EACC meets this Thursday

The next meeting of the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils will take place on Thursday (19th September 2019) from 7 pm until 9 pm in The European Room at the City Chambers.

The papers for the meeting can be downloaded HERE or from EACC Documents on the website Continue reading EACC meets this Thursday

Stand and make a difference, say West Pilton West Granton CC

All community council positions become vacant and members need to stand again for election.  I’m providing you with information on what’s involved if you are interested in standing (writes PETER FAASSEN DE HEER)
I would strongly urge you to stand and make a difference.
A strong community council is vital to help our community tackle local problems like crime, litter and bins as well as promoting all the good stuff like our parks, housing improvements, community projects and heritage.  We engage with the police, council and all the wonderful local initiatives in the area.
City of Edinburgh has all the information you need here:
Our Returning Officer is Councillor Jim Campbell from Forth Ward. If you have any questions about the process or what Community Councillors do, you can email Jim at Jim.Campbell@edinburgh.gov.uk
The only requirement for someone to nominate or second is that you are on the electoral roll in the West Pilton West Granton area, and that you can only nominate/second one candidate.  You must be 16 or over.
Key Dates
  • Monday 9 September –  publication of Notice of Election (start of nomination period)
  • Monday 30 September 4pm  –  deadline for nominations (forms to Returning Officer)
  • Monday 30 September 4pm  – deadline for withdrawal of nominations
  • Thursday 10 October – publication of Notice of Poll (if a poll is required)
  • Thursday 31 October – polling day (if a poll is required)
Peter Faassen de Heer
Secretary, West Pilton West Granton Community Council

Community Council elections: nominations open tomorrow

Nominations for Edinburgh’s Community Councils will open tomorrow (Monday 9 September) and people passionate about their local area are being encouraged to apply.

Community Councils give residents the opportunity to influence what happens in their part of the city with members playing an active role in a wide range of activities, including commenting on planning and licensing applications, taking part in community campaigns and working with others to improve the local area. Continue reading Community Council elections: nominations open tomorrow

Citizen Drop-In: What Does ‘Citizen’ Mean to You?

Citizen Drop-In
Tuesday 20th August 10.30am – 2:30pm
Edinburgh International Book Festival – Charlotte Square Gardens

Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Citizen programme is a long-term creative project working in partnership with organisations across Edinburgh, listening to people’s views about the communities in which they live. Continue reading Citizen Drop-In: What Does ‘Citizen’ Mean to You?

Two AGMs for the price of one in West Pilton!

WEST PILTON NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE and

PILTON CENTRAL ASSOCIATION Management Committees 

Invite you to their joint ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING at WEST PILTON NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE, 19 West Pilton Grove, Edinburgh, EH4 4BY

Thursday 25th July 2019, from 6.00 pm

Light Refreshments will be served

Please email Ornella Alieva ornella.alieva@ea.edin.sch.uk

or contact on 0131 551 3194 if you are able to attend

Shifting Ground: Have your say on Heart of Newhaven’s Victoria Primary School plans

2020 becomes 2021. It was announced a couple of weeks ago that a delay in planning approval for the building of the new school means all timetables are put back – we hope by no more than 20 weeks – from August 2020 to January 2021. How does that affect our 2020 vision?

We circulated this definitive information immediately to those who are already members of The Heart of Newhaven so that instead of picking up a rumour they knew all the details of the revised timetable. Now for the implications:

As far as our funding applications are concerned we have to re-schedule timetables; but The Heart of Newhaven dedicated Steering Group is equal to the consequential issues, with the necessary short-term focus to adjust complicated negotiations, confident of timely delivery in due course. That is its job and its members remain dedicated to what is expected of them.

But the time slippage has produced an unexpected opportunity.

We now have 20 more weeks or so to demonstrate the vibrancy of the Newhaven Community. This must not be time wasted just waiting.

At the last update here I’d just got home from an exciting Stakeholder Event organised on our behalf by Planning Aid Scotland, an organisation working with communities to articulate their vision and develop community-led plans. Presented elsewhere on this website PAS identified from participants new ideas and priorities for a multi-generational centre, especially what is needed in terms of community facilities.

What is a Multi-generational centre?
It is important to get used to this way of thinking – opportunities for people of all ages from the youngest to the oldest to sense that they belong to a big but closely knit family where we learn from each other.

Gone are the days when children were expected to be seen but not heard. Who of the older generation has not learned something about technology from those to whom the very latest innovation is literally child’s play?

That is why it is so exciting that our physical focus is upon acquiring Victoria Primary School so it can continue as a hub of learning and discovery, support and encouragement, not just a nostalgic look back to whatever might be considered was its heyday. Its heyday is always now and its future will be just as important as its past. Our present close-up focus task to ensure that happens means publicising as widely as possible all that is going on now demonstrating our sense of community.

Your chance to have your say, please take our survey and tell us what you think of the emerging ideas

Please fill in our survey – will be open for a fortnight only!  
<https://heartofnewhaven.co.uk/community-consultation-survey…>

Thank you for your support and please share as widely as possible!

Rodney Matthews (Vision Facilitator)