Dear All
The local police are cracking down on motorcycle crime and have appealed for any information on this. There has been a 'spike' recently in the amount of crime committed involving young people on stolen motorcycles. This has included robbing people of their bikes and travelling at dangerously excessive speeds around the streets. The police are taking this issue extremely seriously and are progressing plans to tackle it effectively There has already been one arrest. Any information would be helpful. If you have any information or concerns, do call the police Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0131 311 3131 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. There is a 'Bike Menace' leaflet also available on the Crimestoppers website on http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org or I can send you either a scanned or hard copy. Local Police Inspector Cammy Chapman has said to us "If any of your constituents raise any such concerns, have witnessed, have any information concerning incidents, do not hesitate to let me know and I will pass the information to the enquiry team".
On a calmer note, Portobello Community Council (PCC) are asking people to take part in a simple survey of your views which is on their website and takes just a couple of minutes to fill in. Here's the link: go to http://www.portobellocc.org and press the 'Survey' button you'll find there. You could win a £50 prize, just by filling it in and sending. Many people did this questionnaire on paper at the hugely successful Portobello Village Fair on Sunday. If you didn't get a chance there, you haven't missed out. Hard copies of the survey are also in Portobello Library in the display area.
Portobello Community Council (PCC) is having a presentation from Council officers about the vexed question of Cycling on the Promenade at its next meeting Monday 26 September at 7.30pm in Portobello Baptist Church Hall (entrance to the west of the Portobello Bar). This is a public meeting and all those interested are welcome. If you can't come, you can still make your views known to PCC through the web-link above. Ultimately, it is a City of Edinburgh Council decision about how to manage the Promenade, as part of the Core Path Network, but this PCC presentation and Q&A is part of their consultation process with people who use the Promenade and live in Portobello.
The next meeting of the Portobello/Craigmillar Neighbourhood Partnership is in The White House, 70 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4BG at 6.30pm. The Agenda is attached. The rest of the papers amount to more than 4MB, but if you DO want any of them, please do let me know and I'll send them on. There is one item on arrangements for dealing with Winter Weather and another on management of traffic and parking in Portobello from Bath Street to Bellfield Street. There are opportunities to ask questions and make points to the Neighbourhood Management Team, Councillors and their partners.
'Car Free Day' in Portobello is on Saturday 24 September. At 2pm, people will gather at the 'cake stand' at the foot of Marlborough Street to cycle to the site of the proposed Portobello/Leith community wind turbine at Seafield. Children are welcome and families are invited to dress up the bikes for the occasion Canoes, rowing and sailing boat are also welcome. Portobello's wind turbine project came 4th out of 1000, across the UK, for EnegyShare funding at the first stage of bidding. PEDAL- Transition Town have been invited to submit a full funding bid.
Just to forewarn you - notice is about to go out about carriageway works which will start on 2 October to rebuild and resurface part of Portobello High Street, in three phases, lasting 5-6 weeks and involving some night working and disruptive traffic management. Watch this space!
I have been asked by the Cyrenians 'Leaning and Work' project to tell you about an event they are holding in Portobello Library. I have a flier, but it's big - 3MB -so I'll spare you that unless you ask me for it. The details are: Learning & Work are holding an employability event in Portobello Library on Thursday 15 September, 12 – 3pm. It will be targeted at all ages (16+). Organisations will be based on the ground floor to chat with people and Learning & Work will run ‘information sessions’ upstairs linked to upcoming employers-led training opportunities: Retail linked to Fort Kinnaird ; Care linked to Four Seasons, Carr Gomm, Homestead and Construction linked to Lovells, Harts, Grahams. They will also provide information on Learning & Work’s employability workshops on * STEPS /confidence & self esteem, interview skills, CV building, online job-searching, etc. KDS are doing a session on short-focused training programmes – linked to ILA funding.Chamber of Commerce / Business Incubator are doing a self-employment session covering: Enterprise Allowance Scheme (JCP) and Princes Trust Enterprise (under 25s). Other providers will also be attending Skills Development Scotland, Jobcentre Plus, Working for Families, Jewel & Esk College, and Community Learning & Development. The Learning & Work project can only work with people who live in EH16 4 and EH15, but other providers will be there on the day, who can work with anyone, wherever they live.
