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Five things you need to know today

January 17, 2013 10:06 am

Petitions Committee – Portobello Park – Love Music Community Choir – Musselburgh Races off tomorrow – New Technology

The newish council Petitions Committee seems to be gathering some traction. There is a growing list of petitions for the councillors to discuss when they meet next week, as they have now received 10 petitions from members of the public, five of which have been deemed to be valid so far.

Council staff will be visiting community council and Neighbourhood Partnership meetings over the next few weeks to brief residents about the procedure and how to lodge a petition as follows:-

South West Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting	St Aidens & Stenhouse Parish Church, Edgar Hall	7pm	22 Jan 2013
Gorgie/Dalry Community Council	St. Martin’s Church Hall, 232 Dalry Rd, EH11 2JG	7pm	4 Feb 2013
Fairmilehead Commnuity Council	Fairmilehead Church, Frogston Road West	7pm	5 Feb 2013
Drum Brae Community Council	Rannoch Centre, Rannoch Terrace	7.30pm	11 Feb 20
Craigleith/Blackhall Community Council	Stewart’s Melville School	7.30pm	11 Feb 2013

Each petition requires 500 signatures to be valid, and the petition submitted by the residents of Dumbiedykes is very nearly at that level, as it has 454 signatures at present, but it is the only one being actively considered when the committee meet on Tuesday 22 January 2013. The convenor has a discretion to consider any petitions which have the support of over 250 people. The residents of Dumbiedykes want the no 36 bus to be rerouted.

All of the council papers for the meeting are online.

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A reminder that there is a meeting tonight to consult the public on the proposed Private Bill which may be presented to Parliament about Portobello Park. The meeting takes place at Meadowbank Sports Centre and starts at 7pm. There are also visits to Magdalene Community Centre and Northfield Community Centre today, but if you cannot make it along there is a copy of the council’s presentation on their website and you can have your say online until 5:00pm on 31 January 2013.

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If you think you can sing then the Love Music Community Choir would like you to join them. They are meeting at The Usher Hall on 5 February to form a choir and get Edinburgh singing. They would like to have as many as 250 voices. So warm up the vocal chords and join them! More information here.

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Musselburgh races tomorrow have already been cancelled as the ground is frozen. We have had so many horse related jokes on the internet during the last 24 hours but this is no joke, and the races are really not going ahead.

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We have been playing with a new piece of technology and would like some of you to try it out if you can. Using your phone first of all you have to download the Aurasma Lite app and subscribe to the Edinburgh Reporter channel. You can do this in one easy move by visiting this URL on your phone:-http://auras.ma/s/QUiOz This is an augmented reality app and will do exactly what it says – it will add to the experience of where you are.

We have placed what is known as an Aura at the entrance to the Greyfriars Kirkyard. So using your phone you then click onto the Aurasma Lite app and train the camera onto the sign for Greyfriars which we have used as our photo today. If you hold it fairly still then our video will start to play, and if you double tap on the screen the video will continue to play even when you lower your phone…. We have great plans to take you on a journey around the city so watch this space for news of other auras. If you have any comments then we would very much welcome them!