Five things you need to know today

Portobello Community Council is consulting on the planning application for the George Bingo in Bath Street.  It’s a request for demolition of the existing listed bingo hall, erection of a residential redevelopment comprising 21 flatted dwellings including associated parking / garaging and garden grounds at 14 Bath Street.

The building, dating from 1938, was constructed in the Art Deco style and was formerly the County Cinema and then the George Cinema. Full details are now available on the planning portal here.

And more here: http://www.portobellocc.org/pccpn/2016/05/18/demolition-of-listed-bingo-hall-and-construction-of-21-residential-units-have-your-say/

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Out of the Blue invite you to the preview performance of Tales from The Hanging Captain at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall on Thursday 16th June at 7.30pm.

Following on from the hugely successful production of ‘Persevere’, part of Out of the Blue’s Gretna 100 project, ‘Tales From The Hanging Captain’ sees Active Inquiry and Strange Town join forces again to explore the history of Leith Docks. Set in the fictional Leith pub, ‘The Hanging Captain’, the audience will be taken on a voyage through time, as stories of the Dockers involvement in the whaling industry, the ‘Darrien Scheme’, and the strikes of 1913 unfold.

Venue: The Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG Directions/MapThis event forms part of Leith Moves, an Out of the Blue Heritage Lottery Funded education project investigating the historical significance of Leith docks. For more information about Leith Moves or if you would like to get involved, please visit http://www.outoftheblue.org.uk/leith-moves/

This week is Dementia Awareness Week and throughout the week Age Scotland will be promoting the need for better support and early diagnosis for people with dementia. Age Scotland say this is a key concern through the work of their Early Stage Dementia Project, supported by the Life Changes Trust.

A spokesperson said: “While there is still a huge amount to do to make our communities dementia friendly, more people are taking up this challenge, and Edinburgh City Council has pledged to make Edinburgh a dementia friendly city. The Scottish Government this has introduced a commitment to provide one year of support for everybody who has been diagnosed with dementia for a year after their diagnosis.

“However, there is still a need to tackle stigma around dementia. A UK survey by the Alzheimer Society found that more than half of people seeking a diagnosis for dementia have delayed going to their GP by at least a year and nearly two-thirds of people fear a diagnosis would mean that their life is over.

“But people can and do live well with dementia, and support in the early stages is crucial to this. We meet people with dementia who are still contributing to their communities and are the leading voices campaigning for improved dementia services.  Their example shows that if people take early action to get a diagnosis they can still have a rewarding life.  Dementia Awareness Week is a great opportunity to highlight this message, and it is vital the work to make all our communities dementia friendly and dementia aware continues all year round.”