Currie Community Council

June 1997 Meeting

Environment
The end of the Pentland View mess may be in sight (haven't I written that before?) as an agreement has been made. Mr Crolla and Scotmid are leading moves to to change its legal status. They and the Medical Centre will contribute to the improvement of the path, which will then be adopted by the City Council and maintained by them. All the shops will take over individual responsibility for the area immediately in front of them. Scotmid also intend to invest in updating their shop in the next three months.

Transport
The Community Council have been very patient with the railway company GNER, but are coming to the conclusion that they are avoiding us. The have refused an invitation to send us a speaker on the grounds that their plans for a major new terminal in Currie were not yet definite enough, but then briefed the press on those same plans. The Council will shortly be bringing these concerns to the national press in an attempt to open a dialogue with GNER.

Community Council Liaison and Development Officer
The Council expressed appreciation for the help and advice given by Adam O'Brien, who bears the above title, on a number of occasions. A detailed map of the Community Council area had been provide in two forms, one showing City Councillors' wards also. Copyright problems mean it may not be possible to provide multiple copies of this, but we shall be enquiring further. Other Community Councils will be getting the same information.

Juniper Green
There was a warm reception to an invitation to liaise more closely with the Juniper Green Village Association, as we have many common concerns and interests.

Flower Tubs
Harry Duncan and David Bertram will be removing spring bulbs and replanting all eighteen tubs in the next month. Any resident or shopkeeper who lives near one of these tubs and would like to help either with this work or with the regular watering could contact Harry on 449 4236. All help will be welcomed, as many hands make light work.

Currie Fair
As reported in last month's C&B News, the weather had been good and so was the turnout. The Fire Brigade brought an appliance along, then had to remove it for service twice, but brought it back each time. Disco music and the dancing exhibition made for a carnival atmosphere. Forty four riders set off to ride the March, enjoying the hospitality of the licensee of the Weavers Knowe and of the people of Hermiston at the stopping points. The new principal of Heriot-Watt greeted the ride, and was presented with a scroll of James Thomson's poetry. The 1998 ride is already in planning and may be even bigger.

Police report
In the absence of our own community constable, Balerno lent us theirs. PC Alan Poldark reported thefts from gardens in Nether Currie and the theft of a bicycle from an unlocked garage. A person had been charged with the latter offence. Another person had been charged with vandalising a BMW car. A car had been broken into at Curriehill Station and the Council decided to contact Railtrack and British Transport Police to press for greater security at the station.
PC Lothian had been speaking to young people congregating in various areas and reported, unsurprisingly, that most are normal decent folk. He hopes to keep the dialogue going so the peace can be kept by defusing any trouble. We wish him well.
Warnings having been given in the past, parking tickets are now being issued in Currie. The speeding campaign has led to nineteen people, mostly local, being stopped for speeding in Cockburn Crescent and Johnsburn Road - in one case at 57 mph.
Signs and road markings at the junction of Riccarton Mains Road and the A71 are to be altered and renewed to improve safety.

Graham Dane, Press Officer