Autumn 2012 ∼ ∼ N E W S L E T T E R AGM 7.30Pm ! Thursday 22Nd November, 2012 ! in the Royal Blind School
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! CRAIGMILLAR P A RK ASSOCIATION Registered Scottish Charity No. SCO2729 CRAIGMILLAR P A RK ∼ N E W S L E T T E R ∼ ASSOCIATION Registered Scottish Charity No. SCO2729 Issue 21 ! Autumn 2012 ∼ ∼ N E W S L E T T E R AGM 7.30pm ! Thursday 22nd November, 2012 ! In The Royal Blind School AUTUMN UPDATE Since the last issue planning activity in our area has been fairly quiet, but on a broader front CEC has been busy consulting on a range of issues, some being mentioned below. You will see that we are again indebted to the Royal Blind School for the venue for our AGM in their excellent hall and many thanks to the Principal Julie Fardell, but sadly, looking further ahead, this will come to an end as many of you will have seen the announcement that the Craigmillar Park Campus is to close by August 2014 with the School consolidating onto their Canaan Lane premises. Some residential accommodation may continue until 2016 in the villas owned by the School adjacent to the Craigmillar Park Campus. These changes have been necessitated by falling residential pupil numbers, a reflection of changes in the way the special educational needs of the visually impaired are now met, but this will sever a link with the local community going back for well over a century and of course raise the question of the future of the site. During August and early September those of you south of the railway were consulted by CEC Transport about a Residents Priority Parking Scheme similar to the B1 Scheme north of the railway and now just over a year old. The results of this informal consultation will be used to decide if the scheme should go ahead to the next legal stage if there is a majority in support of it. Another current CEC consultation ending on 31 October is about what will replace the statutory repairs scheme due to end in spring 2013. If you are in a building in shared ownership views can be emailed to:- [email protected]. Continued on page 2 Page 2. CRAIGMILLAR PARK ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER Issue 21 Continued from page 1 CEC Planning has ongoing consultations on the consolidation of planning guidance into far fewer documents than the present rather large number. This guidance is non-statutory but is used to assess planning applications for compliance with a range of planning policies, particularly affecting listed buildings and conservation areas in which we do take a considerable interest. We think the idea of consolidating the documents is good, but have concerns to ensure that existing polices which have served us well in helping to maintain and enhance our conservation area are not changed or lost and so we are keeping an eye on what is being done. Across Lady Road and just outside our area a planning application for retail kiosks at the entrance to Cameron Toll shopping centre was turned down, principally because the proposals would interfere with a safeguarded future tram route, but perhaps I had better not mention trams again. Work is nearing completion to establish the care home on the north side of East Suffolk Road in some of the former St. Margaret’s school buildings and we understand it will become operational in early 2013. When the buildings are finished and furnished Four Seasons Health Care has offered to show a group from CPA around and so if you would like to take part in this visit which we expect will be during January, do let me know with your contact details. Before then I hope to see you at the AGM. Tony Harris, Secretary some useful contacts Edinburgh Council: 200 2000 Local Police: 0131 311 3131 [email protected] [email protected] www.edinburgh.gov.uk/contact ADivSNTsouthsidenewington@lbp. South Central Neighbourhood pnn.police.uk Partnership. SFC South Local Library Neighbourhood team - 529 5151 http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/ [email protected] libraries/newington/newington.html Craigmillar Park Information: Clarence: 0800 232323 [email protected] [email protected] www.craigmillar-park.co.uk GAS - Emergency: 0800 111 999 [email protected] NHS 24: 08454 24 24 24 Royal Infirmary: 242 1000 AA: 0845 769 7555 Page 3. CRAIGMILLAR PARK ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER Issue 21 Introducing Councillor Jim Orr Biography Jim has represented the Southside Newington ward since May 2012. He is from East Lothian and was a self-employed public sector auditor and accountant prior to being elected. Jim is a keen piper and sportsman (enjoying cycling and running). His proudest sporting achievement was a week-long solo cycle trip from Lands end to John O’Groats in 2006, an experience he hopes to repeat one day. Responsibilities Jim’s main committee responsibility is as Vice Convener of