Dear All

A large number of suggestions have been put forward by residents, across Edinburgh, for improvements in our streets to make them safer for people who walk and cycle.  All of them are mapped here: https://edinburghspacesforpeople.commonplace.is/comments and soo. We will soon find out which ones are being taken forward and in what timescale.

This consultation is closing soon, so please do contribute to the Scottish Government consultation on short term lets.  This is an issue that impacts on Edinburgh more than any other place in Scotland and a group of us have been working, alongside the grassroots group PLACE Edinburgh, pushing for legal licensing powers to help us regulate it properly and reduce its impact on our neighbourhoods.  My colleague Councillor Mandy Watt and I had a very useful meeting with MSP Sarah Boyack this week.  We are all trying to make sure we get good, practical legislation.  Click here to state your view: https://consult.gov.scot/housing-services-policy-unit/short-term-lets-licensing-scheme/.  

It’s not in Portobello/Craigmillar but the masterplan for the new development at Meadowbank, unanimously agreed on Wednesday with the support of the local community, should provide inspiration for future major residential developments in Edinburgh, for example, Seafield.  More about that plan here: https://edinburghcoun-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/latest-news-hearing-set-for-edinburghs-meadowbank-masterplan. The aspiration is to be more like this: https://mobycon.com/updates/low-car-cities/

A link to Porty ArtWalk ‘Lockdown Diaries’ is here: https://vimeo.com/464289504

Bridgend Farm are asking you what you like about living in EH16 or EH17 postal areas which include Niddrie and Craigmillar.  Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/EH16_17

The construction of a new concrete pump track at Hunter’s Hall Park to the east of the Jack Kane Centre started this week. It  should be completed around the end of the month. It will be suitable for skateboarders, bikes and scooters and the design caters for all abilities.  See more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3eNw7Szl_k&feature=youtu.be

I’m getting back to walking this week about after doing something sore to my knee which floored me for a few days. I went to the Cleekims last week to look at a couple of issues I might be able to help with there.  Three more people have asked to meet up with me for a walkabout soon, with times and dates we have still to arrange.  

One of my recent walkabouts was with Will Golding who has taken up the community development post at the Thistle Foundation with Connecting Craigmillar, supported by Link Up and The Thistle Foundation. Will’s new role in the area is to support local residents from Craigmillar and Niddrie to develop their own groups, projects, events and campaigns based on themes and ideas they have suggested. Here’s some more information on the ethos here; https://www.inspiringscotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Inspiring-Scotland-We-Start-With-Hope-final.pdf  Please do get in touch with Will if you want to chat about anything, especially if you have any queries about the role and work, and also ways we can work together. You can get in touch with Will at 07909257415 or by email at connectingcraigmillar@gmail.com. 

Will has worked in Craigmillar and Niddrie in other roles over the last decade, not least a lead role in the Bridgend Farmhouse project and youth work at Sandy’s.  One of the projects he facilitated with young people was the design of the panels which he and I and helped to get displayed on the hoarding round the site of the new school building.   

By a clear majority of the popular vote, the wonderful new Craigmillar secondary school will retain the name ‘Castlebrae’ when it’s finished.  More here about that in today’s Edinburgh Evening News:  https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/education/new-edinburgh-high-school-will-keep-castlebrae-name-after-survey-pupils-staff-parents-and-residents-2997458

The exemplary partnership working of Castlebrae Community High, under Norma Prentice’s inspiring leadership team, might well have spurred on a fabulous new initiative the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow announced this week.  A new learning centre will be established in Craigmillar.  Wonderful news this week! Read more here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2020/new-centres-to-widen-educational-opportunities

I hope you have a good weekend!

Maureen