Scottish Power Site Re-development 3 - supermarket + housing

[Franck]

This is getting silly now.People being chastised for attending meetings, people's opinions being negated because they are not residents of Portobello.

During the meeting, did any CC members suggest there was significant % of Portobello residents and business owners pro the proposed development?

I really think PCC need to be taken out of the equation by the council or BL walk away from the development, it's becoming almost like playground mentality and doing no good at all.

[Pal of Porty]

John Stewart says,

"As you are aware, the community council is unable to answer your question whether it will support or object to a food store of 18,000 sq.ft. being part of your revised plans for this site".

The previous correspondence from the Chair looks like it is very much an objection to me!

[Maria]

[Porty]

[Franck]

[Grunk]

[seanie]

At the meeting our local Liberal Democrat ward member, Cllr Stephen Hawkins, also advised against consulting the community on the basis that "if there'd been a referendum we would never have abolished hanging".

[Mark Cameron]

Does anyone know if there is a means of casting a vote of no confidence in the PCC to remove them from the equation and if so what would be needed to succeed? Given there's been no election to put them into their positions what would it take to remove them.

I'm not saying this is the route I favour but could be bargaining tool with which to force a consultation with the community.

[Franck]

[Grunk]

[Makaveli]

Something really does need to be done. Investement like this does not just come knocking on your doorstep everyday and the way the PCC seem to be holding this back is not right.

At a minimum they need to do a public consultation.

[Porty]

PCC have two Email addresses; one is directed to Nick Stroud and the other to Diana Cairns: joint Secretaries. As I've already said: Nick apologised for delaying my Email to PCC due to being on holiday, he did circulate on his return. The Email was sent on September 11th (2010). So why did Diana Cairns not circulate her copy? I've still not heard from Diana directly but I have had a verbal explanation from a 3rd party; Diana is telling people that on the day I sent my Email one of her cats was attacked by a dog. I believe the incident took place in Rosefield Park.

Given that Emails have a potentially infinite lifespan, i can only assume she is still to traumatised to forward Emails. Anyone else heard from her since September 11th?

[seashell]

[Franck]

[Porty]

Poor Cat. Given that Emails have a potentially infinite lifespan, I can only assume Diana is still too traumatised to forward Emails. Anyone else had heard from her since September 11th?

[Porty]

[Mark Cameron]

I guess the bottom line here is whether the PCC views are actually worth a jot when considered by CEC during the planning application process.

Someone (was it Seanie?) posted interesting information that showed a number of planning applications that PCC had objected to but that were actually passed by Edinburgh Council.................so maybe we need not worry as the outcome is likely to be that the CEC will consider the plan on it's own merits?

[gillian]

"At the meeting our local Liberal Democrat ward member, Cllr Stephen Hawkins, also advised against consulting the community on the basis that "if there'd been a referendum we would never have abolished hanging"."

Enough! is Cllr Hawkins saying that we shouldn't be consulted as we can't be trusted to make the "right" decision?

I shall wait until I find this comment in the minutes of the meeting, because surely a gem of a statement like this would not be omitted, and then I will take it to whatever body regulates the PCC. Not sure who this is but I will find out. This is no longer about whether BL get the go ahead or whether the PCC have any real clout but about the fact that my democratic right is being ignored. Written like that it sounds very dramatic but there you go thats how I feel.

[wangi]

[Franck]

[Porty]

There is no chance it will make the minutes. Minutes are not verbatim and his live in partner is the secretary .
I 'm happy to take Sean and Wangi's word for it.

Did either of you hear the Councillor informing another PCC member that if he were unhappy with the Chairing of the meeting he should leave?

[wangi]

I'd pity anyone who had to come up with representative minutes for the meeting on Monday!

The atmosphere was quite "charged" at times...

[Porty]

Was there a City Council observer present?

[Porty]

An interesting and pertinent blog from an anti- Tesco group in Sheringham. Residents are having referendum today to determine which use of Land they favour; Tesco or a Waitrose managed Eco type store.

A few local councillors have been referred to the Standard Commission and one was asked to leave a Council meeting where the application was being discussed.

Not read it all yet but its been going on for 14 Years.

[Makaveli]

Just an idea but would an event like the Organic Market happening tomorrow not be good for the PCC to try and gather some opinions on the BL developments issue? Or at least try and get some e-mail address's to later gather some opinions on the issue?

I am not suggesting that it is done tomorrow (short notice and all that) but should be thought about for the November Market as I am sure the vast majority of people there will be from the local community.

[Grunk]

I don't know whether the kind of folk who shop at an organic market are going to be neutral when offering opinions on a supermarket?

[philip myerscough]

The proposal is not for a supermarket! The question is "do you want a development of 500+ new homes; 1000+ new people living and shopping in Portobello; the end of an eyesore at the entrance to Portobello; new public square; new GP surgery, dentists' surgery, alternative therapies and pharmacy; artists studios, recording studios and music school combined in new facilities with performance space and cafe; and, yes, a Waitrose foodstore a bit smaller than the one in Morningside".

[Makaveli]

A development that Portobello badly needs in my opinion - I don't see why folk keep going on about new foodstore killing the hight street surely getting a potential 1000 new customers would help revitalise the hight street?

[seashell]

I agree. this is a development within a few minutes walk of the High Street - not a car drive away. Surely it has the greatest change of bringing more people to the High Street and helping to revitalise it - something which has long been talked about as badly needed on this board. Plus there are social/community facilities too. While some people might not view it as "perfect" (and what ever is?) it's pretty good and it has to be encouraging that the developers are willing to engage in discussions with the community.
There is a clear public perception among some sectors (e.g. evening News correspondants) that Porty automatically says "no" to anything new. In order to go forward - some compromises have to be made - and not only by the developpers. Otherwise things will just stagnate.

[Bob Jefferson]

[wangi]

Although again focussing on one small aspect of the overall plan. It's a shame for the rest of the scheme to be largely ignored as battle lines are drawn.

[Bob Jefferson]

That's largely because people in general don't have a problem with the residential aspect of the proposals. If people like myself have misgivings, it's about the supermarket element and it doesn't help when BL is spinning us lines suggesting that Waitrose is going to be the operator when this is patently untrue.

[wangi]

[Bob Jefferson]

I might also say 'I have it on good authority' but naturally I have to protect my sources. To be honest, the site has lain empty for so long that I don't even notice it and it wouldn't bother me particularly if it remained that way for another decade. What BL has to do, if they are confident they have the support of the community, is lodge an application. What the CC has to do is to ensure, through meaningful consultation with the community, that it fairly and accurately reflects our wishes and aspirations in its formal response to such an application.

[Porty]

I'm not sure Waitrose is the "must have" choice for the Porty community. Councillor Hawkins must be hoping to turn PCC against the proposal purely because it is not Waitrose. He really is prepared to go the extra mile to fulfill his personal wish list.

Waitrose, or indeed any organisation, who are being courted at this stage of a potential development, would be crazy to declare any interest. Why show your hand? If they are interested it would likely weaken their negotiating position and forewarn their competitors that they do have an interest. As far as I understand it; BL have spoken with Waitrose- thats it.