Please find my latest report attached. I hope you find something of interest in it.
I have also attached a flier for a FREE Community Poetry Event in the SPACE building, Niddrie Mains Terrace. This is being organised locally in association with Edinburgh writer's group, Inky Fingers, to celebrate World Community Arts Day (WCAD). WCAD is is an international movement, started six years ago by artist Andrew Crummy. This year, the Craigmillar event is a week ahead of WCAD, because it's to be filmed, edited, and the result posted on the WCAD website, Craigmillar Archives Trust website and YouTube.Councillor’s Report
January/February 2011
Maureen Child, Labour Councillor for Portobello/Craigmillar
Row Porty Burns Ceilidh
The Portobello Community Centre was transformed with bunting and wall hangings, candles and pea lights for the local rowing club’s event. It looked like a sell-out. RowPorty are raising funds to restore an original Portobello ‘Jolly Boat’ which came back home to Portobello from storage in Broughty Ferry. This historic boat belonged to the previous club, which was based at the foot of Pittville Street. Although I avoid cold water, like the plague, I was almost persuaded to join such convivial company and take up rowing. But I guess that was the beer talking. I did enjoy the singing and our pretty chaotic strip the willow, though – and Findlay’s Portobello Haggis.
Newcraighall Developments
Those two highly controversial applications for planning permission in principle at Newcraighall East (10/03506/PPP) by the Dalrymple Trust and Newcraighall North (10/03449/PPP) by the Council’s own development company EDI, were finally granted. This was in spite of the strong opposition from Gilberstoun and Newcraighall residents, supported by all their elected representatives. In response to the concerns expressed, the Development Management Committee of Planning agreed to grant permission for a smaller number of houses, just 20% fewer. It is very sad that these former Green Belt sites will be lost to housing, but nothing will be built there before detailed planning applications come forward, with further opportunities for communities to have some say. But the principle of residential development has now been firmly set, despite all our very best efforts to stop that happening.
Holocaust Memorial Day at Portobello High School
The Council’s official Holocaust commemoration event, with the Lord Provost and guests, was held at Portobello this year with the pupils taking full part in orchestrating the ceremony, providing music and their own reflections. The Survivor’s Testimony from Czech citizen Anna Flachova was really inspiring. She more than ‘survived’ the concentration camps, aged 11 to 15; she turned the experience right around to defeat and totally reject the hatred and racism which the Nazi regime stood for. Now aged 82, and one of only four survivors of her group of thirty Jewish girls in ‘Room 28’, she concluded by saying she resolved to continue to improve her grasp of the English language, for which she apologised, but we heard her as almost word perfect! What a truly wonderful woman, and an example to us all.
Teenage Book Launch
I was very impressed with the work done by Portobello High School 13-14 year olds – in partnership with other talented pupils in the school - to write, publish, launch and market their own illustrated historical account of the slave trade. ‘Four Links in the Chain’ is now on the shelves in Blackwell’s children’s section and also for sale on Amazon, published by White Water. This excellent piece of work – and all the learning that came with it – was completed with the support of author Mary T Thomson and the school’s acting principal of history, Mamie Philp. The book is a good read, and I can recommend it. Go on, make it a sell out!
