SESplan Proposed Strategic Development Plan Publication - 13 October to 24 November 2016

SESplan, the Strategic Development Planning Authority for the Edinburgh and south east Scotland region has published the Proposed Strategic Development Plan. This is a key step in replacing the current Strategic Development Plan of 2013 and is the final opportunity for comments to be made. The Proposed Strategic Development Plan deals with a range of strategic planning issues including housing, transport and green infrastructure for a twenty year period beginning in 2018. Its role will be to guide Local Development Plans produced by Local Authorities in the future.

Comments, known as representations, can be made on the Proposed Strategic Development Plan for a six week period between Thursday 13 October and Thursday 24 November 2016. Representations can be submitted using SESplan’s consultation portal: sesplan-consult.objective.co.uk. In line with government guidelines, representations should set out the specific changes you think should be made to the plan along with your reason(s) for them. Representations should be limited to 2,000 words per issue, though you are welcome to submit representations on more than one issue.

SESplan will also be running a series of public events where you can find out more about the Proposed Strategic Development Plan. These will be held on the following dates:

1. Monday 24 October, City Chambers, Dunfermline
2. Wednesday 26 October, Lasswade Centre, Bonnyrigg
3. Thursday 3 November, West Lothian Civic Centre, Livingston
4. Monday 7 November, City Chambers, Edinburgh
5. Wednesday 9 November, The Brunton, Musselburgh
6. Thursday 10 November, Council Headquarters, Newtown St. Boswells

Each event will be open from 3pm to 6.30pm on a drop-in basis when anyone can come along to discuss the plan without prior arrangement.

Additional copies of the Proposed Strategic Development Plan and supporting documents can be downloaded from the SESplan website.

Home Energy Scotland events: “Restore warmth to your historic home” - 8 and 16 November

Home Energy Scotland is a free advice service funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Energy Saving Trust.

They are hosting two events in November (8 November at Summerhall and 16 November at Royal Scots club) called “Restore warmth to your historic home”. These bring together a range of industry experts to help people keep the heat in their homes, with a focus on older building such as Georgian or Victorian properties.

Chance to comment: Major events in Edinburgh parks

The City of Edinburgh Council’s (CEC) aim is to provide a programmed approach to hosting major events in public parks, so as a trial in 2015 a competitive tender was published for a large event to be held in The Meadows during the Edinburgh Festival.  

Following this initiative, for 2017 CEC is proposing to re-tender The Meadows along with other events for up to three successive years.

What are the benefits?

• Event applications can be scored on the quality (both physical and cultural) of the event
• The market rate of rental can be achieved for each venue
• A more transparent and fairer process for all potential suppliers
• It offers suppliers of events the security of longer term leasing arrangements

The Council would like to hear feedback (by 29 June 2016) on these proposals from local stakeholders including community groups, local residents, businesses and park users. 

Where appropriate, this feedback will be used to shape future plans and specifications for these events.  It is proposed that from 2017 the following spaces be subject to a competitive tender process:

• Inverleith Park - A Family Friendly Cultural Event (for example, a Food/Beer/Wine Festival) – 8 days in August (inclusive of set up and breakdown)
• The Meadows – A Family Friendly Fringe Event/Venue August 2017 - 23 days plus set up/breakdown time
• West Princes Street Gardens - The Red Blaise Events Area, Family Friendly Fringe Event/Venue 2017 – 1 month (inclusive of set up and breakdown)
• West Princes Street Gardens - A Family Friendly Cultural Event (for example, a Food/Beer/Wine Festival) – 10 days in October (inclusive of set up and breakdown)

Refugee Survival Trust volunteers are putting on a Big Welcome! Concert on 26 March.

Refugee Survival Trust volunteers are putting on a Big Welcome! Concert on 26 March.  

It will take place on Sat 26 Mar at 19:30 at the Corn Exchange in Haddington.

It marks 20 years of RST's work for refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland.

Spring Fling Arts & Activities fair for over 50s Sa 9 April

Spring Fling 2016 will take place from 11.00am – 4.00pm on Saturday, 9 April 2016 at the Eric Liddell Centre, Holy Corner, 15 Morningside Road.

Organised by South Edinburgh Arts Fair.

Power of Food Festival: 20/21 June

Edible Edinburgh is supporting the Power of Food Festival over the weekend of 20-21 June. Come with family and friends to celebrate community food growing.

