Dear All
Sorry – I’m slipping! I missed last week’s Update as I had to deal with an attempted shut-down of my Facebook Page. Crisis over, I think. So – this one is longer than usual….
Portobello Timebank champion litter-pickers are returning to Magdalene Glen tomorrow. There was a mini flood along the burn, which washed up a lot of easy litter-pickings, so the team will make a really big impact! That’s Saturday 29 January 1.30pm-4pm. Meet at the footbridge in Magdalene Glen, where it crosses the burn to Asda.
Portobello Community Council is on Monday with lots on the agenda: http://www.portobellocc.org/pccpn/2022/01/24/portobello-community-council-meeting-agenda-389-january-2022/?fbclid=IwAR2ntouSi97yeqCR_6hR2ixKJSsd6gm6JFsBACiVk0HFJfdmGTtP58VroaE
Action Porty have an EGM on Tuesday 1 February at 7pm at Bellfield. They are hoping to convert the organisational structure with a good turnout of members to approve the special resolution. See you there?
Yesterday, Councillors agreed to reduce the speed on some roads from 40mph to 30mph, including the full length of Sir Harry Lauder Road, Milton Road and Musselburgh Road. https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-council-set-lower-speed-22885636
Niddrie Mill Primary School is ranked No1 as the most improved school in Scotland: a brilliant boost for the confidence of one of our fantastic local schools. And a very well deserved accolade. Click here: https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-primary-schools-ranked-best-22891947?fbclid=IwAR1_97k2_WacDda8izoSq5zyFEKgZKT3zxx6XKdCsid2obxhMGSczw5tkcE
Portobello Market is back next week, first Saturday of the month! Full details here: https://www.pedal-porty.org.uk/food/portobello-market/traders-for-portobello-market-saturday-5th-february/?fbclid=IwAR3SfrOJaubI6MpcjzuHIcXUCI77g7qumfn4SPH8D-MP8McAHBgzCdzT9xk
Just loved this story about Rose McGlyn and Bonnie the Swan, once at Figgate Pond now mostly living in Musselburgh. Click here: https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-woman-cared-swans-after-22860697
This provoked some thoughts for me this week: https://www.newlocal.org.uk/articles/routes-community-power/
Is there a business in Portobello or Craigmillar that deserves some national recognition?
The Federation of Small Business campaigns wants to celebrate the huge contribution Scotland’s 342,125 smaller businesses make to the wider Scottish economy. FSB have an award to promote: https://www.fsbawards.co.uk/
Might you have a local business to nominate? Free to enter, open to all and with a category to suit all sectors, deadline: Sunday 13 February 2022.
Another great Porty Podcast, this time on Portobello Comedy Night. What Makes Porty Laugh? Click here to listen: https://www.buzzsprout.com/71622/9920104
Work to install new Electric Vehicle Charging Points in Kings Road starts next week. The sites were chosen largely because a significant number of people living in those streets requested them. Further information here: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/newevchargepoints
Video on the Forth Project including Portobello – of course! Click here: https://youtu.be/IEN2zUMYKjI
Some grants available for householders to support the transition to zero carbon: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/grants-and-loans/low-emission-zone-support-fund-for-households/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=LEZ+Support+Fund+for+Households&utm_content=Edinburgh&fbclid=IwAR0CFtsyyQjfc_rWmjlnJnch3r0AwbnbAmW9w4lsl6FOpxKOffzdl9jHkAM
Castlebrae is soon to move to their new building, leaving the current site vacant as a possible option for another new building to house a Gaelic Medium School – or some other development. Coverage ere: Edinburgh Gaelic secondary school: last-ditch talks to get Scottish Government funding for former hospital site | Edinburgh News (scotsman.com)
The fantastic Beach Wheelchairs have their 2021 Annual Report here and plans for 2022. https://www.beachwheelchairs.org/what-we-do?fbclid=IwAR2RWoVvoy7Idc_wdARwqIBssn2a5AkAc1Jiyth2VVDflRcn3lyd3uMCauU
Spring is on its way and there is a stash of packets of vegetable seeds to give away free to people living in EH15 and EH16 areas who want to try a bit of growing. Thanks to CEC Neighbourhood Grant for the funding for this. Karin can be contacted on here: Karin Chipulina, Craigmillar Community Grows, 11 Harewood Drive, Craigmillar Tel: 07824838364 www.carrgomm.org
We Councillors been contacted by one or two residents about litter and fly-tipping in the last couple of weeks. The quickest way of bringing those problem areas to the attention of the local squad is to use this link: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/litter-flytipping. That said, a large number of Council front-line workers are laid low with Covid-19 or having to self-isolate. In some areas of work, 40% of staff are absent. Refuse collection workers and street cleaners can’t work from home – unlike me!
Our nearby fabulous local National Trust for Scotland property Newhailes have a series of talks discussing the property’s past and present. Listen to the knowledgeable NT staff members and special guest speakers explaining all the things you’ve wanted to know, with many facts that you would never have heard of. Fascinating stuff! Follow the links for an explanation of each talk. These kick off on 6 February Newhailes House Conservation Talk. Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/243532009797
On 13 February Newhailes Estate Through the Years. Tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/243525229517 and 19 February
Newhailes House 19th Century Fashion. Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/243519061067; 12 March
Scottish Plant Lore with Greg Kenice. Tickets here: Purchase tickets using the link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/247219077917
Fantastic local story from our local butcher and his prizewinning sausages:
Historic Scotland story about Craigmillar Castle.
Moonwalk Scotland 2022 about the walk which will take place again this year, overnight on Saturday 11 June 2022 and into the Sunday at Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, obviously coming through Portobello. The volunteer registration website is now live here if you want to find out about the event and about volunteering. More information here: Walk the Walk, 6 Genesis Business Park, Albert Drive, Woking, Surrey, GU21 5RW (t) 01483 741430 | (f) 01483 740881 | (w) www.walkthewalk.org. I did just the Half Moon Walk one year in a team of colleagues and found even that exhausting. It was the volunteers cheering us on along the way that helped keep us going, all through the night. Porty was the best!
Tribe Porty’s fab newsletter is here: https://mailchi.mp/df82cddb12fd/nov-7545730?fbclid=IwAR0jDOQXhe5n_TEmJ3Gmv6nAIOCpQ7q_UemdWG2_OS4Ztwq8VWt89l24W-A
Friday Beach classes for parents with toddlers and primary aged children are open for booking at Art Buds. They are a local social enterprise running outdoor art classes exploring nature and creativity in an environmentally sustainable way. Please follow the link to their website for more details and booking: https://www.artbudscollective.com/
Into University is a great project based in The White House, Craigmillar. Find out more here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/local/our-community-plan/what-we-ve-done-in-year-one/new-learning-centre-in-craigmillar
Phew! That’s all for this week. Have a great weekend and stay well!
Maureen
Councillor Maureen Child
Labour Councillor Portobello/Craigmillar Ward
Office: 0131 529 3268
Mobile: 07718 666 481
Facebook Page: Maureen Child Standing Up for Portobello/Craigmillar
Twitter: @MaureenMChild1
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