Public sessions to view plans for new Gillespie's and ask questions

The James Gillespie's Consultation section of the City of Edinburgh Council website has been updated today to include details of nine sessions (see below) where members of the public can meet someone from the project and to talk to them about the proposals. 

Please feel free to pass this information on, particularly to people who do not like the ideal of speaking at a public meeting but who do have some questions they would like more information about.

If you have questions on the proposal you'd like addressed at the public meeting on 31 March can you send them in advance (to tina.sutherland@edinburgh.gov.uk) so a full response can be prepared. 

James Gillespie High School

• Thursday 31 March 5-7pm (Two hour session in advance of Public Meeting)
• Saturday 2 April 10am-12pm
• Tuesday 5 April 2-4pm

Newington Library

• Friday 8 April 2-4pm
• Monday 11 April 5-7pm
• Friday 15 April 2-4pm

Eric Liddell Centre

• Thursday 31 March 2-4pm
• Wednesday 6 April 5-7pm
• Thursday 7 April 2-4pm

Electronic copies of a PDF newsletter that has been circulated locally are also now available

New Gillespie's High School: Get ready to have your say!

The pre-planning application consultation on the design of the new James Gillespie's High School (and new nursery/ sports hall for the primary) is about to start.  Between now and the planning application being submitted in July there will be a series of public meetings.


One of the first will be at the next meeting of the Community Council (13 April at 7:30pm at St Catherine's Argyle Church) but there will also be a public meeting at the School on 31 March and with the Primary School Parent forum on 4 April.


There will also be public exhibitions from 21 March to 22 April at Newington Library and the Eric Liddell Centre.  Initial comments have to be in by 22 April.  Thereafter revised plans will be presented at a further series of public meetings including the Community Council meeting on 8 June.


For further details (and plans/ drawing soon) keep an eye on the new development website.


Updated (5 Apr @ 20:23): If you have comments for the project team please fill them in on this form and send to newSchoolBuildings@edinburgh.gov.uk by 22 April.  

NHS Lothian: Health link newsletter - Spring 2011 edition

The Spring 2010 edition of NHS Lothian's Health Link newspaper has now been published. It contains features on the new sexual health centre on Lauriston Place, the benefits of children keeping active, the new birthing centre at Little France, update on funding for the new Sick Kids' hospital, a baby is born after groundbreaking fertility selection, the Childsmile project, centralised booking for mums-to-be and a short-stay surgery centre in Livingston.

Agenda for meeting of Community Council on We 9 MARCH at 19:30

The next meeting of the Community Council will be held on Wed 8th MARCH at 7.30pm in St Catherine’s Argyle Church Community Hall, Grange Road   

A G E N D A (click for copy)

1. Presentation on Lothian Buses
2. Minutes of the February meetingand matters arising (updated 5 Apr 11)
3. Treasurers Report
4. Police Report :  oral report and questions
5.   Sub Groups
1. Planning Group (report 1; report 2 )
2. HMOs Group  (Ann Laird: Report awaited)
3. Parking Group
6. External Meetings
1. Neighbourhood partnership board  (Alastair Philp; verbal)
7. Meadows
1. Trees
2. Barbecues
3. Jaw bone
8. Events
1. Garden Competition
2. Christmas Event
9. Any other business  - can be taken on the night
1. Meadow Place
2. James Gillespie's  High School

A hearing loop is available if you contact 07775 665499 beforehand.  All residents and those who work in the area will be most welcome!

Meeting on local buses

On Wed 9 March at 7:30 the Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council are hosting a meeting on "Your local buses in Marchmont & Sciennes".  Bill Campbell, Operations Director of Lothian Buses, will explain the rationale behind your local bus services and outline future plans and developments. 


There will be a chance to discuss your experiences and expectations, to ask questions and air your opinions.  


The meeting will be held, as usual for monthly Community Council meetings, in St Catherine's Argyle Church Halls on Grange Road.


A hearing loop is available if you contact 07775 665499 beforehand.  All residents and those who work in the area will be most welcome!


(Photo is copyright Stuart Montgomery and is used without permission because I do not know how to contact him.  I hope he agrees its use is appropriate by a not-for-profit local representative group for a meeting about local buses. If not I will remove it on request)

Have your say: Future of the Fire and Rescue Service in Scotland

The Scottish Government is seeking views on the future of the Fire and Rescue Service in Scotland, and would like to hear from you.   The closing date for the consultation is 5 May 2011.  

Spokes guidance on bicycle storage

Spokes (the Bicycle group) have published a leaflet with advice on bicycle storage for tenements.


Further information on the project that led to the leaflet is also available.

Southside Community Council: Odeon - save our cinema campaign

Would you like to support Southside Community Council in their efforts to save the Odeon cinema on Clerk Street?  They would like you to write one of their postcards to object to proposals to demolish the building


Or you can object on-line.