This inaugural community festival involves 15 of the city’s community gardens with highlights ranging from an insect safari to storytelling, birds, music, and more. 

The festival has joined up with Sustrans  to offer a guided cycle tour of the Festival as part of National Cycle Network week and Edible Edinburgh will launch the Sustainable Food City Charter.  

For more details see:  poweroffoodfestival.wordpress.com 

Twitter @PoFFest                  Facebook EdinburghPowerofFoodFestival

Aged over 50? Looking for inspiration? A new hobby/interest? Spring Fling 2015 (11 Apr) might be for you

SPRING FLING 2015!

Saturday 11 April 11.00am – 4.00pm | Eric Liddell Centre, Holy Corner

Aged over 50?  Looking for inspiration? A new hobby/interest? Want to get involved be activated, feel motivated?


 Café | Admission Free | Stalls | giveaways | tasters & demonstrations

 South Edinburgh Arts Fair Association | seafa@hotmail.co.uk | southedinburghartsfair.org

Grange Association Fair at Newington Library, Fountainhall Road 1.00pm to 4.30pm on Saturday 9 May

Everyone is welcome to come along to an afternoon of fun and entertainment. Stalls, bouncy castle, music, dancing displays, cycling fun – under 12s bring your bike – and more. Any profit will go to Newington Library for children’s craft materials and the Eric Liddell Centre. To make the event a success help is required: Could you volunteer to be a steward on the day? Do you have anything you could donate for these stalls?    Collectables    Books and DVDs    Tombola Please put any items you can donate in the box in the library vestibule when it reopens at Easter, or if you would like them collected that’s no problem. There will also be a plant stall and donations will be welcomed nearer the time. Could you start potting up spare plants now? Contact Lucy Richardson, 0131 662 4992, with offers of help, or a request to collect donated items. No jumble or clothing please. For more information go to:- http://gaedin.co.uk/wp Supported by the South Central Neighbourhood Partnership, City of Edinburgh Council.

Edible Edinburgh: a Sustainable Food City

The Edible Edinburgh initiative aims to inspire, motivate and connect everyone across the city in developing new relationships with food, choosing healthier and tastier food and bringing social, economic and environmental benefits for the whole community.

The Edible Edinburgh steering group has therefore drafted a consultation document to encourage everyone to join in the debate about our food. Edible Edinburgh: A Sustainable Food City initiates a collective conversation about how we re-imagine a new food system and culture for our city. You can get involved by completing a short survey once you’ve read the consultation document.

Edible Edinburgh is also hosting a Feed the 5,000 event in Bristo Square on Saturday 5th October. Go along for a free lunch, find out more about food initiatives in the city and have your say on how you would like to see Edinburgh develop as a sustainable food city.

Spring Fling for over 50s on 9th March

Want to take a stall? Or help at the Meadows Festival on 2 and 3 June

The Meadows Festival is still taking applications for stallholders to trade at the long-running event, this year to be held on 2 & 3 June.  Interest has been high, but there are still a few spaces remaining. From arts and crafts, through vintage clothing and antiques, to books, charities, and children's items, the Festival attracts a broad range of different traders.   

If you're interested in taking a stall, head over to the stalls page and download a copy of the stalls form.  

The Festival organisers tell me they have an exciting line-up planned, but need some help to make it happen - maybe from you? Please visit the Volunteers page if you can give a couple of hours over the weekend to make the Festival run smoothly - the festival is entirely volunteer run!

Transition Edinburgh event on 12 May 2012

Transition Edinburgh are holding an event:

* Developing future lifestyles

* Working towards City Sustainability

St John’s Church, Princes Street on 12 May 2012 from 2-4pm.

Edinburgh Community Energy Event

An Edinburgh Community Energy Event will be held on 23 Feb 2012 from 9.00am – 1.30pm (including lunch) in the Business Centre, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh. 


Who is it for? 
Any organisation with an interest in household energy saving projects in Edinburgh, at both a local and strategic level.


What is it about? 

