Councillor Maureen Child represents the Portobello/Craigmillar Ward in the city. Here is her weekly round-up of news from the area.
Dear All
I warmly welcome the imminent return of local charity Caring in Craigmillar (CiC) to their original home in the University Settlement Building at 63 Niddrie Mains Terrace, as announced at their AGM and in their excellent 2015 Annual Report.
Among other things, CiC provides day care for vulnerable people with increasingly greater needs, a vital Phonelink service for housebound elderly people and is set to expand its services even further in partnership with other care organisations in the City. And the wider Craigmillar community will be able to share the space, once again, in a fair and properly managed way.
A Council officer’s report to the Council’s Finance and Resources has twice been on their Agenda – in December 2015 and January 2016 – but the Report recommending the lease was unfortunately ‘continued’, at the very last minute, causing stress and anxiety for all at Caring in Craigmillar and those who depend upon those vital services. CiC must quit their current premises by 31st March 2016 and need to have Care Commission approval of improvements to their new premises before the move can take place. I am assured that the formal decision to let the ground floor of 63 Niddrie Mains Terrace to Caring in Craigmillar will be taken at the next F&R Committee on 2nd February. Not a minute too soon!
A new initiative is starting in Portobello Library next week. Sporting Memories Network run reminiscence groups based on sport in many parts of central Scotland, attempting to alleviate dementia, depression and loneliness in communities. Their latest group meets this Monday January 25 in Portobello Library from 2pm until 4pm. Everybody of retirement age are welcome and attendance is free. More here: http://sportingmemoriesnetwork.com/
Brunstane Primary School are asking everybody what experiences they think children should have before they leave primary school Everyone can take part. They are conducting a survey surveymonkey.co.uk/r/3CK3ZHD called the Brunstane Bucket List. Please use the link to respond.
It’s Saturday 14 May for You Decide! event, not the 12 May as I mistakenly typed last week! But that allows me to say how delighted I was to be copied in to the Portobello Toddlers Hut report on how they spent the money the community awarded them through You Decide! last year, complete with lovely photographs. Everybody get thinking caps on for this year! A little money can help people make a big difference. Wondering what this is all about? Link to the PB Network website – http://pbnetwork.org.uk/ Scottish Government website for PB – http://www.communityscot.org.uk/features/participatory-budgeting/
Portobello Community Council meets again on Monday evening – 25 January – in Portobello Baptist Church Hall at 7.30pm. Everybody is welcome.
The final decision on Brighton Place resurfacing is for black-top asphalt not setts. There was no ‘U-turn’. It was for Councillors on the Transport and Environment Committee to decide and they came under a great deal of pressure before Committee – including a front page in the Evening News – to support a cheaper, quicker option, contrary to Council planning and transportation policy on designing streets. Portobello people may have ‘voted’ in the consultation for the cheaper option thinking that the money saved (perhaps £800,000) will be spent on Portobello streets and pavements. I have to say, that is unlikely. We will have to use more persuasive powers with transport officers and Councillors at and before the next Committee in March. By the way, I am still not clear whether it is to be a skim over the top with asphalt or carriageway reconstruction that the Committee decided upon. No doubt all will become clear in due course.
Every Sunday Bridgend Inspiring Growth (BIG) hold open drop-ins that are open to all to attend. They are a chance to get involved with the renovation project, learn new skills, meet some wonderful people and share a delicious lunch. More here: http://www.bridgendfarmhouse.org.uk/sunday-drop-in.html
John Connor and Guests are in Concert again at our very own White House Kitchen, 70 Niddrie Mains Road on Friday 29 January 7pm. Tickets £5. See here:http://chronicleonline.net/2016/01/15/the-white-house-presents/ I love going there for lunch or coffee and always find someone to chat to.
Here’s a lovely wee video from Edible Estates, building a growing community In Magdalene. I visited on their open day last year and loved it:https://www.facebook.com/ediblemagdalene/posts/775671695898562 Thanks to the Community Alliance Trust (CAT) in Craigmillar who secured a £150,000 grant from Scottish Government to get it going.
Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Find out more form the CAB website: bit.ly/1UUve59
If you want to know what’s going on at Tribe Porty, subscribe to their newsletter: http://tribeporty.org/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/#sthash.fFm6Ekfc.1fHF5Gce.dpbs
There is an information event about the plans for Craigmillar Town Square and public spaces on Thursday 28 January. Details here:https://mobile.twitter.com/TheEDIGroup/status/689830673037815813/photo/1
You have a chance to win a free Ridacard giving unlimited travel for a year on Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Tram: http://edinburghtrams.com/news/WIN-a-years-Ridacard
Crowds at Portobello Outdoor Pool in 1955: Remember this? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1039784262745923
Portobello Timebank invite members and interested parties come along, find out how to use the website, and meet Timebank members. They will show you how to log a request, post an offer, record your transactions and give feedback. This will give you the tools to start exchanging between your neighbours and get jobs done. Their meetings will usually fall on the second Thursday of the month, in the Dalriada at 7:30pm, meetings will be confirmed on the facebook site and via email to all members. All Portobello Timebank latest news here: http://www.hourworld.org/bank/?hw=1201
Create a World Festival Society for a day! “We can either react in fear or anger to the state of our world thus becoming part of the problem or respond creatively and become part of the solution.” You are invited to be part of a global celebration on 17 February 2016. To get involved, just be a little creative about an issue that you believe promotes “Caring and Sharing”. Song, dance, theatre, draw, paint, write, make, poem, photograph, lecture, walk, tour, talk, art class anyway that you feel you can be creative! See more here: http://worldcommunityartsday.com/2015/07/16/invitation-9th-world-community-arts-day/
Whatever you do, enjoy your weekend.
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 | Mobile 07718 666 481| Twitter @MaureenChild1
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
