Tag: 2017

LEITH LINKS CC NEXT MEETING MONDAY, 30TH OCTOBER 7PM

Your Community Council

The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will be on Monday 30 October, 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

Agenda Monday 30 October 2017         Draft Minutes September 2017

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SEAFIELD

On behalf of the community council I attended a meeting at Scottish Government with members of Leith Links Residents Association. The statement below was released by Ben MacPherson MSP as Chair of the stakeholders group.

We, the Seafield Stakeholders Group, welcome the Strategic Review into the operation, physical infrastructure and overall performance of the Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works, commissioned by the Scottish Government and being undertaken independently by Amec Foster Wheeler and Cranfield University.

“Today, Friday 29 September, we welcomed the opportunity to hear first-hand about the comprehensive investigative work being undertaken by consultants Amec Foster Wheeler and Cranfield University into odour-related issues at Seafield and the surrounding network, including consultation with a large number of individuals and residents from the local community. The Group also welcomes the approach that the independent consultants are engaged in and acknowledges that a thorough investigation is being undertaken.

“We were able to question and comment on the methodology and process of the Strategic Review, to ensure it is robust and appropriate, and look forward to analysing the independent report when it is due to be published on 27 October.

“The Stakeholder Group also looks forward to working collaboratively upon the findings of the Review, to address and prevent odour nuisances emanating from the Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works.”

 

Jim Scanlon

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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

 

 

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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

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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!)
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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.

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