Vacancies on Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council

Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council has a few vacancies for those who would like to be co-opted.  

Community Councils are voluntary, statutory bodies made up of local residents. We exist to ascertain, co-ordinate and express the Marchmont & Sciennes community’s views to public bodies at every level, especially with the City of Edinburgh Council.

Issues we cover include:

Planning

Roads

Schools

Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs)

Refuse/Recycling/Street cleaning

Licensing

Parks and Green Space

Anti-social behaviour

If you think you might be interested please get in touch (with no commitment!) with the secretary using the e-mail or telephone contact details in the right hand column of this infoblog.

Domestic Security Event: 7-9pm at Mayfield Salisbury Church

A Domestic Security Event is being run by PoliceScotland and City of Edinburgh Council Community Safety on 29 April (7-9pm at Mayfield Salisbury Church, 1 Mayfield Road Edinburgh).

The event aims to offer constructive advice regarding both personal safety and protection of your property. There will be presentations from the organisers and a chance to ask questions.

Don't forget to vote in the UK Parliamentary General Election on 7 May 2015

The number of people registered and voting in the Scottish Independence Referendum was at a record level. Many people, including lots of older people, voted for the first time.  It would be great if people don’t just vote once in their lifetime but instead turn out every time to have their say on important matters.

Info from the council on how to find out where, when and how to vote

Your poll card tells you where your polling place is. Check that you’re going to the right place as it might have changed since the last time you voted.  You don’t need to bring your poll card with you to vote but it does help to make the voting process faster.

If you have a postal vote, follow the instructions carefully – your signature and date of birth on the statement are both needed.  A common reason for postal votes being rejected is the signature or date of birth not matching – make sure yours do. Please return your postal vote as soon as possible.

Whether you are voting in person or by post, make sure you vote with a single X. Please don’t write any other comments on the paper as then it might not be clear how you are voting.

Polling Places will be open from 7am until 10pm. Don’t leave it too late to cast your vote.

For more information about where, when and how to vote visit the City of Edinburgh Council website.

Your views wanted on public toilet closures (by 25 May 2015)

Courtesy of STV -
http://files.stv.tv/imagebase/341/605x433/341494-public-toilets-facing-closure-in-edinburgh.jpg

The City of Edinburgh Council recently took a step back from reducing the public conveniences budget by £600,000 which would have meant that the majority of Edinburgh’s public toilets would need to be closed.

However, the Council still needs to make a £300,000 saving in 2015/16 following a budget decision made in 2011. This means that around ten toilets will need to be closed.

Please complete the Council’s online survey about public toilets and provide your thoughts on how closure of certain public toilets might affect you and your local community; or the people to whom you provide services. This survey went live on Monday 13 April for a period of six weeks.

Agenda for MSCC meeting on We 22 Apr 2015 at 7:30pm

Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council will hold its April meeting on We 22 Apr 2015, at 7:30pm.  

The meeting will take place in our usual venue of St Catherine's Argyle Church halls on Beaufort Road/ Grange Road. 

This will be our seventh meeting of 14/15.  We will continue our regular practice of meeting on the fourth Wednesday of the month until Jun 2015, and then take a break till Sep 2015.

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

A G E N D A

 1            Sederunt and apologies

 2            Draft Minutes of last meeting, 25 Mar 2015 and matters arising (not otherwise on Agenda)

·      Food recycling bins

·      Hope terrace (parking in front gardens)

·      Plans for Royal Hospital for Sick Children site

·      Lovers Loan wall

·      MSCC publicity on advertising drums

 3             Police Report

·      Road Safety at JGPS

 4            Update on Meadows & Bruntsfield Links from Mike Shields 

Items for discussion

 5            New planning applications

 6            Advertising vacancies on MSCC  

 7            Revised planning brief for Astley Ainslie prior to redevelopment

Items mainly for information

 9            Treasurer’s report

10            Gravestones in Grange Cemetery

11            Reports of meetings

12            Traders’ Evening

13            AOCB

14            Date of next meeting: 27 May 2015

Newington Library has re-opened

Following the completion of essential building works, Newington Library has re-opened.   

Improvements include the installation of a new heating system, new lighting and ventilation, and redecoration.  

Staff are looking forward to welcoming both regular users and new customers to the reinvigorated library.

Opening Hours

Monday:         10 am – 8 pm
Tuesday:         10 am – 8 pm
Wednesday:   10 am – 8 pm
Thursday:        10 am – 5 pm

Friday:             10 am -  5 pm

Saturday:        10 am – 5 pm

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

Edinburgh Living Landscapes to include wildflower meadow on Bruntsfield Links

The Edinburgh Living Landscapes project will include a wildflower meadow between Leamington Walk and Warrender Park Terrace on Bruntsfield Links. 

The Edinburgh Living Landscape is a partnership project that will create, restore and connect green areas of the city to make attractive and biodiverse landscapes, enjoyed by residents and visitors.  

Partners include:

• City of Edinburgh Council

• Scottish Wildlife Trust

• Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust

• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 

• GreenSurge

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.

Volunteering opportunities: event at the Meadows on Sa 28 Mar

eVOLve, a Volunteering Group, is holding an event this Saturday 28th March 11am-3pm in The Meadows in collaboration with Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links to encourage volunteering and sustainability.  

All ages are welcome!  There will be conservation projects, crafts and activities, falconry and refreshments.  

Come along, Get Involved and show your support! 

For more information visit their Facebook page.

