The Edinburgh Canal Strategy - Consultation

Since its re-birth as part of the Millennium Link Project, the Union Canal has come a long way from a derelict backwater to one of Edinburgh's most important assets.

The Union Canal is now enjoyed on a daily basis by people for a variety of uses such as boating, rowing, walking, cycling and fishing.  The Canal is also a focus for new development, particularly at Fountainbridge, for new moorings, marinas and canal-focused community activities. However, as the Canal is developed, its special environment must also be protected with its benefits shared by the wider community.

To ensure that this happens The City of Edinburgh Council and British Waterways Scotland have prepared a draft Edinburgh Canal Strategy for the Union Canal within the Edinburgh area.

View are now sought on the draft strategy and in particular:

• Whether you agree/disagree with the proposed 'Hub Strategy'. Are the hubs in the right place, do they have the right objectives to ensure they are developed as successful and sustainable places?
• If you any ideas on how to improve the use of the canal as an asset of the city?
• What are your views on increasing the use of the water space along the canal through increased moorings (of all types including residential) and recreational activities?
• What are your thoughts on the canal side development proposals identified within the draft strategy?
• Do you think the key problem access points along the canal are identified?
• has anything been missed? Or, mistakenly included

In order to consider the above questions a period of public consultation is proposed. Responses to this document should be returned to the Council by Friday 19th August 2011 and should be sent to Kate Hopper.

Jawbone Arch Appeal open now

Donations are now being accepted towards the £60 thousand required to conserve and restore the historic whalebone arch on Jawbone Walk on the Meadows.  Essential work is required to stabilise and protect the bones and replace the concrete bases.

The whalebones forming the arch were originally part of the stand belonging to the Shetland and Fair Isle Knitters at the International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art, which took place on the Meadows in 1886 (125 years ago). After the exhibition they were given to the Town Council and moved to the west Meadows gateway where they now stand.



Donations can be made:

• online via Justgiving
• in person at Victor Hugo deli
• via cheque (payable to Edinburgh World Heritage Trust) sent to Edinburgh World Heritage

A Facebook group has also been established.

New Sexual Health Centre at Chalmers Street now open for business

NHS Lothian’s new Chalmers Sexual Health Centre opened its doors on Tuesday this week.  The centre has been designed to provide a purpose built ‘one-stop-shop’ for sexual health services.  The Family Planning & Well Women service previously based at Dean Terrace and the Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) department at Lauristion Building have been combined to provide the services in the new centre.

The Edinburgh Family Planning Trust has played a key role in the creation of the Chalmers Sexual Health Centre.  A stained glass window entitled 'The Family', has been installed in the new building in recognition of the Trust’s contribution to improving the sexual health of the people of Edinburgh and Lothian since it was established, almost 80 years ago.  Designed by Scottish artist, Pinkie Maclure, the window reflects the diversity of people who use the Chalmers Sexual Health Centre.

Agenda (and papers) for meeting of Community Council on We 8 June at 19:30

Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council will meet next Wednesday at 7:30pm (in the large Hall at St Catherine’s Argyle Church).  


The main business will be a 2nd Public Meeting to discuss the Plans for the rebuilding of James Gillespie’s High School, Primary School and Nursery.

The ordinary meeting of MSCC will follow at 9.00 PM

A G E N D A

1  Minutes of the meeting held on May 11th



2 Matters Arising:
Jawbone: (Cllr. Cameron Rose)
Garden Competition (T. Cumming)
Autumn meetings: speakers



3 Treasurer’s Report (A.Service)
Magpie



4 Police Report



5 Subgroups:
Planning
Neighbour Notification

Roads and Traffic
20 mph limit

Capital Roads Programme



6 External meetings
SCNP (Alastair)
Safer neighbourhood Team
Old People’s day of action
Housing Strategy
EACC (Tina)
MABLAG (Alison)



7  Announcements:
Stuart Munro
Civic Forum 14th June
Public Information Portal
Leader’s Report
Update name and address list

8 AOCB

South Central Neighbourhood Partnership: Older People's day of action

The South Central Neighbourhood Partnership is holding its first ever themed Partnership event at King's Hall, 41A South Clerk Street on Th 16 Jun 2011 from 1 to 4pm.   The focus of this event will be Older People, their Carers, and their issues.   Please come and tell us what you feel would help improve your quality of life.   There will be a number of a specialists present who can offer advice on housing adaptations, benefits, debt management, the environment, re-cycling and a variety of other subjects.  

Take part in planned activities which include Art, Music and Dancing; Seated exercise, indoor curling, walking and/or have a basic health check ie blood pressure, weight and relaxation.