Fun Fiddle are starting new courses soon and term which begins on Thursday 22 September at St James Church, Portobello and would very much appreciate it if you could spread the word to anyone you know who might be interested in joining us or knowing about what they do.
Classes Running are; BEGINNERS at 6.30pm; IMPROVERS classes at 10am and 6.30 pm; INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED at 11.30am; ADVANCED AT 8pm
They also hope to start a class for ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS in Pathhead on a MONDAY EVENING at 8pm, starting on September 26th but this will depend on numbers. Please feel free to get in touch if you require further information (Details on http://www.funfiddle.co.uk )
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 |
Maureen Child: Report & Updates September 2011
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Maureen Child: Update 17/09/2011
Dear All
There is a Report to full Council on Thursday 22 September about the New Portobello High School. Click on Agenda Item 8.1 at the link below to get a read of the paper which will be considered by Councillors at that meeting.
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/meetings/me ... gh_council
As you may well know by now, the contract to build the school cannot be signed off yet, though the tender process is complete. Portobello Park Action Group (PPAG) who oppose the use of this site for the new school, are seeking to test the matter in the Court of Session and have lodged a Petition for Judicial Review which is due to be heard on Friday 9 December. PPAG claim that the Common Good designation of the Park precludes its use for building the new school and associated playing fields. The Council is sure that its legal advice from their Counsel is sound and that the school can be built. Until the Court has deliberated, the project is stalled. The new school was on track to open ahead of schedule in August 2013. That expected opening date has now been put back again to the original opening date of January 2014.
There have been letters and further coverage in the Evening News about this yesterday and the News is conducting one of it's on-line interactive surveys asking the question:
"Do you agree with the actions of the Portobello Park Action Group or is it in the wrong?"
You can email your views on this to letters_en@edinburghnews.com or write to Evening News, 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AS
I also attach a poster advertising consultation sessions for people to give their views on how some £150,000 of project money should be spent on open space when (?) the new school is built on Portobello Park. There are morning, afternoon and evening sessions planned for next week . You can go to any of these sessions, not just the one nearest to you. Or you can print out the attached questionnaire, fill it in by hand and send off snail mail to Faye Gray, Partnership Business Manager, City of Edinburgh Council, East Neighbourhood Team, 86 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DT. Or save it on your computer, fill in, and email it to faye.gray@edinburgh.gov.uk. I have asked if there was an interactive copy, but there isn't.
Thank you very much indeed for all the good information about illegally driven motor bikes a few of you passed through me last week to Inspector Chapman. As a consequence of the information the local police now have, one arrest has been made so far and one young person has been taken into care. Four more warrants are out for people's arrest. It is only a handful of people who do this and they need to be stopped. The Police Superintendent at their Bilston Glen call-centre is making sure that those staffing the phones there are very well aware of what the local police priorities are and will be more responsive to you from now on. Discouraging dangerous, illegal motor bike riding is certainly one of our local priorities. Your calls will be very important and effective in getting on top of this problem, and keeping on top of it.
Advance notice - again - that Craigmillar Police Station will be taking part in this year's Edinburgh Open Doors Day, not this weekend, but next. The station open 11am - 4pm on Sunday 25 September at 161 Duddingston Road West, Edinburgh, EH16 4UY. This will be a fun look behind the scenes, including the cells, and a chance to enjoy displays by some of the specialist services (horses, dogs, traffic etc.) as well as displays from other emergency services, partner agencies and organisations who all assist in making the area a safer place to live and work. Kids In The Street (KITS) will be there. KITS is based in the Greater Craigmillar area providing a portable sports court young people are encouraged to take part in a variety of sporting activities. Come along to try and beat the goalie, or have your fingerprints taken.
Have a good weekend!
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 |
There is a Report to full Council on Thursday 22 September about the New Portobello High School. Click on Agenda Item 8.1 at the link below to get a read of the paper which will be considered by Councillors at that meeting.