This Wed at 7:30pm: meeting of MSCC

The next meeting of the Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council is this coming Wed at 7:30pm

Register by 20 April to ensure you can vote in the General Election

General Election – 7 May 2015 The number of people registering and voting in the Scottish Independence Referendum was at a record level. Many people, including those in their 60s and older, voted for the first time. We want to make sure that people don’t just vote once in their lifetime but they vote every time to have their say on important matters. Have you moved home since August? Or changed your name? Update your voter registration details If you were registered to vote in the Referendum and your details have not changed, you do not need to register again. If your details have changed, it’s really important that you tell us so that you can vote. You can now register or update your details online using the Government website. You will need to do this by20 April. If you are not sure if you are registered, contact the Electoral Registration Office on 0131 344 2500. For more information about where, when and how to vote visit the City of Edinburgh Council website.

Spokes Spring Public Meeting: the Bicycle in the City Centre on Th 26 Mar at 7:30pm

A Spokes Spring public meeting will be held on Th 26 Mar at 7:30pm in Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge.

The meeting will discuss the future of Edinburgh city centre – particularly Princes Street / George Street – and the role of the bicycle there.  

The headline speaker is Cllr Lesley Hinds, Convener of Edinburgh City’s Transport Committee and other speakers include:

• The business view – Richard Darke, Projects Manager for Essential Edinburgh
• ‘My view’ – Professor Tom Rye, Director of Napier Transport Research Institute

Audience members will then be able to ask questions and there will be a panel discussion

Agenda for MSCC meeting on We 25 Mar 2015 at 7:30pm

Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council will hold its March meeting on We 25 Mar 2015, at 7:30pm.  

The meeting will take place in our usual venue of St Catherine's Argyle Church halls on Beaufort Road/ Grange Road. 

This will be our sixth meeting of 14/15.  We will continue our regular practice of meeting on the fourth Wednesday of the month until Jun 2015, and then take a break till Sep 2015.

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

A G E N D A

 1            Sederunt and apologies

 2            Draft Minutes of last meeting, 25 Feb 2015 and matters arising (not otherwise on Agenda)

                ·      Food recycling bins

                ·       Objection to the planning application - timber siding at 31 Hatton Place

                ·      Events/ Marches/ Rentals

                ·      Plans for Royal Hospital for Sick Children site

 3             Police Report

 4            Update on Meadows from Mike Shields 

Items for discussion

 5            New planning applications

 6            Edinburgh Association of Community Councils  

 7            Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and SUSCOMS

 8            Astley Ainslie redevelopment

 9            Gravestones in Grange Cemetery

Items mainly for information

10             Treasurer’s report

11            Road safety outside JGPS (letter)

12            Reports of meetings

                 ·      James Gillespie’s Parent Council

                 ·      Neighbourhood Partnership

                 ·      Grange Association

13            Light-controlled crossing on Marchmont Road

14            AOCB

15            Date of next meeting: 22 April 2015

Agenda for MSCC meeting on We 25 Feb 2015 at 7:30pm

Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council will hold its February meeting on We 25 Feb 2015, at 7:30pm.  

The meeting will take place in our usual venue of St Catherine's Argyle Church halls on Beaufort Road/ Grange Road. 

This will be our fifth meeting of 14/15.  We will continue our regular practice of meeting on the fourth Wednesday of the month until Jun 2015, and then take a break till Sep 2015.

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

A G E N D A

 1            Sederunt and apologies

 2            Draft Minutes of last meeting, 28 Jan 2015 and matters arising (not otherwise on Agenda)

          ·      Food recycling bins

          ·      Events/ Marches/ Rentals

          ·      Plans for Royal Hospital for Sick Children site

          ·      Pedestrian footbridge to the Royal Edinburgh hospital site

 3             Police Report

 4            Update on Meadows from Mike Shields 

Items for discussion

 5            New planning applications

 6            Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (workshop)

 7            Digital Engagement Workshop

Items mainly for information

 8            Treasurer’s report

 9            Road safety outside JGPS (letter)

10           Reports of meetings

11           Update on Noticeboard for centre of Marchmont Crescent

12            AOCB

13            Date of next meeting: 25 March 2015

Edinburgh University Wind Band Free Community Concert on Su 8 Feb at 3pm

Agenda for MSCC meeting on We 28 Jan 2015 at 7:30pm

Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council will hold its January meeting on We 28 Jan 2015, at 7:30pm.  

The meeting will take place in our usual venue of St Catherine's Argyle Church halls on Beaufort Road/ Grange Road. 

This will be our fourth meeting of 14/15.  We will continue our regular practice of meeting on the fourth Wednesday of the month until Jun 2015, and then take a break till Sep 2015.

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

A G E N D A

 1            Sederunt and apologies

 2               Draft Minutes of last meeting, 26 Nov 2014 and matters arising (not otherwise on Agenda)

·      food recycling bins

 3             Police Report

·      Behaviour outside James Gillespie’s Primary School at school start

 4            Update on Meadows from Mike Shields 

Items for discussion

 5            New planning applications (?)

 6            Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (what role do we wish to play)

 7            CCTV on Meadows (no consensus)

 8            Christmas Tree/ refuse collection

 9            Sick Kids re their plans

Items mainly for information

10            Christmas tree lighting ceremony: thanks to organisers

11            Treasurer’s report (in absentia)

12            Reports of meetings

                        Neighbourhood Partnership

                        HMO group

13            Sciennes in pilot of school streets scheme

14            MSCC leaflet

15            Update on Noticeboard for centre of Marchmont Crescent

16            Parking review

17            AOCB

18            Date of next meeting: 25 February 2015