The Kings Hall is on a well served bus route and is situated between Rankeillor Street and East Preston Street – opposite the Queens Hall!  

There is disabled access to the venue.

If you require further information, please contact:

Madelaine Traynor:     Tel:  0131-529 5114    Email:  madelaine.traynor@edinburgh.gov.uk

Margaret Campbell:    Tel:  0131-529 7182    Email:  margaret.campbell@edinburgh.gov.uk 

Revised plans for new Gillespie's schools

At the next meeting of the Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council (7:30pm on We 8 Jun at St Catherine's Argyle Church Halls) revised plans will be presented by the James Gillespie's High School Rebuild project.

This is the second of two meetings hosted by the community council about proposals for the much-needed rebuilding of the High School, extension of the Primary School and relocation of the Nursery School.  It is in addition to a public meeting at the high school on 21 June, a meeting of the primary school parents forum on 13 June and exhibitions at Newington Library and the Eric Lidell Centre (see the project website for more details). Slides from the residents workshop earlier in May are also now available.

The meeting next week (8 June) will be a further opportunity for members of the community to hear feedback, analysis and the refinements to the proposal from the architects and the project manager before the planning application is finalised and submitted.

Project staff will be available to take questions before the meeting. All opinions welcome.

New Public Information Notices website

www.tellmescotland.gov.uk is a website dedicated to publishing all Public Information Notices from across Scotland in one single location.  


These are the planning, licensing and roads notices that appear in local newspapers and on Council websites.  


Councils are responsible for uploading the notices to tellmescotland.  

Sad news at Marchmont Hardware

Stuart Munro of Marchmont Hardware has been serving Marchmont shoppers for nearly 25 years. 


Unfortunately he is now seriously ill.  He had surgery recently and is still in the Royal Infirmary.  


Leanne is looking after the shop and she says he's unlikely to be back till next year. She's got a card for people to sign in the shop.  

MSCC Front Gardens and Containers Annual Awards 2011

With the recent sunshine and warmer temperatures, gardens have burst into life; time to remind you about the Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council Tenement Front Gardens and Containers Competition!

Any garden and/or container clearly visible from the pavement will be considered. The walkabout judging will take place in late June and early July, and there is no need to enter the competition: as long as your garden or container can be seen, it will be eligible for consideration for an award.

The categories are:

1. Front gardens (East, South, West-facing)
2. North-facing front gardens
3. Hanging baskets, window boxes, and containers 
4. Wildlife-friendly gardens
5. New/improved gardens
6. Other commended gardens

There will be awards in each category and an overall winner who will be awarded the Smalley Quaich. All of the award winners will be presented with their certificates and a small prize at the Church of the German-speaking Congregation in Chalmers Crescent on Saturday 1^st October at 4pm. All welcome - we hope to see you there!

Happy gardening!

Graeme Cruickshank to speak on Jawbones on Meadows at MSCC meeting on Wednesday

Immediately following the AGM (7:00-7:30pm) this Wednesday (11 May), and before the business of the regular meeting, Graeme Cruickshank will briefly speak on the Jawbones on the Meadows, placed there at the time of the International Exhibition of Edinburgh 125 years ago.  


This is connected with the public appeal recently-announced by Cllr Cameron Rose (featured today in the Evening News) aimed at raising money to conserve and restore the historic jawbone arch.

Agenda for regular monthly meeting of Community Council on We 11 May at 19:30

The next meeting of the Community Council will be held on Wed 11th May at 7.30pm in St Catherine’s Argyle Church Community Hall, Grange Road.  
This will follow immediately after the AGM (which starts at 7pm)  

 

1. Minutes of the meeting of 9th April  and matters arising
2. Treasurers Report
3. Police Report :  oral report and questions
4.   Sub Groups
1. Planning Group  (meeting report circulated)
2. HMOs Group  (Ann Laird: Report)
3. Roads and Traffic Group
5. External Meetings
6. Events
1. Garden Competition
2. Christmas Event
7. Any other business  - can be taken on the night

Annual General Meeting of Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council

The AGM of the community council will take place at 7pm on Wed 11 May at St Catherine's Argyle Church in Grange Road. 

All who live or work or are active in the area are welcome.