Invitation to a waste celebration event

Find out how we can fund your community projects and
celebrate the success of the Waste Action Grant scheme.
Join us for an evening of inspiration, music,
nibbles and networking.
Council Chamber, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh
6 – 8pm, Wednesday 16 February 2011

Programme
6pm – Welcome
6.10pm – Performance by Trash Music
6.15pm – Information on successful waste projects
6.30pm – Refreshments and networking
8pm – Close

Please RSVP by 9 February to:
Anita Sharkey, Waste Education Officer,
33 Murrayburn Road, Edinburgh, EH14 2TF
Tel: 0131 469 5070, e-mail: anita.sharkey@edinburgh.gov.uk

A G E N D A for meeting of the Community Council on We 9 Feb at 19:30

The next meeting of the Community Council will be held on Wednesday 9th February (corrected date) at 7.30pm in St Catherine’s Argyle Church Community Hall, Grange Road







A G E N D A (click for copy)


1. Minutes of meeting on 12 January and matters arising.  (Corrected December minutes)


2. Proposed Mobile phone mast Thirlestane Road/Whitehouse Loan


3. Police Report : oral report & questions


4 Subgroups
    a. Planning Group (meeting report circulated)


    b. HMOs Group (Ann Laird: Report from January meeting awaited)


    c. Parking


5. External Meetings reports


    a. Meadows and Bruntsfield Advisory Group 2nd Feb (report)


6. Future events dates to be set


    a. Garden Competition; proposed 3rd Sep


    b. Christmas Event: proposed 3rd Dec


7. Any other business


Reports available on this blog in advance will include any recommendations that
the CC will discuss and agree; http://marchmontandsciennes.blogspot.com/


All who live or work or are active in the area are welcome.
Hearing loop available – please request in advance

Guidance on how to use the Planning web site

Guidance on how to use the City of Edinburgh Council Planning web site is now available.

recycling of plastics and batteries

As Cameron Rose's Infoblog points out today...


From 31 January, you can recycle plastic bottles and household batteries at your kerbside.  


The Green Box Day website gives details of your collection days and will even send you a reminder email. The Council's recycling website provides more information.

Transition Edinburgh South Public consultation event on Sa 5 Feb

Transition Edinburgh have invited us to an informal discussion about a current application for funding from the government's Climate Challenge Fund.

Sat 5th February 

2 – 5pm 

Morningside United Church, 

Chamberlain Rd, 

Bruntsfield Holy Corner 

More details are available from their poster

Edinburgh Association of Community Councils: minutes and Common Ground meeting

Draft minutes for the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (EACC) Executive held on Thursday 13th January are now available and will shortly be posted on a new EACC website currently being developed, which can be found at http://www.edinassoccc.btck.co.uk/   

In November, the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC) announced that a Common Ground Meeting is to be held at the Renfield Centre in Glasgow on Saturday 26th March, from 1.30pm to 5pm.  Further details of this meeting can be found on the ASCC website.  Registration for attendance at the meeting is announced as being possible during the month of January.   The Association notes that this meeting will provide CCllrs with a forum to discuss the concerns and complaints that they were unable to express during the last Annual Conference. 

A small-group decision by post-holders and another committee member subsequent to our Executive meeting on Thursday is that, in the light of the Common Ground meeting to be held in March, any EACC invitation should be delayed for reconsideration after that Glasgow meeting. EACC welcome your comments and/or observations. 

Scottish Assembly for Tackling Poverty 17 & 18 February 2011

Registrations are now open for the second Scottish Assembly for Tackling Poverty, which will take place in Glasgow on the 17th and 18th of February 2011. This a free, two-day event aimed at bringing together all those concerned about poverty in Scotland. To register click here.

• Thursday 17th February is a half day event, focusing on research and knowledge about poverty and will include presentations and discussions on the latest trends in poverty, participatory research and turning evidence into action. New research findings will be launched from two participatory research projects carried out over the last year.
• Friday 18th February is a full day event and brings together community activists, policy makers, voluntary organizations and MSPs around a number of key 'evidence sessions' on crucial issues for anti-poverty strategy in Scotland. This evidence will form the basis of debate and discussion about how we make progress in tackling poverty in these difficult times. Ministers from the Scottish and UK Governments have been invited to respond to the evidence they hear on the day.

The Assembly provides a unique opportunity for people with experience poverty, those on the frontline of action to tackle poverty and those responsible for anti-poverty policy to come together to look at what action is needed. At a time when poverty is predicted to increase, the need for genuine debate, and real action, has never been greater.

Both days are FREE and open to all. You may register for one or both day. Travel and child care costs for representatives of community and voluntary organisations in Scotland will be covered. We can also cover overnight accommodation inGlasgow for those travelling from outside Glasgow. (Please let us know as soon as possible as places and budgets are limited). If you wish to claim childcare expenses please let us know in the additional info section of the registration form. To register please visit the Poverty Alliance website or call Kathryn Collins on 0141 353 0440. 

Grange Association Newsletter for Winter 2011 now available

The winter 2011 edition of the Grange Association Newsletter is now available.

Update: SCOTTISH EVENING is Cancelled

Unfortunately this event is now cancelled due to unavailability of performers


We were sorry to have to cancel our traditional pre-Christmas get-together and tree lighting ceremony...


However instead MSCC have arranged a


SCOTTISH EVENING


Fr 21 Jan 2011 at the German-Speaking Church
Chalmers Crescent from 6pm 


- NOTE Time previously shown was wrong


Light refreshments will be available, as will Music and a Raffle.


Come and welcome the New Year with us

MSCC response to 20mph zone consultation

The MSCC response, as discussed at the last two Community Council meetings, to the 20mph zone consultation is now available.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and health and happiness in 2011

... while the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even ...

... in the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone ...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!         All the very best for 2011

NHS Lothian: Health link newsletter - Winter 2010 edition

The winter 2010 edition of NHS Lothian's Health Link newspaper has now been published. It contains features on the 'Keep Well' campaign, vaccinations against 'Flu and Human Papilloma Virus, and how to comment on the Sexual Health Strategy (to be supported by the refurbished Chalmers Sexual Health Centre on Lauriston Place).