Proposed waste depot in Portobello

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 28 May 2009, 23:26

I see- maybe some of the other groups will come forward.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 29 May 2009, 08:19

Porty wrote:I see- maybe some of the other groups will come forward.

Funding from other groups wouldn't go amiss either!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Jun 2009, 16:47

Marya wrote:Funding from other groups wouldn't go amiss either!

Speaking of which, I see from the current issue of the Portobello Reporter that PCATS has been approached for a donation "from funds left over from the superstore enquiry." From the article it would appear that they are being asked for £1000.

In order to justify this decision, anyone who objects is asked to send an email to pcatsinfo@googlemail.com before 30 June.

I shan't bother but I continue to object to any such donation in principle for reasons already stated, i.e. it is wrong that money given for a specific cause should be used for any other purpose. It sets a precedent. What guarantee can I have now that any money I donate to PONGS won't be used at some point in the future as 'left over funds' for a campaign I don't support? In theory, PONGS might make a donation to PPAG, for example.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 08 Jun 2009, 19:18

Bob Jefferson wrote:....What guarantee can I have now that any money I donate to PONGS won't be used at some point in the future as 'left over funds' for a campaign I don't support? In theory, PONGS might make a donation to PPAG, for example.

The whole thing stinks.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 11 Jun 2009, 06:16

Pal of Porty wrote:
Bob Jefferson wrote:....What guarantee can I have now that any money I donate to PONGS won't be used at some point in the future as 'left over funds' for a campaign I don't support? In theory, PONGS might make a donation to PPAG, for example.
The whole thing stinks.

On the other hand, if PPAG supporters were to accept that they are fighting a lost cause I might not object to them transferring their funds to PONGS.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha etc.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 13 Jun 2009, 09:04

Quick reminder of today's fundraiser for PONGS, which is a coffee morning in St James' Church Hall, from 10.30 am to 1.00 pm.

All the usual fare - tombola, home baking, teas, coffees, bric a brac etc.
Hope to see you there!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 14 Jun 2009, 18:30

Many thanks to those who donated and/or spent some money yesterday.

The next opportunity to put some money into PONG's coffers (and to have some fun strutting your stuff at the same time) is next Friday 19 June,from 7.30 pm till Midnight, at the dance in the community centre.

The music is being supplied by 'Deja Vu', who do covers from the 50s, 60s and 70s and there will be a bar.

Tickets are priced at £6 and are available from Woodware's (or drop me a pm).

Scoop · Post by **Scoop** » 15 Jun 2009, 22:17

Marya wrote:Many thanks to those who donated and/or spent some money yesterday.

The next opportunity to put some money into PONG's coffers (and to have some fun strutting your stuff at the same time) is next Friday 19 June,from 7.30 pm till Midnight, at the dance in the community centre.

The music is being supplied by 'Deja Vu', who do covers from the 50s, 60s and 70s and there will be a bar.

Tickets are priced at £6 and are available from Woodware's (or drop me a pm).

Epy and I will be there with our dancin' pardners even though we have a big date the next day. Did she mention we were going to see Take That?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 15 Jun 2009, 22:27

Scoop wrote: Epy and I will be there with our dancin' pardners even though we have a big date the next day. Did she mention we were going to see Take That?

Excellent news! Feel free to dress appropriate to the decade of your choice.

(I am very proud of the fact that I was the only person in the quiz at the Dalriada who knew in which year 'Take That' split up.

)

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 15 Jun 2009, 22:39

You certainly were but I had to fight you to prevent a disaster on the navratilova question. I've not forgotten my obligation for a ticket for friday. Is it an open invite?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 15 Jun 2009, 22:46

Porty wrote:You certainly were but I had to fight you to prevent a disaster on the navratilova question.

What can I say? Sometimes female intuition gets it wrong.

I've not forgotten my obligation for a ticket for friday. Is it an open invite?

Of course! There'll also be tickets sold on the door I believe.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 19 Jun 2009, 12:53

A reminder of tonight's dance in the Community Centre, Adelphi Grove from 7.30 till midnight. Help PONGS raise funds to finance the fight against Viridor and have a fun evening into the bargain.

