June Members Update

REMINDER

ACTION PORTY AGM AT BELLFIELD - WEDNESDAY 22ND JUNE 2022 (7pm- 9pm)

Action Porty welcomes members and other interested local people to our 2022 AGM.

This is an opportunity to hear about what has been a busy year for Action Porty, and to hear and comment on our plans for the future.

Having re-opened Bellfield in April, 2021, it is now busier than ever. However, we think we can make it an even better community facility, and will be sharing our initial thoughts on how we do this at the AGM. Beyond Bellfield, Action Porty is involved in a range of activity – from Heart Talk Porty to the proposed development of Seafield.  

Come simply to hear about all that has been happening, or to talk with Ella Lees our volunteer co-ordinator about getting involved, or with a member of the board about joining one of our sub-groups.

Action Porty welcomes new members to our board and in particular we are looking for someone who is willing to put in the work once a year to get our annual accounts sorted and submitted. If you have any kind of financial experience, we would love to hear from you.

If interested, you can register on Eventbrite or just turn up on the night.

AGM Agenda June 2022
AGM Minutes May 2021
Action Porty Accounts 2020-2021

BIKEFEST AT BELLFIELD  - SUNDAY 19TH JUNE 2022 11am - 3 pm

Our last letter highlighted that we hoped to support and host a Porty Community Energy event, and that a Temporary Traffic Restriction Order (TTRO) had been applied for to allow people to view and test low carbon transport solutions.

This TTRO has now been granted by the Council, and we are pleased to inform you that Bikefest at Bellfield will go ahead. Similar to previous events like the Big Lunch, Bellfield Street will be closed to traffic, and parking will be restricted (10am – 4pm) between the junction with Straiton Place and the junction with the High Street. Access to the Baths and disabled parking bays will be available via Straiton Place, and a turning circle will be maintained at the High Street end.

We are grateful to Edinburgh City Council who are supporting Bikefest as part of their programme of events promoting Clean Air Day Scotland on 16 June, and to the National Lottery Community Fund.

It will be an exciting opportunity to try out some unusual and unique bikes for free and children (and adults) will be able to play in the street. You will also be able to contribute to the conversation about how Portobello can reduce the number of cars in our neighbourhood and how we can all travel more enjoyably. We look forward to seeing you there.

While separate from BikeFest, Porty Community Energy are also holding a free car-sharing workshop at Bellfield on the evening of Tues 28th June. You can register by searching www.eventbrite.co.uk for “Car Sharing Porty”.

SOUTH LONDON JAZZ ORCHESTRA- SATURDAY 20th AUGUST 2022 7.45pm - 10pm

South London Jazz Orchestra are part of the history of Bellfield. They offered us a Festival gig way back in the early days of Aug 2018. It coincided with Big Beach Busk and - wow! - they nearly blew the roof off the place. What an atmosphere! They came back the next year and did it again!
Then you know what struck so no gigs in 2020 or 2021 but ......yes, Aug 20th 2022 South London Jazz Orchestra are on tour again and Bellfield is one of their gigs.

Ticket will go fast. You know you will want to be there and be part of the folklore of the place. Come raise the roof again.

South London Jazz Orchestra | Music | Edinburgh Festival Fringe (edfringe.com)

To keep up to date with all upcoming events at Bellfield check the following link: https://www.bellfield.scot/events

BELLFIELD VOLUNTEER WEED-A-THON SATURDAY, 25 JUNE 2022 FROM 1.30pm - 5pm

The front garden space at Bellfield is needing a good weed. We're hoping to make an afternoon of it.

For one person to do it would take lots of hours. We're hoping a wee crowd will do a couple of square metres per person over a few hours and get this space back under control. All this in return for some tea/coffee/cake and chat.
We're not certain of the long term plans for the space but we do know it needs some short term love and attention.

If you fancy joining us, ideally please let us know by emailing Ella ella@action.porty.com or messaging us on our Bellfield Facebook page - it will help us get the catering and tool requirements right but ultimately, just turn up on the day and we'll be very grateful!

PLANNING APPLICATION 

We have recently applied for planning permission to build some storage sheds to house e-cargo bikes and gardening tools etc in the back garden, bordering the wall to Bellfield Lane. These are desperately needed, and have been designed to be sympathetic to the building and memorial stones, and to have virtually no visual impact outside of the gardens.
Plans can be viewed and commented on via Edinburgh City Council’s Planning Portal; reference 22/02541/FUL, or by searching for “Bellfield”.

THE GARDEN GROUP

A group of four volunteers has been helping to keep the back garden at Bellfield looking good. We meet at 10.00 each Friday morning for a couple of hours, and would welcome others who might come along (The back garden is the one through the metal gate to the right of the main Bellfield building).

In recent weeks we have tidied up a large bed which was full of weeds, and planted raspberries, currants, tomatoes and beans. During the dry times in April and May we have done a lot of watering, and tackled areas where sticky willie, dandelions, red valerian and other plants were taking over.

It’s a relaxed session, and it’s suitable both for people who have no gardening experience, and for those who know what they’re doing and have ideas to offer. This garden is a lovely, peaceful, under-used space, and it would be great to have a few more alongside us. Get in touch with Ella if you’d like to know more.

GIFTS BY DONATION

Your generosity keeps us going. As a charity, we rely on your donations (one off or regular) to enable us to support Bellfield and make a difference to the community of Portobello. Don't forget that, in addition to gifts by donation, you can find out more about ways to donate here.

Lastly, you can also support us each time you shop on Amazon, then please use AmazonSmile and Amazon will donate to Actio Porty, at no cost to you.

Till the next update,

Yours Aye

The Action Porty Board for Bellfield