You may have come a cross the Council’s proposals for Seafield, which it describes as an “urban area housing-led mixed-use site” – whatever that means. In practice, it means turning the ‘metal mile’ into a new shoreline community. If done well, it could be real asset, transforming the western end of Portobello beach. However, the document contains the following warning: The potential development, if done badly and with a lack of community input, threatens to leave us with an ugly and uncoordinated development, with a lack of supporting infrastructure”. It all adds to the need for the kind of Development Trust that Justin Kenrick of Action Porty was suggesting in the Podcast at the weekend.
We have also heard from Portobello Community Council about the closure of Brunstane Road for an 18 month trial starting in the autumn. It follows a meeting of the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee. The Community Council was rather frustrated that its own views were buried within the 1000 responses received and tucked away in an appendix. And perhaps inevitably, the decision has led to a lot of sometimes hostile comment online, especially when people read that the assorted consultation exercises came out roughly 25% for and 75% against the idea.
And finally, on a lighter note, this afternoon I will be interviewing singer-songwriter Rosie Nimmo who launches her fourth Album, “Where Time Suspends”, at the end of the week. Rosie has clearly been putting her time in lockdown to good use. She’s released a couple of tracks already as singles which have been picked up by programmes on BBC Scotland, BBC Nan Gaidheal and BBC Wales; and she’s also performed some of the songs live on the online channel Home Song. You can hear more in the podcast on Saturday.