Edinburgh councillor blogs – Councillor Maureen Child

June 18, 2016 9:51 am

Councillor Maureen Child represents the Portobello/Craigmillar ward on the City of Edinburgh Council.

Maureen_Child_17_200x200 Here she gives us a round up from her inbox!

Despite what we see on national news channels and social media, elected politicians are not the people facing the most abuse every day in life. A city-wide Keep Safe initiative was launched on Thursday to help root out hate crime and the kind of low-level abuse some people face daily. This is the first of its kind in Scotland and it aims to support and encourage disabled, vulnerable and older people to keep safe and enjoy an ordinary day-to-day life and activities without fear of abuse, intimidation and harassment. The initiative will work in partnership with Police Scotland and ‘I Am Me Scotland’, to encourage the creation of safe places for disabled, vulnerable or older people to go if they need help, if they’re lost, scared or if they’re a victim of crime. Individuals are offered a Keep Safe Card to carry with them, with information about themselves and the key people to contact if they need help. Partners agencies like People First, Edinburgh Crisis Centre and many more will help push the message out in our communities and neighbourhoods. Find out how to become a Keep Safe Member and for further info, please contactedinburghpreventandintervent@scotland.pnn.police.uk or visit http://www.iammescotland.co.uk/keep-safe-areas/

PEDAL’s Donkeyfield Community Orchard (Brunstane Road South, just past Daiches Braes) will be open on Saturday 18th June from 10 am – 1 pm as part of the Edinburgh-wide Power of Food Festival that celebrates community gardening across Edinburgh. This is a FREE event. There will be: Tours of the orchard; Refreshments; Apple pressing and juice tasting at 12 noon For a full programme see:https://poweroffoodfestival.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/poff16-programme-v1-0.pdf. Milton Road Community Garden at Edinburgh College is also open nearby so could be a good for a combined visit.

Find out more about the orchard at: https://www.facebook.com/Portobello-Community-Orchard-539555379554046/

Bridgend Inspiring Growth (BIG) is also part of this same Power of Food Festival and they will have an event on Sunday 19th June from 11am-6pm with a Bio-Blitz in partnership with the RSPB. This is a series of events throughout the day, at the farmhouse and in the Craigmillar Castle Park, exploring the bio-diversity of the area. Activities for all the family. Then at 6pm they are having a BIG feast. To join in the feast, please register at: bridgendbuild@gmail.com

Action Porty are hosting a Bellfield Cabaret event to launch their appeal for community support in order to undertake a community buy-out of Bellfield Parish Church from the Church of Scotland. Please support the Friends of Bellfield with their fundraising for a community buy-out by attending the Bellfield Cabaret onSunday 26th June 7pm-10pm. This is a fantastic, star-studded event and an excellent opportunity to use the space which we hope will not be lost! Tickets are £12 from Cove or The Skylark. The church is not currently on the market and the community group have been successful with their application to employ someone to undertake a feasibility study to take it on as a community asset.

The Edinburgh Trusted Trader Scheme has been officially live for 12 months, with some great feedback and support from residents. Read more at https://www.trustedtrader.scot/Edinburgh/trading-standards-update-06.16.php

There are two dates and places set up for an exhibition on Portobello Conservation Area Character Appraisal. This is to update planning guidance for any new development in Portobello conservation area. The exhibition at Portobello Library will be between 20th and 27th June with the open evening on the 22nd while the exhibition at the Portobello Swim Centre will be between 27th and the 4th July with the open evening on 30th June. I hope you can go to one of these exhibitions and look at the display that will be put up. A planning officer will be there on the dates indicated to answer any questions.

The planning application to build a new St John’s RC Primary School are in now and can be viewed on the Council’s planning portal here:

https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=O7MFRGEWMVM00 The application for the new park – Treverlen Park – intended for the rest of the current Portobello High School site will be a separate application and that will be lodged soon.

I am delighted that Dads Rock have set up a new play group at The Venchie in Craigmillar/Niddrie with the first session on Saturday 25th June from 10am-11am. This is for dads and granddads with their kids (5yrs and under) to spend quality time together in good company. The Venchie is at 61 Niddrie Mains Terrace, EH16 4NX. More on their website www.dadsrock.org.uk. Or phone Thomas on 07542074165 or David on 07542084356.

On Monday July 4^th there will be a Play Outdoors Day for families form 2-4pm, in the green space to the east of Craigmillar Library. There will be story telling. mini beast making, mask and hat making, the library bus and much more.

Portobello’s Wash House Community Centre, 3 Adelphi Grove is holding its AGM on Wednesday 22nd June 7-8pm. All welcome to come along, find out more and get involved.

Portobello High School-based Edinburgh Basketball’s ever popular holiday camp in partnership with Active Schools is all set for 11th July to 14th July with 2 camps, with one camp for primary school ages and one for high school ages. This should be based on what year group the player will be in after the school holidays. Craig Nicol, the Basketball Scotland Performance Coach of the Year, is head coach at the camp. It’s a great opportunity to develop basketball skills with some of the best coaches in Scotland. Make sure you sign up soon as places are limited and go quickly! More here: http://www.cityofedinburghbasketball.net/summer-camp-2016-11th-14th-july/

Bingham and Magdalene Residents have been working with Sheila McWhirter and Archie Lowe fromCommunity Renewal on ideas and resources to help make their two distinct neighbourhoods better. If you want to get involved, or just want to know more about what’s going on find out here: http://chronicleonline.net/2016/06/13/calling-all-bingham-magdalene-residents/

Finally – for now – I did succeed in doing the Forth Bridge Abseil in aid of the Thistle Foundation on Sunday 12 June. I have a photograph and a certificate to prove it. After the really very scary bit, which was getting over the scaffolding to begin the descent, it was actually good fun. Thank you for sponsoring and giving me the encouragement to do it. If you want to do it too, there’s another one in October! My ownfundraising page is still open and I am still a bit short of the £2000 target I set myself, so please still feel free to sponsor me. This is my very last ask, I promise!: https://thistlefoundation.everydayhero.com/uk/maureen-abseil

It was really excellent to be invited to the official opening of the newThistle Health and Wellbeing Hubin Craigmillar, a couple of days later, where the First Minister did the honours. It was great to meet and recognise so many wonderful people there from Craigmillar, Magdalene, Christians, Parrotshot, Portobello and Niddrie who work or volunteer or benefit from all that the Thistle can offer. More here:www.thistle.org.uk Do drop in some time and have a look around! You’ll get a warm welcome.

Best wishes – and enjoy your weekend!

Maureen

p.s. My face-to-face Councillor Advice Sessions, or ‘Surgeries’, are usually every Mondayat 5.30 pm inCastleview Community Centre, 76 Craigmillar Castle Avenue (Phone 661 4064) and then at 7 pmin Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue (Phone 529 5558). Now also at Craigmillar Library, 101 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DT, 1st Wednesday of the month, drop-in session 5pm-5.30pm, thereafter by appointment only up until 7.30pm. Please phone me on Direct Line 0131 529 3268 or Mobile 07718 666 481, or email maureen.child@edinburgh.gov.uk to check availability, make an appointment or request a home visit.