that I have a mortgage to pay and that my employer, L&B Police would not take kindly to, what they may regard as, implied criticism.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 07 Apr 2007, 08:59

Now here's a really good example of what can be achieved when individual police officers take a pro-active approach and engage directly with the users of a community forum:

Police Cruise Liaison Forum

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 09 Apr 2007, 14:40

bearcub wrote:...the world outside TP often seem to think that a single post on here is representative of all of TP, or even all of Porty. I know when I post I'm certainly not presuming to speak for everyone (know the rest of you haven't got my intellect, for a start )....which is the whole point of having a forum!

Tut, tut BC. Surely you know by now that Talkportyers (the artists formerly known as Portobello Onliners) are gossipers, tittle tattlers, exaggerators and all round community poisoners - keep up man

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 09 Apr 2007, 14:47

Bob Jefferson wrote:Rather than dismissing first-hand accounts of events as 'greatly exaggerated' it strikes me that the police could serve the public better by taking the witnesses seriously and engaging with the members of this forum to request further information.

There is also the fact that we are given very restricted and selective information about what is happening. Nowhere in the article have the police officially denied that a stabbing took place and all we know is that Marya was told in conversation that no such incident was reported. So did a group of up to 100 youths fight outside the Police Station? Was a van over-turned in Brighton Place? Or were these stories greatly exaggerated as well?

I completely agree with you Bob. How would the Police know that these accounts were 'greatly exaggerated' if the Police Station was shut and there wasn't a Police Officer in sight? Did Rapunzell exaggerate the size of the hole the brick put through her window? To dismiss members of the public as gross exaggerators is quite insulting and would certainly put people off reporting such incidents for fear of being looked upon by the Police as making the whole thing up.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 10 Apr 2007, 19:25

From today's EN:

Final day for 'warfare' fair

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 04 Mar 2008, 15:04

Looks like it's back for another year:

Porty funfair set for return, despite fears over gang violence

Post by **wangi** » 04 Mar 2008, 15:05

I see this issue has popped up again, has been mentioned a few times in the last couple of weeks:
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinb ... 3839231.jp

Porty funfair set for return, despite fears over gang violence

By GEMMA FRASER
A TRAVELLING fair which caused an uproar when it came to Portobello last Easter looks set to return, despite almost 140 complaints from local residents.
Protesters say it brought "gang warfare" to their streets and claim to have witnessed fights involving up to 100 youths.

They have started a petition, and are hoping that it will help block the fair's operators M&D from returning to the former ScottishPower site over the Easter holidays this year.

...

But remember back to last year (you too Gemma) and wasn't it all just an over exaggeration by the locals...
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinb ... 3274297.jp

Porty is fair game for 'gang warfare'

By GEMMA FRASER
RESIDENTS have accused a travelling theme park in Portobello of bringing "gang warfare" to the seaside suburb.
People living near Planet Fun say they have seen fights involving up to 100 youths, vandalism and a number of assaults since the fair arrived last week.

Residents in flats opposite the former ScottishPower site where the theme park has been set up today accused some fair-goers of running riot and using their stairwell as a toilet.

...

I've closed off jimann's thread and moved this to Portobello Matters.

L/

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 04 Mar 2008, 15:21

The application will be considered by the Council's Licensing Sub Committee on 7 March 2008 sometime after 10.15 a.m. Both Stephen Hawkins and Maureen Child have expressed their opposition to the licence being granted and Maureen has agreed to represent residents of Baileyfield cottages at the meeting.

Post by **wangi** » 07 Mar 2008, 16:52

Maureen Child wrote:Dear All

The press reports and billboards said that it would be granted, but no!

Today, the Council turned down the licence application for a Funfair at Baileyfield (Scottish Power Site) this morning, following very articulate and impassioned pleas from local residents, with my support. The Easter funfair was fun for many people, but it made the near neighbours’ lives hell last year for two whole weeks and there were loads of complaints, which the Council kept on file.

The licence only got through last year because the Regulatory Committee never got to see it. Instead, the application was rubber stamped by Council officers, because there were no objections. That was because (as the applicant admitted) they made a mistake with the address – called it Seafield Road, not Baileyfield Road or Fishwives Causeway. They didn’t alert the near neighbours at all. By the time the heavy lorries and equipment turned up on their doorstep, and the posters were up, it was too late for anyone to stop it.

Officers had recommended that the Funfair to go ahead again this year, with some changes taking the noisiest and highest rides away from the houses. But the Regulatory Committee Councillors were not convinced this was the right place for a Funfair so close to residential property and unanimously refused it – as I am sure they would have done last time had they been given the opportunity!.

Maureen

Franck · Post by **Franck** » 07 Mar 2008, 16:56

Good news, and it's nothing to do with noise or fights.

Last time it was here I was standing next to a ride when one of the 'riders' couldnt hold down his lunch...he puked all over me and my son.

Walking home covered in some scrotes innards was not nice, unless you are my brother in law who thought it was the funniest thing ever.

the little bugger responsable didnt even say sorry

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 17 Mar 2008, 14:28

From today's EN:

End of the ride for funfair that turned into a nightmare

jimann · Post by **jimann** » 22 Mar 2008, 01:24

Oh What a shame - the "Fun" fair isnae coming after all. Sometimes the wee people actually get the final word - 'course it might have helped even more if the doubters of the trouble it brought last year would wake up and smell the coffee. A' talk, nae action.

A wee bit different from the action taken by the residents of Fishwives Causeway - well done to you all!

Let "them" get an inch, they'll take a mile - just remember what you're dealing with - perhaps my property will get through this spring without another insurance claim.

Of course I could try getting some support from the Porty Polis - aw naw, cannae, 'COS THEY'RE NEVER THERE!!!

G.R.U.Y.

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

Fun fair (was: please can anyone solve a mystery for me?)

2008

Porty's wee victory