Maureen Child: Update 17/03/2011

[administrator]

Dear All

The Lord Provost's office has passed on a message about the Japanese Earthquake. As you will know, on the 11th March 2011 at 14:46 local time (05:46 GMT), a massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japan, the largest ever-recorded. The epicentre was 250 miles (400 km) from Tokyo, off the northeast coast of the country. The earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused the tragic loss of thousands of lives and has impacted on the lives of many more. A Book of Condolence will be open for signing at the Consulate General of Japan from Wednesday 16th March to Wednesday 23rd March (excluding Saturday and Sunday) between 9:30am-12:30pm and 2:00pm-4:30pm.

On the Milton Road Rail Bridge works, I have been told that the bad weather at the beginning of the week stopped the workmen applying waterproofing membrane to the new deck. Unfortunately, a knock on effect of this is that the sub-contractor who is laying down the surfacing is stuck on another job and was unable to come to site until today, Friday. They tend to be booked up for several weeks, so we are not able just to go to someone else. That was why very little was happening on site Wednesday and Thursday, which would have been very frustrating for motorists and residents most affected. However, I am advised that the contractor is trying to reschedule some works for Saturday to regain some of the lost time.

The 2011-2012 garden waste calendars are being posted out mid-March and - if you get this service - you should have had yours by now. The calendar will give your garden waste pick up dates from 28 March when the service returns to fortnightly collections. The number of homes taking part in the garden waste recycling service has increased so much that the service has been redesigned to cope with the demand. To make the service more efficient we have changed the routes the collections vehicles take. Because of this, your garden waste collection day and time may have changed. Your last 4-weekly collection may be due to take place between receipt of your calendar and 28 March and this date will not be shown on the calendar. To check your next collection date, visit: http://www.greenboxday.co.uk and enter your postcode or email: waste@edinburgh.gov.uk or phone: 0131 529 3030. You can find details of Edinburgh’s full range of recycling services at http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/recycle

The sand is to be returned to Portobello beach 'regrading' from west to east as part of the coastal defences work we pushed for after the storms damage of 2010 to help prevent flooding in future. The contract has been awarded to George Leslie Ltd after a competitive tender process. The expected start date is next Tuesday, 22 March.

Work is also progressing on the archaeological investigations in advance of the Niddrie Burn Restoration works and the building of the public transport link from Greendykes to the New Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. It has now become clear that the new path of the burn, level with the Jack Kane Centre, entails the destruction of some mature trees, including seven large sycamore trees known locally as 'The Seven Sisters'. This came as a shock, particularly for local people who love these trees. I went on a muddy site visit yesterday with representatives from Hunters Hall Housing Co-operative, and the civil engineer who is managing the project, to begin to see why these trees will have to go. We also met the archaeologist who was able to explain a bit more about what they were doing. The Ice House, which is a remaining fragment of the old Niddrie House (destroyed by fire in the 1950s), will be retained. A 'hand' from the 1970s Gulliver sculpture can also remain in situ. The intention is to have a local exhibition of the archaeological finds in mid April.

Finally, 24 hour council tax and benefits advice. The council tax and benefits enquiry telephone service, 0131 469 5000, is now providing advice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. By using a touchtone telephone, you can now get answers to frequently asked questions as well as provide information without waiting to speak to staff. If you have any feedback about this service - good or bad - please do let us know, because that can help make it better. I have had one bit of helpful feedback already.

Have a good weekend!
Best wishes
Maureen

[administrator]

Dear All

My apologies for not including the address of the Consulate General of Japan in yesterday's Update. The Consulate is at 2 Melville Crescent, EH3 7HW (phone: 0131 225 4777) and is open for anyone to go and sign the Book of Condolence on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday this week from 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4.30pm.

I'll add two more bits of information, since yesterday, one from PEDAL - Portobello Transition Town:

"Portobello Organic Market will take place as usual on the first Saturday of the month, 2nd of April. There will be all kinds of fantastic seasonal and local produce for sale at your favourite regular stalls plus newcomers Supernate Oil (rape seed oil grown in Midlothian using low impact farming techniques and bottled on-site), Home Ground Coffee Ltd (speciality roasted coffee beans ground to you specification) and Antonia Kearton cards (post cards of Portobello).

Due to early morning demand, please note the market will now run from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm every month.

The market needs your support! PEDAL's funding for the market runs out on 31st March, so April's will be our first without any paid staff. We have contracted Market Craft to set up and take down the stalls, as well as sorting out the paperwork, but we still need volunteers to steward at the market each month. This is a fun and rewarding role assisting traders and shoppers, running the PEDAL stall, helping with publicity, and for regular volunteers we provide first aid training. There are two shifts that you can choose from: 9-11.30 or 11.30-2. If you would like an opportunity to help promote local and organic food and crafts, meet new people and learn new skills, then please don't be shy - contact Tom Black at tom@pedal-porty.org.uk or on 0131 258 4483. We really need your support now if the market is to continue."

Second is my personal recommendation that you visit The White House, which officially opened yesterday, maybe a plan for next Saturday if you can't make it during the week? The White House is a beautiful B-Listed art deco building at Niddrie Mains Road, in the centre of Craigmillar. The building was originally a 1930s roadhouse, built at at the time when family outings by motor car were becoming popular and included tea rooms and billiard rooms as well as a public and lounge bar. Known locally as 'The White Hoose', it was latterly run as a pub until it fell into disrepair and lay empty for more than a decade. Many local people still remember being there and have their own stories to tell about it. The Craigmillar regeneration company PARC acquired the building in 2007 and have now returned it to its former glory. The restoration work was part-funded by the Scottish Government's Town Centre Regeneration Fund and Historic Scotland's Conservation Grant. The White House opened to the public yesterday with an Inaugural Exhibition that showcases the past, present and future of Craigmillar. This has been put together in partnership with the Craigmillar Archives local group and the Scottish Government's Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiatives, of which Craigmillar is one of eleven regeneration projects. So the White House is very well worth a visit, and the opening times are 10.30am to 3.30pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays, from last Friday until 10 June. For enquires please email parc@edigroupscotland.co.uk

Best wishes

Maureen