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/meetings/me ... gh_council
As you may well know by now, the contract to build the school cannot be signed off yet, though the tender process is complete. Portobello Park Action Group (PPAG) who oppose the use of this site for the new school, are seeking to test the matter in the Court of Session and have lodged a Petition for Judicial Review which is due to be heard on Friday 9 December. PPAG claim that the Common Good designation of the Park precludes its use for building the new school and associated playing fields. The Council is sure that its legal advice from their Counsel is sound and that the school can be built. Until the Court has deliberated, the project is stalled. The new school was on track to open ahead of schedule in August 2013. That expected opening date has now been put back again to the original opening date of January 2014.
There have been letters and further coverage in the Evening News about this yesterday and the News is conducting one of it's on-line interactive surveys asking the question:
"Do you agree with the actions of the Portobello Park Action Group or is it in the wrong?"
You can email your views on this to letters_en@edinburghnews.com or write to Evening News, 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AS
I also attach a poster advertising consultation sessions for people to give their views on how some £150,000 of project money should be spent on open space when (?) the new school is built on Portobello Park. There are morning, afternoon and evening sessions planned for next week . You can go to any of these sessions, not just the one nearest to you. Or you can print out the attached questionnaire, fill it in by hand and send off snail mail to Faye Gray, Partnership Business Manager, City of Edinburgh Council, East Neighbourhood Team, 86 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DT. Or save it on your computer, fill in, and email it to faye.gray@edinburgh.gov.uk. I have asked if there was an interactive copy, but there isn't.
Thank you very much indeed for all the good information about illegally driven motor bikes a few of you passed through me last week to Inspector Chapman. As a consequence of the information the local police now have, one arrest has been made so far and one young person has been taken into care. Four more warrants are out for people's arrest. It is only a handful of people who do this and they need to be stopped. The Police Superintendent at their Bilston Glen call-centre is making sure that those staffing the phones there are very well aware of what the local police priorities are and will be more responsive to you from now on. Discouraging dangerous, illegal motor bike riding is certainly one of our local priorities. Your calls will be very important and effective in getting on top of this problem, and keeping on top of it.
Advance notice - again - that Craigmillar Police Station will be taking part in this year's Edinburgh Open Doors Day, not this weekend, but next. The station open 11am - 4pm on Sunday 25 September at 161 Duddingston Road West, Edinburgh, EH16 4UY. This will be a fun look behind the scenes, including the cells, and a chance to enjoy displays by some of the specialist services (horses, dogs, traffic etc.) as well as displays from other emergency services, partner agencies and organisations who all assist in making the area a safer place to live and work. Kids In The Street (KITS) will be there. KITS is based in the Greater Craigmillar area providing a portable sports court young people are encouraged to take part in a variety of sporting activities. Come along to try and beat the goalie, or have your fingerprints taken.
Have a good weekend!
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 |
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Re: Maureen Child: Report & Updates August 2011
Dear All
As I flagged up in a recent update,
resurfacing works are starting on Portobello High Street. Hard copy letters are being delivered to households in streets near the works . The section from Figgate Street to Westbank Street is the part to be renewed during these six weeks of works. I felt others further afield should also know what's planned and when, so have arranged to have a link to the leaflet on the Neighbourhood Partnership website, rather than totally clog you inbox with an electronic copy (although I have one, so if you need it, let me know).
Please find the link to the letter here: http://www.edinburghnp.org.uk/media/178 ... etter.pdf
The Neighbourhood Partnership page referring to the letter : http://www.edinburghnp.org.uk/neighbour ... igmillar/
- where you might find other things of interest.
The Cockburn Association's Doors Open Day(s) are happening this weekend and local 'open doors' are: Artspace, The White House, Craigmillar Police Station, Wauchope Mausoleum, Portobello Swim Centre and St Mark's Episcopal Church. Each is open either on just one day (Saturday or Sunday) or on both days. The brochure is available in Portobello or Craigmillar Libraries and online at http://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/d ... p?page=119
On Saturday, there is the
Portobello 'Car Free Day' Orchard celebration at Dingle the Donkey's 's field off Brunstane Road South (beyond the entrance to Brunstane Station and down on the left) and there is also a bike ride from the 'cake stand' at the foot of Marlborough Street, mustering at 2, and travelling westwards in a procession of 'dressed' bikes where there will be some storytelling for the kids. Please see attached poster for more details.
