Next CC Meeting 25.9.17, 7 pm
The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will be on Monday 25 September, at 7 pm in the Shore Room, Leith Community Education Centre, New Kirkgate. All Welcome.
September Dates
Your Community Council
The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will be on Monday 25 September, at 7 pm in the Shore Room, Leith Community Education Centre, New Kirkgate All Welcome.
Did you know you can go and talk to one of your local Councillors, if you have a private matter you need to discuss (just turn up, no need to ‘book’):
- Councillor Chas. Booth (Scottish Green) Termtime Tuesdays 5:30 – 6:30 Leith Library , Ferry Road.
- Councillor Adam Mcvey (SNP) 3rd Wednesday of month, 6pm Leith Library, Ferry Road.
- Councillor Gordon Munro (Scottish Labour) 1st & 3rd Mondays of month 6:30 – 7:15 Leith Community Education Centre, New Kirkgate
What is happening around our area in September?
- Saturday 16th September (and every Saturday) – Leith Farmers Market, Dock Place, 10am-5pm
- Saturday 16th September – Lasting Change Workshop: explore the power of grassroots political engagement in Scotland, with Andy Wightman, Nick Wilding and others, 11am-1pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street
- Sunday 17th September – Leithers Don’t Litter litterpick, meet at Marine Esplanade, Seafield. 1:30/2pm – 5pm
- Saturday & Sunday 23/24 September – Doors Open Day across Edinburgh. Lots of fascinating buildings you can have a nosey into, including here in Leith: Leith Theatre, Customs House, Trinity House, South Leith Parish Church, for starters.
- Saturday 30 September – Leith Community Croft Harvest Festival, 12:00 – 16:00, Community Croft Johns Place, Leith Links
October / November
eh6 Festival, 21/22 October – The Biscuit Factory and all across Leith Details and tickets
Leith Community Cinema is planning several events:
- Community Cinema Conference Saturday 14 October
- Film showing: Sing, Friday 3 November
- Film showing: Viceroy’s House, Saturday 4 November
Mela on the Links this weekend!
The Edinburgh Mela is back this year, and is up and running RIGHT NOW on Leith Links. Open from 12-9pm both Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd (FREE entry).
Check out the exciting programme of music and dance perfomances here, and there is also yummy food, stalls and lots of fun. All welcome!
FESTIVAL FIREWORKS
Just a reminder that the festival fireworks display is tonight from 9pm onwards. If you have a pet please try to make sure they’re safe indoors. Thanks
Leith Links CC – Next Meeting, Monday 28th August 7pm
The next meeting of Leith Links Community Council is on Monday 28th August, at 7pm in the Leith Community Education Centre, New Kirkgate. All welcome.
The Agenda for the meeting and the draft Minutes of the previous (June 2017) meeting can be found in ‘Our Library’
Breast Screening
During August to October ladies, aged 50-70, from Bangholm, Restalrig and Leith Links medical practices will receive appointment letters asking them to the screening centre at Ardmillan House in Gorgie. If you’re in the age group and attend Leith Links Medical Centre you should receive an appointment in the post. If you want to find out more please contact
South East Scotland Breast Screening Service, Ardmillan House, 42 Ardmillan Terrace
0131 537 7400
Seafield Terms of Reference agreed
On behalf of the CC I attended a meeting at the Scottish Government at Victoria Quay on 1st August. Also in attendance were Ben MacPherson MSP, Rob Kirkwood from Leith Links Residents Association (LLRA), Prof R Jackson and SG civil servants.
Scottish Water have appointed consultancy firm, Amec, Foster Wheeler to carry out the strategic review of Seafield Waste Water Treatment Plant and the sewage network which supplies Seafield. The firm have been chosen to give an independent evaluation and have no financial connection to the plant and would not benefit financially from their report by awards of contracts if work was required.