Local Projects Bus Trip
On Saturday 28 January, I joined local people on a bus trip to look at the local projects we had helped fund on housing land. These locally chosen projects aim to improve the environment in housing estates which are, or used to be, Council owned – at Niddrie Mains, Craigmillar Castle Avenue, Niddrie House, Niddrie Marischal, Niddrie Mill, Magdalene, Bingham, Newcraighall and Coillesdene sheltered housing. As a group of local representatives, supported by the Community Neighbourhood Alliance, we saw what had been achieved already across the local area and what might be achieved next year. Find out more by looking at the website http://www.edinburghnp.org.uk/media/191 ... n_2012.pdf
Portobello Toddlers’ Hut Consultation
The Toddlers’ Hut is just off the Promenade, largely hidden away from view behind a tall wall, to the north of Towerbank Primary School and next to the Tower. It is the oldest independent under-5s playgroup in the UK and has a very proud history. The Toddler’s Hut parents and staff are intending to come forward for an eco-friendly rebuilding on the site with views out to the sea. Their idea is that the new building will also be available for the wider Portobello community as well as providing an excellent environment for small children. The architects, Konishi Gaffney (also Toddlers’ Hut parents) will present their design proposals at 2pm and would like your ideas and thoughts, so they can take matters further forward. The presentation is on Saturday 4 February in Portobello Library. This is a drop-in consultation which lasts from 1pm to 4.30pm. So if you miss the presentation at 2pm, you can still see the proposals and give your views.
Jewel Road Safety
Local residents who live in North Greens, Parrotshot, Corbiewynd, Corbieshot and Vexhim Park have asked me to try and have something done about the speed of bus and local traffic on the Jewel and the drivers who illegally rat run - at speed - through to Asda and on to the bypass. This tends to happen most at peak periods. As one Corbieshot resident put it: ”If I have to do a mile more to get my car to Asda or the bypass, then why shouldn’t everybody else?” There used to be a gate there, which only buses could operate, but this tended to break down, or get vandalised, and is no longer maintained. I have put a Motion down to full Council this month asking for a report to the Transport Committee on what more can be done to make the Jewel a lot safer. I have also written to the bus companies to impress upon their drivers that they need to curb their speed or there will be more accidents.
Forestry Commission Grant for Local Woodlands
An application to Forestry Commission Scotland for a Woodlands ‘In and Around Towns’ grant has been successful. This means there will be tree management and perhaps new paths through the woodland at Hunters Hall Park, Jewel Park and Magdalene Glen. The work started at Hunter’s Hall and I have more information and maps of exactly what is going to happen to send you, if you are interested.
Threat to Haystacks Nursery Removed
Local mums got in touch with their Councillors and their MP, Sheila Gilmore when they got letters saying the local nursery would close in April. In the last year, the decisions on local projects like this have been taken away from the local Neighbourhood Partnership to Council officers with a different, citywide perspective. This childcare project was in imminent danger of losing its annual grant, making it impossible to continue running the local nursery on which local working parents depend. Working together with the landlord (Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association) parents politicians and local press, I made sure that assurances were given that the Council Budget would not include this proposed saving, that the nursery can continue and parents’ minds were put at rest – for another year, at least.
The event will be a mix of various styles of poetry opening at 7.30pm with Donald Smith of the Scottish Storytelling Centre and Andrew Crummy, originator of World Community Arts Day. Poets will be coming from all over the country including a clutch from our talented Craigmillar Writers Group, who grabbed the public imagination last year with poetry for Armistice Day. Craigmillar Community Makar, Diane Heron is writing a special poem to mark this first-time Event. There will be tea, coffee with biscuits and/or cakes in the John Maxwell Gallery in the interval. Phone Johnni on 258 4328 or Rose on 629 5016 for more information and to make sure there's space for you!
The festive season is well past now, but there are still a few dead trees lying about. If your 'real' Christmas tree is till languishing, and you need rid of it from the kerbside, you can on the next garden waste collection day. Trees should be cut if they are more than five feet in length and be clear of all decorations. You may of course take the tree to the nearest Community Recycling Centre.
PEDAL - Portobello Transition Town have asked me to publicise Portobello Market:
"Saturday 4th February is Portobello Market day! Come along to find all your regular stalls selling mouth-watering locally-produced and seasonal food, and local and upcycled crafts.
Where: Brighton Park, Brighton Place, Portobello, Edinburgh, EH15 1LJ
When: 9.30am — 1.30pm
A full list of stallholders for 4th February is available here."
That's all for now! Do let me know if you need an update or clarification.
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 |