Proposed waste depot in Portobello

Sceptic · Post by **Sceptic** » 17 Oct 2009, 23:09

Heard today that PONGS [admin: edited] hired the Old Parish Halls for a sale, then refused to pay for the hire. Can you believe them after this? would they refuse to pay their QCs etc? No!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 17 Oct 2009, 23:44

Sceptic wrote:Heard today that PONGS hired the Old Parish Halls for a sale, then refused to pay for the hire. !

Load of rubbish Sceptic. Away and troll somewhere else.

Sceptic · Post by **Sceptic** » 18 Oct 2009, 08:58

Not rubbish, they refused to pay their dues! £110

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 26 Oct 2009, 22:10

And? Either the bill has been settled or it hasn't. If Sceptic's allegation is unfounded then it should be withdrawn and an apology offered. But why make such an allegation? Can someone from PONGS clear this up please?

Did PONGS refuse to pay the church for the hire of the hall? Yes or no. If they did refuse to pay, then why?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 28 Oct 2009, 20:11

Payment delays are not exactly uncommon and there may be no refusal to pay. It could just be a mix up in the accounts department? Perhaps PONGS got the invoice and passed it over to PCATS for payment and the invoice is till lying around somewhere? Must be hard to keep track of who does what with the funds.

On the other hand maybe PONGS are refusing to pay, deeming that the £110 would be best spent on their campaign? If no one objects then I guess they can do what they want.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 28 Oct 2009, 20:35

From the latest CC minutes, now available online:

Diana Cairns gave an update on PONGS fundraising. There had been no objections, following the article in the Portobello Reporter, to the suggestion for PCATS to donate some of its residual funds to the campaign PLI funds.

Sceptic · Post by **Sceptic** » 30 Oct 2009, 10:39

Aint the silence deafening? PONGS are soooo upset it's in the open!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 30 Oct 2009, 19:32

I wouldn't hold your breath for a response. Not everyone values the concept of open discussion. I would imagine that a Level 4 D-Notice was applied almost immediately.

Sceptic · Post by **Sceptic** » 30 Oct 2009, 20:53

Javohl, mein Untergruppenfuhrer!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 31 Oct 2009, 13:34

Sceptic wrote:Aint the silence deafening? PONGS are soooo upset it's in the open!

Yeah its caused ructions from what I'm led to believe. I've also heard that certain acivists at the core of PONGS want to have any discussion about the group and the campaign removed from Talkporty. It reminds me of the group that tried to silence POL in the not too distant past. Might even be some of the same people, I really don't know.

I'm going to steer clear of the Nazi war references, although I am reminded of Clive Dunn.

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 31 Oct 2009, 16:43

Will we have to talk in code?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 31 Oct 2009, 19:33

Might be best.

Strikes me that SCEPTIC is a newbie and may be a "plant" that is purely out to cause trouble for PONGS, try to diminish their campaign. However, the arguments and allegations "he" has put forward so far, appear to be true and remain unchallenged by PONGS.

If Sceptics' objective is to diminsh the campaign- he appaears to be succeeding.

Sceptic · Post by **Sceptic** » 31 Oct 2009, 21:25

Not so much Dad's Army, to quote Corporal Jones, "they don't like it up 'em" as PONGS are not the Messiah, they're very naughty boys.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 31 Oct 2009, 22:36

Porty wrote:Strikes me that SCEPTIC is a newbie and may be a "plant" that is purely out to cause trouble for PONGS

Could be, but frankly I don't think they need help in that department. The story is all round town and it's a PR disaster for the campaign. Let's not forget that the Old Parish Church is in dire need itself of funds. Presumably, the organisers of the event knew in advance what the fee was for the hire of the hall. Isn't it normal procedure to pay up front? My understanding is that they had already been offered a discount on the normal rate but offered to pay only a fraction of the bill.

A lot of local people have contributed their time and money to this campaign and must be very unhappy right now. They deserve an explanation.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 31 Oct 2009, 22:51

Whether it is up them or not-They don't like any challenge whatsoever.

It is a consistent modus operandi for the so called "action groups" here in Portobello: they spout totally inaccurate sound bites.