On Sunday, there is the locally organised Portobello Autumn Aquathon with up to 300 people swimming in competitively in the sea (brrr!!) and in Portobello Swim Centre. These hardy, fit people are also running 5km on on the Promenade, out to the Eastfield Bus Terminus and back. The event starts at 9am and finishes around mid-day with a prize-giving.
In Monday evening at 7.30pm at the Baptist Church Hall, 185 Portobello High Street, EH15 1EU, Portobello Community Council will be hearing a presentation and discussing the vexed question of
Cycling on the Portobello Promenade with Phil Noble and Andy Matheson from the City of Edinburgh Council. All welcome!
Have a good weekend!
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 |
As I flagged up in a recent update,
resurfacing works are starting on Portobello High Street. Hard copy letters are being delivered to households in streets near the works . The section from Figgate Street to Westbank Street is the part to be renewed during these six weeks of works. I felt others further afield should also know what's planned and when, so have arranged to have a link to the leaflet on the Neighbourhood Partnership website, rather than totally clog you inbox with an electronic copy (although I have one, so if you need it, let me know).
Please find the link to the letter here: http://www.edinburghnp.org.uk/media/178 ... etter.pdf
The Neighbourhood Partnership page referring to the letter : http://www.edinburghnp.org.uk/neighbour ... igmillar/
- where you might find other things of interest.
The Cockburn Association's Doors Open Day(s) are happening this weekend and local 'open doors' are: Artspace, The White House, Craigmillar Police Station, Wauchope Mausoleum, Portobello Swim Centre and St Mark's Episcopal Church. Each is open either on just one day (Saturday or Sunday) or on both days. The brochure is available in Portobello or Craigmillar Libraries and online at http://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/d ... p?page=119
On Saturday, there is the
Portobello 'Car Free Day' Orchard celebration at Dingle the Donkey's 's field off Brunstane Road South (beyond the entrance to Brunstane Station and down on the left) and there is also a bike ride from the 'cake stand' at the foot of Marlborough Street, mustering at 2, and travelling westwards in a procession of 'dressed' bikes where there will be some storytelling for the kids. Please see attached poster for more details.
On Sunday, there is the locally organised Portobello Autumn Aquathon with up to 300 people swimming in competitively in the sea (brrr!!) and in Portobello Swim Centre. These hardy, fit people are also running 5km on on the Promenade, out to the Eastfield Bus Terminus and back. The event starts at 9am and finishes around mid-day with a prize-giving.
In Monday evening at 7.30pm at the Baptist Church Hall, 185 Portobello High Street, EH15 1EU, Portobello Community Council will be hearing a presentation and discussing the vexed question of
Cycling on the Portobello Promenade with Phil Noble and Andy Matheson from the City of Edinburgh Council. All welcome!
Have a good weekend!
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 |
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Maureen Child: Report September 2011
Der all
Please find my report attached. It's a slightly amended version of the one I tabled at last night's Portobello Community Council (PCC) Meeting. It's updated to take account of decisions made earlier this morning at the Transport Infrastructure and Environment Committee about Brunstane Drive parking and proposals for a bus to serve Seafield Crematorium and Fort Kinnaird.
Last night, the PCC had an hour's discussion about cycling on the Promenade which was very useful, well informed and constructive, with about 50 people present. A wider consultation, including schools and others will take place before signage is finally drafted. It was clear already that the Council officers had taken on board that we wanted to ensure that pedestrians would clearly have priority at all times (even if they behave erratically) and that responsible cycling at sensible speeds might then be tolerated on the Promenade as a shared public space.
Sheila Gilmore MP's is having a charity coffee morning this Friday in her office in Craigmillar at 84 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DT (0131 661 7522). Sheila's assistant, David Raines says:
"Sheilas Macmillan Coffee Morning is this Friday, 30 September, between 10am and 1pm. As part of a series of events across the UK, Sheila and her office team will welcome local residents as well as staff from local shops and offices, to enjoy a cup of coffee and a slice of *homemade* cake for £2. All proceeds will be going to Macmillan Cancer Support to support the excellent work to help those suffering from cancer, as well as supporting the families of sufferers. We will also be raffling £25 of Marks and Spencer vouchers! If you are free, please come along and join the fundraising on the day. Please send on this invitation to anyone on your contact list who will also be interested, and bring along anyone else that needs a slice of cake for a Friday treat!"
