PEDAL (was: Community buy-out for the Place?)

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 23 Jul 2007, 12:57

From today's EN:

We'd have community spirit on tap in our pub

Post by **wangi** » 23 Jul 2007, 13:33

A "community buy out" isn't the most accurate way to describe a (small?) group of people wishing to buy premises to operate from. Quite why they simply cannot buy an empty shop on the High St or attempt to buy this pub through the normal channels I don't know...

More info on PEDAL: http://www.pedal-porty.org.uk/ - a community group, but I think it'd be push to say they represent the community.

Oh, and how do you attach a wind turbine to the ground floor of a four storey tenement?

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 23 Jul 2007, 14:01

A listed tenement at that. They don't seem to realise the length of time a wind turbine takes to pay for itself let alone run into profit. Maybe its a wind farm on top of the tenement they are proposing. not the first time i have heard or read some off the wall suggestions from PEDAL.

The last one was in relation to local allotment holders selling their excess produce as advocated in their literature. This contravenes the Allotments Act and regulations which specifically prohibit plot holders from selling produce grown on their alllotment.

Their intentions seem to be good but some work on the legalities and business case side of things needs work.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 23 Jul 2007, 15:55

I think the Plough, which is actually up for sale not lease, has a better feel for art classes and a youth club.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 23 Jul 2007, 16:14

"Sorry I'm late darling, I was doing a Landscape."

Christ, it might just work.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 23 Jul 2007, 16:29

Porty wrote:I feel this topic should be in Portobello matters.

I would agree if I thought there was any chance it might actually happen. Rather than being a serious proposal, I regard this as a publicity stunt to promote PEDAL's aims I like the idea of a community cafe in Portobello though.

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 23 Jul 2007, 21:57

A central, permanent community cafe is a good idea. A weekly or monthly farmers market is another, why don't PEDAL concentrate on something a bit more feasible? There are plenty of 'sustainability' ideas out there that they could advocate before turning to booze.
Isn't Evergreen a sort of community cafe?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 23 Jul 2007, 22:59

Puerto bella wrote:A central, permanent community cafe is a good idea. A weekly or monthly farmers market is another, why don't PEDAL concentrate on something a bit more feasible?

Sadly I think its because they have little or no grasp on reality.

Take "The Place" for example. The community has had its chance to love this pub over the last couple of years. Its been a pub/restuarant and a pub. Such was the love for "The Place" it has closed down three times and has probably been closed more months than its traded. I was in it a few times and I thought the various owners tried their best.

PEDAL and The other mob also really piss me off with their claims to represent the community. Their quotes in the Evening news suggesting that Portobello has "lost its village feel". In other words we don't have a community spirit. Complete and utter bollocks. Justin Krankie has lived here for 12 years and is holding himself out as a barometer for the feeling of our community. Who he? Who they?

The closest Porty got to a community cafe was the Refreshment Room at the baths. That was run by (7?) local ladies who worked their butts of to make a reasonable return for their efforts. The Council put paid to that.

Jamesie · Post by **Jamesie** » 23 Jul 2007, 23:05

This story in tonight's News gave me my biggest laugh in ages. I checked the front cover to make sure it wasn't a copy from 1 April that I'd picked up by accident.

Go into any pub on the Portobello seafront on a weekday evening outwith "summer" and you'll see how hard a struggle it is to attract the punters.
Why would this community element make it any different? I'm still waiting to hear a satisfactory answer to that. When you start a business up you need a market and this has white elephant all over it.

What next - the Porty Goth?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 23 Jul 2007, 23:33

"derelict", it says? A bit of an exaggeration, surely?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 24 Jul 2007, 11:55

Poppy wrote:"derelict", it says? A bit of an exaggeration, surely?

You may well be right about the exaggeration but the derelict claim is closer to reality than any other assertions made in the article.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 24 Jul 2007, 22:20

Porty wrote:PEDAL and The other mob also really *** me off with their claims to represent the community. Their quotes in the Evening news suggesting that Portobello has "lost its village feel". In other words we don't have a community spirit. Complete and utter bollocks. Justin Krankie has lived here for 12 years and is holding himself out as a barometer for the feeling of our community.

Justin's maybe muddling us up with Emmerdale or the like. I don't remember being brought up in a village so it's no wonder I've lost my feel

. They should never have shut down the YMCA and made it into a charity shop.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 25 Jul 2007, 09:38

Puerto bella wrote:A central, permanent community cafe is a good idea. A weekly or monthly farmers market is another, why don't PEDAL concentrate on something a bit more feasible? There are plenty of 'sustainability' ideas out there that they could advocate before turning to booze.
Isn't Evergreen a sort of community cafe?

A Farmers Market in Porty would be a great idea.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 25 Jul 2007, 09:55

Epykat wrote:Justin's maybe muddling us up with Emmerdale or the like. I don't remember being brought up in a village so it's no wonder I've lost my feel .

You have perhaps inadvertently uncovered PEDAL's big idea for Portobello; the creation of a self-sustainig eco village. If this is the case then its an admirable objective. However, can you imagine how stiff the competition would be for village idiot?

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 26 Jul 2007, 20:24

Porty wrote:
Epykat wrote:Justin's maybe muddling us up with Emmerdale or the like. I don't remember being brought up in a village so it's no wonder I've lost my feel .
You have perhaps inadvertently uncovered PEDAL's big idea for Portobello; the creation of a self-sustainig eco village. If this is the case then its an admirable objective. However, can you imagine how stiff the competition would be for village idiot?

