Edinburgh councillor blogs – Councillor Maureen Child

Maureen_Child_17_200x200 by Councillor Maureen Child, Portobello/Craigmillar Ward

It’s been a bit of a long-running saga, but the railway bridge at Brighton Place/Southfield Place is to be inspected starting this weekend and the wire-mesh ant-pigeon measures put in once Network Rail have done their bit. All the work is planned to be taking place – seamlessly – in the same week. The details are attached.

Art Walk Porty is on this weekend, 4-6 Sept. There is Art in Shops, on the Prom and Beach, and in Artists’ Studios. Pick up a copy of the programme from participating venues including The Tide, The Beach House, Dalriada and The Skylark. Check website for latest programme updates:www.artwalkporty.co.uk.

Preview here: http://www.ionmagazine.co.uk/edinburgh/whats/screen-stage-and-culture/art-walk-porty/

The Jack Kane Community Centre’s Garden Globe Project is being used as an example of best practice by the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund. To find out more, about it, visit the JKC’s website www.jackkanecommunity.org; Call the Centre on 0131-657-1595 or Email the project worker Kirsten Kirsten.Muir@jackkanecommunity.org or go up and visit. It’s open to all. Apart form one small bit of damage at the start (and the young culprit made amends by volunteering in the garden) it has not been vandalised. Tribute to the wider community and all the volunteers who care for it.

A reminder that this Saturday is Portobello Market Day, in Brighton Park, Brighton Place. Gates open at 9.30am and the market runs until 1.30pm. There’s entertainment from the Caleerie Buskers and 24 traders on site this month. Check out the PEDAL website for a full list.

The Borders Railway – joining Waverley, Brunstane and Newcraighall Stations to the Borders – opens to passengers this weekend and is officially opened by the Queen next Wednesday. More information here: Borders Railway Opening

Gallery from Portobello’s 2015 Big Beach Busk last Saturday: Big Beach Busk Photos

Portobello Community Council ran a highly successful Sandcastle Competition alongside the Big Beach Busk last Sandcastle Competition Photos

The Portobello Book Festival 2015 is launched tonight with the tickets available from Monday. More on their website here: Portobello Book Festival

I am delighted that a community media serving Craigmillar is about to get off the ground. This news initiative backed by funding from The City of Edinburgh Council to launch The Chronicle Online. If you would like to get involved in any way, by writing, reading, advertising, offering story ideas then contact The Edinburgh Reporter in the first place – but there is now a website and an email address will be live and kicking very soon! See announcement here: m.facebook.com

What is social enterprise? But the Good Stuff explains in 30 seconds: What is a Social Enterprise?

To find out about local buildings and their history, you can search for listed buildings using the link: Historic Listed Buildings

Check out The Portobello Reporter On line: Portobello Reporter Autumn 2015 Edition

SESplan launched the public consultation on Main Issues Report on the 21 July 2015. There are still a range of events taking place across South East Scotland and we are encouraging people to come along to find out more and give feedback on the big planning issues in your area. Please email SESplan contactus@sesplan.gov.uk for more information. An event is Wednesday 9 September Community Event: Business Centre, City Chambers, EDINBURGH 6-8pm. Drop-in events are aimed at everyone who wants to find out a bit more about the Main Issues and have a chat with officers. Come along at any time on the time and date shown. No prior confirmation required. Thursday 17 September Public Drop-In Event: City of Edinburgh, Faith Mission Hall, Gilmerton, Edinburgh 3-7pm

To take part in the first Edinburgh Living Landscape photography competition all you need to do is submit a photo of one of the city’s floral meadows or natural grassland by 11 September and you could be in with the chance to win some exclusive prizes. You can find your nearest Edinburgh Living Landscape site using the map on www.edinburgh.gov.uk/livinglandscape. So grab your camera or phone and get outdoors!

At Monday’s monthly meeting, Portobello Community Council agreed to support Calaid, and promote the call for donations for people fleeing violence and currently living in “the jungle” at Calais. Portobello Collection for Calaid is on Saturday starting 11 am at Portobello Town Hall, 147-149 Portobello. Please share and join event for more information. https://www.facebook.com/PortobelloCommunityCouncil/posts/754658011326439

After a successful first event this past May, Tribe Porty are excited to launch TEDxPorty 2016! They are looking for volunteers, committee members, and partners to help us make our second event even more meaningful than the first. This session is a chance to learn more about TEDx and ways to be involved. If you can’t make it but are interested – please email us at tedxportobello@gmail.com. More here: https://www.facebook.com/events/551376328345758/

When reporting missed bins by phone, your call should now be answered much more quickly. You can also report online: edinburgh.gov.uk/report

Have you good knowledge on local resources and initiatives and events that promote people’s health and wellbeing? Sign up here: https://www.aliss.org/

A community development and health course is starting in October, which sounds good: Community Development and Health Course

The Edinburgh Riding of the Marches is one of the largest common rides in Scotland, which culminates in the procession of 250 horses and riders up the Royal Mile. More than 20,000 spectators line the route and to watch the ride and see the Edinburgh Banner returned to the Lord Provost in an official ceremony at the Mercat Cross at around 3.50 pm. The riding is a celebration of being a citizen of Edinburgh. More information about the Edinburgh Riding of the Marches can be found at www.edinburghridingthemarches.co.uk

The call for applications for the Education, Children and Families grants programme is underway with the deadline looming. All the information is here: Three Year Grants Programme

Monday 21 September is World Alzheimer’s Day. To mark the day, locally based home care provider Home Instead be running a couple of fully funded workshops at our office. Raising awareness about dementia, sharing elements of our City & Guilds accredited dementia care training programme. Explaining how to help people living with dementia remain active and engaged. 10am to 12noon Dementia Awareness & Techniques to Manage Behaviours and 2pm to 4pm Dementia Awareness & Encouraging Engagement To register call 0131 300 0599. More here: Public Education Programme

For those of you wondering what happens when all kinds of people in running gear descend for about 1.5 hours on a Saturday and kind of take overFiggate Park, find out here: Portobello Park Run They have an extra boost recently when BBC Get Inspired launched the Big Help Put, a partnership with sports volunteering charity Join In.

The Council’s parks and greenspace service is carrying out a review of the management of a small selection of the events held in Edinburgh’s public parks 2014/15 and would like to hear your views and comments. They will use the information you give us to identify specific issues and problems, seek solutions and action any appropriate suggestions in time for next year’s programme. The review will close on Thursday 1 October 2015. Please see the link below which will take you directly into the quick survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ParkEventsReview2014-2015

I hope you have a great weekend!

Best wishes

Maureen