Thanks to a local resident for sending me this link to another cancer charity fundraiser with a local connection : a summer song and video filmed and recorded on Portobello Beach. It made me laugh at 7.30am on a weekday - so it MUST be good! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h01SVgW6lqI
Finally, St Martins Church, Magdalene Drive is having their Annual Autumn Fair on Saturday 29 October from 10.30-12.30.
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 |
http://www.porty.org.uk
http://www.craigmillarcc.btck.co.uk
http://www.portobellocc.org
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) . Please phone me on 529 3268, or email, to check availability or to make an appointment for another time and place.
Please find my report attached. It's a slightly amended version of the one I tabled at last night's Portobello Community Council (PCC) Meeting. It's updated to take account of decisions made earlier this morning at the Transport Infrastructure and Environment Committee about Brunstane Drive parking and proposals for a bus to serve Seafield Crematorium and Fort Kinnaird.
Last night, the PCC had an hour's discussion about cycling on the Promenade which was very useful, well informed and constructive, with about 50 people present. A wider consultation, including schools and others will take place before signage is finally drafted. It was clear already that the Council officers had taken on board that we wanted to ensure that pedestrians would clearly have priority at all times (even if they behave erratically) and that responsible cycling at sensible speeds might then be tolerated on the Promenade as a shared public space.
Sheila Gilmore MP's is having a charity coffee morning this Friday in her office in Craigmillar at 84 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DT (0131 661 7522). Sheila's assistant, David Raines says:
"Sheilas Macmillan Coffee Morning is this Friday, 30 September, between 10am and 1pm. As part of a series of events across the UK, Sheila and her office team will welcome local residents as well as staff from local shops and offices, to enjoy a cup of coffee and a slice of *homemade* cake for £2. All proceeds will be going to Macmillan Cancer Support to support the excellent work to help those suffering from cancer, as well as supporting the families of sufferers. We will also be raffling £25 of Marks and Spencer vouchers! If you are free, please come along and join the fundraising on the day. Please send on this invitation to anyone on your contact list who will also be interested, and bring along anyone else that needs a slice of cake for a Friday treat!"
Thanks to a local resident for sending me this link to another cancer charity fundraiser with a local connection : a summer song and video filmed and recorded on Portobello Beach. It made me laugh at 7.30am on a weekday - so it MUST be good! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h01SVgW6lqI
Finally, St Martins Church, Magdalene Drive is having their Annual Autumn Fair on Saturday 29 October from 10.30-12.30.
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 |
http://www.porty.org.uk
http://www.craigmillarcc.btck.co.uk
http://www.portobellocc.org
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) . Please phone me on 529 3268, or email, to check availability or to make an appointment for another time and place.
Councillor’s Report
September 2011
Maureen Child, Labour Councillor for Portobello/Craigmillar
The White House’s Future
The Council’s regeneration company, PARC - as owners of a restored listed building at 70 Niddrie Mains Road - have agreed to let the property to the Community Alliance Trust in Craigmillar. This is another huge success for enterprising local people, sitting alongside their Green House Project at No 64 Niddrie Mains Road. The Trust are in the process of putting together a business plan for the various uses in the building, but are likely to include a café, meeting spaces and a special place for social occasions, like christenings, wedding receptions and funeral teas. Find out more on their website at http://www.communityalliancetrust.org.uk
The Green House Advice Shop
This is a Craigmillar ‘Transition Town’ project, a bit like Portobello’s PEDAL, whereby the Community Alliance Trust aims to help people save money while helping protect the environment. The project workers advise on how to shrink our heating bills, get access to free energy-saving gadgets, save cash by lift-sharing, get fitter through walking and cycling, find out about growing our own fruit and vegetables and share recipes to help reduce food waste. The Green House is open in the mornings on Monday through to Thursday and on the last Saturday of every month, all between 9am and 1pm. Just drop in or phone on 0131 656 9163 or 07874 678 052.