Our meeting was to agree the terms of reference so that the consultants can gather information on the state of Seafield and we hope that they will be able to present their findings within 6 months but will also be in the position to give an interim report on progress to the Seafield steering group in October. The CC and Residents Association have asked to meet separately with the consultants in late September so that we can voice any concerns.
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Roseanna Cunningham has ordered this review and at the meeting our local MSP Ben emphasised again that odour issues at Seafield have become a priority for the government.
The terms of reference instruct the consultants to undertake a detailed evidence based review of the operation, design and maintenance of the plant with a direct focus on the way odour is managed and to reduce as far as practicable odour nuisance under all operating and weather conditions .Using analysis of appropriate odour generation and dispersion statistics.
They will consult with community groups and relevant stakeholders (Scottish Water, SEPA, City Council) to gather information on our perspectives and what we want to achieve. The consultants have already met with LLRA and I plan to meet with them next week. They will also want to speak to members of the public about how odour nuisance from Seafield impacts on their lives.
When the review is completed the consultants will provide recommendations on improvements to infrastructure, repair, replacement or enhancement on the site.
In plain language this means that if capital investment is required the consultants will identify the areas where work could be carried out and how much each option may cost.
Reviews have been carried out at Seafield in the past but nuisance odours have continued because of lack of investment. Both Leith Links CC and LLRA have agreed the terms of reference for this latest review with some changes in wording.
We also gave our support to the review with some reservations and concerns that as in the past only the cheapest options will be considered. Over the following months I will keep you updated on progress as the consultation continues. Jim
What’s happening in August?
There are a few interesting community events taking place this month:
- Thursday 10th August – Leith Neighbourhood Partnership meeting. 18:30, Nelson Hall, McDonald Road Library. There is £243,000 to be allocated for Neighbourhood Environment Projects. If you come along on 10th August you can contribute to decisions on projects to be funded.
- Friday 11 August – Leith Moves , 18:00 – 20:00, Out of the Blue Drill Hall. Film and exhibition on stories of Leith and Leithers.
- Friday 18th August – for kids and all ages – Leith Creative, with Lorne Primary & Jameson Place Sheltered Housing. Free playing out afternoon (12:30 -15:30) in Jameson Place, with a fun Street Huts building competition.
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th August – Leith Creative Community Conference. 13.00 – 17.00 both days, Leith Community Education Centre. Over the last 6 months, Leith Creative has been asking “What would make Leith better?” This conference will allow for sharing and discussion of the main issues and themes that have come out of the research, to date. Guest Speakers and round table discussions. Please reserve your place via Eventbrite (free!)
Seafield enquiry goes ahead
This week, representatives from both the Leith Links Community Council and the Leith Links Residents Association met with Scottish Government to discuss and finalise the Terms of Reference for the forthcoming independent review of the Seafield Sewage plant. Consultants are already gathering data from all Seafield stakeholders, including members of the community. As a next step, they will set out and cost all possible ways of minimising the odour nuisance from Seafield, and Scottish Government will eventually make decisions about which they will fund and implement. We welcome the fact that for the first time there appears to be political will at government level (and hopefully some funding, attached to it) to make something happen to improve the situation.
Fingers crossed!
We will keep you posted, as the review proceeds.
Strategic Review of Seafield Sewage Plant announced
The Evening News has just published an article outlining a new strategic review commissioned by Scottish Government (Rosanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for the Environment) relating to the odour nuisances from Seafield sewage works.
The photo here shows Ben MacPherson MSP, Chair of the Seafield Stakeholders Group, who has been working with Ms Cunningham and with the local community “to properly tackle the issues at Seafield, which affect many of my constituents.” He said the review would engage with the community and also include consideration of on-site operational and capital options. “This is a strong and significant step forward towards further reducing instances of odour nuisances and working towards eliminating them. It will investigate the situation at Seafield fully and determine the necessary action that needs to be taken to deal with the issues and improve day-to-day life for the community.”
Read more here: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/scottish-government-order-review-into-seafield-stench-1-4496034
