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

Here she rounds up her mailbox for us and tells us some of the things you can get up to in her Ward.

Dear All

Try not to miss the Talent Show at Portobello High School tomorrow, Friday 16 March at 6:30pm, in aid of Teenage Cancer Tickets £5 for adults 16+ and  £2.50 for under 16s and over 60s. Tickets will be sold at the door.  All welcome!

 

This probably this won’t be for you, personally, but if you know anyone new to the internet or finding it hard to get to grips with their computing device, there are 5 weekly sessions starting next month in Portobello Library from Tuesday April 1, 2pm-4pm. Those running the sessions ask participants to bring along their device and get 1:1 support from IT volunteers over the five weekly sessions. Places are limited, so do speak to a member of library staff to book a place.

 

St. Patricks Day Pageant at Dalriada is on Sunday 18 March, starting 3pm. All welcome.

 

My fellow Councillor Mary Campbell and I had fun learning new tasks in skiff-building at Castlebrae Community High School last Friday.  That’s the same kind of coastal rowing boat you see off Portobello beach.  Mary is now a dab hand operating a plane (not of the winged variety) and I know loads more about the science and technology of mixing epoxy glue.  Thanks to CCHS pupils Brandon and Peter for their brilliant tutoring. We are so looking forward to seeing their boat develop further and eventually get launched and go Forth at Portobello beach!

 

We were at the launch of the Jenny Skylark some time ago – here is our video showing the skiff in all its glory!

 

Out of 12,000 students across the UK, our own Castlebrae Community High School have had another success in the national UK Final in London of the Springboard FutureChef Competition.  This organisation and their competition inspire 12-16 year olds to explore food and cooking as a life skill.  My very warm congratulations to this year’s runner up Woytek Czyzewski.  Big thanks to the first class learning and teaching of Castlebrae Community High School and mentor John McMahon of Prestonfield House Hotel.

 

Craigmillar Community Science Festival is taking place again on Friday 23 March 12 noon to 2.30pm at The White House 70 Niddrie Mains Road.  Free lunch and fun activities.  All are welcome. The Festival stars will be Castlebrae and Castleview pupils, teaching us what they have discovered.  The event is in partnership with the Ogden Trust, UK Regenerative Medicine Platform and The University of Edinburgh.  More sector-leading stuff from Castlebrae Community High School.

 

The very welcome Portobello Reporter is coming through letterboxes this week and is now up on the internet too.  The lead story is about the Westbank site and is only a little out of date as it hits the streets. The local Councillors persuaded Council officers and leasing Councillors to defer the report beyond the March to the June Finance and Resources Committee, in line with what Action Porty intended to ask.  This will give us further time to flesh out the ideas nearly 600 of us came up with that Making Places weekend and involve more local people, and professionals in proper consideration of those proposals.

 

Our fab community newspaper also needs updating in so far as the delayed Transport and Environmental Committee met last Friday afternoon. One of the items was the vexed question of Setted Streets, like Brighton Place.  Some of the substantive Members of the Committee had other engagements, so Councillor Kate Campbell and I substituted for colleagues.  I have surveyed my inbox, the social media comments and ‘likes’ and direct messages and can confirm that, in all the sound and fury of the local debate, around 70% are in support of the decision we made, unanimously, to reinstate the setts.  This will be the first end-to-end reconstruction of Brighton Place in the last 45 years at least.  The final setted street design will be consulted upon with the four Local Councillors.  We will all continue to take a keen interest in this issue which has been so very controversial.

Here’s the link to the online Portobello Reporter:

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) means that soon all recipients of my regular email Update to actively opt in to receiving my email updates.  When GDPR comes into effect, I will no longer rely on you opting out, as the email footer below asks you to do.

So I need to compile a new list of people, who actively ask to get my updates, before 25 May 2018. It would be helpful if you confirmed now if you still wish to remain on the list?  Thanks! More on GDPR here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation

 

More fun in store for our kids and grandkids:  this Easter, the brand new Weehailes Playpark will be opening on Friday 30 March! Themed around the history of Newhailes estate, it is designed to inspire children’s imagination as they climb, crawl, slide, balance and explore! Free entry for National Trust for Scotland  (NTS) Members.

 

Bring the whole family together this Easter and treat your loved ones to the magic of Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts! Get ready for a long weekend of fun and discovery as you spot the first signs of spring and experience nature bursting into life at the special places the National Trust for Scotland looks after. Become a nature detective to follow Bunny’s clues and finish your adventure with a delicious chocolate treat. Dates: Friday 30 March – Monday 2 April Time: 11.00 – 16.00 Price: £3 per hunt Parking: £3 per vehicle. NTS Members free parking. Tickets can be purchased on the day – cash advised. Please note: Newhailes advise that warm clothing, waterproofs and wellies are essential as this event will take place outdoors in all weather.

https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/events/cadbury-easter-egg-hunt-at-newhailes

 

That’s all for now!

 

Best wishes

 

Maureen

 

 

Website | + posts

Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.