This blog is where you will find community council information, including meeting times, minutes and agenda. Do please comment on postings.

Thursday 23 January 2014

Household rubbish collection: Download or order your 2014 collection calendars

http://www.nicolabarry.com/edinburgh-waste-collection/
...from the City of Edinburgh Council website...

If you would like to download a printable version of your household rubbish collection calendar for 2014, please put your street name into the directory search page and follow the instructions.

Please note that your collection day should stay exactly the same for 2014 as it was in 2013, so if your bins were collected on a Wednesday in 2013 then they will continue to be collected on a Wednesday.

If you are unable to download a copy online, or prefer to receive a hard copy, then just call us on 0131 529 3030 and we will send one to your address. You can receive a copy via email by sending your address to waste@edinburgh.gov.uk

Visit www.greenboxday.co.uk to check the collection days for blue and red recycling boxes.

Wednesday 15 January 2014

Agenda for MSCC meeting on We 22 January 2014 at 19:30

Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council will hold its January meeting on 22 January 2014 at 7:30pm, in our usual venue of St Catherine's Argyle Church halls on Beaufort Road/ Grange Road. 

This will be our fourth meeting of 13/14.  Further meetings will be on the fourth Wednesday of February, March, April, May and June 2014.

All who live or work in the area are most welcome to attend 





 1            Sederunt and apologies
 2               Minutes of last meeting, 27 November 2013
 3               Matters arising from the minutes 
·            Marchmont Crescent Noticeboard/ possible relocation to Scotmid/ Community Grant application?
·            Zebra Crossing on Marchmont Road
·            Jawbones removal/refurbishment
·            Involving local traders
·            Laminated sign to show where meeting is taking place
4            Police Report

Items for discussion
 5             Christmas Tree Lighting
 6              Vacant Chair
 7              Treasurer’s Report  & Proposals from all for how to spend accumulated money

 8             Edinburgh Planning Concordat 2013

 9             Local Development Plan Engagement Workshop

10            Edinburgh Fire and Rescue Plan 2014-17 Consultation

11            Safe crossing of Kilgraston Road at Dick Place

Items mainly for information
12              Planning matters
·            Local Development Plan

13              Footway Re-surfacing Works - Melville Drive

14             AOCB
15            Date of next meeting: 26 February 2014

Some advice from Trading Standards...

As part of continuing action against Doorstep Crime, The Trading Standards team at City of Edinburgh Council would like to pass on some advice.  

They discourage residents from contracting with cold callers at the door, and along with their partners in Police Scotland urge residents to be cautious when dealing with any doorstep callers.

·         Check ID
·         Use door chains or bars
·         Close the door when you are making telephone calls to check ID.
·         DO NOT call mobile numbers (Starting 07...) to verify ID.

If you are in any doubt regarding the person, then call Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

The Trading Standards team advise that you get multiple quotes for work from traders that you trust – Do not engage someone who has called at your door saying that your property needs work.
Some residents can also take advantage of the Care & Repair scheme: 0131 220 7630  and the Garden Aid Scheme:  0131 529 7881 or email Garden.aid@edinburgh.gov.uk

Essential contract information leaflets are available here, which detail what you should establish for many home maintenance contracts. For large projects you should ensure that you engage with a professional who is able to provide the necessary expertise.

'No Cold Calling' Zones can be set up in suitable locations, with agreement from the majority of residents. This indicates to those who would wish to call at your door that you do not accept cold callers, and repeated violations of this can constitute a criminal offence. More details are available here, and the council can supply stickers and signs as required.

They also provide updates to partners at Neighbourhood Watch Scotland. You may wish to consider whether your area would benefit from a neighbourhood watch.

Members of the Trading Standards team are happy to receive any information which you believe may be of use in targeting criminal activity. They routinely target activities relating to Doorstep Crime, Counterfeit tobacco and alcohol and Product Safety. If you have any information which you believe may be of use please get in touch.

You can get further information about Trading Standards here.

Sunday 5 January 2014

Draft Masterplan for the Edinburgh BioQuarter and South East Wedge Parkland – consultation.

At its meeting on 5 Dec 2013 the City of Edinburgh Council Planning Committee approved in final form  supplementary guidance for the Edinburgh BioQuarter and the South East Wedge Parkland. It also approved for consultation a draft masterplan which defines development areas, points of access, principal movement routes, main areas of public realm, lines of principal facades and activation, and key areas of landscape retention. In addition, the masterplan sets out further detail in regards to placemaking, density, building heights, landscape impact, flexibility, transport and connectivity and flooding and drainage.

As part of the public consultation exercise the Council is holding two drop-in consultation events on the draft masterplan on:

·        Monday 13 January 2014, 4pm - 8pm at Craigmillar Library, 101 Niddrie Mains Road.
·        Wednesday 15 January, 4pm - 8pm at Moredun Library, 92 Moredun Park Road.
This is an opportunity to view the draft masterplan and tell us your views on the planning framework for the Edinburgh BioQuarter and SEW Parkland.

You can view the draft masterplan online at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/supplementaryguidance or at your local library. Responses to the draft masterplan should be submitted to the Council by 28 February 2014 to lesley.porteous@edinburgh.gov.uk or Waverley Court, G:3, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG.

Friday 3 January 2014

Help save the Jawbone Arch on the Meadows

The recent closure of the path under the Jawbones under the Meadows has increased the urgency of finding money for a repair. 


Heidi Pearson, who grew up in Shetland but now stays near the Meadows, has advertised these three ways to give to the renewed appeal (on Facebook):

  • Online: www.justgiving.com search for the Meadows Jawbone Arch. You can give by credit or debit card and if you are a taxpayer your tax can be reclaimed.
  • Cheque: Please send to Edinburgh World Heritage, 5 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, EH2 4DR. Please mark the envelope 'Jawbone'.
  • Text: Send a message from your mobile to 70070 with the appeal code EWHT27 and the amount (up to £10). You will receive a reply with a link to allow reclaim of tax.

Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council contributed to the original appeal last year.