Edinburgh councillor blogs – Cllr Maureen Child

Labour Councillor Maureen Child represents Portobello/Craigmillar. Here she gives us a look into her email inbox with all the happenings in and around the area.

Dear All

The next Figgate Park Clean Up is on Sunday 29 April , 9.30am-11.30am. The meeting point is the notice board near the pond, where the Figgate Friends team will be handing out litter pickers, bags and gloves. There’s tea, coffee and biscuits afterwards at the Air Training Corps (ATC) Hut beside the Hamilton Terrace entrance. There will be gardening work to do at the Fruity Corner near Baileyfield, as well as litter picking.

Our Seafield Clean Up last Sunday was a great success. The organiser Emily O’Brien says: “A huge thank you to everyone who came along to the litter-pick last Sunday. It looks so much better down in the little cove – driftwood, seaweed and much less rubbish. The Prom group did a great job too, especially at the big rocks and the plastic bag trees. And well done to the McDonald’s volunteers for digging out the big plastic rubble sacks from the sand

It’s really satisfying to know that we stopped all that waste going into the sea. Thanks to Peter Vardy, McDonald’s and the home bakers for the refreshments, and the City of Edinburgh Council for their supportive and punctual clean-up assistance team. It was great to meet everyone, and I will keep in touch with all who were interested in the Seafield habitat improvement project.“

The Seafield habitat improvement, that Emily mentions above, is part of the Edinburgh Shoreline Project which is generating a lot of local interest, which is excellent. More here: https://lhncc.org.uk/2018/03/10/edinburgh-shoreline-project-kicks-off/

After all that healthy activity, sitting down with a good book is in order. Then how about sharing what you think about it with other readers? You would be welcome to join Craigmillar Library on 2 May for their Monthly Book Group. This is a friendly and informal group that meets to discuss the book handed out the previous month. The meetings are on the first Wednesday of the month from 6.30pm – 7.30pm. Tea, coffee and refreshments are provided. It’s a really enjoyable and relaxed reading group where everyone can give their opinions about what they’ve read. The current book choice can be picked up at Craigmillar Library. For more information ask a member of staff or contact email: craigmillar.library@edinburgh.gov.uk Or Phone 0131 529 5597.

Craigmillar Books for Babies’ development worker Michelle Brennan-Jones is running 10K in June in the Simply Health Great Women’s 10k Run to raise funds for their 20th Anniversary. To support Michelle, please click here

Michelle says: “To help us celebrate our 20th year in the Craigmillar community, I’m going to take part. I have never attempted to run 10k before and have only recently started running 5k! I love working with all the families and organisations in Craigmillar and it would be amazing if you could support me in raising enough money to buy all our wonderful Craigmillar babies a special Craigmillar Books for Babies 20th Anniversary T-shirt!”

As I suggested last week, do sign up on Eventbrite for the Great Walk in Portobello Promenade on Saturday 26 May 2018!

This is about our own community celebrating what we do locally, so let’s see lots of groups and individuals taking part. To get more involved email Linda Gill on lgill@edenproject.com or phone Linda on 078503 266 382. Let’s make this another fab Porty Event!

There is a Big Brekkie for Christian Aid that day at Portobello and Joppa Parish Church, so that should fortify us for the afternoon! From 9.30am to 11.30am you will be served a breakfast of fruit juice, a choice of bacon roll, sausage (or vegetarian sausage) roll or croissant with jam, along with as much tea or coffee as you like, all for just £3.

Action Porty’s Justin Kendrick and Morag Donaldson starred in the BBC News this week talking about our community buy-out of Bellfield Church. Did you see them? They did us all proud! Bellfield is also featured in this Herald piece: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16176012.Neighbours_bring_life_into_back_redundant_churches/

There are lots of volunteer-led activities going on at the Wellbeing Works Campus at Forth Sector, Duddingston Yards and they could accommodate more. Do get in touch to find out what they can offer and have a tour of their campus. The contact is Jason Moyes, Volunteering Development Specialist; Email: jason.moyes@shaw-trust.org.uk Mobile: 07855 102 103; Duddingston Yards, Duddingston Park South, Edinburgh EH15 3NT

Community gardeners are getting together for a networking event at the Fresh Start garden at the Thistle in May. Their garden lies next to the Thistle Chapel on the left hand side close to the Thistle building. For more information, contact Karin Chipulina, Craigmillar Community Grows, Community Development Worker for Carr Gomm, c/o The Thistle,13 Queens Walk, EH16 4EA;Tel:07824 838 364

We local Councillors had our second NE Locality Committee this week, which majored on the Health and Wellbeing strand of work in our Local Improvement Plan. We heard about the growing impact of the community pharmacy initiative and the work of partners on person-centred planning, based on The Thistle’s way of working, starting with good conversations about what really matters to the client, leaving aside what is the matter with them. The difference that good conversation makes! Full Committee papers here

You can watch all or part of the full 3 hours 20 mins (!) if you go on line when the archived recording comes up here: https://edinburgh.public-i.tv/core/portal/home

The NE Locality Committee agreed the Traffic Regulation Order for parking restrictions to make the area around Brunstane Station, at the top of Daiches Brae, a wee bit safer. As soon as there is a painting squad available, the double yellow lines will be put down and the TRO becomes enforceable.

The Fire and Rescue Service are co silting on changes to their service and would like your views More here :https://firescotland.citizenspace.com/sfrs-communications/your-service-your-voice/

We Councillors and community representatives now have more information on the carriageway reconstruction and replacement of the setts in Brighton Place.

The briefing has been put on line by Portobello Community Council (PCC). Click here: http://www.portobellocc.org/pccpn/2018/04/26/brighton-place-sett-reconstruction-update-26-april/

PCC meets on Monday evening (last Monday of the month) 30 April at 7.30pm in Portobello Baptist Church Hall, 185 Portobello High Street. All are welcome.

Being a new parent can be a bit lonely and isolating at times – until you find good chums. A Buggy Walk seems like a really great way to get out and about with a small child, meet other parents and carers – and get a bit of outdoor exercise in the process. There is a regular buggy walk in Portobello and the next one is Monday 30 April. Find out more here: https://www.meetup.com/Buggy-Walks-MeetUp-Edinburgh/?_cookie-check=y7l82b-5W3UTw5cK

Have a lovely weekend!

Maureen