Trinity CC met on 11 January. Here are the main points:
Goodwill to all men?
Happily criminal activity was subdued over the Festive period. But for the unlucky few, and there were some, a housebreaking is still traumatic. Thieves now seem to be targeting houses with sash and casement windows i.e. much of Trinity! So take care to secure tools like spades which might be used to lever open sash windows. And remember all those other security messages about locks, burglar alarms, keeping car keys out of sight etc. Jewellery seems to be the current target.
Clean, Green, Safe & Engaged Report
This quarterly report from Forth Neighbourhood Partnership sets out how well local services are being delivered and our environment maintained.
Unsurprisingly, Trinity’s parks shine brightly in these statistics and, despite a couple of recent headlines, we can claim to be rather a safe place to live with reasonable levels of community engagement.
Street cleanliness was generally close to target but we are pursuing CEC for clarification on its policy for clearing leaves. This appears to happen in a rather random fashion and, if not cleared e.g. Clark Road, Craighall Rd, Denham Green Pl, the new tennis courts, cycle path, South Trinity Rd, leaves have quickly succumbed to recent weather and deteriorated into a slippy, slimy mess.
But overall it was clear that the issue of greatest concern to residents was rubbish and recycling and the new recycling arrangements in particular. This is crystal clear from the level of complaints with the most recent figures being more than three times the target level – a substantial rise on the previous month. While this appears to be starting to settle down there are still problems with bins not being emptied on the scheduled day. Big green bins are seen as a bit of a problem for the elderly.
Victoria Park – Gourmet Destination?
CEC is tendering for food outlets at several sites including a mobile unit in Victoria Park. We have not been consulted but believe it is to some extent a response to the recurring suggestion of using either the Bowl House or the Pump house as a café. We are informally advised that as/when any bid is received, we will have an opportunity to feed in comments and concerns.
We will monitor developments closely to ensure that the promised consultation is delivered and we hope that by then that Friends of Victoria Park is up and running and will be able to comment in its own right. Concerns include increased litter and sale of burgers and fizzy drinks to school children but overall, the proposal seems to have general support as, among other things, it would provide a focus for people to meet up for coffee etc.
Do you have a view? Write and let us know – or grab a word with your local community councillor.
Fringe Benefits 1: Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop
The final phase of Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop’s new building opened in March 2015, marking completion of a world class arts facility right on our doorstep in Hawthornvale (pictured, top). As well as 26 artist studios it has specially equipped workshops to enable artists and organisations to test ideas and develop projects. Across the building, indoor and outdoor spaces support a range of different sculptural activities and provide viewing areas to enable visitors to see work in progress.
Want to know more? You can join a contemporary sculpture course or just drop by to see what free exhibitions and talks are on. Maybe just relax in the new café, accessible directly from the cycle path or Hawthornvale and open seven days a week? Tours of the building can be arranged for groups or individuals by phoning 0131 551 4490.
Fringe Benefits 2: Ocean Terminal
Ocean Terminal Ltd has plans for a major hotel development. At present we only know the outline. If, like us, you’d like to know more, there will be a public exhibition of the proposals on 10 February at Ocean Terminal Community Room, First Floor besides Debenhams, 3.30 to 7.30pm.
Street Lighting
Regular readers can’t fail to have noticed the repeated concerns about the effectiveness of the new street lighting in some, particularly wider, streets. Some problem sites, but not all, have been picked up. The CEC replacement programme is now moving to its next phase and we are asking for clarification of what this means and how the earlier problems will be tackled in this new phase.
Neighbourhood Environment Fund
It’s that time of year again where we put forward ideas bidding for funds to invest in our local environment. Current candidates include the Vennel to the north of Trinity Academy, Trinity Road Tunnel and Wardie Bay Foreshore. Have you got any ideas? Also time to start planning our annual Walkabout. Is there a particular part of Trinity which needs to be looked over? Do let us know if you think there’s something we should be looking at.
Goldenacre Planters
As 2016 begins, discussions continue concerning funding of planters outside the old RBS Goldenacre branch. We live in hope!
Much more at our next meeting on Monday 8 February at 7 pm in Wardie Parish Church, Primrose Bank Road. Open to all. Come along and give us your thoughts, or contact a Community Councillor – we need to know your views so that we can represent them!
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