When challenged- they never choose to engage in a factual debate. Their weapon of choice is to go behind the scenes and seek to throttle any views that happen to disgree with them.

I'm sure that they lobby Talkporty to censor debate, they have the Porty Reporter in their thrall and they believe that they have rested controll of the commuinity council.

I genuinley believe a very few are permeating our community like a cancer. The good news is it is getting less and less virulent., as ordinary people become aware of their duplicity.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 31 Oct 2009, 23:32

It is difficult to get a real handle on whats going on.

Marya says the St Philips bill has been paid. I have total faith in Marya. Sceptic says iit wasn't and maybe hasn't been paid.

If PONGS have paid, there ought to be a receipt - wouldn't do any harm to publish the recieipt and lay the ugly speculation to rest. Can you oblige Marya?

Sceptic · Post by **Sceptic** » 01 Nov 2009, 00:34

St Philips may well have been paid, the Old Parish have not.

Yes, Bob, the price was known before the event, and a discount of about one third was given, but this was not enough.

This was only said after the event, after they had enjoyed the fruits of the hire, not before.

Are they doing this in our name? No, it is in their own interests as NIMBYs, let them deny it, if they dare.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 01 Nov 2009, 11:06

Quite simply, they will have to pay up (if they haven't already) and in full. If they stiff the Old Parish Church then no other church in Portobello will be prepared to hire PONGS a hall - at least not without cash upfront. It's about damage limitation now.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 01 Nov 2009, 14:35

Porty wrote:It is difficult to get a real handle on whats going on.

Marya says the St Philips bill has been paid. I have total faith in Marya. Sceptic says iit wasn't and maybe hasn't been paid.

If PONGS have paid, there ought to be a receipt - wouldn't do any harm to publish the recieipt and lay the ugly speculation to rest. Can you oblige Marya?

Oops I meant the Old Parish.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 01 Nov 2009, 22:34

Sceptic wrote:Not rubbish, they refused to pay their dues! £110

I have been loathe to give any sort of credence to Sceptic's malicious postings by replying, but now feel it is important to allay any unnecessary fears, that may have been generated by his/her false allegation.

PONGS have not 'refused' to pay the bill for the rental of Old Parish Hall, though, yes, the bill remains unpaid at the moment.

The reason for this is, simply, that the invoice amount is to be decided at the next meeting of the congregation board of Old Parish Church. As soon as the invoice is issued, PONGS will be delighted to settle promptly and in full ( indeed, PONGS were willing to make a payment prior to the upcoming meeting). Rev Patterson and other representatives of Old Parish take no issue with this arrangement, though obviously Sceptic has decided to omit this information.

PONGS is not out to hoodwink the community in any of our dealings and our reasons for fighting the waste transfer site are clearly explained in our leaflets and on our website www.portobellopongs.com

Unlike Sceptic, PONGS members are all fairly easily indentifiable locals, who can be approached directly at any of our fundraisers.

Whoever the new poster 'Sceptic' is and what her/his motives are, I'll leave you to decide for yourself.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 02 Nov 2009, 15:34

Thanks for clearing that up and breaking radio silence.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 02 Nov 2009, 15:43

I'm tempted to reply ' Roger Porty', but that might be misconstrued!

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 02 Nov 2009, 16:29

Marya wrote:I'm tempted to reply ' Roger Porty', but that might be misconstrued!

Your right - it most certainly would!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 03 Nov 2009, 20:50

Reminder of this Friday's PONGS' fundraiser Ceilidh , starring Portobello's own fantastic "Beach Band", Portobello Community Centre, Adelphi Grove. Children welcome. 7.30 pm till midnight.
*BAR AND COMPLIMENTARY SNACKS*
TICKETS, £8 adults /£4 children under 16, available now from 'The Fine Wine Shop' Portobello High Street or on door on the night if still available.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 20 Nov 2009, 17:15

Just a reminder about our next fundraiser:
Saturday 21 November - Coffee Morning, with lots of goodies, including home baking, produce, pickles, jams, book, plant and bric-a-brac sale. 10.30 am - 1 pm, in St James church hall.

