Please find my report attached. An update on the Central Bar situation (in my report written earlier) as of this morning's Licensing Board meeting: The Board heard the owner and licensee and his lawyer, but also myself and two local residents as objectors. There had been over 20 objections to the early opening times (I must say I lost count when he was reading them out!). They took on board our concerns and the upshot is that the matter was continued to allow the Board Member Councillors to visit the premises, in particular to look at the outside back area. The owner's lawyer said that is a possibility it might be suitable for a smoking area. After the meeting, both sides had a discussion and we have agreed to keep in touch with any developments through me. The owner has no intention of opening late at night, he said, even although the licence core hours remain at 9am to 1pm mean time.
Portobello Village Show this Sunday afternoon, 2nd September in Rosefield Park from 2pm to 5pm, organised by Portobello Open Door. More details on:
http://www.the-pod.org/forthcoming%20events.html
I have more information - 2MB each - on a number of issues. I don't want to overtake your inbox by sending them out cold. If you want more information on any of the following, please do let me know and I'll send them out to you.
Changes to Bin Collections
Straiton Place Park Improvements proposals, including a map.
East Coast Trains Noise Reduction Plans and Contacts for Craigentinny Depot (back of Stanley Street)
Consultation on the Proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill
Best wishes
Maureen
Councillor’s Report
27 August 2012
Maureen Child, Labour Councillor for Portobello/Craigmillar
Loss of ‘Woodwares’
It is really very sad indeed that we are losing our excellent independent hardware shop on Portobello High Street, which has been a draw for locals and for customers far and wide. It will be greatly missed, when it goes, and we might have hoped it would have been passed on as a going concern. The owners have apparently entered into an agreement to lease the property to Sainsbury’s for a local store for fifteen years, subject to the necessary permissions. One thing they do NOT need is a planning application for a change of use, as its use class would remain as it is now – ‘Class 1 Retail’. Opinion seems divided on whether or not the arrival of Sainsbury is a good thing.
Portobello High School Judgement Due
The Court judgement has not yet been issued, as I write, but it is expected any day now. Rumour has it that we will all know, over the course of the next week, whether or not the Council has won the legal case for building the new school on Portobello Park and the original judgement was sound.
Towerbank Primary School Trees Lost
Work began at Towerbank to build the extension and new nursery block a couple of months ago. As the children went away on holiday, the diggers were getting ready. Unfortunately, the contractor removed too much. To the utter consternation of the local residents in Wilson’s Park, ALL the trees and hedging in the original wildlife garden were grubbed up! I was assured that the written instructions to the contractor were clearly written to retain some of the trees and hedge and that was part of the planning consent. The project manager has committed that once the building is complete mature trees and replacement hedging will follow, partly to help screen the new development from the neighbouring properties.
Central Bar Hours – Earlier Opening?
There was an application to the Licensing Board to shift the hours of operation of the Central Bar, as it is scheduled to re-open soon under new management. The opening hours were fixed before at 9am to 1am. The change would have it open at 7am and close at 11pm. I put in a written objection, asking for a restriction of opening hours from 9am to 11pm. A fair number of local Brighton and Rosefield residents have also objected. Parents are particularly upset about the prospect of school and nursery children walking to school past an open public house, especially where there has been trouble in the past. The nearby Portobello Bar is open from 7am, so - I have to ask - why would we need another one?
Groyne Replacement Work
I have been pleased to see the excellent progress in replacing the groyne on the beach nearest the Joppa Pumping Station. This structure was destroyed in the storms last year. It forms part of our coastal defences and we feel it is an important defence against loss of sand from the eastern end of the beach. It looks pretty solid now and hopefully will last a few more years and help us retain our beach.
Figgate Burn Park Otter Sighting
I have not been lucky enough to see the Figgate Pond otter - photographed by Anthony Robson and featured on Twitter, STV Local and the Council’s East Team website - but I have been looking, along with many other visitors. These recent observations fit with five records of otter by Scottish Wildlife Trust members in Duddingston Loch and Bawsinch Reserve during November last year, then frequent sightings of a male and a female with two young in this spring. It seems likely that the otter was striking out and looking for new territory downstream and found Figgate Pond. Let’s hope it likes it here and many more get the opportunity to see it.
New Ramp To Make Sandy’s Accessible
I have been working with the Management Committee of Castleview Community Centre – popularly known as ‘Sandy’s’ - to get a ramp which is compliant with Disability Discrimination Act put in for wheelchair, pram and baby-buggy access. The work is due to start this week, fully funded by the Council. At long last! The Centre’s management committee plan other changes to make the entrance to the building more welcoming and to make the accommodation more flexible for its very successful boxing club and other Centre users.
New Meeting Place Found For Craigmillar Books for Babies
The work at Sandy’s is happening just in time to host Books for Babies for two months while Craigmillar Library moves to the new Council East Local Office building which is almost ready. This is the big building nearing completion on Niddrie Mains Road. 650 families use the Books for Babies service and their Rhyme Time attracts 50 parents or carers with their babies and toddlers every week on a Tuesday morning. Being able to get in to the building easily with buggies is going to be very important. Books for Babies also do outreach and home-based work with parents and children, but the danger was that the core of the work would have had to stop for a whole two months. I was very pleased to be able to ensure they can continue and negotiate a special ‘no fee’ rate for them.
New Pedestrian Crossings
It’s not easy to get pedestrian crossings in place. The requests come in and there follows a very long and tortuous process of prioritisation based on number of people crossing (as a measure of risk) and the actual accident record. Now three pedestrian crossings are to be installed over the course of the next few months. They are not light controlled crossings, but at least the proposed islands will make the crossings of busy roads a bit safer. The three latest ‘top of the priority list’ locations are at Niddrie Mains Road near Craigmillar Health Centre; Newcraighall Road near Peacocktail Close; and Newcraighall Road at Fort Kinnaird. I have asked officers again to look at the crossing of Joppa Road near St Philip’s Church. Perhaps any survey of pedestrian numbers here is best done on a Sunday!
Brunstane Road/Milton Road East Bus Stop
I have raised - again - the road traffic issues caused by the position of the east-bound bus stop on the north footway here. We have finally persuaded officers to do a full assessment of how the stop is used, thanks to the intervention of our new Lead member for Transport, Lesley Hinds. The officers will also carry out peak hour traffic surveys before and after the Jewel and Esk College re-opens. IF (note, big ‘IF’) the officers and bus companies agree with local people that there really IS a problem with the position of this bus stop, the matter will be referred to the Bus Stop Working Group to find a solution. Once again – tortuous legal and official processes are in play here!
My Contact Details: Councillor Maureen Child, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ; Phone Number 529 3268; Mobile 07718 666 481 e mail: maureen.child@edinburgh.gov.uk Twitter @MaureenChild1