Hearing loop available – please request in advance

AGENDA for AGM

1.      Minutes of the AGM of June 2010

2.      Chairperson’s Annual Report

3.      Secretary’s Annual Report

4.      Financial report

5.      Co-option of members

6.      Demit of current office bearers and election of office bearers:

       a.   Chair

       b.   Vice-Chair

       c.    Secretary

       d.   Treasurer

7.    Date of next AGM:  Wednesday 9th May 2012

Art Exhibition on 12 May

Art in Healthcare Student Friends Society Invite you to celebrate and view the collaborative art work produced by the ENABLE community, Best Buddies Student Society and Art in Healthcare Student Friends Society

Thursday 12 May 2011

Start 7 pm

Finish 8pm

Enable Building : 95 Causewayside Edinburgh

The art work demonstrates the changing seasons and will stay in the ENABLE hall at Causewayside.

This project was made possible through funding from the Edinburgh South Central Neighborhood Partnership

Volunteers required: Meadows Festival 4/5 June

Fred Mackintosh writes: "This year's Meadows Festival takes place on 4th & 5th June, and we can promise something for everybody from grans to toddlers and everybody in between. We'll feature 8 large Marquees and a Big top tent in a 1/2mile sq area surrounded by 100 plus market stalls with Tailor’s funfair also joining  us.

This year the music lineup is back with its eclectic mix of all the best bands Edinburgh local scene has to offer - indi pop, reggae, funk and  hip hop acts, from  bands whio normally fill Scotland's music festival stages and are all playing for free on the at the Meadows Festival. Listen out for Captain Slackships energy packed reggae hits, festival favourites the Banana Sessions hit us with their brass baselines and quirky covers, Ordinary All Stars will get you grooving to their smooth hip hop beats while the up and coming Epic 26 blast out the some modern Indie synth tunes, and the Beltane drummers will be out in force to stir your soul.

Animal lovers will be pleased to learn that this year  the festival includes a dog show, courtesy of the Dogs Trust. Any dog can enter - there won't be any pedigree classes, but if your dog's exceptionally beautiful or talented, this will be his or her chance to shine! There will also be displays of agility and obedience from the Trust's own pooches.

Regular events include the schools' football tournament, and younger visitors can also enjoy activities at the kids' tent, including face painting, storytelling, and arts and crafts, and view the entries in the annual art competition.

We're still looking for volunteers to help run the festival, and if you're interested, try this link: http://tinyurl.com/6e8t37f

It's not too late to book a stall either,  whether you're selling goods or offering a service like champissage (Indian head massage) or bicycle repairs, so check out our website for details: http://meadowsfestival.3st.org.uk/

But hurry if you want to get involved!"

Pre-planning consultation on new Gillespie's High School enters final week

The pre-planning consultation on plans for the new James Gillespie's High School and new buildings at the Primary School closes on 22 April. 


An online survey is now available to use to give your views.  Or you can can send them by e-mail to the project team at newSchoolBuildings@edinburgh.gov.uk


Revised plans will be presented at a further round of public meetings in June before the formal planning application is submitted.

Agenda for meeting of Community Council on We 13 April at 19:30

The next meeting of the Community Council will be held on Wed 13th April at 7.30pm in St Catherine’s Argyle Church Community Hall, Grange Road


The main item for discussion will be the new James Gillespie's High School and alterations to the Primary School.






A G E N D A (click for copy)


1. James Gillespies’ New School: presentation and discussion


2. Minutes of the meeting of 9th March and matters arising


3. Treasurers Report (revised!)
     a. Insurance
     b. Street planting


4. Police Report : oral report and questions


5. Sub Groups
     a. Planning Group (meeting report circulated)
     b. HMOs Group (Ann Laird: Report)
     c. Roads and Traffic Group


6. External Meetings
     a. Civic Forum
     b. Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting
     c. Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links meeting


7. Events
     a. Garden Competition
     b. Christmas Event


8. Any other business - can be taken on the night




Reports available on this blog in advance will include any recommendations that the CC will discuss and agree; 


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

More opportunities to comment on new Gillespie's plans

If you have comments for the new Gillespie's High School project team please fill them in on this form and send to newSchoolBuildings@edinburgh.gov.uk by 22 April.  


Members of the design team will be at the next Community Council meeting next Wednesday (13th) at 7:30pm in St Catherine's Argyle Church. 


There will be an opportunity from 7pm to ask informal questions before the meeting.

Come and try Croquet at Meadows Croquet Club

Meadows Croquet Club are offering introductory sessions on Mondays from 16 May 16 to 6 Jun 2011.


There will be an Afternoon Session between 3.30 to 5.30pm and an Evening Session from 6.30 to 8.30pm. All you need is a pair of flat-soled shoes (e.g. trainers). The course costs £30 and there are special introductory discounts if you join the club after the course.


Give it a try -- you could be pleasantly surprised!


For more information contact Alison Ross or call 0845 250 4394.