57 Councillor Mary Campbell

Politics can seriously change your life! About six months ago, Mary Campbell moved from being a local green activist to being one of Portobello's elected representatives. 
 

Cllr Mary Campbell

In this episode, she reflects on her new role, the challenges and frustrations that go along with it.

Cllr Mary Campbell 

56 Jump In

How many children in Scotland leave school unable to swim? And how many child deaths here are due to drowning? Sadly, all too many!
 

Portobello Swim Centre's main pool

That's why September has been a busy month in the Portobello Swim Centre - and indeed in other pools across the city. 'Jump In' is a campaign to raise money to help young children from the poorest backgrounds to learn to swim. There's still time to join in by donating money to the cause.  But before that, have a listen to this latest episode.

Jump In 

The simplest way is by texting to EDLS65 £3 to 70070

55 Sale of Tumbles and the Pitz?

There is a growing anger with the City of Edinburgh Council over the proposed sale of land at Westbank Street where the 5-a-side pitches and Tumbles are located. According to many local people, guarantees were made after the demolition of the power station and swimming pool that all of this whole area would remain as a public amenity. 

 

The land the council propose to sell

But the council has put the land up for sale to pay for the refurbishment of the stadium at Meadowbank. The council insists that there was proper public consultation over the plan – but no-one locally seems to have heard about it. Already, several developers have expressed interest - and (as far as anyone knows) they all want to build housing or retail units on the site. But a group of local people have come up with a plan to make the Council think again. Here are their thoughts.

Westbank 

54 The Keys to Bellfield

It feels quite a long time ago now but the Porty Podcast’s first episode dealt with the campaign to save the redundant church in Bellfield Street for the Community. As explained in a previous post, the Podcast has had to take an enforced break; it therefore seems appropriate that we return once again (perhaps for the time being with occasional posts) with a story about Bellfield because, this week, the keys (a very large bunch of keys) were handed over to Action Porty. 

 

The Organ in Bellfield

Now, the real work begins and money is being raised to make sure the project starts off debt free with the Bellfield Crowdfinding Campaign

Developers had been looking at the potential of the building; however, we understand that many had been put off by the graveyard and the fact that this was an historic building with a beautiful interior. This may have helped Action Porty’s campaign and everybody involved is now delighted with the outcome.

The Keys to Bellfield