Christmas gift ideas - PONGS calendars and lovely children's 'PORTY' T-shirts will be on sale

Tickets for our Grand Raffle will also be on sale. The draw will take place at the PONGS Benefit Gig on Fri 27 Nov.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 20 Nov 2009, 17:50

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 23 Nov 2009, 14:05

What a brilliant poster- so much more impactful than the norm!! Unfortunately, the date clashes with the Portobello Water Polo dinner so POP and I can't make it.

I've seen Hamish Moore quite often, mainly when he was in charge of Foxy's kitchen extension and what a great job he did.!!

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 23 Nov 2009, 17:43

Porty wrote:
I've seen Hamish Moore quite often, mainly when he was in charge of Foxy's kitchen extension and what a great job he did.!!

...that was Hamish Dougan

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 23 Nov 2009, 18:09

Was it? oops. Getting my Hamish's mixed up. Hamish Duggan is a musician also, right?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 28 Nov 2009, 21:26

Well, last night's Benefit Concert more than lived up to the billing. If you were there, you will know what a fantastic night it was. Great range of music, some absolutely stunning performances and a fantastic atmosphere. It has to have been our most successful night so far, beating our sell out Salsa Ceilidh night and raising £1621.50 for PONGS. Big, big thanks to everyone

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 08 Jan 2010, 13:32

A whole bunch of documents has just gone onto the Inquiry web-site, including the following photo-montages.

View 1

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View 6

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 08 Jan 2010, 15:48

Thanks for posting these Seanie. Wonder who supplies Viridor with that 'fuzzy, distant hill, winter sky grey with a touch of fog' paint?!

PONGS are holding a public meeting this Tue 12 January, in St Mark's Church, Portobello High Street (opposite the top of Bellfield street) at 7.30 pm.

The purpose of the meeting is to let people know a bit about how our preparations are going and to explain how people can help and how the local public inquiry will work.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 12 Jan 2010, 12:18

Wee reminder of tonight's public meeting in St Mark's at 7.30 pm. Please make it along if at all possible.

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 22 Jan 2010, 09:26

Just to let you know that all the evidence as been exchanged for the forthcoming Inquiry. DPEA will be arranging for it all to be available in Porty Library and on their web site - for ease of access for all.

The Inquiry starts on 8th Feb at 10am in the British Legion. It will sit all that week and the following week starting on Tue 16th. Two Reporters from DPEA will be hearing all the evidence and cross examination and be making a decision on the case in due course.

By its very nature it is a public event therefore you are free to come and go as you please. You can drop in for as long or short a time as you wish.

The draft programme to date is that Viridor will be presenting thir witnesses on the first three days followed by the Joint Action Group's 9 witnesses on the thur and fri. CEC will be on Tue 16th followed by the local councillors and msp etc.

The Joint Action Group comprises 3 expert witnesses on Planning, Design and Sustainability; Community Council, PAS, PONGS, Brighton and Rosefield Residents, Christians Residents and Parents Council of St John's. We will be represented by Douglas Armstrong QC.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 23 Jan 2010, 18:25

PORTY'S GOT TALENT!
Come along to enjoy some of Porty's fantastic, as yet undiscovered, talent: singers, dancers (hip-hop and tap), drummers and fiddlers. The show will be hosted by the wonderful Sheila McWhirter who hosted the benefit gig and will be presided over by three judges, including Simon Growl.

There will be an auction with of lots of fantastic donated items: paintings, V-Tech children's software, a garden design consultation with a gold medal winning garden designer, a signed bottle of First Minister's whisky, amongst other things, and then there will be the chance to dance the night away - disco provided by the fabulous "Atomic" Tommy Nimmo.

This will be a fantastic night out for all, so hope to see you there. Full details below:

PORTY’S GOT TALENT Friday 29 January 2010, 7.30 pm ‘til late, Portobello Community Centre. A light-hearted version of the popular talent show with one or two surprises! BAR, AUCTION AND DISCO . A fun night out for all. Children welcome.
Tickets (£8 adults/£4 children) on sale at Woodwares, 222 Portobello High Street or at the door on the night. To reserve tickets please e-mail pongs@portobllopongs.com or 'phone 669 4981.

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

Proposed waste depot in Portobello

Inquiry Update