Putting good fruit to use: Abundance Edinburgh

Abundance Edinburgh is a group of people interested in putting to good use fruit that would otherwise go to waste and organise associated events around this.They harvest fruit from gardens, do some foraging and have also picked apples at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital's orchard. Some of the fruit is given away (for example, last year some went to the Grassmarket Project) and some is used to promote seasonal and local food (for example preserving workshops and a public apple pressing event). They have some equipment including several apple presses (thanks to the City of Edinburgh Council).

They're looking to spread the word about their activities both to get more people who are interested in picking fruit and using it but also to reach out to people with fruit trees that aren't able to harvest them themselves or who have too much fruit than they know what to do with. For more information why not get in touch with Valla Moodie or subscribe to their announcements or discussion groups.

Agenda for next Community Council meeting - Wed 28 Sep 2011

amended 26 Aug: no meeting in August

The next meeting of the Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council will be held on Wed 28 Sep 2011 at 7:30pm in St Catherine’s Argyle Church Halls.


Please note that from now on meetings will be the fourth Wednesday of the month (no meeting in December, July or August).




A G E N D A



1 Sederunt and welcome


2 Apologies


3 Minutes of last meeting


4 Matters Arising from the minutes not listed elsewhere in the Agenda

• Autumn Speakers
• Change in meeting dates
• Civic Forum, canal path
• New Council Portal

5 Police Report


6 Treasurer’s report

• Financial situation
• Spending plans for next year
• Meetings and secretariat
• Environment
• Donations

7 Subgroups

• Planning (Melanie Main)
• Gillespies’ plans and progress
• Roads and traffic (Susie Agnew)
• Retail parking changes
• 20 MPH changes
• Disabled parking
• HMOs (Anne Laird)
• Update on legislation and progress

8 External Groups (Alastair Philp)

• Neighbourhood Partnership
• ‘The Big Drink debate’ - Alcohol use special meeting 

9 Garden Competition (Tina Cumming)


10 Christmas Tree Lighting


11 Jawbone (Cllr Rose)


12 Correspondence received


13 CC membership

• Licensing responsibility

14 Walkable Communities


15 AOCB

Planning application submitted for new James Gillespie's High School and Primary extension

As an update to the James Gillespie's Schools Campus website relates:

"The Planning applications for the new High School and Primary extensions have been submitted.

You can view the documents, drawings and other papers online by visiting the Council's planning portal  with the following reference numbers:

• 11/02586/FUL for the new James Gillespie's High School
• 11/02585/FUL for  the James Gillespie's Primary School extension

You can submit comments online through the planning portal or in writing to  the Head of Planning, the City of Edinburgh Council, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG, quoting the reference number.

Please remember that although you may have commented through the pre-Planning consultation, if you want  your comments to be considered formally by Planning, you need to lodge them during this Planning process."

The website also has a section entitled "What difference did the consultation make?" that lists some of the changes that were made to the original plans before the planning application went in.  


Although the planning decision is not expected till December preparation work continues, including for the decant, and design work on playground and outdoor learning spaces is expected soon.

The slides shown at the public meeting held in the high school on 21 June are also now available.

Your views are requested on Delivering Capital Growth

In August 2010 the Council published Delivering Capital Growth. The document sets the Council’s vision for Edinburgh in 2030 and presents the strategy to get there. The strategy sets out the next steps in Edinburgh's sustainable development. It identifies the challenges the city faces, presents a twenty year vision and identifies key actions for the Council and its partners to ensure the continued physical renewal and growth of Scotland's Capital.  The strategy focuses on the next stages of the city's transformation which are underway, including the tram, Princes Street, BioQuarter, the wider city centre and the waterfront.

In October 2011, the Council will report its first annual Delivering Capital Growth Monitoring report to Planning Committee.

Council officers have compiled a questionnaire in order to monitor how and where Delivering Capital Growth has been used and to what extent it has been useful. It would be greatly appreciated if you could take the time to complete this short and simple questionnaire.

Please submit your questionnaire response by Friday 19 August 2011

Changes to proposed 20 mph speed restrictions

update (20:25 on 2 Aug): as Cameron Rose's blog reports the revised 20mph area plan recommended (with Marchmont Rd-Kilgraston Rd and Strathearn Rd-Grange Rd remaining at 30mph) was passed earlier by councillors.

Following objections received from Lothian and Borders Police and Lothian Buses council officials are now recommending to the 2 Aug meeting of the Transport Committee (public meeting, 10am, City Chambers) that the proposed 20mph speed limit would no longer be extended to:- 

a) The north-south Marchmont Road – Kilgraston Road – Blackford Avenue 

– West Mains Road – Esslemont Road route; and  

b)  The east-west Church Hill – Strathearn Road – Grange Road route.  


[Cameron Rose's blog also covers this story]

Scottish Health Council Summer 2011 Newsletter

The Scottish Health Council have published their Summer 2011 newsletter and sent a paper copy to the secretary of the Community Council.  


An electronic version is also available.  


The paper newsletter is being discontinued but you can subscribe to the new electronic e-bulletin e-Connect via their website.

SESplan development plan scheme to guide development across SE Scotland

The Strategic Development Planning Authority for Edinburgh and South East Scotland (SESplan) have published their third Development Plan Scheme (pdf).


The Development Plan Scheme sets out a programme for preparing and reviewing the Strategic Development Plan for South East Scotland.  The plan is intended to facilitate and provide the steer for future development and growth across the Edinburgh city region from 2012 to 2032.

Crags Sports Centre to become a basketball centre

The Crags Sports Centre is set to become a basketball hub under new plans put forward by a consortium led by a local sports club.

Boroughmuir Blaze Basketball Club joined forces with national governing body basketballscotland to submit a bid for the Council-owned Bowmont Place facility.

Evaluation of A City for All Ages: Edinburgh’s Plan for Older People

A City for All Ages is about improving opportunities and services for older people in Edinburgh, removing discrimination and challenging attitudes about older people. A City for All Ages has been implemented through Edinburgh's Plan for Older People and the action plans covering the years from 2000 to 2010.


In 2010 the Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations' Council (EVOC) was commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council to produce an evaluation report of A City for All Ages. 


A report to the Council's Policy and Strategy Committee on the 17 May 2011 describes the findings from this evaluation. The Committee noted the evaluation and significant achievements from the programme and agreed proposals to continue its key assets and to integrate A City for All Ages into existing structures and action planning. A further progress report will be submitted to the Council in 2012.

Road Casualty Statistics 2010

Scotland's Chief Statistician published Key 2010 Reported Road Casualty Statistics on 20 June. 


This bulletin presents provisional statistics of road injury accidents and casualties reported to the police.  


More details and context are available in the Scottish Government press release.

Your views on sustainable Edinburgh?

Sustainable Edinburgh 2020 outlines the City of Edinburgh Council's vision for a sustainable city and a framework for working towards this. 
The Council would now like to hear your views on what needs to happen and how we can best work together to achieve this vision. 
Please share your ideas and suggestions using the Sustainable Edinburgh 2020 questionnaire. Alternatively you can email sustainability@edinburgh.gov.uk

NHS Lothian: Health link newsletter - Summer 2011 edition

The Summer 2010 edition of NHS Lothian's Health Link newspaper has now been published.   It contains stories on: the Small Steps, Big Difference healthy eating campaign, addiction help, the new sexual health centre, organ donation campaign and how not to get food poisoning from your barbecue.

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.