Dear All
Portobello Christmas Street Festival and family fun event is tomorrow 1 December from 5pm with special guests and lights switched on at 6pm and it was one of the first Porty Podcast topics for David Calder who has started doing regular interviews to promote what is going on in our local area. Listen here: http://porty.org.uk/news/porty-podcast/
Many of the Porty High Street shops are open and Lothian Bus passengers get 10% off purchases on the night from shops that have a gold star in their windows. So keep that bus ticket on the night!
I too gave an Porty Podcast interview with David last week, which turned out less embarrassing than I thought it would. But please do NOT feel impelled to listen here: http://www.buzzsprout.com/71622/445595-3-what-matters-to-you-an-interview-with-cllr-maureen-child
Portobello Christmas Market this Saturday – hoping that storms stay away and we can soak up the atmosphere of the local farmers market, in Brighton Park, 9.30am to 1.30pm. BG Cycles of Portobello offer a free bike check while you wait. If you placed orders with your favourite trader then this is the time to pick them up.
If you haven’t pre-ordered, the stalls will be piled high with goodies. Traders list at http://www.pedal-porty.org.uk/food/portobello-market/traders-for-the-portobello-market-at-christmas/ After the Christmas and New Year break, the next market is on Saturday 4 February 2017.
Our new Portobello High School will be officially opened by Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Donald Wilson on Friday 2 December and the building will be open to anyone who wants a tour between 10am and 2pm on Saturday 3 December. I hope to see you there!
This is a great illustration of how the Portobello and Craigmillar communities are working together to make a real difference to the attainment and raising the confidence of our young people – from Castlebrae Community High School’s perspective: http://www.castlebrae.org.uk/frontpage/the-castlebrae-skiff-project-sets-sail/ and form the point of view of the voluntary sector partner. http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/blogs/its-not-plain-sailing-for-castlebrae-kids-but-creative-education-can-boost?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=Oktopost-twitter-profile&utm_campaign=Oktopost-2016-10+General+Campaign ‘Closing the gap’ is one of the greatest challenges we face as a City and as communities.
Did you know Bernard Smith, a Polish-born electrician who died in 2007? Maciej Olszewski is trying to find some information about his grandfather’s brother, who escaped a Nazi prison camp and ended up in Portobello. There’s a plea for information gone out through social media.
A long-term ground lease has been agreed by the Council for The Venchie Children’s Project in Craigmillar. The Venchie has been going for 50 years and needs to have this lease in order to be able to apply for funding. There is a similar agreement on a lease was agreed for Portobello Toddlers Hut in Portobello. More here: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/52628/item_86_the_venchie_niddrie_mains_terrace_edinburgh_-_new_lease
Keep in touch with lots that’s going on, especially in Craigmillar by signing up for the Chronicle on line newsletter – and contributing your own news too! Click here: http://us13.campaign-archive1.com/?u=fe6579fb65a848ff1d87e28e3&id=f994fbcb15&e=916dfff3e4
It’s City of Edinburgh’s Basketball December cluster games this Friday. A chance for all our community clubs to come along and play some games supported by our club coaches and players. Everyone in our Under 10 and Under 12 sessions are invited as well! Games are at Holy Rood High School and are completely FREE! 5:30 – 6:30pm Primary 3-5; 6:30 – 8pm Primary 6 and 7.
The winner of this year’s Good Neighbour Award for Council tenants was Alistair Blakey was nominated for his tireless work in the Jewel Park and clearing of debris.
Alistair said: “I really enjoyed the reception. I’ve never won anything like this in my life and I was very flattered to be nominated.” In total 20 nominations were received and a panel of volunteer tenant judges and housing staff selected the winners. More here: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/2205/good_neighbours_are_commended_at_awards_ceremony
The Council’s planning department is looking to put together a vision for Portobello High Street to support it to maximise its potential for shopping, visiting and being comfortable for people to move around the street. The supplementary guidance will provide the detailed policy to assess planning applications for shop uses in the town centre, supporting the retail policy in the Local Development Plan (LDP). More about the LDP here: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20164/local_development_plan/1050/second_proposed_local_development_plan
Once finalized, the Portobello document will form part of a suite of guidance for each of the City’s nine town centres. As an evidence base for how people on foot currently use Portobello town centre, a ‘public life street assessment’ was commissioned by HERE + NOW design consultants. More here: http://www.portobellocc.org/pccpn/2016/11/28/planners-to-create-vision-for-portobello-high-street/
Every week, 400 people walk through the doors of the Thistle Centre of Wellbeing in Craigmillar to receive tailored support for long term conditions. Be it to use the gym, attend a Lifestyle Management Course or a one-to-one session, Thistle offers life-changing support. To find out more about how you can make a positive difference head to their website https://www.thistle.org.uk/support-us
With three weeks to go until Thistle’s sponsored Santa Walk on Wednesday 14 December there is still time to sign up, get your best Christmas jumper on and help raise funds for Thistle this Christmas. They need Santas, elves, reindeers and festive pooches to join a one-mile sponsored walk around Craigmillar.
The route is accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters and finishes with a Christmas Party at Thistle’s Centre of Wellbeing with carols, mince pies and prizes for the best costumes. It’s set to be a great day so sign up and join us for some festive fun! Register online https://www.thistle.org.uk/santawalk-16 or in person at the reception of the Centre of Wellbeing. No minimum sponsorship or entry fee. The fun starts at Thistle’s Centre of Wellbeing at 12pm on Wednesday 14 December.
Last Friday of each month at 1pm Portobello Library, PC Dave Lovie and PC Matt McPherson, our Police Scotland local community beat officers have made themselves available to meet and discuss what is going on locally and nay concerns you might have.
The ‘From Steam to Diesel’ exhibition at Portobello Library ends on 14 December 2016. Remember to pop in and have a look!
Scottish Gas Networks (SGN) are investing £360,000 to upgrade the gas network in the Milton Road East area. This essential work involves the replacement of old metal gas mains with new plastic pipe to ensure a continued safe and reliable gas supply to homes and businesses in the area for many years to come.
Following discussions with The City of Edinburgh Council, work will start on 9 January 2017 and will take approximately 15 weeks to complete. I have more detail – if you want it – in an electronic copy of a leaflet that has gone to neighbours, but obviously people further afield will be affected. There is a drop-in at Edinburgh College, Milton Campus on Thursday 8 December, 5.30pm to 8pm.
That’s all I have time for this week.
Best wishes
Maureen
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