A half-day conference bringing together community groups, third sector organisations and the City of Edinburgh Council to: · 

• Share information and knowledge between key organisations · 
• Improve communication between Council staff, tenant groups and community groups 
• Develop mutual awareness and understanding of community projects and the Council’s energy programme 
• Identify ideas and opportunities for better joint working and future initiatives 

Speakers include: Cathy King, Head of Housing and Regeneration, Services for Communities, The City of Edinburgh Council;  three community organisations delivering Climate Challenge Fund projects at a local level;  · Mike Wagner, Engineering Manager, Housing Property Services, The City of Edinburgh Council, and Teresa Bray, Chief Executive, Changeworks 


Sessions include: · City wide energy saving projects - opportunities and joint working; · Consultation and involvement; · Information sharing and feedback 

This is a City of Edinburgh Council event, facilitated by Changeworks 
To book and see more details visit the Changeworks website for the full conference programme.   Please send your booking form in by Friday 10 February 2012. Numbers are limited, so early booking is essential! If you have any queries please email Jackie McNeil.

It's Good to Talk … about alcohol community conference We 16 Nov

The South Central Neighbourhood Partnership would like to invite you to participate in its first Community Conference at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road on Wednesday, 16th November.


The purpose of the event is explore issues of alcohol and its effects on the community of South Central; to raise awareness amongst people on the wide range of issues around alcohol; enhance knowledge and networking amongst key agencies/service delivery organisations and, principally, to identify a series of recommendations for future, achievable, action for consideration by the Neighbourhood Partnership. A programme for the morning is noted below.


EVENT PROGRAMME (subject to change) 


 9.30 am REGISTRATION 
 9.45 am WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION 
 9.55 am EXPLANATION OF SPEED WORKSHOPS AND THEMES OF WORKSHOPS 
 10.05 am BREAK INTO WORKSHOPS 
 11.45 am COMFORT BREAK (Coffee & Cake Provided) 
 12.00 am EXPERT WITNESSES 
 12.20 pm FEEDBACK FROM WORKSHOPS 
 12.40 pm PLEDGES TOWARDS OUTCOMES 
 12.50 pm THANKS AND CLOSE FROM CHAIRPERSON 
 1.00 pm FINISH


Some of the possible areas for discussion include licensing; sales of alcohol to young people; health effects on older people and women; fire/accident damage; family – effect on children and families; anti social behaviour.


 In order to organise the workshops and for catering please register your intention to participate. 

Edinburgh Equalities Network Events Programme January - March 2010

The Edinburgh Equalities Network Events Programme for January - March 2010 (PDF) is now available. The programme is developed on the theme of working together and creating good community relations.


Forum Interactive will lead the main workshop event, “Many threads woven together make a strong tartan” which will explore in an interesting but also fun way the benefits of communities working together. Forum Interactive is a learning and development consultancy who use drama and active learning techniques to engage, challenge and inspire and address serious issues, challenge assumptions and generate new ideas. The programme is for Network members but the events are also open to other community and equalities groups (staff, volunteers and service users).


The programme also includes a session on Equality Impact Assessments (from a Council perspective); a Discussion on the Hate Crime Strategy (of particular interest to LGBT and Disabled communities); and a Health and Carers Seminar.  For more details contact Anne Elliot.

Waste Action Grant Celebration Event on We 2 Dec 09 at 6pm

A drop-in celebration event to share the success of waste projects that have been funded through the waste action grant programme will be held at the City Chambers (Main Hall) on We 2 Dec at 6-8pm. During the evening, there will be short presentations from local groups highlighting examples of a reduce, reuse and recycling project. The presentations will be followed by a performance from TRASH music company http://www.trashmusic.org.uk/site/.

This informal evening will help raise awareness of local waste initiatives and inspire people to take action by showcasing successful grant applications. There will also be plenty of time for nibbles and networking.

If you have any questions or you'd like to attend please contact Anita Duffy as soon as possible by calling 0131 469 50 70.

Midmar Allotments Open Day

Midmar Allotments are holding their third Annual Open day and Barbeque on Saturday 22 August between 1pm and 4pm. Afternoon tea will be available in the communal cabin.

Energy Fair - Transition Edinburgh South - 5 Sep

Transition Edinburgh South have organised an ENERGY FAIR at South Morningside Primary School, Comiston Road on 5 Sep from 11am to 3pm. Admission is free and there will be an opportunity to find out how to cut your energy bills and help tackle global climate change.

There will be talks, films, demonstrations, leaflets and a chance to learn about: grants, woodburning stoves, insulation, infra-red cameras, micro-generation and much more. Contributions will be provided by experts including: Dynamic Earth, the Solarvan, Changeworks, Solar One, Lister Housing, Edinburgh Council. Teas, cakes & puppets for the children will be available.