Portobello British Legion
The site of the Portobello British Legion Club, Baileyfield Road has been sold, conditional on planning consent, to McCarthy and Stone to build the kind of retirement flats in which they specialise. The developers have now given public notice of their intention to develop the site, and apply for planning permission, which includes demolition of the existing building. The Portobello British Legion Branch are still meeting regularly in the Beach Lane Social Club and are hoping to be able to use the proceeds of the sale to help provide themselves with other suitable premises. The club had been making substantial losses over the previous seven years, ran down reserves held in Trust and – very sadly - had to close. As one of the Trustees, I will not be taking part in any planning decision on this matter. And, since the site is just outside my Ward, I will not be able to speak at Committee either.
Christians Path Nearly Finished
This new local – and long awaited - walking and cycling pathway is nearly complete. There was a difficulty with loose stones which were being flung over the wall, but I hope this has now been resolved by SUSTRANS by covering over the stones, which formed the drainage system for the path. I have also ensured that litter bins are placed either end of the path, after this was pointed out. At the same time, some unsightly graffiti on the retaining wall at the Brighton Place end was removed.
Cycling on Eastfield Pavement
I have been visiting residents in Seaview Terrace and Eastfield recently with our MP, Sheila Gilmore and picking up things that concern them. One worry is that some commuting cyclists continue to use the pavement and speed past people’s gates putting residents and visitors in fear of their lives – very much as they do on the Promenade. Despite the fact there are now clear ‘no cycling on the footway’ signs there, some cyclists seem totally oblivious to them. I have had discussions with Council officers about how we could improve the situation, through better signage and policing in the mean time, but ultimately – I hope - a dedicated on-road cycleway. This must not interfere with on-street parking on Eastfield since most residents have nowhere else to park but in the road in front.
Crime Reporting
Thank you for all the information fed to the police reporting system, so far, about illegally driven motor bikes. We do all need to keep on top of crime and anti-social behaviour to make sure we get, and keep, the upper hand on wrong-doing of all kinds – whether it be noise nuisance, drug-dealing – or whatever . Call in with a good description of the type of nuisance, date, time and place. If you don’t know the person doing the bad deed, all the authorities may need is a fair description of the colour of the clothes, for example. Any distinguishing feature at all will help. Phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous, or the local police later on 311 3131, or 999 if the incident is in the midst of happening. Even if they can’t come right away, the report makes a real difference.
Castle Credit Union
Castle Credit Union is actively recruiting new members to join. By joining this coming week, members may benefit from a small loan at Christmas to enable them to spread the load of that expensive time of the year, or simply to help them save up in a ‘piggy bank’ kind of Christmas account. Call in at the Hays Business Centre Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12 or on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1pm to 4.30pm or call on 0131 258 9738 for more information. Elected Members, from across the political spectrum, have joined up – Councillor Stephen Hawkins, Kenny MacAskill MSP and Sheila Gilmore MP are all CCU members. I’m working on the others!
Brunstane Drive Parking
At last, Council’s Transport Committee agreed to putting down double yellow lines in Brunstane Drive to prevent student and staff parking there totally irresponsibly. We had hoped this would be sorted and in place by the time the autumn Jewel College term arrived. I was appalled that it wasn’t before Committee in August, as I had been promised. I have been assured that these will be in place ASAP now the decision is taken. Usually it takes 6-8 weeks, but hopefully it’ll happen a lot sooner!
No 12 Bus – Seafield and Fort Kinnaird
On the same Committee agenda was the possibility of the extension of the No 12 Lothian Bus to both Fort Kinnaird and to Seafield Crematorium to replace those which have been sorely missed, particularly by elderly residents. These services could not be provided commercially and would need to be subsidised by the Council for the foreseeable future, at an annual cost to the public purse. The bus service would be an hourly service between Seafield and Portobello, Monday to Saturday costing £60,000 every year. The extension of the No. 12, once an hour, to serve Fort Kinnaird via Portobello and Brunstane would cost a further £75,000 a year. The Council ‘s transport officers will have further discussions with the bus companies to see how this might be delivered within the financial constraints of the Council.
Portobello Book Festival 7- 9 October
This is a weekend of free events, organised by a local Committee with a large number of things to go to, for the whole family and all tastes. A full programme and tickets are now available from Portobello Library - and I hope they haven’t all gone by the time I get to them!
My Contact Details: Councillor Maureen Child, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ; phone number 529 3268; e mail maureen.child@edinburgh.gov.uk