It was a good week for me last week. Mainly this is due to the decision of the Education, Children and Families Committee to keep open the Longstone Community Centre and the Gorgie War Memorial Hall. The Sighthill Community Centre is still to be relocated in the , now empty Westburn Primary school sight. Personally I would rather have kept the primary school and I opposed its closure by this Lib. Dem. / SNP Council but I suppose you can't win them all. Although this relocation is bad news at least there is a site in the plans for the development of North Sighthill for a replacement and we will just have to make sure one actually gets built!
The 'Gorgie Mem' was the best campaign I think I have ever seen. This shows the strength of feeling in the local community and I was proud to support them in any way I could. There is no question in my mind that the campaign caused a reversal of the proposals to close the Mem and Longstone. People power at its best. This Lib. Dem. \ SNP coalition in the Council started of the consultation telling local people that the decision to save this money had already been taken and that secret talks had taken place to decide which of the 45 community centres across the city should be put forward for closure. Strangely enough 4 out of the 6 were in the South West of the city and people in this area should never forget that. It was impossible to criticise the deliberations of the group set up to decide on where to make the cuts as the meetings were held in secret with even opposition local Councillors being excluded. Local people were told if they wanted to save a centre from closure they would have to say which ones should be closed instead! This was a shocking travesty of a consultation and the fact that it arrived at a reasonable outcome for Longstone and the Gorgie Mem is down to the strength of their campaigns and not the Lib. Dem. and SNPs ability to listen. It also has to be added that the Labour Group would not have closed any community centres as we protected these front line services and took the cuts from elsewhere.
This is the second time I have had to fight to save the Gorgie Mem. from this Lib. Dem. \SNP Council, they tried to close it a couple of years ago as part of the Schools Rationalisation Program ( which thankfully fell apart). Hopefully the Administration at the Council have at last seen that this is a War Memorial , sold to the Council for a nominal sum (£70) in the 1930s for safe keeping, and also a vibrant community centre proving a unique friendly atmosphere and irreplaceable safe green space. It is disgraceful that it was ever put forward for closure in the first place.
See below thank you statement by the Chair of the Management Committee of the Gorgie Mem..


Keep the Hall Open Campaign – A Success!!!!!

Dear Hall users and supporters,

I am writing to tell you about the success of our campaign to save the Gorgie War Memorial Hall. After months of campaigning since we were first informed of the proposal for closure we are delighted that at Edinburgh Council’s Education, Children and Families Committee meeting last week they voted to keep the Hall open.

Our campaign emphasised the strength of public support for the Hall as well as the strength of public feeling that a war memorial should be protected. We also emphasised the potential that resides in the Hall as a community space. Consequently, as well as voting to keep the Hall open the Committee also encouraged us to do what we can to make the war memorial a more significant feature of the Hall; to develop the potential of the Hall to appeal to more people in the community; and to build up the strength of our management committee.

We are happy to take on these challenges because, having gathered substantial support for our campaign from the community, we feel that the people of Gorgie value the Hall and would be happy to invest further in it. Perhaps you feel that you have some ideas to offer the management committee about how the Hall could be run, or about how the Hall could be developed? If you do then please don’t hesitate to let us know on the phone number above or by giving Dave or Wendy a message.

In order to realise our potential one of the most important things we need to do is to build up the strength of our management committee. The current volunteers have done a fantastic job, and I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to their hard work over the past months in particular. However, we are always looking for volunteers from our supporters and user groups to serve on the management committee. I would be delighted to welcome you if you feel you have an hour or so to give each month to help keep the Hall open, keep it economical and to help make it a versatile space for the local people to use. Now that we have saved the Hall please consider serving on the management committee to help ensure that we are not faced with closure again in the future.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in the campaign to save the Hall. As a management committee we were overcome by the enthusiasm of everyone’s support. Hall users, supporters and members of the community wrote to the Council, signed the petition, came to the public meeting, and offered us words of support and kindness. Thank you.

I hope you will continue to enjoy the Gorgie War Memorial Hall. As a community centre it is an important community space and as a war memorial it is an important community marker.

Best wishes,

James Aitken

James
Chair, Gorgie War Memorial Hall management committee

Excellent article on the attemps to close the Gorgie War Memorial Hall. One of the best articles I've seen in the EN or is that because the issue is so clse to my heart? Read it for yourself.

The relaunch of the 'Gorgie Dalry Christmas lights Switch on Ceremony'. After a poor shadow of a ceremony last year I put it to the Community Council that if anything was going to happen this year they would have to organise it now that we have lost the Gorgie Dalry Partnership (funding cut by the Lib. Dem / SNP Administration). They have done a great job however at short notice and it looks like we have the makings of a decent ceremony again this year. For details see below...