the Transport Infrastructure and Environment Committee. On this committee he leads on recycling, cycling and sustainability policies. He also sits on the Culture and Leisure, Audit and Pensions committees and sits on the boards of the environmental charities Changeworks and Transform Scotland (as a substitute member) and the transport body SESTran. He is committed to making the historic coalition administration between the SNP and Labour work well for the people of Edinburgh, particularly at a time when the reputation of the Council has suffered due to well-known failings in transport policy and the problems with statutory repairs. His other ambitions are to be a responsive and effective local councillor and to help those worst affected by the economic downturn. Message from Councillor Orr. “As a committed environmentalist, I am determined to drive forward the Zero Waste Scotland agenda and minimize the dumping of waste in landfill. Not only is the unnecessary disposal of landfill waste unethical, but it will soon be unaffordable due to landfill taxes. Residential recycling is only around 33% in Edinburgh at present but the Council has a plan to transform this up to 60% by 2017. Please support us. I am also passionate about strengthening the transport infrastructure in Edinburgh such that it is fit for the 21st century. We have also set aside record sums for cycling in Edinburgh over the next five years (5% of transport budget) and I pledge to do my utmost to ensure that these resources are not wasted. I am a big supporter of 20mph residential zones and sustainable transport.” Councillor Jim Orr Financial report Funds in the bank as at the end of August stand at £4,201. With membership renewals for the coming year now being posted out we would be most grateful if all members could return payments promptly and with gift aid declarations completed accordingly. I look forward to see you all at the AGM where the annual accounts will be put forward for approval. Mark Probert, Treasurer Page 4. CRAIGMILLAR PARK ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER Issue 21 Packing Shoeboxes One of our local residents brought “Blythswood Care” to my attention. Although a Christian Charity it offers practical help for all those in need at home and abroad, regardless of their political or religious beliefs or ethnic origins. Their “Shoebox Appeal” takes place every year in the Church Hall of Craigmillar Park Church, which is in the centre of our Conservation Area and because of this I asked Norman to write about his work, as I felt some local residents might be interested. More information can be found on their website: http://www.blythswood.org/shoebox/ or (email: [email protected]) The Care Shoebox Appeal sorting centre is at Craigmillar Park Church, Craigmillar Park, Edinburgh. Last year, after sorting 5,500 boxes we finished early as the incoming supply ran out! Even though that was 1,500 fewer boxes than in 2010 our work rate had increased (again) from 700 boxes/day to nearly800 boxes/day. The effort made by all the helpers was fantastic and I thank you all again. Just to remind you, the process is like this: we receive the boxes in, usually in large black bags, from the collecting lorries in deliveries of about 1200 shoeboxes. Then we open up each shoebox, empty out the contents, check the box and contents for prohibited items (and for any possible contraband), check for and remove any money included to cover shipping, repack the contents into the box, add missing staples such as toothpaste, add a Christian booklet or calendar in the language of the receiving country, tape up the box and pack it into an outer carton. The outer cartons, by now quite heavy, we move to a storage area; then, when the collecting lorry arrives, we manhandle the cartons onto pallets (on the hydraulic tail- lift) and the pallets into the lorry; each shipment is about 180 cartons on 10 pallets. The sorting work is necessary so that the shipments pass unobstructed across international borders. Customs offices in each country will accept the lorries unchecked only if Blythswood Care can state that every box has been examined by its volunteer staff. As you might realise from the description the work is labour intensive: it's not difficult, it's not hard work, it's not even dull, in fact it's good fun, it's social and it's very rewarding. But to be manageable it needs lots of volunteers each doing a 3- hour shift; the light work of checking shoeboxes can be done by anyone and we have 6th-year school pupils, students, pensioners and even some disabled all helping. Lifting and moving the outer cartons is heavier work, best suited to those of a more physical disposition; usually men, but not always...so, if you would like to help between 12th and 23rd November then please contact Norman Weibye on 0131 668 3545 (email: [email protected]).