Music is from local band Deja Vu, who play classics from the 50s,60s and 70s.
Tickets cost £6 from 'Woodwares' or can be purchased on the door.
There will also be a bar.

Hope to see lots of you there!

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 21 Jun 2009, 16:12

And what a fantastic night it was (I think......some of it's a bit hazy....

). Brilliant band, great company. Hopefully we'll have many more.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 01 Jul 2009, 19:17

From today's EN Letters Page:

Enjoy the beach before the waste trucks get here

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 13 Aug 2009, 21:13

Documents relating to the Public Enquiry are published on the DPEA website rather efficiently. The case is here but I'm not sure if you can link to it directly;

http://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/CaseDet ... ?id=qJ8503

If not go here;

http://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/

And search for the following reference number;

PPA-230-1061

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 26 Aug 2009, 16:27

Next fundraiser for PONGS is a Coffee Morning this Sat 29 August, from 10.00 - 12.30 pm, in St Philip's Church Hall, Joppa. Hope you can make it along!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 31 Aug 2009, 13:36

Many thanks to those who made the coffee morning so successful.

Our next fundraiser is 'Soulussion' - Edinburgh's answer to the Commitments - an up-and-coming, Edinburgh-based, soul/R&B covers band - with Portobello connections. Line-up includes the powerful vocals of Caroline Redgrift, backed by funky rhythms and a tight brass section. Guaranteed to get you on your feet, so get on your boogie shoes...

Friday 11 September, 7.30 pm 'til late, Portobello Community Centre *Bar * Raffle *

Tickets priced at only £7 are now on sale at Woodware's Mica or on the door.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » 31 Aug 2009, 14:41

Has anyone who is a supporter of PONGS suggested alternative destinations for the waste unit, or is it a case of just not wanting it in Portobello?I've lived in Portobello pretty much all my life and as such I've contributed to the waste Edinburgh produces.I think I have to shoulder some of the responsability for getting rid of the waste too.

I really do feel there is a section of Portobello residents who are snobbish and nimbyist in the extreme.I find it very tiresome.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 31 Aug 2009, 15:29

Franck, we've been through the arguments a few times in this thread already, but to give some quick answers:

Has anyone who is a supporter of PONGS suggested alternative destinations for the waste unit

Yes, Milllerhill, for example, is suitable ,though Viridor would have to spend on upgrading road access, something they don't have to do here.
Mind you, I don't see it our job to suggest alternatives and the reporter won't be interested in that either .

is it a case of just not wanting it in Portobello

I don't want in any residential area, but I also feel Portobello already does its civic duty with Seafield at the end of the beach. I've heard folk mention that Powderhall is in a residential area, but when new flats were built there, people bought them knowing the situation. The flats also had triple glazing units installed, something you can't do in a conservation area. Additionally, this facility is planned to handle much more than Powderhall as it is taking waste in from a large geographical area. If built it will be the largest of its kind in Scotland.

.I think I have to shoulder some of the responsability for getting rid of the waste too.

You aren't the only one to feel like this.I try to do a bit by helping the council hit its recycling targets - this privately run waste transfer station is just going to be taking waste out to landfill. Not very green is it? It will also be handling waste driven in from all over the Central belt and Fife. Oh and it will be industrial and commercial waste.

ly do feel there is a section of Portobello residents who are snobbish and nimbyist in the extreme.I find it very tiresome.

You might be right about that, but that is no reason to be in favour of turning Portobello into the waste dump of the Central belt.
Funnily enough , not many people are in favour of the site. When Viridor put in their planning application there wasn't a single letter of support, whilst there were record number of letters of objection. I don't think you can accuse PONGS of not being representative of local feeling.

I suggest you come along to the next fund raiser dance in the community centre and see how snobbish we are. I promise I'll leave me tiara at home...

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 31 Aug 2009, 16:52

Marya wrote:I suggest you come along to the next fund raiser dance in the community centre and see how snobbish we are. I promise I'll leave me tiara at home...

but how will we recognise you without it????

Seriously though, Viridor will make a mint from this, but I fail to see how it will benefit the people of Porty. As you so rightly say, this is commercial waste...
I well remember having to take a deep breath when the bus approached Seafield - not sure what the pong is like these days.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 31 Aug 2009, 23:20

Marya wrote:I suggest you come along to the next fund raiser dance in the community centre and see how snobbish we are. I promise I'll leave me tiara at home...