Saw an interesting page by Ed Miliband today about an article that the Government has had made about climate change. It hits right at the heart of one of the issues I feel most strongly about. As the effects become ever more clear there is still an increasingly desperate sounding group who persist in ridiculing any attempt to do anything about it.Things like wind farms and solar panels can in my view contribute a significant percentage of the worlds energy needs especially if you consider them being on houses and buildings in addition to the farms themselves. As soon as I decide what is the best configuration I will be putting them on my house. And, yes I do like the look of them ! An Admin. Assistant in the Council once told me she thought they looked like 'hope' and I have never forgotten it. Even if we can't reverse the trends global warming what harm does it do to clean up the atmosphere? It reminds me of the interminable arguments about the link between smoking and cancer. The time for discussion is past, we need action now , and quickly.

Anyway here is what Ed says ....click on the link and watch the advert.

'As part of an effort to raise peoples’ awareness of man-made climate change and what we can all do about it, the government had this advert made.Now, whipped up by the sceptics, nearly six hundred people have complained about it in a bid to get it banned.We need to show that the climate change sceptics are a tiny, if vocal, minority and that action to make the public aware of climate change has real public support.Sign up to Ed Miliband's campaign at EdsPledge.com '

Just seen an interesting message from Hilary Benn .....

'The ban on fox-hunting – that Labour Party members from across the country worked so hard to achieve – is under threat. Yesterday, at a time when our Labour Government is focused on tackling the recession and securing our economic recovery, the Tory spokesman on Animal Welfare re-affirmed that the Tory Party, if elected, would set aside Government time for a vote to repeal the ban. And make no mistake - David Cameron and members of his top team have made it very clear that their intention is to see the return of the cruel spectacle of foxes being torn to pieces in Britain’s countryside. So I need your help. Please sign up now to Back the Ban.We need to make sure that as many people as possible know that a consequence of voting for the Conservatives at the next election will be an end to the ban on fox-hunting with dogs. I’m going to be campaigning alongside animal welfare organisations on this in the coming weeks and months and it will help a lot to know if you’ll support our campaign. Sign up now to pledge your support for my campaign. Once you’ve signed up I’ll be in touch by email next week to let you know exactly how you can help. Together we can make sure that as many people as possible know that a Conservative Government would mean an end to the ban so many people worked so hard to introduce.
Thank you
Hilary Benn '

I have always felt strongly about this one. I don't believe the nonsense that it was a humane way to keep the numbers down. How could being ripped apart by dogs be humane? But the final argument for me is that fox hunting is not banned, you just can't use a real fox! Fox hunting has become more popular since the ban so surely that means killing the fox isn't the important thing. In throwing the javelin for example, which originally came from throwing spears in war, you don't still have to throw it at someone. Why then in Fox Hunting would you still have to use a living fox?

It's that time of year again - time for the ....

'Wasps Artists' Open Studios Weekend 2009
Saturday 3rd October 11am - 5pm
Sunday 4th October 12pm - 5pm '

Of course there are exhibitions from the Highlands to Selkirk in the Borders (where I am from) but I like to go to the local one at -

'West Park Place Studios, Dalry: Regular visitors will know that the artists always put a cafe together in the basement space for the weekend. This year the cafe in the basement exhibition space will be run by Delish Salad and Sandwich bar and will be the perfect place to meet and talk about the work on show. If you can't wait until the weekend, you can visit Delish at 59 Dalry Road, Edinburgh EH11 2BS. '

It is well worth a visit and we usually buy something. Prices range from the expensive to the very reasonable. Or just go along to look at the wonderful art works.

See below local activities at the Whale Arts Centre. Quite a variety! 'Let's Dance' is well timed with the return of 'Strictly' to our screens. Bring back Arlene - that's all I'm saying.

Free Workshops for Adult Groups in South-West Edinburgh.
WHALE is delighted to be able to offer the workshops below FREE OF CHARGE to groups in South-West Edinburgh. Workshop times are flexible so can be arranged around the time that your group usually meets and can either take place at your group’s usual venue or the WHALE Arts Centre.


Let’s DANCE
Dancing is a great way to have fun and to keep fit! Let’s DANCE workshops are led by expert tutors who are experienced in working with beginners. A range of dance styles are available including salsa, ballroom and swing! 1 or 2 hour workshops available.


Creating a Character
At heart everyone is an actor and this workshop will enable participants to release their inner drama queen! Aimed at complete beginners this is a fun, interactive workshop involving games and exercises to develop characters and scenes. A chance to play! 1 or 2 hour workshops available.


Film and the G20
This workshop is offered as a partnership between the World Development Movement (WDM) and the Reel Lives Film Club at WHALE. On the 7th of November the G20 (twenty of the richest nations in the world) are sending their Finance Ministers to St. Andrews to decide on their solutions to the global financial crisis. Residents of South-West Edinburgh have a particular interest in this because it is our MP, Alistair Darling, who will be representing the UK at this meeting. This workshop uses film clips to engage groups in discussions about what the G20 is, the effects of its policies and how it can be challenged. 1 hour workshops available.


For further information, to arrange a workshop for your group or to suggest other possible workshops and collaborations please contact Gavin Crichton on 458 3267 or adult@whalearts.co.uk

Further information on our weekly workshop programme for young people and adults can be found at www.whalearts.co.uk