I'm just looking forward to the bit where we get impregnated in our sleep and have alien babies. Oh.....wait a minute......I think that already happened to me

Post by **wangi** » 13 Sep 2007, 14:09

I noticed PEDAL are back in the Evening News today:

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinb ... 1464522007

Porty goes ahead with car ban

IT was supposed to be a chance for cyclists and pedestrians to "reclaim the streets".

But a bid to ban cars from Portobello's High Street fell at the first hurdle when the city council refused demands to close off the busy road.

Undeterred, campaigners are pressing ahead with plans for the town's first "car free day" and have vowed to encourage motorists into more environmentally-friendly transport.
...

As normal the title doesn't really tie in with the content of the article! The group seem to have been wanting to close off the high St for a few hours on the 23rd, but the council said no. So there you go. Can't they just do a march and be done with it?

More info on PEDAL's website: http://www.pedal-porty.org.uk/car_free.html

EDIT: Nice to see a comment to the article pointing to our own little bit of bother on the forum as it's somehow representative of Portobello...

Franck · Post by **Franck** » 13 Sep 2007, 14:38

A couple of cracking names from the PEDAL crustifari... Eva Schonveld & Dave du Feu .

I cant see the problem with closing the high street for a few hours, especially if there is a farmers market on offer.Notice they are going to start their cycle on the prom, these militants just get more crazy and lawless each day...thought you couldnt cycle on the prom?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 13 Sep 2007, 17:11

Franck wrote:thought you couldn't cycle on the prom?

Yes you can, apparently, and I usually don't have a problem with that as long as they take care and realise it's not a flat velodrome!! But if cars can't go along the High Street then they'll just use residential streets instead...not nice for those residents as the Milton Road roundabout works are causing them increased traffic already!! And what about the disruption to the buses?? It would probably be make folk use their cars instead ........ thereby defeating the purpose of the "ban"!!

I noticed the headline "Porty Bans Cars for a Day" and thought to myself -I bet that isn't the whole story

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 13 Sep 2007, 17:28

So the council put a spoke in the works!

I can see a big problem with closing the High Street for a few hours namely traffic snarl ups. Its not that long ago we had huge queues after the oil spill at the Kings Road roundabout.
So Ok you could divert the cars but what about the buses? to avod the High St they'd have to cut out Portobello altogether. So if you are able to go a bike fine, but what about the elderly/ less able who rely on the buses

Wonder what the tone of the article and comments would have been like if it was Corstorphine High St, or Musselburgh etc etc

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 14 Sep 2007, 10:06

More info

CAR FREE DAY EVENTS
2 – 4pm on Sunday 23rd September
ROSEFIELD AVENUE (by High Street)
(or community centre if wet!)

Local Market
Support your local growers, makers and charities – come and buy the fine local wares at Porty’s latest local market.

Live Music
The fabulous Belle Stars Ceilidh band and friends will be playing for us, so bring your dancing shoes!

Installations
What would you put in a car parking space that’s better than a car? Woodcraft folk and Designers on the Run share some of their ideas.

Facepainting
Become a work of art with Porty’s famed make up artist!

Dr. Bike
Bring your bike for a free consultation. If you need any treatment he’ll send you off to BG Cycles and Blades for a discounted ‘operation’.

Dr. Window – Box
Everything you ever wanted to know about window box gardening but were afraid to ask.

‘Cosy Bike’
Have a go on the world’s only bike designed for 6 people.

EVENTS AT OTHER VENUES
Photo competition:
‘Porty – Streets for People’
Venue Anywhere in Porty Time all day
Take a picture on Car Free day, print it out, and send it to: Porty Photo Competition (Streets for People), 3F1 5 Straiton Place, Edinburgh EH15 2BA by 13 October with your contact details and age (if under17). All entries will be displayed in Porty Library from 28 Oct. (Sorry prints will not be returned). All entries welcomes. Prize for the best picture in 3 categories: under 12s, 12 – 17s, and adults.

Dressed up Bike Parade
Venue Prom end of Kings Road
Time 1.30
Not just for bikes – dress up your scooter, skateboard, roller blades, spacehopper, wheelchair… Customise your wheels and show ‘em off. The parade will end at the local market about 2pm. Under tens please bring an adult!

River Meets Beach - walk
Venue Bowling Club on the Prom
Time 2.30
Meet for a walk along the Figgate Burn. Bring your own rubber duck (you’ll find out why…)!

Inspired? Browse the eco-book display in the library. Help make Portobello Scotland’s first Transition Town by helping develop an ‘Energy Descent Plan’ to cut our use of fossil fuels and our CO2 emissions. See: www.pedal-porty.org.uk

Whatever you do – have a great day, and next time you reach for the car keys – back away! Think again: do you really need to make that journey? Lets make Portobello THE place to be!

For ideas on reducing your carbon footprint visit Yahoo! For Good this month.

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 23 Sep 2007, 18:46

Anybody go this afternoon?

We were there. Wangi - was that you taking pictures? If it was then I missed a spladoosh.

Izzie · Post by **Izzie** » 23 Sep 2007, 20:07

Yep We were there

Post by **wangi** » 23 Sep 2007, 20:51

Puerto bella wrote:Wangi - was that you taking pictures?

Afraid not!

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 23 Sep 2007, 22:36

I was there. Good turnout.