Edinburgh councillor blogs – Councillor Maureen Child

July 29, 2017 10:41 am

Councillor Child is Labour councillor for the Portobello/Craigmillar ward.

Dear All

Sorry, I have been a bit behind on these ‘weekly’ Updates, but it is Council recess and I do have five lovely grandchildren coming and going – need I say more?! Our grandkids have been fascinated by the jellyfish washed up on the beach so it was good to see this in the local media – including advice on what to do if you get stung: https://stv.tv/news/features/1393878-know-your-jellyfish-stinging-lion-s-mane-wash-up-on-beaches/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

I know from my own childhood experience, growing up in a shop-keeping extended family, that retail gives you a lot of skills and experience that can be transferred to other career paths. Nobody knows that better than Liam Smith, manager of Fort Kinnaird and the people that benefit from the skills and recruitment centre which Fort Kinnaird and Council support. More here:https://www.fortkinnaird.com/news-events/were-helping-young-people-get-career-ladder

Portovelo, the local cycling club, is giving advance notice of a beginner’s ride to be held on Sunday 27 August. This is aimed at anyone who likes the idea of road cycling with a group, but hasn’t tried it before, or is put off by the idea of turning up to a ride aimed at more experienced cyclists. The ride will start at 9 am and will be suitable for all – an ideal taster of what Portovelo is about. Any questions or queries, contact Portovelo at info@porto-velo.com.

Work is starting this Monday (31 July) on the construction of the townhouses on the site of St James Church Halls between Rosefield Street and Rosefield Avenue Lane. First, areas of boundary wall need to be made safe and some trees removed.

It’s lovely to read the Castlebrae Community High School’s summer newsletter with all the fantastic things going on in this fabulous secondary school, with lots of amazing opportunities for the young people who go there: http://www.castlebrae.org.uk/cb/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Newsletter-Summer-2017.pdf Looking forward to the next session, going from strength to strength. We four Councillors have had meeting with senior officers about the pressing need for the Council to prioritise a new school building for Castlebrae and to get on with the design, the site having already been identified next to Craigmillar Library.

Good to see progress with the project to bring beach wheelchairs to Portobello making progress. They are looking for volunteers, so do get in touch if you can help: Email:Info@portobellobeachwheelchairs.co.uk

Helen Maclean Portobello Beach Wheelchairs come and try day September 2016

A date for next weekend: Craigentinny/Telferton Allotments Open Day is on Sunday 6 August! 2pm-5pm, £3 admission with teas, homebaking, produce & plants for sale. I hope the sun shines on them! More hre: https://www.ctallotments.com/single-post/2017/07/21/Community-Plot-a-great-local-asset and here:https://www.facebook.com/CraigentinnyTelfertonAllotments/posts/1291301657659401:0

Fascinating to read this study of the importance of the active travel route in Little France as part of the Central Scotland Green Network: http://www.centralscotlandgreennetwork.org/resources/publications/category/116-green-active-travel-route-case-studies?download=413:green-active-travel-little-france-park-edinburgh

Some of us wondered why the pavement is still dug up on Milton Road at the top of the junction with the Big W underpass path. This is a Scottish Power defect dating from 22/05/17. The repair work is currently scheduled between 14/08/17 – 16/08/17. The local roads manager has contacted Scottish Power to ask if they can bring this forward.

Check the Council website for news about roadworks.

There will be more roadworks !: http://www.scottishwater.co.uk/about-us/media-centre/latest-news/sewer-upgrade-work-to-get-underway-in-duddingston.

It’s that time of year coming up again and Musselburgh Horticultural Society are holding their Annual Flower Show on Saturday 26 August at The Brunton Hall, Musselburgh. Doors open at 1 pm with the Awards Presentation at 3.30 pm. Flowers, Plants, Fruit, Vegetables, Crafts, Photography and Children’s Exhibits, Cake and Candy , Refreshments, Tombola, and Free Children’s Face Painting. Do come and enjoy the day!

HERE + NOW have been running a Co-Design Summer School and public life hack throughout July with the help of three teams of volunteers. Yesterday, they invited people along see some prototypes and built installations exploring the potential for the Seafield section of Portobello Promenade and see in practice some ideas for the improvement of this space. They will be back at Seafield in September for an immersive experiential audio walk exploring the Seafield area as part of Art Walk Porty.

I have been in touch with Lothian Buses plc about a few of their drivers’ inconsiderate (but perfectly legal) parking overspill form their Seafield depot in the local surrounding streets. Lothian Buses have put up notices and talked to drivers about the need for the company’s staff to be good neighbours and have a bit more consideration for us locals as they come and go.

All day parking in Aldi car park might have sparked some local management action to curb parking there. The Council’s Planning Committee approved the amount of parking at Aldi with a condition that they allowed a facility for linked trips to the beach and other local Portobello shops. Aldi seemed to be reneging on that when the local management tried to restrict the time people could park. Following discussions with planning and a bit of Local Councillor and Portobello Community Council pressure, this has been resolved by Head Office. The new signage and leaflets state that 2.5 hours parking is allowed and that this is for ‘Local Shoppers Only’. Aldi’s planning agent, Steve Robb says: “This will therefore allow customers to also visit the wider town centre within that timeframe and complies fully with the parking management document, approved by Committee.”

A new blog here is going to prove a useful source on information as the old Portobello High School site takes shape into a new St John’s Primary School and a new Park – Treverlen Park. More here:http://www.treverlen.org.uk/home/blog/

It’s Festival season and I am on the look-out for local connections: We have a fabulous pupil-run main Festival venue at Castlebrae Community High School – very exciting! (see the link to their newsletter above) and Tribe Porty Youth Theatre are going uptown to put on their show at the Fringe.

You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown at theSpace on Niddry St (Venue 9)

Tribe Porty Youth Theatre bring Schulz’s beloved comic characters to life in this crowd-pleasing classic that will keep the entire family entertained. Come sing and play along with Charlie Brown and the whole Peanuts gang through a series of hilarious vignettes and catchy songs. After tremendous success and raving four-star reviews, this is TPYT’s eighth year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. With James McAvoy and Irvine Welsh as official patrons, it’s clear that the members of Tribe Porty Youth Theatre have an extremely bright future ahead of them. ‘Excited for their theatrical futures’ (ThreeWeeks). TO BOOK.

Have a great weekend!

Maureen