It might even be an idea to leave all of us at home after the last time

I'm coming prepared this time - plasters, butterfly stitches, paracetamol, hands tied behind back to prevent glass reaching lips........have I forgotten anything?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 01 Sep 2009, 08:45

Glad to hear you can make it Epykat.
Homer had been facing a period of house arrest , but after various appeals has been released for the night on compassionate grounds.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 01 Sep 2009, 17:25

You can't keep him in - he's the cabaret

Is it the same band as last time? More to the point - is it the same wine as last time?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 01 Sep 2009, 17:39

Epykat wrote:You can't keep him in - he's the cabaret

Is it the same band as last time? More to the point - is it the same wine as last time?

So long as he puts on a different show this time!

The band isn't 'Deja Vue' - they're scheduled for our Hallow'een Dance on Fri 30 October.

The dance on the 11 September features 'Soulussion', a soul/R&B covers band that promise ''the powerful vocals of Caroline Redgrift, backed by funky rhythms and a tight brass section"

I'm sure we can manage to find a supply of the same wine. We can't have drunk it all, can we?

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 01 Sep 2009, 19:19

I'm guessing it won't just be the brass section that will be tight......

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 11 Sep 2009, 12:16

Marya wrote: Our next fundraiser is 'Soulussion' - Edinburgh's answer to the Commitments - an up-and-coming, Edinburgh-based, soul/R&B covers band - with Portobello connections. Line-up includes the powerful vocals of Caroline Redgrift, backed by funky rhythms and a tight brass section. Guaranteed to get you on your feet, so get on your boogie shoes...

Friday 11 September, 7.30 pm 'til late, Portobello Community Centre *Bar * Raffle *

Tickets priced at only £7 are now on sale at Woodware's Mica or on the door.

Wee reminder of tonight's dance. Hope you can make it along for what promises to be a fun evening.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 15 Sep 2009, 15:11

From today's EN :
City takes next step for waste incinerator plan with land buy

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 15 Sep 2009, 16:38

So what does this all mean as far as PONGS is concerned?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 15 Sep 2009, 17:44

Can't speak for PONGS, Bob, but it is only a story in the paper as yet, so it will be a case of business as usual for us I'd reckon.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 16 Sep 2009, 09:17

Marya- I see from the Porty Reporter- PONGS are trying to raise £30,000 in conjunction with some other action groups. A "spokesperson" tells us:

PONGS Spokesperson wrote:

There has been a fantastic response to the appeal for funds in the last issue of the Reporter for which we are very grateful

That is good news.

On the front page of the last issue of the Reporter and according to the PCC minutes; Councillor Stephen Hawkins was going to speak to PCATS about a donation to PONGS of £1000 from the funds left over from the Superstore planning application campaign. The article included one of PCATS "opt out" faux "consultatons" - experience tell us that results are never made public.

There's no mention of the outcome of his discussions or the "consultation" either in the Reporter or in the minutes of the PCC. Can you shed any light on whether a PCATS donation contributed to the "fantastic response?" How did the "consultation" go?

The article in question can be found here and I recognise the PONGS spokesperson's name from somewhere

http://porty.org.uk/reporters/rep_summer_09.pdf

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 16 Sep 2009, 17:02

Sorry Porty, this isn't a cop out, but I honestly don't know the answers.

I didn't contribute to the most recent article in 'The Reporter' , as I was away on holiday when the article was being written up, so someone else must have spoken on behalf of the group.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 16 Sep 2009, 21:53

No problem. I thought it would be a long shot. These action groups are like secret societies. All spokespeople and no names. Presumably you know how much has been raised so far?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 22 Sep 2009, 22:20

I'll assume that's a No.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 23 Sep 2009, 20:16

Porty wrote:I'll assume that's a No.

At the moment, it has been agreed not to give out a running total and to keep the opposition guessing.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 24 Sep 2009, 09:44

Marya wrote:
Porty wrote:I'll assume that's a No.
At the moment, it has been agreed not to give out a running total and to keep the opposition guessing.

And supporters too obviously!